Chаpter 12: Suреr Swееt Dеlivеry, Теmрting Hеr to Вlush and Hеаrtbeаt
Qiaо Zhiуаng gazеd аt the IР lосаtiоn оn thе scrеen аnd сouldn’t help but sigh.
Fatе truly is а magiсаl thing.
Whо wоuld have thоught they wеrе sо сlosе, living in the sаme citу.
Реrhарs, in the midst оf the crowd, thе реrsоn whо brushed past hеr might hаvе beеn him.
A smilе spreаd асrоss Qiao Zhiуаng’s facе, her deliсаtе, mаkeuр-frеe features glowing even brightеr and swееtеr with thаt hint оf joу.
“I’ve finished pаcking, аnd the рhotоshoot is done. What should I do next?”
She picked up her phone, her eyes curving into crescents. “Of course, it’s time to eat!”
Hehehe, she could finally indulge in the spicy crayfish she had been craving for so long—the one her family had dismissed as junk food and never let her eat—and the supposedly delicious grapefruit tea with cheese foam!
There were many other delicacies waiting for her to try, all of which she had listed in her notes app long ago and shared on Weibo along with other snippets of her life.
She had been waiting for the day she could move out and check them off her list without restraint.
Hugging a sofa cushion and swinging her snow-white legs, Qiao Zhiyang was just about to open a food delivery app when—
“Buzz—”
A WeChat notification suddenly chimed.
Immediately after, a message from Cen Zhou popped up.
【Long-Legged Uncle】: Little Zhiyang, have you finished packing?
【Long-Legged Uncle】: I was worried that a hardworking little one like you might forget to eat while busy packing, so I ordered dinner for you. Remember to check for it.
Qiao Zhiyang’s heart skipped a beat.
Mr. Cen was so busy with work, yet he still remembered to check if she was eating properly.
How could he be so thoughtful…
Grabbing her room key, she rushed out the door excitedly.
As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, a delivery rider holding her order spotted her. “Are you Miss Qiao?”
“Yes, that’s me.” Qiao Zhiyang nodded.
She took the delivery bag and could already smell the fragrant, spicy aroma of crayfish through it.
Wow (ω)!
How did Mr. Cen know what she wanted to eat?
As if reading her mind, inside the bag were not only the crayfish she had been craving but also the grapefruit tea with cheese foam she wanted to try, along with a pack of her favorite blackcurrant-flavored crystal candies.
“Hmm? What’s this?”
Qiao Zhiyang picked up the delivery receipt and noticed a note written at the bottom:
【To the cutest little Zhiyang in the world, wishing you a wonderful start to your new life. Eat well, drink well, and let your worries fly away.】
In that moment, Qiao Zhiyang felt her heart begin to drum uncontrollably in her chest again.
Unable to resist, she picked up the fruit tea with a few ice cubes clinking inside and pressed it against her slightly flushed cheeks.
Although Mr. Cen hadn’t asked for payment, as a proper Little Lamb, she didn’t want to take advantage of his kindness.
Qiao Zhiyang took out her phone, snapped a photo of the delivery, and opened the chat window.
【Little Lamb】: Third Brother, I’ve received the delivery. Thank you.
【Little Lamb】: Is it convenient to transfer the money via WeChat? I’ll send you the payment for the food.
As if his phone was right beside him again, he replied almost instantly.
【Long-Legged Uncle】: No need to pay.
The next second, a voice message followed.
For some reason, the moment she saw that voice message, her heart began to race uncontrollably.
Even before tapping to play it, her ears tingled as if an electric current had surged through them, sending shivers of anticipation.
It was as if she were under some kind of spell, where only his voice could trigger such a reaction in her…
Ahhh, no!
How could she react like this to Mr. Cen!He was her best friend’s Little Uncle!
Qiao Zhiyang immediately shook her head, the invisible little sheep horns on her head almost shaking into a blur.
Afraid of drawing strange looks from passersby, she took her takeout and hurried into the elevator as soon as its doors opened.
“Huff…”
Qiao Zhiyang took a deep breath to calm herself, then carefully tapped the voice message with her fingertip.
The man’s deep, cool, and alluring voice gently brushed against her ear like a spring breeze.
“This is a reward from your brother for a hardworking little one. How could I possibly take your money?”
“If you feel it’s not enough, just tell your brother.”
Another voice message automatically played.
Compared to the lazy softness of the previous one, this one carried a seductive, low-pitched tone.
“Your brother will feed you.”
Qiao Zhiyang’s heart felt as if it had been tightly gripped by a hook, her ears already tingling with numbness.
Breathing a little faster, she quickly pressed the bottle of grapefruit tea against her flushed cheek again.
“It’s so hot…”
Qiao Zhiyang murmured softly, “It’s all because it’s so stuffy in here.”
The elevator, which was not actually stuffy at all: “…”
Though it was embarrassing…
Lost in thought, she stared at the screen, recalling her days back home.
No matter how well she performed, she would only receive a perfunctory and pressure-filled remark like, “Keep it up, don’t let us down.”
But with him, even something as small as tidying up could earn her a delightful reward.
This feeling…
It was like a child who always tried her best to do everything perfectly, just hoping for a sweet piece of candy, suddenly finding her palms filled with candies and a proud little red flower pinned to her chest.
Qiao Zhiyang’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, and the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curl upward.
Suddenly, she thought, being his little one wasn’t so bad after all…
In Jingbei, the heat of September had yet to dissipate.
The locust trees lining the roads flourished with vibrant green under the blazing sun, full of life.
Today was the opening day of Yun Jing University.
Everywhere, freshmen and upperclassmen bustled about.
As a graceful and slender figure slowly stepped onto the campus, she instantly caught everyone’s attention.
Qiao Zhiyang wore an elegant, moon-white qipao, its soft chiffon sleeves perfectly outlining her arms, lending her an ethereal charm.
The hem of the dress fell just above her ankles, revealing a glimpse of her fair skin.
Her slender figure was accentuated by the soft silk fabric, exuding grace and poise.
Her hair was casually tied back with a pearl-studded shark clip.
Her face, free of any makeup, was pure yet alluring, with tea-brown eyes clear as mist and full, rosy lips that radiated soft charm.
“Wow! Look over there at nine o’clock.”
“She’s so beautiful, like she just stepped out of a Republic-era movie.”
“Am I the only one who thinks it’s a bit much? Who still wears a qipao out on the streets these days? It’s not like she’s filming a movie.”
As a traditional garment, the qipao was no longer mainstream.
Every time Qiao Zhiyang wore a qipao outside, she attracted many gazes.
Some were admiring, while others were disdainful or mocking. In the past, she had been bothered by these uncomfortable stares and even considered no longer wearing qipaos in public.
But eventually, she realized something.
Clothing is a matter of personal freedom.
The qipao was something she had loved since childhood and took pride in wearing, so she refused to give it up because of negative opinions.Qiao Zhiyang held the admission invitation letter and followed the directions to Professor Wen’s office.
Wen Jishan was hailed as the world’s most renowned national treasure-level Chinese designer.
Not only had he won numerous international awards, but he had also appeared in the documentary “Cheongsam Master” produced by the most authoritative platform. He was an idol she had always looked up to as her goal.
About to meet the celebrity she had long admired in person, she couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. Standing in front of the door, she straightened her clothes.
“Buzz—”
At that moment, her phone vibrated softly.
Qiao Zhiyang opened it and saw a WeChat message from Cen Zhou.
【Long-Legged Uncle】: Have you arrived at the school?
The corners of her lips curved slightly as she replied: 【Yes, I’m about to go report to Professor Wen now.】
Just as she was about to pick an emoji from her updated sticker collection to send, the other party replied instantly.
He truly seemed to have the ability to read her mind. Even though she hadn’t voiced her thoughts, he could always discern the anxiety in her heart at a glance.
【Long-Legged Uncle】: Don’t be nervous. Be bold and do what you love.
【Long-Legged Uncle】: My amazing little Zhiyang.