Cafeteria No. 2.
Zhou Wenshi had become the center of attention, and so had Chu Yao.
Either someone would inadvertently walk past them again and again, or someone else would stretch their eyes wide, sizing them up from head to toe. There were even people whispering—not so quietly—among themselves.
She wished she could stay as far away from him as possible.
If Zhou Wenshi had never acknowledged their relationship, it would have been fine—she wouldn't have had to walk alongside him. But now that they were walking together, there was a whole new topic for gossip.
At the thought, Chu Yao felt like she was dying inside.
It was all Zhou Wenshi's fault.
If only she hadn't softened after her anger had just cooled down, thinking that he seemed cold on the outside but actually had a much better temper than she'd expected—and that he'd happened to tolerate her once—she wouldn't have been so soft-hearted as to invite him to eat together.
Chu Yao was sulking.
When would he break up with her?
She didn't want to live this kind of life anymore.
Zhou Wenshi even went to get her meal for her. When he brought it over, it was filled with nothing but her favorite dishes. Chu Yao wanted to be angry, but looking at his face, the irritation just smoothed itself away.
She could only gloomily stuff a mouthful of rice and jab her chopsticks into the greens. "Damn it."
Zhou Wenshi looked up at her. "In a bad mood?"
He was sitting right across from her, and when he lowered his head to eat, she could see his eyelashes.
Chu Yao: "Not really."
Zhou Wenshi seemed thoughtful. "That time of the month?"
Clearly, he was quite knowledgeable—not like those creatures who didn't care about their girlfriends and understood nothing about women.
But Chu Yao would rather he were that kind of indifferent, lousy guy.
Zhou Wenshi wanted to ask more, but Chu Yao cut off his spell-casting: "Let me eat in peace. Don't talk to me."
Zhou Wenshi said nothing.
As he ate with slow, deliberate grace, every time Chu Yao looked up, she could see his face, and the hand wrapped around his spoon.
Clean. Beautiful. With serious potential to be drawn in some risqué artwork.
She suddenly recalled that hazy night, the bright light, and those clearly defined finger bones resting against the screen, dazzling her eyes for a moment.
Her only thought at the time had been: what beautiful hands.
Zhou Wenshi set down the spoon from his own bowl, reached over to the spoon in Chu Yao's soup, scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to her lips.
The moment she looked up, he fed her the spoonful of soup.
"…?"
Chu Yao froze.
Chu Yao: ???
What was he doing now?
She hesitated and swallowed the soup. Zhou Wenshi scooped another spoonful and fed it to her the same way.
Chu Yao was even more confused: ???
She bit down on the spoon and mumbled, "What are you doing?"
Zhou Wenshi showed not the slightest embarrassment. Even with his cold expression, he simply said, "Weren't you waiting to be fed?"
Chu Yao: "Huh?"
"Stop," Chu Yao said, utterly bewildered. "Can you tell me how you interpreted that as me wanting to be fed?"
It wasn't like she was a helpless little baby who couldn't take care of herself. Her hands were perfectly functional. She was nowhere near the point of needing to be hand-fed.
Why had Zhou Wenshi suddenly started feeding her soup?
This wasn't right.
Zhou Wenshi placed the spoon back into her soup bowl and said slowly, "You kept looking at my hands."
"I was wondering if you were waiting for me to do something."
Chu Yao thought to herself: You're pretty perceptive, you actually noticed that.
"Is it possible that I was just simply looking?"
Who on earth would interpret that as wanting to be fed? And the key thing was—he actually acted on it, leaving the person in question completely dumbfounded.
Zhou Wenshi only asked, "Do you want me to continue?"
Being caught by the person in question and kindly asked about it didn't embarrass Chu Yao at all. She said, "No. I'm not a child. I can drink it myself."
She picked up her spoon and took a sip, then another.
Zhou Wenshi carried his tray, circled around, and sat down beside her.
Chu Yao: ?
She frowned. "What are you doing sitting next to me?"
Zhou Wenshi happened to sit right against her, their elbows nearly touching. Chu Yao found it inconvenient—if it came down to it, she could just elbow him in the ribs and he'd learn his lesson.
She pushed his shoulder. "Move further away. It's cramped over here."
Zhou Wenshi only glanced at her, then shifted aside.
Chu Yao could already hear the whispers around them.
"Oh my god, oh my god, so this is how they act in private."
"Hey hey hey, gotta say, it's pretty natural."
"Did you notice how calm she is around him? Tsk tsk, not like us… we're way too worked up."
"How long have they been dating to be this comfortable with each other? They look like an old married couple, hehe!"
Chu Yao wanted to say—she could hear all of it.
Their voices were pretty loud.
Why not gossip about her behind her back? Doing it to her face was just rude.
Whatever. She'd probably get used to it after hearing it a few more times.
At least for the foreseeable future, Zhou Wenshi would be around her.
Chu Yao hadn't expected that despite Zhou Wenshi looking like an untouchable flower on a high peak, someone to be admired from afar, he actually didn't have the flaws many novel male leads had.
Instead, he was… he was just like most normal people.
Chu Yao turned her head to look at him, a little curious.
Could a normal person be a male lead?
Before she came, she'd only reviewed the mission content she was responsible for, without actually learning about him.
All she knew was that Zhou Wenshi possessed the standard qualifications of a conventional male lead—outstanding looks, abilities beyond the ordinary, and popularity since childhood.
As for his personality and family, she didn't know much.
She hadn't planned on learning more.
Zhou Wenshi was just a passerby.
But as time spent together increased, her understanding of him would inevitably grow.
Chu Yao's brow furrowed slightly.
That didn't seem like a good thing.
Chu Yao took a spoonful of soup, deep in thought about what excuse she could use to reduce time spent with Zhou Wenshi.
They'd only been together for a day, and it was already like this. She didn't dare imagine what it would be like after a month.
Before this, Chu Yao hadn't thought a month would be hard to get through.
Zhou Wenshi spoke up. "Would you like more soup?"
Chu Yao snapped back to reality. "No thanks. I've had too much; I'm a bit full."
He didn't ask again. Throughout the meal, he stayed silent, and even after finishing early, he remained seated.
Only when Chu Yao finished eating did he rise, following behind her as they returned their trays together.
Walking out of the cafeteria, Chu Yao's mood brightened again. She broke into a light jog or brisk walk toward the dormitory, her smile gradually widening as she hummed a tune.
She completely forgot about the people passing by—and the Zhou Wenshi behind her.
He: "…"
He watched his girlfriend jog off toward freedom, completely unaware that she should have brought someone along.
Zhou Wenshi quickened his pace to catch up, meeting Chu Yao's startled gaze as she turned her head and suddenly noticed him.
She froze. "…I think I forgot something."
Oh, right—the male lead.
Chu Yao cleared her throat. "Sorry, sorry. I was just too happy and forgot you were there for a second."
Before reaching out, Zhou Wenshi asked politely, "May I hold your hand?"
Chu Yao: "No."
Zhou Wenshi: "If you forget again next time, can it be a punishment?"
Chu Yao hesitated. "Holding hands… as punishment?"
Huh?
Since when was that a punishment?
Zhou Wenshi said, "Punishment isn't the goal."
It was a means to ensure she wouldn't forget.
Chu Yao finished the second half of the sentence, teasing, "Your punishment is quite unique."
Zhou Wenshi looked serious. "Because I want you to remember."
Chu Yao: "…"
Zhou Wenshi just said it so plainly like that. This—this man didn't fit the mold of the typical taciturn, tight-lipped, cold male lead at all. She thought he talked plenty, and had plenty of little schemes running through his head.
Chu Yao: "Then you're dreaming big. Is this punishment? This is clearly a reward."
Zhou Wenshi was terrifyingly candid. "Yes."
Chu Yao's heart let out a what the hell. She actually experienced a moment where she didn't know how to respond.
In disbelief, she said, "How are you so good at securing benefits for yourself?"
Zhou Wenshi had completely shattered her understanding of the male lead!
Zhou Wenshi's dark, cool eyes looked straight at her. "Then would you be willing to punish me that way?"
Chu Yao found she couldn't respond. He was playing his cards face-up!
A string of what the hell floated through her mind. She realized she couldn't quite handle someone this direct.
Chu Yao couldn't help but take a quiet, sharp breath.
No. She really couldn't keep spending time with this male lead.
If he was holding hands at the start, wouldn't kissing come next?
What the hell!
That's too much!
No, no, no.
Chu Yao was afraid that if she set a precedent, she wouldn't be able to control what came after. She firmly refused. "No need. I—I'll remember to wait for you next time."
Stop being so straightforward.
Chu Yao felt a lot of pressure. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
Zhou Wenshi nodded. "Alright."
She really liked directness.
Conveniently, he could be direct.
When they reached the dormitory gate, Zhou Wenshi watched her go inside, then turned and walked back to the male dormitory building.
Walking along the path, Chu Yao still felt a lingering fear. Those eyes of Zhou Wenshi's—she really didn't know if he'd cast some kind of Gu on her, because they kept making her think of that dream from the morning.
He tilted his head up to look at her, his eyes holding an indescribable allure and temptation.
Drawing her closer and closer to him, pressing her lips to his, taking them in, savoring them… wondering if they really were that good to kiss.
The slightly parted bead of his lip pressed against hers.
His arm hooked her shoulder, pulled her close, clothes slipping half off, tangled together…
Continuously tracing each other's lips, playing a game of fish frolicking in water.
But this time, unlike the dream, it didn't stop.
Chu Yao's face was a little red, and a constant stream of oh my god! oh my god! oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god— ran through her head.
She'd actually been affected this much by a dream, actually been so… cough, cough, cough, cough!
Ahhhh—she was definitely influenced by Chu Ying!
Back when she read those steamy stories, they weren't this alluring, and she never made connections like this. Now her whole face was about to explode red!
Chu Yao was red enough to drip blood, covering her face with her hands.
God, what was she even thinking about? This was too… too much.
Chu Yao coughed violently. "Forget it, forget it, forget it."
Stupid brain, stop thinking about it.
She didn't want to crave Zhou Wenshi's body, ahhhhhhh!
Even though she had been moved to tears by how good he smelled—in the dream, he really did smell good, that kind of intoxicating scent that made you want to taste and sink into it, to press close and embrace.
The male lead really did have a way of seducing her.
Damn it, she really couldn't resist such a strong temptation.
Chu Yao paced around downstairs at the dormitory. She didn't want to go back to her room with a flushed face—that naughty girl Chu Ying would definitely ask her with a sly grin.
She'd definitely be found out.
After walking for half an hour, she finally calmed down.
With a normal expression, Chu Yao composed herself and pushed open the dormitory door.
Fu Qifang and Cheng Buning hadn't returned from the library, and Chen Xiuyuan and Zhang Xiuli were out too. Cheng Yunxiu had just come out of the shower, and Jiang Yuncheng was supposedly watching a play—no sign of her even now.
Huang Chuying was lounging on the bed with her legs crossed, leaning against a thick pile of blankets, radiating the aura of a sage. Her tone was languid: "Ooh~ Back from your date?"
Chu Yao paused mid-step. "Date?"
Huang Chuying let out a hum of a laugh. "I've been following the thread in real time, you know. I never would've guessed—tsk tsk tsk—so this is how you two do romance."
Her eyes and voice were dripping with innuendo. "Is kissing him electric? You know, that tingly, numb feeling?"
Chu Yao: ?
"Don't talk nonsense. There's nothing like that between us."
"You're the one with a dirty mind—why are you projecting that onto us too?"
Huang Chuying giggled, swiping aimlessly at her tablet while keeping her attention fixed on Chu Yao. "What's there to be shy about? We're all friends here."
She noticed Chu Yao's cheeks were slightly flushed and pressed on with curiosity: "So you really didn't kiss?"
Chu Yao plopped down on her bed. "Why would I lie to you?"
Huang Chuying sighed in disappointment. "That's a real shame. From what I've heard, the campus heartthrob's first kiss is still intact—he's never even been in a relationship. If you'd gone for it, you'd have scored big."
"Get a taste of the campus heartthrob's lips, and you'll have more experience for the future."
Chu Yao's mouth twitched. "…Well, mine's intact too, so who's really getting the better deal here?"
Huang Chuying suddenly turned serious. "Then you're at a bit of a loss. If you'd kissed a few handsome guys first, then kissed him, you wouldn't be losing out. Since you're both first-timers, it's a bit of a waste either way. Ugh, he's getting off easy."
She nudged Chu Yao's side, clearly eager. "Want me to pass on some tips? So you can leave him completely dazed and breathless."
"You can lose on experience, but you can't lose on technique."
Huang Chuying savored a memory. "The first time I did it, I had my boyfriend begging for more—he nearly cried. Mmm… delicious."
"The more pitifully he cried, the more excited I got. Later, he couldn't bear to let me go. Too bad—I'm the type who gets interested in a lot of things."
She touched her lips, still remembering the feel of it. He was a good kisser, and he'd even pulled her back for more. She knew then—he was a sly one. Hmph.
Chu Yao sat there, stunned, listening to her recount her past. Huang Chuying rattled on—about how she couldn't get enough, how she'd nibble and tease, and how she'd…
One trick after another, she claimed, and any man would be so dazed he wouldn't know what day it was, completely hooked on her.
Chu Yao's heart trembled.
Damn. There's this much technique involved?
She was blushing, but she forced herself to listen seriously: "This… this… is this really a lesson I'm allowed to hear, Master?"
Master Huang smiled mysteriously. "Of course. Master's in a good mood today, so I'll throw in a special technique for free."
First you do this, then you do that, and finally *****.
Master Huang had fulfilled her mission of enlightening the masses. Mission accomplished.
Master Huang concluded: "With that, you should be basically set." Chu Yao had stepped through the door to a whole new world—a simple kiss held so much depth.
To kiss in a way that seduces, that lingers in someone's memory, that leaves them craving more—this lesson was genuinely hard to master, and she lacked practical experience.
Huang Chuying lamented: "Too bad I don't have any clean-cut handsome guys around right now. Otherwise, I'd find one for you to practice on, so you'd have a good foundation for your future kissing experience."
“Sigh, top-tier guys are still too rare. Someone like your boyfriend is incredibly hard to come by. Once you’ve got him, make sure you savor every bit—you won’t run into another like that easily. Eat your fill while you still can.”
“Don’t just stare at him—what’s the use of looking? Only what you’ve actually tasted counts as yours.”
Master Huang still believed in living in the moment and swore by carnivorous philosophy. When it came to dating a handsome guy, she was never going to settle for a vegetarian diet. Even before she got the full meal, she’d at least grab a kiss first.
Her motto was: if I can’t have your body, I’ll still get your lips.
Master Huang never left empty-handed.
Chu Yao learned far too much today, and her face grew even redder.
Master Huang truly carried some authority.
As a seasoned expert who had dated ten boyfriends, her experience was undeniably rich.
After imparting her wisdom, Huang Chuying felt a sudden craving for a kiss and texted her ex.
【You there? Come out and grab a kiss.】