The Secret to Happiness

"You... you have Superpower!?" Xiao He asked in astonishment, "What kind of Superpower? Like the Superpower of Mutant?"

"Yes," Huang Ling smiled, "My Superpower is..." She paused deliberately, leaving the person closest to me in suspense, before continuing, "It can bring happiness to the person I'm closest to."

"..." Xiao He fell silent: Was she joking or serious?

"Isn't that an amazing Superpower?" Huang Ling said with a smile, "Whether it's a boy who likes me or my best friend, they'll all find their own happiness soon. And then I'll be all alone again."

"Uh..." Xiao He scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "I think only time can tell whether he's the right person for me."

"Maybe," Huang Ling smiled.

Xiao He smiled wryly, "But, if it's true... then wouldn't your ability be amazing? Everyone would definitely like you."

"But I don't get any benefit from it..." Huang Ling muttered unconvinced.

Xiao He was still pondering whether Huang Ling's words were true or a joke. He thought it was probably a joke, after all, what kind of Superpower so absurd? But thinking back to his and Ye Wanqing's Superpower, which were also quite absurd, perhaps Huang Ling's Superpower was real?

Regardless of the reason, the relationship between the three of them is quite awkward right now. Xiao He feels he should make things clear with Huang Ling as soon as possible.

"Um..." Xiao He scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Although I know I was the one who initiated the conversation, but..."

At this point, Xiao He lowered his head. "I'm sorry, I can't be ambiguous with another girl right now; it wouldn't be good for the three of us."

"So you really did fall for Wanqing, didn't you?" Huang Ling said with an understanding expression. "I knew this would happen, that's why I told you before that things wouldn't work out between us."

"About this..." Xiao He smiled wryly. Huang Ling, resting her chin on her hand, asked with interest, "So? When are you planning to tell her?"

"Uh..." Xiao He stammered, "I'm a little worried about being rejected... After all, I often make her angry. If I reject her, it'll be awkward for us later, but we can't break up..."

"That's true." Huang Ling pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Then let's pick a more romantic time; the success rate will increase."

Just then, Ye Wanqing returned from the restroom, Xiao He quickly stopped talking.

Ye Wanqing smiled sweetly at him and said, "Keep chatting, don't mind me."

"Wanqing and I are planning to have dinner at Willow Restaurant later. Do you want to come with us?" Xiao He asked Huang Ling.

"I'm not going. I've been seeing too much PDA lately," Huang Ling shook her head. "That restaurant is great in every way, but it's just too unfriendly to single people. Watching the owners show off their love is really painful..."

"That's true..." Xiao He chuckled dryly, thinking to himself.

In order to reserve seats in Willow Restaurant, Xiao He and Ye Wanqing slipped away halfway through class.

"Are you alright? When you came out, that teacher kept staring at you, it was like he was saying, 'You've lost all your points.'" Ye Wanqing asked worriedly.

"What does it matter? Even if he gives me zero marks for participation, I can still graduate." Xiao He said dismissively.

"What if you leave the Special Response Department before you graduate?" Ye Wanqing asked, glancing at him sideways. Xiao He was taken aback for a moment, then turned to Ye Wanqing with a fawning smile and said, "Then could you please change my 'exam paper' to 'Lin Tiannan'?"

"This is outrageous..." Ye Wanqing glared at him with her delicate brows furrowed.

"That's because you wanted to eat at Willow Restaurant, that's why I skipped class!" Xiao He said irritably.

"Okay, I'll change it for you later." Ye Wanqing pouted and muttered softly, "Let's go, there won't be any seats left."

They arrived at Willow Restaurant early to secure a table, and the two of them ordered their meals, waiting for the food to be served.

The owners, as always, chatted warmly with the customers, then openly displayed their affection, oblivious to everyone else. Regular customers were used to it; after all, the food was delicious and cheap, so they tolerated the free dog food.

"Honey, that car outside's stalled, looks like it needs help," the shop owner's wife said, pointing to a car stopped in the middle of the road. The owner looked outside, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "Hmm, I'll go help."

"I'll go too," Xiao He said, standing up and following him out.

So, only a few regular customers, Ye Wanqing, and the proprietress remained in the shop.

"Hehe, now it's just the two of us." The proprietress leaned close to Ye Wanqing and said happily, "Any progress with him lately?"

"Hmm... it feels alright." Ye Wanqing smiled shyly, "His attitude towards me has improved a lot."

"Isn't this great?" the proprietress said with a smile, covering her mouth. Ye Wanqing sighed, "But it's just that their attitudes have improved. The two of them still have some disagreements in their daily interactions... and they still bicker occasionally."

"But bickering is fun too, isn't it?" the proprietress said with a smile, cupping her cheeks.

"Hmm..." Ye Wanqing smiled and nodded, her face flushed. "I feel like he seems to have developed feelings for me lately, but he doesn't show it. Or rather, he's afraid to show it..."

"He must be hesitant too," the proprietress nodded. "Now's the time to take the initiative!"

"Should I take the initiative? That wouldn't be good, I'm a girl..." Ye Wanqing said hesitantly.

The proprietress glanced at her sideways, narrowed her eyes, and said, "You know what? When I was in junior high, my husband actually liked another girl at first, a girl who was smart, beautiful, and obedient—his 'white moonlight' (ideal). He was completely infatuated with her at first and had absolutely no feelings for me."

"Is that so?!" Ye Wanqing asked in surprise, "But the proprietress is clearly so beautiful."

"Because that 'white moonlight' wasn't bad either, although a little less so than me." The proprietress smiled, then became smug. "But so what? In the end, I still managed to snatch my husband away, and we even have two kids..."

At this point, the proprietress smiled mysteriously and said, "Do you know why? Because people must actively pursue their own happiness, regardless of whether you're a boy or a girl. Besides, if two people are happy together, what difference does it make who takes the initiative?"

"Hmm..." Ye Wanqing fell into deep thought, while the proprietress became even more smug. "So what if my husband liked that white moonlight back then? In the end, didn't he still choose me? And after ten years, my husband and I are still as passionate as we were at the beginning when we're intimate. We're so happy!"

"Would doing... doing that kind of thing be very happy?" Ye Wanqing's face flushed as she listened.

"If it's someone you like, then you're very happy." The proprietress smiled. Ye Wanqing seemed to want to ask something, but at that moment, Xiao He entered the restaurant with the proprietress, Ye Wanqing immediately stopped talking, as if nothing had happened.

The proprietress smiled happily at the proprietress and asked, "Honey, how did it go?"

"That kid's really strong!" the shopkeeper patted Xiao He on the shoulder and laughed. "He gave it a push, and the cart moved immediately."