Lin Xiaoyu sent a message, saying she wanted to meet up to express her thanks in person.
Pei Xingyan really couldn’t find a way to refuse, so he agreed.
The place was the same milk tea shop they met at last time, and the time was set for 4 PM. Pei Xingyan chose that time because it was the only moment he could escape both class and Su Shanshan’s constant pestering.
Su Shanshan had been clinging to him more and more these past couple of days, practically showing up every free moment she had, even putting her work as an illustrator on hold. Pei Xingyan advised her to prioritize her important tasks, and she nodded lightly, but in fact, she became even more persistent—carrying her drawing tablet with her, binding him directly to work wherever they went.
So only when Su Shanshan had classes and truly couldn’t get away did Pei Xingyan get the chance to meet another girl.
It sounded almost like an affair or cheating, but Pei Xingyan was confident their relationship with Lin Xiaoyu was purely innocent. Besides, this simple girl didn’t seem interested in him romantically at all.
Although she spent a lot more time confiding in him on her phone lately, and her tone had become much more intimate, Pei Xingyan thought it was just the natural closeness that comes from overcoming difficulties together—nothing serious.
Even if Lin Xiaoyu did start to develop feelings, he only needed to play dumb since they were “friends,” not “boyfriend and girlfriend.”
*****
This time, Lin Xiaoyu arrived early. When Pei Xingyan walked into the shop, her milk tea was already half gone.
Unlike boys who could finish a drink in just a few sips, girls really could hold onto a cup of milk tea for an entire day. It was obvious she had been waiting a long time.
Pei Xingyan quickened his pace and walked straight to her seat, pulling out a chair and sitting down smoothly.
Lin Xiaoyu instinctively wanted to say something, perhaps mistaking him for someone who had come to strike up a conversation, her expression showing a trace of helplessness and impatience.
But when she looked up and saw who it was, her face instantly lit up with surprise.
“Xingyan?” she called his name happily, leaning forward a little.
“Be careful, don’t fall again,” Pei Xingyan teased.
Lin Xiaoyu laughed shyly but didn’t waste a word.
“What do you want to drink?” she asked. “I’ll go order for you.”
“No thanks, I’ll just have some cold water,” Pei Xingyan waved her off. “I’m not used to things that are too sweet.”
“Then I’ll get you some lemonade!” Lin Xiaoyu was determined not to take no for an answer. She stood up quickly and trotted off toward the counter with light, rhythmic footsteps.
She was wearing hard-soled flats today, which made her footsteps sound steady, adding to her slightly airheaded vibe—though it was a kind of adorable airheadedness.
Soon, she returned with the lemonade. Pei Xingyan reached out to take it, but their hands accidentally bumped.
Lin Xiaoyu’s cheeks visibly flushed, the patches of red growing deeper.
She didn’t say a word, just sat back down opposite Pei Xingyan, her face still bright red.
“Thanks so much again for last time!” she said first, her tone excited. “My mom actually praised me when she got back. I’ve never been praised like that before!”
Pei Xingyan inwardly scoffed. Lin Xiaoyu’s parents seemed impressive on the surface, but apparently they were stingy—just one compliment could make their daughter this happy.
“I almost felt like I was going to faint back then. Really, it was thanks to you, or else I probably wouldn’t have had the confidence to keep going,” Lin Xiaoyu said with lingering fear.
“Don’t say such defeatist things so easily. You played well yourself.”
“Not at all!” Lin Xiaoyu vehemently denied. “It was really because of you! If not for you, I absolutely wouldn’t have been able to pull through.”
Pei Xingyan smiled foolishly.
That goofy smile was an extremely effective way to smooth over moments like this. He didn’t want to take too much credit—he thought he hadn’t done much, just led the beginning of the piece and gave Lin Xiaoyu a little confidence. The real performance was hers; her own skill was the crucial factor.
Lin Xiaoyu quietly watched his silly smile, her own lips curling up slightly. Her mood was lifted by the boy in front of her—he was happy now, so she was happy too.
“By the way, do you know that Lu Yan?” Lin Xiaoyu suddenly remembered and asked.
“Sort of… sort of know her…” Pei Xingyan nodded.
“What a coincidence~” Lin Xiaoyu sighed with the simple innocence only a child could have, propping her chin on her hand and murmuring to herself, “So that means it was possible for us to know each other too? Hehe~”
“Heh…”
“But then…” she had another question. “Xingyan, what does your family do?”
Usually, Pei Xingyan would refuse to answer questions like this, but the purity and innocent curiosity in her eyes made him reluctant to turn her down.
So he said, “They used to be in business, it went pretty well. I’ve seen a bit of the world with my parents.”
“Oh… I see~”
“But now it’s all fallen apart. We have nothing left.” A faint sadness flickered at the corner of Pei Xingyan’s eyes.
Only then did Lin Xiaoyu recall what he had once told her about his parents. A dramatic scene of “parents committing joint suicide after a failed investment, leaving the child behind” played vividly in her mind.
She hurriedly apologized, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up something painful.”
Pei Xingyan was stunned for a moment, then remembered the “filial son” words he’d said at the beginning to try to dissuade her.
He paused for a while, silent.
Lin Xiaoyu grew more flustered, fearing that she had upset him, and apologized even more earnestly.
Pei Xingyan sat quietly, watching the flustered girl trying to comfort him, and suddenly felt a bit guilty. But he decided it was better not to let this adorable girl know the truth.
“Alright, it’s nothing. I’ve accepted reality,” Pei Xingyan comforted her instead. “It’s not something to apologize for. And didn’t you forget what I said? Friends are friends, no matter what.”
He smiled brightly, looking genuinely fine, and Lin Xiaoyu finally relaxed.
Pei Xingyan then started talking about interesting things, and she found herself completely absorbed.
*****
The two of them sat there for a long time, until the sun set.
They were just chatting casually, talking about anything and everything—nothing more than passing the time.
But this kind of conversation made Lin Xiaoyu incredibly relaxed. Even the stiffness in her neck eased, and she was completely at ease.
Looking at the boy’s face in front of her, she grew more certain of her conclusion.
Their relationship was definitely more than just ordinary friends.
And now, it seemed… she was already completely unable to let go of the boy who warmed her heart in these moments.
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