The best place for a meal was naturally back at the Azure Sea Grand Hotel.
This time, Zhao Qingyu didn’t let Shen An make the decision. He just needed to obediently follow along behind her.
When they reached the roadside and passed the lunchtime food stall, Shen An couldn’t help but glance at it again before sneaking a peek at Zhao Qingyu.
Zhao Qingyu kept her eyes straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge him no matter what. All she said was, “Come on.”
Since he wasn’t the one paying, Shen An didn’t care where they ate.
Back at the grand hotel, they entered the private room Zhao Qingyu usually used. The moment they sat down, the hotel manager came forward with the menu.
Shen An and Zhao Qingyu each ordered a few dishes before sending the manager away.
While Shen An was rinsing the teaware, Zhao Qingyu leaned forward slightly, slipped off her high heels, and set them gently aside.
Shen An happened to catch sight of the high heels placed off to the side. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “No wonder you love wearing high heels so much. They look great, sure, but aren’t they uncomfortable to walk in?”
Zhao Qingyu massaged her slightly sore ankle with her small hand. Her bare, jade-like foot was fully exposed without any attempt to hide it as she crossed her legs, her red toenail polish gleaming brightly.
“I don’t usually wear high heels much. It’s just that you’ve happened to see me in them more often,” Zhao Qingyu explained.
“Oh… I see.” Shen An stared at her delicate, flushed foot. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then stopped himself.
Seeing this, Zhao Qingyu narrowed her eyes slightly. “What do you want to say? Don’t hem and haw.”
“Nothing.”
What Shen An had really wanted to say was that he could help out—give her foot a massage to get the blood flowing.
But on second thought, although their relationship had reached a brand-new “starting point,” they weren’t quite intimate enough for him to just touch her casually.
“Nothing?” Zhao Qingyu fixed him with a stare. She’d clearly seen his hesitation, so of course she didn’t believe him.
But since Shen An didn’t want to say it, she couldn’t be bothered to press him.
Instead, Zhao Qingyu asked, “How’s your hand? Feeling better?”
Shen An blinked, then waved it in front of her. “It was nothing to begin with—just rope burns. It’ll be fine after a bit of rest.”
“Mm.”
Zhao Qingyu released her ankle and flexed her toes lightly.
“Good to hear.” She picked up her teacup and took a sip. “Sorry for the trouble.”
Shen An smiled lightly at that. “If anyone’s causing trouble, it’s me for you, Senior Sister. I was supposed to treat you, but you’ve ended up paying for two meals.”
Zhao Qingyu’s lips curved upward slightly. “You still owe me one.”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean, huh? Didn’t I pay for lunch?”
“Uh… I figured you wouldn’t mind, Senior Sister.”
“No way. You have to treat me once more. But no picking any more of those weird little places.”
No sooner had the words left Zhao Qingyu’s mouth than she felt something off about them.
She quickly added, “Fine, that food stall would be okay too.”
“I’m fine either way. I’m just worried you won’t have the time, Senior Sister.” Shen An chuckled.
“Mm, I am pretty busy. But I’d be willing to make some time for you.”
A sly glint flashed in Zhao Qingyu’s foxy eyes as she propped her chin on her hand, her gaze carrying the teasing air of a mischievous vixen.
Shen An coughed lightly and changed the subject. “Right, Senior Sister, you still haven’t told me what that plan of yours is.”
“Oh, have I not?”
“You haven’t.” Shen An nodded.
“Let me think.” Zhao Qingyu put on a thoughtful expression.
Shen An’s mouth twitched. “You didn’t just make it up on the spot, did you, Senior Sister?”
“Of course not.”
Zhao Qingyu shot him a look and huffed playfully. “I do have the idea. I just haven’t fleshed it out completely yet.”
“Also, be quiet. You’re disturbing my thinking.”
Shen An looked down and shrugged dismissively. He suspected Zhao Qingyu had probably just blurted out an excuse in the heat of the moment.
“That expression on your face.” Zhao Qingyu narrowed her eyes. “It reeks of distrust.”
“So, have you come up with it yet, Senior Sister?”
Shen An grinned back at her.
“I’ve got a bit of it.”
“What is it?”
“Do you like traveling?”
“?” Shen An blinked. “Are we back to your unique interviewing style, Senior Sister?”
“No. Just answer my question.”
Zhao Qingyu shook her head gently and spoke in a soft voice. “Whatever I ask, you answer.”
“Does whether I like traveling or not have anything to do with your plan?”
“Answer me first.”
“Fine. I don’t really like traveling.”
“You don’t?” Zhao Qingyu blinked in surprise, confusion flickering in her eyes. “I thought you’d be into it.”
“That’s just your misconception, Senior Sister.”
Shen An laughed easily. “Traveling doesn’t interest me at all. It’s such a hassle—always rushing around. I hate hassle, so I’d rather just stay put.”
“Of course, if it were a trip with two people, I might be interested.”
He hinted wildly, but Zhao Qingyu just quirked her lips in faint amusement. “Two people—two guys?”
“Mm, I’d prefer one guy and one girl.”
Shen An pointed at himself. “Like you and me.”
Zhao Qingyu snorted. “Big ideas, huh?”
“Cough, cough. Yin and yang complement each other.” Shen An shrugged. “I think it’s pretty realistic. If you don’t believe me, Senior Sister, go ask any guy. See if they’d rather travel with another guy or with a girl.”
The teasing in Zhao Qingyu’s eyes intensified. “No need to explain so much. I’m not saying your idea is unrealistic.”
“I’m just saying you have a lot of ideas.”
She tucked a strand of short hair behind her ear, revealing her fair earlobe and the delicate earring dangling there. “So, do you want to travel with me?”
Pfft.
Shen An nearly spat out the tea he’d just sipped.
He grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth in a hurry. “Sorry, sorry. That was rude.”
Zhao Qingyu’s smile turned playful. “No problem. You still haven’t answered my question.”
“Do you want to… travel… with me?”
She leaned in closer, her unique, sexy perfume mingling with her soft, sweet tone like a gentle breeze, leaving Shen An momentarily dazed.
He murmured, “Just the two of us?”
Zhao Qingyu tilted her head. “Mm-hmm. Who else would you want to invite?”
“Uh… well…”
Shen An rubbed his hands together, a mix of awkwardness and anticipation on his face. “I… I know if I want to or not, but the way you put it, Senior Sister, has me suddenly looking forward to it.”
Pervert~
Zhao Qingyu silently grumbled to herself, though a seductive, foxy smile tugged at her lips unbidden. “Traveling with me would come with a lot of hassles, though.”
“Huh?” Shen An looked at her in bewilderment. “What hassles?”
“All kinds. You might end up disappointed.”
Zhao Qingyu spoke softly. “Didn’t you just say you hate hassles? If you go with me, you’d have to take care of yourself—and me too.”
“Your Senior Sister here is a total dunce at life. I only know how to make money and spend it. Everything else? Clueless.”
Shen An chuckled. “Having money is the only advantage you need. The rest doesn’t matter.”
Zhao Qingyu wasn’t convinced. She sighed lightly. “That’s true, but I hope you won’t get so materialistic.”
“Besides, there are plenty of things money can’t solve.”
“Like my current situation.”
“Do you think I’m popular in the Student Union?”
It was a loaded question if there ever was one.
Zhao Qingyu’s reputation in the Student Union was abysmal—people avoided her like the plague, dogs included.
But saying that to her face wouldn’t do. Shen An chose his words carefully. “Tigers roam alone. Sheep flock together.”
Zhao Qingyu’s eyebrow arched. She hadn’t expected that response from him.
Then she burst out laughing, a sly glint in her eye. “So you think I’m a tigress?”
Ah…
Shen An scratched his head. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Alright, I’m done teasing. I get what you mean. You were just trying to say it nicely.”
A trace of melancholy crossed Zhao Qingyu’s face. “But no matter how nicely you put it, it doesn’t change the fact that people hate me.”
“When that’s the case, does having money help?”
“Can I buy their goodwill with money? Change their attitude toward me?”
“And even if money could change their attitude, would it be the kind of change I want?”
Shen An hesitated for a moment before speaking softly. “I don’t think this has much to do with money.”
“Hm?”
Zhao Qingyu’s gaze sharpened, and she let out a laugh. “Weren’t you being all tactful a second ago? Now you’re getting blunt.”
She sighed. “You mean it’s my way of doing things that’s pissed everyone off, right?”
“No.”
Shen An shook his head. “I think it’s that people have a hard time understanding each other.”
“Especially when you have your own stance, and they have theirs. You’re the Troupe Leader of the Art Troupe, not the Student Union President.”
“What you need to consider, your starting point—it’s all about the Art Troupe. Completely different from theirs.”
“So conflict is inevitable. It’s a fact that can’t be changed, no matter who steps into your shoes.”
“As long as the Art Troupe members believe in you and respect you, Senior Sister, that proves you’re doing the right thing.”
Shen An paused for a moment, then said with a serious expression, “And I believe everyone in the Art Troupe respects you a great deal. They all know exactly what kind of pressure you’ve been shouldering for the group, and they’re truly grateful to you for it.”
Zhao Qingyu stared at Shen An in a daze, murmuring absentmindedly, “Is that really what you think?”
“Of course.”
Shen An nodded without the slightest hesitation. “I don’t know what others might think, but that’s exactly how I feel.”
“In other words, even if no one else approves of you, Senior Sister, I will.”
The corners of his mouth curved up slightly, and he spoke in a gentle tone. “I’ll stand right by your side, so you don’t need to worry about any of that.”
Zhao Qingyu gazed at him, then suddenly said, “Shen An.”
“Hm?”
“If only you were mute.”
“Ha??“
“Pfft~ Just kidding.” Zhao Qingyu let out a light chuckle, masking the faint bitterness that welled up in her heart.
If you were mute…
I could use you without holding back.
Her already conflicted heart churned with fresh turmoil at his words.
Zhao Qingyu drew in a deep breath, struggling to maintain her composure.
“Actually, I asked if you like traveling because the first step in my plan is a trip.”
She set aside her probing and teasing, steering the conversation back on track.
Shen An blurted out in surprise, “Just the two of us?”
“I wouldn’t mind at all, but not right now.”
Zhao Qingyu grinned.
“Uh…”
Shen An cleared his throat lightly. “I… I mean… when would we go?”
“Oh? Sounds like you’re really looking forward to it.”
“No, no, no. I mean… when is the trip in your plan supposed to happen, and what kind is it?”
“Senior Sister…” Shen An tried to hide his embarrassment. “Could you explain it in more detail?”
“Oh~” Zhao Qingyu secretly chuckled to herself at his flustered reaction, but she refrained from teasing him further.
On the contrary, a warm feeling bloomed in her heart.
