"Put it on my tab."
That one sentence stifled every bit of emotion Lin Xi had been building up. She felt a sudden, frantic urge to bite him.
Guming bubble tea shop was incredibly famous on this university street. Their tea was creamy and smooth, free of any tea dregs, with a rich base that wasn't bitter. Many students would line up for half an hour just to get a taste. Since starting at Yanbei, every time Xue Yang bought bubble tea for Chen Ying, it was from here. At 16 yuan a cup, it wasn't exactly cheap for a student, yet he had never once complained.
The young woman at the counter smiled and asked, "Are you two a couple? Today, couples get half off on two cups."
Lin Xi’s face flushed red at the words. Fortunately, she was wearing a mask, so it wasn't visible. Xue Yang, by comparison, looked far more composed. If it meant two cups for 16 yuan, pretending to be a couple with Lin Xi wasn't entirely out of the question.
Lin Xi was already waving her hands in denial. "No, we aren't a couple."
"If you aren't, then you can't enjoy the half-price discount," the server said with a look of regret.
Xue Yang quickly draped an arm over Lin Xi’s shoulder and smiled. "Actually, we are a couple, miss. My girlfriend is just throwing a tantrum."
The sudden scent of a strange man flooded her nose, causing Lin Xi’s brain to short-circuit for a moment. "Xue Yang, you..."
He really was just after her body. The internet was right; men were all heartless brutes!
"Baby, don’t be mad. You’ll have your bubble tea in a second. There are plenty of people waiting behind us. Miss, please, go ahead."
At that moment, the people behind them urged, "Are you buying or not? If not, move aside, okay? Can't you see there’s a line?"
The server, pleased at being called "miss" by such a handsome guy, quickly processed the order on her computer. "That’ll be 16 yuan, please."
After paying, Xue Yang pulled Lin Xi to the side to wait. Her mind was a complete blank. How could he be so casual about claiming they were a couple? In her mind, love was something sacred; at the very least, it should involve a proper process. It certainly shouldn't be handled so sloppily.
As she took the tea from Xue Yang, she stepped hard on his foot. "Xue Yang, why did you tell her we were a couple?"
It was clear how much this bothered her. If she wasn't currently living under his roof, she would have absolutely flipped out.
"Don't you think half-price bubble tea tastes extra sweet?" Xue Yang took a sip, unbothered. It was just as everyone said—great texture, rich milk flavor, and plenty of toppings. No wonder girls loved it. It was ironic; he had bought Guming tea for Chen Ying so many times but had never once tasted it himself, let alone enjoyed a discount.
Xue Yang gave a self-deprecating laugh. Even the bubble tea was telling him that he and Chen Ying weren't meant to be. Why hadn't he realized that sooner?
"Even if it’s half price, you can't just do that! Don't you know that love is a sacred thing? You’ve ruined my first love, and for 16 yuan of bubble tea, no less! If I had known, I wouldn't have even wanted any."
"What’s wrong? You aren't actually taking it seriously, are you?"
"How could I?"
"Then there you go. Drink your tea. Half-price tea is actually pretty good."
"..."
Xue Yang had no idea how much trouble his casual behavior had caused Lin Xi. She looked at the cup with resentment; this was the drink that had ended her first love, so she was determined to finish every drop. Channeling her anger into her appetite, she sucked on the straw frantically. In no time, the cup was empty, save for a few stubborn pearls at the bottom. Not willing to give up, she tore the cup open to dig them out, devouring every last one like a little hamster hoarding food.
She looked adorable.
"Let’s just grab something here for dinner tonight. I’ll buy some groceries tomorrow; if we wash the kitchen, it should be usable."
Lin Xi looked up to see a sign with the large characters "ZB BBQ." Round tables, bright red stools, and questionable hygiene—a classic street stall setup. Her face scrunched up immediately. "Xue Yang, is it even safe to eat at a street stall like this?"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"I’ve never eaten at a street stall. I heard the food there isn't clean."
"..."
Was there still someone in this day and age who had never eaten at a street stall? "Missy, what do you want to eat then?" Xue Yang asked, trying to remain patient. He couldn't just watch her starve after taking her in.
"You... did you just call me 'Missy'?" Did he know who she was? Was he so eager to get her out of the house because he wanted to send her home? The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. "I’m not eating! Let’s go back!"
"..."
Xue Yang looked up and happened to see a deal for half-price steaks. The poster read: "Couple’s Set Meal, 59 yuan." It was within his current budget, and about the same price they would have spent on BBQ anyway. "Let’s go eat steak."
Lin Xi was on the verge of tears. "Xue Yang, I said I’m not eating. I want to go back to the house. Please don't send me home."
"Who said anything about sending you home? You’re full, but I’m still hungry."
"Then why did you call me 'Missy'?"
"If you've never eaten at a street stall, what else am I supposed to call you?"
"..." So that was it.
"Welcome to Beloved Steak. How many, please?"
"Two."
The server introduced the offer enthusiastically: "Are you two a couple? All couples dining at Old Woods Steakhouse today get half off."
Why was it half-price for couples everywhere? What was going on today?
Lin Xi looked dejected. "We aren't a couple."
The server paused, confused, wondering what she had done wrong. Relying on the tactic that had already proven successful, Xue Yang put his arm around Lin Xi’s shoulders and said to the server, "Do we not look like a couple to you?"
The server looked at the two of them—the matching shirts and the shared story of the half-price bubble tea—if they weren't a couple, what could they be? Siblings? The server looked at Lin Xi again, as if asking for confirmation.
She couldn't believe it. Was the whole world conspiring against her today?
"Don't listen to his nonsense," Lin Xi insisted. "We really aren't a couple." She absolutely could not sell herself out again for 59 yuan. She had to hold onto her second love at all costs.
"Baby, don't be like that. I know I made you angry, but here I am, bringing you to eat your favorite steak, aren't I? Miss, we really are a couple. You wouldn't want me to have to kiss her in front of everyone, would you?"
What? Kiss?!
Lin Xi glared at him with instant vigilance. If he dared to try that, she would definitely not let him off easy. She’d just smash him with a chair. Yes, she was brilliant.