"Take it."

Xia Che didn't bother arguing with the little brat, and shoved the plastic bag into her hand, saying, "I didn't have time to buy fried chicken, so this should be just as good, right? Something affordable..."

"How can that be the same? Fried chicken is fried chicken, and kebabs are kebabs. Anyway, I don't care. You promised Sister Xiaoyue that you would bring her some fried chicken when you came back, not kebabs. I'll let it go this time, it's too late... but you have to make it up to us next time."

Chu Yuying felt a little heavy from the stuffed plastic bag. She opened it a crack and stared at the dazzling array of grilled skewers inside, secretly marveling.

But he still stubbornly insisted that it was just kebabs, not fried chicken.

Anyway...

Chu Yuying would never let the little blond guy off so easily!

"Sister Xiaoxin, come in quickly."

Chu Yuying beckoned Shen Yanxin to go inside together. As the two women were leaving, Chu Yuying made a face at Xia Che, then snorted and walked in with her head held high.

"Wait a minute, you go in first."

Shen Yanxin blushed, her eyes still somewhat dazed.

She hadn't recovered from what she'd just experienced at the night market stalls.

Xia Che suddenly started calling them husband and wife. Is this...is this a joke?

Although I had heard before that Xia Che loved surfing the internet, this was probably a new meme that Xia Che had recently learned.

but……

Shen Yanxin had also heard another saying: many people use joking as an excuse to speak their true feelings.

This guess made Shen Yanxin's already flushed face turn even redder.

Was she joking, or... did Xia Che see through her feelings?

It's really bothersome.

"Really? Okay, then you'd better hurry up."

Chu Yuying, unsuspecting, walked in with a grin, clutching the bulging plastic bag.

Now that she saw that Xiao Huangmao had returned safely and didn't have the scent of a bad woman on him, Chu Yuying felt much relieved and her mind calmed down. Naturally, she didn't care what Xia Che was up to.

Anyway, as long as you don't go out and mess around, it's fine.

Chu Yuying couldn't be bothered with anything else.

"Wait a moment, you too."

Shen Yanxin called out to Xia Che, who was about to go in thinking it was none of her business.

"What's wrong?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Che paused for a moment and asked in confusion.

Why is Shen Yanxin's face so red?

At this moment, Xia Che noticed that Shen Yanxin's face was extremely red, just like a boiled shrimp.

"Why did you say that to the vendor at the night market just now?"

Looking at the person she loved before her, whose eyes were still so gentle, Shen Yan's heart fluttered slightly.

"Night market stalls? Oh...you mean those?"

Xia Che scratched his head, then smiled and said, "I was just kidding. The atmosphere was just right at the time. Anyway, we won't have any interaction in the future, so he'll believe whatever I say. It was just a simple chat."

Xia Che does have this habit: when he's out and about, he gives himself his own identity.

If he happens to run into a talkative stranger, and since he won't lose anything, Xia Che is happy to go along with the other person's words, make up a new identity for himself, and then chat about this and that.

His abstract thinking and witty remarks were honed through this method.

"Sorry, I don't think I've ever mentioned this before... has I?"

Xia Che was taken aback, then suddenly realized something.

Damn it...

I forgot that Shen Yanxin's character is the obedient and conservative type.

That's why you pay so much attention to what others say?

If it had been Chu Yuying or Xiao Yihan, the other party would have naturally taken over the conversation and had a pleasant chat with the boss.

But Shen Yanxin didn't say anything at the time, just stood there blankly. Xia Che thought she was too tired to talk.

Thinking about it now...

It's very likely because they're bothered by this kind of thing!

"Uh... just a joke?"

Shen Yanxin blinked, her expression becoming even more blank.

Even though she had clearly heard what Xia Che said and her brain could understand it, it suddenly stopped working.

A feeling of indescribable shame and anger gradually welled up from the depths of my heart.

It feels like I've been tricked.

But upon closer reflection, Xia Che had never hinted at it to her, and such words sounded like a joke; she was simply overthinking it.

But it was precisely because she had overthought things that, upon realizing this, Shen Yanxin felt even more ashamed and angry, and vaguely embarrassed.

That makes sense...

She hadn't even won Xia Che's heart yet, so how could he possibly have feelings for her so quickly?

Shen Yanxin let out a soft moan, feeling weak all over, as if even her bones had melted.

This time...

This is incredibly embarrassing...

"Hey, are you alright?"

Xia Che was stunned. Why did Shen Yanxin look so pale?

It alternated between red and white, and even showed some blackish tinge...

Could it be that I really went too far with my joke?

hiss……

No way!

Xia Che scratched his head, feeling even more guilty.

"I'm fine, let's go back."

Shen Yanxin clutched her chest, turned and walked into the room, her steps quick, as if she were fleeing in panic.

It felt like punching cotton, soft and limp, making you feel powerless and uncomfortable all over.

Moreover, it's incredibly stuffy.

Shen Yanxin felt like she had suffered internal injuries.

I was holding it in.

"I see... okay."

Xia Che touched his nose and breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Shen Yanxin's retreating figure.

Thank goodness...

If they stayed any longer, Xia Che really couldn't think of any topics to start.

Following behind Shen Yanxin, Xia Che entered one after the other. The women inside were already prepared for the banquet. This small gathering was more of a spur-of-the-moment decision, but everyone was very happy.

The skewers they bought had been carefully separated and arranged on a large plate, the drinks were filled to the brim, and the empty seat in the very center of the table was reserved for Xia Che.

Everyone knew in their hearts that Little Yellow Hair was the bond between them; without him, they would never have met each other.

As Xia Che sat down, the atmosphere in the room instantly became lively.

A variety of gazes, each with its own meaning, fell upon Xia Che, seemingly weaving together into an invisible spiderweb in the air.

An indescribable emotion flowed through the room.

"Everything ready? Let's begin!"

Chu Yuying cheered and raised her cup high.

With Chu Yuying's lively atmosphere, the girls' enthusiasm was instantly ignited, and they all raised their cups with smiles, Xia Che being no exception.

However, his gaze remained fixed on Shen Yanxin.

Xia Che brought the cup to his lips, took a small sip of his drink, and secretly glanced at Shen Yanxin. He noticed that Shen Yanxin's expression had returned to calm, and a sense of unease crept into his heart.

"This woman... should be calmed down by now, right?"

Should I apologize? I think I should.

"Don't you want it? Do you want it? Women are so complicated..."