Chapter 19 (2/2): Enchanting

“Here you go.”

The shop had a Tablet and pen. Xu Baiyan handed them to her and sat beside her.

Their seat was a sofa-style armchair, not very big — just enough for two.

When he sat down, Xia Yu felt the side slightly dip, and she uncontrollably leaned toward him a bit.

She blinked, subtly trying to shift away but couldn’t move far, only managing a couple of centimeters of space between them.

The warm breath was right by her side, and Xia Yu quietly exhaled.

But Xu Baiyan showed no sign of awkwardness. He opened his phone and chatted with the other party a bit more, then handed her an earphone, signaling for her to wear it.

Xia Yu took it and hesitated again.

“I’m afraid I can’t do it well. What if my minutes aren’t good?”

Xu Baiyan turned his head to look at her: “I’m here, you don’t need to worry.”

His gaze didn’t flicker for a moment, and at such close distance, his light amber eyes were like translucent beads.

Xia Yu’s heart jumped, and she hurriedly looked away: “Alright…”

Because the meeting notice was sudden, Xu Baiyan just placed his phone on the table and joined the video call.

There were seven or eight people on the video, about half were French.

Xia Yu sat next to Xu Baiyan, wearing a single earphone, concentrating on the conversation.

The meeting was about several French investment projects.

The first topic was Provence. A white-haired Frenchman introduced Provence’s economic strengths, key industries, and current investment strategies…

His speed was fast, and Xia Yu had to focus hard, yet she still didn’t catch some specialized and obscure terms.

She realized this was much harder than a listening test.

Frowning, she hurriedly took down a few key points.

Minutes later, the intense listening portion ended, and a Chinese person began speaking.

Familiar language came through the earphone. Xia Yu relaxed and glanced at Xu Baiyan.

He noticed her gaze and turned his head toward her, softly asking, “How is it?”

Xia Yu whispered, “A bit hard.”

“No problem. It’s okay if your notes aren’t precise. Just do your best.”

His tone was unusually gentle, like “It’s okay if you don’t do well, just try.”

It made her feel comforted.

Xia Yu had almost never experienced this kind of support during her academic or exam life, where she always had to be perfect.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t get into a university like Song Yu’an’s, and her parents would think she was useless and bring shame to the family.

Now, hearing Xu Baiyan say this, the pressure eased, and she felt much more relaxed.

“Ayan, what do you think?”

Halfway through the meeting, a Chinese man’s voice came through the earphone.

Xia Yu looked up and saw a man in a suit, about forty, with handsome features and a strict hairstyle.

His eyebrows and eyes bore the solemnity of someone long accustomed to high rank.

Looking closer, he vaguely resembled Xu Baiyan by one or two points…

But Xu Baiyan was much more casual and easygoing.

He replied lightly, “Wasn’t I told just to listen?”

The man frowned.

“If they want you to speak, then speak.”

Xu Baiyan seemed a bit helpless but didn’t remain silent. He switched to French and began evaluating what the other side said.

His smooth and leisurely tone came from the earphone and from beside her.

Xia Yu took notes while stealing glances at him.

His French pronunciation was really pleasant to hear.

But… was this his family’s business?

So he wasn’t just a simple surfing coach after all.

Minutes later, Xu Baiyan finished speaking and the floor was given to others.

“What time do you get off work?”

Suddenly, Xu Baiyan’s voice came through her ear.

Xia Yu didn’t know why he suddenly got distracted and answered, “Around three.”

“Oh, that’s about right. Where are you going after?”

“Home.”

Their voices together made Xia Yu a little distracted.

After answering, she couldn’t help but tug his elbow, “Save your voice for later. They’re still talking inside.”

Xu Baiyan looked down at her hand clutching his shirt and smiled silently.

He seemed in a good mood.

But in reality, before leaving today, his mood had been bad.

She hadn’t come to his place these two days and hadn’t sent any messages.

He vaguely felt she was doing it on purpose.

Intentionally keeping her distance.

He wasn’t used to it and naturally wasn’t happy.

So when he sensed she wouldn’t come today either, he came over directly, wanting to ask why she was going back on her words and suddenly not coming.

But since he was in a better mood now, he didn’t want to be harsh.

“Alright, let’s leave it at that.”

Xu Baiyan reached out and took her pen.

Xia Yu was taken aback.

“But the meeting isn’t over.”

“I’ve already got what I needed. The rest is just chatter.”

Xia Yu: “…”

The meeting continued, but Xu Baiyan said quietly during a break that he had something to do and left the video call.

Xia Yu handed him the Tablet.

“Here, you keep this.”

“Thanks.”

“No need. I’ll just treat it as listening practice.”

Xu Baiyan glanced at her notes.

“Your French isn’t bad.”

Xia Yu touched her nose.

“So-so.”

“No need to be modest.”

Xu Baiyan stood up.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“To thank you. I’ll treat you to ice cream.”

It was three o’clock — the time Xia Yu finished work.

She grabbed her small bag and walked out, where Xu Baiyan was waiting at the door.

“Your leg’s still injured. How about I invite you another time?”

“No problem. Staying at home too long makes me want to get out for a walk.”

Xu Baiyan said, “You just said you wanted to rest after work. On the way to your place there’s an ice cream truck — perfect to stop by.”

“Then take it slow.”

< Okay. >

From Summer to her residence, they had to walk along a palm-lined path.

The afternoon was hot. Xia Yu held a parasol to shield herself from the sun, and now Xu Baiyan was beside her, so naturally she wanted to shield him too.

But he was so tall that holding the parasol next to him was difficult.

Xu Baiyan probably noticed this and took the parasol from her.

“I’ll hold it.”

“Thanks.”

A moment of silence fell.

The two slowly walked forward in the summer breeze.

Soon, the ice cream truck appeared ahead.

“Still want Matcha flavor today?”

Xia Yu nodded.

Xu Baiyan turned to the Boss and ordered a Matcha Ice Cream, then scanned the code to pay.

“Aren’t you eating?”

Xia Yu asked.

“Too sweet.”

“Not that sweet. Their ice cream is really good. You can try.”

Perhaps because of the hopeful look in front of him, Xu Baiyan suddenly didn’t want to spoil the mood.

“Alright, besides Matcha, what else do you recommend?”

“Hmm… Vanilla’s not bad.”

“Boss, another Vanilla, please.”

Boss: “Okay, one moment.”

They waited for a while, then continued walking, each holding an ice cream.

The weather was hot, and the cold sweetness brought a full sense of happiness.

Xia Yu took a few licks, a smile unconsciously blooming on her lips.

Xu Baiyan looked down at her smiling face and took a bite himself.

Vanilla was rich, but still a bit too sweet for him.

Slurp —

Just then, a skateboarder zoomed past them.

Xu Baiyan frowned, immediately wrapping his arm around Xia Yu holding the parasol, pulling her closer.

At that moment, a child passed by dangerously close.

If Xu Baiyan hadn’t pulled her, she would’ve been hit.

“Ah! Sorry!”

The kid stopped a few meters away and apologized, looking back.

Xia Yu was startled and hadn’t recovered when Xu Baiyan’s cold scolding came from above: “It’s you again? After learning so long, this is your level?”

“Brother Yan! Sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean to hit your… girlfriend!”

Girlfriend?

Xia Yu froze and looked at the boy.

This was the same kid who bumped into her one evening when she first arrived in Hai Cheng.

What a coincidence, running into him again while eating ice cream!

No, the key was… what did he mean by “girlfriend”?

Xia Yu’s face instantly warmed, realizing she was completely wrapped in Xu Baiyan’s arms. Her ice cream was pressed against his, sandwiched between them, nearly touching their clothes.

“Slow down on the board, watch where you’re going,” Xu Baiyan reprimanded.

“Got it! Got it!” The kid laughed and ran off quickly.

“Are you okay?”

Xu Baiyan finally looked at her.

“Didn’t get hit…”

Xia Yu smiled awkwardly and took a step back.

Her waist was slender and delicate under his palm. Xu Baiyan’s eyes flickered, and he loosened his grip.

For a long moment, they just looked at each other, wordless.

Xia Yu finally said, “By the way, is your leg okay?”

“No problem. You should watch out on this path. These little rascals love to cause trouble.”

“Mm…”

Xia Yu moved beside him.

As she replied, she couldn’t help but wonder why Xu Baiyan hadn’t outright denied that she wasn’t his girlfriend.

No, denying something to a kid…

That would be too strange.

Xia Yu looked down confusedly and suddenly noticed her ice cream had another color on it.

Because of the bump earlier, some of his vanilla had stuck to hers.

What now?

“Matcha flavor tastes better,” Xu Baiyan’s voice came beside her.

Xia Yu looked over and saw his ice cream was stained with some of her Matcha too.

The two flavors collided and blended, each leaving a trace.

Hmm… Matcha really was tastier.

Xia Yu blankly watched him take another bite of the green on his ice cream—

But… that was the part she had licked off.