We agreed not to date, so why are you crying now that I've become the richest man?

"Wanqing, what do you want to eat? The waiter is getting impatient if you don't order soon."

"My roommate with the ponytail next to me urged me on."

"I...I'll just have a glass of lemonade."

Lin Wanqing managed to squeeze out a few words, and she felt that even the glass of plain water that had just been served in front of her tasted bitter.

The atmosphere in the booths at the front became increasingly harmonious.

Ye Chen stopped teasing her and started talking about some interesting things that happened in college.

He spoke slowly and deliberately, always able to pinpoint Gu Yuxuan's interests. Occasionally, he would throw out a joke that would make the usually aloof girl cover her mouth and giggle.

Gu Yuxuan found that the time she spent with Ye Chen had passed so quickly.

He possesses a strange magic that makes people unconsciously relax and let down their guard.

As she watched Ye Chen speak, a faint starlight flickered in her deep eyes.

Suddenly I realized that a boy can indeed be both mature and composed, yet youthful and spirited, and it doesn't feel out of place at all.

"By the way, I think this one I ordered should be pretty good, you should try it."

Ye Chen pushed another strawberry mille-feuille in front of her.

Gu Yuxuan picked up the matching small fork, but found that the serrations of the fork were too wide, making it impossible to easily cut through the crispy puff pastry.

She tried twice, and both times she ended up looking rather disheveled.

Just as she was about to give up and start eating with a spoon, Ye Chen across from her suddenly stood up.

"Wait a moment."

He didn't say much, but went straight to the dessert shop counter and asked the waiter for a knife specifically for cutting puff pastry and a small dessert fork.

He walked back with the cutlery and naturally pulled the strawberry mille-feuille to his side.

He skillfully cut it into small, easy-to-eat pieces with a knife before pushing the plate and the small fork back to Gu Yuxuan.

"Use this one, it'll be more convenient."

He spoke calmly and performed the action with effortless grace, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.

Gu Yuxuan looked at the carefully cut cake on the plate.

Looking at Ye Chen's calm face again, her heart felt as if it had been gently bumped by something, and an indescribable warm current instantly flowed through her body.

She picked up the small fork, forked a piece of cake, and put it in her mouth. She found the sweet and sour taste of the strawberries even more addictive than the tiramisu she had just eaten.

For Lin Wanqing, who was sitting diagonally behind, all of this was the last straw that broke the camel's back.

She bit her lower lip hard, and could already taste a faint metallic taste of blood in her mouth.

She remembered that when they were in high school, he had once asked her to go to a Western restaurant.

That day, faced with those unfamiliar names on the menu, she was at a loss.

In the end, Ye Chen randomly ordered a steak set meal, but when the steak arrived, it was so tough it was like a rock, and she couldn't cut it at all.

But Ye Chen at that time just scratched his head and awkwardly told her, "I'm sorry, I don't really understand this either."

He was never this considerate before, so thoughtful that he even considered what kind of tableware the other person would use.

Why?

Lin Wanqing stared blankly at the composed boy not far away, her eyes welling up with tears.

Why did Ye Chen seem to completely change after he was rejected during his confession in his senior year of high school?

That clumsy boy who used to only revolve around her and would get so nervous that his palms would sweat if he even spoke a few words to her.

How did you suddenly shed all your naivety and become so mature, dazzling, and at ease?

Back then, she proudly believed that Ye Chen was not mature enough and that he couldn't give her the sense of security she wanted.

She kept telling herself firmly: I don't like Ye Chen. I only have feelings for him as a classmate. Rejecting him is the right choice.

But... if you really don't like it.

Why is it that now, when I see him with other girls, when I see him smiling at others with such ease, when I see him generously sharing the tenderness and gentleness that was once his alone with others...

Her heart would feel like it was being pricked by needles, a dense, throbbing pain.

Could it be that... I've actually gotten used to Ye Chen, who only has eyes for me, but I've been deceiving myself and afraid to admit it?

Did I push this man, who should have been mine, into someone else's arms?

If I hadn't been so aloof back then, would I be sitting next to him now, enjoying this transformed, perfect, and mature person?

A huge, uncontrollable wave of bitterness and panic overwhelmed Lin Wanqing like a tidal wave.

She was the one who witnessed his entire youth!

I was the one who rejected him first... so why do I feel so bad when I see him walking towards someone else? It hurts so much that even breathing hurts.

Ye Chen put down his cutlery and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"Have you finished eating? If you have, let's go."

Gu Yuxuan nodded and was about to get up to go to the bar to pay the bill when Ye Chen's voice rang out unhurriedly.

"Sit down, I'll go."

"No, I promised to treat you this time," Gu Yuxuan insisted, unusually so. She took out her wallet from her small bag and said seriously, "I promised to thank you for helping me last time."

Ye Chen chuckled as he looked at her earnest little face and didn't argue with her anymore.

He leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, watching her with a leisurely smile: "Sure, if you're going to treat, then I won't stand on ceremony. Next time, I'll treat you back."

The phrase "Next time it's my turn to treat you" was said so naturally, as if stating a given fact.

Gu Yuxuan's cheeks began to burn slightly again. She stood up with her wallet in hand, lowered her head, hummed in agreement, and quickly walked towards the cashier.

Lin Wanqing, hiding in the ivy bushes diagonally behind her, saw everything clearly.

Ye Chen's unintentional display of certainty and confidence, and the shyness that the beautiful girl showed because of his words, every scene was like a needle, precisely piercing her heart.

Gu Yuxuan quickly paid the bill and returned.

Ye Chen also stood up.

"Let's go, I'll take you back to your dorm."

The two of them prepared to leave side by side, and their path would take them past Lin Wanqing's table.

As Ye Chen and Gu Yuxuan drew closer, Lin Wanqing's heart pounded like a war drum, pounding violently against her chest.

Almost instinctively, she grabbed her phone from the table, looked down, and scribbled names on the screen, pretending to be looking at something seriously.

She hoped that Ye Chen would recognize her in that fleeting moment as they passed each other, even if it was just a surprised look.

She was also afraid of actually meeting his gaze, afraid of seeing the indifference and alienation that she least wanted to see on that familiar face.

The footsteps drew closer.

……

P.S.: Guys, let's do one more round today, then the rating should be out by now!!!

Godfathers, I'm begging for one!