Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

"Um."

Li Chen nodded.

"Did you need something from me?"

"Let's go."

Yan Xi did not answer directly.

Instead, he turned and walked deeper into the campus.

Li Chen followed behind her.

The two walked one in front of the other.

Walking on a quiet tree-lined path.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves.

It casts dappled shadows on the ground.

We walked for a while.

Yan Xi suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"Li Chen".

She turned around.

Look at him.

"Um?"

Do you know why I asked you to come?

Li Chen shook his head.

"have no idea."

Yan Xi stared at him for a few seconds.

Then he laughed.

"Because I miss you."

Li Chen was stunned.

These three words.

It came out of Yan Xi's mouth.

It possesses a deadly destructive power.

"I……"

He opened his mouth.

I don't know what to say.

Yan Xi took a step closer.

Reach out.

She gently tugged at the hem of his clothes.

"You did well today."

She looked up.

Moonlight fell on her face.

It made her seem to glow.

"so……"

She paused.

"I've decided to reward you."

"What reward?"

Li Chen's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Yan Xi did not speak.

Instead, they stood on their tiptoes.

I moved closer to his face.

On his forehead.

Gently place a kiss on my lips.

Li Chen's brain instantly went blank.

That kiss came so suddenly.

The soft touch lingered on my forehead for less than a second.

But that temperature.

But it's like a brand.

It was etched directly into the depths of his soul.

Yan Xi took a step back.

A triumphant smile graced his face.

"How is it?"

"Are you satisfied with this reward?"

Li Chen opened his mouth.

He couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

He instinctively raised his hand.

He touched his forehead.

The warmth of her lips still lingered there.

"you……"

"What's wrong with me?"

Yan Xi raised an eyebrow.

"Was she frightened?"

"no."

Li Chen took a deep breath.

Try to calm yourself down.

"only……"

"Just what?"

"I just feel..."

He paused.

"You're acting a little strange today."

Yan Xi tilted her head.

"Something's not right?"

"Too proactive."

Li Chen stared at her.

"I'm always the one chasing after you."

"Why all of a sudden today..."

"Suddenly what?"

Yan Xi interrupted him.

"Why are you suddenly being nice to me?"

"Suddenly not so aloof?"

"Suddenly you've become like a normal girlfriend?"

Li Chen nodded.

"right."

Yan Xi remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he sighed.

"Li Chen".

Her voice became serious.

"Do you know?"

"Actually, I..."

She paused.

"I'm not very good at dating."

Li Chen was stunned.

These words came from Yan Xi's mouth.

It sounds so out of place no matter how you look at it.

"You can't?"

He couldn't help but laugh.

"Then what am I?"

"At least you have theoretical knowledge."

Yan Xi rolled her eyes at him.

"I don't even have a theory."

"From childhood to adulthood."

"The people around me."

"Either you want to use me."

"Either you're afraid of me."

"No one has ever..."

She paused for a moment.

"Like you treating me."

Li Chen understood the meaning behind her words.

"so……"

"So I don't know what to do."

Yan Xi lowered her head.

"I can only learn."

"Learn from the female protagonists in those TV dramas."

"Learn from the plots in those novels."

"Learning..."

"Be a normal girlfriend."

Li Chen's heart suddenly softened.

He stretched out his hand.

He gently ruffled Yan Xi's hair.

"fool."

"You don't need to learn."

"You are you."

"What I like."

"This is who you are right now."

Yan Xi raised her head.

His eyes were shining.

"real?"

"real."

Li Chen nodded.

"No matter if you're a cold and aloof queen."

"She's still a kitten who occasionally acts cute."

I like them all.

Yan Xi stared at him for a few seconds.

Then he suddenly laughed.

"Glib-tongued."

She reached out her hand.

He flicked Li Chen's forehead lightly.

"but……"

"I really enjoyed it."

Li Chen covered his forehead.

"Then why did you flick me?"

"Because you're too smug."

Yan Xi turned around and continued walking forward.

"Let's go."

"Come for a walk with me."

Li Chen followed.

The two walked side by side on the tree-lined path.

The moonlight shone on them.

Two long shadows were cast.

We walked for a while.

Yan Xi suddenly spoke.

"Li Chen".

"Um?"

Next Saturday.

"Are you really going to come to my house and cook?"

"certainly."

Li Chen nodded.

"Keep your word."

"So, what dishes can you cook?"

What would you like to eat?

Li Chen countered with a question.

Yan Xi thought for a moment.

"I don't know either."

"From childhood to adulthood."

"The chef in my family does all the cooking."

"I rarely go into the kitchen."

"Then I'll just make whatever?"

"Um."

Yan Xi nodded.

"Anything you did."

I like them all.

Li Chen smiled.

"OK."

"Then I'll show you what I've got."

"I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

"I'll be waiting."

Yan Xi stopped in her tracks.

He turned around.

Looking at Li Chen.

"but……"

"But what?"

"But you should be mentally prepared."

Yan Xi's lips curled into a mischievous smile.

"My apartment."

"No one has lived here for a long time."

"It might be a bit chaotic."

Li Chen raised an eyebrow.

"How messy?"

"Um……"

Yan Xi pretended to think about it for a moment.

"It's probably..."

"There might be nothing in the refrigerator."

"There might be a layer of dust in the kitchen."

"The bedroom might be..."

She paused.

"The sheets probably haven't even been changed."

Li Chen understood the meaning behind her words.

"so……"

"So you need to clean it beforehand."

Yan Xi said it as a matter of course.

"And prepare the ingredients as well."

I'll give you the key.

Li Chen was both amused and exasperated.

So, it turns out I don't just have to cook.

"And I have to be a nanny too?"

"Otherwise what?"

Yan Xi raised an eyebrow.

"You think rewards are so easy to get?"

Li Chen sighed.

"Alright."

"Because I promised you."

"That's a good boy."

Yan Xi nodded in satisfaction.

"Then it's settled."

"Friday night."

"Go and clean my apartment."

"Saturday noon."

"I'm going over for dinner."

"Understood."

Li Chen nodded helplessly.

"Anything else you need?"

"Your Majesty the Queen?"

Yan Xi thought for a moment.

"No more for now."

"Can I go now?"

"no."

Yan Xi grabbed his hand.

"Walk with me a little longer."

Li Chen looked at her.

Why are you being so clingy today?

"Is that not allowed?"

Yan Xi glared at him.

"I just want to spend more time with you."

"Is there a problem?"

"no problem."

Li Chen smiled.

"Let's go then."

"We'll see where we end up."

The two continued walking forward.

We walked all the way to the artificial lake.

The moonlight was reflected on the lake, creating a shimmering effect.

Yan Xi sat down on a bench by the lake.

He patted the spot next to him.

"sit."

Li Chen sat down next to her.

The two stood side by side, looking at the lake, neither of them speaking.

But this silence was not awkward.

Instead, there was a rare sense of tranquility.

after awhile.

Yan Xi suddenly spoke.

"Li Chen".

"Um?"

"you say……"

She paused.

"Can we go on like this?"

Li Chen turned his head.

Look at her.

"Why do you ask that?"

"because……"

Yan Xi lowered her head.

"Because I always feel..."

"This is all so wonderful."

"So wonderful..."

"It looks fake."

Li Chen extended his hand.

He took her hand.

"It's not fake."

His voice was firm.

"I'm here."

"You're here too."

"This is true."

Yan Xi raised her head.

Look at him.

"Can you guarantee that?"