After leaving the bubble tea shop, Xiao Feng and Li Wei, sweltering in the heat, ducked into an internet cafe to kill a few hours online. Only when the sun dipped below the horizon did they part ways and head home.
Li Wei’s place wasn’t far from Xiao Feng’s—just a few kilometers. That’s why they could hang out so often: checking out cute girls, surfing the web… If they lived farther apart, how could they possibly meet up regularly?!
Back home, Xiao Feng headed straight to the bathroom for a cold shower. With the weather this scorching, hot showers were long abandoned—cold water was king.
Refreshed, he grabbed his phone and ordered takeout for dinner.
Just as he finished clearing the containers, his phone rang softly on the coffee table.
*Ding~*
Xiao Feng quickly tossed the trash, wiped his oily hands, and snatched up the glowing phone. Seeing a WeChat notification from Situ Changxi, he paused for a beat—then opened it.
“Xiao Feng, are you there right now?”
A faint smile touched his lips as he pictured the cute, charming loli. He typed back: “Yeah, just finished dinner. How about you?”
Less than ten seconds later, her reply popped up.
“I just ate too!”
He was about to send a meme when another message arrived.
“Xiao Feng, aren’t you starting university after summer break?”
“Yep. You too?” he replied.
—Inside Situ Changxi’s room—
Reading his words, a captivating smile bloomed on her porcelain-smooth face. Her slender fingers tapped the screen: “Me too! Which university are you going to, Xiao Feng?”
She then fixed her gaze on the chat window, unwilling to miss a single reply.
Xiao Feng didn’t answer right away. Avoiding the question, he shifted topics: “Haven’t decided yet. Changxi, where do you live?”
A flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes, but she typed quickly: “Minghao Residential Area in H Province!”
Xiao Feng sucked in a sharp breath. *Minghao* lived up to its name—renowned, extravagantly luxurious. This wasn’t just a high-end complex; it was an exclusive villa district. Rumor said even the cheapest villa cost over a billion RMB—and money alone couldn’t buy entry. You needed connections. Status. Prestige.
He only knew surface details. Outsiders were barred unless escorted by a resident. He’d heard H Province’s top tycoon lived there too—but as a fresh high school grad, why would he care?
He didn’t reply. Glancing at the clock—past nine—he got up to do laundry.
By the time he finished, it was ten.
*Weird… Why hasn’t Liu Qing come over to mooch dinner?*
She usually showed up by 9:10, complaining she was starving. Her absence felt oddly off. It wasn’t that he *wanted* her to mooch—it had just become routine.
Maybe she lost track of time painting?
Worried, he stepped out, crossed the hall, and pressed Liu Qing’s doorbell.
*Ding-dong~*
*Ding-dong~*
*Ding-dong~*
……
No answer. He knocked. “Qing-jie, you home?”
Silence. He turned to leave—*click*.
The door opened softly behind him.
He spun around, ready to tease her about forgetting meals for art—but froze. Liu Qing leaned weakly against the doorframe, her face flushed crimson.
“Qing-jie, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”
She forced a fragile, tear-tinged smile, voice faint. “Cough… Just a little cold. I’ll be fine after rest.”
Seeing her glassy eyes, labored breath, and trembling frame, Xiao Feng’s chest tightened. “This isn’t a cold—you’re burning up! Get inside, lie down. I’m taking you to a doctor.”
Without hesitation, he swept her into a princess carry. Propriety? Forgotten. She’d likely been feverish since morning, skipping medicine, hoping sleep would fix it.
Liu Qing blinked, dazed. Then—realization. A deeper blush bloomed across her fever-warm cheeks.
Dizzy but clear-headed, her heart fluttered: shy… and deeply moved.
