Chapter 45: Qingyue Square

Everything is always better when it belongs to someone else. That principle applies here too. Was he good in Tong Ya’s heart?

Of course he was.

Only… he belonged to someone else.

He was Luo Yueli’s.

No matter what it is, once people compete for it, its value multiplies. That’s true for things, and even more so for feelings.

There was no helping it. He could only let that adorable “white moonlight” childhood friend shine a little longer, contributing her remaining warmth to winning over Tong Ya.

Even though Su Yichen said that, Tong Ya still stood there without moving.

She was a little temperamental.

Sulking.

She wanted Yichen to understand that she was angry.

He had to coax her.

“Not going to eat?” Su Yichen asked gently.

Still.

Silent.

Tong Ya bit her lip, head lowered, saying nothing.

If you don’t coax me, I’m not leaving.

The girl secretly glanced at the boy beside her from the corner of her eye. She saw him scratching his cheek, completely confused, at a loss as if he had no idea why things had turned out like this.

She almost burst out laughing.

Let’s see what you do now, Yichen.

Serves you right for always teasing me and comparing me to Lizi.

Would Lizi ever act pitiful and aggrieved in front of you? With her personality, absolutely not.

A girl who can’t act spoiled—can she even be called a girl?

Yichen, the first girl to act spoiled toward you is Xiaoya.

“Um, Xiaoya…”

***

After hesitating for several minutes, Su Yichen finally spoke again.

Tong Ya sniffed lightly and slowly raised her head. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes seemed covered in a watery mist, as if tears might fall at any second.

“What is it?”

“Shall we go eat breakfast together?”

“I don’t want to. I’ll get fat. If I get fat, no one will marry me.”

Tong Ya saw the look on Su Yichen’s face—he wanted to comfort her but didn’t know how.

This version of Yichen was so cute. She almost wanted to tease him a little more.

But…

She shouldn’t push it.

Right now, it was cute and playful. If she went further, it would just be unreasonable.

Alright. No matter what he said next, she would forgive him.

Winning over a boy required balance—knowing when to push and when to ease off.

“Alright, Yichen.”

Seeing him still at a loss, Tong Ya clapped her hands and decided to take the initiative, smiling. “I’ll go eat with you. But if I—”

“You have to take responsibility for me.”

“Okay, I—”

“What kind of responsibility?”

“Yichen, how are you going to take responsibility for me?”

She leaned forward slightly, tilting her head as she looked up at him. Her lips were pressed together, and there was a hint of playful mischief in her eyes.

As if he had finally thought of an answer, a faint blush spread across Su Yichen’s face. “I’ll help you lose weight.”

Ah!

Weren’t you about to say that if no one married me, you would?

So cute… Yichen.

Watching the boy she adored blush under her teasing, Tong Ya felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

“Alright, then help me lose weight! I like swimming. How about we go to a heated swimming pool together?”

Climbing step by step was a must-have skill for a tea-type younger girl. Since she had decided to gradually win over Su Yichen, how could she not make plans for the future?

Tong Ya’s mind was already buzzing with calculations. In one week, she would use the excuse that she had gained three pounds after today’s breakfast and ask him out to swim.

Then she could claim she didn’t know how and have him teach her.

That would lead to ambiguous physical contact.

Even though Yichen’s body wasn’t particularly strong and he didn’t have a sculpted physique, it still looked… very comfortable.

Perfect.

A small goal: win over Su Yichen within one month.

“Can you swim, Yichen?”

“Not really.” Su Yichen looked troubled. “I’ve never gone before. I’m hopeless in water.”

“Really?”

Tong Ya’s eyes widened slightly, then curved into crescents, shimmering with a faint sparkle. “That’s okay. I can. I’ll teach you.”

If you can’t, I can.

Whether you teach me or I teach you, what’s the difference?

Either way, there will be touching and closeness.

***

After breakfast, Su Yichen and Tong Ya arrived at Qingyue University’s central Qingyue Square.

By the time they reached the center, both of them were sweating lightly.

Qingyue Square truly lived up to its name—it was enormous.

“So big,” little spark exclaimed.

“Yeah, it really is,” Su Yichen agreed.

Among all the modern urban void realms he had experienced, this was probably the largest square he had ever seen.

It was so vast that it had been divided into different sections based on purpose.

The southern area was where the club recruitment event was being held.

At this moment, Su Yichen was looking around like a complete newcomer.

If not for Tong Ya, he probably would have gotten lost already.

That’s right—Tong Ya.

Even though she wore the face of a newcomer, this was clearly not her first time here.

Su Yichen didn’t expose the little thoughts of this cat-like girl, because Tong Ya currently held the initiative in their dynamic.

Once he determined that she was the proactive type, he temporarily handed over the emotional lead to her.

When dealing with a lively, energetic girl like her, his role was to continuously create opportunities for her to pursue him while maintaining his own appeal.

Exploring the unknown, trying the unknown, savoring it, and eventually becoming immersed.

But right now, he really couldn’t keep wandering around like this.

Su Yichen decided to give the little cat a chance to show some “girlfriend energy.”

“Xiaoya, do you know where we should go next?”

“Next… let me see.”

Tong Ya took out her phone and pretended to check the map.

They had already been wandering for over one hour.

Where should they go next?

If they only checked out the clubs, there was no way she could keep Su Yichen occupied for the whole day.

Maybe…

They could go to the park area in the square?

There were lots of couples there.

She needed to figure out a way to make Yichen take off those glasses. When that happened, all the girls in school would be jealous of her.

How could she get him to stop wearing those ugly glasses?

Thinking this, Tong Ya glanced at his profile—and suddenly froze.

She noticed that his forehead was covered in fine sweat. His breathing was slightly labored, yet he still forced himself to act as if nothing was wrong.

Her eyes widened.

Damn!

I forgot his heart condition!

At that moment, she finally remembered how, the day before military training, Su Yichen had asked the counselor for leave because of his heart problem.

Back then, he had clenched his teeth, clearly unwilling, as he admitted it in front of her and Luo Yueli.

No, no—this won’t do. They couldn’t keep wandering like this. What if something happened to her future boyfriend…

That would be terrible.

She hadn’t even gotten to enjoy his company properly yet.

They hadn’t even seriously held hands.

She absolutely couldn’t let anything happen to him.