She's Too Sweet - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Outside the restroom, Chen Yao wiped his hands and came out. He saw Xie Lou leaning against the wall outside the restroom, looking relaxed with his arms crossed. Chen Yao took a closer look and realized the restroom door was closed.

Chen Yao was shocked: “Hey, wasn’t this restroom door broken last night? Su He is inside!”

He had come a bit earlier and had been locked inside once.

Xie Lou ignored him, lowered his head with a hint of a smile, and knocked on the door.

Su He inside became completely silent.

Xie Lou said, “Hmm?”

Chen Yao finally reacted, “Aren’t you going to open the door for her?”

Xie Lou raised his eyes to look at him, his narrow eyes seemingly careless but with a hint of mischief.

Chen Yao: “……”

“Are you kidding me?!” he exclaimed. “Let me go save Su He.”

As he was about to rush over, Xie Lou stretched out his long legs and blocked him, while having a warning expression.

Chen Yao wasn’t afraid of him at this point. He puffed out his chest, and the two stood silently facing each other.

Just then, a soft voice came from inside the restroom.

“Xie Lou, what are you doing?”

“So childish?”

The voice, as gentle as a spring, floated through the door, sounding slightly flirtatious.

Chen Yao’s ears reddened slightly.

The innocent boy couldn’t handle being teased.

Xie Lou’s gaze drifted carelessly towards the door. After a moment, he rubbed the corner of his mouth and walked towards the TV cabinet. He pulled out a thin pair of pliers and came back to the door, bent down, and opened it.

As the door opened, Su He stood inside with her hair tied up in a high ponytail.

Xie Lou raised an eyebrow and locked eyes with her.

Su He took a step forward without saying a word, walked down the stairs, and passed by him.

Xie Lou played with the pliers, staring at her.

Su He didn’t glance at Chen Yao; she entered the kitchen, grabbed her belongings, and was about to leave. Chen Yao pinched his ear and quickly bent down to grab the car keys Xie Lou had left on the coffee table. “I’ll take you,” he said, chasing after Su He as they exited the door.

The door slammed shut.

Xie Lou tossed the pliers into a drawer, turned around, and sat on the sofa with his hands on his knees. He lowered his gaze and sat for a while before reaching up to rub his ear.

Afterward, he picked up a cigarette and stood up, walking to the window.

He pulled open the curtains and looked down.

His black Jaguar wasn’t parked in the underground garage; it was in the public parking lot in front of the building.

At that moment, two people were struggling beside the car.

Finally, a girl in a skirt bent down and got into the Jaguar.

Xie Lou narrowed his eyes and let go of the curtains.

He closed them and turned back into the study.

* * * * * * * * * *

When Su He realized it, she was already in the car.

She thought to herself that being soft-hearted was a disease that needed treatment.

Chen Yao hummed a tune as he drove, heading towards Hai Cheng University. He glanced at Su He, who was staring out the window, and his heart skipped a beat.

After a moment, he found a topic to discuss: “Xie Lou’s personality is like that; don’t mind him.”

Sometimes he is cold, sometimes mischievous…

Su He didn’t respond, simply saying, “Just drop me off at the north gate.”

“Okay,” Chen Yao replied, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Suddenly, he remembered something and his eyes lit up: “By the way, are you interested in attending the welcome party this time?”

At the red light intersection, Chen Yao turned to look at Su He.

Su He was taken aback, glanced at him, and Chen Yao’s lips curled into a smile. His eyes were clear but also carried a hint of flirtation.

Su He recalled high school when she had a crush on Xie Lou.

Every time Chen Yao walked past her desk, he would smile at her.

His gaze was like looking at some animal.

The red light flashed, and the Jaguar started moving.

Su He replied, “Not interested.”

“Is that so?” Chen Yao asked, though he had already guessed her response. He felt a bit disappointed. Soon, they arrived at the north gate of Hai Cheng University, and Chen Yao stopped the car.

Su He opened the door and got out.

Before closing the door, she bent down and said thank you.

Chen Yao, who was staring at her intently, immediately raised an eyebrow. “You’re welcome.”

His expression was somewhat endearing.

Su He closed the door and turned to walk towards the entrance.

* * * * * * * * * *

The school was less crowded than usual, with people scattered here and there. The sun was shining just right. Su He returned to her dorm for a nap and later went downstairs with Chi Ying and Chen Lin to visit the library and buy some instant coffee from the convenience store next to it.

The three of them sat in the back row, enjoying the sunlight.

A girl with a pretty face, resembling a net idol, sat down in the front row. She was holding a book by Jimmy and playing with her phone.

When she received a message, she raised her eyebrows and glanced at the three of them before continuing to listen. After a while, she lowered her head and sent a voice message in a low tone: “You just know how to act; you chased him but didn’t cherish him well. Now you’re broken up and asking me to keep an eye on him. I’m not even familiar with him.”

The person on the other end responded, and she listened before replying, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll take advantage of the situation?”

“There’s more. How do you know he doesn’t love you? You just know how to act. I see he’s not close to any girl now; where did he change his heart?”

“Maybe that’s just how he is when he’s in a relationship. You know he’s busy.”

“Okay, if you’re not satisfied, come back early.”

She finally put down her phone.

Chen Lin and Chi Ying exchanged a glance, both slightly relieved. They couldn’t help but want to tell her to go outside to send voice messages; it wasn’t right to do so in the library.

Chi Ying nudged Su He’s hand.

Su He nodded, and the three continued reading silently.

After a while, Chi Ying got up to buy three more cups of coffee. Chen Lin stood up to change books, leaving Su He alone. The pen Su He brought fell to the ground, and the phone on the table rang, likely a WeChat message.

The girl across from them, Liu Yun, noticed but wasn’t particularly interested. She glanced over casually.

The next second, her expression became somewhat strange.

Su He stood up, put the pen away, and hadn’t yet picked up her phone when Liu Yun said, “You have a WeChat message.”

Su He paused, looked at her, and felt slightly invaded. She frowned, “I can hear it.”

Liu Yun nodded but didn’t notice Su He’s slight annoyance. She was just looking at Su He’s phone.

There was a message from Xie Lou.

Su He picked up her phone and listened to it.

Xie Lou’s low, lazy voice came through: “We’re out of chili at home. Bring a can of a specific brand when you come over tonight.”

Su He listened and didn’t bother responding. She just put her phone back into her bag.

However, Liu Yun’s gaze remained on her face.

Su He frowned again and looked up at her. “What are you looking at?”

Liu Yun came back to her senses, smiled, and shook her head. “Nothing.”

Su He: “……”

* * * * * * * * * *

The three of them stayed in the library until sunset before leaving. Su He went with Chi Ying and Chen Lin, but she decided to head to the Huadong New City District by bus.

At the supermarket downstairs, she bought a can of chili and went upstairs.

Xie Lou wasn’t in the living room; the study door was open. Su He glanced inside and then headed into the kitchen.

It seemed Chen Yao wasn’t there either, so dinner only needed to be prepared for Xie Lou. Su He thought this as she moved more quickly, getting a bit disorganized. As she turned around, she was startled to see Xie Lou leaning against the kitchen door, smoking.

Su He was taken aback. “What’s up?”

Xie Lou raised an eyebrow, put out his cigarette, and spoke in a lazy tone: “Just looking around.”

“Did you buy the chili?”

“Do you want to eat?”

Xie Lou walked in carelessly, his tall figure imposing as he entered her space. Su He subtly frowned.

Xie Lou glanced at her, taking in her expression.

He snickered and picked up the chili sauce, turned around, and walked out.

Su He: “……”

Is he crazy?

After this brief interlude, she continued preparing dinner. Boiling beef took time, and she wasn’t planning to make soup. She believed Xie Lou would understand that beef and cola were a perfect match.

After a while, the dishes were ready. Su He brought them out, and Xie Lou was on the sofa, fiddling with his laptop. He had a cigarette pinched between his fingers, resting on the ashtray, staring intently.

Su He had finished setting the table, but he still hadn’t reacted.

She paused, wiped her hands, and walked behind the sofa. Her voice was unconsciously lowered: “Dinner’s ready, Xie Lou.”

Xie Lou was focused on the screen when her voice came from behind him.

His fingers moved slightly.

Her voice… was somewhat sweet.

The scene was somewhat dreamy.

He frowned slightly, his tone unchanged: “I know.”

Su He heard his response and began to remove her apron. Xie Lou pushed his laptop aside and stood up, heading towards the dining area. He glanced at the dishes on the table, bent down to grab a can of cola from the fridge, opened it, and took a sip. As he came back to himself, he met Su He, who was about to leave.

Su He brushed away the damp hair from her forehead, revealing her smooth forehead, and said, “I’m going back.”

Xie Lou licked the corner of his mouth and narrowed his eyes. He didn’t respond but lazily sat down. As he picked up his chopsticks, he said, “Let’s eat together.”

Su He hesitated, shook her head, “No, I won’t eat.”

Xie Lou turned his head to look at her.

Su He ignored his gaze and walked directly towards the door.

Xie Lou leaned back, his chopsticks resting on the edge of the bowl.

His tone was icy cold: “He stays, and you eat?”