Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 70

Xia Tian held the umbrella as he and Ye Ningyu arrived at the snack street he had mentioned earlier.

This street, called “Hui Min Street,” was a well-known spot in Beian City. Of course, there was a local joke that the street was notorious for overcharging Hui Min folks…

After learning that Ye Ningyu was from Sichuan and Chongqing, Xia Tian was certain that a sweet, studious girl like her had probably never been here before.

Due to the rain, the street was less crowded than usual, which was perfect for the socially anxious Ye Ningyu, allowing her to relax a little.

“Pick anything you want to try. The museum made a good profit today, so it’s my treat~”

“I-I don’t have much of an appetite. You should save your money, okay?”

Xia Tian put on a stern face. “No, it’s not okay. How much could snacks even cost? You must eat to your heart’s content today, or else I’ll take it as an insult to me!”

“It’s not that… I’ll eat, okay? Please don’t be mad.”

Ye Ningyu pouted slightly. She always felt that, when it came to food, Xia Tian was oddly strict with her.

After scanning the street for a bit, her eyes finally landed on a stall selling takoyaki. “Can I have some of those?”

“Of course.”

Xia Tian led Ye Ningyu to the takoyaki stall. “Boss, two portions of takoyaki, please.”

“What flavor would you like?”

Xia Tian turned to Ye Ningyu.

She made a couple of soft “Oh, oh” sounds as she looked at the list of flavors: Tomato, Salad, Wasabi, Mild Spicy, Spicy, Super Spicy.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she seemed a bit embarrassed.

After a pause, she whispered, “I… I’d like the Super Spicy one.”

Xia Tian raised an eyebrow in surprise.

He had assumed that a girl like her would go for something milder, like tomato or salad flavor.

But Little Ye had chosen Super Spicy?

Then again, being from Sichuan and Chongqing, people from those areas were known for their love of spicy food.

Xia Tian had planned to go for the regular spicy flavor, but seeing that Little Ye was courageous enough to choose Super Spicy, he couldn’t back down.

“Alright, boss, two Super Spicy portions.”

“Alrighty! But just a heads-up, my Super Spicy really lives up to the name.”

“No worries—if it’s not spicy enough, I’m not interested.”

The vendor gave Xia Tian a look of amusement.

Tsk, another young guy who doesn’t know what he’s getting into!

After they got their takoyaki, Xia Tian held the umbrella while Ye Ningyu carefully picked up a piece with a bamboo skewer, blew on it gently, and then popped it in her mouth.

She chewed it a couple of times, smiling contentedly.

Seeing her happy expression, Xia Tian narrowed his eyes and said, “Don’t enjoy it all by yourself. I’m holding the umbrella, so my hands are full. Feed me one, will you?”

“Huh? Oh!”

“And blow on it for me. My tongue’s kinda sensitive, can’t handle hot stuff.”

Ye Ningyu hesitated for a moment, then picked up a piece of takoyaki with a fresh skewer.

She pouted slightly as she blew on it gently, then brought it up to Xia Tian’s mouth.

Just as she was about to feed him, it hit her.

This… this feels too embarrassing!

But Xia Tian didn’t give her a chance to hesitate. He quickly opened his mouth and took a bite, grinning playfully at her as he chewed.

Immediately, Ye Ningyu’s face flushed bright red.

As Xia Tian chewed the takoyaki, his expression began to change, and soon his face turned red as well.

“Ah, crap…”

“Spicy! So spicy!”

Xia Tian stuck out his tongue, frantically fanning his face, his cheeks now as red as a monkey’s butt.

His mouth felt like it was on fire, and the heat was rushing straight to his head.

In a panic, he quickly handed the umbrella to Ye Ningyu and dashed over to a nearby stall to buy a bottle of water.

He gulped it down, one big swig after another.

After finishing the entire bottle, his face finally started to return to normal, though his forehead was still covered in sweat from the spiciness.

When he returned to Ye Ningyu, he was still a bit flustered. He reached out and pinched her cheek lightly, pretending to be annoyed.

“It was that spicy, and you didn’t warn me?”

“But… it wasn’t spicy at all for me. I thought it was just right…”

“Come on, there’s no way! If I ate one more, I’d probably faint from the heat!”

Ye Ningyu pouted slightly, looking up at him with innocent eyes. “But it really wasn’t that spicy…”

“It was!”

“It wasn’t.”

“I said it was spicy, so it’s spicy!”

Ye Ningyu lowered her head, conceding silently.

While Xia Tian wasn’t looking, she quickly skewered another takoyaki and put it in her mouth, her eyes sparkling with joy.

—

By around 9 p.m., Xia Tian and Ye Ningyu left Hui Min Street.

Thanks to Xia Tian’s insistence, they had eaten quite a lot of food there.

But every time they had to choose a flavor, Ye Ningyu always picked the spiciest option.

It was only now that Xia Tian fully realized—this girl was definitely a true Sichuan-Chongqing native.

She could really handle her spice!

Xia Tian rode his bike, with Ye Ningyu sitting to the side on the back seat. She held the umbrella for him, her legs swinging happily as they rode.

As they neared Ye Ningyu’s apartment complex, Xia Tian stopped in front of a convenience store.

“Wait here for a minute. I’m going in to buy some ‘happy water.’”

“Happy… water? What’s that?”

“…Coke.”

“Oh.”

Ye Ningyu nodded in realization.

She was starting to notice that Xia Tian often used strange terms when he spoke.

When Xia Tian came out of the store, carrying a few bottles of Coke, he noticed Ye Ningyu standing by the entrance, her eyes fixed on one of the kiddie rides.

“You want to play on that?”

“N-no… those are for little kids!”

Ye Ningyu quickly tore her gaze away, her face turning red. “D-did you get your happy water?”

Xia Tian stared at her, and from the look in her eyes, he could clearly see the hint of longing.

Without saying anything, he turned around and walked back into the store.

“Hey, boss, can I get five coins in exchange?”

“Just leave the cash on the counter. The coins are right there.”

After getting the coins, Xia Tian walked back and pressed them into Ye Ningyu’s hand.

“It’s fine, there’s no one else around right now. It’s just the two of us, so go ahead.”

“It… it’ll break…”

Ye Ningyu fidgeted with her feet, still feeling hesitant.

But Xia Tian, growing impatient, set his bottles of Coke aside and scooped her up by the waist, placing her on the kiddie ride.

“You don’t even weigh 100 pounds—you won’t break it. And even if you do, I’ll pay for it.”

Before she could protest any further, Xia Tian popped in one of the coins.

Immediately, the kiddie ride started moving, accompanied by the familiar, somewhat annoying jingle:

“Papa’s papa is called Grandpa… Papa’s papa is called Grandpa…”

Ye Ningyu’s eyes sparkled with delight as the ride moved beneath her.

Xia Tian couldn’t help but sigh to himself.

Hmph, she’s such a tsundere.

Not like me—I mean what I say and stick to it.

Two minutes passed, and the ride gradually came to a stop.

Ye Ningyu’s brows furrowed slightly, and she quickly inserted another coin.

The ride started up again, and soon she was smiling with glee.

Xia Tian crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, quietly watching her from the side. A sense of peace washed over him.

When Ye Ningyu’s smile was at its brightest, Xia Tian took out his phone and snapped a photo of her.

Suddenly, Ye Ningyu turned her head and pointed to another kiddie ride next to hers, handing Xia Tian one of the coins.

“X-Xia Tian, you should play too.”

“Heh, please. A grown man like me? They call me Mr. Strong for a reason. There’s no way I’d play something so childish.”

Xia Tian waved his hand dismissively, full of mock disdain.

One minute later…

The convenience store echoed with the double chorus of “Papa’s papa is called Grandpa… Papa’s papa is called Grandpa…”