Chapter 62, the meaning of Xi is so similar to her name...

Yu Kui had just finished eating when her three roommates returned from outside.

"Working overtime this late?" Seeing Yu Kui's tired expression, Zhang Jing was a little worried. "What's wrong with your company? They even exploit you like this on your days off."

"I'm fine," Yu Kui smiled, changing the subject, "What did you have for dinner?"

“Cantonese cuisine,” Shu Jia coughed lightly, “We were originally going to eat hot pot, but I was worried he couldn’t handle the spice.”

Yu Kui: "......"

“Don’t even mention it,” Xu Siyue rolled her eyes. “They were exchanging glances while eating, treating us like decorations.”

"Where are you flirting?" Shu Jia felt she was being slandered. "Looking into someone's eyes when you're communicating is just basic politeness, isn't it?"

"Your eyes are practically popping out of their sockets."

Shu Jia was so angry that she immediately went over and punched the person, "There's no truth to it, you're just making things up!"

"You ordered takeout from Bazhen Pavilion?" Zhang Jing noticed the food container on the coffee table and asked in surprise, "Bazhen Pavilion is so far from where we live, how could you eat alone behind our backs?"

Yu Kui: "..." She knew absolutely nothing about this brand.

A friend brought it to me.

"Xie Xingzhi?" Shu Jia's eyes lit up.

“Hmm,” Yu Kui said, “He should live somewhere relatively close to that area.”

“Maybe,” Zhang Jing said thoughtfully, “but Bazhen Pavilion’s prices are out of touch with reality. You’re a pretty good friend.”

Yu Kui lowered her eyelashes and didn't reply, only saying, "I haven't touched the food much, would you like some more?"

"No more," Shu Jia said, clutching her stomach. "Sun Lin ordered so many dishes tonight that I almost had to lean on the wall to walk."

“That guy is alright,” Xu Siyue said, “but be reserved when you’re with him, don’t act like you’ve never seen the world before.”

"Okay," Shu Jia said, "I won't be working for their company after graduation, so you don't need to worry about any office romances."

"It's good that you know," Xu Siyue said. "Work is work, and life is life. Don't get them mixed up."

The four of them sat on the sofa and talked for a while before washing up and resting.

Yu Kui put the leftover food in the refrigerator, planning to eat it again tomorrow.

Before going to sleep, she received a WeChat message from Xie Xingzhi.

"Do you really want to be with Xu Xi?"

He seemed to care a lot about Yu Kui's love life.

Yu Kui lowered her eyes and replied, "Didn't I tell you that before?"

Xie Xingzhi: "I think you should consider this more carefully. Xu Xi may not be suitable for you."

Yu Kui: "How do you know he's not right for me if we haven't really gotten to know each other?"

Xie Xingzhi: "You don't like him."

Yu Kui stared at those five words for a few seconds, then asked, "How do you know I don't like him?"

Xie Xingzhi: "I can see it in your eyes."

Yu Kui lowered her head and smiled, "Whether you like it or not, you can't say for sure." After that, she ignored Xie Xingzhi.

The next day, she and Xu Siyue went to the mall and bought two sets of clothes. On the way back, she received a call from Xu Xi, "Do you have time today? We just got a new batch of lotus flowers at the store. I'll make you some lotus flower pastries."

The two hadn't seen each other for a week, and Xu Xi's voice carried a faint smile, "I actually have something I want to tell you."

Yu Kui knew he wanted an answer from her, so she readily agreed, "Then I'll come find you this afternoon."

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

After hanging up the phone, Yu Kui stood in the crowded subway, feeling neither the excitement nor the nervousness she had imagined, but rather a calm and composed mood.

"Whose call was that?" Xu Siyue asked curiously. "Is it the company calling you again?"

Yu Kui shook her head and didn't tell her about Xu Xi.

In the afternoon, she took a car to the school gate. Xu Xi's cake shop was doing very well, and many people were sitting by the window enjoying desserts.

"You're here?" Xu Xi, who was making drinks at the counter, turned around immediately when she heard the wind chimes at the door. She smiled when she saw Yu Kui. "Were you hot on the way? I'll get you an ice cream."

Even though they had already confessed their feelings, there was no awkwardness between them. Yu Kui smiled and said, "Okay, thank you for your hard work."

"Then you sit in the first row and wait for me."

Upon hearing this, Yu Kui sat down in the seat closest to the counter. Xu Xi, while busy with his work, asked, "Have you been very busy lately? You always reply to messages at night."

“Yes,” Yu Kui said, “I was working overtime all afternoon yesterday.”

“It must be too hard,” Xu Xi sighed softly. “When I was in school, I only knew how to slack off. I was nothing like you, so independent.”

“Everyone makes different choices,” Yu Kui said. “You don’t need to praise me.”

“To be honest,” Xu Xi delivered the finished drink to the customer, then turned and handed him an ice cream. “Try it, it’s the new lemon flavor.”

The ice cream tasted refreshing, and Yu Kui smiled slightly. "It's delicious."

“It’s delicious, but you can only eat this one today,” Xu Xi said, leaning against the counter and looking at her. “I’ll take you out to eat later.”

“Okay.” Yu Kui didn’t refuse. “I’m treating today, so don’t try to pay.” Xu Xi usually paid when they went out, and Yu Kui often felt that he was being taken advantage of.

“Okay,” Xu Xi said, “What would you like to eat?”

“Xinjiang cuisine,” Yu Kui said, “When my friend traveled to Xinjiang before, he said that the food there was delicious, and I’ve always wanted to try it.”

“Okay,” Xu Xi immediately had an idea, “Let’s go to Xin Nan Road.”

He said, "I took my staff there for a meal before, and the food was pretty good."

"Okay." Yu Kui continued eating her ice cream.

"Oh right, I left the book you were reading here. I'll go in and get it for you."

Yu Kui nodded, watching his departing figure, thinking that being with Xu Xi would definitely be very easy. He was warm and considerate, and could provide great emotional support.

For dinner, the two went to the Xinjiang restaurant, ordered several signature dishes, and sat by the window chatting.

Xu Xi didn't ask Yu Kui what she had thought about; he only asked her about what was happening in her work and life.

“I can’t see you every day, and I don’t know how you are doing every day, but if you encounter any difficulties, you must tell me. Although I can’t help you much with work, I can still help with other things.”

“I’m fine,” Yu Kui said, somewhat amused. “I’m just an intern right now, and I don’t handle anything important at work. I don’t have any worries in my life either, so you don’t need to worry about me.”

“I’m afraid you’ll keep everything bottled up inside,” Xu Xi looked into her eyes. “If possible, I’d like to be your listener.”

"A confidant brother?" Yu Kui asked with a smile.

Xu Xi chuckled softly, "It's not impossible."

“I’ll contact you if I need it,” Yu Kui nodded.

After dinner, Xu Xi went to a nearby milk tea shop and bought grape fruit tea for Yu Kui. "Let's take a walk to the parking lot; it'll help with digestion."

"Um."

The two walked side by side through the city at dusk. The streets were ablaze with neon lights, and a gentle summer breeze blew by. Yu Kui's skirt swayed slightly, and their shadows, one high and one low, fell on the ground, looking like a scene from a movie about midsummer.

Yu Kui didn't speak, and Xu Xi didn't open his mouth either, simply enjoying the faint fragrance of flowers carried on the evening breeze.

"There are many roses blooming along this road," Xu Xi said softly after a long silence. "Actually, I also grow a lot of flowers indoors, including roses, hydrangeas, and lilies..."

“If there’s a chance, I’d like to take you there to see it.” He turned and gazed at Yu Kui.

His handsome face and warm eyes reminded Yu Kui of the clear, green lake water and the summer she met him. She was at her lowest point then, just wanting to find a place to calm her restlessness, and that's when she met him.

Yu Kui didn't know if this was an unexpected event in her life, but thinking about it now, she felt a touch of warmth in her heart.

“Okay,” she said quickly. “Next weekend, I’ll come find you then.”

Xu Xi's lips curled up, and even his eyes were filled with laughter. "Now that you say that, I'm looking forward to it."

Xu Xi drove Yu Kui to her apartment building. Yu Kui unbuckled her seatbelt, thanked Xu Xi, and said, "Then I'll go upstairs first?"

"Wait," Xu Xi called out to her, his voice tinged with helplessness, "We've finally met, and you know I still have something to say."

Yu Kui remained seated in the passenger seat, not looking at Xu Xi, but gazing out the window at the dimly lit corner. "You want to ask about last week?"

“Hmm,” Xu Xi looked at her fair profile and sighed, “Logically speaking, I shouldn’t be in such a hurry, after all, we’re getting along very well now, but I still can’t wait. Yu Kui, can I know what you’re thinking?”

“I know you are still a student and have many plans for the future, but I will not hinder your pursuit of your studies and career. I will respect all your choices. I just hope you can give me an opportunity to get closer to you.”

Seemingly worried that Yu Kui might refuse, Xu Xi added, "From the first moment I met you, I felt that you were very special. Later, after I learned how outstanding you were, I hesitated for a while, but I didn't want to miss the opportunity to get to know you. Even our names are so compatible."

The character "羲" in the dictionary means "sun," which is a perfect match for the name Yu Kui, even surprising Yu Kui himself.

"You can tell me if you have any doubts."

After listening to Xu Xi's words, Yu Kui looked back into his eyes and slowly said, "I know what you mean. Although we have known each other for several years, we have not spent much time together. My feelings for you are very shallow, and I may not be able to reciprocate your feelings in the same way."

“It’s alright,” Xu Xi said immediately. “Feelings can be cultivated. I’m older than you, so I should take care of you.”

"I......"

"What exactly are you conflicted about?" Xu Xi said, somewhat puzzled. "We can actually resolve all the issues you mentioned. You shouldn't be troubled by them."

Yu Kui pursed her lips. In fact, she had already decided to agree to his proposal, but when the moment actually came, she realized that she was not as optimistic as she had imagined.

"I'm sorry," Yu Kui's mind was a little confused, she took a deep breath, "Could you give me a little more time?"

Seeing that her face was a little pale, Xu Xi immediately realized that his nervousness had put pressure on her. "Of course you can."