Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Look, the tea is fragrant, the familiar friend zone card

Xie Xiao heard her and looked toward her, "Hmm? You want to drink too? Then you can buy it yourself, it's over there."

He even pointed out the ordering counter upfront thoughtfully.

Zhou Mianmian looked at him with a mix of surprise and hurt, "Isn't this the one you were buying for me? I waited outside for quite a while, you know—it's really cold out there..."

As she spoke, she glanced at the milk tea in Xie Xiao's hand, her eye sockets and her fair cheeks both starting to turn red.

It looked like she was aggrieved, but in truth, it was because she felt embarrassed that Xie Xiao had handed over the milk tea, which she thought was hers, to Luo Yanran.

"Is it because you bumped into Luo school-sister that you gave it to her first? Xie Xiao, you're so nice..." She said softly, her voice filled with a grievance. She knew Xie Xiao too well; he couldn't bear to see her look aggrieved.

Xie Xiao, standing nearby, outright laughed when he saw her reaction, retrieving the milk tea in his hand and not passing it to Luo Yanran anymore.

He was actually quite handsome, possessing a refined and elegant beauty akin to that of a scholarly gentleman. His smile was comforting to look at.

Luo Yanran, noticing how he took back the milk tea, felt the light in her eyes completely dim, yet she still straightened up, pretending not to care as she said, "I can afford to buy a cup of milk tea on my own."

Zhou Mianmian saw that he indeed, as she had predicted, took back the milk tea, and she couldn't help feeling smug inside. Still, she cooed, "Luo school-sister's family is rich, and she wouldn't be unable to afford a cup of milk tea. Xie Xiao, that was really unnecessary! But since you've already offered it to Luo school-sister, I don't want it..." Sёarᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

She was about to ask Xie Xiao to buy her another cup.

After all, she didn't want something that had been offered to Luo Yanran!

But Xie Xiao in front of her didn't seem intent on handing the milk tea over to her. Instead, he took a sip from the straw, then pulled out his phone and handed it to Luo Yanran, "This one is too sweet, order what you like. I know you can afford a cup of milk tea, but I would like to treat you."

"Xie Xiao..." Seeing that he wasn't paying attention to her, Zhou Mianmian was somewhat stunned and inexplicably felt a little panicked.

Yan Shi, who had entered with her and had been silent from the start, had initially felt surprised and jealous that Xie Xiao knew the school beauty, Luo. He had been inwardly grinding his teeth, but now, seeing the situation, he was secretly thrilled that his chance had finally come.

He whispered to Zhou Mianmian, "Mianmian, what would you like to drink? I'll buy it for you."

Xie Xiao glanced at Yan Shi; they were classmates and both fancied Zhou Mianmian. He was number two bootlicker, always seeing himself as a sworn enemy.

Xie Xiao used to really dislike seeing him hover around Zhou Mianmian...

As for now, he was indifferent. If Yan Shi was happy, so be it; it had nothing to do with him anymore.

Zhou Mianmian was feeling a bit aggrieved by now; she had grown accustomed to Xie Xiao always being attentive to her. This was the first time she'd been ignored by him.

She was sullen and angry, but also felt a tad resentful. Xie Xiao didn't like her accepting things from other men, always saying he would buy them for her.

Now he wasn't keeping his word!

So Zhou Mianmian deliberately said to Yan Shi, "Okay, I'll have the brown sugar boba, 70% sugar, thank you."

After speaking, she deliberately glanced at Xie Xiao, waiting for him to intercept as usual and then to coax her gently.

But she found that he had already looked away and wasn't paying attention to this side anymore. Instead, he was smilingly saying to Luo Yanran, "Go ahead and order."

Luo Yanran's heartbeat quickened a bit. She reached out, intending to take Xie Xiao's phone, when her own phone vibrated in her hand.

She hesitated, as if suddenly awakened, and said, "No need, I don't want any."

Then she picked up her phone and went out to take the call.

Zhou Mianmian, seeing this scenario, sank into a gloomy state, feeling uneasy. Xie Xiao seemed very different today...

Xie Xiao watched Luo Yanran leave with some concern, then he ordered a hot milk tea for her.

Soon enough, Yan Shi came over with two cups of milk tea. Xie Xiao even saw the condensation on the cups, indicating the milk tea was cold.

No wonder this kid didn't win over Zhou Mianmian in his past life...

Xie Xiao sneered internally.

Watching him attentively pass a cup to Zhou Mianmian, he said, "Mianmian, 70% sugar. It's getting late, shall I take you home?"

Zhou Mianmian frowned upon receiving the milk tea. Why was it cold? On such a cold day, was Yan Shi truly thickheaded? But her face still showed a smile as she whispered thanks, "Thank you, Yan Shi. You're so kind."

See, the familiar scent of green tea.

The familiar consolation prize.

Xie Xiao no longer looked at them, he just went to the counter to get the milk tea he had just ordered.

Zhou Mianmian noticed that he had completely stopped paying them any attention, her face turned somewhat unsightly, and she glanced again at Yan Shi who was attentively watching her.

Usually, it was Xie Xiao who drove her home.

Everyone else had left early after the gathering, and it was only because she wanted milk tea that Xie Xiao had come to buy it for her. Yan Shi liked her too, so he had deliberately stayed behind, hoping to find an opportunity to be alone with her...

But now, with Xie Xiao's attitude...

So, Zhou Mianmian, feeling a bit spiteful, said to Yan Shi, "Okay then, I'll trouble you to send me home."

After speaking, she took another glance at Xie Xiao, who hadn't given her a single look...

Was it because she had rejected his confession just before the gathering?

Zhou Mianmian frowned and looked at the iced milk tea in her hand.

In fact, no one else was as considerate and gentle as Xie Xiao, he was the best person to her...

But she couldn't only have Xie Xiao...

After getting his milk tea, Xie Xiao heard Yan Shi already eagerly saying, "The car is here. Let's go, Mianmian."

Zhou Mianmian was still staring with her big watery eyes, looking at him, wronged and pleading.

Xie Xiao smiled and waved his hand, "Bye-bye."

Then, Xie Xiao watched as the gleefully satisfied Yan Shi left with Zhou Mianmian, who was still looking back at him with a wronged expression from time to time.

Luo Yanran entered just as the two went out.

She was momentarily startled as she watched Xie Xiao, still standing in the milk tea shop, looking at her.

Upon her entrance, Xie Xiao handed her the milk tea he had just packed, "Three parts sugar, pure fresh milk, with boba added. Drinking milk tea at night could cause insomnia."

Such tenderness from Xie Xiao was often witnessed by Luo Yanran, yet its recipient had always been that lucky girl called Zhou Mianmian, never her.

Thus, at that moment, she felt somewhat taken aback, not even knowing what expression to have on her face, so she averted her gaze and said indifferently, "Why take the initiative? I can buy my own..."

After saying this, she felt a little annoyed; surely Xie Xiao would be angry after hearing that.

Yet to her surprise, Xie Xiao just laughed, "Okay, then you can treat me next time, you invite me next time."

Luo Yanran's heart beat a little quicker when she heard 'next time', and the corners of her mouth involuntarily lifted slightly, only to be quickly suppressed by herself. She reached out to take the milk tea from his hand, saying as if offhandedly, "Then I'll treat you next time."

The defensively proud demeanor was somewhat adorable.

Xie Xiao felt an urge to pat her on the head but feared being considered a creep.

At that moment, he had completely forgotten about Zhou Mianmian's presence.

Luo Yanran then remembered something, "I have to go, I have something to do."

Xie Xiao recalled she had just said she had something to tell him, probably a confession?

"But you just said you had something to talk about..."

"Next time," Luo Yanran touched her somewhat hot ears, cutting him off, "We'll talk next time."

Xie Xiao, who had thought he might accept a cute girlfriend smoothly, thought: Alright then.

He sighed, "I'll take you home."

"No need, my driver is here, I'm leaving." Luo Yanran felt that Xie Xiao had been too gentle with her today, making her a bit unaccustomed and somewhat agitated; thus, she waved her hand and turned to leave.

Xie Xiao let out a sound, wanting to call her back, but she had already run out through the door.

He followed her out, only to see her get into the car and leave.

She didn't even look back.