68. In this lifetime, I’ve truly made it.
Everyone has a different definition of being barefaced.
Some people think that washing their face and drying it after waking up is being barefaced.
Others think that applying foundation and a bit of nude cream counts as barefaced too.
And there’s a clear divide between men and women.
Straight men believe barefaced means a face that hasn’t had any sunscreen applied.
Women believe being barefaced means having eyebrows drawn, nose shadow, earth-toned eye shadow, inner eyeliner, blush, contour, and highlighter—just no lipstick.
So what type is the girl in front of them?
The two of them walked while searching for an empty classroom. The whole building was basically empty on a weekend, but there were still some who couldn’t find a spot in the library and came to the teaching building to study.
Their principle was that studying was more important.
Lin Yibai said, “If we can avoid disturbing others, we should.”
Xia Changyu smiled in appreciation, feeling pleased to be with such a considerate girl and praised, “I knew you must be a kind girl; I didn’t expect you to be so understanding.”
Lin Yibai didn’t enjoy that kind of praise and put her hands on her hips to retort, “What nonsense are you talking about!”
Isn’t it common decency to avoid interrupting others when they’re studying? Who would want to be disturbed while trying to focus on their work?
It was precisely because Lin Yibai understood these principles.
So even after becoming a girl, she would still avoid stepping on those landmines.
Heading up from the first floor.
They finally found an empty classroom on the last few floors.
Lin Yibai breathed a sigh of relief because if all the classrooms here were occupied, they would have to find somewhere else.
Now, let’s eat.
Xia Changyu was still quite courteous.
At least he didn’t act like the domineering male lead from TV dramas or novels.
Someone who wants to be aggressive and flirty, always looking to gain an advantage.
So they each took a table.
But Lin Yibai frowned and whispered, “Hey, why don’t you sit next to me? It’s not a monster; it won’t eat you.”
Xia Changyu was stunned for a moment: “Huh?”
Lin Yibai asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xia Changyu shook his head and then said, “I, um, I mean, can I really sit next to you?”
Very quickly, Lin Yibai understood his concern.
And she knew he must have misunderstood something.
She smiled and explained, “You probably don’t come to the classroom at night very often, right? I suggested you sit next to me mainly to send a message to others.”
Xia Changyu asked, “What message?”
Lin Yibai said, “It’s mainly a common convention; if we’re here to study, when others see there’s no place to go, they might come into the classroom and find a corner to study with us.”
“Ah?”
“And generally speaking, there are two types of classrooms that they won’t go to.”
“What two types?”
“One type is where people are clearly there for group activities, or they’re there just to have fun.”
Xia Changyu asked again, “And the second type?”
Lin Yibai pondered for a moment but still said, “The second type is when people inside the classroom look like couples on a date… After all, no one wants to be a third wheel, right?”
What? Couples?
Even though Lin Yibai was just joking.
For some unknown reason, Xia Changyu felt his heart suddenly heat up.
If this were a play.
It would be great if it could turn into reality.
His troubled heart, his excited hands.
He picked up his portion of cold noodles and sat next to Lin Yibai, feeling a bit bashful like a young boy.
Lin Yibai didn’t think too much.
She looked at her portion of cold noodles, very sure that it didn’t have a single chili in it.
Then she looked at Xia Changyu’s.
It was bright red.
Lin Yibai picked up a piece of cold noodles, chewing while saying, “Did you add chili?”
“Yeah, just a little.”
“Well, it looks like you can handle spicy food!”
“Haha.” Xia Changyu laughed and casually said, “It’s just average.”
“I remember I told you that the boss who makes these cold noodles is a Jiangxi Old Man, right?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Lin Yibai’s gaze deepened, as if she had seen through time into the future, and asked again, “If I’m not mistaken, you’re also from our province, aren’t you?”
Xia Changyu replied, “Yes, that’s right.”
Lin Yibai smiled a bit; she had already seen the outcome but didn’t say it right away. Instead, she continued, “Great, I’m also from the same province. Back in high school, if I could eat half a chili, I was already the top spicy food lover in my class.”
“Hahaha.” Xia Changyu laughed: “I’m a little better; I can eat more than half, so doesn’t that make me the spicy king?”
Lin Yibai smiled without speaking: “Don’t rush.”
“…..”
When she saw Xia Changyu take that portion of cold noodles with red oil and put it in his mouth, she couldn’t help but smile slightly. So this is why she specially mentioned that the cold noodle boss was a Jiangxi Old Man?
But obviously, in a province almost insulated from chili peppers, what they consider to be able to handle spicy is usually a big misconception.
Just like when Lin Yibai had her first taste.
She realized there was a type of spiciness.
Called the spicy as perceived by the Jiangxi Old Man.
In some provinces, one chili can stir-fry three dishes.
And in other provinces, who knows if they can find any vegetables among three dishfuls of chili?
Lin Yibai had already frantically ordered some other items, as a preparation for dealing with this stinky rival in love.
Xia Changyu picked up a piece of cold noodles.
As soon as the first bite went down, his eyes lit up, and he praised, “This boss is a great cook! The aroma mixed with sour and spicy, especially appetizing in this hot summer.”
Lin Yibai nodded repeatedly, enthusiastically agreeing: “Mm-hmm, yes, you’re right… everything you said is right, so hurry up and eat a few more bites!”
Xia Changyu hadn’t yet noticed the laughter in Lin Yibai’s eyes. When he took the second bite, he only felt the spicy flavor was exciting.
The third bite was still very fragrant and exciting.
The fourth bite was too stimulating.
The fifth bite—no, no, no! There wouldn’t be a fifth bite. Xia Changyu’s forehead was drenched in cold sweat, and an intensity of spiciness that felt almost extraterrestrial hit him.
‘Hoo~’
‘Hoo hoo~’
Hearing Xia Changyu’s uncontrollable gasping sounds, Lin Yibai wanted to laugh but didn’t dare to. She asked, “Huh? What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine!”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m absolutely sure I’m fine.” Xia Changyu was sweating from the heat but still insisted bravely: “But I think, um, uhh… I feel like… uhh, I need to go to the restroom.”
What on earth is the spiciness in a Jiangxi Old Man’s perspective? Xia Changyu felt like he was going to die.
He hurriedly dashed into the men’s restroom.
And leaned under the faucet.
But as soon as he left the faucet, his mouth immediately felt like it was about to explode with pain.
‘Uhh~~’
‘Uhh uhh~’
‘Uhh~~~~’
It was clearly just a little bit of chili added by the Jiangxi Old Man. Was it really that terrifying?
As one of the past non-believers in the supernatural, at that moment Lin Yibai, holding the milk that the delivery guy had rushed over, expressed: It’s truly death by spiciness!
Outside the men’s restroom.
Finding that Xia Changyu was the only one inside.
And since this floor was nearly empty, no one else would come here.
Lin Yibai walked in.
Then grabbed Xia Changyu.
She saw that the stinky rival in love’s lips were almost burnt, and she couldn’t help but smile as she said, “I know you’re feeling spicy and in pain right now… but just listen to me, open your mouth, and stick out your tongue.”
Xia Changyu could only comply.
He stuck out his tongue, and then a cool breeze blew in.
He saw Lin Yibai open her mouth, blowing cool air onto his tongue.
Lin Yibai was thinking.
Should she scrape the stinky rival in love’s tongue with the milk? Otherwise, this would seriously drive someone crazy from the spiciness.
But would that be too generous to him?
