“Falling in love should start with a confession.”
Qi Qian’s jaw tightened, his gaze as cold as a frozen lake. Xu Chi’s taunts about him being an “old man,” a “cold tombstone,” and “dead and lifeless” struck like needles, precisely piercing his deepest and most unwilling-to-face insecurity. A flame of anger flared up in his chest, drying his throat, but the instinct honed from years of maneuvering through the business world forced him to suppress his sudden loss of composure behind a mask of indifference.
He curled his fingers slightly at his side before slowly relaxing them. His tone was calm, even carrying a trace of subtle mockery:
“Youth certainly has its advantages, such as being able to spout nonsense without consequence.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping almost imperceptibly over Yun Zhixue, who looked somewhat flustered while held in Xu Chi’s arms. “As for understanding, Xu Chi, do you think buying him a few dresses and a cup of bubble tea constitutes understanding? Real understanding means knowing why he is standing here, what he has done in the past, and what he might face in the future. Has your vibrant world ever taught you those things?”
Xu Chi fell silent, his expression darkening further. His muscles tightened as he instinctively tried to shield the person in his arms.
The atmosphere remained deadlocked.
In the midst of their argument, Yun Zhixue’s stomach let out a tiny, soft rumble. It was quiet, but in the sudden silence that followed their temporary lack of words, it sounded remarkably clear.
Qi Qian and Xu Chi froze, their gazes instinctively shifting to the source of the sound: the boy’s flat, fair stomach.
Yun Zhixue’s fair cheeks flushed instantly. He lowered his head in embarrassment and muttered softly, “I am hungry. It is all your fault for arguing for so long. Xu Chi, my bubble tea.”
In truth, Yun Zhixue still had not registered what they were arguing about; it seemed to have started out of nowhere, and his focus had remained entirely on his bubble tea.
Although he said it was their fault, his tone sounded more like he was acting spoiled.
Watching Yun Zhixue’s shy, slightly aggrieved expression, Xu Chi’s heart instantly softened. Most of his anger dissipated, leaving only a swell of heartache and a deeper disgust toward Qi Qian. It is all that old man’s fault for making Xiao Xue miss out on his milk tea!
Xu Chi turned his head and called out toward the counter: “Server, one full-sugar pearl milk tea, one iced Americano, and your best-selling dessert, quickly.”
Prompted by Xu Chi, Yun Zhixue glanced at the menu again. He tugged at the hem of Xu Chi’s short-sleeved shirt and shook his head. “I want the strawberry tiramisu.”
Xu Chi updated his order: “Change the dessert to strawberry tiramisu, and add a blueberry tiramisu as well.”
Then, he guided Yun Zhixue to a booth. Qi Qian watched Xu Chi’s “Xiao Xue-first” fawning behavior, and the way Yun Zhixue leaned on Xu Chi with an unconscious intimacy, clutching the hem of his sleeve with slender, snow-white fingers.
His eyes were shining as he looked at Xu Chi, as if Xu Chi had done something incredible—when in reality, it was just an extra tiramisu.
Qi Qian’s irritation and disgust surged. Who does Xu Chi think he is? The money he spends is not even earned by him; it is just dividends he gets while begging for pocket money, and he will probably squander it all one day.
Unlike me…
Qi Qian’s Disgust Value +5.
Yun Zhixue looked at Qi Qian in confusion. His face is so dark; he is so scary. He glanced at Xu Chi and sighed, lowering his lashes in worry.
Falling in love is so hard, especially when the candidates seem to hate me. If I had to pick, I would rather be with Xu Chi.
I would rather flick Xu Chi’s forehead than be sneered at or potentially hit by Qi Qian. Thinking this, he touched his forehead and silently comforted it.
I am sorry, forehead. In order to complete the mission, I have to sacrifice you.
Xu Chi sat beside Yun Zhixue. He was still lamenting that Yun Zhixue already had a crush, even though the boy had called Qi Qian an “old man.”
Still, he knew that Qi Qian was successful and likely more favored by elders. He probably stood a better chance of gaining the approval of Yun Zhixue’s older brother, whereas he had made a terrible first impression on his future brother-in-law on day one.
In particular, Qi Qian’s comment about “knowing what he will face in the future” had sounded an alarm for him.
He pondered how to become truly successful, but he refused to act like that sickeningly pompous Qi Qian. Despite his mind wandering through a dozen different paths, his attention remained on Yun Zhixue.
Seeing the boy looking distressed and sighing while holding his forehead, Xu Chi felt a sweep of a kitten’s tail against his heart, itchy and soft. In an instant, Qi Qian, the arguments, and future plans were all tossed aside.
He was young and full of vigor. He had a blind confidence in himself.
Right now, all he saw was Yun Zhixue’s slightly furrowed brow and his cheeks puffed out slightly. When he muttered softly, his lips puckered like a flower petal—moist and glossy, especially that adorable cupid’s bow. It looked like a tiny pearl, and just watching it made Xu Chi’s throat go dry.
He is even holding his forehead as if he is surrendering. That little habit is just too cute.
Why is the milk tea not ready yet? I kind of want to bite something.
“What is wrong? Are you scared? Does your head hurt?” Xu Chi lowered his voice, coaxing him. He wanted to touch Yun Zhixue but feared being too forward, so his hand hovered in the air for a moment. Instead, his index finger hooked a stray strand of hair that had fallen against Yun Zhixue’s face. It felt like silk, cool and soft.
He tucked it behind the boy’s ear, suppressing the urge to bite that earlobe.
Yun Zhixue shook his head. He lowered his hand, revealing his smooth, full forehead. “I am not scared, and my head does not hurt.”
He blinked, his lashes fluttering like a butterfly’s wings as he looked at Xu Chi with his large, earnest eyes. “I was just thinking about a problem.”
Xu Chi was moved by his seriousness and could not help but wonder what major issue Yun Zhixue was pondering. He is not thinking about what Qi Qian said, is he?
“What problem?”
“I was thinking…” Yun Zhixue blinked, thinking of the System’s mission: Date three people, and it seems I am going to end up a scumbag with no loyalty. I am going to be in so much trouble. Especially…
He lowered his eyes, then looked up, shooting a guilty, hurried glance at Qi Qian, who looked cold and merciless, as if he were radiating ice.
Little cat feels guilty [jpg]
He subconsciously leaned into the warm Xu Chi, who happily embraced him. Yun Zhixue felt a sliver of safety and whispered: “I was just thinking, is falling in love always this difficult?”
Yun Zhixue’s voice was very small, like a kitten’s cry, but it hit Xu Chi’s heart like a stone dropped into a lake, creating ripples that gathered into a surge of wild joy.
Xu Chi was confused? Xu Chi was ecstatic!
His eyes lit up, his heart pounded, and the corners of his mouth could not stop curving upward.
Could it be that because of my words and the contrast with Qi Qian, he realized I am better? Has he seen Qi Qian’s true colors? Is he hinting at me?
“It depends on the person. If you fall in love with the right person, it is an enjoyment, and it will be incredibly happy.” Xu Chi tried his best to control his laughter, his tone sounding deliberately serious and composed.
Yun Zhixue asked in confusion: “What is a ‘right person’?”
Xu Chi told himself to stay calm, but his heart raced faster. He feigned seriousness. “It means someone with good character, who is well-spoken, sincere to others, and kind.”
I am running out of things to say. He concluded: “For example, me.”
This was practically an open declaration, and the atmosphere instantly turned ambiguous. The temperature seemed to rise a few degrees. Xu Chi waited anxiously for Yun Zhixue’s answer.
Meanwhile, Qi Qian could not hear what they were saying, but he saw their interaction clearly, especially the intimate little gestures Yun Zhixue was making toward Xu Chi.
Qi Qian’s Disgust Value +5.
Hearing the System notification, the last bit of hesitation in Yun Zhixue’s heart vanished. He tilted his head, seriously considering Xu Chi’s suggestion; it seemed like a good idea.
But Yun Zhixue was still a little hesitant. All the romances he had heard of started with a confession. Without a confession, the relationship started unclearly and would only end unclearly.
He looked puzzled, his voice soft and hesitant. “But, you have not prepared anything.”
“There was not even a confession. Should love not start with ‘I like you, please go out with me’?”
As soon as he spoke, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Xu Chi was stunned, and then a wave of scalding heat rushed from his heart to his head, burning his ears bright red. Euphoria nearly drowned his reason. Yun Zhixue meant that if he confessed, Yun Zhixue would agree to be with him!
He pinched his palm hard to maintain his composure, his voice filled with suppressed excitement. “Xiao Xue, I am too excited. I forgot. This is the first time I have liked someone—no, no, the first time I have fallen in love with someone. I did not understand any of this before. How about tomorrow? Let us go on a date this Saturday, and then I will confess.”
“Only then will we officially be together.”
Yun Zhixue looked up at Xu Chi’s incoherent excitement, his glowing eyes, and his bright red ears. The tiny hesitation in his heart vanished.
He nodded, revealing a small smile; his eyes curved, his cheeks puffed out slightly, and his voice was sweet and soft. “Hmm, okay. Let us do Saturday.”
Xu Chi’s face was an eerie shade of red, especially since his skin was darker, two shades deeper than wheat-colored. His hands were trembling slightly as he carefully asked: “Can I… can I hold your hand?”
Yun Zhixue looked confused, raising his left hand, which was not being held, into the air. Under the sunlight, his left hand was pale and glowing, its fingers slender.
He looked down at their hands already clasped together and hesitated. “But are you not already holding my right hand?” Do you want to hold my left one, too? If you do that, I will not be able to eat my dessert.
Xu Chi was so excited that he had not realized he was acting on impulse. He truly had not expected that he would “break through” today, and that tomorrow he would be with his crush.
Tomorrow, they would be a couple! They could hold hands, kiss… the consequence of being over-excited was speaking without thinking, though this was just an expression of his love for Yun Zhixue.
Xu Chi grinned like a fool. Love makes people lose their minds and act like idiots. He nodded repeatedly. “If you do not mind.”
Yun Zhixue widened his eyes, embarrassed. “But what about my milk tea and tiramisu?” He cannot be that excessive!
Xu Chi hurriedly offered a solution. “I will feed you! I can feed Xiao Xue!”
Yun Zhixue began to doubt whether he should agree to the confession tomorrow. He looked at Xu Chi with a subtle, sorrowful expression and sighed. “But, Xu Chi, if you want to hold my other hand, both your hands will be full. You will not be able to feed me either.”
The moment the air went quiet, the wild grin on Xu Chi’s face froze, and his brain went into overdrive, trying to find a reasonable excuse to make his stupidity seem… less stupid.
Maybe I could feed him with my mouth? No, that is too impulsive! What if I scare Xiao Xue!
Xu Chi’s brain raced, terrified that Yun Zhixue would go back on his word. Because all the books he had read were useless, he could only explain clumsily: “Xiao Xue, I meant… I can hold one hand and feed you with the other. No, I meant I can hold both hands, and when you want to eat, I will let go of one hand and feed you.”
Xu Chi stroked the little hand in his, adding: “Besides, Xiao Xue, your hands are very small. I can wrap both of yours with just one of mine.”
Yun Zhixue was half-convinced. It was true that Xu Chi could wrap both his hands with one, so he generously offered his hand to Xu Chi. “You can hold it. Then you feed me.”
Xu Chi looked at the smooth, delicate little hand in front of him, wrapped it up happily, and began to stroke it.
Wife. He is mine.
“Two customers, here are your full-sugar pearl milk tea, iced Americano, and the strawberry and blueberry tiramisu. Enjoy.”
Yun Zhixue raised his head to thank the server. “Okay, thank you.”
The server smiled back: “You are welcome, enjoy your meal.”
Back in the kitchen, she was excited. “Ah! I saw the little boy’s face up close! It is super exquisite and beautiful! Do you know what? He is actually fragrant! Like, literally sweet! His face is super small and super white! His voice is also very nice, he is very polite, and he even thanked me!”
“For real? Fragrant? I have never seen a guy who is actually fragrant.”
“For real, on my life! And I feel like the scent is not perfume; it is just the natural scent of a young boy? A body scent! Do you know what I mean! I would not lie if my perfect attendance bonus depended on it.”
So fragrant. Xu Chi closed his eyes, intoxicated. He had secretly taken a sniff of Yun Zhixue’s neck. He had wanted to do that for a long time.
After the desserts arrived, Yun Zhixue could not wait to have Xu Chi feed him. Xu Chi put his thoughts aside and carefully scooped up a spoonful of strawberry tiramisu, feeding it to Yun Zhixue’s lips.
He watched intently as the soft, pink lips parted, and a moist, soft tongue swept up the dessert. Yun Zhixue’s eyes narrowed in happiness from the treat, his lashes curling like a little kitten eating heavy cream, almost ready to roll on its back and purr.
Xu Chi swallowed hard, wishing time would jump to tomorrow so he could kiss the boy until his lips could not close, just to see how fragrant, soft, and tender they were.
Just the smell is fragrant enough, let alone tasting it.
Yun Zhixue narrowed his eyes in delight. So delicious, tasty and then hurriedly opened his mouth again. Xu Chi brought the next spoonful to his lips, and Yun Zhixue’s tongue swept it up once more.
Delicious. He was almost floating in a sea of pink flowers, and it was obvious he was eating happily, though he accidentally got a dab of cream on the corner of his mouth.
Xu Chi’s gaze darkened. He was not a saint; if he kept pretending, he would become one. With the veins in his neck bulging, he leaned down, moved close to Yun Zhixue’s ear, and whispered in a husky voice: “Is it sweet?”
Yun Zhixue nodded happily, his dark hair swaying.
“Then, let me have a taste.”