Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

The shopping mall was bustling with people and incredibly noisy on the weekend.

A mixture of sounds, smells, and colors assaulted my senses.

Xie Jing paused almost imperceptibly, and his aura seemed to freeze slightly. His tightly pursed lips betrayed his tension, but he quickly adjusted his breathing, took a step, and walked to Shang Song's side. However, he still carried a sense of detachment and defensiveness that was out of place with his surroundings.

Beside them.

The young people around, some leaning against the railing looking at their phones, others pretending to look at cakes outside the dessert shop window... their positions and movements cleverly formed a protective circle centered on Xie Jing.

It not only blocked most of the crowds that might directly collide with it, but also vigilantly filtered out the surrounding line of sight.

Shang Song, however, was completely immersed in excitement and headed straight for the cinema floor with a clear goal.

As he passed by the milk tea shops outside the cinema, the diverse signs and sweet aromas of the milk tea shops instantly captivated him.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Shang Song abruptly stopped, his eyes scanning back and forth between several popular bubble tea shops before rushing to the menu at one of the counters. He was instantly torn between choices. "Which one should I get? The signature brown sugar boba? The new taro mochi? Or the cheese strawberry? Ahhh, I want them all!"

He stared at the menu, completely oblivious to the fact that Xie Jing beside him had frozen stiffly.

Surrounded by young men and women queuing to order, the sounds of laughter and conversation, and the hum of machines, it was nothing short of an intense sensory bombardment for him.

Seeing that Shang Song couldn't make a choice in a short time, Xie Jing silently took a step back to a less crowded corner, trying to get away from the noise. However, his outstanding appearance and temperament made him seem to have his own spotlight, even with a mask on. People kept looking at him, and some girls even blushed and whispered to each other.

Shang Song has finally made his choice.

He couldn't bear to give up any of them, so he ordered four drinks in one go.

Two signature cups, one new product, and one "Eight Treasure Porridge" with toppings galore.

During the wait for production to begin, he noticed Xie Jing's "situation".

Xie Jing stood ramrod straight in the corner, his usually calm eyes now revealing a clear hint of... helplessness.

The staff around Xie Jing could ensure Xie Jing's safety, but they couldn't alleviate Xie Jin's instinctive discomfort of being exposed to a crowd of strangers.

Shang Song's heart clenched, and she quickly leaned closer, whispering, "Xie Jing, are you alright? Are you... feeling unwell because there are too many people?"

Xie Jing looked up at him, the helplessness in his eyes not completely gone. He shook his head gently, his voice muffled through his mask: "...It's nothing."

Shang Song glanced around and saw Linzhou not far away.

Lin Zhou was studying the showtimes at the ticket machine next to him, looking relaxed, but he was clearly also paying attention to this area.

Shang Song felt a little relieved and said to Xie Jing, "Then wait for me here for a moment, don't move, I'll be right back! I'm going to buy some popcorn over there!"

He pointed to the snack counter not far away, where the line wasn't long.

Xie Jing nodded without speaking, but his hand, hanging by his side, curled his fingers slightly. His gaze followed Shang Song's retreating figure until he blended into the queue in front of the snack counter. Only then did he lower his eyes again, trying to ignore the noisy environment and the gazes, whether bright or dark.

Shang Song moved quickly and soon returned carrying two buckets of fragrant, hot popcorn.

The creamy aroma instantly and forcefully dispelled the various mixed smells around it.

"Look! It's huge!" Shang Song proudly shoved one of the popcorn buckets into Xie Jing's arms.

The paper tube printed with cartoon patterns, warm to the touch and with a rich, sweet scent, unexpectedly bumped into Xie Jing's arms.

Xie Jing's body stiffened again, then he reached out and caught her, giving her a tight hug.

The popcorn bucket was large and light, which contrasted sharply with his aloof and elegant attire.

Shang Song, carrying another bucket herself, looked at him with bright eyes, then turned to the milk tea counter, just in time to hear the clerk call his number. "Ah, my milk tea is ready! I'll go get it!"

"Hold this for me too!" He shoved the popcorn bucket in Xie Jing's arm, signaling him to hold it as well, then turned and strode quickly toward the milk tea counter.

Xie Jing: "..."

He looked down at the two huge buckets of popcorn in his arms and froze on the spot.

Just then, Shang Song received two milk tea bags from the shop assistant, but his phone rang in his pocket.

He walked towards Xie Jing carrying the milk tea bag, frantically trying to reach for it. Seeing this, Xie Jing stepped forward, extended his barely free finger, and hooked the handle of the milk tea bag in Shang Song's arms. His voice, still muffled, came through the mask, but his actions left no room for doubt: "Give me your phone."

Shang Song was stunned for a moment, and without bothering to be polite, he quickly transferred the heavy milk tea bag to Xie Jing and hurriedly took out his phone.

It was an urgent work matter, so he had to go to a quieter corner, turn his back to Xie Jing, and communicate quickly in a low voice.

So Xie Jing just stood there.

Holding two huge buckets of popcorn in her arms and carrying four freshly made cups of milk tea in her hands, her upper body looked like it was submerged in cartoon packaging bags, or like a Christmas tree covered with supply packs.

The surrounding pedestrians were not just glancing sideways, they were practically giving them "stares".

Several young girls covered their mouths and laughed, pointing and whispering, their eyes shining.

Even Lin Zhou, who was in the "research session" not far away, couldn't help but twitch his lips. He immediately regained his expression and his eyes scanned the pedestrians around him more warily, making sure they might take out their phones to take pictures.

Xie Jinglu's ears and neck, which were exposed outside the mask, were as red as boiled shrimp.

He straightened his back, trying to appear calm and composed, but the two huge buckets of popcorn and the heavy bag of milk tea in his hand made his composure a little too... cute.

He turned slightly to the side, trying to block some of the direct gazes with his body, but his eyes involuntarily drifted to Shang Song, who was talking on the phone not far away.

Shang Song frowned slightly, his profile serious, nodding occasionally, completely absorbed in the call, seemingly forgetting that someone else was going through some kind of "torture".

But Xie Jing did not move.

He just stood there, holding those things, motionless, waiting for his lover to finish the phone call.

After an unknown amount of time, Shang Song finally hung up the phone and breathed a long sigh of relief.

He turned around and saw Xie Jing holding two huge popcorn buckets like they were bombs, the handles of the milk tea bags were deformed from gripping them so tightly. Xie Jing stood straight under the light, his ears were red, his eyes were vacant, and his whole body was filled with embarrassment and confusion.

Shang Song was taken aback at first.

How can Xie Jing be so...cute!

That always cold, unyielding piece of wood, though clearly so uncomfortable, still obediently held all the things he had stuffed into its hands, standing there waiting for him.

Even when he was on the phone, she took the heavier milk tea bag from him.

Shang Song rushed over in three strides, unable to contain his smile, his eyes crinkling into crescent moons, brimming with sparkling light: "Oh dear, my bad, my bad! Were you waiting impatiently?"

He quickly reached out, trying to take most of the things, "Give them to me, they're so heavy!"

Xie Jing slightly turned aside, avoiding his hand that was taking the milk tea bag, and handed him back one of the popcorn buckets instead, saying, "The milk tea is heavy, I'll carry it. The movie is about to start, let's go."

As he spoke, carrying two heavy bags of milk tea and another bucket of popcorn, he turned around and headed towards the ticket gate.

His steps remained composed, but his back was straighter than usual, as if he was trying to maintain the last shred of precarious composure.

Shang Song, holding the popcorn in his arms, paused for a moment, then quickly jogged to catch up.

This blockhead... he's actually worried he can't lift the milk tea?!