CHAPTER 193: 186: AH-SHI ASKED ME TO COME OVER TO DISCUSS COOPERATION WITH YOU.

Seeing her sigh, Wen Renche raised an eyebrow. Beneath the veil of his thick lashes, a flicker of unrestrained emotion passed through his eyes.

His tone, however, remained as calm as ever: "Has he caused trouble for you?"

"Not really." Yu Zhi succinctly explained to him the matter between her and Lu Li.

When mentioning the meal they shared, her gaze reflected confusion mingled with a trace of guilt: "Was I wrong to have dinner with him at that time?"

It was only in hindsight that she realized the meal, along with the trip to the amusement park that followed, had been Lu Li’s careful and deliberate attempt to hint at something.

But she had mistaken those hints for nothing more than the interactions typical between classmates.

"Ah-Shi, this isn’t your fault." Wen Renche gently ruffled the girl’s hair, his tender voice like the breeze of early spring brushing against her ear.

Pouring a bit more juice into the glass, he said, "Whether or not you accepted his invitation back then, he would still like you. But it’s just liking you, do you understand?"

Wen Renche did not dismiss the idea of youthful love, yet from the girl’s brief words, he had already deduced the nature of Lu Li’s feelings for her.

To like someone, you might let guilt consume her; but to love, you wouldn’t even allow her to furrow her brows.

Yu Zhi paused for a moment, pursing her vibrant lips hesitantly, unsure of herself: "What should I do?"

"Just keep things as they are."

"Alright."

"Don’t overthink it." Wen Renche added more dishes to her plate until the bowl had stacked into a small mountain, only then slowly turning his head away.

He lowered his gaze, staring at the takeout box before him, rubbing his finger instinctively against his thumb as an inexplicable emotion flickered in his phoenix-like eyes.

The gentle melody of the violin swirled gracefully in every corner of the café, as warm sunlight streamed in through the windows, seemingly dancing in harmony with the music.

Specks of light scattered across the table like fragmented stars.

Half of the man’s face fell into the shadows, his thick, long lashes cast down, refracting a luminous yet bittersweet scene onto the white walls.

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing a strong and muscular forearm, and as the girl set down her chopsticks, he instinctively began tidying up the takeout boxes on the table.

"Ah-Che, pour me a glass of water." Yu Zhi, stuffed to the brim, slumped against the chair, glancing at the water jug on his right as she hiccupped.

Wen Renche paused his actions to grab a brand-new glass, filling it halfway with water. He tested the temperature, ensuring it wasn’t too hot, before handing it over to her.

The fluidity of his movements was as natural as if he had done it countless times, etched deep into his bones.

Yu Zhi’s hiccups worsened, persisting despite her continuous sips of water: "Ah-Che... hic... pour me another glass."

Wen Renche’s gaze dropped to her stomach, shaking his head helplessly. Fishing out digestive tablets from his pocket, he said, "Next time, don’t eat so much."

Whenever her cravings were triggered, she couldn’t resist indulging. She felt fine while eating, but once finished, discomfort inevitably followed.

Although he didn’t agree with her habits, he couldn’t bring himself to scold her. Beyond indulging her whims, there seemed to be no other solution.

"You... hic... carry these with you?" Yu Zhi raised an eyebrow, curious if he kept some sort of treasure chest always ready to produce odd things.

"Yes, take two." Wen Renche explained sparingly, his expression unchanging as he watched her swallow the tablets.

After a while, as the discomfort gradually subsided, her tense posture finally relaxed a bit.

Time slipped by second by second, the European-style clock on the opposite wall ticking softly in the background.

With forty minutes remaining before class, Yu Zhi lightly averted her gaze, settling on the man’s handsome face: "When do we leave?"

"Three o’clock," Wen Renche’s smooth voice dipped slightly.

Bringing up this topic seemed to dull the light-hearted atmosphere between them.

Yu Zhi lowered her gaze, her lips trembling momentarily before the words she wanted to say dissolved into silence, leaving only a quiet sigh.

"In two weeks, it’s my birthday." She clutched her glass tightly, her lashes quivering: "Can you make it back?"

For reasons unknown, each time they parted ways, she couldn’t help but fear they might never meet again.

She couldn’t bear to experience that kind of heartache a second time.

"Ah-Shi." Noticing the concern and melancholy hidden in her tone, Wen Renche’s heart clenched twice. "If I give you my word, I’ll keep it."

His gaze was resolute, as if to say he would honor his promises regardless of the cost—no matter how thorny the path ahead, no matter if he ended up battered and broken...