Tea-flavored Romance

"This one will do. I'll peel it for you, and you can eat it after you get home and rinse it with some salt water."

"Okay, thank you, Aunt Wang. How much?"

The middle-aged woman waved her hand: "Take it and eat it, it's my treat..."

"That won't work."

“What’s wrong with that? If you feel bad, then take some time to say a few words to Yueyue for me, to let her know the importance of studying hard… Her current carefree attitude is driving me crazy as her mother…”

"It's up to Xiao Ling to persuade students to study; my grades aren't as good as hers."

“It’s different. When Yueyue was little, she loved calling you ‘brother.’ All the girls in our neighborhood were always following you around.”

"Ahem... Aunt Wang, that's enough. I'll get arrogant if I keep talking." Ning Yuan blushed and coughed twice. "Alright, I'll chat with her when I run into her. Consider this pineapple a 20% discount... Please don't refuse anymore, I'm in a hurry to get back, my mom's cooking is probably getting cold..."

"Hey...this child..."

"Auntie, hello, I'd like this fruit basket."

The girl who had been picking out fruit baskets inside suddenly spoke up, seemingly having made up her mind. Aunt Wang responded and weighed the pineapple Ningyuan had bought.

Taking advantage of this moment, Ning Yuan glanced at the pretty young lady next to him. A mask covered most of her face, revealing long legs, a slender waist, and gentle features. Upon closer inspection, a few strands of burgundy highlights were hidden in her shoulder-length hair, the ends slightly wavy, making her look both stylish and adorable.

Huh? She's actually a cool and pretty young lady?

Ning Yuan sighed inwardly, took the packaging bag from Aunt Wang, and turned to leave.

Okay, stop. I've already glanced at her a few times naturally. If I keep looking like this, she'll probably think I'm a frivolous guy.

It's a pity we couldn't see her face directly, but judging from her profile and features, her looks shouldn't be too bad.

Once I become stronger through tea tasting, I'll also find such a beautiful, cute, and honest young lady as my girlfriend!

What? You're asking if Jiang Manyue is already ranked number one as an honest girl? Please, is there an upper limit to how many honest girls there can be?

Ranking Jiang, the most beautiful girl in our department, as number one among the honest girls isn't because I have any strange feelings for her; it's simply because I haven't found a girl prettier than her yet. If only another one could appear…

Gu, the most beautiful girl in the department? She looks alright in the photos, but I wonder if she's used any beauty filters... These days, beauty filters are too powerful; online dating is at least ten thousand times riskier than before.

After leaving the fruit shop, Ning Yuan's thoughts jumped around again. He carried the bag and swayed as he hurried home. The young woman behind him also successfully scanned the code to pay and came out carrying a fruit basket.

The two walked one after the other, maintaining a distance of about ten paces. As Ning Yuan walked, he suddenly felt something was amiss…

This girl... why does it seem like she's following me?

No, no, no, it must be my imagination... There's a fork in the road ahead, if nothing unexpected happens, she should...

Hmm? Should we go this way?

Ning Yuan felt that he might have run into the legendary woman who was obsessed with stalking.

"Oh my, you really want to be with me that much? How cute..." he thought to himself, quickening his pace.

Although this young lady is probably quite pretty, there's nothing I can do. Until I become a true tea master, my body doesn't belong to any honest girl!

Even the most honest and beautiful girl in the department, Jiang, isn't worthy of me! Young lady, do you have a key?

After successfully navigating a turn, Ning Yuan finally managed to shake off the cool, clingy girl who was stalking him. However, just as he breathed a sigh of relief and pressed the elevator button, he noticed that the girl was leisurely carrying a fruit basket into the building and eventually stood obediently beside Ning Yuan.

Waiting for the elevator.jpg

Ning Yuan: ?

What a coincidence! Could it be that a new, beautiful young lady has moved into this building?

With a ding, the elevator arrived at the first floor. Ning Yuan stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the sixth floor. The girl walked in and, seeing that the sixth floor was already lit up, didn't make any extra movements, quietly waiting for the elevator doors to close.

Ning Yuan: ? ?

Is he my next-door neighbor? That can't be right, can it? My parents have never mentioned him...

Master Ning: Could it be!? (Elemental Awareness)

She's definitely a woman obsessed with stalking!

Arrogant, so arrogant! I know I'm handsome, but I never thought my good looks would make you lose your mind... It's broad daylight, in the middle of the day, and you still dare to follow me to my house?!

To ensure his family wouldn't be bothered by the infatuated woman, Ning Yuan decided to deal with the matter like a man, right outside his house...

Huh? Why did she just get off the elevator without waiting for me?

And they even rang my doorbell?! How dare they?!

Ning Yuan felt he was about to be stunned by the courage of this modern-day crazy girl. He quickly stepped out of the elevator and opened his mouth to call out to this audacious young woman, intending to resolve the matter like a man at his doorstep, when the door opened...

"Oh... Little Gu... You're here... Quick, quick, come in, why did you bring something..."

Hello, Uncle!

The girl's clear and pleasant voice rang out, leaving Ning Yuan behind completely bewildered. The old man handed the girl slippers and explained, "These are brand new, no one has worn them before, Xiao Gu, you can wear them..."

"Thank you, Uncle..."

The old man smiled kindly, then turned to Ning Yuan and slapped him on the head: "Why are you dawdling so slowly? Little Gu arrived earlier than you... Come in and greet the guest."

Master Ning: ? ? ?

I've never seen anything like this before.

Guests? What guests?! What are they doing here? What do they have to do with me? What do they have to do with this trap I'm about to face?!

In an instant, countless possibilities flashed through Ning Yuan's mind, the first of which was blind dating.

Ha, that's impossible. I'm only a sophomore in college, what kind of blind date would I be going on...?

He immediately rejected this possibility. According to Holmes' theory, when all other possible theories have been eliminated one by one, the one that remains, no matter how outrageous, must be the truth.

Master Ning: There's only one truth! (Reflection from lenses)

This girl... is my long-lost younger sister!!

Chapter Twenty-Five: So your name is Gu Guanxue?!

Xiao Gu? A young girl, looks about my age...

The last time they made such a big fuss, it turned out to be the result that Xiao Ling'er wasn't my biological sister. Now they're doing the same thing again, hmph...

She's definitely my biological sister!

This inference is reasonable!

Ning Yuan glanced at the girl's back with a serious expression, thinking to himself, "No wonder I felt so close to her just now... Is this what they call fate?"

My younger sister's surname is Gu? That surname sounds so familiar...

He shook his head, temporarily setting aside those chaotic and irrelevant emotions, and went into the house, closing the door behind him. Everything was still just speculation at the moment, but no matter what explosive news his parents brought him today, he was determined to grit his teeth and bear it like a tough guy.

You're an adult now, you can handle all of this! Hang in there!

Master Ning slowly found a seat on the sofa and sat down.

Xiao Gu turned his head, and the two looked at each other.

An awkward yet polite smile.jpg

"Hello, my name is Gu Guanxue." The girl took off her mask and offered her soft, white hand. Ning Yuan responded politely by offering his own hand in return.

"Hello, my name is……"

"Wait, what's your name again?!"

“Gu Guanxue.” The girl who took off her mask was graceful and charming. She casually tidied her long hair that went past her shoulders, and the slightly curled waves at the ends of her hair fell over her shoulders. A few strands of wine-red highlights were also exposed to Ning Yuan’s view, making her look playful and cute.

She replied, and seeing Ning Yuan's blank expression, she couldn't help but wave her delicate white hand in front of him.

"Hello?"

"What's going on? Little Gu greeted you, and you have no manners at all." Dad came out carrying a peeled and chopped apple, and seeing Ning Yuan's bewildered look, he peeled it again.

"Are you Gu Guanxue?"

Yes, that's me.

"You're Gu Guanxue?!"

"?"

"How could you be Gu Guanxue?!" Ning Yuan suddenly stood up, his face showing an expression of utter disbelief.

It's been so long since the photos of Gu, the most beautiful girl in our department, were updated on the campus forum. I didn't even recognize her when we were face-to-face, even though she was wearing a mask!

Gu, the most beautiful girl in the department: "..."

"Dad, come here for a second!"

Ning Yuan grabbed his father and pulled him aside without saying a word, lowering his voice to say, "Tell me the truth... this girl... she's not my younger sister, is she?"

Judging from appearance, the possibility is extremely high!

"What are you thinking?" Dad snapped at him again. "This is a girl your mom met while she was square dancing... Your mom seems to really like her and is trying to create opportunities for you to meet her. 'Sister,' you think you're Jia Baoyu, calling everyone 'my sister'?"

"You met while square dancing? Were you dance partners?!"

"I don't know about that."

So it really was a blind date. Why do I feel a little disappointed...?

Ning Yuan sighed sadly, then seemed to think of something and quickly pushed him towards the kitchen: "Alright, alright, I know. Since you're creating an opportunity for me to get to know you, then don't keep bothering us while we're chatting... You help my mom out first."

"Be polite! Little Gu is so likable. You and your sister are always so unruly."

"Okay... add more meat to the stir-fried pork with chili..."

Having successfully tricked his father into leaving the living room, Ning Yuan turned to look at Gu Da, the most beautiful girl in the department, sitting on the sofa.

Awakening! Hunt time! (Red eyes)

As one of the main characters in his plan to "catch the bull," Gu Da, the most beautiful girl in the department, is arguably very important. But then again, she's not that important.

The key point is that if she cooperates, the success rate of the entire plan is very high, but Ning Yuan can still carry out the plan even without her. This role makes Ning Yuan's attitude towards her extremely complicated.

Before, I didn't know how to approach and win her over smoothly and naturally, or whether spending energy to do so would be in vain. Now, well, you've chosen the path to hell!

Master Ning secretly gave his mother a thumbs up in his heart. "You managed to bring home the most beautiful girl in the department while doing square dancing. You're really something."

You are this one. (Thumbs up)