Xue Yang stood up. "Babe, if you don't like steak, we can go back to that street stall."
She had no intention of eating at a street stall. Lin Xi said reluctantly, "We're a couple."
My second romance is over before it even began, waaah! Ah, that despicable Xue Yang! I'm going to eat you out of house and home. Then again, I don't have to do much. He's already broke.
Lin Xi lowered her head just as her stomach rumbled audibly.
So embarrassing! Waaah…
"Please wait a moment," the waiter said to them.
***
「Meanwhile.」
Wu Xiaoya felt bad for embarrassing Chen Ying after her attempt to matchmake her with Xue Yang backfired. To make it up to her, she took Chen Ying out for a cup of her favorite Gu Ming bubble tea.
By 6:30 p.m., the sky was completely dark. Brilliant neon lights illuminated the street from end to end, bathing it in a dreamy, mysterious glow. The shops on both sides were decorated with small, bright red lanterns that looked like a raging fire from a distance. The passionate red invigorated everyone's spirits, and people stood transfixed before the blazing spectacle, unwilling to leave.
"Ying Ying, next Friday is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Aren't you going home?" Wu Xiaoya asked, trying to make conversation.
"With the weekend, it's only a three-day holiday, so I'm not going back. There isn't even enough time for the trip. I'll just wait for winter break."
As she spoke, Chen Ying looked up and caught a glimpse of a familiar figure ahead in their line.
Strange, am I seeing things? Why did that person look so much like Xue Yang? No, that's impossible. He wouldn't be with another girl. He can only like me, and *only* me. A six-year relationship can't be thrown away that easily. He must be playing hard to get. If I take this seriously, I'll be the one who gets hurt in the end.
Though that's what she told herself, overwhelming curiosity compelled her to look toward where Xue Yang had been, but the figure was already gone.
She hadn't even realized it herself, but ever since Xue Yang had vanished from her world, he had completely occupied her heart.
"I don't like bubble tea," Chen Ying said suddenly. "Besides, I've always found Gu Ming's too sweet. It'll ruin my figure."
"Huh? But I thought you liked it?"
Wu Xiaoya was puzzled. Xue Yang always buys her bubble tea from this exact place, and Chen Ying always finishes it. If she doesn't like it, why does she always drink it all? Is it because Xue Yang was the one who bought it? Chen Ying, you don't dislike Xue Yang at all. If he really gives up this time, you'll be crying your eyes out!
***
About twenty minutes later, the waiter finally brought out their steak dinners.
"Shouldn't steak come with red wine?" Lin Xi asked.
The waiter was taken aback. "This meal set doesn't include red wine."
"Oh! Sorry, never mind then. You can get back to your work."
The waiter left with a smile.
"Princess, this is a special-priced steak; there's no red wine. You'd better eat up. We still need to go clothes shopping later. Or do you plan on wearing that outfit to bed again tonight? I don't have many spare clothes. And you certainly can't wear my... underwear, right?"
"Xue Yang, shut up."
I finally get it, she realized. Xue Yang is a total scoundrel.
Lin Xi picked up her knife and fork. She elegantly cut a piece of steak into many small pieces, then gracefully lifted one to her mouth and chewed slowly. It all looked incredibly natural. Her graceful, gentle, and refined dining etiquette didn't seem pretentious in the least; it was clearly a habit she'd had since childhood, like a true, well-bred lady.
Xue Yang, meanwhile, was devouring his food. His style was a stark contrast to Lin Xi's elegance, yet strangely, they seemed a perfect match.
By the time they finished their steak, it was already 7:30 p.m.
The pedestrian street was lined with over a hundred large stores, including supermarkets, beauty salons, and clothing boutiques. Each storefront was adorned with enchanting neon lights, beckoning to passersby.
But none of these were Xue Yang's destination as he strode forward purposefully.
"Xue Yang, can't you wait for me?"
Xue Yang turned and saw that Lin Xi had fallen quite a ways behind. He was so used to walking with his male friends that he had momentarily forgotten he had a "fragile girl" by his side. For the rest of the walk, he intentionally slowed his pace.
He might be thoughtless, but at least he listens to reason, Lin Xi mused. Compared to those men who know they're wrong and refuse to change even when told, he's not entirely without his merits.
"Come over, take a look, everything's cheap!"
"Don't just pass by, don't miss out! Straight from the factory, special stall deals! Unbeatable quality, unbeatable support..."
"Jiangnan Leather Factory has gone bankrupt! The bastard boss owed 350 million and ran off with his sister-in-law! We're selling off the inventory to get paid! These wallets were originally a hundred, two hundred yuan! Now they're all twenty! Everything for twenty yuan!"
Lin Xi stared at the dazzling array of items at the roadside stalls, feeling a mix of curiosity and dismay. "Xue Yang, you're not actually planning on making me buy clothes from a street stall, are you?"
"Do I look like I can afford anything else? You should be glad to have something to wear. Don't be so picky. Do you really think you're some pampered princess?"
Lin Xi was speechless, at a loss for a rebuttal. The thing was, she *was* a pampered princess. She just couldn't reveal that yet. Apparently, he really had no idea who she was.
"Looking to buy some clothes, you two? My clothes are quality guaranteed and cheap. Come take a look," a kind-looking woman in her early thirties said, grabbing Xue Yang's arm. "This matching set is perfect for young couples like you. How about it? Only 100 yuan for both."
Two articles of clothing for only 100 yuan? Back home, her breakfast alone cost at least 10,000 yuan, and sometimes much more.
She tugged on Xue Yang's sleeve. "No matching sets."
That does it.
Xue Yang held up three well-defined fingers. "Thirty for both and you throw in a pair of pants. Then we'll take them."
Lin Xi's eyes widened in disbelief. You can haggle?!
But what came next shocked her even more.
"Young man," the vendor beamed, "seeing as your girlfriend is so beautiful and you're so thoughtful to be buying her clothes, thirty it is! I'll even throw in a pair of pants to make it two full sets. Just make sure to come back and buy from your big sis again, okay?"
Xue Yang and Lin Xi were both rendered speechless.
I could have gone lower, Xue Yang thought.
***
Their next stop was to buy underwear.
"Absolutely not. I have to buy these myself," Lin Xi insisted. How could she possibly shop for something like this with a guy?
Xue Yang sensibly stood off to the side.
"Miss, what size do you wear?" the vendor asked, then gave Xue Yang a knowing look. "If you don't know, you can ask your boyfriend."
Lin Xi jumped. "He's not my boyfriend!"
"Don't be shy, little girl. Anyone can see you're a couple. You're in university, old enough to date. Did you both get into Yannorth together? If only my son were half as outstanding as you two." The vendor sized Lin Xi up. "If you trust my eyes, with your figure, you should be at least a 95D..." She seemed uncertain and glanced again. "Yep, 95D. I'm not wrong."
The vendor then turned to Xue Yang with a suggestive grin. "Young man, you've got good taste. It's the first time I've seen a young lady with such perfect proportions. You're a lucky man, huh?"
Xue Yang froze.
But damn... Lin Xi's figure really was... insane.