“Because I really like the scent on Su Qi, can I use that as a reason to pursue him now?”
The crisp, melodious voice of a girl carrying a playful teasing tone rang clearly through the Third Cafeteria.
The vast Third Cafeteria fell silent for a moment.
But the next moment, it burst into heat.
Countless pairs of eyes—all sharp as needles—turned toward Su Qi, who was still standing dumbfounded, holding his plastic tray in confusion.
Occasionally, whispers of doubt rippled through the crowd.
“Damn, why? Isn’t he from Class 18?”
“Seriously, good catch just threw themselves at him? I don’t get it.”
“No way, tonight I’m gonna block that guy and give him a beating, can’t let this slide.”
“Count me in…”
“+1”
…
Su Qi, clutching his tray, shivered quietly as waves of terrifying murmurs echoed around his ears, then glanced sideways.
His eyes met Lin Xue’s.
Her smile, already radiant like blooming flowers, now seemed to shake uncontrollably, and beneath the sweltering summer heat, the softness wrapped under her black long skirt trembled gently.
It drew many side glances.
After laughing for quite a while, as if sensing Su Qi’s faint anger, Lin Xue finally spoke up to explain.
“Alright, alright, I was just joking earlier. Actually, Su Qi, this junior schoolmate of mine, is my neighbor. He helped me out a bit yesterday, so I just wanted to treat him to a meal at school today. Everyone, please don’t mind it.”
Hearing Lin Xue’s explanation, the crowd’s sharp gazes softened considerably.
Seeing this, Su Qi breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, from his school experience since childhood, if rumors about ‘pursuit’ involving the big school beauty Lin Xue spread, his campus life would definitely become very eventful.
Probably nine beatings in three days.
And seeing Lin Xue in front of him still somewhat lingering, Su Qi hurriedly raised his tray and reminded her.
“Lin Xue senior, let’s find a place to eat. If we don’t eat soon, the food will get cold.”
Lin Xue looked at the three dishes on Su Qi’s plastic tray, pitifully spilled because of the earlier scramble.
She shook her head, then glanced coldly at Li Jian’s table with the untouched sumptuous dishes and said sharply.
“You all forced the junior to eat and spilled his food. How about this whole table counts as your apology? What do you think, classmate?”
Li Jian met Lin Xue’s fiery red eyes and felt the pain in his wrist where it had been pinched red.
Hmph~~~
Though very unwilling, Li Jian had no choice but to nod humiliatingly due to Lin Xue’s popularity and pressure.
After glaring at Su Qi once, he and his little fanboys slunk away.
Watching this scene, Su Qi felt a bit amazed.
Is this a novel? The script just flipped from the other side slapping themselves.
Truly unbelievable.
“Junior, sit here, let’s eat.”
Before Su Qi could react, he was gently pulled down onto a chair in the cafeteria by a warm force.
Sitting so close to Lin Xue senior, he could even smell the faint scent of jasmine wafting from her.
Being a lifelong singleton, Su Qi couldn’t help but feel a bit shy and puzzled.
Normally, when a man and woman who aren’t dating eat together, shouldn’t they sit opposite each other?
This closeness was too much.
Perhaps Su Qi’s expression was too easy to read—his ears tinged pink, revealing his innocence and cuteness.
Lin Xue, sitting very close already, felt mischievous.
She leaned slightly closer to Su Qi’s ear, her pretty face brushing against it as she exhaled softly.
“Su Qi junior, we’re sitting so close to make sure your secret doesn’t get out. By the way, have you thought about what kind of reward you want?”
Feeling the sweet, warm breath tickling his ear, with so many sensitive nerves there and no one ever this intimate with him before, Su Qi couldn’t help trembling involuntarily.
He slid back a step like a startled rabbit, creating some space, and instinctively held his reddened earlobe.
After calming down for three whole seconds, Su Qi finally steadied his heartbeat and considered Lin Xue’s question about the reward.
In fact, before coming to the cafeteria just now, Su Qi hadn’t given the reward question much thought.
But when someone mentioned wanting to join Lin Xue’s Cangyou Wildcat Team, a new idea formed in his mind.
Though bound by the Su Wife Ability, the chance that he, like a hero in a comic, could explore the unknown Saint Ruins and defeat the Demon King was slim.
But what boy doesn’t dream of adventure? Moreover, his own sister, Su Lulu, was exploring a part of the Saint Ruins and had fallen into a cursed coma.
Although he now possessed the Su Wife Ability and kept Su Lulu’s vital signs stable by selling Shuxi Bentos, it was still risky to keep someone on a sickbed for too long.
Compared to waiting indefinitely for the high-level monks the hospital might summon, Su Qi felt he had to do something.
With this in mind, after the sensation on his earlobe faded, Su Qi spoke his proposal: “Lin senior, I don’t want money for the reward. I just want to join your Cangyou Wildcat Team to explore the Saint Ruins.”
Lin Xue was slightly stunned by Su Qi’s answer.
She’d expected a monetary request since his sister was seriously ill and Su Qi only sold bentos once a week, struggling financially.
But hearing that Su Qi wanted to explore the Saint Ruins, she realized something.
Though Su Qi was the intellectual, stunning Shuxi Bento Seller who fulfilled fantasies, deep down he was still a boy full of adventurous spirit!
It seemed he wanted to rely on his own strength to explore the Saint Ruins and save his sister.
Normally, taking a non-combatant like Su Qi into the Saint Ruins wouldn’t make sense.
But after thinking it over, considering the stat boosts from Su Qi’s bentos, his transformed appearance, that warmth he gave off, and their shared adventurous heart, Lin Xue rose slightly and moved a seat closer to where Su Qi had just slipped away.
Lowering her voice so only the two of them could hear, she said.
“Su Qi junior, I understand you want to explore the Saint Ruins to find a way to save your sister.”
“But the Saint Ruins’ environment is unpredictable, and one small mistake can lead to danger. I won’t let the whole team fall into crisis because of one person, and we certainly won’t accept a dead weight.”
“So, if you want to join our Cangyou Wildcat Team, just making bentos isn’t enough. Even as support, you need some ability to protect yourself and gain the team’s recognition. Here’s what we’ll do: add me on Tencent. After we eat bentos tomorrow, we’ll first head to the relatively safe outskirts of the Saint Ruins for a trial run—think of it as an interview. What do you say? We’ll talk about what happens after that.”
Hearing Lin Xue’s relaxed and slightly playful proposal as she leaned closer again, Su Qi wasn’t surprised.
After all, no one is obliged to care for another.
Everyone must prove their worth.
Though Su Qi lacked confidence in the combat effectiveness of his Su Wife Ability, after pondering his three skill descriptions, he thought there might be some other uses.
At any rate, trying wouldn’t hurt.
If it didn’t work out, it would at least be an adventure experience.
With his decision made, Su Qi nodded slowly.
Whether it was his imagination or not, he faintly heard the school beauty Lin Xue beside him making a gentle sniffing sound.
How to describe it… it was like a foodie smelling a delicious dish.
This made Su Qi, who just took a bite of the cafeteria meal, a bit puzzled.
The food shouldn’t smell this good today!
Probably just his imagination!
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