We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

"How much are two cups of Orange Jasmine?" Xie Shu picked up his phone, scanned the QR code, and looked up to ask the cashier.

"Hello, these two drinks have already been paid for by your friend."

Xie Shu was slightly taken aback. She turned her head to look at Li Mubai, who had already packed his schoolbag neatly beside her. The boy was obviously a little guilty. When she looked at him, he immediately looked away unnaturally and pretended to be focused on the street scene outside the door.

"When did you pay?" She walked up to him.

"When I went to the restroom halfway through."

The two walked out of Shiguang Bookstore side by side, and the lingering heat of the afternoon hit them.

"Then let me treat you to dinner, it's just lunchtime."

"No need, Xie Shu, I'll treat you." Li Mubai's tone was firm. "You treated me to Western food last time."

He recalled the scene when he last visited Xie Shu's house. At that time, he was filled with anxiety and disappointment, worried that he would not have another chance. He never expected that things would take such a turn for the better.

"I receive royalties."

Fearing that Xie Shu would insist on declining, Li Mubai quickly added another sentence to reassure her that she should accept.

"Payment?" Xie Shu tilted his head slightly, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Well... Professor Yang Yiyun recommended a writing contest before. If you submit your work, you'll receive a 200 yuan fee, and your work will be engraved on the cliff carvings in the scenic area," he explained simply.

Did you get it?

"Yes, the payment will be deposited into my bank account before May Day."

"That's really impressive," Xie Shu sincerely praised.

Li Mubai was genuinely happy, even more so than when he had just received the manuscript; this was Xie Shu's approval.

"Let's go take a look together once the stone carving is finished," Xie Shu suggested softly.

"...Okay." Li Mubai nodded, then looked at Xie Shu, "Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

Finally, it was his turn to ask that question.

"Let me see what's around here." Xie Shu took out her phone, scrolled through it, and then looked up to hand him the screen. "Is this okay to eat?"

Upon closer inspection, Li Mubai realized it was a Japanese ramen restaurant, with a set meal for two priced at 49 yuan.

So cheap? He was slightly taken aback. This was the first time he had formally invited Xie Shu to dinner, and he wanted to choose a nice place.

"I'd like something simple to eat," Xie Shu said softly, as if she could see right through his dilemma.

"Alright," Li Mubai had no choice but to nod in agreement.

The ramen shop is located inside a shopping mall. While the outside is bustling with noise, the inside is surprisingly quiet.

He was initially worried that the food might not taste good, which was why there weren't many customers. However, he dismissed the thought once two steaming bowls of ramen were served.

A small bite revealed it wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything particularly amazing either.

Xie Shu ate with exceptional care, sipping the soup in small, deliberate sips to avoid splashing it onto her skirt.

Are we going home after we finish eating? Time seems to be flying by. Li Mubai glanced at his phone; it was almost six in the evening, and he hadn't had enough time with her yet.

"I need to go to the restroom. Can you wait here for me for a bit?" Xie Shu looked at him.

"it is good."

She got up and left the ramen shop, heading towards the mall's public restrooms.

Li Mubai wasn't worried at all that she would sneak off to pay the bill. He had already pre-ordered the item on Meituan and paid for it long ago, so there was no chance to pay again.

He sat alone in the chair, fiddling with his phone, somewhat bored.

He'll be going back to school the day after tomorrow, and he still has a lot of homework to do.

I don't know when Xie Shu will be able to return to school. I hope she can go back to school after the holiday.

What if Xie Shu goes back to school? Will she still be the class monitor? Should he, with a mischievous grin, call out "My class monitor"?

But she still has to leave a year later... What will happen then?

Xie Shu seemed to have been in the restroom for quite a while.

Li Mubai snapped out of his daze and glanced at the time. Ten minutes had passed since she left, but he still hadn't seen her return.

He got up, walked out of the store, and headed towards the corridor leading to the restroom.

A few people stood outside the corridor, huddled together and whispering, all looking in the same direction.

Li Mubai walked over quickly and found Xie Shu being blocked by two girls who wouldn't let her leave.

They had their backs to Li Mubai, so he couldn't tell who they were.

"Xie Shu, it's all your fault! If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have gone to vocational school!"

"Yes, you must apologize to us! We were just talking about you behind your back, but you caused us to get severely punished by the school! We were beaten and scolded terribly by our parents! You must apologize today!"

The two girls persisted relentlessly, displaying a menacing demeanor.

"Get out of the way." Xie Shu's voice was cold, showing no sign of backing down.

"I won't allow it! Unless you apologize!"

The two men stretched out their arms, blocking her way.

Xie Shu frowned deeply, about to speak, when he suddenly saw a figure walking quickly towards him.

Li Mubai reached out and forcefully pushed aside the two girls blocking his way. The force wasn't great, but it was enough to make them stagger back a step.

He took Xie Shu's hand and pulled her outside.

"Who is it? How dare you push me? I'll report you for indecent assault!" One of the girls immediately exploded and rushed forward again to block the two of them.

It wasn't until he saw the other person's face clearly that Li Mubai realized—it was "General Manager Juan," who must be Ma Juan that Xie Shu had mentioned.

Li Mubai chuckled and pointed to the corner of the corridor ceiling:

"There are surveillance cameras here. Go ahead and sue. Let's see who the police believe after they review the footage."

Ma Juan's face stiffened, and she stammered, unable to speak, but she still stubbornly refused to give way.

"Get out of the way." Li Mubai's tone turned serious. He gently pushed her aside, took Xie Shu's hand, and left, leaving the two of them annoyed.

Once he walked out of the mall, the noise completely disappeared, and a slightly cool evening breeze blew by. Li Mubai finally breathed a sigh of relief. If the other party hadn't let it go, things would have been a bit troublesome.

Just as he loosened his grip slightly, the slender hand in his palm suddenly tightened its hold on him.

As the sun sets, the neon lights along the street gradually come on.

Xie Shu looked up at him, her previously cold expression softening into a gentle smile.

"Thank you."

"It's nothing." Li Mubai scratched the back of his neck somewhat awkwardly. "Just now... those two were the bullies from junior high, right?"

"Hmm." Xie Shu nodded gently, feeling the warmth in his palm. She stared straight at him. "But it's okay. Just think of it as encountering two annoying flies."

"Uh... okay." Li Mubai was taken aback by Xie Shu's gaze and looked away.

"Li Mubai," Xie Shu called softly.

"Um?"

"Do you remember what I said before that I wanted to do?"

"I remember..." A sense of unease crept into his heart.

"I want to finish it today." Xie Shu looked at him, her voice soft but unusually serious. "Would you like to come with me?"

Her palms were slightly sweaty, and the warm evening breeze carried her faint scent.

"I will be with you, Xie Shu."

It turns out that Xie Shu deliberately chose to tutor him near the school, with ulterior motives from the very beginning.