Chapter 74: Vanilla

Jiang Xiao didn’t get too close.

Even though Song Qiuyu acted as if nothing had happened last night, if he stood too near, it would probably make both of them uncomfortable.

It was one thing not to notice at the time, but now that he did, he had to be careful.

He lifted his eyes to the makeup mirror in front of Song Qiuyu.

In the reflection, Song Qiuyu’s entire expression looked stiff.

The makeup products that those girls were so used to looked almost like something incredibly uncomfortable and terrifying on her face.

Especially when the makeup artist brought the eyeliner pen close to Song Qiuyu’s beautiful apricot-shaped eyes.

Her face was full of resistance and a strong will to survive, almost about to overflow from the mirror.

“……”

It shouldn’t have been, but Jiang Xiao couldn’t help but smile at this version of Song Qiuyu for no reason.

He stifled the laughter and in the end, only the corners of his mouth twitched slightly before falling back down.

From an outsider’s perspective, it looked no different from a twitch at the corner of his lips.

Jiang Xiao grew curious—how would his Xi’er look when she put on makeup?

But no matter what, it probably wouldn’t be like Song Qiuyu’s current state…

Still, to be fair, this really was scary.

Not to mention Song Qiuyu—if he had to do it, it’d probably be about the same.

Song Qiuyu’s reaction was even bigger when she put in colored contact lenses.

She looked like a cat about to have its fur all puffed up.

It really wasn’t easy.

Jiang Xiao sighed.

“Eh? Jiang Xiao, how come…when did you start watching from there?”

Song Qiuyu got up from the bench in front of the mirror, suddenly a little embarrassed.

She had already prepared herself mentally to do this cross-dressing in front of Jiang Xiao, but now that the moment had come, her heart was still racing.

“From the start.”

Jiang Xiao was very honest.

Song Qiuyu looked even more nervous and didn’t dare to meet his eyes.

Jiang Xiao fell silent.

Although he didn’t mean to make her more nervous, it seemed that being too honest at a time like this was a mistake.

It was work time at the clothing store.

Without exception, all the cosers stood at their work points and started their tasks for the day.

Of course, Song Qiuyu was no exception.

To avoid disturbing them, Jiang Xiao stepped outside the store and found a shaded spot nearby to wait.

As for going back to school, there was no rush yet.

It was the second day of the National Day Holiday, and the number of people visiting the scenic area was no less than the day before.

Everyone passing by the clothing store was more or less drawn to the cosers.

Just like yesterday, more and more people gathered around them.

All the cosers shone under the sun, but the most eye-catching was naturally Song Qiuyu.

Her beauty needed no words.

Jiang Xiao recalled seeing Song Qiuyu yesterday afternoon.

Because she was wearing makeup and the Keqing Cosplay Costume, he hadn’t recognized her immediately.

But there was an even more important reason.

Song Qiuyu’s imitation was just too perfect.

Watching her now, with her expression taut in the crowd and her every gesture imitating the character flawlessly, Jiang Xiao slightly lowered his gaze, feeling somewhat dazed.

Song Qiuyu truly was a genius in directing and acting—the ability to mimic was too strong.

And she even innovated, never stiff or awkward.

In the crowd, Song Qiuyu no longer seemed like herself; she was Keqing come to life in the real world, and for a brief moment… Song Qiuyu became a real girl.

Jiang Xiao was startled.

He was scared by his own thoughts and couldn’t help but smile bitterly—how could he think such absurd things? Before what happened last night, everything was perfectly normal.

He quietly watched her work, forgetting the passage of time.

Soon, their morning work time came to an end.

Jiang Xiao glanced at Song Qiuyu, who was still surrounded by enthusiastic crowds taking pictures and cooperating seriously with them, and frowned slightly.

Had she perfectly mimicked Keqing’s workaholic nature as well? Song Qiuyu, this girl…

The Barbara coser, holding two sundaes, approached Jiang Xiao.

“Handsome, want a sundae? It’s on the Store Manager—free.”

The Barbara coser blinked cutely at Jiang Xiao and smiled.

“No…”

Jiang Xiao hadn’t finished refusing when the Barbara coser gave him a sly smile, handing both sundaes to him and saying, “One is for little Keqing. Help me take it to her, okay?”

Jiang Xiao lost the chance to refuse.

He took the two sundaes silently and headed toward Song Qiuyu, who was still surrounded by an impenetrable crowd.

“Little Keqing”

Thinking about how everyone was calling her little Keqing, he hesitated for a moment but called out as well.

“Hm?”

Song Qiuyu turned her head to look.

Her purple twin tails brushed lightly past her slender waist, stray hairs fluttering in the wind, and the golden sunlight filled her eyes, making people lose themselves for a moment.

“Which one do you want?”

Jiang Xiao steadied himself, and as he approached, the crowd gradually dispersed.

“Vanilla.”

Song Qiuyu blushed—how come Jiang Xiao called her little Keqing…

She reached out and took the vanilla sundae.

“My shift is almost over. It’s sunny outside; let’s go back.”

Jiang Xiao nodded.

“Jiang Xiao, do you have any plans for lunch? Also, you still haven’t told me when you plan to go back to school.”

Song Qiuyu nibbled on her sundae carefully, afraid of messing up her makeup since she’d have to fix it later.

“Together.”

Jiang Xiao also ate his sundae.

“Ah?”

Song Qiuyu was stunned.

“You’ll probably go back to school after work this afternoon, right? We can go back together then.”

Jiang Xiao explained while glancing sideways at her.

Song Qiuyu pondered.

She couldn’t really argue with that. She didn’t have enough money to fool around, and staying at the store all the time wasn’t good either.

After work this afternoon, she was indeed going back.

The subway ticket for a round trip was only four yuan—nothing expensive.

Fine, then she would go back with Jiang Xiao.

They reached an agreement on that.

But Song Qiuyu had a little more on her mind.

Since they were already off-campus and had some money in hand, why not take Jiang Xiao out to have some fun before going back to relax a bit?

She had to drive away the shadow that Shen Xi had left in Jiang Xiao’s mind as soon as possible!

“Oh, right, Jiang Xiao, there’s a zoo nearby. During the National Day Holiday, tickets are half-price. Want to go during lunch break?”

As she said this, Song Qiuyu twisted her left foot awkwardly and leaned slightly to the left.

She immediately squinted in pain and let out a small hiss.

“Are you okay?”

Jiang Xiao’s face broke out in a cold sweat.

Seeing her walk so unsteadily in high heels earlier, he had thought she would sprain her ankle sooner or later—sure enough, it happened.

“It’s nothing, nothing. I’m used to it. This is what wearing high heels is like.”

Song Qiuyu seemed to take it lightly, shaking her head and returning to the topic:

“Jiang Xiao, you haven’t answered me yet. Do you want to go to the zoo? They have a little red panda, and I heard that little red panda even knows how to meditate!”

Jiang Xiao liked the idea of a meditating red panda—it was even mentioned in the message he sent Shen Xi.

Hearing this, his attempt to politely refuse caught in his throat, and he found himself a little tempted.