Inside the shop,
The aroma of duck fat mingled with the spiciness of chili peppers.
It coalesces into a bustling scene of everyday life.
The air seemed to freeze for a second amidst the clamor.
Lin Que looked into the pair of eyes opposite him.
Those were extremely beautiful almond-shaped eyes, with slightly upturned corners, carrying a hint of innate pride.
But at this moment, those pupils were like two pools of clear spring water with pebbles thrown in, rippling with astonishment and surprise.
Just like that day in the alley when I was caught stealing plum blossom cakes.
Lin Que's chopsticks froze in mid-air.
He was the first to react.
He put down his chopsticks and raised his eyebrows slightly.
"You...know me?"
This question was like pressing the reset button.
The panic on Ye Xi's flushed face quickly faded.
Instead, a sly smile appeared on his face.
She pulled the scarf down completely.
Her fair and slender neck was exposed, and her chin was slightly raised.
"Lin Que, Class 3, Grade 11, Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School".
She slowly uttered the name.
"You're the one who wrote 'Fireflies' and scared the old man of the Writers' Association, and you're also the one who talked about 'stitching up wounds' at the press conference."
Ye Xi counted them off on her slender white fingers as if they were her most treasured possessions.
"His letter moved the entire city to tears, and his essay won a top prize..."
He was even described by Professor Jian Shen as "a demon roaming the human world."
Lin Que: "..."
This girl doesn't just know him; she's practically investigated him thoroughly.
"besides."
Ye Xi paused deliberately at this point.
Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes curved into crescent moons, and her tone was full of mockery.
"I am participating in the Emerging Literature Summit Forum held at Zijin Villa today as a student representative."
"but……"
She narrowed her almond-shaped eyes as she looked at Lin Que.
"To see you at this hour, you must have done something extraordinary at the conference!"
Ye Xi leaned forward, getting a little closer.
A faint, cool fragrance, similar to jasmine, wafted over, mingling with the steam from the duck soup.
"Tell me, do I know you or not?"
Lin Que touched his nose and smiled helplessly.
Okay, now even live broadcasts of socially charged deaths are being monitored.
"That's right!"
The girl seemed to remember something.
What did you just call me?
"Plum blossom cake?"
Lin Que deliberately dragged out the tone.
"Pfft—"
Ye Xi couldn't hold back any longer and covered her mouth, bursting into laughter.
His shoulders shrugged, causing his off-white woolen hat to sway.
"Where did this name come from?"
She finally managed to stop laughing, but tears welled up in her eyes from laughing so hard they were almost painful.
Lin Que touched his nose somewhat awkwardly:
"Last time at Confucius Temple, I saw you... sneaking a bite of plum blossom cake."
He didn't say the words "performance costume," which was a way of saving face for her.
"So you just remembered this?"
Ye Xi laughed so hard that tears almost came out.
She took a tissue out of her down jacket pocket and wiped her eyes.
Why do you think I cheated on you?
"The way you look at yourself, glancing around like a thief."
Lin Que spoke the truth.
"Besides, it's just eating a plum blossom cake, why be so secretive?"
Mentioning this, Ye Xi's smile faded slightly, and she muttered softly:
“My family is very strict and won’t let me eat these things, saying they’re unhealthy and will affect my figure.”
"Then why..."
"That's why you have to eat it secretly."
Ye Xi said confidently, picking up another piece of duck liver.
"In life, everyone needs to have some little secrets of their own, otherwise life would be so boring."
The piano is played for others, while plum blossom cakes and duck blood soup are for myself.
Lin Que was taken aback.
That's an interesting statement.
"So you are too today..."
"I skipped my piano lesson and sneaked out the back door."
Ye Xi had a smug look on her face, as if to say, "I am a bad student."
"I originally wanted to go eat the plum blossom cake from that shop last time, but the owner was not open, so I had to come here to have a bowl of soup instead."
Unexpectedly…
She looked up at Lin Que.
The two exchanged a smile, and the awkwardness from before completely vanished.
A steaming bowl of vermicelli soup was placed in front of me.
The two of them tacitly stopped talking and buried themselves in their food.
The tastes are remarkably consistent.
Extra spicy, no cilantro.
Lin Que looked at the person opposite him, who was eating with sweat dripping from their nose and their face flushed.
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