Chapter 92: I May Look Like a Girl, But I’m a Boy Inside
As long as I’m a boy at heart in a girl’s body. Then I’ll have no weakness, I’ll be unbeatable.
But Xia Changyu didn’t agree. He smiled and said, “Not willing to be my caged bird? That means you’re pretty bold, huh?”
“Are you kidding? I’m super bold.”
“Then let’s wait and see.”
“Wait and see what!” Lin Yibai snorted coldly and firmly ended the conversation. “I’m telling you right now, it’s impossible! I never leave people hanging.”
Leave someone hanging?
Treat Xia Changyu like a backup option or a free meal ticket?
Lin Yibai couldn’t imagine herself doing something that shameless, no matter how hard she tried. So it’s better to crush other people’s hopes early on!
And just the thought of being “bent” by another guy made her feel like the sky was falling.
On the other side, Xia Changyu kept smiling, Nodding along like, “Yeah, yeah, you’re totally right. I don’t stand a chance.” But in his head, he was already thinking about how to win her over and score fast.
After all, when you’re dealing with someone whose mouth is the toughest thing about them, you’d have to be the dumbest person alive to actually believe what she says!
At the food stall, they ordered two meat dishes and one veggie. When the rice came, Lin Yibai started digging in right away.
While eating, she started talking about her project plans. But Xia Changyu stopped her.
“Just focus on eating, okay? No work talk at the table. It’s not allowed here.”
Lin Yibai pouted, “But—”
Xia Changyu said, “I know you’re super responsible, but please take care of yourself too, okay?”
Lin Yibai took another bite of rice and said, “You’re a terrible boss, you know that? Your worker is offering to work overtime, and you’re turning them down?”
“Because it’s not necessary.”
“You don’t want to make money?”
“I’m not saying I’m a great person,” Xia Changyu paused for a bit and then said, “But you’ve seen the people in my tiny little company, a lot of them are still in school. I try to schedule them so they don’t have to skip class or mess up their studies.”
“You’re actually kind of a good guy, huh?”
“You just noticed?”
“Wow, say one nice thing and you take it seriously?”
“Because I really like hearing nice things.” Xia Changyu grinned, tilted his head, and said, “Why don’t you say two more nice things? Pretty please?”
“No way!”
“Aww, disappointed...”
It’s getting harder and harder to beg for favors these days.
The food stall was getting livelier. Lots of college students were eating and drinking together, especially the seniors, some of whom were already having farewell parties.
Just then, a middle-aged woman with a guitar walked over, carrying a basket of roses and a song list.
She was clearly there to sing and set the mood. She had a sharp eye for business.
She targeted graduates with nostalgic songs, and sold love songs and roses to couples.
The woman didn’t even glance at Lin Yibai. She went straight to Xia Changyu and said, “Hi there, would you like to request a song for your girlfriend?”
She knew that guys usually found it hard to say no in situations like this. Eight or nine times out of ten, they’d end up paying.
Lin Yibai was already giving Xia Changyu desperate warning looks.
Please, rival! Whatever you do—don’t fall for it!
You don’t seem that dumb, right? You must see through her little act, right?
Don’t ask why Lin Yibai was reacting so strongly. The answer is... she’s had an ex-girlfriend too, okay?!
Lin Yibai frowned in deep worry, as if she’d just remembered some very bad memories.
One song costs 50 yuan, one rose is 19.9... Hasn't she already been scammed enough back then?!
It was exactly because she had been through that kind of trouble and hardship before that she didn’t want any other guy to fall for the same trap.
If Xia Changyu ended up spending money because of it, she wouldn’t be happy, she’d actually feel bad.
I’ve already fallen into that hole. You, my annoying love rival, better not fall into it too.
Before that woman could continue using guilt to pressure Xia Changyu, Lin Yibai quickly said, “Um, I think you misunderstood. I’m not his girlfriend. We’re just here to have a meal, and we don’t need love songs or flowers, thanks.”
But the woman knew exactly who her real customer was. She didn’t even look at Lin Yibai, just kept her eyes on Xia Changyu and asked again, “Sir, would you like to buy a song for your girlfriend?”
At this point, Lin Yibai also turned to look at him. Her message was very clear.
Are you going to listen to her… or listen to me?
She still didn’t feel safe, so she added, “A love song, huh? I can sing too. How about you give me the money… I—I’ll find a quiet place and sing it to you myself?”
Honestly, Xia Changyu had already made up his mind. He had seen this kind of thing before.
Even when walking outside school, people would try to sell you flowers for your ‘girlfriend.’ Can you believe that?
To be fair, he didn’t like this stuff either. And Lin Yibai’s offer was actually a nice surprise.
Of course, he couldn’t let things end just like that. So he said to the woman.
“No need for the song, because my girlfr—uh, cough, I mean, my friend said she’ll sing to me herself. But I’ll still buy one flower.”
A typical guy move, finding a middle-ground solution. If it meant no song was played, Lin Yibai could sort of accept it. The woman made her sale and moved on, so maybe this wasn’t a bad way out.
But that’s not what it was about.
It wasn’t just about avoiding a scam. He genuinely wanted to give her that flower.
After the woman walked to another table, Xia Changyu smoothly placed the rose in front of Lin Yibai without saying a word.
It was Lin Yibai who got shocked. It felt like she’d just been stung by a bee.
She looked at him and said, “Wait, hey, what are you doing? You freaking bought me a flower?! Are you trying to scare me or something?”
This was way too shocking. She saw herself as a guy on the inside. And now, another guy had given her a flower. No matter how she looked at it, this was not okay.
Xia Changyu kept eating and said, “Do you think it makes sense for a man like me to carry such a bright red flower?”
I don’t care what you think!
I care what I think!
I’m a guy too, it doesn’t make sense for me to have it either!
It was too awkward. Now the rose sitting in front of Lin Yibai looked super out of place.
Take it. Please, I’m begging you, take it away.
Lin Yibai held her bowl and chopsticks, but the bowl was already empty, and she didn’t even know what she was poking at anymore.
A server at the food stall saw their awkward silence and thought they had “a moment,” so they came over to suggest a special dish.
“Wanna try our stir-fried yam and black fungus?”
“No. Go away.”
“Okay!”
“……”
Yeah… the meal wasn’t exactly peaceful.
After paying, Lin Yibai sent him half the money. Xia Changyu knew how she was, so he didn’t argue.
As they were getting ready to leave, a clueless server cleaning up the table suddenly shouted, “Hey! You forgot your flower!”
Flower? What flower?!
Why did you have to say that out loud?!
Do you have any idea how hot that flower feels right now?!