74. Ah, Stinky Rival in Love, how can you be like this (clickbait title)
I genuinely want to spend money on her.
I don’t know why, but I just can’t spend it?
This isn’t Lin Yibai being modest or polite; Xia Changyu can sense a kind of guardedness from the girl in front of him, which causes her to keep an excessive distance between them.
Cold noodles and dumplings are common food items, and he has nothing against them, but Xia Changyu still asked, “What do you think about steak and barbecue snacks?”
Lin Yibai said, “It must be delicious!”
Xia Changyu then asked, “How about hot pot and crayfish?”
Lin Yibai swallowed hard and confidently stated, “If it’s paired with a can of ice-cold beer on a summer day, that would be unbeatable!”
The answer was already on the tip of his tongue.
Whether it’s steak, barbecue, or hot pot with crayfish, they are all far more expensive and delicious than cold noodles and dumplings.
The girl in front of him surely knows that!
So Xia Changyu was even more confused.
Moreover, this was something he had never encountered when dating other girls.
He couldn’t help but furrow his brows and ask, “Since you know those things are delicious, why not choose them? You know about my… you just have to enjoy the meal and I’ll pay. If it’s about being reserved or something, that’s unnecessary! I’m inviting you out of sincerity.”
Lin Yibai: “Oh?” The corner of her eyebrow arched slightly, revealing a half-smile.
She said, “So this is how you see me?”
Xia Changyu quickly waved his hands, feeling a bit frustrated: “I mean no harm; I’m just a little troubled that our relationship is like friends but still quite unfamiliar.”
Lin Yibai responded, “Gentlemen’s friendships are as light as water; isn’t that normal?”
Xia Changyu: “……”
He admitted that Lin Yibai was right.
But on closer inspection, it didn’t seem so correct; for a guy who wanted to get closer to her, it felt like a death sentence.
She prevented other guys from approaching her.
She killed the competition.
Cold noodles and dumplings were served, and Lin Yibai mixed them up. Her perception of these noodles with sesame sauce was just okay. To claim that cold noodles are better than steak would be self-deceiving.
It even felt a bit deliberately pretentious.
Having never liked pretentious girls, Lin Yibai would never become one; she straightforwardly said, “This isn’t about being reserved. If it were my roommate inviting me for a late-night snack, I would want not just barbecue and hot pot, but also grilled fish and crayfish. But it’s different with you.”
“What’s different?”
“I can only say our relationship isn’t at the level where you invite me out for a lavish meal.”
“Not even if it’s free?”
“Free would make it even less acceptable.” Lin Yibai slurped up her noodles, exhaled, then said, “Since I was little, my parents, my elders, and my teachers have taught me that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. To say it severely… it’s about not eating what’s handed to you!”
Xia Changyu swore, “I mean no harm; I just simply want to treat you, with no strings attached.”
“……”
The corners of Lin Yibai’s mouth turned up slightly.
Just as Xia Changyu looked at girls through his perspective and found many doubts and unclear points, Lin Yibai was equally puzzled from a boy’s perspective.
She couldn’t understand; she was just a girl! Why should she expect to enjoy those benefits without any cost?
Who said that? Someone once said: All gifts from fate have already been priced in secret.
Lin Yibai thought: Other girls can accept this comfortably. They may be girls and perhaps naïve, but I am a guy… can’t I be naïve too?
However, she seemed unqualified to say such things.
In her life, she had also gone through such terrible experiences, and Lin Yibai noticed that Stinky Rival in Love was somewhat similar to her past with pursuing Gu Xiaoxue.
“He wouldn’t like me, right?”
“Impossible, it must be a joke?”
“Hahaha!” Lin Yibai couldn’t help but laugh, then quickly suppressed it inside, thinking: “If Stinky Rival in Love knew I was actually a boy, wouldn’t he be disgusted? Hahaha! Just thinking about his expression cracks me up, haha… eh, um, emmmm!”
Something’s off, ah!
Why would I say I’m disgusting?
As a girl, I’m so cute; how could I be disgusting? Obviously, I’m fragrant.
Lin Yibai picked up the pepper and vinegar, added a bit to the dumplings, and also added some for Stinky Rival in Love.
Then she interrupted the still-pondering Stinky Rival in Love, saying, “Stop thinking about those unnecessary things. Try the dumplings with vinegar and pepper I added!”
Xia Changyu took a bite.
Sour with a hint of pepper, the taste was quite acceptable.
There were only six dumplings in the bowl, and Lin Yibai scooped two more for him.
Her appetite had noticeably lessened after becoming a girl.
Lin Yibai said, “I can’t eat anymore; don’t waste it.”
“How could you not eat? You look so thin; are you on a diet? You…”
Before Stinky Rival in Love could finish, Lin Yibai interrupted, “Are you going to say that I’m not fat at all and that I should eat more? I’m fine like this!”
Xia Changyu: She sees through my little thoughts again.
But actually, since they are all guys, it’s not embarrassing to be seen through by another guy.
Lin Yibai supported her chin with one hand, saying, “Or do you dislike me because of saliva? If so, then forget it.”
“Don’t, I’m not picky.”
Seeing Stinky Rival in Love finally take a bite calmed Lin Yibai down, and she said, “I don’t really like this cold noodle place, but the dumplings are still pretty good. If there’s a chance next time, I’ll let you try the cold noodles I personally make.”
“You can cook?”
Lin Yibai smiled confidently, “That’s easy! I learned it from my grandmother; she was in charge of cooking at a state-run factory when she was young.”
Xia Changyu’s eyes lit up: “So you’re really good at cooking!”
“It’s not possible to make it as good as a hotel chef, but if it’s just family gatherings.” Lin Yibai smiled again, then patted her chest confidently and said, “I can definitely cook better than those girls on Douyin who claim to be good wives and capable!”
Sure, sure, you’re right.
Xia Changyu nearly laughed out loud and realized another major advantage of the girl in front of him!
But the more he understood, the more anxious he became.
The more anxious he was, the less he could handle it.
Their relationship remained: visible, but untouchable.
Or: so close, yet so far.
After finishing, Lin Yibai boldly called out, “Boss, how much in total?”
“22.”
“Okay!”
Saying this, Lin Yibai was about to take out her phone to pay.
Xia Changyu: ???
Can you spare me? No, rather… could you give me a chance to show off? Thank you, okay?
He rushed to pay.
Seeing this, Lin Yibai smiled mischievously and said, “Going Dutch?”
Xia Changyu’s expression changed.
He quickly pulled her out of the snack shop.
He didn’t even have a chance to show off; how could they go Dutch?
Lin Yibai then said, “Well, consider this a return for helping you in Binhai last time?”
Xia Changyu made a face like he had just bitten a bitter melon: “You saved my life; you’re my lifesaver. Does that mean my life is only worth eleven bucks? That’s really tragic!”
‘Pff~’
“Hahaha~”
Lin Yibai quickly covered her mouth.
And she indicated that she hadn’t laughed at all!
Xia Changyu still had a bitter face, pleading with her not to tease him anymore; he just wanted to impress her.
So please,
Give me a chance to show off, thank you.
