Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 90

After boating in the afternoon, Xia Tian, Ye Ningyu, and Fang Yu strolled around the park for a while.

They came across a stall selling fruit platters, using the same dice game method Xia Tian had used before.

However, business was slow, with few people stopping by.

The stall owner sat nearby, smoking a cigarette, his expression showing clear signs of a bad day.

“Little Tian, you were right. There are so many imitators now that people are tired of it. They’re not interested anymore.”

“Exactly. People always crave novelty. Once the excitement wears off, they lose interest.

Tourists in the park are the same group of people. After seeing it once, they’re not curious anymore.”

Xia Tian’s expression was calm.

He had anticipated this outcome a long time ago.

However, this stall method wasn’t widely known in 2013.

While it might not work in Beian anymore, it could still be profitable in other places for those who seize the opportunity.

“If the stall owners aren’t foolish and are willing to spend some time, they could go to other cities and set up stalls in parks there. After covering all the parks in one city, they could move to the next. They’d definitely make decent money.”

Fang Yu looked at Xia Tian in amazement, impressed by how quickly he came up with new ideas.

He admired Xia Tian more and more.

But…

Xia Tian had already moved beyond these small earnings. His Heartbreak Museum was raking in 10,000 yuan a day!

Ye Ningyu quietly stood next to Xia Tian.

Although she didn’t express her admiration as openly as Fang Yu, her eyes shimmered with respect for Xia Tian.

Xia Tian turned to look at her with a smile.

“Little Ye, what do you want for dinner?”

“Ah… I-I’m fine with anything.”

“Let’s have wontons. It’s been a while.”

“Okay… sounds good.”

Ye Ningyu’s eyes sparkled brightly.

She didn’t mind what they ate, as long as she was with Xia Tian.

Fang Yu’s face lit up at the mention of food.

Though it wasn’t a lavish meal, he was happy to get a free dinner. His day as a “tool” felt worthwhile.

“Great! I know a place with the best wontons. Let me take you there!”

But Xia Tian gave him a strange look and said with a half-smile, “What’s the rush? It’s time for you to head home, young man.”

“???”

Fang Yu was puzzled.

What did he mean?

Was he not coming?

“Little Tian, what do you mean? You’re not taking me to dinner?”

“When did I ever say I’d take you to dinner? It’s time for everyone to head home and find their moms.”

Xia Tian’s tone was casual.

It was as if ditching Fang Yu was the most natural thing in the world.

He turned and led Little Ye towards the road to get their bikes, planning to ride off.

Fang Yu stood there, dumbfounded, watching Xia Tian and Ye Ningyu walk away.

Only then did he remember.

Before they went boating, Xia Tian had said he didn’t want Little Ye to exert herself, so he brought Fang Yu along as a “tool.”

Fang Yu hadn’t taken it seriously then.

But now it was clear… Damn, he really was just a tool!

“Fine, fine. Xia Tian said today is ‘520,’ a mini-Valentine’s Day. He and Little Ye want some alone time. Being a third wheel wouldn’t be good.”

“For the sake of my buddy’s love life, what’s wrong with being a tool for a day?”

Fang Yu kept consoling himself.

He mentally patted himself on the back: Mr. Fang, you’ve got a big heart!

As Fang Yu finished soothing himself and was about to leave Qingshui Park, he saw a clown in a funny costume coming his way, holding balloons.

He suddenly felt even more defeated.

“Am I a clown too?”

—

Xia Tian took Ye Ningyu to a wonton shop.

“This place has been open for four or five years. I used to love eating here when I was in middle school.”

“Then it must be really good…”

Little Ye looked around the shop’s simple decor.

It wasn’t fancy, just a regular little eatery.

She had been curious about what Xia Tian liked to eat, and now she seemed to have her answer.

As Xia Tian took his first bite of wonton, a nostalgic smile appeared on his face.

In his previous life, during the early days of his entrepreneurship, he used to come here for a bowl of wontons after a long day.

Later, after his business succeeded and his company got busy, he hadn’t had wontons from here for a long time.

When he finally had time to return, the shop had closed down.

Thinking about this, Xia Tian looked up and gazed deeply at Little Ye.

Perhaps…

This second chance at life was a gift from the heavens, an opportunity to make up for past regrets.

Xia Tian often worried that all of this might just be a drunken fantasy of a middle-aged man.

As they finished their wontons, Little Ye nudged Xia Tian with her elbow.

“Xia Tian… I want to take a bowl to go for my mom to try.”

“No problem. I’ll go with you and visit Auntie.”

Wha-what?

He’s coming home with me to see my mom?

Little Ye froze, staring at Xia Tian with wide eyes.

Although her mom had met Xia Tian before, that was at her birthday party with Fang Yu and Xia Shi present.

This time was different.

If Xia Tian came home with her, wouldn’t it be like meeting the parents in private?

They were still just deskmates. Wasn’t this a bit too fast?

Anxiously, she said, “N-no need, Xia Tian, I can go alone!”

But Xia Tian was serious. “No way. I know Auntie now. As your good deskmate, it’s only right for me to visit her.”

“No arguing. Once we get the wontons packed, we’ll go together to see Auntie.”

“But… but…”

“No buts!”

“O-okay.”

Ye Ningyu lowered her head, feeling a bit dejected.

After finishing their meal, Xia Tian asked the owner to pack a bowl of wontons to go, then took Ye Ningyu to her home.

On the way, Xia Tian hummed a tune, looking quite happy.

“Looks like this is my first official meeting with the future mother-in-law.”

Meanwhile, Ye Ningyu sat on the back seat, her hands tightly gripping her shirt.

“What do I do? I’m so nervous…”

“What if Xia Tian wants to see my room? I left my… my underwear on the bed this morning…”

“Ahhhh, I’m doomed!”