Were you serious about taking that step back?

Tang Zhao went off to find a cozy table for two with his girlfriend, Li Yajun.

He Zhen stood with Wei Fang.

"If you're hungry, go ahead and order." He Zhen sent Fu Xin a message, but got no reply.

"I'll go grab a table." Wei Fang hadn't spotted Fu Xin, but like He Zhen, he was used to waiting for her and thought nothing of it.

[Go inside and eat while you wait. Fu Xin twisted her ankle. She and Qin Zhen are crawling along like ants right now.]

That exasperated voice rang out again.

Hearing that Fu Xin had twisted her ankle, He Zhen grew anxious. At last, he glanced toward Yao Tao.

Where?

Where had she twisted her ankle?

[That scared me to death!]

[He probably wasn't looking at me.]

He Zhen started calling Fu Xin.

Fu Xin didn't answer.

He Zhen called again and again.

[What's up with He Zhen? Why did he suddenly start making calls?]

[Go eat! All that waiting for Fu Xin is what gave you stomach problems!]

Stomach problems?

He Zhen had only noticed occasional stomach discomfort. He'd never considered anything like that.

[This is where the foreshadowing for his stomach perforation starts!]

[Why aren't you eating already? Fu Xin isn't going to starve to death.]

Yao Tao was practically fuming.

With Fu Xin not answering, He Zhen grew visibly anxious.

He didn't head straight for Yao Tao. First, he questioned a few girls he recognized, then approached Yao Tao, who had been wandering around among the crowd.

"Yao Tao, have you seen Fu Xin?" He Zhen asked, keeping his tone as calm as possible.

"No." Yao Tao hadn't expected him to ask that.

[She's on her way. What's there to worry about? You love waiting for her anyway.]

[Wait, did he ask those other girls the same question just now?]

*[?]*

[Was this scene in the story?]

He Zhen had to admit that he wasn't interested in what Yao Tao said aloud, but in her thoughts. Yet her answer had told him practically nothing.

How could he not worry?

Yao Tao had said Fu Xin twisted her ankle!

At that thought, He Zhen let out a soft laugh.

Was something wrong with him?

All Yao Tao ever did was swoon over him all day and constantly criticize Fu Xin in her head. Yet today, he'd actually taken this sudden remark seriously.

He didn't know what had gone wrong to make him keep hearing Yao Tao's thoughts.

But taking her thoughts seriously? He really must have listened to her for so long that it had messed with his head.

"He Zhen, are you okay?" Yao Tao found it a little strange that he would laugh at a time like this.

[What's he laughing at?]

[Did something about me make him laugh?]

[Impossible!]

[I make sure I look quiet and demure every day.]

[I even coordinate my outfits to match his tastes!]

[Damn it, he can't be laughing at me!]

Hearing that, He Zhen carefully recalled every time he had glanced back at her.

To his surprise, he realized that although he rarely interacted with Yao Tao, her outfits had always felt pleasing to him whenever he looked back.

Precisely because they felt so comfortable, they were less likely to leave a strong impression.

Did Yao Tao really know him that well?

That was seriously creepy.

He Zhen took a step back.

*[?]*

[Am I that ugly?]

[Were you serious about taking that step back???]

[Impossible!]

[I'm obviously the cute type. Even if my looks aren't stunning, they can't possibly be offensive!]

[Aaaaaah-]

[Why, aaaaaah!]

[Why did you step back, aaaaaah-]

Even He Zhen was left dazed by that barrage of questions.

Yao Tao's behavior was certainly creepy for a girl.

But if he couldn't hear her thoughts, he would never have realized just how closely she watched him.

His photos hadn't been spread everywhere, either.

This was a girl who really liked him.

He Zhen knew plenty of girls liked him, but Yao Tao was the only one quite like this.

"I'm fine." He Zhen steadied himself. He was getting a little obsessed with this.

But why him?

Had Yao Tao's overwhelming crush on him somehow put him under a spell?

Then He Zhen found it rather funny that he was already a college sophomore and still entertained thoughts like that.

"Would you like a snack?" Seeing his poor complexion, Yao Tao thought he might be hungry.

[I told you not to go hungry. Good thing I bring snacks every day.]

[I've been preparing for this very day!]

"Here!" Yao Tao took out an individually wrapped durian pastry. "Have a little something first."

He Zhen froze for a moment at the sight of it.

[Well? You like it, don't you?]

[I know you do!]

He Zhen liked durian pastries, but when he was little, he ate so many that his mother worried he was overdoing it and tricked him into believing that eating too many would make him stink.

She and the household servants had all lied to little He Zhen, telling him he smelled bad and that the other children wouldn't play with him anymore.

As a child, He Zhen had been terrified. From then on, he had never eaten another durian pastry.

By the time He's Mother realized she might have gone too far, it was already too late.

He Zhen had never chosen to eat a durian pastry again.

He's Mother had never brought it up again, either.

Not eating them didn't mean he no longer liked them.

It was a deeply private matter, one that neither Wei Fang nor Tang Zhao knew about.

Only He Zhen and his mother knew.

There was no way his mother would have told Yao Tao.

So...

[It was in the book!]

Yao Tao was rather proud of herself.

He Zhen hadn't expected the answer to come so quickly.

What book?

Had she fallen for him by reading this supposed book?

"Have one. I've got plenty." With a reserved air, Yao Tao held the individually wrapped pastry a little farther out.

"Thank you." He Zhen reached out and took it.

[Wow, wow, wow! He took my durian pastry!]

[Waaaah!]

[This is wonderful!!!]

[Once you eat my food, you're mine!]

[I'm blushing!]

He Zhen was speechless.

Looking at the girl who appeared so gentle, refined, and quiet while listening to the nonstop racket in her head, he honestly found the contrast jarring.

"You're welcome," Yao Tao said.

[Actually, if you wanted me to feed you, I wouldn't say no!]

[Oh my, in broad daylight!]

[How embarrassing!]

[I don't mind, though!]

[I've got a thick skin!]

He Zhen had never thought talking to someone could be so painful.

"I have something to do. I'll get going." He Zhen made an excuse.

He didn't notice that he had already forgotten about Fu Xin and her twisted ankle.

Yao Tao held herself back again and again. In the end, all she could do was watch him wave and walk away, saying, "Okay."

[He only said twenty-two words to me before leaving!]

[Damn it!]

[He turned and walked away, as if he'd made some firm decision, never looking at me again!]

[Boohoo. If I listen to Xiao Yi say that line a hundred times, I won't be sad anymore.]

He Zhen's steps faltered.

Her inner drama was far richer than anything she showed on the outside.

[He stopped!]

[Is he waiting for me?!]

[I should rush over and hug him!]

He Zhen stepped forward and didn't stop again.

[You're just taking advantage of how much I spoil you.]

[Damn it!]

[Just you wait. You'll have trouble adjusting soon enough!]

[Do you know that apart from your mom, I'm the only person in this world who spoils you this much?!]

[Hmph! Men!]

He Zhen was barely short of running.

He must have been out of his mind to have thought, even for an instant, that this lunatic Yao Tao was a little cute.