Xu Ye was dumbstruck.

According to the original script, Shen Xinyi was supposed to get scared and duck toward Qin Zhiwei. But now here we were — Shen Xinyi hadn’t even started being scared yet and you’d already gotten your hands on her, and screamed for your mother while you were at it.

Are you trying to find a girlfriend, or a mom?

Eighteen generations of Qin ancestors had their faces thoroughly disgraced today by Qin Zhiwei alone!

Zhang Ruowei and Jiang Yu, who’d had their eyes shut, weren’t startled by the zombie NPC suddenly popping out beside them at all — they were startled by Qin Zhiwei’s scream instead. Xu Ye immediately felt someone shoving him from behind, and had no choice but to hurry forward.

He walked on for who knows how long, until he spotted the word EXIT and finally slowed down, saying flatly, “Qin Zhiwei, what were you screaming about back there?”

Only now had Qin Zhiwei calmed down a little. Coming back to himself and realizing he’d actually thrown his arms around Shen Xinyi, his face instantly flushed the color of pork liver. He stammered out an explanation, “Did none of you see it? A zombie came out of the coffin!”

“Obviously. Didn’t they tell us on the way in that there’d be NPCs inside?”

Qin Zhiwei looked utterly mortified, keenly aware he’d humiliated himself today.

Thoroughly exasperated and out of options, Xu Ye could only lead them out through the haunted house exit.

Seeing sunlight through the windows again, several of them thought back on the scenes inside with lingering fear.

Because Chen Qingqing, Zhang Ruowei, and Jiang Yu had all kept their eyes shut and hadn’t dared look around near the coffins, Xu Ye was the only one who’d seen Qin Zhiwei grab Shen Xinyi.

Right now, having realized he’d behaved like a total lech, Qin Zhiwei’s face was still pork-liver red.

Shen Xinyi hadn’t said a word either, her cheeks faintly flushed.

Since as far back as she could remember, she’d never had that kind of intimate contact with a member of the opposite sex, and thinking about having been grabbed from behind by Qin Zhiwei just now made her heart thump.

Seeing Qin Zhiwei start to speak and then hesitate, Xu Ye was afraid he’d apologize to Shen Xinyi right now — which would only make things more awkward for her — so he hurried to change the subject with a laugh. “You lot are hopeless. Scared by a place with that level of horror.”

Jiang Yu said, righteously, “Well, I didn’t scream in there. Besides, it wasn’t us who wanted to come to a haunted house.”

“Exactly.”

Put that way, Qin Zhiwei was even more embarrassed.

Xu Ye led the still-rattled Chen Qingqing outside. Once out, he found an excuse about buying water and pulled Qin Zhiwei away.

Qin Zhiwei looked worried. “Xu Ye, what do I do now? Am I finished?”

“I’m warning you — whatever you do, do not apologize to Shen Xinyi in front of the others. If you want to apologize, wait until this afternoon, after you’ve all gone back, then message her privately on WeChat.”

Qin Zhiwei nodded, still looking glum.

Seeing how wretched he looked, Xu Ye clapped his shoulder. “Alright, stop overthinking it. This one’s on me for not thinking it through — how was I supposed to know you’d have such a weak stomach for this stuff?”

“…”

“Although, maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing after all.”

“Huh?”

Xu Ye lowered his voice. “When we came out just now, Shen Xinyi didn’t say anything — she just blushed a little. That means she isn’t angry, which means at the very least she doesn’t dislike you. If a girl got grabbed by someone she found repulsive, that would not be the expression she’d wear.”

“Really?”

Xu Ye nodded with total conviction. “Of course really.”

Hearing that, Qin Zhiwei felt considerably better.

The two bought a few bottles of water and came back. Xu Ye handed them to Zhang Ruowei and Jiang Yu first, then twisted off a cap and passed one to Chen Qingqing.

Qin Zhiwei followed the template exactly — before handing Shen Xinyi her water, he twisted the cap off in advance too.

It was still early. The group wandered around the mall for a bit, discovered a snack street nearby, and strolled over. Lunch was eaten right there on that street.

Xu Ye got an order of stinky tofu and tried to feed Chen Qingqing a piece off the bamboo skewer — only to be immediately pushed away by a disgusted Chen Qingqing pinching her nose. [TL: 臭豆腐, fermented tofu with a famously pungent smell; beloved by many, unbearable to others.] In the end she went and bought a very handsome-looking jujube-paste pastry, then declared it too sweet halfway through and handed the leftovers to Xu Ye.

As noon approached, Xu Ye went with them to the subway station. The five of them were taking the same train, but Xu Ye had to take the opposite direction to get back to school.

At the waiting area, Xu Ye pulled Chen Qingqing aside for a private word…

“I might be pretty busy this month. If I’m coming to see you on a weekend, I’ll message you in advance.”

“Why will you be busy?”

“The machines are going into two more universities next week, and it’s Christmas this month — I’m running a promotion at the fruit shop on Christmas Eve too.”

“Oh.”

Xu Ye reached over and zipped up Chen Qingqing’s down jacket, saying as he did, “It’s only going to get colder from here. Don’t let yourself catch a chill at school.”

“You’re so naggy.”

Hearing the sound of the train racing through the tunnel, Xu Ye glanced back and saw it was about to pull in. He smiled quickly. “I’ll head back then. Message me anytime you need anything. And remember to miss me.”

Seeing the train had already stopped, Chen Qingqing felt her mood drop a notch. Thinking about how their next meeting was at least a week away, she suddenly called out, “Xu Ye.”

Xu Ye, already turned to board, turned back. “What is it?”

Chen Qingqing stepped forward, reached behind her head, took off the black elastic she used to tie her hair, and slipped it onto Xu Ye’s wrist.

Xu Ye raised his hand and asked with a smile, “What’s this supposed to mean?”

Chen Qingqing huffed. “You’re not allowed to take it off!”

“Fine, I’ll do as you say. So I’m heading back now?”

And without waiting for her reply, Xu Ye bent down and kissed her forehead — light as a dragonfly skimming water — then immediately turned and ran onto the train.

Watching Xu Ye waving at her nonstop from inside the carriage, Chen Qingqing’s face went red in an instant.

Behind Chen Qingqing—

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Those two can’t be together for five minutes without force-feeding us dog food. I’ve had absolutely enough.” [TL: 撒狗粮, “scattering dog food” — internet slang for couples flaunting their affection in front of single people, who are the “dogs” being fed.]

Zhang Ruowei hugged Jiang Yu and laughed. “Why don’t you go find a boyfriend too?”

“Why don’t you?”

“I’ve got to find a suitable one, don’t I.”

After a few minutes, the train they were taking arrived too. Since it was right at mealtime, the train was nearly empty, and there were plenty of seats when the five of them boarded.

Seeing Zhang Ruowei, Jiang Yu, Chen Qingqing, and Shen Xinyi sit down in a row, Qin Zhiwei felt too awkward to sit with them.

In the end Zhang Ruowei was the one who said, laughing, “Qin Zhiwei, why aren’t you sitting?”

“I…” Qin Zhiwei instinctively glanced at Shen Xinyi, grinning foolishly, unsure how to answer.

Shen Xinyi didn’t look up at him. But after Zhang Ruowei finished speaking, she shifted almost imperceptibly toward Chen Qingqing’s side.

Qin Zhiwei didn’t notice her making room. But remembering Xu Ye’s “teachings,” he worked up the courage and sat down beside Shen Xinyi.

The moment he sat, Zhang Ruowei tilted her head and called out, loaded with meaning, “Qin Zhiwei?”

“Huh?”

Zhang Ruowei grinned wickedly. “Do you have a thing for our Shen Xinyi?”

(End of Chapter 151)