Chapter 4
Chapter 4
After choosing who we liked came the date portion.
My junior was a little nervous. “Sister Bai, where should we go?”
“How can you ask a question like that on a date?” Xi Yan’s voice came from behind us.
Somehow, he had been following us the whole time.
Hands in his pockets, looking like the coolest guy on the entire street.
“One look and I can tell you didn’t prepare. How can you toss the question to the girl? You have to give her options and let her choose.”
Xi Yan clicked his tongue, walked over, and nudged me aside to demonstrate. “This is Tianmu Mountain. The weather’s so nice-want to go hiking?”
“There are pedal electric scooters near the village entrance. We could take one out for a spin.”
“Or fifteen minutes away, there’s a tourist spot where we can take a boat out on the lake.”
“6666.”
“Yan Ge is so right. I hate it when someone says we’re going out to have fun but hasn’t thought at all about what to do. You just end up wasting time together.”
“Poor Xiao Bao. Even dating turns into a lecture.”
“This just proves our Xiao Bao is innocent!”
After Xi Yan finished his demonstration, he shook his head at me with the calm authority of an old master.
“Young people. So thoughtless. Some girls, if they found someone even a little more mature, wouldn’t have to work so hard.”
I couldn’t help laughing at him. “Why are you following us?”
Xi Yan said solemnly, “I am your observer.”
Huh?
“I ended up alone, so the production team gave me this noble duty: supervise your date and score it. That line just now loses him ten points.”
Without mercy, he pulled out a score sheet and wrote -10 in red pen next to Xiao Bao’s name.
Xiao Bao froze. “Huh?”
Xi Yan turned to face me. “So, Xiao Bai Sheng, do you want to go hiking, ride a scooter, or go boating on the lake?”
Why are you asking me to choose?
You’re not my date!
I choose none of them. That’ll teach you.
Xi Yan’s lips curved slightly. “There are a lot of good restaurants by the lake.”
“Then let’s go to the lake,” I blurted out.
“Hahahahahahaha, Xiao Bai Sheng, you’re so calculating in dramas, so why are you this easy to trick in real life?”
“Strongly suspecting whether this observer role is even real. We didn’t see it earlier. Didn’t the director just tell him to go buy groceries?”
“Scheming straight man!”
When we went boating, Xiao Bao learned from his mistake. “I’ll go buy the tickets.”
Xi Yan praised him. “See? Now you’re getting it. Boys should take initiative.”
“Then, Teacher, can you add back the points you deducted from me?”
Xi Yan’s face turned cold. “Isn’t this what you’re supposed to do? And you still want extra points? With that petty attitude, you think you’re going to get a girlfriend?”
Xiao Bao walked off dejectedly.
Xi Yan went to the vending machine next door and bought two popsicles, one for each of us, then squatted beside me while we ate.
“Hahahahahahaha, why are they squatting? This date looks like they’re on break at a construction site.”
“This isn’t their date! Bai Sheng and Bao Jialin are the ones on a date! Xi Yan belongs to Tian Tian.”
“I mean, you’re right, but something still feels off… Why is Bao Jialin buying tickets while Xi Yan and Bai Sheng are happily eating popsicles?”
“Xiao Bao, you’ve been scammed. Run.”
When Bao Jialin came back with the tickets, Xi Yan went and got two more popsicles.
One for him.
One for himself.
I stared at him pitifully. “Why don’t I get one?”
“Little girls shouldn’t eat too much cold stuff. Your stomach will hurt later.” Xi Yan patted my head. “You’re still a kid, but you need to take care of your health.”
“If I’m taking care of my health, why do you get to eat two?”
“I had the vanilla one and wanted to try the chocolate one too. Isn’t that only natural?” Xi Yan smiled as he opened the wrapper right in front of me.
Damn it!
His was a flavor I hadn’t tried!
He slowly pulled out the popsicle and held it to my lips.
“But since it’s so hot, I can let you have one tiny taste. And it’s the first bite.”
Don’t eat it! Bai Sheng! You’ll end up trending!
“There’s a filling inside,” Xi Yan said in the voice of the devil.
Damn it!
Mmm~ The filling was so crunchy, like a wafer bar.
“Bai Bitch! How can you share one ice cream with Tian Tian’s man?! That’s an indirect kiss!”
“That was the first bite of the popsicle. That’s true love.”
“What brand is it? Judging by her expression, it looks seriously delicious.”
“Xiao Bao, stand up for yourself! Your head is so green, do something!”
Bao Jialin watched as that popsicle went from my mouth to Xi Yan’s.
He seemed to realize something, and wariness appeared in his eyes.
“Sharing ice cream flavors is a normal part of dating. I’m demonstrating for you,” Xi Yan said shamelessly.
“I’ve learned something.” Bao Jialin raised his ice cream to my lips.
In that moment, I felt like I was in Malèna.
Before anyone could react, Xi Yan grabbed his hand and stuffed the ice cream into his own mouth. “Doesn’t taste like much.”
Bao Jialin: ?????
“She doesn’t like mango flavor, and she’s allergic to mangoes. Good attitude toward learning, but insufficient preparation. Minus ten points.”
Xiao Bao looked like someone had put a target on his back at work.
Whining. Grumbling. Muttering under his breath.
To comfort him, I bought him another chocolate one.
He didn’t even let me have a bite.
You deserved those deducted points, Xiao Bao!