After Xie Jin finished speaking, his gaze shifted to meet hers, the corners of his eyes slightly raised.
Zhu Zhixi had no choice but to nod and say "sorry" to the boy beside her.
The boy awkwardly stepped back, making room for Xie Jin.
Dressed in the blue-and-white school uniform, Xie Jin appeared much gentler, lacking the wildness and fierceness from the day before.
Zhu Zhixi could only hand the change to Xie Jin.
He glanced at it but didn’t take it, his hands in his pockets. "Trading thousands worth of supplements for a bowl of noodles—looks like I’m getting the better deal, doesn’t it?"
Zhu Zhixi replied, "One thing at a time."
Xie Jin took a step closer, close enough to catch the faint scent on Zhu Zhixi.
He reached out and pinched the bill, his tone lazy and detached. "Alright, I’ll take the money, and you take those things away."
Zhu Zhixi’s fingers, which had just relaxed, immediately tightened again.
Xie Jin seemed to be teasing her, refusing to let go.
The bill stretched taut between them as they tugged at it.
Zhu Zhixi’s eyes were bright and lovely, while Xie Jin feigned innocence. "Not giving it to me anymore?"
His tone was drawn out and slightly rising, and Zhu Zhixi was certain he was mocking her.
Why was Xie Jin so… mischievous now?
Watching Zhu Zhixi bristle like a kitten—angry but not very intimidating—was quite amusing.
He smiled, tugging at the bill and deliberately dragging out his words. "Giving it or not, Miss?"
Xie Jin’s voice was pleasant, tinged with laughter.
Zhu Zhixi’s ears tingled.
She yanked the bill from his fingertips with force.
Xie Jin’s smile deepened, faint dimples appearing. As the corners of his lips curved higher, Zhu Zhixi realized it was the first time she’d seen a cold, aloof boy with dimples.
Cute—a word that contrasted sharply with Xie Jin—suddenly suited him.
"Xie Jin, you actually have dimples when you smile. They’re quite cute," Zhu Zhixi exclaimed, as if discovering a new world, her eyes wide as she stared at the corners of his mouth.
Being stared at so intently by a pair of bright, sparkling eyes.
His pale, sharp throat moved unexpectedly, and the scent in the air grew richer.
"Do you like it?" The voice, tinged with a light laugh, brushed against Zhu Zhixi’s ear.
Her ears burned.
Her heartstrings were plucked without warning, as if someone had tossed a handful of beads into it, making it beat chaotically—sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
Thumping wildly.
Xie Jin smiled, raising an eyebrow at her. "Can’t help it—they’re natural. Dimples."
Zhu Zhixi frowned in annoyance. He was talking about dimples—what was she thinking?
She blinked, her gaze flustered. "Oh, then I guess I have no hope. I’ll just have to work hard and have one in the future."
Zhu Zhixi had no idea what she was saying, only feeling her face burning.
Xie Jin’s eyebrows rose even higher. He took another step closer to Zhu Zhixi, his breath warm. "Dimples are hereditary, and the probability is quite high."
Two bowls of noodles were placed on the counter.
Zhu Zhixi’s face was warmed by the steam.
Her mind went blank.
Who cared about the probability of heredity? Did she have to study biology after school too?
Zhu Zhixi placed the bowls on the long table, only realizing belatedly that she had been following Xie Jin. Wu Liang was sitting diagonally across from her, smiling as he greeted her. "What a coincidence, Miss. Nice to see you again."
"Coincidence indeed."
Zhu Zhixi didn’t know whether to sit or not.
Xie Jin glanced at her. "What’s wrong? Need the stool wiped?"
The Miss liked cleanliness—he understood.
Zhu Zhixi wanted to say no.
The cafeteria seats were connected in rows. Xie Jin remained seated, bending his leg to rub it twice with his school uniform, then lifting a casual glance. "It's clean now. Sit."
Zhu Zhixi: "……"
She had seen Xie Jin in her previous life—refined and neat—never expecting him to be so… unconventional.
To be honest, it was just rough.
Sitting beside Xie Jin, Zhu Zhixi keenly sensed gazes coming at her from all directions.
Gu Qishen sat eating his meal unhurriedly, with only him and the housekeeper at home.
It was very quiet.
Aunt Qing sensed that Gu Qishen seemed somewhat unhappy. "Why didn't Xi Mei come back for dinner today? I made her favorite chilled lotus root starch."
"Busy being a good student."
It clearly sounded like a resentful remark.
Aunt Qing smiled, not taking it seriously. The two of them bickering was a common occurrence; they’d make up in a few days.
His phone vibrated incessantly, as if equipped with a shaker.
Gu Qishen picked it up with a gloomy expression, ready to curse someone out.
But his gaze froze first.
"Holy shit, Xi Mei and Xie Jin are sitting together?"
"The scene actually looks quite pleasing to the eye. Damn, could Xi Mei have taken a liking to Xie Jin?"
"Can Xie Jin even compare to Ah Shen?"
"……"
A series of messages in the group tagged Zhu Huaiqian and Gu Qishen: "Home base is being stolen."
"Xi Mei is about to be taken away."
Zhu Huaiqian had been busy playing the role of a "simp" lately and hadn’t checked his phone at all.
Gu Qishen pressed his lips into a tight line, his thumb continuously scrolling upward. When he saw a photo, his fingertip abruptly halted, his eyes turning cold and sharp.
Zhu Zhixi and Xie Jin were sitting side by side. She had her hand raised as if pushing Xie Jin’s shoulder—a gesture that broke the boundary of intimate distance.
It didn’t look like they had just met.
They seemed very familiar.
So she’s trying something new, and with someone new too.
Hmph.
Zhu Zhixi had no idea that she and Xie Jin had been photographed and the picture shared in the group.
The boys ate quickly; Xie Jin and Wu Liang left ahead of her.
After finishing her meal, she went to buy two cups of fruit tea.
Xie Jin and Wu Liang were in Class 8 of the senior year, while Class 1 was at the opposite end of the hallway—Class 8 to the left, Class 1 to the right.
Zhu Zhixi went to deliver something to Xie Jin.
It was like dropping a bomb into deep water.
On the surface, everything seemed calm, but the class had already erupted inside. Everyone’s eyes were filled with barely contained gossipy curiosity, hands clenched, necks craned, their gazes so intense they could have burned a hole through the window.
"Hurry, hurry, I need to take a photo and post it! Zhu Zhixi is delivering something to Xie Jin. Xie Jin definitely wins over Gu Qishen—evidence +1."
"What nonsense! Zhu Zhixi obviously likes Gu Qishen. Now she’s flirting with Xie Jin? Xie Jin would never accept anything from her."
"……"
Zhu Zhixi had bought the largest size of fruit tea, hooking it with her index finger. Her fair, tender fingertip was squeezed red.
"This is my treat for you and Wu Liang. Thank you for treating me to lunch in the cafeteria."
Xie Jin lifted his narrow eyes, a slight ripple stirring in his heart. Did Zhu Zhixi even know what she was doing? "Zhu Zhixi, you’re not trying to…"
Zhu Zhixi’s eyes filled with confusion. "What?"
How could that be possible?
Everyone knew Zhu Zhixi liked Gu Qishen.
His throat moved slightly. Xie Jin let out a soft scoff. "Why? First sending supplements, now fruit tea?"
"To make friends. Is that okay?"
The young lady really spoke directly.
Xie Jin casually stepped forward, carrying the refreshing scent of a teenage boy, yet with a faint hint of pressure and aggression.
This time, Zhu Zhixi didn’t retreat. Xie Jin’s presence completely enveloped her.
His magnetic voice drifted down. "Why? Why do you want to be friends with me?"
The two stood very close.
Zhu Zhixi could even feel the tremor in Xie Jin's chest. She stammered, unsure how to explain.
"Zhu Zhixi."
A familiar voice came from behind—deep, as if the three syllables had been forced out through gritted teeth.
Zhu Zhixi felt a shiver run down her spine instinctively. She turned around.
Gu Qishen was not far away, striding toward them, surrounded by a chilling aura. He glanced down at the fruit tea in Zhu Zhixi's hand, his dark, sharp eyes meeting Xie Jin's disdainful gaze.
Xie Jin curved his lips into a lazy smile, exuding an air of nonchalance.
Zhu Zhixi clearly sensed the provocation.
Her slender, pale wrist was pulled as Gu Qishen took the fruit tea from her hand. "Who is this for?"