23
Xu Zhaixing was mortified for a good while. Under Cen Feng’s scrutinizing gaze, she steeled herself and walked over, quickly snatching the romance novel that had ruined her reputation and shoving it into her backpack. She awkwardly explained, “Th-this… this is for a classmate…”
Cen Feng: “Mhm.”
Wuuuuu, Brother, I know you don’t believe me. I don’t blame you. I blame myself for having such an unfortunate deskmate.
From today onward, Cheng You and I are sworn enemies.
Once she finished her internal meltdown, Xu Zhaixing hurriedly changed the subject in a fluster. “Brother, are you here to buy books too?”
Cen Feng nodded, picking up a few books from the counter. Xu Zhaixing glanced at the titles—Mechanical Design, Principles of Operation—things that looked highly advanced.
Could her idol actually be into engineering?!
As if discovering a whole new continent, Xu Zhaixing’s eyes sparkled. She asked excitedly, “Brother, so you know mechanical design too?”
Her shining eyes clearly said: How are you this amazing?!
Cen Feng replied, “Just browsing.” He walked over to the storage lockers, retrieved a black backpack he had stored earlier, and put the books inside.
Xu Zhaixing caught a glimpse of the backpack filled with odd-looking mechanical parts and many unopened small boxes. Though curious, she didn’t ask anything.
Cen Feng slung the backpack over his shoulder. He glanced at the sunlight streaming through the door, paused for a moment, then turned back to the girl cautiously standing a few steps behind him and asked, “Are you done shopping?”
Xu Zhaixing was about to say she wasn’t, but worried that if she did, her idol would say goodbye. Yet she really didn’t want to admit that she had come here just to buy that CEO’s fiery little wife novel. For a moment, she was stuck, unable to speak.
Cen Feng waited but got no answer. Watching her face shift through a fascinating array of expressions, he seemed to guess something, because he actually smiled.
Though the smile was faint and quickly vanished back into his usual aloofness, ever since their reunion, Xu Zhaixing could count on one hand the number of times she had seen him smile. This one smile twisted her heart painfully.
Forget about reputation. She just wanted to talk to him a bit more and make him happy. She immediately said, “Yes, I’m done! This novel is super popular, sold out everywhere. I never thought I’d find it here, and I even ran into you!” Her tone turned thoughtful. “Is this bookstore some kind of magical temple dedicated to granting wishes?”
Cen Feng: “…………”
She smiled, her eyes curving like crescents, filled with sunlight. “Brother, the weather’s warmed up. Let me buy you ice cream.”
Once the weather warms up, I’ll come find you again.
Today was bright and sunny, with clear skies.
The bookstore was in a bustling district, and right across the street was an ice cream shop.
Xu Zhaixing skipped ahead. When she reached the shop, she looked at the store’s menu on the wall, then turned back happily and asked him, “Brother, what flavor do you want?”
Cen Feng said, “Anything is fine.”
Xu Zhaixing wasn’t surprised by that answer. She turned to the shopkeeper with a smile. “Two vanilla cones, please!”
The shopkeeper quickly made two ice creams, the cones wrapped in colorful paper sleeves, and handed them over. “Welcome back next time.”
Xu Zhaixing took one in each hand, turned, and ran back to Cen Feng, offering him the one with the prettiest shape.
Eating ice cream this early in the season was a bit chilly. Xu Zhaixing happily took a bite, then shivered as the cold hit her teeth. She inhaled sharply and glanced at Cen Feng. He was looking down, taking a bite of his ice cream. His slightly messy hair brushed against the corners of his eyes, his profile was beautiful, and the wind gently billowed his loose hoodie. With his slender frame and delicate build, he looked like a beautiful young man straight out of a manga.
At this moment, she could only curse Nokia’s low pixel count for being unable to capture her idol’s breathtaking beauty.
They hadn’t walked more than a few meters when they reached a commercial square ahead. In the center was a man-made fountain, and many young men and women were skateboarding in the square. Xu Zhaixing had initially thought that after finishing their ice cream, she’d have to say goodbye to her idol. She was mentally preparing her farewell speech when Cen Feng walked over to the steps by the fountain and sat down.
Was this… an invitation for her to join him, right? Right?
Xu Zhaixing hesitated for a tiny second, then happily scooted over to sit beside him.
Still, she didn’t dare sit too close, leaving enough space between them for two people to pass. She hugged her backpack, licking her ice cream and sneakily tilting her head to look at him.
The thin sunlight fell upon him, as if he were shrouded in a veil of pale gold, each strand of his hair distinct and clear.
Ahhhh! My idol’s stunning beauty is a critical hit!!!
I want to swing on his eyelashes!
I want to slide down the bridge of his nose!
I hate this era for being too backward, unable to share my idol’s peerless beauty with my sisters!!!
Perhaps her gaze was too intense. Cen Feng turned to look at her. The moment his eyes landed on her face, his expression froze.
Xu Zhaixing, still clueless, blinked.
Then she heard Cen Feng say stiffly, “Your nose is bleeding.”
Xu Zhaixing: “？？？？？？？？？”
Horrified, she raised a hand to wipe her nose and saw blood all over her fingers.
Holy shit shit shit shit shit shit!!! Am I a goddamn pervert??? Did I really just get a nosebleed from looking at my idol???!!!
Xu Zhaixing’s unfinished ice cream fell to the ground with a splat. In a flurry, she covered her nose and tilted her head back, her voice on the verge of tears. “Brother, don’t look at me! It’ll stop soon!”
It was all because of B City’s dry weather! And the strong winds! She wasn’t used to the climate here—she’d had a nosebleed on her first day too, but that was at home, and Xu Yan had handled it quickly.
What kind of apocalyptic day was this?!
First, the fiery little wife novel, and now a perverted nosebleed???
Was there some fellow idol-chasing celestial sister up there jealous of her close encounter with her idol, who put a curse on her???
Xu Zhaixing’s mind was in utter chaos. She was just about to run into the mall to find a restroom when the back of her head was suddenly cradled by a cool palm.
A chilly scent of tobacco enveloped her, mixed with the faint fragrance of laundry detergent. Cen Feng half-knelt beside her, holding a tissue to her mouth and nose, then pressed his thumb against the philtrum above her upper lip.
Xu Zhaixing trembled all over and instinctively tried to push him away.
Brother, don’t touch me!!! An immortal must not be stained with this mortal’s blood!!!
You’ll get dirty!!!
The back of her neck was suddenly gripped. Cen Feng said in a low voice, “Don’t move.”
She froze, not daring to move.
After about two minutes, Cen Feng finally released his hold. Xu Zhaixing moved her numb upper lip and philtrum, looking at him with utter despair.
She heard her idol say, “Alright, the bleeding’s stopped.”
Xu Zhaixing wanted to cry.
Just imagine what her face must look like right now, smeared with blood.
This image would forever remain in her idol’s heart.
From now on, every time he saw her, he would remember: That’s the fangirl who got a nosebleed looking at me.
She didn’t just want to cry—she wanted to die.
Just as she sat there stupidly, her eyes reddening with frustration, Cen Feng suddenly said, “The climate here is too dry. You should drink more water.”
Xu Zhaixing’s eyes widened as she stared at him.
He knew?!
He knew it wasn’t because I’m a pervert; it was because of the dry weather!!!
Wuuuuuuu, Mom, I’m saved.
After saying that, he picked up the ice cream Xu Zhaixing had dropped on the ground, wiped the melted cream off the pavement with a tissue, tossed it into a nearby trash can, and then asked her, “Can you walk?”
Xu Zhaixing nodded frantically.
He gave a slight smile. “Let’s go wash up in the mall.”
Xu Zhaixing shot to her feet, not daring to look up, and followed closely behind him into the mall with her head bowed.
When they found the restroom, he stopped at the entrance, took her backpack from her, and handed her the half-used pack of tissues. “Be careful when cleaning your nose.”
Xu Zhaixing’s face flushed hot. She grabbed the tissues and scurried inside as if fleeing.
The mall restroom was clean and bright, the mirrors spotless, clearly reflecting her blood-stained face and the drops of blood on her clothes.
Xu Zhaixing felt like crying but had no tears. She silently screamed and stomped her feet to vent, then quickly turned on the faucet to wash up while no one was around.
When she came out after cleaning up, Cen Feng was leaning against the wall, holding her backpack. Diagonally across from them, two young saleswomen at a cosmetics counter were whispering and secretly taking photos with their phones.
He didn’t seem to notice, his expression still aloof. Hearing footsteps nearby, he turned to see Xu Zhaixing walking out awkwardly. Only then did his expression soften a little. “All done?”
Xu Zhaixing didn’t dare meet his eyes at all. She quickly took her backpack back, kept her head down, and mumbled, “Yes.”
Because her head was lowered, she missed the fleeting smile that crossed Cen Feng’s face.
He said quietly, “Let’s go then.”
He started walking ahead. Xu Zhaixing followed behind, watching his back, sadly thinking that it was time to say goodbye.
She had no idea when their next meeting would be. Today, she had embarrassed herself repeatedly in front of him. Would this negative impression stay in his memory forever?
No, no, no—she absolutely had to salvage her image before leaving!!!
Clenching her fists, Xu Zhaixing took a deep breath as they walked out of the mall entrance and declared loudly, “Brother! I won an award!”
Cen Feng paused, glancing at her. “Hmm?”
Xu Zhaixing resembled a kindergarten child seeking a little gold star. “The Paris Fashion Design Competition. My work won first place!”
I’m not just someone who reads trashy romance novels or gets nosebleeds over you like a hopeless fan. I’m actually very talented!
Those always-bright eyes were shining with a clear message:
Praise me!
In Cen Feng’s stormy heart, it was as if a tear had suddenly been ripped open, letting a sliver of sunlight seep in.
It had been a long, long time since he’d felt this kind of joy.
After a long moment, Xu Zhaixing heard him say, “Mhm, that’s really impressive.”
My idol praised me, my idol praised me!!!
Xu Zhaixing was so thrilled she almost floated into the air.
Suppressing her excitement, she gave a little stomp of her foot and said happily, “Then, Brother, see you next time!”
Cen Feng looked into her eyes, paused, then suddenly said, “Wait a moment.”
Xu Zhaixing watched him expectantly.
Cen Feng glanced around, walked over to the platform beside the fountain, sat down, and opened his black backpack. Curious, Xu Zhaixing followed and saw him take out many complex mechanical parts.
Sunlight shimmered on the fountain’s surface, glinting off his focused, attentive eyes.
Those intricate, delicate, numerous parts quickly began to take shape in his hands.
Xu Zhaixing saw a mechanical puppy forming.
Cen Feng installed the battery as the final step, cradled the puppy in his palm, and held it out to her. He said, “Congratulations on winning the award.”
The little puppy let out two soft beeps and wagged its tail in his palm.
**