Chapter 36: Milk Tea

The next morning.

7:22.

Li Xingya changed clothes and left early—before Jiang Chiyue woke up.

Going out on a “date” with Lin Jin’an… no matter how she thought about it, it would be troublesome to explain, right?

To prevent Jiang Chiyue from overthinking, Li Xingya chose to leave first.

After all, it was for Jiang Chiyue’s birthday, so naturally she had to keep it a secret from her from the preparation stage.

After changing shoes and leaving, Li Xingya took out her phone and sent a message to Lin Jin’an.

[You can come pick me up]

[After going out, turn right and walk about a hundred meters. You’ll see a Mercedes parked by the road. Just get in when you arrive.]

Looking at the message from Lin Jin’an, Li Xingya couldn’t help but sigh.

‘So this is a national idol?’

‘Even going out on a date has to be so mysterious.’

‘Or… is she worried that her date is a minor, which could affect her idol career?’

‘But’

‘Lin Jin’an came out really early.’

‘I thought I was fast enough, but she’s already waiting for me outside.’

Li Xingya put away her phone and left as Lin Jin’an instructed.

Soon, just as Lin Jin’an had said, she saw a white Mercedes parked by the road.

Seeing the car from a distance, Li Xingya’s steps faltered.

‘I remember something bad.’

‘In my previous life… when I was suddenly bagged on the street, wasn’t the car that kidnapped me also this brand?’

Li Xingya touched her stomach.

‘A bit nauseous.’

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her heart.

“It’s okay, this time the one in the car is Lin Jin’an, not some thug with a crowbar.”

“It’s okay…”

Li Xingya murmured.

As she reached the rear passenger window, the tinted reflective glass lowered.

Inside, Lin Jin’an was wearing sunglasses and a mask.

“Come on in, Xiaoya. Today, your older sister will take you to a good place.”

She waved at Li Xingya.

‘Like a pervert kidnapping kids on the street.’

Li Xingya silently got into the car.

Inside the car, it was different from her previous life’s impression of a place full of smoke and stench.

Lin Jin’an’s car smelled very nice, a scent similar to Lin Jin’an herself.

Meng Yiqiao’s scent was lavender.

Jiang Chiyue’s smell was a mix of clove and mint.

And Lin Jin’an?

Li Xingya couldn’t describe Lin Jin’an’s scent—just like she didn’t understand why the other liked her so much.

Li Xingya only knew…

This scent was quite pleasant, giving a sense of reassurance.

“Phew.”

Lin Jin’an took off her mask and sunglasses, her face still shining with a radiant smile.

“Xiaoya, how do I look today?”

“What do you mean how?”

“Hmm… I mean, how do I look? Compared to usual, there should be some difference, right?”

Lin Jin’an blinked.

She seemed a bit nervous.

‘So what exactly is the difference?’

Li Xingya couldn’t tell.

But she knew how to answer.

‘Just like when facing a client, as long as I show a flattering demeanor, it’s enough.’

“You look prettier than usual.”

“Really?”

“Mm.”

Li Xingya nodded.

“Really beautiful.”

Normally at times like this, she’d need to show a smile, but Li Xingya didn’t dare smile in front of Lin Jin’an.

No matter what kind of smile she put on, Lin Jin’an could tell it was fake at a glance.

So Li Xingya could only try to keep her expression tight, to hide her true self.

“That’s great.”

Lin Jin’an relaxed her body.

“As long as you think I’m pretty, Xiaoya, then it was worth it to get up early and put on makeup.”

‘Makeup?’

‘So she specially put on makeup?’

Lin Jin’an’s skin was good enough—cool-toned fair skin that could pull off her white hair.

For the oblivious Li Xingya, there was no difference between Lin Jin’an with makeup and without—both were equally pretty.

Of course, her inner self was equally twisted.

“Where are we going today?”

Li Xingya asked.

“A special place where you can relax as much as possible.”

Lin Jin’an acted mysterious.

She looked at the driver ahead and said, “Let’s go, before the morning rush hour fully hits.”

As the car started, Li Xingya tilted her head slightly and leaned against the window.

‘So sleepy.’

‘I woke up a bit too early.’

“Xiaoya?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s just that you seem a bit unhappy.”

“Not at all. Going out to play with you… I’m actually quite happy. After all, you’re a big star I normally can’t even get close to.”

Li Xingya opened her mouth and the lie came out easily.

‘So annoying.’

‘How could I be happy?’

‘Today is the weekend, my rest time.’

‘…And yet I have to use it to go on a date with you.’

‘This is no different from working overtime.’

‘And it’s overtime without pay!’

At that thought, Li Xingya’s expression turned “barely alive and slightly dead.”

She felt that even going to school wasn’t as depressing as this.

‘No, this won’t do.’

‘I absolutely can’t be like this…’

‘I need to smile.’

In Li Xingya’s mind, her thoughts began to contradict themselves.

‘Even if I go out with someone I hate… I shouldn’t make a sour face or anything.’

‘That would ruin the mood.’

Lin Jin’an could be annoying, because with her current status, she no longer had to care about others’ expressions.

But Li Xingya’s past experiences kept her constantly tense.

She had to learn to smile.

She had to make others feel warmth.

Even if she really disliked the other person, she had to force a smile.

Only then… could she get work, and avoid being beaten by debt collectors.

‘Even if it’s by force.’

‘At least I can’t let Lin Jin’an see my impatience.’

Li Xingya shifted direction and gently leaned her head on Lin Jin’an’s shoulder.

“I just woke up too early today and am a bit sleepy… Don’t worry, it won’t affect the date later.”

‘So you don’t need to worry about me.’

To that, Lin Jin’an beside her remained silent, simply handing Li Xingya a cup of milk tea prepared in advance.

“Have something sweet. It’ll cheer you up a bit. I like to eat sweets when I’m tired from work.”

“Mm.”

Li Xingya replied, but didn’t move.

She didn’t like drinking milk tea.

She didn’t like it in her previous life either.

But Lin Jin’an misunderstood, thinking Li Xingya was too lazy to move.

“Let me feed you.”

Lin Jin’an inserted the straw into the milk tea and brought it to Li Xingya’s lips.

“I really like this milk tea place. For my sake, just take one sip, okay?”

‘Tch.’

‘Just one sip.’

‘If I can’t help but spit it out, don’t blame me.’

Li Xingya opened her mouth and took a small sip.

Then—

“Huh?”

She took another big sip.

‘This is delicious.’

‘Why?’

Li Xingya bit the straw and wouldn’t let go.

‘Didn’t I hate drinking milk tea?’

Li Xingya took another sip.

‘Dammit, it’s really delicious.’

‘I love it.’

She recalled her previous life, standing in front of milk tea shops and looking inside.

Back then, she always said one thing.

“Such an expensive thing… what’s so good about it…?”

‘Ah.’

‘No wonder I hated milk tea back then.’

For an adult whose monthly income was basically used to pay off debts, milk tea was a luxury.

To avoid unnecessary desires, she naturally used the excuse of hating milk tea to deceive herself.

‘What is this?’

‘This kind of sweet thing…’

‘It’s actually pretty tasty.’

By the time Li Xingya came to her senses, she was already holding the milk tea with both hands, taking sip after sip.