Unexpected Encounters and Playful Teasings

“That girl, just who is she?” Qin Xiyao found herself momentarily stunned, gazing at the long-gone trace of the girl.

Suddenly, her phone pinged, snapping her back to reality. Qin Xiyao quickly fished it out of her pocket and opened the screen—sure enough, it was a location pin from Bai Muxue.

‘What do I care about other girls?’ The girl shook her head dismissively, hastily replying to Bai Muxue’s message while rushing towards the indicated direction.

Before long, she spotted Bai Muxue sitting on a bench at the edge of the fountain in the square.

Although it was Qin Xiyao who had been waiting for Bai Muxue, all her anxiety vanished the moment she saw the cheerful girl. A warm smile spread across her face.

“Sorry, sorry, have you been waiting long, Muxue?” Qin Xiyao’s voice was tinged with slight breathlessness, a result of her hurried pace.

“Ah, not at all,” Bai Muxue replied, looking up to see the elegant figure of Qin Xiyao.

——A subtle, beige sundress accentuated the girl’s graceful curves, while white canvas shoes perfectly framed her delicate feet and ankles. Her understated yet refined makeup complemented her serene and graceful demeanor.

Bai Muxue couldn’t help but stare for a moment.

Noticing Bai Muxue’s gaze, Qin Xiyao casually tucked a stray hair behind her ear and softly asked: “So, Muxue, how do I look? Not too strange, right?”

Bai Muxue swallowed discreetly.

Truth be told, except for Shen Jingyi, Qin Xiyao was the most fashionably dressed girl she knew. Shen Jingyi never bothered with unnecessary clothing and cosmetics, preferring to save money to support her family.

As for Tang Xingwan, despite her improving looks, she either wore childish student attire or garish clothes with cartoon characters embroidered on the chest—no matter how many times Bai Muxue suggested otherwise!

And then there was Amber… though her true identity was unknown, she was likely to be a girl who dressed flamboyantly.

Perhaps it’s time for me to learn a thing or two about fashion from Qin Xiyao, after all, it fits my image as a villainous heiress.

Sigh, though I’ve tried following fashion tutorials online, I just can’t keep up with the trends!

Qin Xiyao, blissfully unaware of Bai Muxue’s thoughts, assumed her friend was captivated by her appearance. A subtle smile of satisfaction played at the corners of her mouth.

‘Hmm, who would have thought that serious Muxue would be so easily dazed?’ Qin Xiyao thought, pleased with the effort she had put in the night before.

“Ah, not at all, you look great,” Bai Muxue finally managed to say, handing over a bag containing two milk tea cups. “The tea shop in the square is having a buy-one-get-one-free promotion, so I bought two. It was quite crowded though.”

Bai Muxue sighed, recalling the long queue at the tea shop.

‘Oh, so that’s why Muxue wasn’t replying to my messages,’ Qin Xiyao thought, her last trace of frustration vanishing. She accepted the milk tea with a brighter smile.

“It does get crowded during promotions. You’re so thoughtful, Muxue. I was just getting thirsty.”

Qin Xiyao sat next to Bai Muxue, her body brushing against the girl’s, a faint, pleasant scent enveloping them. Bai Muxue’s cheeks flushed slightly as she averted her gaze, taking small sips of the milk tea.

“Um, by the way, didn’t you bring your notebook?” Bai Muxue asked, her voice betraying a hint of awkwardness.

A standard art student, Qin Xiyao always carried her notebook to jot down sudden inspirations or poetic thoughts.

“Hmm?” Qin Xiyao looked confused for a moment before realizing she had forgotten her notebook. ‘This is unusual, I always bring it with me,’ she thought, her lips curving into a slight smile. ‘It must be because I was so focused on Muxue that I forgot.’

“Today, I decided not to bring it. After all, this is our date, isn’t it?”

“Pfft!” Bai Muxue choked on her milk tea, coughing violently. Her face flushed even deeper, and she clutched her chest, looking at Qin Xiyao with a mixture of embarrassment and astonishment.

“A date? Qin Xiyao, what do you mean by that?”

Qin Xiyao, despite seeing Bai Muxue’s discomfort, feigned innocence, patting her back gently. “Interest is interest, and a date is a date. If we’re out, we should enjoy the date.”

Leaning in, she whispered, “A date is a sacred thing, after all. You should commit to it fully.”

Qin Xiyao suppressed a giggle, her eyes sparkling with mischief. ‘Let’s see Muxue squirm for once!’ she thought.

“Cough, cough… It’s not a date, Qin Xiyao, stop teasing me!” Bai Muxue managed to say, her body trembling from the unexpected closeness.

‘When did Qin Xiyao become so playful?’ Bai Muxue thought, rolling her eyes at the grinning girl.

“Alright, alright, just a joke!” Qin Xiyao laughed, taking a sip of her milk tea and gently patting Bai Muxue’s back. Her heart swelled with contentment, no matter how Bai Muxue saw their outing.

But her bliss was short-lived as Bai Muxue hurriedly interjected, “It’s just… a friend gave me two tickets to a band concert, so I invited you out.”

Bai Muxue seemed eager to clarify, but her explanation fell flat, causing Qin Xiyao’s smile to freeze.

“Crunch.”

The plastic cup in Qin Xiyao’s hand began to warp and deform.

****

Bai Muxue’s thoughts drifted to how she had always seen Qin Xiyao as a serious and somewhat distant figure. She never imagined that beneath that composed exterior lay a playful and sometimes mischievous spirit. As the two continued their outing, Bai Muxue couldn’t help but wonder if this was the start of a deeper understanding between them.

****

As they walked away from the square, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, but the memory of Qin Xiyao’s playful teasing lingered in the air. Bai Muxue found herself smiling, a warmth spreading through her that she hadn’t felt in a long time. Perhaps, just perhaps, this was more than just a friendly outing.

****

Meanwhile, Qin Xiyao’s mind raced with thoughts of how to make the most of their time together. She was determined to cherish every moment, whether it was a date or not. In her heart, she knew that being with Bai Muxue was enough, regardless of the labels.

****

As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the city, both girls felt a sense of contentment. The day had been filled with unexpected twists, but it had also brought them closer than ever before. In the end, perhaps that was all that mattered.