Xie Xiao had just finished speaking when Liu Ou laughed outright and stretched, saying, "Let's go~"
Then she waved to the two of them, turned around, and walked away.
Xie Xiao was still somewhat worried and stood up, "Senior, let me walk you."
Lin Yu, who was in front of the stall, also turned his head at the sound.
Liu Ou pointed at the residential area not far across from them and said, "My home is there, five minutes including the time it takes to get upstairs. You can watch me go."
After speaking, she waved her hand again and left.
As she passed by the stall, she also spoke to the old lady, "Grandma, I'm heading back. The sticky rice is super delicious!"
The old lady beamed with joy, "Come again next time! Grandma will make you a bigger one!"
"Definitely~"
Liu Ou, carrying her backpack, slowly crossed the street and entered the residential area.
Xie Xiao withdrew his gaze and turned to Luo Yanran, "Shall I walk you back?"
Luo Yanran said directly, "No need, it's a bit far. I'll take a cab straight home, otherwise it's a waste of money going back and forth."
"I don't mind," Xie Xiao said without hesitation.
At this moment, Lin Yu came over, holding up his phone and asking Luo Yanran, "Is this from the senior who just left?"
On it was a thirty yuan transfer clearly displayed.
The most expensive rice ball here is ten yuan each.
It's because they are good value for money and delicious that there's always a crowd.
Luo Yanran glanced at it, the avatar was a seagull, it was indeed Liu Ou.
She nodded her head, "It's Liu Ou."
Lin Yu frowned, "Senior, I'll transfer the money to you, give it back to her, she said it was her treat."
Luo Yanran directly waved her hand, "No way, I'm not accepting it."
Lin Yu looked at Xie Xiao, who said innocently, "I don't have the senior's WeChat."
Finally, Lin Yu swore under his breath, sighed, and looked toward Luo Yanran, "Then senior, can you pass me that senior's WeChat?"
Luo Yanran hesitated a bit and took out her phone, saying, "I'll ask her."
Lin Yu nodded, "Then send it to me on WeChat later. Are you guys heading back now?"
"Getting ready to, how about you?" Xie Xiao glanced at the stall, which still had a long queue. It probably wouldn't close up shop anytime soon.
"Probably staying till the old lady sells out tonight since there are more people on Saturday nights," Lin Yu glanced over and thinking of helping his grandmother, then said to them, "I won't see you off, then. Take care. Oh, and senior, remember to send me the WeChat..."
As the two of them left side by side, they looked back one last time.
Luo Yanran watched the busy figures of the old woman and young man, "Lin Yu, you're different from when you were at school."
Xie Xiao laughed.
Lin Yu naturally had a tough-looking cool-guy face, which made him seem stern and imposing.
But in reality, he was the softest-hearted person, the type who's tough on the outside but soft on the inside.
He said with a smile, "Contrast charm, right?"
Luo Yanran glanced at him, "Yeah, a bit. I thought it was strange you guys were friends back at the debate club."
"Not strange. In junior high, I went out once and met an old lady who was having an episode. I took her to the hospital and met Lin Yu then," Xie Xiao's voice was soft. "We used to go to different schools, but Lin Yu would often come to No.1 Middle School to find me, and he even transferred over for high school."
These memories were quite distant for Xie Xiao, but thinking about them now, they still seemed very vivid.
"Grandma, is she in poor health?" Luo Yanran's tone unconsciously carried a tinge of worry.
The old lady made such a favorable impression that it was hard not to like her, even on a first meeting.
"Well, it's not really a big issue, just a heart condition. She just needs to take her medication on time, and avoid any stimuli," Xie Xiao said with a hint of laughter in his tone, "she can chase Lin Yu down three streets without stopping."
Luo Yanran's eyes widened, clearly not catching up.
By now, Xie Xiao had already pulled out his phone, "Isn't your family in Jinhu Garden? I'll call a cab."
Luo Yanran quickly pressed her hand against his phone, "No need!"
The phone was so small that their hands inadvertently touched.
Xie Xiao looked at the small hand pressing on his phone, which was really small, so small it seemed he could hold it in just one hand.
But he hadn't had the chance to hold it yet when the owner of the hand swiftly retracted it.
"I...I'll call the cab, I can go back by myself," Xie Xiao observed her avoiding his gaze.
She was clearly shy.
Since he had already come out, he couldn't return empty-handed, could he?
Xie Xiao smiled a little, "Ranran, do you really not know why I came out late at night?"
Luo Yanran's gaze suddenly fixated on a point, her fair cheeks blushing, but she still didn't dare meet his eyes, "Isn't it because you were hungry and came out for a late-night snack?"
"I was actually planning to order takeout." Xie Xiao moved a bit closer, and they were now very close, lowering his head, he could clearly see her distinct eyelashes.
"But when you said you could help me pack it up, I suddenly really wanted to see you," Xie Xiao's voice clearly reached Luo Yanran's ears.
She said somewhat unconfidently, "I was just on the way..."
"Yeah, that's okay, it's still good that you thought of me, that's already enough to make me happy." Xie Xiao continued along with her words, "So I really wanted to see you, even if we do nothing, just seeing your face makes me happy."
It was just a few short sentences, but they made Luo Yanran's heart race.
She still couldn't bring herself to look Xie Xiao in the eye, and she didn't even know how to answer his question.
She quickly took out her phone and opened the ride-hailing app, "It's getting late, I should go home."
The bustling night market was not far behind them, and the noisy sounds occasionally drifted over.
But in Luo Yanran's ears, there was only the sound of her heart pounding like thunder. Why was it so fast? Could Xie Xiao hear it?
After she had called the cab, she couldn't help but press her hand to her heart. Really, it was so disappointing.
Xie Xiao watched her gesture, a glint appearing in his eyes.
He smiled a bit but didn't continue the previous topic, "I'll take you home, it's too late."
"But going there and back, it's such a waste of time."
"How can it be a waste of time when I'm with you?" Xie Xiao looked at her seriously, "Consider it a walk after my late-night snack."
But who takes a taxi for a walk after eating?
Luo Yanran internally criticized, but facing Xie Xiao's gentle face, she couldn't bring herself to utter words of rejection.
Because he said, being with her, it wasn't a waste of time.
She couldn't help but slightly lift the corners of her mouth, though she quickly suppressed it.
Xie Xiao saw it from the side but remained silent.
Looking at his hand that had just held his phone, he considered it progress. Today, they almost held hands.
In the end, the two of them still got into the taxi together.
From there to Luo Yanran's home was indeed not close.
Xie Xiao looked at the girl beside him, "Did you come all this way for a late-night snack because of Liu Ou, your senior?"