As the boy notices me staring at him, he lifts his head and shifts his gaze away from his phone, locking eyes with mine. Despite my efforts to remain composed, I can feel a cold sweat breaking out on my skin.
Putting his phone away, he strides towards me and poses a question with a hint of confusion in his expression.
"Are you my client?" he inquires, his tone surprisingly gentle.
I manage to nod in response, my voice trembling slightly as I confirm, "Y-Yes."
He regards me like a stranger, his demeanor sweet and polite. It's clear that he doesn't recognize me as his classmate—how could he? Thanks to Xuan's help, I look completely different from my usual self.
As the boy extends the invitation to grab coffee together, I find myself torn. On one hand, I'm relieved that he hasn't recognized me, but on the other hand, I can't shake off the nagging worry about maintaining my anonymity.
I had lied about my age to use the service—I'm actually seventeen, not eighteen as I claimed. If he were to discover my true age or identity, it could spell trouble.
Suppressing my inner turmoil, I muster a smile and agree, "Sure, coffee sounds good."
Surprisingly, he speaks with ease and confidence, far from the shy and awkward demeanor I had expected based on our previous encounter. His casual manner catches me off guard, but I push aside my apprehensions and follow his lead towards the café.
As we step into the café, a whirlwind of doubts swirls in my mind. Could Yan Xia's alleged allergy to girls be nothing more than a fabrication, a convenient excuse to evade genuine interaction? Is he secretly a pervert, using his purported fear of girls as a shield to hide his true intentions?
But then again, I remind myself of the strict rules imposed by the rental boyfriend service, prohibiting any form of intimate contact between the client and the boy. With those safeguards in place, perhaps I can rest a little easier.
"S-so shall we go in?" Yan's voice breaks through my thoughts, his expression masking any underlying unease.
"Yeah, sure," I manage to reply, my voice tinged with uncertainty.
With a sense of trepidation mingled with curiosity, we proceed into the café, each step forward marking the beginning of a journey into the unknown.
As we push open the double doors, the bell above the entrance chimes melodically, signaling our entry into the café.
Inside, the café's interior greets us with its captivating beauty: polished tiles beneath our feet and walls adorned with a charming tree-like texture. The atmosphere is illuminated by the gentle glow of overhead lights, casting a warm ambiance over the space. The air is filled with the sweet fragrance of freshly brewed coffee, enticing our senses.
Yan and I find ourselves drawn to a table by the window, taking seats facing each other. Here, amidst the serene surroundings, we prepare to embark on our journey together, uncertain of what the day may hold.
As Yan picks up the menu and begins to peruse its contents, I find myself stealing glances at him. Despite having seen him before at school, I can't help but notice just how handsome he appears up close.
The thought crosses my mind that someone as charming as him couldn't possibly be a pervert. Surely, with his good looks, he could easily find himself a girlfriend if he wanted to. My suspicions begin to wane as I watch him, my initial apprehensions slowly fading away.
Picking up my own menu, I pretend to focus on the options before me, though my mind continues to wander.
"So, have you decided what to order?" Yan's voice interrupts my thoughts as he looks up at me expectantly.
"Not yet," I reply, my gaze meeting his.
"I see. Setting that aside, we haven't properly introduced ourselves yet," he remarks, prompting a smile to tug at my lips.
"Yes," I affirm, mustering a smile.
"My name is Luke Pearce, and I'll be your trial boyfriend for the day. It's a pleasure to meet you," he introduces himself, placing the menu back on the table with a friendly smile.
"I'm Chuxia Ye," I respond, offering a fake name to conceal my true identity. It's a small deception, but one I feel necessary to maintain my anonymity.
I can't help but wonder if he's being truthful with me too. After all, he introduced himself as "Luke Pearce" instead of his actual name, Yan Xia. Perhaps we're both playing roles in this charade, each with our own secrets to keep.
"Just call me Luke, it's fine," he suggests with a warm smile. "And you've got quite a pretty name, Chuxia Ye."
I feel a flush of warmth at his compliment, though I remind myself not to let my guard down too easily. "Shouldn't you be dropping the formalities too?" I quip, attempting to maintain a level of distance.
"I'm sorry," he quickly apologizes, his expression sincere. "I look forward to spending the day with you too, Chuxia."
As he speaks, I seize the opportunity to extend my hand towards him, offering a tentative smile. It's a simple gesture, but one that carries a weight of uncertainty. Will he shake my hand, or will his alleged allergy to girls prevent him from doing so? Only time will tell.
"..."
A moment of silence hangs between us as Luke hesitates, his expression betraying a hint of nervousness. I watch as a bead of cold sweat trickles down his temple, a subtle indication of his discomfort.
But then, with a determined resolve, he extends his hand and meets mine in a handshake, offering a hesitant smile in return.
I can't help but feel a twinge of surprise at his gesture, momentarily questioning my earlier suspicions. Perhaps his alleged fear of girls was genuine after all.
However, my reassurance is short-lived as I notice a crimson trickle emerging from Luke's nostril, staining his otherwise flawless complexion.
"Luke," I murmur, my voice tinged with concern.
"Yes?" he replies, his gaze meeting mine.
"Your nose is bleeding..."
He blinks, his expression one of dumbfounded surprise as he stares at me, his eyes wide with disbelief. In response, I offer a strained smile, feeling a wave of awkwardness wash over me.
"Ahaha... excuse me, Chuxia," he stammers, his laughter tinged with embarrassment. "Perhaps this place might be a little too hot for me. I'll be back from the washroom."
With that, he hastily excuses himself, rising from his seat and making his way towards the washroom.
As he disappears from view, I release a heavy sigh and slump forward, resting my head wearily on the table.
"So he wasn't actually lying about his fear of girls..." I muse quietly to myself. "He's probably doing this job either to communicate better with girls or to pay off his debt."
My mind drifts to Luke and what he might be thinking in this moment. He must be feeling embarrassed for bleeding in front of me, perhaps even fearing that I may have misunderstood him for a pervert.
In the washroom, Yan Xia stood before the mirror, his reflection staring back at him with a mix of frustration and embarrassment. The tap continued to pour out water, its steady stream providing a backdrop to his troubled thoughts.
"Darn it... I made the same mistake again," he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with self-reproach.
With a sigh, he reached out and splashed water onto his face, hoping to alleviate some of the embarrassment that weighed heavily upon him. But despite his efforts, the unease lingered, a constant reminder of his own shortcomings.