Chapter 18

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The city's skyline was dominated by towering skyscrapers. The air was hazy and thick with a faint scent of exhaust. Lin Sheng stepped out through the revolving doors of the café and sniffed the breeze, catching that subtle whiff. He glanced to his right.

Several girls were chatting and laughing there, with Xu Xieyi surrounded in the middle, waving her hands as if refusing something. On this side, Xu Xieyi was being pestered relentlessly. Yang Bingbing had started the commotion, insisting that she go find Lin Sheng and have him buy them coffee.

"Look, Xu Xu, Brother Lin even came out looking for you! And you said you two weren’t that close," Yang Bingbing said, spotting Lin Sheng first and laughing in surprise.

Xu Xieyi jumped in fright and quickly turned around. A tall young man was walking toward them through the light drizzle. Behind him, the city’s blurry skyline stretched out in the distance. He wore a gray shirt and finely textured black trousers—simple and neat.

On his face was the familiar smile she knew so well, steady and warm.

“Out shopping?” Lin Sheng stopped in place.

Xu Xieyi shot a sharp glance at Yang Bingbing before lifting her head, her smile now much more composed than when she was with her friends earlier. “Yes.”

She looked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows where Lin Sheng’s friends were also watching her. Chu Yuefei waved enthusiastically, greeting her warmly, though the glass muffled any sound.

Xu Xieyi turned back and raised her head. “Brother Lin, are you having coffee with your friends?”

Lin Sheng slipped his hand into his pocket and looked down at her. “Yeah. Just sat down.”

“We just got here too.” She hadn’t been spying for long—

Lin Sheng smiled, understanding.

“Hey, big brother, why are you only looking at Xu Xu and ignoring us?” Yang Bingbing came over, wrapping an arm around Xu Xieyi’s shoulder, speaking familiarly.

“Bingbing, don’t say that, it’s not true,” Xu Xieyi said nervously, afraid Lin Sheng might get upset. Though his temper seemed gentle and easygoing, she knew he was actually quite sharp.

“Yes it is, we all saw it,” Yang Bingbing said toward Lin Sheng. “Right, big brother? You barely noticed us just now.”

Lin Sheng only smiled calmly and said, “Come on in, I’ll buy you all coffee.”

Xu Xieyi looked up in surprise, and even Yang Bingbing and the others paused, clearly not expecting Lin Sheng to act so decisively. If he said ‘buy,’ then he meant it.

The girls were instantly delighted and quickly thanked him.

Cafés were everywhere, but this one was on the high street and very expensive. At least for students, it was a luxury beyond imagination.

Though Lin Sheng hadn’t heard their conversation, he could guess.

Yang Bingbing and the others went ahead, while Xu Xieyi walked behind with Lin Sheng.

“Brother Lin, I’m really sorry to trouble you. My friends can be a bit loud; please don’t be angry.”

Seeing her careful, considerate apology made Lin Sheng smile—how could he get mad at a bunch of kids?

He looked down at her. “Silly girl, why are you so polite with me?”

—

Since there were quite a few people, Lin Sheng ordered a whole table for the girls, deliberately seating it a few tables away from his own group so they could feel more comfortable.

After settling her friends and placing her backpack next to Yang Bingbing, Xu Xieyi came over to greet Chu Yuefei and the others.

Chu Yuefei had been waiting, watching from the moment Xu Xieyi entered the café. Before the girl even reached them, he smiled and stood, asking Chen Xia to move aside to make room for Xu Xieyi.

“Come on, make way for our little sister.”

“Alright, you sit here.”

Xu Xieyi felt flattered but declined. “No, no, Brother Yuefei, you guys sit. I’ll just chat for a moment then head back.”

“You can’t stand.”

The voice was low and husky. It was Lin Sheng speaking.

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He was tall and looked down on Xu Xieyi slightly as he moved over to the window side and offered his seat to her.

Xu Xieyi had no choice but to thank him and sit down.

Six people at the rectangular table. Across from her was Guan Yuejiao, who hadn’t paid much attention to Xu Xieyi when they met last time. This time, seeing Lin Sheng give up his seat for the girl, Guan Yuejiao glanced at her a little longer—such a simple and well-behaved high school girl.

Guan Yuejiao smiled politely with crimson lips. “We meet again, little sister Xieyi. Do you remember me?”

“Hello, sister. I remember.”

Lin Sheng’s childhood friends were never the obedient type. Seeing the girl so well-behaved was both fresh and comforting.

Chu Yuefei said, “Hey, Brother Sheng, tell me where you found such a good little sister? I want one too.”

Lin Sheng gave a warning smile, signaling him to watch his words. Xu Xieyi didn’t notice.

Fu Xiaoyin studied Xu Xieyi carefully. Although Xu Xieyi’s personality was a bit wild, her attitude toward Lin Sheng’s sister was definitely kind. “Is this the neighbor girl we mentioned earlier? She’s really cute.”

“Good thing… good thing your memory is so sharp,” Chu Yuefei started but changed his tone, “You even remember such a small thing.”

He had wanted to say, “You remember Lin Sheng’s matters so clearly,” but thinking of Guan Yuejiao’s sensitive status and Xu Xieyi being a high school student, he deemed it inappropriate.

Lin Sheng briefly introduced the people at the table to Xu Xieyi: Chu Yuefei, Chen Xia, Fu Xiaoyin, Xiao Yufeng, and Guan Yuejiao, whom she had met before.

Xu Xieyi politely greeted everyone, calling out “Brother” and “Sister” in a string.

To adults who had experienced the complexities of life, a girl like Xu Xieyi was truly innocent.

Lin Sheng couldn’t help but laugh. He leaned on the sofa behind Xu Xieyi and leaned close to her ear.

His voice was soft: “No need to be so formal with them, silly girl.”

Xu Xieyi lifted her eyes and met Lin Sheng’s smiling gaze.

Their eyes flickered and intertwined, so close that their breaths almost touched.

Xu Xieyi’s heart jolted fiercely, her cheeks flushing slightly...

Chu Yuefei turned his head unintentionally and caught the scene, momentarily stunned.

After sitting a while, Xu Xieyi returned to her friends.

The four or five girls were lively and animated, sharing their coffee, much noisier than Lin Sheng’s group.

Everyone on Lin Sheng’s side glanced over at the laughter.

Xu Xieyi was easy to spot—sitting upright, the quietest of them all. Her school uniform was the neatest, still bearing the school emblem on her chest despite the holiday.

Fu Xiaoyin couldn’t help but sigh, “Girls in their teens are really charming. Compared to them, we’re all old in spirit.” Each of them so fresh and vibrant.

The others agreed.

“Seventeen or eighteen, life hasn’t even begun—like a blank sheet,” Guan Yuejiao said, twirling the handle of her milk cup, “Just like this pure milk.”

“Seeing them makes me suddenly remember our youth,” Xiao Yufeng shook his coffee cup.

Lin Sheng smiled faintly and glanced at him. “Remember how messed up you were?”

Chu Yuefei and Chen Xia burst out laughing, fully agreeing.

“Forget it, we’re doing fine now, no need to reminisce.”

“Exactly.”

The men were surprisingly unanimous on this point.

Xu Xieyi insisted on walking home, refusing Lin Sheng’s offer to drive.

After the girls left, Lin Sheng’s group stayed for another twenty minutes before leaving.

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Chu Yuefei walked thoughtfully beside Lin Sheng, intentionally falling behind to walk with him. He stroked his chin. “Brother Sheng, I swear I heard a little sweetness when you called Xu Xieyi ‘silly girl.’”

“What silly girl?”

Chu Yuefei said, “Just… the way you said it to Xu Xieyi.”

Lin Sheng looked up.

Chu Yuefei continued, “Really, Sheng, I’ve never seen you call anyone so affectionately before.”

—

The holidays had just started, and it was peak travel time.

The roads were congested, with many traffic lights.

Lin Sheng drove, stopping and going repeatedly. His phone lay in the storage compartment. A WeChat notification lit up the black screen momentarily.

The light ahead turned red, so Lin Sheng stopped the car and picked up his phone. It was a message from a family elder about the Mid-Autumn Festival.

He wasn’t in the mood to reply but glanced at a passage:

“…will arrange a gathering; Jiao Jiao’s father said he’s long wanted to meet you, but you’ve been busy…”

Lin Sheng looked away, ignoring it, then drove on until the messages quieted.

Dusk was slowly falling, and the road was filled with the dense red brake lights of cars—a winding river of red.

Lin Sheng’s hand rested casually on the steering wheel. Somehow, he recalled Chu Yuefei’s words: “Really, Sheng, I’ve never seen you call anyone so affectionately before.”

“No, have I? I really don’t remember…”

He muttered to himself, shaking his head with a smile.

He admitted he was a bit interested in Xu Xieyi, but nowhere near “affectionate” or “in love.”

She was simply a young girl he happened to admire.

Yes.

Just a little girl.

—

The bedroom lights were four Chinese-style lamps decorated with painted green bamboo.

Xu Xieyi found the switch and pressed it; the room brightened immediately.

She placed her backpack on the desk, stretched out on the bed, and stared at the bamboo lamps on the ceiling, lost in thought.

Her mind involuntarily recalled Lin Sheng lowering his gaze to look at her.

The light was harsh and direct; she shielded her eyes with her fingers. Then, again and again, the image of those dark eyes watching her appeared in her mind.

“Brother Lin’s eyes are so scary… like electric currents,” she murmured, pulling her pillow close to her chest, entranced.

During those few seconds of eye contact, she felt her heart nearly leap out of her chest.

A man.

So captivating—it felt almost unfair.

Author’s note:

Xu Xieyi: Don’t casually shoot electric sparks at me! t-t

Today’s update is adjusted to 10 PM.

Tomorrow will return to the usual 7 AM update. =v=