Walking along the road, Xiao Mu felt utterly awkward. He wanted to say something to Gu Qingyi beside him but couldn’t think of a single word.

Just as he was about to die of embarrassment, Gu Qingyi finally spoke.

“Um… Senior, do you have a girlfriend?”

She asked cautiously, her voice tinged with nervousness—probably dreading a “yes.”

“No, I don’t.”

He’d rather die than admit it now. Another mess like with Night Glass would leave him with nowhere to cry.

Gu Qingyi let out a quiet sigh of relief. “You’re super cool on the basketball court, Senior. Our whole class has tons of fans for you!”

“Well… it’s nothing special,” Xiao Mu mumbled, flustered by her praise.

“Don’t be modest! You taught Xu Judong a lesson, then took on over a dozen knife-wielding gangsters from outside school alone. At Huazhong, you’re already a star rivaling the Four Young Masters. And with those basketball skills? You’re an idol in so many girls’ hearts!” Gu Qingyi chattered excitedly, her eyes slowly gleaming as she watched him.

“Junior, stop flattering me. Keep this up, and I’ll get a big head,” Xiao Mu said. Any guy would float on air being praised by a goddess like her.

“Okay,” Gu Qingyi nodded, then whispered, “Just call me Qingyi, Senior. No need to be so formal…”

Xiao Mu paused briefly. “Alright, Qingyi. And you can call me Xiao Mu—drop the ‘Senior.’”

“Yes, Senior Xiao Mu!” she replied earnestly.

Xiao Mu was speechless. Was she genuinely innocent or just clueless?

They chatted while walking, then ducked into a random small restaurant.

“Handsome guy and beautiful lady, what’ll you have?” A young waitress handed Xiao Mu the menu with a stiff, professional smile.

Without glancing at it, he pushed the menu to Gu Qingyi. “Order whatever you like, Qingyi. My treat.”

“Mm.” Gu Qingyi wasn’t the pretentious type. She picked up the menu and scanned it.

Her gaze halted at one spot.

“Found something?” Xiao Mu asked.

“Yes.” Her cheeks flushed faintly, puzzling him. What was going on?

The waitress’s eyes lit up with a sly smile when she saw the order.

“Anything else?”

“No, that’s all.”

“Your dish will be ready soon. Please wait.”

Xiao Mu grew even more confused by that odd smile. He turned to Gu Qingyi. “Qingyi, what did you order?”

“N-nothing,” she stammered, hiding behind her water glass.

Hearing “nothing,” Xiao Mu felt utterly speechless. Could she really dodge like that?

He didn’t press further. Whatever it was, he’d see soon enough.

For now, watching ethereal Gu Qingyi blush was a delight. True to her name, she carried a faint, otherworldly grace—a rarity in this world.

Xiao Mu stared, transfixed. Her ears turned crimson under his gaze, but she didn’t get angry. Instead, a quiet happiness flickered in her eyes.

Only Xiao Mu had this privilege. Any other guy staring like that would’ve made her walk out instantly.

After five or six minutes, Gu Qingyi’s dish finally arrived.