An autograph?
What would he even need her autograph for? Wasn't she just a teacher who had brought her student to Lumina Square to relax?!
Then Soukaku had run off to the ramen shop because she was too hungry, and she'd come looking for her, worried the child might get lost.
Ye Qingfeng didn't really keep up with celebrities in New Eridu. Could it be that the person in front of him was actually some kind of star?
He also didn't have any paper in his spatial backpack—but he did carry a deck of playing cards for emergencies.
"Um…" Ye Qingfeng hesitated for a moment before taking out a playing card and handing it over. "Please sign it on this."
A… playing card?
The corner of Yanagi's mouth twitched involuntarily. This was the first time anyone had ever asked her to sign a playing card. Though she didn't quite understand it, she still accepted the Nine of Hearts.
"Why do you carry playing cards with you?" Soukaku tilted her head, resting a finger against her chin. After a second, she suddenly pointed at Ye Qingfeng with certainty. "I know! You're a magician!"
"Soukaku! It's rude to point at people!" Yanagi immediately stepped in, gently pressing Soukaku's arm down. She then looked apologetically at Ye Qingfeng and handed the signed card back. "I'm really sorry—this child is still young…"
Soukaku was instantly filled with question marks.
Huh? I'm still a child in Sister Yanagi's eyes? Well Sister Yanagi must have her reasons!
"Mhm, mhm! I'm still young!"
Soukaku nodded vigorously, agreeing with Yanagi's words.
Seeing this scene, Ye Qingfeng couldn't help recalling the past. Once, when a child had accidentally bumped into him, the child's mother had said something similar.
So… they weren't teacher and student, but mother and daughter?
But no matter how he looked at it, they didn't really seem like mother and daughter, did they?! Right…!
Not to mention, Miss Yanagi was still so young. To think she already had a husband.
"N-no worries…" Ye Qingfeng asked cautiously, his heart pounding a little. "Are you two… mother and daughter?"
"No! Of course not!"
Yanagi's reaction was instant. Her pupils shrank, and she waved her hands frantically as she denied it, clearly flustered. Realizing she'd overreacted, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
"We're just colleagues… If anything, we're more like sisters."
"Sister Yanagi, your face is red!"
Soukaku, who had already finished her large bowl of ramen during this short exchange, noticed immediately. She stood up in concern.
"Are you feeling sick? Do we need to go to the hospital?"
Her innocent words only made the situation more awkward. The blush on Yanagi's face deepened, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.
"Sister Yanagi! Sister Yanagi!" Soukaku tugged at her sleeve anxiously. "You—"
"Soukaku… I'm fine. I'm not sick."
Yanagi quickly composed herself and gently held Soukaku's small hand. She then looked at Ye Qingfeng and offered an apologetic smile.
"Sorry about the awkwardness."
"It's fine…"
"Alright, Soukaku. It's time to head back."
Yanagi took Soukaku's hand and led her away, nodding politely to Ye Qingfeng as they left.
"Thanks for the cookies!"
Soukaku followed obediently, turning back to wave at Ye Qingfeng with an innocent smile.
Ye Qingfeng's lips curved upward unconsciously as he waved back.
He returned to his seat and finished the ramen he'd left behind. Thinking back on Yanagi's flustered expression, his heart fluttered slightly. Seeing such a serious person act shy was… kind of cute.
And what if—just what if—Miss Yanagi became his girlfriend? Wouldn't he also get an adorable, airheaded little sister as a bonus?
Oh right! But there was also Miss Zhu Yan!
Ahh… now he had to choose between them. What a painful dilemma!
Lost in his thoughts, the noodles in his bowl quickly disappeared.
Ye Qingfeng stood up and left the ramen shop. Pulling out his phone, he saw that Nicole and Anby still hadn't replied to his messages, which left him feeling a bit down.
After glancing at the time, he began wandering the streets.
Of course, he wasn't just strolling aimlessly—he was also hoping to run into another new romanceable target. Trusting his instincts, he walked around, buying interesting trinkets or snacks with Denny whenever something caught his eye.
Before he realized it, dusk had fallen.
Ye Qingfeng stopped by a milk tea shop he'd visited before and ordered a cup of green tea. While waiting, he remembered the messages he'd sent to Nicole and Anby at noon. He hadn't checked his phone during his walk, he assumed they would replied by now.
Leaning against a telephone pole by the roadside, he took out his phone.
Nicole: Will arrive in a couple of days. Don't rush.
Anby: I went to watch a movie earlier. Let me tell you…
Anby followed up with a long string of messages detailing the movie's plot—something Ye Qingfeng wasn't particularly interested in. He casually replied to both of them, telling them to handle dinner on their own.
It was too late to rush back and cook anyway. It was better to let them sort themselves out while he found somewhere to eat before heading home at a relaxed paste.
Putting his phone away, Ye Qingfeng walked back toward the milk tea shop.
"Senior Qingyi, I've been exhausted from working overtime these past two days…"
Just as the shop assistant handed him his green tea, he heard a very familiar voice.
If he wasn't mistaken, that was—
"Zhu Yan!"
Ye Qingfeng turned around with hopeful anticipation and saw Zhu Yan walking past, accompanied by the green-haired girl he'd met before.
Both of them were dressed casually now, so to Ye Qingfeng, it looked like Zhu Yan was out with a child.
"Ah…! Qingfeng, what are you doing here?"
Hearing her name, Zhu Yan turned in surprise and immediately spotted Ye Qingfeng only a meter away. She looked startled—and a little flustered.
Maybe it was because the encounter was so sudden. Or maybe because she had feelings for Ye Qingfeng herself… and Senior Qingyi was standing right beside her.
All of it made her feel inexplicably shy.
"What a coincidence," Ye Qingfeng said casually, inserting a straw and taking a sip. "What are you two up to?"
"We were planning to grab something to eat…"
Zhu Yan lightly bit her lip, then asked with a hint of anticipation in her voice,
"Would you like to join us, Qingfeng?"
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