"Just mess around a little. Don't take it too far." Han Qinglu sighed.
"What's there to worry about? We're all friends here. Unless someone can't take a joke?" Zeng Rou raised an eyebrow at He Zhen.
"Go ahead." When He Zhen reached for the menu, Yao Tao held on so tightly that she seemed to be clutching a secret ledger. "Let's keep the rest the same as usual."
[The same as usual???]
Yao Tao's ears twitched.
"Remember, I'll drink a penalty glass for every item I get wrong." He Zhen thought memories really were remarkable things.
They used to love coming to this lively karaoke place. The soundproofing was so good they could even dance like they were at a club.
Despite the dim, multicolored lighting, the place was actually very clean. The families who came here had no shortage of money; safety and hygiene were what they wanted.
[What? You're going to drink alcohol, too!]
Yao Tao's eyes grew even wider.
[It's over. There's no saving him.]
[It's over, it's over. Give me a moment.]
[My heart hurts.]
Yao Tao sat ramrod straight, but her soul had already collapsed.
[There's no hope. Let it all burn!]
[Giving-up-on-life buff activated. I'm officially a useless lump now!]
"I'll use tea instead of alcohol." Seeing Yao Tao's expression slide toward utter defeat, He Zhen added that clarification.
Sure enough, Yao Tao's expression improved ever so slightly.
[You can still be taught. It's not too late yet!]
[I've got my energy back!]
"Then hurry up and go." Zeng Rou found the whole thing terribly amusing.
He Zhen had clearly added that only because Yao Tao looked upset.
Otherwise, he was already a sophomore, and he'd drunk plenty before-though he always ran off after barely drinking anything!
Either that, or Fu Xin would call him away whenever he announced a penalty drink.
This was so unusual. No, not just unusual-practically unheard of!
Zeng Rou wanted to throw back her head and howl, then summon Fu Xin immediately. She never minded making a spectacle even bigger!
Before opening the door to leave, He Zhen reminded them, "Yao Tao is a little... introverted."
He hesitated only because he was choosing his words.
But to everyone else, that hesitation seemed loaded with meaning.
[Introverted? What nonsense!]
[Introverted is just my persona!]
[Who told you to like that type?]
[I had to keep up the act for ages before you finally spoke to me!]
[Damn it!]
[You don't even see me!]
[Forget it, forget it. Your eyes are only on Fu Xin. How could you possibly have room for a poor mama fan like me?]
[Fu Xin torments you, and you torment me!]
[It's our first love. We just have to take it, boo-hoo.]
He Zhen swiftly shut the door. He would leave her to it.
Once He Zhen was gone, Zeng Rou let loose. "So, junior, how did you get connected with He Zhen?"
Yao Tao wasn't pleased. What did she mean, "get connected"? After considering it, she answered demurely and sweetly, "Wei invited me to have lunch with him."
"Wei Fang's finally stepping up!" Zeng Rou beamed. "I'll send him a reward!"
Looking at the picture of innocence that was Yao Tao, Han Qinglu patted Zeng Rou's shoulder. "Don't scare her."
"Now, I don't like hearing that. It's not like I eat people!" Zeng Rou pouted. "Besides, what's wrong with asking? She's ten times, a hundred times better than Fu Xin. I approve of this marriage."
Yao Tao: !
[Sis! You're my real sister! I approve, too!]
[You have such excellent taste!]
Yao Tao didn't dare say any of that aloud. She shyly lowered her head, actually trying to hide the expression that was about to slip out of her control.
From grinning.
"Please don't tease me." Yao Tao spoke softly, staying perfectly in character.
[But I love hearing it, so keep going!]
[My greatest dream in life is to marry a fictional character!]
[A living one!]
[One who moves!]
[I'd love that so much, too!]
"Have some confidence, junior!" Exasperated at her timidity, Zeng Rou moved over and draped an arm around Yao Tao's shoulders. "Bring out that burning gaze you gave Cheng Yu this morning!"
*[!]*
Yao Tao was startled.
[Cheng-Lu is true love. Death to anyone who breaks them up!]
[That includes me!]
[Damn it, I just praised you, and you immediately proved you didn't deserve it!]
[I'm the one who should be playing wingwoman, okay!]
Cheng Yu's expression turned awkward for a moment, and even Yao Tao's favorite goddess, Han Qinglu, grew embarrassed.
"I just thought you and Han Qinglu looked perfect together." Yao Tao spoke shyly. "You have such great chemistry!"
"Oh, so you're not blind!" Zeng Rou perked up.
"Zeng Rou!" Han Qinglu stamped her foot and called her name.
"Then-then, junior, what do you think of me and Rourou?" Zhao Yixiao, who hadn't spoken until now, couldn't resist joining the girls' conversation.
"Shoo, shoo, shoo! Get lost!" Zeng Rou pushed his big head away. "You're going to scare our little Peach to death!"
Nice one, sis. You're an extrovert, too!
Yao Tao was deeply gratified. Unfortunately, she was playing an introvert right now and couldn't chime in!
Damn it, keeping up this persona was exhausting, okay!
"Who's scaring whom, exactly?" Han Qinglu added quietly, her face red.
The dim lighting made it hard to tell, though.
"Never mind He Zhen. Are you two going to drag this out until graduation, too?" Zeng Rou really was an expert wingwoman.
With Zeng Rou putting in that much effort, Yao Tao had to fan the flames, too.
"So you two really are a couple!" Yao Tao clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Han Qinglu and Cheng Yu, her gaze shy and curious.
"Don't listen to her nonsense." Han Qinglu didn't know what to do with her hands or feet. She glanced at Zeng Rou. "Don't go corrupting such a sweet, well-behaved junior."
"How is this corrupting her? Even she thinks you're perfect together!" Zeng Rou hugged Yao Tao's arm and asked, "Isn't that right, junior?"
Yao Tao said nothing and simply nodded hard, determined to stay in character!
"I think so, too." Cheng Yu turned to look at Han Qinglu, a hint of a smile in her eyes.
Han Qinglu blushed and fell silent.
"Get together! Get together!" Zeng Rou clapped. "No time like the present! Cheng Yu's already said that much. What are you waiting for?"
[Exactly! Cheng Yu's already made her move. Sweetie Lu, what are you thinking?]
Though Yao Tao didn't speak, her eager little eyes seemed to speak for her as she excitedly watched Cheng Yu and Han Qinglu.
Under that gaze, Han Qinglu felt her face grow even hotter.
[Say yes to her, say yes to her, say yes to her!]
[Not tomorrow!]
[Not the day after!]
[Today!]
[Now!]
[This instant!]
[Immediately!]
On the surface, Yao Tao was a sweet little thing who only dared sneak looks at them, not join Zeng Rou's chanting. But inside, she dared to scream her head off!
He Zhen didn't even have to open the door for that inner voice to make his ears tremble.
Amid the cheering, Han Qinglu gave a tiny nod.
Cheng Yu was overjoyed, and so was Zeng Rou. Zhao Yixiao also tried to seize the moment to confess to Zeng Rou, only to be mercilessly rejected.
Yao Tao was so excited she was about to faint!
[The boy I like and the girl I like got together!]
[Cheng-Lu got together ahead of schedule!]
[Instead of dragging things out and ending up so miserable later!]
[Oh my god, this development!]
[It was worth it, girls!]
[My ship is officially together!]
[And I was one of the witnesses!!!]
[Aaaaaah-]
If her surroundings had allowed it, Yao Tao would have jumped up and spun in circles.
"Sounds lively in here." He Zhen already knew what had happened, but asked anyway as he pushed the door open.
"Perfect timing! Today's a wonderful day, and nobody's allowed to leave!" Zeng Rou was beside herself with joy.
She'd finally badgered them into making it real. Little Peach was a lucky charm!
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