After splashing water on his face in the restroom to clear his head, Xiaofeng returned to the hospital room.

Liu Qing, pretending to have just woken up, rubbed her eyes groggily.

Xiaofeng smiled. “Sister Qing, awake now?”

Liu Qing nodded, a heartwarming smile gracing her lips.

“Mm, thank you, Xiaofeng. Thank you for staying with me.”

Xiaofeng waved dismissively. “Ah, Sister Qing—we’re this close. No need for thanks. That’s too formal!”

Noticing the faint dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, Liu Qing’s heart ached. But she kept her tone light.

“Xiaofeng, I’m all better now. How about I treat you to dinner tonight?”

Seeing Liu Qing back to her usual vibrant self, Xiaofeng felt genuinely happy and nodded.

“Sure! About time I get a free meal from you.”

Liu Qing shot him a playful glare. “Must you be so blunt? Can’t you be a little more tactful around a girl?”

Xiaofeng laughed it off. “Tactful about what? I deserve that meal. Aren’t friends supposed to take turns treating each other?”

Liu Qing rolled her eyes. “Ever seen a guy ‘take advantage’ of a girl and act that serious about it?”

Xiaofeng paused. Hmm, she had a point—but weren’t they talking about totally different things?

“Sister Qing, we’re talking about the *kind* of ‘taking advantage’ that means a free meal. How’d you twist it into *that*?”

Liu Qing chuckled. “Alright, I’ll text you tonight. Let’s find a quiet spot.”

She slipped into the restroom in hospital slippers for a quick wash-up.

Xiaofeng frowned slightly. Why did her words feel… off?

While waiting, his phone buzzed—a message from Situ Changxi:

“Xiaofeng, hang out this afternoon?”

“Same spot? Tianjing Water Park entrance?”

“I’ll treat you to bubble tea. You *have* to come. I’ll wait!”

“And if you don’t show… can I come find you at your place?!”

Reading the utterly non-negotiable tone, Xiaofeng felt cornered.

Refuse? Impossible. Even without his address, a young lady like her would track his home down in minutes.

If she showed up at his door… how could he ever keep things simple between them?

Sure, he secretly thought hugging the adorable Situ Changxi would feel nice—but she was a pampered heiress.

Just a fleeting thought. Friends? Fine. Anything deeper? No thanks. He’d be the one getting hurt.

Blame it on too much self-awareness.

“Xiaofeng, can we go home now?” Liu Qing called from the restroom.

“Don’t you *want* to leave? Planning to stay?” he replied.

Inside, Liu Qing rolled her eyes at her mirror reflection, lips quirking. “Hmph. Not even a caring word for this lady? And I *liked* you.”

Unaware of her muttering, Xiaofeng began tidying the hospital bed she’d used.

Patients weren’t required to, but with time to spare, why not ease the staff’s burden—even slightly?

Not saintly. Just his view: in this harsh world, every small kindness mattered.

Kindness wouldn’t fill stomachs—but that didn’t mean he’d stop trying.

Liu Qing soon emerged, beaming. “Xiaofeng, let’s go home!”

“Uh… Sister Qing, phrase it less *suggestively*, okay? What if your boyfriend gets the wrong idea?”

She covered her mouth, giggling. “Hehe~ Little Brother Xiaofeng, who said I *have* a boyfriend?”

Xiaofeng blinked. In sportswear and a simple ponytail, laughing freely—she looked like those polished “pure college girl” photos online.

But those were edited. This was real: no makeup, no filters. Raw, genuine, and far more captivating.

Thoughts aside, he steered the talk back. “Sister Qing, you’re this pretty—*no* boyfriend? Impossible.”

A mischievous glint lit her eyes. She stepped close, leaned in with a coy smile.

“Don’t I already have *you*, my little boyfriend Xiaofeng? Why need another?”

Xiaofeng expressionlessly pushed her face away. “Are we leaving or not?”

He’d long built immunity to her teasing.

Puffed cheeks, head turned sharply—she declared with feigned petulance, “Hmph! I hate you the most, Xiaofeng!”

Xiaofeng just sighed. *Did she catch a fever last night… or is her brain scrambled?*