Xiao Feng and Situ Changxi stepped into Yiding Internet Cafe after grabbing milk tea from a nearby shop.

Outside, two bodyguards stood guard at the entrance—dress shirts, sunglasses, faces stern as door gods.

Patrons instinctively sidestepped them, moving carefully as if fearing the men might snap at any moment.

Inside Yiding Internet Cafe—

"Miss, top up fifty for my internet fee!" Xiao Feng said.

He pulled his ID from his pocket and handed it to the receptionist with practiced ease.

She took it, nodded with a smile. "Right away, sir. Just a moment."

Situ Changxi watched, puzzled. She tugged lightly at Xiao Feng’s sleeve and whispered, "Um… do we really have to hand in our IDs just to go online?"

Her soft, melodic voice washed over him like a gentle balm.

"Not hand it in," he clarified. "You need an ID to top up—and it has to be an adult’s."

Situ Changxi puffed her cheeks, huffing, "I’m eighteen! Don’t call me underage! I’m getting mad… bad Xiao Feng!"

Xiao Feng thought she looked even cuter when flustered. He glanced down—bodyguards out of sight—and wondered, *Would it be okay to pinch Changxi’s cheek right now?*

Seizing the moment, he reached out and gently pinched her fair, smooth cheek, just like teasing a child.

In an instant, her irritation melted into shyness.

Warmth from his fingers lingered on her skin. A faint blush crept across her cheeks—thankfully hidden by the cafe’s dim light.

"Changxi, topping up too? Or not using the net?"

She nodded, pulled her own ID from the tiny waist bag, and passed it to him.

Xiao Feng handed it over. "Fifty for my friend too, please."

The receptionist smiled professionally. "So your girlfriend is topping up fifty as well?"

Xiao Feng chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, no worries—she’s just my friend."

"Oh! Sorry, sorry!" she laughed nervously. "You two just looked so… haha!"

"No problem at all," Xiao Feng waved it off with a grin.

He didn’t mind. Situ Changxi, however, felt her heart hammering against her ribs.

*Your girlfriend…* The words looped uncontrollably in her head.

She wasn’t naive—she knew the basics of romance, even if she hadn’t lived them deeply.

Frozen in place, her mind drifted into daydreams: *What if… Xiao Feng and I…?*

She hadn’t even noticed the quiet shift blooming in her heart.

Falling for someone is simple—a word, a gesture, a smile, a silhouette, even a stranger’s nudge. Anything can spark it.

Love is easy. Making it last? Not so much.

"Let’s go, Changxi. Time to find Li Wei," Xiao Feng said.

Startled back to reality, she avoided his eyes and nodded flusteredly. "Mm… okay."

Unaware of her turmoil, Xiao Feng led the silver-haired, twin-tailed girl down the aisle. Heads turned.

Well—*her* heads turned.

*Smack!*

"Damn it! Focus! You wandered under the tower—blind? Stop gawking!"

"Holy shit, she’s gorgeous. Totally my type!"

"How many drinks you had? Seeing double?"

"Whoa—is that silver hair cosplay? Looks kinda like ‘Qiong,’ right?"

"Seriously, like she stepped straight out of an anime. Stunning."

Whispers swirled around Situ Changxi: praise, comparisons, jokes. Some scolded distracted friends. Others would’ve approached—if not for seeing her fingers lightly gripping Xiao Feng’s sleeve.

After all, a graceful lady draws admiration. You know how it is.

"Bro Feng! Over here! Took you long enough—I’ve already finished a match!"