{Chapter: 14 I am happy to be friends with you!}
Without waiting for Qiu Wanxi to finish speaking, Lin Yuan interrupted her with a smirk, "I am neither shooting a video nor is this some test from an influential family. Why would you even think that? I didn't expect your small brain to conjure up such a Mary Sue fantasy for yourself."
"Then…" Qiu Wanxi became even more nervous upon hearing Lin Yuan's words.
"It's simple—I think you're adorable and wanted to be friends with you. You can treat it as love at first sight if you'd like. That's why I devised a little scheme to meet you," Lin Yuan said, his gaze steady as his unabashed smile deepened.
"Ah!" Qiu Wanxi was left completely astounded by his unexpected reply.
Her entire face flushed a deep shade of red, the color spreading all the way to her earlobes. Her small hands gripped the edges of her simple clothing so tightly that her fingers turned white. At that moment, she seemed completely unaware of how truly adorable she looked. Beneath her slightly disheveled hair, her thrifty and modest dress, and her patchy, worn pants that reflected her poverty, her innocence and charm shone through.
Yet, even though her appearance revealed her humble circumstances, Qiu Wanxi did not think Lin Yuan was lying. Unconsciously, she had completely believed everything he said.
"Friend…?" she asked softly, her voice trembling slightly. Her hands, still in her pocket, clenched unconsciously as if trying to steady her emotions.
"Yes, friend. What's wrong? Do you think I'm not worthy of being your friend?" Lin Yuan feigned a slight trace of anger as he teased her.
"No, no! That's not it at all! I just… I don't think I'm cute or deserving," Qiu Wanxi apologized repeatedly, waving her hands in a flurry of panic.
"You really don't have any self-awareness," Lin Yuan chuckled, his voice warm as he reached out and stroked her head lightly.
Bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, Qiu Wanxi wiped the corners of her eyes before lifting her head to smile. Her radiant expression was filled with hope and youth. "I'm happy to be your friend," she said earnestly.
Her rosy face, touched by the brilliance of the evening sun, and her large, gem-like eyes shimmering with the reflection of the colorful sunset, made Lin Yuan's heart skip a beat. For a moment, he was so captivated that he didn't even notice the prompt from the system.
[Ding! Qiu Wanxi favorability +20 points!]
[Ding! Reward: 500 counterattack points!]
{Wow! Qiu Wanxi is so cute! The host is incredible! He managed to gain 500 counterattack points in one go!} Shen Lan's cheerful, loli-like voice rang in Lin Yuan's mind, her tone filled with genuine admiration.
Lin Yuan was surprised. He knew that increasing someone's favorability, especially at higher levels, became increasingly difficult. Yet, with just a few simple words, he had managed to gain 20 points and received a handsome reward of 500 counterattack points.
As Lin Yuan admired the incomparably lovely Qiu Wanxi, he was thinking about where to take her for dinner. Just as he was about to speak, Qiu Wanxi suddenly broke the silence.
"Then… I want to take you to a place. Is that okay?" Qiu Wanxi asked cautiously, her voice soft but filled with hope.
"Of course," Lin Yuan replied with a gentle smile.
Seeing Lin Yuan's smile, Qiu Wanxi's nervous heart relaxed slightly, and she led him to a small noodle shop.
Lin Yuan followed her inside, quickly taking in the surroundings. The shop was neat and clean, though it was evident that it was just a step above the street stalls in terms of hygiene and appearance.
"Boss, I'd like two bowls of dragon noodles—one bowl with two eggs and the other without," Qiu Wanxi said hurriedly to the shop owner as she approached the counter.
She pulled a crumpled fifty-yuan bill from her pocket and handed it over, her movements careful and deliberate. Lin Yuan watched the entire scene unfold without saying a word, his expression unreadable.
After placing the order, Qiu Wanxi quickly returned to her seat, blinking her big, nervous eyes as she noticed Lin Yuan smiling at her but saying nothing.
Unable to withstand his gaze, she explained shyly, "My mother always taught me that when someone is kind to you, you should reciprocate."
"You treated me to a delicious meal earlier, so I wanted to invite you to one too. I know it might not be much… but it's all I can afford," Qiu Wanxi said, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as her voice trailed off.
"Anywhere you invite me is perfect," Lin Yuan said warmly, reaching out to lightly pat her head again.
Hearing his words, Qiu Wanxi felt as though her heart had been dipped in honey. Her sweet, bashful smile lit up her face, her crescent-moon-shaped eyes sparkling with joy.
Lin Yuan, observing her adorable reaction, knew she wasn't exaggerating—she had spent half of her monthly food budget on this meal.
In the original novel, Qiu Wanxi's tragic backstory had been glossed over, but Lin Yuan now understood just how difficult her life had been. Diagnosed with liver disease at six years old, her medical bills had reached an astronomical sum. Her parents, who worked tirelessly to save money for her treatment, had tragically passed away in a car accident, leaving her orphaned and burdened with the weight of survival.
Despite her hardships, Qiu Wanxi had grown into a strong, resilient girl filled with hope for the future.
When the dragon noodles arrived, Qiu Wanxi pushed the bowl with two eggs toward Lin Yuan. "This is for you," she said softly, keeping the simpler bowl for herself.
Lin Yuan smiled and began eating without hesitation. His easygoing demeanor melted Qiu Wanxi's worries, and she smiled sweetly as she started to eat as well, even though the meal cost her dearly.
---
As they strolled along the street after their meal, Qiu Wanxi glanced at Lin Yuan shyly. "I thought you wouldn't eat it," she said softly.
"Why wouldn't I? I like everything you invite me to," Lin Yuan replied with a laugh.
"But… if you hadn't eaten it, what would I have done?" she asked hesitantly.
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow. "What do you think you'd do?"
After a moment of thought, Qiu Wanxi said softly, "Maybe… I would have cried alone while finishing the meal."
"Stupid," Lin Yuan said, shaking his head with a smile. Reaching out, he gently stroked her head again, a tender warmth spreading through his heart.
---
References:
Mary Sue (Mary Sue) In our current timeline, I hope most people know what a Mary Sue is. If not, then you are like me, having not watched a Marvel movie after Endgame, but I do know the plot of the movies after it. Most movies and shows, in fact, are filled with perfect Mary Sues.
Anyway here it goes : Mary Sue is a type of character. It is often an ordinary and low-level character that suddenly becomes omnipotent and over-idealized. A category of female protagonist novels uses this theme as the basis of their plot where the protagonist meets a handsome-rich-powerful guy and stages the comeback of her life.
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