Chapter 9

The free hotpot plan for the next day fell through. Ruan Ruan, heartbroken by the little traitor’s betrayal, holed up in the library.

Li Tong skipped it too. She’d had two rounds of hotpot the day before, and now just the thought of it made her feel nauseous.

“You’re so weak! Only two meals?” Tang Tianman slapped the table.

Li Tong patted her belly. “My little tummy’s only this big. Today, I just want some thin porridge.”

Tang Tianman waved her off, not pushing it, and ordered two bowls of porridge to be delivered to their dorm door.

One for Li Tong, one for herself.

She needed to clear out her system, gearing up for Zheng Xiyu’s triumphant return tomorrow so they could have a proper meal together.

Tang Tianman had no idea what the competition was or when exactly it was happening. A quick search online turned up nothing useful.

Asking Zheng Xiyu now felt like it would disturb her, so she dropped the idea.

The day dragged on boringly. Tang Tianman mostly spent it lounging on her dorm bed.

The next morning, she woke to a new message on her phone.

From Weak Chirpy Little Kitty:

-Won.

Tang Tianman bolted upright in bed.

-Back at school?

Zheng Xiyu replied almost immediately:

-Got back overnight.

-You’re up this early?

-Class today. I’m pretty diligent, you know?

-Okay, what do you want for breakfast?

-You treating? I want sour cabbage stewed pork noodles from Canteen 4!

-That’s hard to carry.

-I’m already dressed.

-Fine. Ten minutes, downstairs at the dorm building.

Tang Tianman jumped out of bed.

This time, she had plenty of time. She got properly dressed, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and even ran a comb through her hair.

Before heading out, she checked herself in the mirror. Tsk, what a fresh-faced beauty everyone would fall for~

She dashed down the stairs with a rapid thump-thump-thump. When she burst out the building door, she glanced at the time—only eight minutes.

Perfect. She didn’t want to keep Zheng Xiyu waiting every time.

But as she stepped onto the curb and looked around, she spotted a tall figure rounding the corner not far off.

Zheng Xiyu looked just as vibrant as ever, in a short-sleeved athletic top, joggers, and a high ponytail, radiating youthful energy.

She waved at Tang Tianman, her lips curving up.

Tang Tianman jogged over and came to a stop in front of her, fidgeting with her feet to adjust her stance.

“Didn’t we say ten minutes?”

“Perfect timing. I was just jogging by.” Zheng Xiyu bent down to meet her eyes.

“You’re coming to eat with me? No morning training?”

“The coach gave us the morning off.”

“Then why’d you get up so early!” Tang Tianman said, incredulous.

“Habit.” Zheng Xiyu tilted her head. “Shall we?”

“Let’s go!” Tang Tianman bounced on her toes.

N City was blanketed in thick fog that morning, damp and gray.

The two walked through campus, breathing in the crisp early-morning air.

Zheng Xiyu wasn’t much of a talker, but Tang Tianman didn’t mind taking the lead. From the weather to their studies and daily lives, people their age always found common ground.

Besides, in Tang Tianman’s eyes, Zheng Xiyu was the perfect obedient underclassman right now—agreeable to everything.

Tang Tianman tilted her head back, gazing up at the massive campus trees lining the path. With a slight shift, she could admire Zheng Xiyu’s sharp jawline.

“In a bit, the ginkgos here will all turn gold. The leaves’ll carpet the ground—it’s gorgeous.”

“Yeah? I haven’t seen that.”

“You will soon. The school leaves it uncleared for a few days so everyone can enjoy the view.”

Zheng Xiyu looked up too. “Sounds nice.”

“The ginkgos at Memorial Park, the maples on Back Mountain—come winter, it’ll snow, and from Pinghe Plain, you can look out over a world blanketed in white.”

“You know all the good spots.” Zheng Xiyu glanced down at her.

“This is nothing. I’m a local—Xihe River at night, fireworks on New Year’s, the lantern festival at Lantern Festival, lotus blooms at Gulu Lake in summer.” Tang Tianman grinned and hopped forward a step, walking backward to face her. “If you want to go, I can show you around.”

When she smiled like that, bright and sunny, little dimples formed under her eyes—playful and cute, like a kid who never wanted to stop playing. It was impossible not to stare.

Zheng Xiyu lingered on the sight a moment too long and got caught.

Tang Tianman flashed a big grin on purpose, pointing at her dimples. “Staring at my tear dimples, huh.”

It was a statement, not a question—no room for denial.

“Mm.” Zheng Xiyu nodded.

“Pretty?” Tang Tianman asked. “My dad says I cried them in as a kid.”

“Then you must’ve been quite the crybaby.” Zheng Xiyu looked ahead. “They’re pretty.”

Tang Tianman pressed her lips together, then reached out and knocked lightly on Zheng Xiyu’s arm. “Smooth talker, underclassman.”

“Watch out.” Zheng Xiyu grabbed her arm.

Her palm was scorching hot, the warmth seeping through Tang Tianman’s sleeve to her skin.

Tang Tianman froze for a split second, but her feet obeyed, stopping her just as Zheng Xiyu stepped forward, nearly pressing against her.

That vibrant heat enveloped her. At eye level, Tang Tianman’s gaze landed on Zheng Xiyu’s chest.

“What?” Tang Tianman asked the chest without turning.

“Someone on a bike,” Zheng Xiyu said.

“Oh, thanks.” Tang Tianman joked stiffly. “Thanks for saving my life.”

Zheng Xiyu let out a “pfft,” unable to hold back her laughter.

Tang Tianman slipped free and fell back into step beside her.

“That funny?”

“You’re just… really fun.” The words tripped over themselves at the last second.

Tang Tianman cracked up too.

They reached Fourth Canteen, and Zheng Xiyu handled everything like she was looking after a little sister—not letting Tang Tianman lift a finger.

All Tang Tianman did was hand over her meal card and tell her what flavor she wanted.

Zheng Xiyu brought over the steaming bowl of noodles and passed her the chopsticks before going back to line up again.

She devoured the xiaolongbao, one after another, utterly satisfied.

Tang Tianman had a noodle dangling from her chopsticks, forgotten as she watched the girl across from her.

Zheng Xiyu finished half a steamer and looked up. “What’s up? Not tasty?”

“No, I just love how you eat.” Tang Tianman said. “You’re the only one I’ve seen chow down harder than Ruan Ruan.”

“Senior Sister Ruan?” Zheng Xiyu nudged her steamer toward Tang Tianman. “These are good.”

Tang Tianman set down her noodles and snagged one, taking a bite. “Mm… My roommate.”

Zheng Xiyu’s gaze flickered, shifting to something behind Tang Tianman.

“What?” Tang Tianman asked.

“Someone’s staring at you.”

“Psh, normal.” Tang Tianman shrugged it off. “Happens everywhere I go.”

“She’s been at it a while. Now she’s looking at me.” Zheng Xiyu set down her chopsticks.

Tang Tianman turned and spotted a short-haired girl at a table over, locking eyes with Zheng Xiyu.

The girl wore a black leather jacket, a skull stud in one ear, and a skull necklace—pretty edgy.

Tang Tianman frowned, racking her brain. She seemed vaguely familiar.

“Know her?” Zheng Xiyu asked.

Tang Tianman kept staring, digging through her memories. “Nah.”

The girl stood abruptly and headed their way, her gaze now fixed solely on Tang Tianman.

“Hey,” she said, extending a hand to Tang Tianman. “I’m Xiao Ji, from the Music Academy.”

“Hi.” Tang Tianman responded but didn’t take her hand. “Something you need?”

“I went by your dorm building looking for you before, but you weren’t there.” Xiao Ji stared down at her, the angle imposing. “I’ve wanted to meet you for a while.”

Tang Tianman remembered now—this might be the one who’d weirdly shown up under their building with roses, calling her name that day.

She shifted uncomfortably. “Why?”

“I like you.” Xiao Ji said it as casually as mentioning her breakfast bun. “I thought you were straight before, so I didn’t bother you.”

Tang Tianman’s eyes widened.

Xiao Ji’s hand stayed stubbornly outstretched. “Give me a chance. Start as friends, get to know each other.”

Tang Tianman leaned away and glanced at Zheng Xiyu. “Friendship’s not your goal, so no friends here.”

“Then be my girlfriend straight up.” Xiao Ji grinned.

“Ahem…” Zheng Xiyu coughed suddenly, eyeing the buns in front of her. “Tianman, you done with these?”

Tang Tianman froze completely this time, staring at Zheng Xiyu as her lips curved up uncontrollably.

Calling her by name like that out of nowhere? This underclassman had great instincts.

Right when it counted, she was sharp as ever.

Tang Tianman eyed the food in front of her—she’d barely started. She had so much more to chat about with Zheng Xiyu; she couldn’t let this end now.

So she picked up her chopsticks again, popped a bun in her mouth, and pushed the rest back. “Can’t eat more. Yours now.”

“Okay.” Zheng Xiyu smiled and took them.

Xiao Ji finally dropped her hand.

Tang Tianman ignored her completely, digging into her noodles.

Zheng Xiyu held out a napkin. “Wipe up. Got some on your mouth.”

Tang Tianman looked up and smiled at her.

Zheng Xiyu smiled back. “Always like this.”

Her tone was gentle and casual, like they’d shared countless meals, like she’d handed Tang Tianman napkins a hundred times before.

Intimate. Indulgent.

Tang Tianman took the napkin, playing up a touch of shy embarrassment in her act.

Xiao Ji was pretty badass herself. The two of them had been flirting openly and subtly right in front of her, but the girl just wouldn’t take the hint and leave.

Instead, she stood there with her arms crossed, glancing from one to the other.

Tang Tianman thought she was crazy and decided to jump the gun on her plan.

Her gaze flicked to Zheng Xiyu’s elbow. “Scraped it again.”

“No big deal. Just a scratch.” Zheng Xiyu didn’t even bother looking. “It’s par for the course.”

“I get going all out during matches, but you should still be careful in regular training.” A hint of resentment crept into Tang Tianman’s tone. “Your arms and legs are always black and blue. Look at your forearm…”

Zheng Xiyu glanced down. Her forearm looked the same as always.

“What’s wrong with it?” she asked.

“Right here.” Tang Tianman reached across the table without warning, her fingertip brushing Zheng Xiyu’s skin. “It’s all rough. It’ll chap up now that it’s getting cold.”

The cool, soft pad of her finger landed on the arm that was still damp from sweat. Zheng Xiyu flinched instinctively.

Tang Tianman pouted, unhappy. She grabbed a handful instead. “What, now I can’t even touch?”

The motion forced her to lean forward halfway out of her seat, bringing that pretty face even closer. Zheng Xiyu met her eyes and held still.

She had to fight back a laugh. Her heart felt all tingly.

“Here!” Tang Tianman fished something out of her pocket and plunked it down in front of Zheng Xiyu with emphasis. “Rub some of this on every night before bed. It’ll moisturize and nourish your skin—keep it soft and supple.”

Zheng Xiyu stared down at the delicate little jar, caught off guard.

Xiao Ji’s eyes locked onto the jar too. She suddenly cracked a grin. “Okay, fine. I won’t interrupt your dinner anymore.”

Tang Tianman arched a brow and settled back into her seat, thinking that was just perfect.

But as Xiao Ji turned to leave, she tossed out one last line: “I won’t give up, though.”

What a pain. Tang Tianman pursed her lips.

The noise around them faded, leaving just the two of them again.

Zheng Xiyu slid the little jar back across the table. “Do you run into people like that a lot?”

“Not really. That level of thick-skinned is rare.” Tang Tianman reached over and flicked the jar against Zheng Xiyu’s forehead. “This one’s seriously for you.”

Zheng Xiyu stayed quiet.

Tang Tianman looked up at her. “Hey, everything I said earlier was one hundred percent sincere—maybe the gestures got a little dramatic, but still. I bought this just for you. Consider it your reward for winning that match.”

“It was only a practice game,” Zheng Xiyu said.

“I don’t know the lingo, but a win’s a win—it deserves a reward. You can school me on it later.”

“Wasn’t the hotpot the reward?”

“The hotpot was my thank-you for modeling for me.” Tang Tianman went back to her food. “Don’t mix them up.”

“I can’t just…”

“Oh, come on, take it—it’s no big deal. I can tell you don’t fuss with skincare. I love all this stuff, so I grabbed it for you.” Tang Tianman blurted it all out in one go. “Plus, I need a favor anyway.”

“What is it?” Zheng Xiyu asked right away.

“You saw what just happened.” Tang Tianman stirred the rice noodles in her bowl. “Situations like that pop up all the time. Super annoying. If you really don’t care about those forum posts, be my shield again?”