"By the way, you know Tang Li's got a girlfriend now, right?"
Yu Yuan suddenly threw out the question.
Ji Yu froze. Truth be told, it wasn't something she wanted to think about. She almost wished she could avoid the topic entirely. She did care—care whether Tang Li had really started dating someone, and why he hadn't told her—but at the same time, there was that old saying: what you don't see won't hurt you. As long as she didn't see it with her own eyes, it didn't matter, did it?
Still, wasn't it a good thing if a friend found someone? Why then, this faint irritation in her chest?
Across from her, Yu Yuan lounged lazily with his legs crossed, waiting for her answer, shaking his head like it was all a joke. Ji Yu found herself biting her lower lip, almost without realizing it. That tiny, unconscious gesture… once she noticed it, the color in her eyes dulled.
How could a yes-or-no question feel this difficult?
Do I know? Or don't I?
The truth: Tang Li had never said he had a girlfriend. Only that he'd been busy. So busy, in fact, that they could only meet during the Chengyin Festival.
And that day… the arm linked through his? Ji Yu had her suspicions. She just didn't want to admit them.
There's a saying: seeing is believing. But sometimes, even unseen things are real. Life marched forward, day by day. Their relationship shifted, step by step. The world did not revolve around her—whether she was content or aching inside, the city lights would still flare to life each evening.
Why had she bitten her lip? What did that gesture mean?
And then it clicked. The real answers weren't "know" or "don't know." They were care or don't care.
Ji Yu picked up the milk tea Yu Yuan had pushed toward her. Wrapping her lips around the straw, she gave her thoughts one last sorting.
If she didn't care whether Tang Li was dating someone—then what was there to think about? Friends getting into relationships was perfectly normal. That was just life. So why had she hesitated?
…And if she did care?
The sweetness exploded across her tongue—so sweet it hurt. She grimaced, covering her mouth, but forced herself to swallow before gasping:
"…I know."
Yu Yuan lifted his gaze, studying her calm, unreadable face. Finally, he lowered his eyes in silence.
"But it's not quite girlfriend yet," Ji Yu added, almost defensively. "More like… about to be. He's a good guy. It's normal for someone like him to be dating. Besides, why are you asking me? Weren't you two not even on good terms?"
Yu Yuan didn't answer. He just kept looking at her, lips curved in a faint, knowing smile.
She didn't notice the flicker in his eyes—half amusement, half curiosity.
"I thought you'd run straight to Tang Li after breaking up with Mo Yachen," he said. "But you don't seem to care that much about his love life, huh?"
Originally, Yu Yuan had just wanted to cheer her up. But the way she'd paused so long before answering "I know"—and the way she'd been quick to clarify Tang Li's relationship—made something click in his mind.
She did care. She just didn't want to admit it.
Interesting. Very interesting.
A mischievous idea sparked in his head. He leaned back, ran a hand through his hair, and said casually:
"In that case… why don't you be my girlfriend, Ji Yu?"
Her eyes went wide. "Wha—you… Senior, go mess around with someone else if you want, but don't drag me into it!"
Yu Yuan's gaze was steady, serious even. Her flustered rejection had been expected. Still, he remembered what Mo Yachen had told him: Ji Yu was gentle to a fault, too soft-hearted to say no if someone pressed her earnestly enough.
"Come on. Don't you think we'd make a good match? Look at us right now—the mood's great."
Maybe he thought tossing out confessions like this was just harmless fun. But to Ji Yu, it felt noisy, annoying. She set her cup down, scanned the room to make sure no one was listening, then turned back to meet his eyes.
Blue and black clashed, just for a moment. Yu Yuan chuckled awkwardly, the playboy mask slipping a little.
"…Alright, alright. What I really wanted to ask—" He scratched his cheek. "If we keep going in circles like this, you'll just storm off. And I know you don't have much time in Shanghai anyway."
The midday sun pierced through the clouds, spilling light into the shop. Ji Yu's lazy tone softened the heat, but Yu Yuan only sat there, lips pressed in a thin curve, silent.
The sweet, syrupy air of the milk tea shop weighed heavy around them. Ji Yu, full and a little drowsy, yawned despite herself.
"I want…"
Yu Yuan began, then hesitated. He reached out, gently pressing down her cup, and finally spoke:
"Ji Yu, tomorrow night—during the Chengyin Festival—will you spend it with me? I don't have many friends here. It'd mean a lot, to just talk, hang out, like this."
He nudged her cup back toward her. "Besides, you already drank from it. That's basically a yes."
"…What? You set me up from the start? You scumbag."
"You didn't refuse, did you?" He shrugged innocently.
Ji Yu narrowed her eyes. "Why?"
"I can't say."
"So you expect me to ditch my mom and sister just to hang out with you? That's way too pushy. Not even my sponsor gets that kind of treatment."
"I'll come pick you up tomorrow night."
"Wait! I haven't agreed yet! Don't you dare assume I'll show up—I'm not the same as before. I already dumped Mo Yachen, remember? Don't think I'll just go along with whatever you say."
Yu Yuan paused at the counter, paid for their drinks, then turned back. He knew she was right—any girl would need a proper reason to meet a guy alone at night.
Standing in the doorway, he gave her a smile that, for once, was completely sincere.
"…Tomorrow's my birthday. That's my wish."