In front of Li Nuxie was the same man wearing his signature black mask and black hoodie jacket. Those charcoal eyes that hold secrets and surprises stared at her like she was some sort of a precious stone.
Li Nuxie raised an eyebrow when she realized what the man has said. "The legend said 'back and forth'. We just walked one way."
Xu Wei chuckled. "Should we walk back, then?"
"Drop it," Li Nuxie walked ahead. How come that he was here? They were just talking about him a while ago. She turned her head sharply as an idea formed in her mind. "Are you stalking me?"
"Sort of," he shrugged. "But you're welcome to stalk me too. I don't mind," he winked at her.
Li Nuxie stomped her feet while her hand went through her hair. Why is this guy so annoying? However, she knew deep in her heart that she missed him. Like how she missed Mr. Book. Damn, here comes her two-timer heart again.
She took a deep breath. She can't afford to mess up days before the launching of NU C. "Look, Mr. Wei. I don't care if you're stalking me. Stalk me all you want," she pointed her finger on his chest. "But don't appear in front of me."
"Ever?"
Ever? Li Nuxie drew her eyebrows together. Did she not want to see him? She shook her head. "At least, not within this week?" she said, inclining her head.
Xu Wei burst out laughing. Ah, at least his woman knew how to be honest. He wiped the tears in the corner of his eyes. "Well, your wish is my command, Empress," he bent his knee slightly, bowing in front of Li Nuxie like a true gentleman.
Li Nuxie's eyes went wide as she stared at the man in front of her. "W-What are you doing?" she stuttered.
With charcoal eyes that bore into hers, Xu Wei straightened his back. "I'm not the type who force himself to a woman," he told her before turning his back. "If you want to see me, just say my name –"
"And you'll be there?" Li Nuxie cut him.
Xu Wei chuckled but did not turn around. "What do you think of me? Nightcrawler? I'm just the Black Emperor."
Li Nuxie rolled her eyes. "So, what will you do if I say your name?" She was curious about his pick-up line.
"I will probably kiss you," Xu Wei's voice became hoarse. He can't turn around lest he will devour her lips. Again. It seemed that his hobbies now include kissing Li Nuxie's lips. He drew in a long breath. Self-control was on top priority right now.
Li Nuxie gasped as she felt the butterflies in her stomach. "S-Stop saying that," she uttered, her legs were trembling.
"Why? Am I tempting you?" Xu Wei continued to ask. His shoulders were stiff.
Li Nuxie bit the inside of her cheek. Was he angry? But he was right. He was a temptation in capital T. But she must persevere. "Yes, and I don't like it a bit."
Xu Wei didn't answer. Only the faint blow of the autumn wind brushing against the dried leaves crumpled on the pavement can be heard.
"Xiexie!" Li Chanying's voice broke through the silence. She was still at the end of the lane. Therefore, all she can see was her cousin standing behind a man in hoodie.
Xu Wei took a step away from Li Nuxie. Staring at the back of his neck, Li Nuxie pressed her lips together. She just needed to hold it this week. Just this week. She clenched her hands into fists as she watched him went smaller in her eyes.
"Xiexie!" Li Chanying stopped at her side, catching her breath. "Who was that?" she asked. She has an idea but that's just impossible. She shook her head. Yeah, her imagination was running wild again.
Li Nuxie took a step towards the parking lot, ignoring her cousin's question. Li Chanying followed behind her but didn't press Li Nuxie for answers. With a line appearing between her cousin's brows, Li Chanying knew better.
Li Nuxie pulled the car door open, lowering herself inside before she slammed it close. Li Chanying flinched. Just who was that person that it made her cousin angry? Li Nuxie lowered the car window. "Are you just going to stand there?"
Li Chanying snapped out from her daze. She strode towards the driver side, pulled the car door open and sat inside.
"Do you want to go to an arcade?" she asked her cousin as the car went out of the university premises. She maintained her eyes on the road, not daring to steal a glance.
Li Nuxie crossed her arms and closed her eyes. "I thought you want to eat street food?"
Li Chanying resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Who has the guts to eat street foods if the person beside her was emitting a deadly aura? "We can go next time," she said. She was a liar! She wanted to eat street food but appeasing the sleeping volcano was more important.
"Drive to downtown. You can just buy some and take it out," Li Nuxie told her cousin. She knew her cousin was a foodie. There's no way she would trade food for arcade. A warm feeling seeped through her heart. "Thanks, Ying," she said.
Li Chanying bit her lips to stop herself from screaming. Her cousin still loves her. That's why she decided to help her overcome her first romantic heart break.
"Are you brokenhearted, Xiexie?"
Li Nuxie opened her eyes, turning her head towards Li Chanying sharply. "Do you want your street food or not?"
Raising her one hand in the air while the other gripped the steering wheel, Li Chanying smiled sheepishly. "I want it, of course."
She glanced at Li Nuxie. Some of the strands of her hair stuck against her cheeks. The lines between her eyebrows were yet to disappear.
"Just follow your heart," she said after a while. She just confirmed that it must be the Black Emperor who were talking to her cousin a while ago.
"Can't do. Especially if it is a two-timer heart," Li Nuxie sighed helplessly, her gaze was empty.