“Yaoyao, do you think in a relationship—whether it’s friendship or love—there needs to be a defining act to let yourself know you’ve entered the next stage?”
“I get it, like when the Boss Second Phase transforms, right!”
Su Yao looked as if she suddenly understood, and although what she said sounded off-topic, she truly understood what Mu Nanqiu meant inside, and started to think seriously about it.
A defining act, symbolizing that we’ve stepped into the next stage of feelings.
If she thought about this in relation to Luo Yu, it meant that right now Luo Yu was probably agonizing over how to confess her true feelings to the other person, worrying about what to do if the other side didn’t like her back…
Su Yao lay down and stared at the ceiling, slowly clarifying what she should do as a friend. At the same time, she thought that sometimes, being a little dumber actually made it easier to find a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Someone who overthinks and hesitates ends up missing out on a lot without even realizing it.
Yeah, just tell Luo Yu—just go up and confess!
Mu Nanqiu reached out and stroked Su Yao’s soft black hair, unable to hold back a smile. Just looking at Su Yao’s face, she could tell Su Yao hadn’t caught the double meaning in her words.
But that was normal. Characters in stories often speak in double entendres, but in real life conversations, people are a lot more straightforward. It didn’t matter that Su Yao hadn’t caught it—sooner or later, it would happen.
The next day, morning.
Su Yao arrived at school as usual and saw Luo Yu sneaking around. She didn’t look so good—seemed like she was still struggling with yesterday’s issue.
“Morning.”
Su Yao greeted her. If it had been any other day, Luo Yu would have happily replied with “Good morning!” but today, she only nodded with a gloomy look.
Su Yao felt a little helpless. She grabbed Luo Yu’s hand and the two sat down together.
“Why don’t you just go up to her?”
“……”
Luo Yu looked deeply at Su Yao, then let out a long sigh.
“It’s not that. It’s because yesterday she suddenly… suddenly asked if we should give dating a try. But you know, when someone’s that direct about it, I had no idea how to answer her.”
Su Yao fell silent. She hadn’t expected her info to already be outdated—she’d only just gotten the answer yesterday! Looking at Luo Yu’s mournful face, she pouted. Now she understood—Luo Yu was fishing for sympathy, totally showing off.
With an annoyed huff, she let go of Luo Yu’s arm, made a fist, and lightly tapped Luo Yu’s waist. Luo Yu dodged. If there hadn’t been so many people around, Su Yao would’ve definitely taught her a lesson.
She slipped away.
“You’re good, Luo Yu! And I was worried about you last night!”
“What’s it matter? It’s not like you’re alone.”
Luo Yu grinned mischievously, obviously in need of a good teasing. Ever since they got closer, her jokes had gotten bolder and bolder.
“So, any plans for summer vacation?”
“It’s barely been any time since winter break and you’re already thinking about summer vacation?!”
Su Yao was speechless, but she still couldn’t help but wonder how this summer would go. Even though she really wanted to stay home and be a gloomy recluse, Mu Nanqiu definitely wouldn’t allow it—she’d drag Su Yao out for sure.
Just thinking about walking under the blazing sun, over thirty degrees, made Su Yao dizzy.
Nope, can’t think about it!
Just imagining herself under the sun made her feel like she was melting. People like me are only suited for cool, dark places!
She suddenly pictured Mu Nanqiu stuffing her in a suitcase and dragging her along. Actually, that didn’t sound too bad—it’d be dark, cramped, and she wouldn’t have to walk.
Before she knew it, her thoughts wandered far away. Even when the teacher called her seat number, she didn’t react until Luo Yu gave her a push. Only then did Su Yao snap back to reality, realizing everyone was looking at her. She quickly ducked her head.
“This female student, please stand up and answer the question.”
“Ah… uh… I…”
She could feel everyone holding back their laughter, so Su Yao could only pretend she knew nothing and kept her head down.
Finally able to sit down again, Su Yao shot a glare at Luo Yu, who was giggling at her misfortune. Since they’d mentioned summer, naturally she started thinking about beaches, oceans, and water.
She imagined herself dressed like a gravure model, appearing before Mu Nanqiu, under her blatantly admiring gaze, and for some reason, it sent a strange… thrill down her spine?
It made her shiver all over, and she instinctively squeezed her legs together.
“I wonder what she’s planning.”
Su Yao let out a long sigh. Dancing with her was basically a kind of special play—after all, it always ended up with Mu Nanqiu personally correcting her poses, hand in hand.
With just the two of them, hands always landed in places they shouldn’t. Luckily, Su Yao was used to it now—whatever Mu Nanqiu wanted, she just let it happen.
Why could Mu Nanqiu always be so serious about this sort of thing, while she herself felt so embarrassed? Maybe that’s why she always ended up being the one played with…
Sigh, better not think about it.
She glanced to the side, where Luo Yu was already searching for travel spots on her Webpage.
“There are tons of people traveling during summer vacation. I read in the comments that places are crowded, dirty, and messy.”
Luo Yu rolled her eyes at her. “So are you suggesting we get summer jobs together?”
“Well… it’s not a bad way to bond.”
Su Yao imitated Mu Nanqiu, putting on a serious face as she said this, which earned her Luo Yu’s respect. Luo Yu looked her up and down and said solemnly,
“Su Yao, you’ve got a great figure—you could model for a photo shoot! That pays really well!”
Model? Only then did Su Yao remember—that was actually a thing.
“I’ve already been booked.”
“Huh? You’re really going to be a model? For a photo shoot? I’d love to collect a whole set of your gravure photos, Teacher Mantou, and worship them daily.”
“Pfft, stop with the weird talk, will you?”
“Hehe~”
“I was booked by my senior sister months in advance. She said it’d be this summer, I think.”
Su Yao imagined herself in all sorts of outfits, with Mu Nanqiu snapping photos, clicking away, and ordering her to switch poses.
Tsk tsk, senior sister really is a mastermind!
The more she thought about it, the more Su Yao wanted to go home and confirm.
But today was a full day of classes—she’d have to hold out for now. Even though she could just contact her on her phone, Su Yao wanted to ask in person.
When school finally ended in the afternoon, Su Yao, who had packed up early, dashed out and—as usual—slid into Mu Nanqiu’s passenger seat.
Her big eyes fixed on Mu Nanqiu, staring at her dryly, as if to say, Don’t you have something to explain to me right now?
Mu Nanqiu was a bit confused at first. Looking at Su Yao’s expectant face, she asked,
“What’s up?”
“Are you planning to take me swimsuit shopping?”
The moment Su Yao said this, Mu Nanqiu was actually stunned. It took her two or three seconds to recover.
“You think I want to take you swimsuit shopping?”
“Uh… isn’t that it?”
Su Yao started to sense something was off and became uncertain, blinking as she looked at Mu Nanqiu.
Mu Nanqiu smiled and said,
“No, I didn’t say I wasn’t. We’re going today.”
But isn’t there still plenty of time?
Swimsuit, huh? Sounds nice, but… it’s probably me who’ll be wearing it, right?
Senior sister’s going to buy one too, isn’t she? Right?