Chapter 52

Actually, Gu Yubai himself was a little surprised when he said those words.

He's not usually the type to say things like that; it always felt a bit...frivolous?

However, a few seconds after he said it, he changed his mind.

The little streamer's wide-eyed expression was quite amusing, so he couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a mischievous grin, wanting to tease her.

So he continued calling her in a drawn-out tone, "Xiaxia?"

Sure enough, when he shouted it out for the second time, Yu Xia's ears turned even redder, and she looked like a tomato, as if she could be stir-fried with eggs any second.

"Don't call me that!" Yu Xia said in a low but urgent voice, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Xiaxia is a name usually used by family and friends to address her.

What's her relationship with Gu Yubai? Boss? Idol? Suitor? How can you call him that!

Moreover, his shouting was so strange... Why did he drag out the last syllable so long? It sounded sleazy, quite unlike his usual self.

Gu Yubai smiled and asked again, "Then what should we shout?"

"It's...it's Yu Xia."

"Summer?"

The two spoke at the same time.

Yu Xia immediately fell silent.

Depend on.

This title seems even more shameful.

Yu Xia's ears turned even redder.

Gu Yubai glanced at her bright red earlobes and smiled: "Yes, Yu Xia."

"Want to go out for a meal together?"

"Huh?" Hearing this, Yu Xia turned her head in confusion and said, "Didn't we... already eat?"

Didn't he just give her pineapple cakes? Did he eat them again? Does he think she's a glutton?

"I haven't eaten yet," Gu Yubai said.

"ah?"

"I was a little nervous about picking you up, so I asked Chi Ximin to pick out an outfit for me. It took me a while to get ready," Gu Yubai said frankly, his tone as usual.

It wasn't like she was talking about dressing up specially for her sweetheart; it was more like she was just saying the weather was nice today. It was so natural that Yu Xia felt like she was overthinking things.

Before Yu Xia could react to those words, the two had already reached the car. Gu Yubai leaned forward slightly, his tall stature causing his shadow to overwhelm Yu Xia.

As the distance closed, a faint minty scent wafted through the air, entering Yu Xia's nostrils. She felt as if the scent was numbing her brain nerves; otherwise, how could she not think, her mind filled with the minty aroma?

"So, could you do me the honor of having a meal with me?" Gu Yubai's deep voice echoed in the air.

Yu Xia didn't respond for a long time. She felt that not only was her mind empty, but her ears were also empty. Everything she heard seemed like a hallucination.

Did Gu Yubai ever speak in such an ambiguous way before?

Then, she heard Gu Yubai pause for a moment, and then say with a smile, "Just consider it another chance for your suitor to show his worth?"

Um?

Uh-huh? ? ?

Hmm? ? ?

Here we go again?

—

By the time Yu Xia realized what was happening, she was already sitting in the restaurant.

...

The restaurant Gu Yubai chose is a Cantonese restaurant with understated luxury in its decor. It is not ostentatious, but it is stylish enough.

At this time, there weren't many people, and it was quite quiet.

But... at this moment, Yu Xia didn't want quiet. She hoped that some noise around her would help cover it up, otherwise she really couldn't stand this quiet atmosphere for even a second.

Seeing her lost in thought, Gu Yubai picked up a dish for her: "Don't you like it?"

Yu Xia snapped out of her daze and hurriedly shoveled a mouthful of rice into her mouth: "No."

Gu Yubai smiled and said, "Then take your time eating."

"Oh." Yu Xia slowed down again, taking a sip of water, but before she could finish it, she almost spat it out of her mouth.

"After all, I also want to spend more time with you," Gu Yubai said calmly.

"Cough cough cough." Yu Xia choked suddenly and coughed incessantly.

Gu Yubai was taken aback and quickly handed her a piece of paper.

Yu Xia took it, wiped the water from the corner of her mouth, and looked at him hesitantly, "You..."

"What's wrong?" Gu Yubai looked up at her.

"Can you stop saying things like that?" Yu Xia wiped the water stains clean, crumpled the paper into a ball and put it aside, and said in a low voice.

"Why?" Gu Yubai asked, frowning, seemingly genuinely puzzled.

It's weirdly out of character (OOC).

“Because it’s a bit strange,” Yu Xia said.

After listening, Gu Yubai nodded thoughtfully and said, "Chi Ximin told me to be sincere. I'm sorry, I didn't know you didn't like that."

"Which way do you prefer?" Gu Yubai asked.

Which method?

To be honest, Yu Xia had never thought of this.

It's not that no one has ever confessed their feelings to her, it's just that she rejected all those who confessed on the very day they did, so she's never really thought about it.

Now that Gu Yubai has asked her this, she really can't answer it for a while.

"Let's... something more normal," Yu Xia thought for a long time before finally giving this answer.

Gu Yubai raised an eyebrow: "Am I not normal?"

After Gu Yubai finished speaking, Yu Xia realized how ambiguous his words had been: "That's not what I meant!"

"I just..." Yu Xia couldn't find the right words, so she simply confessed, "I just don't know how to say it. I've never thought about this before."

"You haven't thought about this before?" Gu Yubai quickly grasped the key information. "So you haven't discussed it before?"

Yu Xia nodded, not knowing how he got to this point, but at least he didn't ask her in a way she preferred.

Gu Yubai chuckled, a smile curving his lips: "Me too."

What is it?

Yu Xia didn't react.

"This is the first time I've pursued someone, the first time I've wanted to date someone. I have no experience and don't know what to do. I asked Chi Ximin for some advice, but it doesn't seem to be working well." Gu Yubai picked up a piece of poached chicken and put it in her bowl.

As he finished his action, his words landed perfectly on the ground.

"Chi Ximin?" Yu Xia subconsciously picked out a name she recognized.

Wait, what did he just say?

first?

What first time?

First time pursuing someone?!

Then wouldn't she be Bai He's first love?!

Bai, He, de, chu, lian.

Just those few words together were enough to make Yu Xia's brain explode.

“Hmm,” Gu Yubai nodded, not noticing her change, and said, “Thinking that you two are about the same age and get along well, and since everyone says that girls understand girls best, I asked her for some advice.”

Yu Xia hadn't recovered from the shock she'd just experienced.

After hearing Gu Yubai speak again, it took her a while to barely restart her brain and extract some information from it.

"Around the same age?" Yu Xia said, "I'm twenty-five."

She didn't know how Gu Yubai could say such a thing. She remembered that Chi Ximin was a young girl who had just graduated from high school, and at most she was eighteen years old. How could she be about the same age as her? She was seven or eight years older than Chi Xinmin.

“I know, she’s similar to Chi Ximin,” Gu Yubai said.

Judging from Gu Yubai's tone and expression, it's rare that he sees her and Chi Ximin as the same kind of child.

"Mr. Gu, how old are you?" Yu Xia couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yubai suddenly frowned and glanced at her.

Yu Xia was suddenly stunned, and then she realized what he meant from his eyes.

"Gu, Gu Yubai".

Yu Xia was used to calling him President Gu and had never called him by his full name before. The moment she said it, she felt a little unfamiliar with him.

Gu Yubai relaxed his brows and resumed his previous expression, saying, "Twenty-six."

“Then I’m about the same as you,” Yu Xia said subconsciously.

After she finished speaking, she felt Gu Yubai smile.

Why is Gu Yubai smiling so much today? Why does he smile all the time? Wasn't he always expressionless before?

What, you've unlocked your facial muscles now?

Gu Yubai, having unlocked his facial muscles, honestly said, "I feel like you and Chi Ximin belong to the younger group, while I belong to the older group."

"Pfft." This statement is quite accurate; he really does seem like an old cadre who can't keep up with the times. Yu Xia couldn't help but laugh.

"So it seems that even a one-year age difference can create a generation gap. I still need to study hard," Gu Yubai said earnestly.

"So, you consulted Chi Ximin a lot about how to strategize?" Yu Xia asked curiously.

Actually, she was quite curious about what it was like for someone like Gu Yubai to earnestly seek advice from others.

Thinking of this, she inexplicably thought of her fellow fan Bai and Bye, who inexplicably resembled her somewhat.

It's strangely fitting.

"Yes, I did a lot of research to win you over," Gu Yubai corrected his wording.

Yu Xia's smile vanished abruptly.

To cover her embarrassment, Yu Xia picked up the water next to her again and took a big gulp.

How did this person manage to say those things without batting an eye and as if it were perfectly normal?

Especially his expression, which was so...so sincere.

It's so provocative!

Yu Xia didn't know what to say.

"Are you going back to Nancheng for the New Year?" Gu Yubai suddenly brought up what she and her mother had said when they parted at the airport.

Actually, he wanted to ask that question when he first heard it, but Yu Xia's blushing ears distracted him, so he didn't say anything for the time being.

"Yes, I'll go back for the Chinese New Year," Yu Xia said, putting down her cup.

What, are you saying you're not even giving her annual leave because you're chasing after someone?

Is this a different kind of exploitation?

However, the reality was clearly not what Yu Xia thought.

"Can I come to Nancheng to see you during the Chinese New Year?" Gu Yubai asked.

Yu Xia stared blankly at the boiled chicken that Gu Yubai had just put on her plate, not expecting Gu Yubai to ask such a question.

“Ah…” Yu Xia was stunned for a moment.

It's his own leg; whether he goes or not is his decision. Does she mean he'll really not go just because she says no?

He seemed to notice her hesitation.

Gu Yubai said frankly and honestly, "Because I'm afraid you won't like this behavior, I want to ask for your consent."

"What if I say no?" Yu Xia asked curiously.

If he wants her consent, does that mean Gu Yubai will stop doing it if she doesn't agree?

Gu Yubai paused for a moment, pursed his lips, and then said, "I will still go."

"Then why don't you—"

Ask me.

Before she could finish speaking, she heard Gu Yubai's next sentence.

"Because I really want to see you."

Seemingly thinking of Yu Xia's disapproval, Gu Yubai added:

"But I'll hide and watch secretly, I won't let you know."