Chapter 6
Xiao Yao reached out for the rice ball in Ti Xiao’s hand, but the boy didn’t let go. His fingers gripped it tightly, pressing against Xiao Yao’s palm with a smooth touch.
Xiao Yao had assumed Ti Xiao was offering him the rice ball, but instead, it turned out the boy just wanted to recommend it as something delicious—not actually give it to him.
Feeling a little disappointed, Xiao Yao loosened his grip and prepared to grab one from the shelf himself. Just as he did, Ti Xiao released his hold too.
With a soft “thud,” the poor rice ball hit the floor.
“Ah!” Ti Xiao exclaimed.
Xiao Yao watched as Ti Xiao quickly crouched down to pick up the rice ball, flustered and muttering, “I was thinking I’d pay for it. Consider this my treat…”
From Xiao Yao’s angle, Ti Xiao’s head seemed especially round. People with round heads often looked great in photos—his mother had even joked when Ti Xiao was born that his head looked like a small watermelon.
Ti Xiao’s hair was thick and slightly fluffy, with a faint crease at the front from habitually tying it up. As he bent down to grab the rice ball and straightened up again, the longer strands near his temples fluttered lightly like butterfly wings.
For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, Xiao Yao suddenly felt much better. The frustrations and gloom of the day seemed to dissolve in an instant.
As they reached the front of the checkout line, Xiao Yao placed his shopping basket on the counter. He casually glanced over at Ti Xiao’s basket—it was full of snacks, mostly sweets like cakes, candies, and chocolates.
No wonder he smells so sweet, Xiao Yao thought.
“No need, I’ve got it.” Before Ti Xiao could react, Xiao Yao grabbed his shopping basket and handed it to the cashier. “Together,” he said.
Earlier, Ti Xiao had genuinely intended to hand the rice ball directly to Xiao Yao.
But then he thought, Why not just buy it for him? Why did I even bother saying he should try it first? That’s so dumb.
So he held on to it, and Xiao Yao didn’t let go either. For several seconds, their hands touched—long enough for Ti Xiao’s overactive imagination to spiral.
In those fleeting moments, he felt a tiny spark—a sensation like the electric charge from holding hands, hugging, or kissing.
This overthinking short-circuited Ti Xiao’s already modest brainpower. Overwhelmed, he let go—just as Xiao Yao did too.
The rice ball hit the ground with a silent sound of indignation.
Ti Xiao thought he heard a soft chuckle from Xiao Yao.
Snapping out of his daze, he let out an embarrassed “Ah!” and quickly crouched down to retrieve the fallen rice ball. By then, he’d already managed to concoct an entire fantasy of married life in his head.
We’re not even remotely close. I only know his name is Xiao Yao, he reminded himself.
As he picked up the rice ball, Ti Xiao sighed quietly, thinking he must be losing his mind from all the late-night deadlines. Perhaps it was time to invest in some brain supplements.
Before he could finish his self-reproach, he felt his shopping basket lighten suddenly.
Then, his daydream-worthy crush spoke: “Together.”
“What do you mean ‘together’?”
Ti Xiao looked up and noticed that the cashier was already scanning his cakes, chocolates, and Xiao Yao’s beer together.
“No, no, I’ll pay for my own stuff,” Ti Xiao protested, reaching out to grab his items. There was no way he could let Xiao Yao pay for him.
“It’s fine,” Xiao Yao said casually. “Consider it a thank-you for letting me use your Wi-Fi for a few days.”
Seeing Ti Xiao about to make a move, Xiao Yao subtly shifted closer to the counter, using his body to block the way.
With his broad shoulders and tall stature—nearly half a head taller than Ti Xiao—Xiao Yao’s athletic build made him seem like an impenetrable wall, effectively shutting down any protests.
“It’s settled.” His firm tone left no room for negotiation.
The decisiveness of his words gave Ti Xiao an unexpected thrill. A domineering CEO vibe, huh?
As cliché and overdone as the thought was, it still made Ti Xiao’s heart do somersaults, painting a lush field of imaginary green meadows in his mind.
When they exited the convenience store, the cold northern winter night hit them head-on. The frosty air formed visible puffs of breath under the streetlights as they walked side by side in silence.
Xiao Yao tightened his grip on the plastic bags he was holding, the faint crinkle of the material breaking the quiet. He wasn’t much of a talker and felt awkward starting a conversation.
Ti Xiao, on the other hand, was naturally chatty and could strike up a conversation with just about anyone. But when it came to Xiao Yao, he somehow found himself at a loss for words.
Say something, say something! If you don’t, you’ll reach home soon and miss the chance!
Despite the mental pep talk, Ti Xiao remained his timid little self, nervously opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish blowing bubbles. Before he knew it, they’d already arrived at their apartment building.
Xiao Yao stomped lightly on the ground to activate the motion-sensor lights. The warm yellow glow illuminated the stairwell, stretching their shadows onto the steps in long, overlapping patterns.
“Here’s your stuff,” Xiao Yao said, handing over Ti Xiao’s bag. This time, he deliberately avoided touching Ti Xiao’s fingers.
“Ah, thanks.” Ti Xiao took the bag, his mind racing. I have to say something! I didn’t wash my hair today for nothing!
Blurting out the first thing that came to mind, he stammered, “Let me treat you to a meal sometime.”
Xiao Yao paused, then chuckled aloud, his clear, hearty laughter easing the tension in the air. The corners of his mouth lifted, his entire expression softening.
The sound of his laughter echoed in the stairwell, the motion-sensor light flickering off and on again.
Suddenly emboldened, Ti Xiao pulled the rice ball from his bag and handed it to Xiao Yao. “Drinking on an empty stomach isn’t good for you. Make sure you eat something.”
Without giving himself the chance to say anything more embarrassing, Ti Xiao quickly turned, unlocked his door, and disappeared into his apartment.
Left standing alone in the stairwell, Xiao Yao glanced down at the rice ball in his hand. He gently squeezed it before lifting it to his nose. A faint, sweet scent of pumpkin cream lingered in the air.
Wait… I don’t even know his name yet.
After shutting the door, Ti Xiao took a moment to calm himself. Once his heartbeat slowed, he remembered his primary task for the evening. As his new comic series had just started serialization, he needed to boost its popularity. Besides relying on the platform’s promotion, Ti Xiao also had to engage his fans through frequent live streams.
【”A’Ti’s been streaming so much lately! Is it because it’s the early stages of serialization?”】
【”I want to see Xiao Hulu! Xiao Hulu!”】
【”What are you drawing today? Actually, can we see the new protagonist uke from your series? LOL”】
Ti Xiao adjusted the camera to focus on Xiao Hulu, his cat, who was busy grooming itself nearby. After a brief pause to think, his mind wandered back to Xiao Yao’s outfit and shoes from earlier.
Speaking into the microphone, he announced, “I’ll draw the back view of someone buying oranges today. Let’s aim for a nine-panel series for Weibo.”
Let’s see if I can manage to win over the owner of that back view before finishing all nine illustrations!
His tone was lighthearted, but his resolve was firm.