TT Chapter 13. Just Look At Him

Thanks to the three-doses-a-day regime of rock sugar pear soup, Chen Ting recovered quickly. By the time another weekend rolled around, he was already back to full health, so he decided it was time to treat Pei Yiyao to a meal.

He had asked in advance what Pei Yiyao liked to eat, but all he got back was a vague “anything’s fine,” which left him temporarily stumped.

Yang Shulin said, “There’s a new Shaxian Snacks shop on the food street outside campus. After you eat, you can go upstairs and get a full-body massage.”

“What kind of garbage suggestion is that.”

Since his roommates were clearly unreliable, Chen Ting had to come up with something on his own. Fortunately, they had agreed to meet on Sunday, which gave him time to wander through the library and think it over.

And if Chen Ting was going to the library, he was definitely stopping by the café.

Today, though, something was a little different. When he reached the café entrance, he noticed a hiring notice taped to the glass door. He paused to read it, and once he was inside and placing his order, he casually asked:

“You’re hiring?”

The same server as last time nodded. “Yeah, all our staff are students. You know that big guy who used to work here? He quit to study for grad school. We’ve rearranged the schedule, but we’re still short-handed, so we’re looking for a new part-timer.”

“Grad school’s important. I’ll have a slice of chocolate cake and a hot cocoa.”

“You always get the same thing.” The server teased him while ringing it up. After handing over the order, they suddenly thought of something and leaned in.

“You’ve been coming here a long time. What do you think, want to work here?”

Chen Ting had never actually considered taking on a part-time job. The server, seeing he hadn’t immediately refused, pressed on while the iron was hot.

“I think you’re a great fit. And hey, you love the cake here, right? If you work here, you’ll be the first to try whatever the senpai baker whips up. Free, too. Plus, it’s just weekends. Two days, that’s it. Won’t take up much of your time.”

That did the trick. Chen Ting was definitely tempted. He didn’t care much about the pay or whether the job was easy. It was the cake that was the real deal-breaker.

The server genuinely liked him, thought he had good energy, and also shared his love for the shop’s desserts. So while Chen Ting sat down and started eating, they found time to chat with him again.

“The café’s actually quiet most of the time. Look around, barely a handful of customers right now. You could even sit and read between orders. You like those books on the shelf, don’t you?”

Chen Ting smiled. “And your boss is okay with that?”

The server shrugged. “Our senior doesn’t really care. As long as you don’t mess up the books, it’s fine.”

Chen Ting nodded, increasingly tempted. Still, he did not agree immediately and only said he would think it over.

Before he knew it, Sunday had arrived. Chen Ting decided to treat Pei Yiyao to his favorite hot pot restaurant. The place was located inside a nearby shopping mall. It was not especially close to campus, but not too far either.

Yang Shulin was supposed to come along as well. However, the campus press team suddenly had something urgent to deal with, so he had no choice but to wave them off with a tearful goodbye.

Chen Ting and Pei Yiyao rode bicycles from campus. Both bikes were basic models bought for three hundred yuan each from the campus supermarket. Aside from the color, their designs were completely identical. One was white, and the other was blue. At a glance, they looked like a matching set.

Pei Yiyao did have a much nicer bike at home, but he had not brought it with him.

The ride to the mall took just over twenty minutes. When they parked and walked up to the second-floor hot pot restaurant, it was not even eleven yet. Even so, there were already people lining up at the entrance.

Chen Ting quickly went to get a number. He was wearing a white hoodie today, and a crab-shaped keychain was swinging from the strap of his gray canvas bag as he moved.

“B22. Looks like we’ll have to wait a bit,” he said, sounding mildly frustrated. If he had known, he would have come half an hour earlier.

Pei Yiyao noticed his expression, but he did not feel the slightest impatience about waiting. On the contrary, if Xu Yiming ever found out about this, he would probably think someone had taken over Pei Yiyao’s body.

After all, since when did that guy ever spend time on something like this? In the past, he would have walked right away.

As they waited, Chen Ting suddenly noticed that many of the people nearby, both men and women, were holding matcha soft serve cones. They all seemed to be from the same shop.

Everyone was eating with such visible enjoyment that it made the cones look even more tempting.

The long-haired girl sitting nearby seemed to really want one too. She tugged on her boyfriend’s arm and said sweetly, “Go get one for me. We’re not getting called anytime soon anyway.”

Her boyfriend looked helpless. “It’s been cold lately. Don’t eat anything icy.”

The girl gave a little humph. “Just admit you don’t want to buy it. So stingy.”

“You forgot what happened last time? Your stomach hurt. And we’re about to eat hot pot…”

“I just want one.”

As Chen Ting listened to the couple’s exchange, he felt that the air was filled not only with the scent of matcha cones, but also with a faint sweetness that smelled like romance. He quietly scooted a little closer to Pei Yiyao, trying not to intrude on their couple time.

To his surprise, Pei Yiyao suddenly asked, “You want one?”

“Huh?” Chen Ting turned his head. His gaze landed on Pei Yiyao’s throat, then shifted upward until it met his eyes.

Because of that small movement earlier, the two of them were now sitting rather close.

But Chen Ting had been too preoccupied with thoughts of ice cream to notice. After a pause, he said, “Not really. Do you want one? If you do, I’ll go buy two. The dessert place should be nearby.”

He was not the one who wanted it. He was only offering to get it if Pei Yiyao did. This absolutely was not because he had a craving.

Pei Yiyao stood up. “Wait here.”

Chen Ting had not even opened his mouth before Pei Yiyao was already striding away. With those long legs of his, he was gone in seconds. Chen Ting thought about running after him but hesitated, worried that if they both left, they might miss their number being called. In the end, he stayed put and waited.

At that moment, the girl next to him puffed up her cheeks and glared at her boyfriend.

“Just look at him!”

Her boyfriend gave in and began to coax her. “Alright, alright, I’ll go get it. Just wait here and don’t wander off, okay?” As soon as he said it, he stood up and headed off as well.

Chen Ting suddenly felt like something was off.

He turned to look at the girl, only to find that she was sneaking glances at him with sparkling eyes, her cheeks tinged with red. That look was oddly familiar. Lately, more and more people around campus had been looking at him and Pei Yiyao the same way.

Chen Ting sometimes found it a little awkward, but he did not mind. He knew they meant no harm.

Besides, the person in question was Pei Yiyao. He was not like Zhou Cheng, the kind of guy who was overly self-aware and easily swayed by outside noise. No matter how much people talked, it would never shake him.

Before long, Pei Yiyao returned, and right then their number was called. Chen Ting stepped forward to take the ice cream cone from him. Looking at Pei Yiyao’s empty hands, he asked, “You only bought one?”

“I already finished mine,” Pei Yiyao said calmly.

The guy walking behind them shot him a surprised glance. He had clearly seen this handsome guy buy only one. What did he mean, already finished? Was he trying to be smooth?

But Chen Ting had complete faith that a cool guy would never lie. He happily started eating his cone and followed Pei Yiyao into the hot pot restaurant. The matcha cone was absolutely delicious.

After the two of them sat down, the couple from earlier ended up at the next table. What a coincidence. So throughout the meal, Chen Ting somehow felt that even the hot pot had a hint of sweetness.

Good thing Yang Shulin was not here today. If he were, the only thing he would have tasted was bitterness. As for Chen Ting himself, calm and detached as always, he had no interest in envying anyone’s love life.

Pei Yiyao picked up a slice of potato that Chen Ting had been trying and failing to catch, and placed it into his bowl.

“Thanks,” Chen Ting said, chewing away contentedly. He had hot pot. He was happy.

Unfortunately, that good mood did not last very long. When they finished the meal and walked out of the restaurant to head back to campus, Chen Ting discovered that his bicycle was missing.

He glanced to the side. Pei Yiyao’s bike was still parked exactly where it had been. Only his was gone.

Chen Ting was furious. He felt this was discrimination.

There were so many bicycles here. Why had someone chosen to steal his? Why not anyone else’s?

Pei Yiyao looked at the way that round, childlike face flushed with anger. For a moment, he realized that this might be the first time he had ever seen Chen Ting genuinely upset. He could not help but glance at him a second time.

Although Chen Ting was angry, his head was clear and his thinking was sharp. The bike had cost three hundred yuan. Even if he filed a report and checked the surveillance cameras, the chances of actually getting it back were practically zero.

Anger was pointless, but the frustration remained.

Seeing his expression shift from anger to grievance, Pei Yiyao spoke at once, as if worried he might cry again. “I’ll help you get it back.”

Chen Ting looked up at him. “Better not. It’s not worth the time, and we probably won’t find it anyway. Yang Shulin has a bike, so I’ll just ride with him for a couple of days. It’s just… my mom had tucked a safety charm into the basket. That’s what I’m really sad about.”

As soon as Pei Yiyao heard the name “Yang Shulin,” he pressed his lips together, but said nothing more.

With his own bike gone, Chen Ting had no choice but to hitch a ride back.

Riding double had been awkward the first time, but by now Chen Ting was used to it. He climbed onto the back seat, his short legs swinging into place. Still mourning the loss of his bike, he barely noticed the number of people turning to look as Pei Yiyao pedaled them through the school gate.

Pei Yiyao dropped him off at the dormitory entrance. Chen Ting ran upstairs with his backpack bouncing behind him. Behind him, Pei Yiyao stayed where he was, fingers tapping lightly on the handlebar, silent and unmoving for a moment. Then he turned the bike around and rode back out through the gate.

Back in the dorm, Chen Ting launched his game and went off hunting across mountains and rivers. He chased eagles and ran down dogs, all without a care. He had wanted to wait for Yang Shulin to come back so he could vent a little, but the press group seemed busier than usual today, and there was still no sign of him.

After a long hunting session, Chen Ting grew tired. Thinking of his poor stolen bike and the damage it would do to his wallet, he let out a sigh. Just then, he happened to catch sight of the cake box on his desk and came to a decision.

The next morning.

Yang Shulin muttered curses the entire way to the bike shed, swearing at the heartless thief who had the nerve to steal from their beloved Ting Ting. He and Chen Ting were heading out together because all their classes that morning were at the North Campus, which was farther away, so they planned to ride bikes.

“Scumbag thief. No ambition at all. If you’re so bold, why not steal a Ferrari instead… But wait, Ting Ting, are you really planning to start working part-time?”

“Yeah. I mean, I’d just be sitting around otherwise.”

“That’s actually great. Now when I have to run off for events, you won’t be stuck alone in the dorm. Oh, and when you get to know the owner, make sure you help me set up an interview or two…”

Yang Shulin was getting more and more excited. He suddenly felt like this might be a real opportunity. But as they walked, he abruptly paused, narrowing his eyes at someone standing up ahead by the bike shed.

“Hey, isn’t that Pei Yiyao? What’s he doing over here this early?”

Chen Ting followed his gaze. Pei Yiyao’s tall frame, all one meter eighty-seven of it, stood out immediately. Today he had skipped the trench coat for once. He wore a white T-shirt under a gray-and-white knit cardigan. His collarbones were faintly visible, and his whole presence was clean and cool. But in the hazy morning light, that coolness took on a softness.

He looked like he was waiting for someone, leaning against the pillar beside the bike shed with his legs crossed. The early light slid down the bridge of his nose, tracing the sharp lines of his features and the fringe of hair on his forehead, making him look like a leading man from a campus romance, waiting for the heroine to appear.

But what did Chen Ting see?

He saw the white bicycle standing beside Pei Yiyao.

The very same white bicycle that had been stolen.