After class in the afternoon, Wen Chu headed back to the dorm to get ready. According to her “drama queen” persona, going to such an expensive restaurant required her to be incredibly excited and dressed to the nines.
When her roommates found out she was going on a date, they were ecstatic. Li Yue, the resident “Lolita” fashion enthusiast, scanned Wen Chu’s wardrobe and shook her head in mock agony. “Chuchu! You’re wearing this for a date? No, no, no! Nothing in here is suitable for romance!”
Xia Yaoyao chimed in, pinching Wen Chu’s cheek. “Exactly! Someone like Senior Xi has seen countless beauties. We’re going for a ‘pretty meal,’ so our Chuchu has to look the part. Let’s dazzle him!”
Sandwiched between her two roommates, Wen Chu’s social anxiety made her want to retreat into a corner. But they were so enthusiastic, and she was too soft-hearted to say no. She could only bite the bullet and ask, “Then… what should I do?”
“Leave it to us!” Li Yue patted her chest. She reached into the depths of her wardrobe and pulled out a brand-new black velvet Lolita dress.
The dress was a classic “Garden Maiden” style—elegant and simple. The velvet had a low-profile, luxurious sheen, with delicate lace at the collar and cuffs and a small, dainty bow at the back of the waist.
“Try this!” Li Yue shoved the dress into Wen Chu’s arms. “You have pale skin; you’ll look stunning in black. With the right hair and makeup, you’ll look like a little princess who escaped from a castle!”
“But…” Wen Chu held the high-quality, albeit extravagant, dress with a sense of helplessness. This was worlds apart from her usual comfortable, casual style. Besides… wearing Lolita to a French restaurant? Wouldn’t that be too high-profile?
“No ‘buts’!” Li Yue had already whipped out her makeup kit. “Quick, quick, time is running out! Yaoyao, help her change; I’ll handle the makeup!”
Under the “hijacking” of her two over-enthusiastic roommates, Wen Chu sat in the chair like a human doll.
When Xia Yaoyao helped her into the black velvet dress, the fit was surprisingly perfect. The cinched waist highlighted her slender frame, and the knee-length hem revealed her shapely calves. In the mirror, the girl looked as fair as snow against the dark fabric. Her black hair flowed over her shoulders, and her features were as delicate as a porcelain doll in a shop window. The only thing out of place was the hint of timid bewilderment in her eyes, creating a strange, charming contrast with her grand attire.
“Perfect!” Li Yue snapped her fingers. “That’s exactly the vibe! The contrast is killer!”
Li Yue began applying the makeup—lightly defined brows, a touch of rouge on the lips, and eye makeup that emphasized her naturally round, almond eyes. Her lashes were defined, and a hint of light brown eyeshadow at the corners added a hazy, gentle warmth.
“So pretty!” Li Yue’s eyes sparkled. “Chuchu is too beautiful! Senior Xi is going to be obsessed!”
He won’t, Wen Chu thought. The male lead belongs to the female lead.
Xia Yaoyao nodded. “Too cute! But Chuchu, you have to protect yourself. Don’t let Senior Xi spirit you away to a hotel.”
“What are you talking about!” Wen Chu’s face instantly turned bright red.
“Aww, just a joke!” Xia Yaoyao laughed, patting her shoulder. “Our Chuchu is so innocent, Senior Xi won’t have the heart to bully you too hard.”
Just then, Zhou Rui returned to the dorm. Seeing the soft, fragrant Wen Chu, she was stunned. After learning the situation, she got excited too. “Come on, let’s film a video to commemorate Chuchu’s second date!”
So, the four roommates filmed a video together.
“I-I’m leaving!” Before heading out, Wen Chu remembered the scarf Xi Liye had lent her. She had forgotten to return it last time, so she slipped it into her bag, intending to give it back later.
The evening breeze cooled the heat in her face slightly as she lowered her head and walked quickly toward the black sedan waiting in the darkness. As for a coat, she ultimately settled on her cream-colored lamb wool jacket; after all, wearing just the dress would be far too cold.
Xi Liye had driven to pick her up tonight. From a distance, she could see him waiting outside the car. The wind was chilly, so Wen Chu wrapped her coat tighter as she approached.
The soft glow of the streetlamp spilled over him, outlining his tall figure in a long, elegant silhouette. The breeze tossed a few strands of hair across his forehead and fluttered the hem of his open overcoat. He seemed to have been waiting for a while, but there wasn’t a hint of impatience on his face; he just watched her silently as she drew near.
As the distance closed, Wen Chu could see his outfit more clearly. Underneath was a black turtleneck—less formal, more lazily casual. Over it, he wore a high-quality long overcoat, adding an air of mature steadiness to his presence.
“Good evening,” she said, her voice drifting slightly in the wind as she stopped before him.
Xi Liye gave a slight nod. “Good evening.”
Wen Chu switched into “drama queen” mode and twirled once. “So? Do I look good tonight?”
Xi Liye’s gaze fell upon her. He had noticed immediately that she was dressed beautifully; several students passing by had already cast glances her way.
“You look good,” he said slowly.
Wen Chu frowned, acting dissatisfied. “That’s such a half-hearted compliment.”
A faint smile touched Xi Liye’s eyes. “Then how should I praise you?”
Wen Chu ignored him.
Xi Liye reached out and patted her hair. “You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.”
“Is that better?”
Seeing Wen Chu’s embarrassment, the smile in his eyes deepened. “Get in the car. It’s cold out here.” He opened the passenger door for her.
Once inside, Wen Chu blew on her cold hands. The car was quiet for a few seconds before Xi Liye turned on the heater.
“Am I the first girl to sit in your passenger seat?” Wen Chu asked, curious about one of those classic “couple questions” she’d seen online.
“No.”
Wen Chu’s excitement flared, and she immediately counter-questioned, “Then who was the first?!”
Xi Liye’s hand, about to start the car, paused slightly. The overhead light traced the delicate profile of the girl as she tilted her head to interrogate him. He suddenly remembered her red, frozen hands from the previous morning, and her complaining tone just now when asking for a compliment.
“It was my mother,” he said, looking ahead, his voice calm and steady.
The “interrogation” expression Wen Chu had carefully plastered on her face froze instantly.
“…Huh?”
The answer was completely unexpected, leaving her prepared “follow-up” stuck in her throat.
“My mother sat there the first time I drove after getting my license,” Xi Liye explained simply.
Wen Chu was completely silenced.
“And besides your mother?” she asked, refusing to give up.
“Then there’s no one else. Only you.”
“Oh… well, I suppose you’re behaving yourself then.”
Wen Chu felt strangely guilty, like a cat being picked up by the scruff of its neck. Her attempt to be difficult instantly evaporated. In the original book… the male lead’s mother died a long time ago, didn’t she? Later, his father remarried and had another son…
Wen Chu wanted to slap herself. Why did she have to ask such a stupid question?
Xi Liye seemed to sense her guilt, and the smile in his eyes deepened further. “Buckle your seatbelt.”
Wen Chu gave a soft “oh” and lowered her head to click the belt into place. The car drove smoothly out of campus and merged into the city traffic.
The moment they got out of the car later, Wen Chu regretted it. There was a short walk from the parking lot to the building where the restaurant was located. To make matters worse, the path was crowded. It was a busy night in the city center; there were couples, friends, and families everywhere. The noise, the bright shop windows, the roaring traffic… it all made Wen Chu’s social anxiety flare up.
The winter wind lashed against her, carrying the dry chill of the city, instantly piercing through her seemingly thick lamb wool coat. She instinctively shrank her neck, burying her face in her scarf, but the cold still seeped into her sleeves and collar.
She walked beside Xi Liye, her pace subconsciously slowing as she tried to use his tall frame to shield herself from the gazes coming from all directions. Meanwhile, the “drama queen” thoughts in her head were being suppressed by her fear of the crowd.
After a few steps, Xi Liye realized she had fallen behind. He stopped and looked back.