Chapter 7: A Kiss

Qin Yingxia had just introduced herself, and the discussion below the stage was in full swing.

Many people recognized her as the big blogger on Douyin, and they had different thoughts about her.

The desire to pry is something that humans subconsciously possess. When the traffic blogger they used to see on their phone screens suddenly appeared in front of them, humans couldn’t help but feel curious.

The scene was a little out of control.

Xie Chi picked up the microphone in front of him and cleared his throat, “Quiet.”

The chatter subsided.

Xie Chi was satisfied and turned his gaze back to the girl standing on the stage, just about to say something, when a large hand with distinct knuckles reached out.

By the time he realized what was happening, the microphone in his hand was already in Jin Zhuo’s hand.

The person who had been playing with his phone nonchalantly was finally willing to lift his head.

Xie Chi: ?

Ignoring the questioning look from the person next to him, Jin Zhuo didn’t rush to ask her anything after he got the microphone. He just looked at Qin Yingxia quietly.

Unlike the last time they met when she was bare-faced, this time she seemed to have put on some makeup. Her skin was like jade, her lips were red and translucent, and her light blue gauze skirt looked exceptionally comfortable and elegant in the scorching summer.

The most beautiful thing was her pair of lively tea-colored eyes, as bright as spring flowers and as clear as the autumn moon, nothing could compare.

Jin Zhuo’s thin lips were slightly pursed as he looked at her with interest, his voice leisurely, “…What’s your name? Can I kiss you?”

His voice was low and magnetic, as if he had carefully and repeatedly savored the three words “Can I kiss you” on his tongue.

Qin Yingxia, can I kiss you.

The crowd below the stage became agitated again. They all knew who was speaking.

“What did Senior Jin say? What kiss?”

“…I don’t know, maybe I heard wrong.”

“He clearly said Qin Yingxia…”

“It’s possible I misheard.”

“But don’t you think… it’s a little bit interesting?”

“Stop shipping them, have you forgotten the four words Senior Jin said yesterday?”

“Oh… Senior Jin’s mom won’t let him date.”

“……That’s hilarious.”

“…”

Qin Yingxia on the stage felt a blush slowly creeping up her face when he said “Can I kiss you.” She stared at him in disbelief, her fingers holding the microphone tightened, and her breathing became cautious.

“Senior, Qin Yingxia.”

Unbeknownst to her, she looked just like a deer hiding in the mountains and forests, incredibly delicate and easy to deceive.

“Mhm~” Jin Zhuo met the girl’s gaze, still acting nonchalant, his voice very soft, his tone casual, repeating her name, “Qin Yingxia.”

He dragged out the three words, and when he said them, it sounded like he was flirting a little.

Qin Yingxia gave up struggling, she looked away and mumbled, “Mhm.”

Jin Zhuo chuckled, his peach blossom eyes intoxicating like wine, “Welcome to the Media Club.”

She froze for a moment, her lips slightly parted, and it took her a while to find her voice, “…Thank you, President.”

Qin Yingxia practically fled the scene, hastily stepping off the stage.

But that scorching gaze still lingered on her, following her every move.

Only after she disappeared into the crowd did Jin Zhuo withdraw his gaze.

“……Brother Zhuo, can you stop radiating charm?” Xie Chi nudged him with his knee. “Why don’t you show this kind of enthusiasm to others?”

Jin Zhuo returned to his previous state, leaning back in his chair with no bones, “…I just feel like I know her.”

Pei Lanhe tilted his head and looked over, teasingly, “Is your heart racing?”

“Go away.” Jin Zhuo chuckled softly, his expression slightly more serious, “I just feel like I know her.”

Like I’ve seen her somewhere before…

Yesterday, when she was changing her suitcase, she was wearing a white dress, and he didn’t think much of it. Today, she changed into a blue gauze dress, and he suddenly had a sense of familiarity.

Xie Chi: “Oh, even if you don’t like her, you have some kind of feeling for her, right? I’ve never seen you say ‘Can I kiss you’ to that little girl…”

“I just said it was a misheard word.”

“Oh~”

“……Go away.”

•  

The setting sun dyed half the sky red. The basketball court was filled with the sounds of the ball hitting the ground and the basketball hoop.

Qin Yingxia and Yu Zhizhi had just returned from the office after filling out the size chart. The school needed to know the clothing sizes of each student to arrange the military training uniforms.

“Yingying, do you think Jin Zhuo was being deliberate at the recruitment meeting?” Yu Zhizhi noticed that the redness on her face hadn’t faded yet, and she used the ice cream in her hand to touch her face.

The sudden coldness made Qin Yingxia come to her senses, “Huh?”

“Ah…” She started to answer Yu Zhizhi’s question, “Jin Zhuo isn’t that kind of person, I… I don’t know him well.”

Although she knew his name in junior high, they weren’t really familiar.

It was all Qin Yingxia’s one-sided liking.

“Watch out—”

A loud male voice entered her ears, and Qin Yingxia looked up just in time to see the flying basketball.

Yu Zhizhi exclaimed, “Oh my god—”

In the nick of time, with an ice pop in her mouth, she slapped away the “flying disaster.”

The guy who had just run over to save the day: ?

Yu Zhizhi clapped her hands, feeling a little numb. She didn’t even feel like eating the ice pop anymore. She turned around to check on Qin Yingxia.

She saw that the latter had already taken a defensive stance, her hands raised, as if she was about to slap the basketball away like her.

After being noticed by Yu Zhizhi, Qin Yingxia lowered her hand in embarrassment, “Hee hee…”

Yu Zhizhi didn’t say anything, she looked at her for a while before speaking, “You were almost hit, and you’re still hee hee-ing?”

Qin Yingxia stopped smiling and didn’t dare “hee hee” anymore.

Instead, the guy who had been dumbfounded on the side spoke first, “Are you two okay, ladies?”

Yu Zhizhi was not in a good mood and spoke frankly, “I’m not saying this to be mean, brother, but were you being deliberate? We were so far away from the basketball court, and you shot it horizontally?”

The guy’s little secret was exposed, but he didn’t feel ashamed at all. Instead, he straightened his back, “Ah, I got caught~ Add me on WeChat? It’s Crazy Thursday today, I’ll treat you to V50.”

Yu Zhizhi: …

Qin Yingxia wanted to laugh.

…

Yu Zhizhi’s hand had a bruise from slapping the basketball away, and she was now getting it treated at the infirmary.

The doctor used red flower oil to push the bruise away, making her grimace in pain.

“You’re full of energy, little girl, now you know it hurts?” The female doctor glanced at her.

Just as Qin Yingxia went to get her medicine, she saw Yu Zhizhi’s face contorted in pain, “Zhizhi, are you okay?”

“Pretty good, actually… ouch…”

Yu Zhizhi winced, “It’s good it didn’t hit me, otherwise, it would have hurt so bad.”

“Thank you, Miss Yu for saving my life!” Qin Yingxia thanked her in a way that sounded like a martial arts hero.

Yu Zhizhi was amused and patted the space next to her with her uninjured hand, “You’re welcome~ Come and sit.”

After Qin Yingxia sat down, Yu Zhizhi leaned over and whispered to her, “Do you think guys these days are too rough in expressing their feelings? Was he trying to throw the basketball over so he could play the hero and save us?”

The female doctor was close enough to hear the conversation and couldn’t help but chuckle, “You young people nowadays…”

Yu Zhizhi: “He’s still trying to play the pure love game with us, but unfortunately, I don’t need that stuff anymore…”

Qin Yingxia was curious and blinked, “Then what do you need now?”

“I need pure gold now.” Yu Zhizhi smiled playfully.