Hua Xin wasn’t nearly as scared this time—her countless outings had finally taken effect.

Exposure therapy could perfectly solve endurance and self-esteem issues. All it took was a Holy Grail…

Ahem. *Outdoor training* (correction).

Her gaze no longer dodged or feared. Instead, curiosity sparkled as she took in the bustling shops, neon signs, and streams of pedestrians and vehicles. Last time she’d been too busy fleeing and gawking to really look.

*(KFC! Must have crispy golden fried chicken 🍗… soft fluffy burgers 🍔… drool…)*

*(Mixue Bingcheng! Need that sweet-sour lemonade 🥤 again… mmm…)*

*(Men’s Wardrobe? So fancy… clothes must cost a fortune 😨…)*

*(Gold… dream of a zero-yuan shopping spree 😋…)*

*(One backpack heist solves life forever hehe 🤤…)*

*(But what about the bullet? 😰)*

Hua Xin’s small hand lightly tugged Xia Yan’s sleeve. Though her body sat on the motorcycle, her soul had already floated away, stolen by the kaleidoscope of sights. Her eyes glittered like starlight.

The occasional whiff of street food made her stomach growl. Two packets of biscuits and a carton of milk for breakfast couldn’t withstand the siren call of roasted meat. Lunch? She’d planned to sleep till midnight and skip straight to supper.

But then *he* messaged her. Right after she’d tucked herself in.

It was Monday! She didn’t even have class…

Extra lessons wouldn’t earn her bonus points (pout).

Only Xia Yan’s promise of free food—and his arrival at her gate—had dragged her out to "help." (Tsundere mode: activated.)

Until she uncovered this sunshine extrovert’s true motive for befriending her gaming buddies? Zero trust.

Absolutely zero.

“Grab lunch yet?” Xia Yan shouted over his shoulder at a red light. Traffic roared around them.

His sudden question jolted Hua Xin, who’d been drooling over a jewelry store display.

“Ate… didn’t eat!”

*Free lunch? No way I’m passing that up!*

She swallowed hard.

“Good! What do you want?” Xia Yan scanned the street. “Boss Lady’s Lunch Boxes—how about boxed meals?”

“Yes please 🤤 Boxed meals! Braised pork! Spare ribs! Crispy pork! Stir-fried pork! Stewed pork! Steamed pork! Fried pork! Hehe…” She hugged her stomach, already tasting the feast.

“Huh? Lao Hua, what’d you say?” Xia Yan hadn’t caught her muffled words.

*(L-Lao Hua?? 😡)*

*(Since when are we that close?! Don’t call me that! 👊🏻)*

*(Call me Boss Xin!! 😡😡)*

Her masked face scrunched in displeasure. But free food won. She bit back a retort.

Shouting would break her voice disguise. So she shuffled closer, resting one hesitant hand on Xia Yan’s waist to steady herself.

*So hard.* (Abs.)

Her fingers instinctively squeezed—then snapped back, cheeks flaming.

*(Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! …He has abs too?!)*

*(Wait… what did I just grab?)*

*(Rumor: guys with six-packs are compensating.)* Her expression turned icy.

“Hm?” Xia Yan felt her fidget but dismissed it as playful teasing.

A smile tugged his lips. *So she sees me as a friend she can mess with now? Progress. Maybe making friends with Xiang Guan and Mu Feng won’t be so hard after all. 😊*

The light turned green. Xia Yan twisted the throttle.

😨😨😨😨

The bike lurched forward. Hua Xin—half off her seat—yelped silently and clamped onto him for dear life. Her soft body pressed flush against his back. Her arms locked tight around his abs.

A massive semi-truck roared past, shaking the ground with its rumbling tires and heavy cargo…

*Almost became road pizza…*

“Boxed… meals… fine,” she whispered tremulously into his ear before loosening her grip, retreating to clutch his sleeve again.

*(Too scary outside… wanna go home 😭😭…)*

*(One crash and I’m speaking at graduation… as a ghost 😭😭…)*

Head bowed, she stared fixedly at the seat. No more sightseeing. Just obedient stillness.

*Save me. Someone save me.*

Minutes later, the motorcycle stopped.

Xia Yan dismounted smoothly—helmet off, kickstand down.

He chuckled at Hua Xin, still helmeted and trembling. A light pat landed on her shoulder. Even through her clothes, her bony frame felt fragile beneath his touch.

*So thin…* He pulled his hand back.

“Pick what you want. We’ll take it to school.”

At “food,” Hua Xin’s helmeted head snapped up. Her earlier silence vanished as she scrambled off the bike, backpack straps digging into her shoulders, and hurried to Xia Yan’s side.

*(Foodfoodfoodfood 🤤…)*

Her hidden eyes seemed to glow behind the visor.

“Boss, prices for boxed meals?”

“Fifteen for two meat, two veg. Twenty-four for three meat, one veg.”

“Two twenties.”

“Eat here or take out?”

“Take out, please.”

“Gotcha.”

Xia Yan scanned the QR code. Forty yuan gone.

The boss lady—thick Northeastern accent—lifted her ladle toward the steaming dishes. Xia Yan glanced at Hua Xin’s helmet. Some silent understanding passed between them.

“Sweet-and-sour crispy pork 🥺.”

The boss lady heaped a golden, crackling mound into the box. Hua Xin’s helmet tilted toward it.

“Braised pork belly.”

Her helmet swiveled 🤤.

“Sweet-and-sour ribs.”

Her helmet dipped 🥰.

“Spicy shredded pork.”

Her helmet bobbed 😋.

“Stir-fried bean sprouts.”

Hua Xin clasped her hands over her stomach, utterly satisfied—as if the meal was already devoured.

“Second box?” The boss lady packed rice beside the overflowing dishes.

“Same as this one.”

Minutes later, Xia Yan stepped out with two steaming boxes.

Hua Xin trailed behind like a sleepwalker, nostrils flaring, pupils dilated into the shape of sweet-and-sour ribs. Drool pooled in her mouth.

*(So fragrant 🤤…)*

*(Better than my thirteen-spice chicken-bone-and-melon-rind fried rice… what magic is this? 🥺😭😭…)*