Chapter 8: “Afraid of Me?”

This was the first time since high school that Xia Zhi Cha had ever seen Fu Chi Yu angry.

He was scary.

Even without making any particularly fierce expression, just slightly lowering his gaze and looking expressionless was enough to instill fear.

Even standing at a distance, Xia Zhi Cha felt a chill down her spine.

The girl in front of him was clearly frightened too. She stiffened and took a step back, eyes turning red almost immediately.

Fu Chi Yu showed no intention of being gentle. In a low, lazy tone, he repeated himself,
“Apologize.”

After all, she was clearly in the wrong. The girl, pale-faced, muttered a stammered “I’m sorry” to Xia Zhi Cha, let out a sob, then ran off crying.

Xia Zhi Cha quietly looked away, intending to make a new cup of coffee for Fu Chi Yu.

But then she heard him call her name in a calm voice:
“Xia Zhi Cha.”

She froze and looked over at him.

There were still several large, brown stains on her clothes, water dripping from the hem of her shirt—an undeniable mess.

Fu Chi Yu stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly asked:
“Can you take a break now?”

Xia Zhi Cha blinked.
“Huh?”

“I’ll buy you a new outfit.” His words were simple and direct.

“Ah…”

Xia Zhi Cha grew nervous even while speaking.
“It’s okay… I’ll just wash this later.”

It wasn’t even his fault. Plus, she was sure some coworkers had extra clothes stored at the shop in case of emergencies.

Fu Chi Yu raised an eyebrow and asked bluntly,
“When’s your break?”

She instinctively answered,
“At noon…”

“Alright.” Fu Chi Yu didn’t say anything else. He simply found a place in the shop and sat down.

Xia Zhi Cha assumed he was waiting for a new iced Americano, so she made another one and brought it over.

He accepted the coffee but didn’t make any move to leave. One hand held the cup while the other lazily scrolled through his phone.

…Was he waiting for her?

A strange suspicion popped into her head. Xia Zhi Cha hesitantly asked,
“Do you… need anything else?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it.

He had every right to sit here as long as he liked. What she said made it sound like she was trying to chase him away.

She bit her lip, just about to apologize, when Fu Chi Yu looked up from his phone, propped his chin on his arm, and narrowed his peach blossom eyes slightly with a casual, teasing smile.

“Yeah, I need something,” he said matter-of-factly.
“I’m waiting for you.”

There was a subtle sense of dominance in his tone.

“……”

Even though she knew there was no deeper meaning to those words, Xia Zhi Cha still felt a bit dizzy.

She figured she couldn’t argue with him, so she gave a soft “Oh.”

Every time she saw Fu Chi Yu, she felt like her brain just… stopped working.

And now, she had agreed without a second thought.

Back in the break room, Xia Zhi Cha asked in the work group chat and found that someone had indeed left an extra set of clothes in the locker.

While she was digging through the locker, the door opened and Chen Mao walked in.

“Hey, Zhizhi, who is that super handsome guy out there? What’s your relationship with him?”

When the earlier incident happened, Chen Mao had been in the back cutting fruit. She’d come out after hearing the commotion, but didn’t want to interrupt. She’d been dying of curiosity ever since.

“Is he your boyfriend? He’s been waiting for you all this time. Are you guys going on a date later?”

The words “boyfriend” made Xia Zhi Cha freeze up. She quickly denied it.
“No!”

How could that be possible?

“…Just a friend I know,” she mumbled vaguely. Afraid Chen Mao would keep questioning, she lightly pushed her.
“I need to change clothes now.”

Even saying “friend” made her feel a little guilty.

Were they… really friends now?

Maybe.

“Ah…” Chen Mao nodded, still looking doubtful, but she didn’t press further and left with tact.

Xia Zhi Cha let out a soft sigh of relief.

The spare clothes didn’t fit her well—they were oversized and baggy, and when tied with an apron, it only made her look thinner and more fragile.

Fu Chi Yu glanced at her, then lazily looked away, back to his phone.

Xia Zhi Cha also looked down, smoothing out the wrinkles in the fabric.

Being around someone you liked made you hyper-aware of every little flaw. Even the smallest things felt magnified.

He probably thought she looked too skinny—unattractive.

At that moment, the order system beeped with a new order.

She absentmindedly glanced at it—it was an in-store order for a small cake and a hot milk tea.

She prepared both and placed them on the pickup counter.

There were a few people seated in the shop, so she needed to call out the number.

Just as she opened her mouth, she saw Fu Chi Yu raise his hand and wave at her.

Did… he order that?

She blinked, watching as he pointed to his phone, motioning for her to check her messages.

She pulled out her phone from her pocket.

Fu Chi Yu:
[You skipped breakfast? Why do you look so pale?]
[I ordered it for you.]

Xia Zhi Cha paused, fingertips trembling slightly, a warm feeling rising in her chest.

…Fu Chi Yu really was an attentive person.

Even toward someone like her, a mere acquaintance—he was still this kind.

---

Around noon, it was finally Xia Zhi Cha’s turn for a break.

Maybe because Fu Chi Yu was there, but the store had noticeably more customers than usual.

And it felt like everyone’s gaze—intentionally or not—kept drifting toward him.

Fu Chi Yu, however, seemed completely unaware. He kept his eyelids low, scrolling through his phone with disinterest.

Someone like him stood out no matter where he was.

Chen Mao, having realized he was waiting for Xia Zhi Cha, generously let her off thirty minutes early, saying she could handle the rest.

Under Chen Mao’s obviously suggestive gaze, Xia Zhi Cha gave a helpless smile.
You’ve misunderstood, she wanted to say.

When she took off her apron and stepped out, Fu Chi Yu was already on his feet, waiting to leave the shop with her.

There was a mall nearby. On the third floor were several women’s clothing stores.

Since it was near a university, the styles in those stores skewed youthful.

As they walked side by side, Fu Chi Yu turned his head slightly and asked,
“Which store do you like?”

Xia Zhi Cha hadn’t really shopped here before, so she randomly picked one.

The store clerk was especially enthusiastic. As soon as they walked in, she started complimenting Xia Zhi Cha and suggesting dresses.

Xia Zhi Cha wasn’t used to such enthusiasm and ended up taking two of the recommended dresses into the fitting room, not knowing how to say no.

Fu Chi Yu waited outside on the sofa.

A few moments later, he heard the curtain rustle and looked up—only to see the girl stepping out.

His lazy, narrow eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

Xia Zhi Cha’s face had that pure charm—clear, doe-like eyes, full cheeks like a ripe peach, naturally sweet.

The white cotton dress she wore last night had made her look innocent and obedient. But now, in a light blue dress with delicate lace detailing, she looked exquisite, dainty—adorably sweet.

Absolutely precious.

Yet Xia Zhi Cha seemed completely unaware. She turned in front of the mirror, looking unsure.

“Isn’t this too fancy…?” she murmured to herself.

She rarely wore such dresses and always thought delicate styles didn’t suit her.

Fu Chi Yu chuckled and was just about to say it wasn’t too much when she darted away and returned with a simple T-shirt and shorts, going back into the fitting room.

When she came out again, she looked plain and ordinary.

“I’ll go with this,” she said softly, more comfortable now.
“This one feels more like me.”

Fu Chi Yu stared at her reflection for a few seconds. His eyes darkened slightly as he gave a light chuckle.
“Alright. Wear that, then.”

The clerk wrapped up her old clothes, and when Fu Chi Yu paid, Xia Zhi Cha secretly glanced at the price tag and tried to transfer him the amount via her phone.

After all, this wasn’t really his responsibility. The clothes could’ve just been washed. She didn’t like taking advantage—it made her feel indebted.

Sitting on the sofa, she watched him check his phone.

A second later, her transfer was rejected.

Fu Chi Yu had already paid and was walking back toward her.

She quickly got up and reached for the shopping bag.
“Thank y—”

Before she could finish, he raised the paper bag high—just out of her reach.

His dark eyes locked on hers, teasing:
“Still trying to sneak the money back to me, huh?”

“……”

Caught red-handed, Xia Zhi Cha blushed and lowered her hand.
“I just didn’t want you to spend money on me…”

“You’re really something,” Fu Chi Yu muttered, half amused and half exasperated. His eyebrows lowered as he bent slightly, leaning closer. His tone deepened:

“Everyone else is scrambling to get something out of me. But you? You insist on settling accounts so clearly… almost makes it look like I scammed you.”

Xia Zhi Cha instinctively stepped back, flustered.
“But…”

“Xia Zhi Cha.”

She hadn’t finished her sentence when he interrupted, unhurriedly.

“Ah…”

She swallowed the rest of her words, lifting her eyes slightly, sneaking a glance at him.

Fu Chi Yu didn’t speak right away. He looked at her for a long time, as if studying her carefully.

A moment later, his brow dipped slightly, and his voice dropped lower:
“Are you… a little afraid of me?”

Xia Zhi Cha’s shoulders trembled.

He paused for a beat, then added with a smirk—
“Otherwise, why do you always avoid looking me in the eye?”