Qixi Festival, Giving You a Sugar Figure to Eat

The next day

"The current time in BJ is exactly 8:00. It's once again the annual Qixi Festival, and today—"

Snap!

Before the broadcast could finish, Ding Yebai turned off the radio.

He leaned back lazily in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling, and said, "What does it have to do with me..."

After zoning out for a while, he started taking out practice papers to work on.

He finished math, then moved on to science, then back to math, over and over, without a break.

While flipping through the papers, he accidentally pulled out an English test from last week's evening study session.

He had scored 100 back then. He remembered being happy for a brief moment.

After that, he didn't care much about it.

Ding Yebai held the test paper, looking at the bright red score, and wondered what Yang Zhi's reaction would be if she saw it.

She would probably smile happily.

Would she say he was amazing?

Is it possible...

Impossible!!!

Ding Yebai abruptly smacked his own head, muttering "[Wise men do not fall in love]" to himself as he put the English test back in its original place.

He continued to bury his head in practice papers, and he didn't stop until nightfall.

Ding Yuerong had less work at the company today, so she returned home early with her bag.

She went upstairs and saw her younger brother diligently working on practice papers. She immediately walked over and placed her hands on his shoulders, saying, "You brat, did you forget that the school announced today that even day students have to attend evening classes?"

Ding Yebai didn't react much, his pen still scratching away.

"Did you forget?"

"I'm going now."

"What do you mean 'now'?! Hurry up and grab your bag and gallop to school!!!"

With that, she shoved him and his bag out the door.

Ding Yebai glanced at his watch and sighed helplessly.

He knew their homeroom teacher would be a little late today, so he hadn't gone to class early.

But his older sister...

There was no choice. He got on his bicycle and rode towards school.

Unlike usual, the main road they had to take today had been transformed into a Qixi Festival lantern fair.

The streets were lined with bright lanterns of various designs, and of course, there were all sorts of barbecue snacks.

Jinghuai had this custom of holding beautiful lantern exhibitions for both the Qixi Festival and the Lantern Festival.

People were coming and going. Ding Yebai got off his bike and pushed it along.

The lanterns were so beautiful that he couldn't help but look left and right.

Then, he smelled the delicious grilled flatbread and couldn't resist spending money on two to eat as he walked.

"Huh?"

He had only taken a few steps after starting to eat when he looked up and saw Yang Zhi holding Qiqi in front of a snack stall.

Ding Yebai froze.

Yang Zhi, on the other hand, held Qiqi in one hand and a sugar figure in the other: "Here. The sugar figure you've been wanting."

Qiqi: "Thank you, Sister Yang Zhi."

The child happily shook her head, looked around, and then... saw Ding Yebai.

"Hey, Brother Xiao Bai?!!!"

"..."

"Huh? Ding Yebai? What are you doing here?"

And he was holding a flatbread.

The three of them looked at each other, the atmosphere slightly awkward.

Ding Yebai pushed his bike over and stopped in front of Yang Zhi, asking, "Are you strolling through this Qixi lantern fair alone?"

"No?"

"Ah?" Ding Yebai's heart skipped a beat.

He felt a little flustered.

But immediately Yang Zhi pinched Qiqi's little cheek and said, "Go with her."

"Oh... oh... Hah! So it's her." Ding Yebai breathed a sigh of relief.

"Brother Xiao Bai doesn't treat me like a person!"

"I don't."

"Wuwuwu!"

Qiqi pretended to cry, and Yang Zhi immediately patted her head to comfort her.

Ding Yebai frowned slightly, feeling a little helpless. He gripped the handlebars and said, "I have to go to school. Goodbye, Sister Yang Zhi."

"Don't you have evening self-study?"

"Something came up at school today, and even day students have to go."

"Oh..."

"Then I'm leaving."

"Sister Yang Zhi..." Qiqi suddenly pointed at the Sugar Figure shop owner, then pointed at Ding Yebai.

Yang Zhi immediately understood and called out to Ding Yebai.

"Hey, wait a moment."

"What is it?"

"It'll be quick."

Yang Zhi smiled with her eyes curved, looking exceptionally captivating in the lamplight.

Ding Yebai watched, and watched, and just stared blankly.

She still smiles so much... he thought.

A moment later...

Yang Zhi took a Sugar Figure from the owner and handed it to Ding Yebai.

Ding Yebai took it, looked up at her with a confused expression, "This..."

Yang Zhi, holding Qiqi, tilted her head and smiled gently, "It's for you."

Ding Yebai: "Why..."

He still asked subconsciously.

Yang Zhi: "Qiqi asked you to eat it."

Qiqi: "Hehe."

Ding Yebai's pupils gradually widened, a faint softness blooming in them. He lowered his eyes and stared intently at the Sugar Figure in his hand.

"It looks delicious," he said softly.

Yang Zhi turned to look at him, at his focused expression, and his chiseled profile in the lamplight.

She lost track of time just watching.

A few seconds later, Ding Yebai snapped back to reality. He was about to turn and leave when he met Yang Zhi's gaze.

Their eyes met.

Yang Zhi blinked a few times, quickly regaining her usual calm.

Ding Yebai, on the other hand, "swished" his face away and said, "Wh-what do you want?"

Yang Zhi pursed her lips, as gentle as ever, and pointed to his left cheek, "On your face—"

"Slap."

Before she could finish, Ding Yebai, as if swatting a mosquito, slapped his own left cheek.

"There was a mosquito, right? I knew there were a lot of mosquitoes lately."

He was just using this action to hide the blush on his face.

Yang Zhi: "No, there was some black dirt."

She then took out a tissue from her bag and handed it to him, "Wipe it."

Her tone was extremely gentle. Ding Yebai listened, and looked at her delicate features, feeling his face burn even more.

Just as he took the tissue, the Sugar Figure shop owner squinted and sighed, "Ah... youth is wonderful."

That sentence exploded in Ding Yebai's heart like a landmine. He turned around, uncharacteristically flustered and shy, "No, she's just my tutor... sister."

The Sugar Figure shop owner paused, looked at him, then at Yang Zhi, "Ohoho~"

Help!

Why is this owner looking at me even weirder!

"Tsk..."

Ding Yebai roughly wiped the black smudge off his face with the tissue, then got on his bike and said, "Uh, I'm going to be late. Sister Yang Zhi, I'm leaving now. Goodbye."

After speaking, he rode away.

Everything felt like a childish tantrum.

Yang Zhi held Qiqi, and the two of them turned to look at each other, both a little confused.

Sugar Figure Shop Owner: "Oh, little girl, do you still want a Sugar Figure?"

Yang Zhi: "Huh?"

Sugar Figure Shop Owner: "Didn't you give yours to that high school student?"

Yang Zhi: "Oh... right. Then could you please make me another one, boss?"

Sugar Figure Shop Owner: "Coming right up!!!!!"

Thank you to Hao Da Gui Gui for 600 Qidian coins, kk-Xiao Wei for 200 Qidian coins, Xiang Jian Mo Lu for 1500 Qidian coins, and Jin Liang Wei Qian De De for 100 Qidian coins for their rewards.