The pedestrian street next to Walmart was quite crowded today, being the weekend.
Most of the people there were young men and women from the nearby universities; friends laughed and played together, while couples whispered to each other hand in hand.
Bai Yao had never imagined that he would become one of them, leaning against the arm of the person he liked like a young girl, his cheeks flushed with a bashfulness that wouldn’t fade.
She had never liked coming to such lively places, especially when she was alone; she always envied those who were in groups of three or five.
But today, she was in a very good mood, her steps carrying a slight bounce as she walked.
“Do you want to eat octopus balls?”
Bai Yao was usually a person of few words, but he became quite talkative in front of Qiu Ye.
“You’re the one who wants them, right? If you want them, buy them.”
Qiu Ye led Bai Yao to the octopus ball stall.
“Boss, one small portion, please.”
He habitually took out his phone to scan the QR code and pay, but Bai Yao had already scanned it first.
“How much?” Bai Yao asked.
“10 yuan.”
“I’ll pay.”
Bai Yao still wasn’t quite used to Qiu Ye always treating him.
“It’s not necessary; you’re always the one spending.”
“Isn’t the Love Fund my mom gave me meant to be spent at times like this?”
Bai Yao only then realized that Qiu Ye had been interested in her since then — the “Love Fund.”
But she hadn’t noticed at all, thinking Qiu Ye was just using it as an excuse to ask for money.
Qiu Ye opened his camera and took a selfie of the two of them.
“Let’s take a few more. I’ll send them to my mom later to get more money.”
“Eh? Don’t. I don’t look good…”
Bai Yao didn’t like taking photos; she thought she wasn’t photogenic and looked ugly.
“Is this okay?”
“It looks pretty good, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, I’ll add a beauty filter for you.”
She stood on her tiptoes to look at Qiu Ye’s phone screen.
The filter had hidden her freckles and improved her skin; it actually looked quite nice.
“Fine then.”
Qiu Ye sent the photo home, prepared to fleece his family for all they were worth.
Meanwhile, Bai Yao was thinking about the System’s rewards.
‘We’re out on a date, isn’t the System going to show me anything? And I’m even cross-dressing!’
“The octopus balls are ready.”
“Thank you.”
Bai Yao took the octopus balls and impatiently used a skewer to pop one into her mouth.
‘Ugh, it tastes terrible…’
It felt like a ball of pure starch, leaving a sticky, pasty mess in her mouth.
She pursed her lips awkwardly.
Although she wasn’t a gourmet, eating something bad still dampened her mood.
‘I’m reluctant to throw it away, though. It cost 10 yuan!’
Bai Yao looked up at Qiu Ye.
Qiu Ye definitely wouldn’t want something that tasted bad; the guy was very picky.
“Not good?”
Qiu Ye reached out naturally and took the octopus balls, taking a bite.
“Give them to me then.”
“Okay.”
He complained, “It really is bad. How do they have the nerve to sell this for 10 yuan?”
“Save some money so we can buy a house together in the future.”
“Should I throw it away?”
“It’s better not to waste it,” Qiu Ye teased with a grin.
‘That’s true.’
The family would at most support a down payment; if the two of them saved more money, the future mortgage would be more manageable.
She had heard that in the future, that “Chinyu” had paid for a house herself but lost her job and was crushed by the mortgage — it was quite miserable.
Struggling together to earn money, buying a house that belonged to the two of them, and then decorating it exactly how they liked — it sounded wonderful just thinking about it.
The days of paying off the monthly mortgage together…
Bai Yao actually hated owing money, but now, she was actually looking forward to buying a house with Qiu Ye.
“I want a private elevator entry, and it has to be on the top floor. It’s quiet.”
“That will be very expensive, won’t it? I heard the top floor might leak.”
“We won’t be afraid of leaks, right? It’s better than having noisy neighbors upstairs.”
Bai Yao glanced at her bank information and said happily, “I have over 3,000 yuan now.”
“We’ll earn it together.”
“Where did you get so much money?”
“I earned it by seducing you during your menstruation. Every time your heart skips a beat, it’s 100 yuan. It feels amazing.”
“Living Expenses,” Bai Yao corrected him flatly.
The two of them ate and browsed.
Under Bai Yao’s influence, Qiu Ye also began to look forward to their future home.
“We need an e-sports room; it’ll be convenient for playing games together.”
“Yes, yes, yes! I also want to install a projector in the bedroom with a 100-inch screen. It’ll definitely be great to watch TV or lie in bed and play games with a controller at night.”
“Should we get a cat and a dog? I’ll be responsible for walking the dog.”
“I like munchkin cats.”
“Sure, then I want a Border Collie. I heard they’re very smart — smarter than you.”
Bai Yao nudged Qiu Ye with her elbow in annoyance.
Walking from one end of the pedestrian street to the other, Bai Yao was almost overwhelmed by the sights, and she had acquired several more snacks in her hands.
“This cone is pretty good.”
Bai Yao was about to tell Qiu Ye to go buy one and try it, but Qiu Ye leaned down and ate most of the remaining ice cream in one bite, then gave her a provocative, mischievous smirk.
“Huh?”
Qiu Ye thought Bai Yao would hit him in a rage, but instead, he was stunned — she just turned her head away with a slightly red face.
“I licked that. Don’t you find it gross?”
“It’s even more delicious!”
“Are you a pervert?”
Her soft personality actually made her look exceptionally cute.
“It’s about time to go to the cinema.”
Qiu Ye bought another cone and handed it to Bai Yao.
“Two bottles of cola? Should we buy some fries and popcorn at the theater?”
The cinema was located on the top floor of the mall.
Entering the mall from the pedestrian street and finding the elevator, the two of them arrived at the cinema in just a few minutes.
“Whatever works.”
Qiu Ye picked up the tickets and bought a popcorn and fries combo bucket just as it was time for ticket inspection.
The ticket line was crowded.
Bai Yao didn’t like crowded places and whispered behind Qiu Ye, “There are so many people…”
“Then hold onto me so you don’t get lost.”
“I’m not a child.”
Even as she said that, she held the combo bucket in one hand and grabbed the hem of Qiu Ye’s shirt with the other.
The feeling of being treated like a child and being taken care of was actually quite nice.
If possible, who would want to grow up and become someone who had to stand on their own?
Of course, occasionally standing on one’s own still provided a great sense of accomplishment.
**[A date at the cinema is the right choice! Especially during a romance movie, when the atmosphere is ambiguous, it makes people unable to help but want a kiss~]**
**[Take Qiu Ye’s first kiss while watching the movie! Cash Reward: 100 yuan!]**
‘Huh?’
Bai Yao only then realized they were watching a romantic comedy.
She followed Qiu Ye to find their seats in the back row and sat down side by side.
After the dense crowd from the entrance split into several theaters, there weren’t many people left in this one; it was very quiet.
She adjusted her seat, put down the combo bucket, and curiously leaned close to Qiu Ye’s ear.
Gently exhaling against his most sensitive spot, she asked:
“Qiu Ye, is your first kiss still there?”
Qiu Ye’s ear turned red from the provocation.
“Yeah, it’s still there. Why?”
“Nothing.”
She was just confirming if the System’s information was correct.
Bai Yao’s eyes flickered — so, she had to take the initiative to kiss Qiu Ye to complete the Task?
It was only 100 yuan… but if it was to claim Qiu Ye’s first kiss, it didn’t matter if she got the 100 yuan or not.
Having once been a man, Bai Yao’s sense of possessiveness was also very strong.
“Why are you suddenly asking that?”
Qiu Ye muttered, “With your looks, have you really never been in a relationship?”
“Who knows if you’re lying.”
Bai Yao still found it a bit hard to believe.
“I’m really not. I’m very picky, okay?”