Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 29

“Old… thing? Old man, let me carry that for you!”

As soon as Xia Tian blurted out those words, his grin froze on his face.

What… What the heck did I just say?

The old man’s eyes widened in shock, staring at Xia Tian like he was out of his mind.

“Spit! Spit! Sorry, sorry, I misspoke. I meant to say, ‘Old man, let me carry your things for you!’”

“Haha! Young man, you better not be so hasty next time,” the old man said, his face softening as he kindly scolded Xia Tian.

Xia Tian scratched his nose, embarrassed.

He hoisted the sack onto his shoulders and carried it to the nearby bus stop, letting out a heavy sigh of relief once he put it down.

Man… that sack wasn’t light!

“Old man, it’s already 9:30 p.m. The buses are on their last run. You better not miss it,” Xia Tian advised.

The old man’s expression shifted slightly, but he still smiled and nodded. “I know, I know. Thank you, young man. I could tell all the way back at the park that you’re a respectful kid.”

“At the park?” Xia Tian asked, confused as he scratched his head.

The old man smiled meaningfully.

“Yeah, when you and your friend were selling fruit platters at the park, I was watching for a while.”

“And if I’m not mistaken, with your dice-rolling skills, as long as you want to win, there’s no way you’ll lose, right?”

Xia Tian’s eyes narrowed slightly, feeling a sudden sense of caution.

Was this old man trying to trap me?

“Heh, you’re kidding, right? It’s just luck.”

“You don’t need to be so defensive, young man. I don’t mean anything by it. If you’d won every round, you wouldn’t have been able to sell all your fruit platters so smoothly.”

“The reason I said you respect your elders is because the people you let win fruit platters were always either elderly or children. Anyone who played with you in that category got to walk away with a few free boxes.”

“It’s clear that deep down, you don’t want to profit off of them. You’re a good kid—smart with business, but with boundaries. A rare talent.”

The old man’s words left Xia Tian feeling deeply surprised.

How had his little scheme been seen through by such an ordinary-looking old man?

“Old man, you’re overpraising me. I’m not that noble. The only reason I didn’t charge them is because they’d help me out by arguing with those sore losers who challenged me.”

“Is that so? If that’s the case, you didn’t need to focus on the elderly. Young people would’ve worked just as well—they’re more outspoken and persuasive. As for kids, their logic is often flawed, so how could they have helped you?”

The old man’s face still held a gentle smile.

And with that, he left it at that, not pushing the conversation any further.

Xia Tian was momentarily stunned but chose to smile and let the topic slide.

“Heh, the bus will be here soon, old man. My friend’s waiting for me, so I’ll be heading off now.”

“Go on, young man, don’t keep your girlfriend waiting too long. Thanks for the help tonight.”

Xia Tian didn’t respond and instead jogged back to Ye Ningyu.

Hopping onto his bike, he quickly pedaled away with her.

“Xia Tian, why are you riding so fast all of a sudden?”

“Hmm… it’s getting late, and I don’t want your mom to worry. Hold on tight.”

“Okay~”

Ye Ningyu had no idea that Xia Tian was actually in a hurry to get away from that place.

From his conversation with the old man, Xia Tian realized that the man wasn’t just an ordinary passerby.

Especially when he said, “If you’d won every round, you wouldn’t have sold all your fruit platters so smoothly.” Those words sent a chill down Xia Tian’s spine.

If Xia Tian hadn’t been careful, he might have ended up in trouble tonight.

That old man wasn’t just casually observing—it seemed like he had been watching Xia Tian all along.

—

As Xia Tian hurriedly pedaled away, the bus finally arrived at the stop.

But Qin Jianghe didn’t board.

A moment later, a black sedan pulled up in front of him. The driver swiftly got out and loaded the old man’s sack into the car.

“Mr. Qin, I saw that young man standing next to you earlier, so I didn’t approach. Did he say anything to you?”

“Nothing much. He just helped me carry my things… But that young man, he figured out the meaning behind my words right away. He’s quite interesting.”

The driver wanted to say more, but Qin Jianghe waved his hand, signaling that he had no desire to continue the conversation.

“Let’s go. It’s getting cold tonight.”

—

Back at the entrance to Ye Ningyu’s neighborhood, Xia Tian smiled warmly and waved goodbye to her.

“Go on inside. It’s late, and your mom will be worried.”

“Mm…”

Ye Ningyu nodded, her face showing a mix of hesitation as she fiddled with her fingers, unable to meet Xia Tian’s gaze.

Xia Tian noticed something was off.

“Is there something you want to tell me?”

Little Ye lowered her head again, struggling internally for a long moment before finally gathering the courage to meet his eyes.

The look in her eyes startled Xia Tian, making his heart skip a beat.

That look…

This moment…

Was Little Ye about to confess to me?

Oh, crap!

But just as his excitement peaked, he was quickly disappointed by her next words.

“Xia Tian… did you learn your dice-rolling skills from gambling?”

Xia Tian blinked, confused by her sudden question.

But he quickly shook his head.

“No, not at all. I learned it from an older guy back home.”

“Then… will you gamble in the future?”

Her follow-up question was filled with urgency, and her eyes flickered with desperation, as if she needed to hear his answer.

Seeing how anxious she was, Xia Tian’s heart stirred, and a thought crossed his mind.

He put on a serious expression, gently patting her head as he replied softly,

“No. I never have, and I never will.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Looking into Xia Tian’s clear, sincere eyes, the worry on Ye Ningyu’s face finally melted into a sweet smile.

She believed him. She knew he wouldn’t lie to her.

This time, she wouldn’t be deceived.

Absolutely not!

“Okay, goodnight, Xia Tian! The moon is so bright tonight!”

With that, she turned and ran home.

Just as she was about to enter the building, Xia Tian’s voice called out from behind.

“Goodnight. The moon is bright, so it must be useful.”

Hearing this, Ye Ningyu’s body trembled, and she almost stumbled.

But hidden in the darkness,

Her smile shone brighter than ever.