Chapter 15

Between the two of us, we finished the bottle of water.

Lu Xiao didn’t throw the bottle away. Instead, he asked me lazily, “Lin Ting, are you full?”

“More or less.”

“What does ‘more or less’ mean?”

He leaned in a little, his face closer to mine.

“If you’re still hungry, I’ll take you to that malatang place you love.”

“It’s almost ten. The owner is probably closing up. It’ll be tiring for you to drive all the way there.” I reminded him quietly, hoping he’d give up.

But the man’s eyes softened. “I own that place.”

“You do?”

“Mhm. I bought it. You can go eat there whenever you want.”

“…”

Oh, my god.

Why didn’t my takeout coupon from lunch today explode and take me with it?

I was tearing up.

Honestly, even a pig would be moved by this kind of gesture. And I, this pig-I mean, person-was a classic sucker for a soft approach.

Tonight, I had planned to reject him firmly, once and for all. But my bestie’s words, combined with this incredibly humble act, made me hesitate.

I scratched my head, thinking. “Lu Xiao, isn’t tomorrow your birthday?”

“Yeah. You remembered?”

“Of course. I remember everything you say.”

He’d been dropping hints about his birthday every time he was around me for the past month. I even knew how his mother felt on the day he was born. It would have been impossible not to remember.

Hearing my words, Lu Xiao raised an eyebrow, looking inexplicably pleased.

“You really are reeling me in.”

“…?”

There he goes again.

I was too tired to explain anymore, so I just changed the subject.

“Lu Xiao, you invited me to your birthday party before. I’ll go.”

The corners of his lips curved up.

“Good. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow.”

“Is there anything you want as a gift?”

I mentally calculated the money I had. It should be enough to buy him something expensive.

Lu Xiao shook his head.

“You don’t need to get me anything. I don’t need anything. You being there is the best gift.”

I looked up at him, surprised.

But after three seconds of eye contact, I was the one who blushed and looked away first.