Chapter 7: Huai City

The next day.

Word spread like wildfire through Tsinghua University—the project He Xulin was in charge of had hit serious trouble.

Wen Tingxia spent the whole morning drowning in self-blame, her mind elsewhere.

At 1:32 PM, she was waiting for He Xulin at their meeting spot.

"Sorry, two minutes late."

As expected of a well-bred young master—no matter how big the crisis, no matter how busy, he still kept his word and showed up.

"I've got things to handle this afternoon. Mind if we just eat in the cafeteria?" His voice was steady and warm, his expression calm, not a trace of distress over the trouble he was in.

Unhurried. Impeccably dressed.

"Senior Brother, this is all my fault. I shouldn't have asked you out to dinner last night—I'm the reason your project went wrong, aren't I?" Wen Tingxia's voice was barely above a whisper, her mood sunk low.

The female supporting character was bad luck.

She hadn't forgotten what QQ said—her very existence dragged the male lead down, held him back.

But He Xulin was clearly a man of ideals and ambition. The project he led contributed to the nation's scientific research. That was meaningful work.

Wen Tingxia had always admired people like that.

She didn't want to be the one holding him back. But she wanted to live.

"It has nothing to do with you."

He Xulin caught the mist gathering in the girl's eyes. Her already soft voice had gone even softer with guilt, like a clear spring that could soothe the soul and wash his exhaustion away.

She was upset.

This was his girlfriend—different from everyone else, after all.

His hand tightened at his side. A moment later, he lifted it and stroked her fluffy head, his thumb coming to rest at the corner of her eye, rubbing gently.

"It really has nothing to do with you. The problem was planted a week ago—it just happened to surface last night."

Catching a problem early and fixing it early wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

The sudden touch made Wen Tingxia flinch. She shrank back on instinct, retreating a step.

[What are you backing away for? You're a lovesick fool who fell for the male lead at first sight. When he touches you, you should be thrilled—lean in, cling to him, take the chance to feel him up. That's your character!]

QQ lectured her earnestly, trying to remind her.

"You don't like it?" He Xulin withdrew his hand, his tone gentle as ever, his dark eyes deep and quiet.

"No, I—I just..."

Thinking of the mission, Wen Tingxia wanted to smack herself.

She bit her lip nervously. Single her whole life, she'd never dated anyone—she just wasn't used to it yet.

The explanation felt flimsy.

Wen Tingxia lowered her head and took a small step closer, reaching out her fair, slender hand to take his large one.

"I don't dislike it." Her voice came out sweet and soft.

He Xulin went still for a beat.

He looked down and saw it—beneath the translucent fairness of her earlobes and neck, a shy blush rising faintly.

His Adam's apple bobbed. His hand turned, easily folding her small one into his palm. "Let's go eat."

They hadn't walked far before Wen Tingxia started regretting her boldness.

This was campus. He Xulin, the school heartthrob, was a prominent figure here. Being openly led by the hand to the cafeteria by him drew no small number of watching, assessing stares along the way.

[It's just holding hands. Stop dodging.]

QQ saw right through her—the little coward was already trying to shake off the male lead again.

[Just pretend they're monkeys on Mount Emei and you two are tourists passing through. Don't be scared.]

"But why do I feel like I'm the monkey and they're the tourists?"

With so many eyes on her, Wen Tingxia slowed her pace and fell in behind He Xulin, like a quail burying its head.

[Haha, you flatter yourself. Mount Emei monkeys are cocky—none of them are as timid as you.] QQ teased.

"Pfft~"

Wen Tingxia laughed. Chatting with QQ helped distract her; the onlookers didn't seem quite so scary anymore.

It was nearly two in the afternoon—not many people in the cafeteria.

Wen Tingxia scanned the hall and immediately spotted the corner seat, right beside a large pillar that blocked it from view.

Yeah, this spot works.

She let go of He Xulin and jogged over.

He Xulin had no choice but to follow.

"Senior Brother, sit first. I'll go get the food." They'd agreed—today was her treat.

Wen Tingxia set her backpack on the seat and headed for the serving windows, relieved to find a few decent dishes left. "Auntie, I'll take this one. Yes—braised pork with preserved mustard greens, steamed spare ribs with rice flour, sweet and sour pork, and this one. This one too."

Wen Tingxia wasn't stingy. Treating someone to a meal meant getting something good.

Besides, at cafeteria prices, ten dishes together wouldn't cost as much as one plate at Qingyu Zhai.

"Auntie, swipe my card."

Wen Tingxia carried the loaded tray to the card reader. Beep. Her eyes went wide, her face burning red.

Meal card balance: 31.56 yuan.

Not enough.

[Xia Xia, I forgot to warn you—ever since the original host's adoptive parents had their biological son, they stopped giving her money. She studied for scholarships and worked part-time. Not only did she support herself, she sent money home every month.]

[The original host was really poor.]

"You couldn't have said that earlier?"

Wen Tingxia was mortified, desperate to crawl into a hole.

She stole a glance at the auntie by the card reader, face reddening as she started to put the dishes back—when an arm reached past her, carrying a faint scent of lime. "Put it on my card."

Wen Tingxia turned. He Xulin was right there. "What are you doing here?"

The girl's round apricot eyes were watery, her long curled lashes blinking rapidly, her delicate face flushed pink—dorky, and tempting.

The instant their eyes met, something shifted almost imperceptibly in He Xulin's gaze. "Came to check on you."

Card swiped, He Xulin picked up the tray, his voice low. "Let's go."

"Okay~" Wen Tingxia trailed behind him, muttering under her breath, "I was supposed to treat you today. I forgot to top up my card."

The He family heir couldn't care less about a meal's worth of change, but he said anyway, "You can pay me back next time. That's two meals you owe me."

"Deal. I'll definitely treat you." Wen Tingxia hated owing anyone a favor.

"Good. I'll be waiting."

He Xulin's lips curved up, his mood clearly improved as he set the tray on the table. Once Wen Tingxia sat down, he casually picked up a meal card from the table. "Eat first. I'll go grab us some drinks."

[Xia Xia, he grabbed the wrong card.]

Wen Tingxia noticed too—He Xulin had taken her meal card.

"Wrong card or not, I've still got thirty-something on mine. That's plenty for two drinks. Cafeteria drinks aren't expensive." She didn't think much of it.

[True.] QQ didn't either, and went on chatting: [Xia Xia, you've improved. Several of the dishes you picked today are ones the male lead likes.]

"Last time was an accident. This time I deliberately avoided anything spicy."

"Wen Tingxia? It really is you!"

A girl carrying a tray passed by Wen Tingxia. She'd already walked on, then suddenly doubled back, staring at Wen Tingxia's face like she'd seen a ghost.