I am just eating the food quietly when I notice something. I suddenly look at him and ask, "Yuan, I've just realized that you haven't ordered anything. What do you want to order?"
He puts down his chopsticks and smiles faintly, then says, "Didn't I tell you before that my whole life I ate whatever I liked, but now I want to eat what you like."
I giggle and say, "Such a typical boyfriend."
"Hm? And didn't you like it?" he asks, raising his eyebrow in his usual way.
I smile and say, "Of course I do."
"Look at you, your whole face has turned so red. Tell me, are you really easy to make blush, or is it just me who makes you blush this much without doing anything? What if I really do something to make you blush?" he asks, looking straight into my eyes.
I take a deep breath and say, "Yuan, tell your Miss. Heart not to make my Mr. Heart flutter so much. It's really hard to handle."
He chuckles.
We finish eating, and the waiter comes holding the bill and places it on our table. I take out my phone and pay the bill through my WeChat account. It's 2129 yuan.
Suddenly I notice it and say, "Look, even our bill amount came with our numbers."
He looks at the bill immediately and says, "29 is my date… and 21? Is that your date?" he asks.
"Oh no… what did you do, Zhao Shiza? You just revealed your birth date so easily," I think to myself without saying anything.
Then he says, "So 21 is your date. Which month?"
"Can't you figure it out on your own? I've already told you too much," I say, trying to keep my tone calm.
He slightly looks away, laughs, and says, "I'll find out your date. I can figure out the month on my own."
"Are you sure?" I ask, shocked.
"Of course," he replies confidently.
Then I hear a group of girls sitting nearby giggling. One of them says, "Doesn't that boy resemble China's biggest actor?" Another replies, "Maybe it really is him, but how could that be possible?"
I hear everything. Without wasting time, I grab his hand and pull him out of the restaurant.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" he asks.
"Some girls were talking about you. They were about to recognize you," I say.
He smiles. "Then we shouldn't walk—we should run."
He holds my wrist and gently makes me run with him. "Run faster, Miss Slow Turtle," he says, lightly pinching my nose.
I don't reply. I just enjoy the moment. Somehow, it feels like the world has stopped.
We stop running, and he looks at me. "What's next?"
I smile. We're standing right in front of an ice cream parlour.
Before I can say anything, he walks in with me. The atmosphere inside is warm, slow, and steady, with soft lighting and gentle music playing in the background.
The waiter comes and asks, "Sir, ma'am, what would you like to order?"
Before I answer, Yuan says, "Two vanilla ice creams with almond and hazelnut toppings."
The waiter smiles and leaves.
While waiting, I take out my phone and message Wang Ruoxi that I might be late, then put my phone back in my bag.
I notice Yuan staring past me. I turn slightly to look but don't see anything.
"Is there something more worth staring at than me?" I ask.
His expression softens. "No one."
"Then who were you staring at just now?" I ask.
He exhales and says, "That boy behind you has been staring at you since we entered."
I smile. "Of course. I look too pretty today, don't I?"
But he still looks serious.
Our ice creams arrive. I start eating mine. He holds his ice cream near my face, staring at it like he's solving a math equation.
"What?" I ask.
He smiles but doesn't answer.
"Why aren't you eating? It'll melt," I say.
"I'm comparing," he says.
"Comparing what?" I ask, shocked.
"You and the ice cream. You're both wearing white—it's vanilla. Pretty similar," he says, then starts eating.
"Is that a compliment or a comment?" I ask.
"Everything from me to you is a compliment," he replies.
I roll my eyes. "You're really good with words."
"Isn't that the quality you fell for?" he asks.
I don't answer. I finish my ice cream and stand up.
"Where are you going?" he asks.
"To pay the bill and buy ice cream for Wang Ruoxi, or she won't let me enter the dorm," I say.
"Okay, I'll wait outside," he says.
I nod and go to the counter.
When I return, I see Yuan standing outside, waiting. His expression feels different—rough, empty. His hair is messy, his shirt wrinkled. His eyes, usually full of emotion, look blank.
I don't ask anything. These thoughts stay in my mind.
"Let's go back to the dorm. It's late," I say.
He nods silently.
As we walk to the parking lane, he doesn't speak. Suddenly, bright headlights flash toward us. Before I can react, he pulls me protectively into his arms.
I've never felt this precious in my life.
He hugs me tightly. "You little bunny, don't you know this is a parking lane?"
I smile. "When my crybaby boyfriend is here, I don't need to fear anything."
He closes his eyes. "Do you really trust me that much?"
I break the hug and look at him. "Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here."
"But we've only known each other for a few days," he says.
I chuckle and cup his face. "For you it's days. For me, it's years."
He smiles shyly. "So into me."
"I heard that," I say.
We reach the car. He drives slowly.
"Drive faster," I say. "I have early classes."
"Safety first," he replies.
I rub my hands, feeling cold. Without a word, he turns up the heater and tries to give me his coat.
"No," I stop him. "This isn't a drama scene."
He stares at me. "You spoil romance."
"No, I'm just deeply romantic," I say.
"Only for you," I add.
He blushes.
"Aiyaa, look who's blushing now," I tease.
He chuckles and focuses on driving....