hestrawberry-toppedcreampuffwasscoopedupgentlywithaspoon.
WenYuzhitookabite.iseyesnarrowedslightly,andthesoftredtipofhistongueslippedoutfrombetweenhislipstolickawaythecreamthathadstucktothecornerofhismouth.
Andintheprocess,thelipsbrushedbythattongueinevitablybecadamp,thefull,softcurveofhislowerlipgleamingwithawaterysheen.
zeersatacrossfromtheyoungman.
Betweenthemwasonlyasmallroundtable.twasnotlarge,onlyaboutanarm’slengthwide.
Whichalsoanttheyweresittingveryclosetogether.
owclose?
Closeenoughthatfromwherehesat,hecouldseeWenYuzhiparthislipsandrevealglimpsesofthetonguehiddeninside.
Closeenoughthatthemontheliftedhiseyes,hewouldseetheotherperson’sface—thatexquisitelybeautifulfacewithdelicatefeatures.
versincetheyenteredthecafé,thesurroundingglancescasttowardthem,whetherintentionalornot,hadneverstopped.
heywerecurrentlysittinginsideacafébythestreet.
riginally,theshophadnotbeenverycrowded.
ButafterWenYuzhisatbythewindowfacingthestreet,businesssuddenlyseedtoimprove.
Custorscontinuouslywalkedin.heyorderedcoffeeordesserts,buttheirattentionwasnotonthefoodinfrontofthem.nstead,theysecretlylookedtowardWenYuzhi.
ookedatthatlittlebeautywhowasalmostabsurdlypretty.
Yetnomatterhowtemptedtheywere,theyonlydaredtowatchfromafar.oneofthemtrulydaredapproachandstrikeupaconversation.
Becausebeforetheycouldgetclosetothelittlebeauty,therewerealreadytallbodyguardsstationednearby.
heirexpressionswerecold.heauraaroundthemwassharpandimposing,filledwithpressure.heywerefartoodifferentfromordinarybodyguards,morelikesoldierswhohadundergonemilitarytraining.
nelookwasenoughtoknowtheywerenotpeopletoprovoke.
Andunderthosecircumstances,thefactthatzeerwasqualifiedtositacrossfromWenYuzhimadehimstandoutespeciallysharply.
Countlessjealousandenviousgazeslandedonhim.
hosepeopledesperatelywantedtoknowwhatexactlywassoattractiveaboutthisutterlyordinary-lookingguythathehadbeenfortunateenoughtoearnaseatacrossfromthelittlebeauty.
Soofthevensecretlythoughtthathelookeddullandboring.Perhapsthelittlebeautywouldsoongrowtiredofhim.
Yetdespitebeingstaredatbysomanydissatisfiedeyes,zeer’sattentionremainedfixedontheyoungmanacrossfromhim.
verythingelsearoundhimwasunimportant.
WenYuzhihadalreadyfinishedonecreampuff.Whenhelookedup,herealizedthatzeerstillseedtobestaringathim.
heyoungmanblinkedslowly.
“stheresothingonmyface?”
zeerhadoriginallyintendedtosayno.
Butwhenhethoughtofallthepeopleinsidethecaféwatchingthem,thewordschangedatthelastsecondforreasonsevenhedidnotunderstand.
isvoicecaoutlowandrough.
“hereis...”
“Where?”
WenYuzhiwantedtolookforamirror,butzeerhadalreadystoodup.
eleanedacrossmostofthetableandgentlytouchedtheyoungman’scheekwithhisfingers.
hatpaleskinwassoft,likecotton.Withtheslightestpressure,hisfingertipsankfaintlyintoit.
nthepast,thesehandshadtouchedweaponsmorethananythingelse.isfingertipswereroughwithcallusesleftbehindfromyearsofholdingguns.
hiswasthefirsttihehadtouchedsothingsosoftanddelicate.
Comparedtoit,hisownhandsseedunbearablyrough.
zeerhadtotensehisbody.erestrainedthestrengthinhishandsasmuchaspossible.
WenYuzhiwasstillwaitingforhimtoremovewhateverhadgottenontohisface.
Completelyunaware,theyoungmantilteduphisdelicatepaleface,utterlyobliviousthatthisintimatetouchwasonlyaclumsyexcuse.
Whentheskinofhischeekwasbrushedbythecallusedfingertips,WenYuzhishrankbackslightlywithsensitivity.
“ttickles...”
heyoungmanmumbledsoftly,hislashestremblingastheylowered.
hatsinglesentencesnappedzeerbacktohimselffromthesoftnessbeneathhisfingers.
Feelingthesurroundingstaresthatseedreadytopiercethroughhim,zeerpretendedhehadalreadywipedawaywhateverwasonWenYuzhi’sfaceandcalmlywithdrewhishand.
“Alldone.”
Whenhespokeagain,hislowvoicesoundedfaintlyhoarse.
“sitcleannow?”
WenYuzhitouchedhischeek.Withoutamirror,hehadnoideawhatwasactuallyonhisfaceandcouldonlyaskzeer.
Attheyoungman’squestion,zeer’sgazenaturallyfellbackontohisface.
iseyespausedwherehehadjusttouchedhim.
zeerknewWenYuzhi’sskinwasdelicate.ehadfeltitfromthatbriefcontact.
Buthehadnotexpectedthatasimpletouchwouldleavebehindafaintmark.
Alittlerednessbloodagainstthepale,delicateskin,likeablushspreadingacrosshischeek,makingthealreadybeautifulyoungmanevenmorestunning.
zeer’sthoughtsbecatangled.
“here’snothingleft.t’scleannow.”
WenYuzhihadnoideahowcomplicatedzeer’sthoughtswereatthatmont.
ewasstillfocusedonthedesserts.
arlierhehadalreadyeatenthecakezeermade,sohewasnotespeciallyhungryanymore.
twasjust...
WenYuzhilookedatthedessertinfrontofhimself,thenattheuntouchedsliceofcakeinfrontofzeer.
venthoughhehadnotfinishedhisownyet,hehadalreadystartedcravingsooneelse’sfood.
estaredatthebeautifullycoloredmintchocolatecakeandthoughtthathehadnottriedthatflavoryettoday...
Maybe...justonelittlebite?
hinkingthis,WenYuzhisoftenedhistoneandaskedtentatively,“Cantryyours?”
hen,worriedthatzeermightmisunderstand,hehurriedlyadded,“’lluseacleanfork.absolutelywon’tdirtyyourcake.justwanttotastewhatthisflavorislike...”
fthishadbeenamongtheSaintClan,wheneverWenYuzhitriedtopickatnewfoodbeforefinishingwhatwasalreadyinfrontofhim,MansendisandMondwouldneverindulgesuchabadhabit.
Butsittingacrossfromhimnowwaszeer.
isteningtoWenYuzhi’ssoftenedvoicethatsoundedalmostlikehewasactingspoiled...
zeerfellsilentforamont.
ntheend,hestillcouldnotresist.
“Youcan,”hesaid.
owitwasWenYuzhi’sturntostandup.
heyoungmanslowlyleanedforward.
Closer.
Closer.
othepeoplearoundthem,itlookedexactlylikeWenYuzhiwasleaningovertokisszeer.
“!!!!”
heireyesnearlyturnedredwithjealousy.
YetonlytheSaintClanroyalguardsstandingnearbyandzeerhimselfknewthatWenYuzhihadrelyleanedovertotastethecake.
herewasstilldistancebetweenthem.
heyhadnotactuallytouched.
“hisflavorisgoodtoo.”
Beforehehadevenswallowedthecake,WenYuzhiwasalreadypraisingiteagerly.
hroughhisslightlypartedlips,thesoftredtipofhistonguecouldstillbeseencurlingaroundabitofcream.
hatnarrowsoftmouth...
hepalecream...
hefaintwetsounds...
xpressionless,zeerpickedupthecuponthetableandforceddownahugemouthfuloficedcoffee.
Seeinghimdrinksoquickly,WenYuzhihurriedlywarnedhim,“Ah...!don’tthinkyouaddedsugartothatcoffee!”
“...”
“t’sfine,”zeersaidcalmly.“preferbitterthings.”
...R-Really?
WenYuzhilookedatthepitch-blackcoffeeinthecupandcouldnotimaginehowbittercoffeewithoutmilkorsugarmusttaste.
Andyetzeerhadswalloweditallinonego.
Assoonewhoonlylikedsweetthings,WenYuzhiinstantlyfeltdeepadmirationforhim.
anwhile,zeerhadalreadystartedeatingthecakeinfrontofhim.
Perhapsbycoincidence,thefirstplaceheatefromwasexactlythegapwhereWenYuzhihadtakenabiteearlier.
hepalm-sizedcakedisappearedquickly.
heyalsodidnotstayinthecafémuchlonger.
Seeingtheshopbecomingmoreandmorecrowded—andthatallthosepeoplehadcobecauseofWenYuzhi—zeersuggestedthatsinceWenYuzhihadeatenenough,theyshouldleaveandfreeuptheseats.
WenYuzhihadalreadyfullysatisfiedhisdessertcravingsfortheday,sonaturallyhehadnoobjections.
Aftertheycaoutside,WenYuzhilookedatthebustlingstreetandturnedtozeerbesidehim.
“Wherearewegoingnext?”
“here’saclawmachinearcadenearby.Doyouwanttoplay?”
WenYuzhiansweredwithouthesitation.
“Yes!”
Whenhewaslittle,WenCheandMadamJilanyahadtakenhimtoplayclawmachinesbeforetoo.
Butthosemorieshadbecotoodistant,andhehadforgottenmostofthedetails.
eonlyremberedthat[]WenChehadwonhimthebiggestplushieinsidethemachine.
ater,though,WenXingyanhadruinedit.
WenYuzhihadcriedmiserably.
obehonest,thedollitselfhadbeenordinary.hemallhadonlyplacedthoseclawmachinestheretoattractcustors.
aturally,thequalityhadnotbeenanythingspecial.tcouldnotcomparetothecustomdollsWenYuzhiowned.
ButbecauseDaddyhadwonitforhim,andbecausetheyhadgottenitwhilethewholefamilywasouttogether,thatdollcarriedspecialaningtohim.
SowhenWenXingyandestroyeditrightinfrontofhim,WenYuzhihadcriedforaverylongti.
WenChecouldonlycomforthimbysayingthatinthefuture,hewouldwineveryplushieintheentiremallforhim.
Butintheend,thatpromisewasneverfulfilled.
Andnow,yearslater,standinginfrontofclawmachinesonceagain,WenYuzhiimdiatelysethiseyesonthelargestplushieinside.
Coincidentally,itwasalsoarabbitplushie,onethatlookedverysimilartotherabbithehadbackthen.
WenYuzhicouldnothelprepeatedlyglancingatit.
hosefrequentlookswerenaturallynoticedbyzeer,whohadbeenpayingattentiontohimtheentireti.
“Doyoulikethatone?”heasked.
WenYuzhinoddedsoftly.
“wantit.”
zeersaidnothing.
eleftforamont,andwhenhereturned,hewascarryinganentirebagfullofgatokens.
ewalkedtotheclawmachineandinsertedtwotokens.
hefirsttryfailed.
zeerdidnotlookanxiousatall.einsertedanothertwotokens.
histi,thechanicalclawimdiatelygrabbedtherabbitWenYuzhiwanted.
nbarelytheblinkofaneye,theplushieWenYuzhihadbeenlongingforwasalreadyinfrontofhim.
heyoungmanblinked,stillunabletobelieveit.
nlyafterhereachedoutandhuggedtheplushietightlydidWenYuzhifinallyreact.
“Yougotitjustlikethat?zeer,you’reamazing!”
WenYuzhi’stonewasfullofpurepraise.
epressedhischeekagainsttheplushieandlookedoverexcitedly.
zeer’searsstartedheatingupagainfromthatgaze.
ecoughedlightlyinanunnaturalway.
“t’sactuallynotthathard.Youjustneedtoknowthetrick...herearestillplentyoftokensleftinthebag.Seeifthere’sanythingelseyoulike.Wecanwinmore.”
WenYuzhitriedseveraltishimselfafterward.
efailedeverysingleti.
anwhile,zeersucceededeverysingleti.
ehadnochoicebuttoadmitthatclawmachinesalsorequiredtalent.
Andunfortunately,hewassoonewhodidnotpossessthattalent.
Soafterward,WenYuzhisimplypointedoutwhichplushieshewanted,whilezeerwasresponsibleforwinningthem.
heykeptplayinglikethatuntilallthetokensweregone.
Bythen,theSaintClanroyalguardswereeachcarryingarmfulsoffluffyplushies.
anwhile,WenYuzhicontinuedhuggingthatenormousrabbitplushietheentireti.
zeeralsoheldone.
herabbitswereapair—onewhiteandoneblack.
WenYuzhiheldthewhiteone.
zeerheldtheblackone.
Whenzeersaidhewantedtheblackrabbit,WenYuzhi,whoalreadyhadcountlessplushies,generouslygaveittohimimdiately.
WatchingWenYuzhihugthewhiterabbitwithobviousaffection,zeersuddenlyremberedwhattheKingofSpadeshadsaidthatmorning.
“Youdresseduplikethistogoonadate?”
Whenhesawzeercarefullydressedandobviouslypreparingtogoout,theKingofSpadeshadimdiatelyrevealedaaningfulsmile.
zeerstillremberedhisownanswer.
“’mjustgoingtoetsoone.”
Justetingsoone,andyoudressedthatseriously?
fcoursetheKingofSpadeshadnotbelievedhim.
Andzeerhadnotbotheredexplainingbeforeleavingwiththecake.
nlynow,whenzeerthoughtbackoneverythingtheyhaddonetoday—
atingdessertstogether.
Shoppingtogether.
Buyingthingstogether.
Winningplushiestogether...
Allofthosewerethingscouplesdeeplyinlovedidwhiledating...
hinkingofthis,zeer’seyesdarkened.
epressedhislipstogether,butthesoundofhisheartbeatgrewlouderandlouder.
Atthatexactmont,WenYuzhi,whohadbeenwalkingahead,suddenlyturnedaround.
Seeingzeersilentlywalkingbehindhim,hesimplyreachedoutandgrabbedhishand.
ookingattheirjoinedhands,zeercouldnothelpfallingintoabriefdaze.
Foramont,hetrulyfeltasthoughtheyreallywereonadate.
owever,thehand-holdingdidnotlastlong.
heirrelationshipwasstillnotthatclose.
WenYuzhialsodidnotknowwhetherzeerwouldmindsuchsuddenphysicalcontact.
Soafterpullinghimforward,WenYuzhiquicklyreleasedhishand.
Afterthatsoftwarmthdisappeared,zeer’sfingersunconsciouslycurledinwardagainsthispalm.
othingshowedonhisface.
Butdeepinside,anindescribablesenseoflossroseuncontrollablywithinhim.
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