When Mei-Yu Wang said these words, her voice was so soft that almost only she herself could hear them.
Her face was burning red, and even her earlobes and neck were tinged with a faint shade of pink.
Shikime Natsu looked at her in this state but didn't say much, only giving a gentle little smile.
"Then let's go."
He spoke, his tone mild.
Mei-Yu Wang nodded vigorously, then followed along beside Shikime Natsu, the two of them heading together toward the Keyaki Mall.
The whole way there, Mei-Yu Wang's heartbeat never managed to calm down.
Every now and then she would secretly steal a glance at Shikime Natsu beside her, then quickly withdraw her gaze, as if afraid of being caught.
Shikime Natsu, on the other hand, didn't have any particular reaction, simply walking along at a composed pace, occasionally saying a few words in a casual, natural tone.
After walking for a little over ten minutes, the two of them arrived at the Keyaki Mall.
The level of liveliness here was completely different from the campus after school, with crowds of people coming and going everywhere.
The signs of various shops flickered with colorful lights, and the aromas of food drifted in from all directions, making one feel a sudden pang of hunger.
Mei-Yu Wang led Shikime Natsu into the grocery supermarket located within the mall.
The supermarket was brightly lit, the shelves stocked with all kinds of goods, from fresh vegetables and fruits to various seasonings—everything you could possibly need.
Mei-Yu Wang pushed a shopping cart, while Shikime Natsu followed alongside her.
"What dishes is Mei-chan planning to make?"
Shikime Natsu asked.
Mei-Yu Wang thought about it, then answered a little bashfully.
"I... I'm also planning to have you try some of the Chinese food I make, Natsu."
"Mm... Although it can't compare to your cooking, Natsu, I'll still do my best."
"Then I'll be looking forward to it."
Shikime Natsu answered with a smile.
Hearing this reply, a happy smile immediately appeared on Mei-Yu Wang's face, and she began to seriously pick out ingredients.
"First I need some basic seasonings..."
Mei-Yu Wang said as she pushed the cart toward the seasoning section.
Her gaze swept across the various bottles and jars, then she reached out and skillfully took down several bottles of seasoning from the shelf.
"Soy sauce, cooking wine, vinegar..."
She muttered softly as she picked them up, as if confirming something.
Watching her serious appearance, the corners of Shikime Natsu's mouth couldn't help curving up slightly.
After choosing the seasonings, Mei-Yu Wang pushed the cart over to the vegetable section.
Her gaze swept across all sorts of vegetables, then she reached out and picked up a green bell pepper.
"This bell pepper looks pretty fresh..."
She said softly, then examined it carefully, and only after confirming there was no problem did she place it into the cart.
Next came onions, carrots, potatoes, cabbage...
Mei-Yu Wang chose very seriously, carefully inspecting each vegetable to make sure it was fresh before placing it into the cart.
Shikime Natsu stood off to the side, watching her serious appearance without making a sound to disturb her.
"Then there's the meat..."
Mei-Yu Wang pushed the cart over to the meat section.
Her gaze swept across the various meats in the refrigerated case, then she reached out and picked up a box of chicken thigh meat.
"This should work well for kung pao chicken..."
She said softly, then looked at the price, and the expression on her face froze slightly.
"It... it seems a bit expensive..."
She muttered softly, then somewhat hesitantly put that box of chicken thigh meat back.
She picked up another box, looked at the price, then put it back again.
After repeating this several times, a somewhat dejected expression appeared on her face.
Watching her actions, Shikime Natsu roughly understood what was going on.
Class D's current class points were zero—that much he knew.
The sports festival was approaching, but the class points the school awarded were very few, and only first place could obtain them.
If Class D couldn't take first place at the sports festival, the life that followed would indeed be quite hard.
As a Class D student, Mei-Yu Wang's monthly personal points weren't many either, so wanting to treat someone to a meal was probably more than she could manage.
"Mei-chan."
Shikime Natsu called out to her.
Mei-Yu Wang turned her head, looking at Shikime Natsu with a few traces of confusion on her face.
"What is it?"
Shikime Natsu didn't say much, only reaching out to take that box of chicken thigh meat Mei-Yu Wang had originally had her eye on out of the refrigerated case, then placing it into the cart.
"I'll pay for the cost of the ingredients—after all, this time Mei-chan is making the food for me."
"Na-Natsu... how can that be okay?"
Seeing his action, Mei-Yu Wang hurriedly tried to stop him.
"Mei-chan, set your mind at ease. When Class D's class points are more comfortable, you can just treat me one more time."
Shikime Natsu said with a smile.
"That works, doesn't it?"
Mei-Yu Wang took a deep breath, then lifted her head to look at Shikime Natsu.
"Then... then okay... fine..."
Her voice was very small, carrying a few traces of reluctance.
"But... but next time you absolutely have to let me treat you!"
She added, her tone carrying a few traces of stubbornness.
Watching her serious appearance, Shikime Natsu smiled and nodded.
"Sure."
Hearing this reply, Mei-Yu Wang's heart felt a little more at ease.
But at the same time, she had also made up her mind.
She absolutely had to repay Shikime Natsu properly.
She couldn't just simply make one meal and call it done.
In the future... in the future she definitely had to find an opportunity to properly thank Shikime Natsu.
Mei-Yu Wang thought this in her heart, then began choosing ingredients again.
This time, she no longer fretted over the matter of prices, but seriously selected each ingredient, striving to do her very best.
Shikime Natsu, meanwhile, followed alongside her, occasionally helping her carry some things, occasionally offering some suggestions.
The two of them coordinated with quite remarkable harmony.
After choosing the ingredients, the two of them went to the snack section.
"What snacks does Natsu like to eat?"
Mei-Yu Wang asked.
"As for snacks..."
Shikime Natsu thought about it.
"There's nothing in particular I especially like."
"Then... then how about this?"
Mei-Yu Wang picked up a bag of potato chips and held it up in front of Shikime Natsu.
Shikime Natsu looked at it, and watching Mei-Yu Wang's action, he more or less understood what she was planning to do—she was probably planning to buy him a few extra little snacks as compensation.
Even though he'd said there was no need to mind it so much, these beautiful girls, every single one of them, really did mind this sort of thing quite a lot.
Of course, this feeling wasn't bad either.
"Sure, the one Mei-chan picked up just happens to be a flavor I like."
Shikime Natsu responded with a soft chuckle.
After receiving this response from Shikime Natsu, a happy smile couldn't help flashing across Mei-Yu Wang's face—how wonderful.
Mei-Yu Wang picked up another bag of chips of the same flavor and placed it into the cart. Watching this scene, a strange feeling welled up in her heart—this feeling was just like a wife and husband going out to buy groceries together.
Thinking of this, Mei-Yu Wang's cheeks couldn't help reddening again.
She hurriedly shook her head, wanting to fling this thought out of her mind.
Just what on earth was she thinking!
It was clearly nothing more than a perfectly ordinary friendship—how could she possibly think of a married couple's relationship?
Honestly...
Mei-Yu Wang scolded herself in her heart, but the blush on her face just wouldn't fade no matter what.
"Mei-chan?"
Just as Mei-Yu Wang was spacing out, Shikime Natsu's voice rang out from beside her.
"What's wrong?"
"No-nothing!"
Mei-Yu Wang hurriedly answered, her voice carrying a few traces of fluster.
"Then... then let's go!"
After saying this, Mei-Yu Wang finally pushed the cart toward the checkout counter.
The two of them came to the checkout counter. Mei-Yu Wang planned to first take out her own personal points to pay, and then have Shikime Natsu pay for whatever was left—that way, Shikime Natsu could spend fewer personal points. But she saw Shikime Natsu pull out his phone from his pocket one step ahead of her and pay directly with personal points.
Shikime Natsu took out his phone from his pocket and paid directly with personal points.
"Natsu... thank you."
Mei-Yu Wang said, though a flicker of embarrassment crossed her heart again—the chips she'd bought for Shikime Natsu were something she'd planned to pay for herself, yet...
"No need to thank me. Let's go."
Shikime Natsu naturally picked up the shopping bags again and said.
"Please let me carry them!"
Mei-Yu Wang hurriedly spoke up. Seeing the earnestness in the girl's eyes, Shikime Natsu didn't fuss over it any further, and handed everything except the two bags of chips to Mei-Yu Wang, at which point Mei-Yu Wang finally nodded in satisfaction.
By the time the two of them came out of the Keyaki Mall, the sky had already grown somewhat dark.
The streetlamps lit up one by one, shrouding everything around them in a layer of warm halo.
Mei-Yu Wang carried the shopping bag, walking alongside Shikime Natsu.
The two of them's shadows intertwined beneath the streetlamps, looking quite harmonious indeed.
The whole way, the two of them kept chatting.
"Did Natsu have any hobbies or interests when you were little?"
Mei-Yu Wang asked, her tone carrying a few traces of curiosity.
"When I was little..."
Shikime Natsu thought about it.
"I actually quite liked reading."
"Reading? What kind of books does Natsu like to read?"
"I read all kinds, but mostly mystery novels."
"Wow... that's so amazing..."
Mei-Yu Wang's eyes sparkled with light.
"Seeing how outstanding you are, Natsu, I can't help but feel... like maybe I should work a little harder too..."
"You already work very hard."
Shikime Natsu said, his tone serious.
"Today on the field, I saw you keeping at your running the whole time, and even coming to a new environment, you've been constantly working to adapt."
He looked at Mei-Yu Wang.
"That kind of perseverance—not everyone has it."
Hearing these words, Mei-Yu Wang's expression went slightly blank.
Then her face began to slowly redden again.
"That's... that's not true..."
She lowered her head, speaking softly.
"I just don't want to hold everyone back, that's all..."
"That too is a form of effort."
Shikime Natsu smiled.
"So, Mei-chan is already wonderful."
Hearing these words, Mei-Yu Wang's heartbeat couldn't help quickening a few beats.
She secretly stole a glance at Shikime Natsu's profile, then quickly withdrew her gaze.
Shikime Natsu... is really so gentle...
Mei-Yu Wang thought this in her heart, the corners of her mouth couldn't help curving up slightly.
The two of them continued chatting, the topic going from hobbies and interests to favorite music, from favorite music to movies they'd watched, from movies they'd watched to amusing childhood stories.
Mei-Yu Wang discovered that chatting with Shikime Natsu really was a very relaxing and pleasant thing.
Shikime Natsu wouldn't, like other people, show impatience at her words, nor would he interrupt her.
He always listened earnestly, then gave responses that were just right.
This feeling...
really was so comfortable...
Mei-Yu Wang thought this in her heart.
At the same time, she was also thankful that they hadn't run into anyone along the way.
They hadn't run into any classmates, nor had they run into any of Shikime Natsu's girlfriends.
If they had run into them, they wouldn't think she was some sneaky little cat poaching another's man, would they?
Thinking of this, Mei-Yu Wang couldn't help feeling a little nervous.
If that really were the case, then it would be awkward...
But then again...
On second thought, Mei-Yu Wang realized she was now technically interacting with Shikime Natsu, who was someone else's boyfriend, and she was even going to cook for him...
Hmm...
In a certain sense, didn't that make her a sneaky little poaching cat too?
Thinking of this, Mei-Yu Wang's cheeks couldn't help reddening again.
She hurriedly shook her head, flinging this thought out of her mind.
Just what on earth was she thinking!
She just wanted to thank Shikime Natsu, that was all—she didn't have any other ideas...
Well, okay...
Maybe she really did have a little tiny bit of other ideas...
But...
But it was only a little tiny bit!!
Mei-Yu Wang thought this in her heart, then secretly stole a glance at Shikime Natsu beside her.
Shikime Natsu's profile, illuminated by the streetlamps, looked exceptionally good.
Mei-Yu Wang's heartbeat couldn't help quickening a few more beats.
She took a deep breath, trying hard to calm herself down.
Just as they were almost at the foot of the dormitory building, Shikime Natsu turned to look at Mei-Yu Wang and asked.
"By the way, Mei-chan, where are you planning to cook? Your dorm or my dorm?"
After hearing these words from Shikime Natsu, Mei-Yu Wang answered a little bashfully.
"Last time you invited me to take a look at your room, Natsu, so this time let's go to my dorm."
After hearing these words from Mei-Yu Wang, Shikime Natsu nodded slightly, indicating his understanding.
Mei-Yu Wang led Shikime Natsu into the dormitory building, then pressed the elevator button.
The elevator doors opened, and the two of them stepped inside.
Mei-Yu Wang pressed the floor where her dorm was located, then the elevator doors slowly closed.
Inside the elevator it was very quiet, with only the faint humming sound of the elevator running.
Mei-Yu Wang stood beside Shikime Natsu, feeling a little nervous.
Her palms were faintly sweating, and her heartbeat was quite a bit faster than usual.
She secretly stole a glance at Shikime Natsu, and found that Shikime Natsu was actually very calm, no particular expression on his face.
The elevator soon arrived at Mei-Yu Wang's floor.
The elevator doors opened, and Mei-Yu Wang stepped out first, with Shikime Natsu following behind her.
The two of them walked down the corridor and came to the door of Mei-Yu Wang's dorm.
Mei-Yu Wang took out the key from her pocket, then took a deep breath, inserted the key into the keyhole, and gave it a gentle turn.
With a "click," the door opened.
Mei-Yu Wang pushed the door open, then turned around and looked at Shikime Natsu.
"Please... please come in..."
Her voice carried a few traces of nervousness.
Shikime Natsu nodded, then walked into Mei-Yu Wang's dorm.
His gaze swept around the room.
The room wasn't large, but it was cleaned very thoroughly and was very tidy.
The bed was made up neatly, and the books on the desk were arranged in perfect order too.
On the windowsill sat a small green potted plant, adding a few traces of vitality to this simple room.
A faint, light fragrance lingered in the air, like some kind of floral scent, or like the smell of laundry detergent—it smelled very pleasant.
"Sit wherever you like."
Mei-Yu Wang said, then carried the shopping bag into the kitchen.
Shikime Natsu walked over to the chair beside the desk and sat down, then continued to survey the room.
The feeling this room gave was very much like Mei-Yu Wang herself.
Clean, tidy, simple, and carrying a few traces of gentleness.
"Mei-chan's room is very clean."
Shikime Natsu said.
"Th-thank you..."
Mei-Yu Wang's voice came from the kitchen, carrying a few traces of bashfulness.
She set the shopping bag down on the kitchen counter, then began to take out the ingredients inside one by one.
Just at this moment, she suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable on her body.
She'd run for so long on the field today and worked up quite a sweat, and now that the sweat had dried, it stuck to her body and felt very uncomfortable.
And her body still carried a faint smell of sweat...
Thinking of this, a somewhat awkward expression couldn't help appearing on Mei-Yu Wang's face.
In a state like this, how could she possibly feel comfortable standing in the kitchen cooking...
And besides...
And besides, Shikime Natsu was still sitting out there...
If she let Shikime Natsu catch a whiff of the sweat smell on her body...
That would be way too embarrassing...
A fierce struggle was taking place inside Mei-Yu Wang's heart.
She bit her lip, hesitating for quite a while, then took a deep breath and walked out of the kitchen.
"Um... Natsu..."
Her voice was very small, carrying a few traces of bashfulness.
"Can I... can I take a shower first..."
She paused, as if explaining something.
"I went running just now, and my body feels a bit... a bit uncomfortable..."
After saying this, her face was as red as a ripe apple, and she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Looking at her in this state, Shikime Natsu didn't show any strange expression.
He merely nodded, then spoke.
"Then should I step out for a bit and come back after you've finished washing up?"
"No-no need!"
Mei-Yu Wang hurriedly shook her head.
"No need to leave..."
After saying this, she felt like something wasn't quite right.
Leaving a boy in the room while she went off to shower...
No matter how she thought about it, it was a little...
Aiya, whatever, forget it!
Mei-Yu Wang thought this in her heart, then strode quickly over to the wardrobe, opened the doors, and took out a set of fresh clothes from inside.
Her movements were very fast, afraid that Shikime Natsu might see something he shouldn't.
After grabbing the clothes, she held them in her arms, lowered her head, and strode quickly into the bathroom.
Then she turned around and looked at Shikime Natsu.
"Then... then I'm going to go wash up first..."
After saying this, she hurriedly closed the bathroom door.
Shikime Natsu looked at that closed door, gave a gentle little smile, then withdrew his gaze and continued surveying the room.
Inside the bathroom.
Mei-Yu Wang placed the fresh clothes on the rack, then walked over to the showerhead and turned on the faucet.
The warm water streamed down from the showerhead, splashing onto her body, slowly relaxing her body that had grown somewhat fatigued from the exercise.
She squeezed out some body wash, smeared it over her body, then gently scrubbed with a bath pouf.
White foam spread across her skin, carrying a faint, light fragrance.
Mei-Yu Wang closed her eyes, savoring the sensation of the water washing over her body.
In her mind, the figure of Shikime Natsu couldn't help surfacing.
Natsu, he... right now is...
He's sitting right there in her room... her voice wouldn't be overheard, would it?
Thinking of this, Mei-Yu Wang's heartbeat couldn't help quickening a few beats.
Her face began to redden again, and even under the rush of the hot water, she could feel that burning temperature.
Just what on earth was she letting her mind wander to...
Mei-Yu Wang scolded herself in her heart, then sped up her showering.
She didn't want to keep Shikime Natsu waiting too long.
After rinsing herself clean, she turned off the faucet, then picked up a towel and began drying her body.
After drying her body, she began to put on her clothes.
Just as she was bending over to pull on her pants, her foot suddenly stepped onto a small puddle of water on the floor that she hadn't noticed.
Her body abruptly slipped, and her whole person lost balance.
"Ah——!"
Mei-Yu Wang let out a startled cry, then her body toppled toward the floor.
____
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