The two walked and chatted happily to a traffic light at a fork in the road. Su Lexuan's smile hadn't faded the entire time. She hadn't expected this guy to be so witty, much more interesting than those at school who only knew how to show off and ask for her WeChat.
Noticing the fork in the road ahead, Su Lexuan felt a slight pang of disappointment. She needed to cross the street to catch the bus back to school. Zhuhai University was just two bus stops away from this food street. Students often came here to escape the cafeteria food.
"I wonder if he's going the same way..."
Su Lexuan was already a bit smitten with chatting with this guy, despite knowing him for less than half an hour. She was surprised at her own thoughts.
"I have to catch the bus over there." Su Lexuan smiled and pointed to the bus stop across the street, tentatively asking, "Which way are you going?"
Shen Lang was momentarily speechless; he lived in a different direction. They had chatted for so long, yet he hadn't even asked for her WeChat. If they parted now, would they ever meet again? Would she come back to this food street for chestnuts?
As Shen Lang's mind raced, the system options appeared again.
1. [Raise an eyebrow and invite]: "I live in Fulong Community. My bed is big and soft. Want to check it out?"
2. [Mystery tone]: "My cat can breathe fire, do backflips, and talk. This secret is just for you. Want to see?"
3. [Friendly smile]: "We're not going the same way, but I'm familiar with this area. Want to add me on WeChat? Next time you're here, I can show you around."
Rejecting the first option, Shen Lang hovered between the second and third options. Both were reasonable, but Shen Lang leaned towards option three because he wanted Su Lexuan's contact information.
But just as he was about to speak, Shen Lang hesitated. It was his first time asking for a girl's WeChat, and she was so pretty. More people were gathering at the crosswalk, glancing at the pretty girl beside Shen Lang.
Feeling the pressure, Shen Lang smiled awkwardly, didn't choose any of the system options, and pointed towards his neighborhood. "I-I live over there."
"I see..."
Su Lexuan's smile dimmed noticeably. Just then, the light turned green, and people started crossing the street. Su Lexuan gave a friendly smile, then looked up at Shen Lang, her tone a bit probing, "Well... I guess I'll go catch my bus then?"
"Uh, okay..." Shen Lang responded, his heart filled with regret, though he maintained a stiff smile. He watched Su Lexuan cross the street with the crowd.
"Damn it, what's there to be afraid of!"
After Su Lexuan disappeared into the crowd, Shen Lang cursed himself. "Is asking for a WeChat that hard? She won't eat you. Who cares what others think?"
For the ten minutes they had chatted, Shen Lang was so absorbed in the conversation he hadn't noticed how much Su Lexuan's favorability had increased. Seeing her constant smile, Shen Lang felt she would have agreed if he had asked for her WeChat.
But his social anxiety made him too shy to ask in front of everyone. "Sigh..."
Shen Lang sighed deeply, dragging his now-cold chestnuts as he trudged back to his neighborhood, like a lifeless corpse in the desolate sunset.
A few minutes later, a familiar female voice called from behind, "Wait a minute!"
Shen Lang's eyes widened as he turned around. In the golden glow of the setting sun, Su Lexuan, in her school uniform, was running towards him with her chestnuts.
Her long black hair shimmered gold in the sunset, fluttering like an active golden elf as she ran.
Soon, she reached Shen Lang, bending over and gasping for breath, clearly not used to running.
"Wh-what is it?" Shen Lang asked, pleasantly surprised. He hadn't expected the girl who was supposed to disappear to come back.
After a few deep breaths, Su Lexuan asked, a bit embarrassed, "You said you live nearby, right?"
"Yeah, in the community just up ahead," Shen Lang replied honestly, nervously guessing why she had come back.
"Well, I just started school, and the cafeteria food is terrible. This is the only place nearby with good food," Su Lexuan said, holding up her phone with a Pikachu case, shyly covering her face except for her eyes. "So, can I add you on WeChat? Next time I come, can you show me some good places to eat?"
Shen Lang looked in disbelief at the shy girl in front of him. He hadn't expected Su Lexuan to come back, panting, just to ask for his WeChat!
"Of course! I know this area well; I've lived here for two or three years," Shen Lang said, quickly pulling out his phone and adding Su Lexuan on WeChat.
Her WeChat ID was "Don't Like Early Classes."
Adding Shen Lang, Su Lexuan smiled happily, "I'll head back now. My roommates and I are planning to eat chestnuts and watch horror movies tonight."
Shen Lang nodded excitedly, "Sure, take care. Message me when you're coming next time."
"Okay, see you, Shen Senior. Bye!"
In the brilliant sunset, Su Lexuan gave a sweet smile and waved at Shen Lang. Her smile, as dazzling as the stars, reminded Shen Lang of a line often seen in the comments of beautiful bloggers:
"Mom, I'm in love!"
"Bye, bye..." Shen Lang waved back foolishly, watching her leave.
Only after she boarded the bus did Shen Lang come to his senses and open WeChat on his phone. Seeing her newly added contact, Shen Lang's smile grew.
As the sun set and twilight fell, Shen Lang couldn't help but cheer, "Damn it, I'm not a goblin anymore!"