SW - 12

Was this how people asked for WeChat these days?

Tang Ming was utterly astonished. He finally understood just how bold Tang Yin could be… Was she the “talkative person with the surname Tang” his desk mate had mentioned earlier?

Tang Yin retracted her leg and leaned slightly toward Lu Chi. “Are you going to give it or not?”

His earlier expressions of confusion had been absolutely adorable, making her want to pull him into her arms and cuddle him—but alas, she couldn’t act on that impulse.

Perhaps it was because the day was a bit warm; Lu Chi’s school uniform was left unbuttoned, revealing a hint of his collarbone and the firmness of his chest beneath... It made her want to peel it open further to see what lay underneath.

He was irresistibly charming. Tang Yin licked her lips.

Every single day, he was tempting her. How could someone look so good?

Maybe her gaze was too obvious, because Lu Chi took a small step back. After a long moment of nervousness, he finally managed to say, “I... I don’t have WeChat.”

Tang Yin watched him with great interest.

The tips of Lu Chi’s ears turned slightly red after that statement. Though they’d only interacted twice now, she had already figured out that this change in color usually meant he was lying.

How utterly endearing.

“So, are you giving it or not?” Tang Yin pressed, muttering under her breath, “It’s fine if you don’t.”

Lu Chi looked at her in surprise, noticing her still confident demeanor. He twitched the corner of his eye, guessing she would probably get it from someone else soon enough.

Lu Ye, who had been holding back laughter from behind, chimed in, “Hey, genius, if you don’t give it to her, she won’t let you leave campus. Just hand it over and be done with it.”

Tang Ming joined in as well, teasing, “Yeah, besides, whether or not you actually add each other is another story altogether.”

With their banter filling the air, Lu Chi pretended to remain calm, adjusting his glasses before finally relenting. “W-wait a moment.”

His tone was somewhat sullen, almost cold.

Tang Yin didn’t mind. She let out a cheerful whistle—clear and crisp—and lazily leaned against the wall. Several girls passing by greeted her warmly.

Lu Chi turned back toward the classroom, and the quick-witted Lu Ye immediately handed him a pen and a sticky note.

He hesitated briefly, then scribbled down a string of numbers, tore off the note, and hastily shoved it into Tang Yin’s hand. Clenching his jaw, he said stiffly, “Even if I add you... I won’t accept your request.”

Tang Yin chuckled softly. “Don’t go back on your word later.”

She pinched the note between her fingers and, without hesitation, kissed it lightly.

Lu Chi, who had just barely maintained his composure, instantly flushed bright red. Panicking, he spun around and hurried back to his seat, attempting (and failing) to hide his embarrassment while pretending to focus on his test paper.

The crowd of onlookers finally caught up with what had just transpired.

Lu Ye leaned against the doorframe, wearing an annoyingly smug grin. “Not bad, I’m rooting for you. Your future looks promising. Our class genius is in good hands with you.”

Tang Yin slipped the note into her pocket and glanced at him coolly. In a low voice, she said, “There’s something I need you to do for me.”

“Go ahead!” Lu Ye grinned eagerly. “Whatever it is, consider it done!”

Tang Yin tilted her chin upward. “Simple. Keep an eye out for anyone bullying him or mocking him. Every single person, every name—report them all to me. And make sure no one talks about his stuttering.”

Lu Ye froze for a moment. This was the Tang Yin he was familiar with—domineering, fiercely protective of those close to her. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing for Lu Chi to grow closer to her.

“And,” Tang Yin added, “if anyone takes an interest in him, let me know. Especially Zhao Rubin from your class. Don’t let her near him.”

“Got it, got it.”

At the mention of Zhao Rubin, Lu Ye realized Tang Yin must already know something. Though he wasn’t sure if the tutoring incident had leaked yet, he personally thought poorly of Zhao Rubin’s character anyway.

Tang Yin nodded and turned to head back into Class 14.

No one else was allowed to touch what she had set her sights on.

________________________________________

Outside the school gates, the scene was bustling with noise and activity. Hawkers yelling their wares lined the streets in a long row, while private cars struggled to find parking spaces among the chaos.

Su Kexi drooled as she exclaimed, “I want some barbecue!”

Tang Yin, feeling generous, waved her hand dismissively. “Buy it!”

“I love rich friends like you!” Su Kexi chirped happily, taking the money and skipping off to a nearby stall.

Meanwhile, Tang Yin stood rooted in place, scanning the area carefully. Across the street, she spotted her family’s car. Her beautiful mother, Jiang Qiuhuan, was leaning out the window and waving at her.

Grabbing her basketball net, Tang Yin dashed over in a few quick strides, yanked open the car door, and hopped inside.

Su Kexi followed shortly after, climbing into the car and greeting politely, “Auntie.”

As neighbors, Su Kexi was very familiar with Tang Yin’s mother, Jiang Qiuhuan. Since Su Kexi’s family car belonged to the public sector and couldn’t be used privately, she often hitched rides home with Tang Yin.

The large paper bag in her hands emitted the tantalizing aroma of freshly grilled skewers, various wooden sticks poking out.

“Try this,” Su Kexi offered, handing over a stick of grilled chives. “Last time, there was a poll on Weibo ranking the most popular vegetarian dish in barbecue. I asked for extra spice.”

Tang Yin reached out to take it, devouring it quickly before grabbing another skewer.

Barbecue was addictive once you started eating it.

Suddenly, Jiang Qiuhuan exclaimed, “Ah!” with a smile. “Your grandmother caught quite a few crabs recently—all males. They were delivered last night, still alive. Tonight, Auntie Sun will prepare them for dinner. Xixi, you’re staying over too.”

Her eyes lit up at the thought.

Her grandmother lived in the countryside, in a farmhouse surrounded by homegrown vegetables and a nearby pond where wild crabs thrived. The crabs were large and succulent, and Tang Yin had been eyeing them for a while now. It was late October—the perfect time for their sweet, tender meat.

The mere thought of their rich, buttery flavor made her mouth water. Auntie Sun’s cooking skills rivaled those of professional chefs, so tonight’s feast was sure to be unforgettable.

Su Kexi quickly swallowed the pork tenderloin skewer she’d been chewing. “Thank you, Auntie! I’ll definitely stay over tonight!”

She wasn’t about to miss out on fresh, delicious river crabs.

The road ahead was jam-packed with cars and people, and despite Jiang Qiuhuan’s best efforts, they’d only managed to crawl forward a few dozen meters after half an hour. Impatient drivers honked relentlessly.

Just then, Tang Yin returned from disposing of her trash and rolled down the window to let some fresh air in. Turning toward the driver’s seat, she said, “Mom, drop us off at the entrance of Third High School later.”

“Come back early. It’s not safe outside.”

“I know.”

The noise outside was overwhelming. Tang Yin pressed the button again, and the window began to rise slowly.

At that moment, someone walked past.

Spotting a familiar figure, Tang Yin quickly stopped the window from closing and leaned out. “Lu Chi!”

Jiang Qiuhuan glanced at her daughter’s excitement in the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but ask, “Who’s Lu Chi? You seem awfully thrilled.”

Tang Yin rolled her eyes playfully. “Just a bookworm who only cares about studying.”

“How can you say that? Loving to study is a good thing! Look at you—always so scatterbrained. If it weren’t for inheriting my intelligence, would you even have good grades?”

“Mom, how can you be so vain? My brilliance is all natural.”

“Do you see that cow flying in the sky?”

“…”

One more narcissistic than the other, mother and daughter bickered lightheartedly. Su Kexi silently munched on her barbecue.

Lu Chi turned around, bewildered by the sudden call. He spotted Tang Yin leaning out of the car window, her bright smile accompanied by a playful wink.

He hesitated for a moment before reluctantly stepping away from his original spot.

Seeing him act so aloof, not even sparing a glance back, Tang Yin felt a mischievous urge to tease him. “Hey, you dropped something!”

Lu Chi paused mid-step.

After a few seconds, he resumed walking without looking back.

Su Kexi rolled her eyes. “Tang Yin, aren’t you bored?”

Tang Yin grinned. “Why would I be? Meeting him right after school like this, and he even walked past us—it’s fate.”

“Fate shaped like monkey dung?”

“Shut up.”

Tang Yin leaned out again, calling earnestly, “Bookworm, you really dropped something!”

Su Kexi snorted. “He’s not going to turn around. Your impression on him has already sunk lower than the earth’s core.”

No sooner had she spoken than Lu Chi turned his head. Not only that—he even reached into his pocket to check.

Su Kexi’s face went blank. That comeback was swift.

How could Lu Chi be so unreserved?

“Boss.” Su Kexi gave a thumbs-up, bowing dramatically with the bag of barbecue in hand. “In a few days, I might as well start calling you Dad.”

Just two weeks ago, Tang Yin had lamented that she couldn’t even get his attention. Now, things seemed to be progressing quite promisingly. Perhaps they weren’t far from becoming inseparable.

Realizing he hadn’t found anything missing, Lu Chi grew visibly uneasy. “I... I dropped something?”

Tang Yin hadn’t expected him to ask that. She tilted her head slightly. “You left me behind.”

He froze for a few seconds, took a few deep breaths, and then stubbornly continued walking, deciding to ignore Tang Yin altogether.

A soft smile played on Tang Yin’s lips. His reaction to her teasing was immediate and earnest—it only made her like him more.

The car inched forward again, and the rear window aligned perfectly with where Lu Chi stood.

Lu Chi walked slowly, seemingly lost in thought. When the car pulled up beside him, he didn’t even notice, stopping mid-stride.

This was too good an opportunity to pass up. Tang Yin nudged her chin upward, stood up, and leaned closer to him.

Resting her hands on the car window, she whispered softly into his ear, “Remember to think of me when you get home.”

Her sudden proximity startled him. Unprepared, he bit his lip and instinctively stepped back—but the greenery behind him blocked his retreat.

His gaze shifted elsewhere, yet his words betrayed his concern. “Y-you shouldn’t do this... It’s not safe.”

From behind, a car horn blared. “Let’s go,” Jiang Qiuhuan reminded.

Tang Yin sat back inside the car, her eyes fixed on Lu Chi, who remained rooted to the spot. A faint blush crept across his cheeks.

As the car passed him, the golden glow of the setting sun filtered through the gaps in the trees, casting a warm light over his figure. His clear, translucent eyes shone behind his glasses, like two pieces of polished obsidian.

Tang Yin watched him, momentarily entranced.

Lu Chi had already fallen behind the car. She leaned back against the seat, her eyes curving into crescents, unable to suppress the upward curl of her lips.

Beside her, Su Kexi could no longer bear to look.

Even from afar, Tang Yin could still see Lu Chi walking with a flushed face—serious, yet tinged with pride.

Tang Yin covered her face.

Lu Chi was far too tempting. How could he still captivate her like this just before the holidays? Was he trying to make her think of him constantly, even when they were apart?