Tea-flavored Romance

Lu Jiujiu glanced at him with slight surprise, thinking to herself, "When did you send this message? How come I didn't notice at all?"

"Don't look at me like that. Your dorm is on such a high floor, I'd be exhausted if I carried you up there." Ning Yuan chuckled softly. "Besides, the dorm supervisor probably wouldn't let me carry you up."

Lu Jiujiu didn't respond. She hadn't spoken before because she didn't want to pay attention to Ning Yuan, the guy who made her angry. Now she was silent simply because she didn't know what to say.

I have this feeling... nothing I say will be right...

She glanced at the boy beside her out of the corner of her eye. In the darkness, she couldn't see the look in his eyes, but she inexplicably sensed that the two of them had fallen silent at the same time.

Perhaps it was because of Lu Jiujiu's sudden change, or perhaps someone had originally planned to use this opportunity to build up their emotions, but the two walked side by side, supporting each other, for a while.

“Speaking of which… Lu Jiujiu, you seem to have grown a little taller.”

"..."

“It’s true. Do you remember last year when your family took you to a ball, and you asked me and Xiao Ling’er to help you pick out high heels?” Master Ning gestured for a while and said, “You only came here after you put on your shoes.”

"That's the difference in the heels," Lu Hanhan explained.

"Oh? Really? I thought you'd grown taller?"

Ning Yuan then replied, seemingly unconcerned about whether he had grown taller or not, and chuckled, "You're dressed very formally today, like you're going to a ball."

“I was so scared at the time that I thought your dad was going to force you to find a husband, and then you came to me asking me to run away with you.”

"It's not a marriage proposal!" Lu Jiujiu was startled and quickly replied, "Don't talk nonsense."

“It’s not a marriage proposal… Well, how could a dignified Miss Lu need a marriage proposal?” Master Ning said, blinking. “Before, when I saw you looking so lost and anxious, behaving so strangely, I thought you were hiding someone from us.”

Although this question was no different from the previous half-joking questions about whether she was on her period, Lu Jiujiu still sensed a hint of seriousness in it...

It's strange. Since he noticed my strange behavior a long time ago... why didn't he ask me about it?

If... if he asks me, then wouldn't I be able to naturally say what I want to say?

But that would mean he would find out about my embarrassing thoughts, right?

A hint of confusion appeared on Lu Jiujiu's face. Master Ning didn't give her a chance to think further and then laughed, "But after thinking about it, I felt something was off... Someone as simple-minded as you might not even be able to distinguish between liking and loving... Don't you think so?"

"..."

For no apparent reason, the girl's heart began to race. She instinctively wanted to argue back, but found that she couldn't seem to find any reason to refute Ning Yuan's words.

What's the difference between liking and loving...?

Are these two really that different?

Chapter 96: My Account Was Hacked?

A look of confusion crossed the girl's face. Ning Yuan didn't let her be confused for long. He gently patted the girl's head and asked in a slightly annoyed tone, "What are you daydreaming about... We've arrived at the milk tea shop. Do you want to eat some cake or something to fill your stomach? This shop seems to sell desserts."

Lu Jiujiu shook her head. Ning Yuan ignored her, led her into the shop and sat her down. He quickly ordered several cups of milk tea and some desserts. Turning his head, he noticed that the girl seemed to be lost in thought, and couldn't help but tentatively ask, "Will you pay for the milk tea with your salary?"

The girl snapped out of her daze and instinctively replied, "No."

"You really care about your measly few dozen yuan a day for making short films." Master Ning was utterly speechless at this small capitalist. "Alright, eat something. I was just joking before, you're not fat at all. In fact, you've lost a lot of weight."

Lu Jiujiu hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took a small piece of cake, her face still showing a slight confusion, as if she still hadn't figured out the question from earlier. Ning Yuan popped a cookie into his mouth, the sweet aroma spreading throughout his mouth.

Before he could even eat a few more cookies to fill his stomach, three girls rushed into the shop, one of them carrying a cloth bag. They glanced around and quickly spotted Ning Yuan and his companion sitting there.

"Jiu Jiu... are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?"

"Come on, here are your favorite flats. Change into them quickly and just throw your high heels in this bag."

The people who came were Lu Jiujiu's three roommates. When they heard that Lu Jiujiu was in trouble, the whole dormitory came out to welcome and take care of her. Their feelings were truly sincere.

One of the short-haired girls glanced at Ning Yuan, then at Lu Hanhan who was bending down to change her shoes, seemingly wanting to say something, but then hesitated. Master Ning naturally knew what she wanted to ask, clapped his hands to clean the cookie crumbs off, but had no intention of explaining anything to Lu Jiujiu's roommate.

"It's good that you're here. Um... I packed a few cups of milk tea and some desserts for you to take. This guy doesn't seem to have eaten much..."

"We don't need any, Jiu Jiu can take one serving."

After a brief refusal, Ning Yuan finally placed a fully packed bag in Lu Jiujiu's hand and waved goodbye.

"Let's go. If it hurts when we get back, we can put some medicine on it."

Lu Hanhan turned around, looking bewildered, and bit his lip lightly: "Ning Yuan..."

"Ok?"

"Um... I didn't mean to pinch you before..." the girl stammered.

"Sorry……"

"Stop talking nonsense. I will definitely find a chance to get back at you another day. Don't even think about escaping."

Lu Jiujiu's face fell: "Then... can I just pinch your cheeks?"

The implication is that pinching my cheeks is fine, but don't ask why I've become so strange! Asking won't do anyone any good!

Ignorance is bliss!

"That depends on whether I'm satisfied with my slashing." Master Ning laughed. "Alright, let's go back. We'll not take revenge today; we'll talk about it another day."

"oh oh."

"Well... goodbye."

"..."

"Jiu Jiu, really! I told you these heels are too high and not suitable, but you still secretly wore them... Do your feet still hurt?"

"It's much better now..."

The girl and her roommate walked away from the milk tea shop, their voices drifting away on the night breeze. Ning Yuan glanced one last time at Lu Jiujiu's somewhat frail figure, then looked away, his expression a mixture of regret and relief.

Lu Jiujiu... Lu Jiujiu...

She really is still the same simpleton she always was, without changing at all.

Master Ning sighed softly, thinking to himself that he had been so focused on talking about her that he realized he hadn't really changed much...

He still couldn't be as carefree as Gu Xihua. He suddenly thought of a bright and cunning face and couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly.

I don't know how that guy can be so carefree and insightful, always facing everything she likes with such enthusiasm.

I seem to be too idle; I need to keep myself busy.

The boy's complaints fell into the cool night breeze and disappeared in an instant. No matter what emotions he had felt before, they were all rootless and were scattered like smoke and dust as soon as the wind blew by.

……

In the girls' dormitory at night, Lu Jiujiu washed up early and, just like the previous days, climbed into bed and started staring blankly at her phone.

The other three roommates exchanged glances, understanding each other's thoughts. They each took out their phones and created a discussion group, then began to share their opinions one after another.

[Pretty Girl #1: Do you think Jiu Jiu successfully confessed her feelings?]

[Pretty Girl #2: I think it's unlikely... Judging from the atmosphere between the two at the end, it clearly didn't seem like they were confessing their feelings to each other.]

[Girl #3: I have a feeling that Jiu Jiu might not have gone out to confess her feelings. What if she was rejecting someone? Dressing formally to reject someone is very much like Jiu Jiu's personality.]

[Pretty Girl #2: Please, this might be possible with anyone else... but think about who it is, Ning Yuan! Even a normal person could see with their eyes whether these two have any chemistry.]

[Girl #1: I think so too. When I first came to university, I saw him helping Jiu Jiu move her things in and I thought he was her boyfriend. But it's been so long and there's still no sign of anything happening.]

[Girl #2: You guys think... is it because they're missing something? Do they need a push? A few days ago I saw Jiu Jiu acting so strangely and thought someone was giving them a push, but today I realized it was all for nothing.]

[Girl #1: Could it be... that Jiu Jiu doesn't actually like anyone at all, and what we're seeing now is just our own interpretation...? With Jiu Jiu's naive personality, she might really not have those feelings.]

[Pretty Girl No. 3: Who knows... Sigh, it always feels like I'm shipping a couple but didn't get any sweet moments, just a mouthful of knives instead.]

[Beautiful Girl #2: +1...Poor Jiu Jiu...]

【Beautiful Girl No. 1: +1...Poor Jiu Jiu...】

Several roommates sighed softly, seemingly even more anxious than the two people involved. Lu Jiujiu was unaware of the discussion her roommates had sparked because of her. She nestled in her blankets, staring at the search page on her phone screen, a bewildered look returning to her face.

"Liking is the joy of first sight, love is the satisfaction of being together for a long time."

I've known Ningyuan for a long time... and I don't feel any dislike for him... Is this love?

Or is this... the habit Ning Yuan mentioned before?

Is it love or habit?

Is my desire for him to stay with me really just out of habit?

Is it still possible to continue getting along like before?

No one could give the girl an answer. This was the first time in all the time she'd known Ning Yuan that she'd considered her relationship with that familiar figure in this way. Regardless of what conclusion this reflection would ultimately reach, a seed had already been quietly planted in Lu Jiujiu's heart.

It lies buried deep in my heart, and one day it will sprout and bloom into a lush and vibrant flower.

Many people are sleepless every night, and it seems that Master Ning and Lu Hanhan are joining this group today. However, the two deal with insomnia in different ways—Lu Jiujiu tosses and turns, while Ning Yuan is busy sharing his feelings on NetEase Cloud Music.

It feels a bit like I'm deliberately having insomnia?

Before a classic song was even halfway through, news about Miss Gu Guanxue suddenly popped up.

I just thought of a way to make money, are you interested in joining me?!

Master Ning: ?

Chapter 97: Is Yue currently guilty?

Master Ning swiped his hand to the top of the screen, thinking to himself, "There's actually someone who can steal Gu Xihua's account... Could it be that this girl accidentally clicked on some small website like the Macau Royal Casino?"

This certainly fits Gu Xihua's character, but if her account was hacked for this reason, then sorry, I'll still laugh out loud, even if I'm just a wingman.

Unlike other account hackers who strike and flee, Gu Xihua quickly and persistently sent a second message:

[This looks really fun, do you want to come join us?]

Ning Yuan glanced at the message and was speechless—what kind of money-making plan is this late at night during NetEase Cloud Music time? It's not appropriate. If you get all excited, how will you continue to feel melancholy later?

Besides, once my micro-film competition prize money and video creation incentives arrive in my account, I should be able to become a little rich kid who doesn't have to lick the lid off his yogurt.

Oh well... Since it's an SSR mining spot, it's necessary to put in some effort to maintain it.

[Myself?]

"Absolutely genuine." Gu Xihua replied, "Should we video chat to verify my identity?"