Chapter 58: A Disgraceful Display

That day after school, Xie Xu and Lu Yiqi passed by a milk tea shop.

Xie Xu suddenly pointed at it. "Do you want some milk tea?"

Lu Yiqi hadn’t had milk tea in ages, so she nodded cheerfully. "Sure!"

The two of them entered the shop.

Xie Xu ordered an extra-large fruit tea.

Then he pointed at the price.

Lu Yiqi: "???"

He even went out of his way to point at the price—did that mean he wanted her to pay?

She didn’t particularly care about the money, but wasn’t it usually the boy’s job to pick up the tab?

Well, never mind.

Considering that Xie Xu had been helping her with her studies for free, she’d let it go and treat him this time.

She unlocked her phone, ready to scan the code and pay.

Just as she was reaching out, Xie Xu pressed down on her hand.

Lu Yiqi looked up at him. "What do you mean by this?"

Seeing that she still hadn’t caught on, Xie Xu sighed softly, quietly hinting, "Don’t you think this price looks a lot like the date three days from now?"

Three days from now? What was happening then?

Lu Yiqi thought hard about it. Today was the 24th, so three days later would be the 27th.

The 27th—was there something special about that day?

Lu Yiqi, unable to figure it out after quite some time, finally asked, "What about it?"

Meanwhile, Xie Xu, who had already paid while she was pondering, fell silent.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, telling himself not to get angry, not to get angry—anger only benefits the devil.

He took a deep breath. "You really don’t remember?"

Lu Yiqi shook her head earnestly. "I don’t."

"…Fine." He took another deep breath. "Let’s go."

"Huh?"

"Let’s not embarrass ourselves any further here."

"???"

Lu Yiqi was mercilessly dragged away.

On the way home, Lu Yiqi was like someone possessed, her mind endlessly looping over what was so special about the 27th.

She usually chatted with Xie Xu while walking home, but today, silence hung between them—an unusually heavy silence.

Lu Yiqi didn’t speak, and Xie Xu was too proud to ask why she’d gone quiet.

Meanwhile, Lu Yiqi’s mind was still racing.

The 27th?

This month was October—so, October 27th.

It wasn’t a holiday, nor was it her favorite celebrity’s birthday.

Wait, birthday!

Xie Xu’s birthday was in October, wasn’t it!

So, when he pointed at the price earlier, he wasn’t asking her to pay—he was sneakily hinting… his birthday was coming up!?

Oh my god.

Are all reserved boys this adorable?

Lu Yiqi, as if she’d found a hidden treasure, called out cheerfully, "Xie Xu, Xie Xu!"

The moment she finally called his name, Xie Xu replied almost instantly, "Yes!"

Lu Yiqi burst out laughing. "I just remembered what the 27th is!"

"Oh?" he replied, feigning a haughty tone. "Then tell me."

"It’s your birthday, right?"

Lu Yiqi looked as pleased as if she’d solved a riddle. "Oh! I really am a little genius!"

Xie Xu turned his head slightly, thinking, "This pig finally remembered," but stubbornly said, "You said it, not me!"

Lu Yiqi wanted to laugh but managed to hold it in, drawing out her response, "Alright, then it’s me who said it."

"Mm."

"Xie Xu, Xie Xu," Lu Yiqi asked, "What kind of present would you like?"

"Why are you asking me that? Are you stupid? Who ever asks the person getting the gift what they want? Giving a present is supposed to be a surprise, so you have to come up with it yourself!"

Lu Yiqi pouted. "I just don’t want to get you something you don’t like by mistake…"