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A Love Confession - Chapter 10

Chapter 10 - Changing Her Milk

At nine o'clock in the evening, Hu Xixi led Xu Sui with familiar ease toward the snack street behind Beihang University. After walking for a few minutes, they spotted Sheng Nanzhou waving at them from a barbecue stall.

Xu Sui looked over to see several guys sitting there. Zhou Jingze wore black clothing, his back turned to her, with his hair cropped short and a pale, cool stretch of his neck exposed.

Hu Xixi walked over, carefully stepping around puddles, and muttered from a meter away: "I really dislike places with such a heavy oily smell. People like me are into refined consumerism."

Sheng Nanzhou put down his teacup and sneered: "Who was it last time that ordered two portions of braised pork knuckles and a dozen sets of pig kidneys?"

"You—you, don't go slandering people, Xiaotianquan." Hu Xixi lunged forward as if she wanted to beat him up.

"Why do you always provoke her?" Zhou Jingze raised his eyelids to glance at him, spinning the menu in his hand before flipping it over in front of Xu Sui: "See what you want and order it."

Sheng Nanzhou figured that he at least counted as a decent-looking guy with regular facial features, so why on earth was he a celestial hound? The two of them continued arguing relentlessly until Hu Xixi grabbed him by the collar and said: "I only ate a little bit last time, don't you go framing me."

As the two tussled together, Dali watched from the side and roared with laughter. Zhou Jingze tapped his knuckles against the table, his sharp gaze sweeping over the pair: "Why don't the two of you transfer schools? You're better suited for Little Sun Kindergarten."

Hearing this, the two elementary school-level bickerers immediately let go. At that moment, the owner brought over the utensils. Hu Xixi unwrapped her chopsticks, but no matter how she tried, she couldn't puncture the plastic-sealed bowl.

Sheng Nanzhou naturally took the utensils from her hands, unwrapped them, and even scalded them with hot water, though he muttered under his breath: "How can anyone be this stupid."

Indecisive and worried that everyone might not like what she picked, Xu Sui pushed the menu back: "You guys order. I'll eat whatever."

Not long after they placed their order, the barbecue was served. The young waiter seemed to recognize Zhou Jingze, and as he set down the plates, he asked: "The usual rule, a dozen Coronas?"

Leaning back against his chair, Zhou Jingze smiled: "Thanks."

Once the beer was served, Dali acted as if everyone was attending his wedding banquet. He filled every single glass to the brim and urged them on, shouting: "If you don't drink, you're not giving this brother of mine any face."

Everyone: "..."

When it came to Xu Sui, she instinctively refused, saying softly: "I don't drink alcohol."

"Xu Sui, why don't you just have a little bit? Otherwise, with a good student like you sitting here while the rest of us drink, it looks just like a crime scene," Dali persuaded.

"What kind of bullcrap are you spewing?" Stretching out his long legs, Zhou Jingze kicked Dali and lowered his voice: "All right, don't force people."

The group sat together chatting. Xu Sui rested her chin in her hand as she watched Sheng Nanzhou and Hu Xixi bicker, while also listening to Dali recount some of Zhou Jingze's escapades around campus. Listening so intently, she didn't even notice when Zhou Jingze stood up and left.

Acting like a die-hard fan of Zhou Jingze, Dali slapped the table and said: "My Lord Zhou ranks first in both academics and practical skills, pretty awesome right? Teachers love him to death and wanted him to be the class monitor, but he actually turned it down. Damn, what a pity, nobody's around to help skip an evening self-study session."

"Still, I'm always getting into trouble. Last time, Lord Zhou even took the blame for me and was punished with rolling exercises and running on the sports field. Must have been last month—it was so hot out that he actually stripped off his training uniform right then and there, showing off that full set of muscles. The girls watching from around the field completely lost their minds," Dali said, taking a couple of sips of beer as he began to envy Zhou Jingze's popularity with women. "Damn, he's basically a walking wingman. The next day, the school confession wall was completely dominated by my Lord Zhou's name."

Xu Sui's heart tightened slightly as she asked: "Does he have a lot of people pursuing him at school?"

Just as Dali was about to answer, a familiar, indifferent voice sounded right above her head: "Stop listening to him talk nonsense."

A carton of milk appeared to Xu Sui's right, and she heard the sound of a chair being pulled out beside her. Zhou Jingze had returned, clad in his black jacket, and sat back down.

Reaching out to touch the carton of milk, Xu Sui found it was still warm. Touched by his casual thoughtfulness, she spoke softly: "Thank you."

Zhou Jingze let out a low chuckle without saying anything else, picking up the beer bottle by the table to drink. Tapping his bowl with his chopsticks, Sheng Nanzhou announced: "My friends, the reason we are gathered here today is because there's something I want to..."

"Spit it out if you have something to say." Hu Xixi rolled her eyes.

"He wants to find everyone to form a temporary band and enter the school competition," Dali jumped in, stealing the spotlight from Sheng Nanzhou's thoroughly rehearsed speech. "He wants to ask for your help."

"Why are you suddenly so enthusiastic about campus activities?" Hu Xixi turned her head to look at him.

"Because the prize is a two-day, one-night trip to the Beishan Ski Resort," Zhou Jingze answered for him. "He begged me on his knees for ages."

"Right, I remember you play the electric guitar, right, beautiful Princess Xixi?" Sheng Nanzhou buttered her up smoothly without missing a beat.

Hu Xixi didn't play hard to get either: "Fine, I'm about to go crazy from memorizing textbooks all day anyway." "Alright, I'll be on the accordion, Dali is lead vocals and keyboard, Lord Zhou is cello and backing vocals, and you're on the electric guitar," Sheng Nanzhou sighed. "We're still missing a really high-energy drummer."

Suddenly, a soft yet firm voice rang out: "I can play."

"You?" Shocked expressions plastered everyone's faces as they whipped their heads around to stare at Xu Sui in unison.

Just as Xu Sui was about to speak, her phone chimed with a notification sound. Tapping it open, she saw a text message of apology from Bai Yuyue.

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