Chapter 14: His Milk Tea Is So Sweet~

The moment she remembered Yun Yue had calculated that Qin Yichi was her destined soulmate, she simply... could not face the truth.

She covered her face.

She wished she could turn into a tiny ant and slip away unnoticed.

The next second, Qin Yichi’s message flashed across her screen: “When are you going to treat me to dinner?”

Direct and to the point.

Qiao Zhen gently pinched the edge of her blanket, burying half her face beneath it, her eyes confused.

She quietly tried to recall when she’d promised to treat him.

Ah, that's right...

It must have been after Qin Yichi massaged her leg, when she instinctively fled and uttered some polite words.

But that was just a courtesy, nothing more.

Qiao Zhen lowered her lashes and rolled over lightly.

Just thinking about the dazzling golden-red sunset, and Qin Yichi kneeling on one knee to massage her leg, made her cheeks burn again.

Qin Yichi had even been injured for her, right on his collarbone.

It was all her fault.

And then yesterday, in the heavy rain, Qin Yichi had held an umbrella for her, walked her back to her dorm, and gently wiped her tears.

He was so patient, never the least bit annoyed.

He’d even said that if she was ever bullied, she should tell him.

The more she thought about it, the more unsettled she felt. In the middle of the night, she sat up abruptly, reaching to touch her right ankle, her heart pounding.

It was as if a flame was spreading across her face.

She really ought to thank him.

She would! Absolutely!

Qiao Zhen glanced at her class schedule. Tomorrow morning she had “Traditional Chinese Music” and “Forms and Policies,” the afternoon was a school-wide break, and in the evening she’d resume vocal practice.

She pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and earnestly replied: “How about lunch tomorrow? What do you feel like eating?”

After lunch, she could study and prepare materials to tutor students in Chinese, math, and English.

Qin Yichi replied instantly: “Whatever you want.”

He really wasn’t picky.

The ball was back in Qiao Zhen’s court. She chose what she most wanted to eat and tapped the screen to reply:

“New cafeteria, third floor—crab roe soup dumplings, is that okay?”

Receiving his OK, Qiao Zhen took off her headphones, set her alarm, and drifted off to sleep...

The next day, after four classes, Qiao Zhen shouldered her backpack and jogged up to the third floor of the cafeteria, carrying a box of cookies and snowflake nougat.

She’d made them herself during National Day.

After sharing them at school with her three roommates, she still had plenty left. She’d originally planned to enjoy them slowly, but after some thought—

Qin Yichi really liked her Oreo-flavored snowflake nougat. He’d always liked it.

So she wanted to give it to him—as a token of thanks.

Entering the cafeteria, Qiao Zhen was still catching her breath, head held high, scanning for an empty seat.

People everywhere...

Right after class, the cafeteria was packed with students, every shop had a line.

“Qiao Zhen.”

Suddenly, a deep, magnetic voice sounded behind her.

Qin Yichi leaned back slightly in his chair, wearing a dark gray baseball jacket. His sharp lines softened in the warm orange light.

He had bold brows, bright eyes, a gaze deep and unfathomable, and a hint of nonchalance at the curve of his lips.

Qiao Zhen sat down, dropping her gaze to the soup dumplings on the table, her lashes trembling softly.

“You already bought everything?”

Qin Yichi replied calmly, “I didn’t have classes the third and fourth periods.”

As he spoke, he handed her spoon and chopsticks, the veins on his hand subtly pronounced—a quiet, wild sensuality.

Qiao Zhen accepted them silently; her fingertips brushed his skin, and she shrank back like a shy little plant.

So, he’d arrived early, secured seats, and bought lunch so she wouldn’t have to wait in line.

He hadn’t even eaten a bite, just waited for her so they could start together.

Qiao Zhen tilted her head and asked, “How much was it? I’ll transfer it to you~”

She’d forgotten the price here; it was delicious, but a little expensive.

One basket of eight crab roe soup dumplings for her, two baskets—sixteen—for Qin Yichi.

At her question, Qin Yichi looked at her calmly. “I’m treating you.”

What?

Qiao Zhen blinked in confusion, her eyes wide and uncertain.

“Wasn’t I supposed to treat you?”

“Your thought counts,” Qin Yichi said, picking up a dumpling, dipping it in vinegar, and smiling softly.

Something obscure flickered in his dark eyes. “How could I really let you pay?”

With those words, he pushed a cup of milk tea toward her.

His tone was casual: “I passed the milk tea shop, picked one up for you.”

As if it were nothing at all.

Qiao Zhen took the milk tea, her fingers tightening slightly.

Taro jasmine milk green, medium, her favorite flavor.

If she remembered correctly, that milk tea shop was quite far from the boys’ dorm.

Quite the detour.

Qiao Zhen was a certified taro addict. She took a sip, savoring the dense, fragrant taro at the bottom.

The sweet aroma spread, warm and rich, filling her heart.

Her eyes sparkled. She felt comfortable all over. “So good~”

Utterly satisfied!

Qin Yichi raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips. “As long as you like it.”

Qiao Zhen looked up at him, and just as he was about to notice, she quickly dropped her gaze.

Something delicate and strange welled up in her heart.

Back in her first year, she’d had a crush on Ji Xian, running to deliver water to him during basketball games.

Ji Xian always gave her vague hope.

For example, when a crowd of girls rushed to hand him water, he never took anyone else's—only hers, walking over with a blank expression to accept her bottle.

He’d say a quiet “thank you,” a trace of gentleness and humor in his pale eyes.

That blazing summer, under the scorching sun, Qiao Zhen had lugged an entire case of water, only to find Ji Xian’s wealthy friends left her not a single bottle.

She’d been treated as free labor.

Qiao Zhen left silently, exhausted, finally collapsing alone at the edge of the field, head bowed, sweat pouring.

Her throat felt blocked, parched and hot.

The next moment, a familiar, low voice sounded above her, calm and indifferent:

“Busy handing it out, didn’t even take a sip for yourself?”

Qiao Zhen blinked, slowly raising her head.

Qin Yichi stood before her, dressed in a white T-shirt, shielding her from the harsh sun.

The boy crouched lazily, fixing his gaze on her, darkness swirling in his eyes—a mix of emotions she couldn’t name.

He laughed softly, pulled a milk tea from behind his back, stuck in a straw, and firmly pressed it into her arms.

Almost feeding it to her himself.

Qiao Zhen was stunned, head lowered, cradling the milk tea, murmuring a quiet “thank you.”

Qin Yichi watched her for a long time, then suddenly sighed and flicked her forehead.

“Qiao Zhen, how can you be so silly?”

Qiao Zhen dropped her head, eyes misting over.

She protested softly, a hint of grievance in her voice, “I’m not silly…”

She was dizzy and exhausted, only remembering how delicious that milk tea was—like it charged her up, restoring her energy in an instant.

That cup, too, was taro jasmine milk green.

With pearls, half sugar, no ice.

So very sweet...