Chapter Seventy-Five: Dining

The two of them walked to a restaurant near the school and sat down. The proprietress, seeing such a strikingly handsome pair enter, hurried over to greet them. "What would you like to eat?"

The girl picked up the menu from the table, intending to hand it to Cheng Yanran, but he broke with convention, letting out a gentle laugh and moving to sit beside her. "This way we can order together," he said, spreading the menu flat on the table and sliding it toward her. "See if there's anything you'd like?"

"Ah, okay, I'll take a look." The handsome senior suddenly sitting next to her made the girl blush instantly. Yet she edged closer, obediently scanning the pictures and names of the dishes.

Her delicate fingertips pointed at sautéed corn with pine nuts and braised prawns. She looked earnestly at Cheng Yanran's profile. "I want these two," she whispered, her voice soft. The two were sitting rather close, and her warm breath brushed against his face, tingling like a playful plea.

Cheng Yanran pressed his lips together and replied, "Alright," then ordered two or three more dishes, handing the menu back to the proprietress with a polite "thank you."

The proprietress had been watching them from the side, noting the girl's shy charm and pretty innocence. She laughed heartily. "You're welcome! Lots of couples come to my little restaurant, but I've never seen a pair so well-matched and good-looking as you two. Wait just a moment, I'll get your food ready," she said, and left.

Cheng Yanran made no attempt to explain, nor did the girl feel the need. She simply pretended not to know how to face him, lowering her head in embarrassment.

On the surface, Cheng Yanran appeared calm and unbothered, but his heart was pounding, his ears flushed pink.

The girl ate quietly, sampling the dishes before her, pleasantly surprised. She hadn’t expected much from the place, but the flavors were decent, the proprietress straightforward, prices reasonable, and portions generous.

A true campus legend, Cheng Yanran adjusted quickly. Glancing sideways, he saw the girl carefully picking out the meat, suppressing a smile. "If you like it, eat more," he said.

She had been eating happily, but his words caught her off guard, making her unsure whether to swallow or spit. She looked up at him, her gaze full of plaintive reproach.

Cheng Yanran had never seen her so lively, and couldn’t help but laugh, his eyes and smile bright with youthful radiance, catching the attention of nearby diners.

The girl noticed the glances from around the room and blushed furiously, pinching his hand in protest. But she didn’t use much force, merely raked him gently like a kitten’s paw.

Afraid she might truly be upset, Cheng Yanran quickly composed himself, smiling softly as he placed a large prawn in his bowl, peeled it, and laid it in hers. He explained gently, "You’re too thin. Eat more. I wasn’t making fun of you—I just think you’re adorable."

Embarrassed, the girl refrained from acting up, shyly picking up the prawn and nibbling it in small bites.

She’d always liked shrimp, so she’d ordered it without thinking; partly because even if she didn’t eat it, it was pleasing to look at, and partly to see if Cheng Yanran would peel it for her. Unexpectedly, he did.

Seeing her eat the prawn he peeled, Cheng Yanran felt a surge of satisfaction, like feeding a small animal. He peeled several more for her, and the girl happily accepted, enjoying the attention from the campus heartthrob.

By the time they finished their meal, it was late. They strolled back toward the school to digest their food.

Every student recognized the two of them: one was the campus king, the other the campus queen. Now, walking together, they unwittingly set off another wave of gossip online.

Their conversation was pleasant, but progress was slow, lacking excitement. The girl knew that returning to the dorm required passing through a small grove, where couples often sought thrills. She deliberately timed it, nudging Cheng Yanran to take that route.

Suddenly, the sound of flushed, breathless voices came from the grove. The girl froze, unsure how to react, staring blankly into the trees.

Cheng Yanran, after three years at the school, was well aware that couples liked to seek excitement in the grove. He’d encountered it before, always ignoring it. But tonight, his heart—usually calm—was stirred, his body warming.

He saw the girl standing by, sighed softly, drew her to the side, and quickly covered her mouth as she was about to speak.

"Don’t make a sound," he whispered.

She snapped out of it, but before she could react, Cheng Yanran pulled her into his embrace, one arm around her waist, the other shielding her head, his face close to hers as he murmured, "Don’t move, or they’ll notice us."

His warm breath brushed her neck; his chest beneath her forehead was firm and hot. The girl nervously gripped the front of his shirt, not daring to move, hiding quietly against his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall.

Time crawled by, seeming like an eternity. Her legs grew numb, forcing her to rely on his strong body to stay upright.

Cheng Yanran sensed her tiny movements, tightened his arm around her waist, and asked in a low, husky voice, "Are you tired?"

"A little," she whispered softly, afraid to disturb those inside.

Cheng Yanran let out a quiet laugh. Such a silly girl. He could have simply led her away and sent her back to the dorm, but his hands acted faster than his mind, pulling her into the corner, savoring the moment, curious to see her reaction.

And just as he imagined, she hid shyly in his arms, stiff and soft, filling his heart completely. If there was one mistake, it was underestimating the effect she had on him—his body grew tense, an involuntary reaction he struggled to suppress, not wanting to frighten her innocence.

When the rustling sounds finally ceased, the girl awkwardly withdrew from his embrace and, worried someone might still be inside, whispered, "Senior, let’s go quickly."

Cheng Yanran’s forehead was damp with cold sweat, his voice deepened by desire. He dared not tease her further, simply murmured "Mm," and naturally took her hand as they walked back.

At the dormitory, the girl, cheeks flushed and burning, gently pulled her hand from his and thanked him in a soft voice before running off without looking back, leaving Cheng Yanran smiling ruefully to himself.

He would have to bear the consequences of his own actions.