Chapter 9

After an hour of intense practice, both Jiu and Feng were tired but happy. The evening air was cool as they began walking back to the campus, their footsteps light with a sense of accomplishment. As they strolled along, Jiu turned to Lian Feng, her voice playful."Senior, would you like to try something?" she asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.Lian Feng, still in a good mood from their dance session, turned to her with a smile. "Do you want to eat pastry?" he asked, hoping to indulge in something sweet after all the hard work.Jiu nodded excitedly, her face lighting up. "Yes! Let's go to the bakery!"They made their way to the bakery, and once inside, Lian Feng ordered six pastries: two Devil's Delights, two cheesecakes, and two Ferrero Rochers. He was focused on Jiu the entire time, watching her excitement as she looked at the treats.When the cashier brought the pastries over, Lian Feng, without hesitation, grabbed the box and shoved it into Jiu's hands. "Here, take all of it," he said, grinning widely.Jiu, taken aback by his gesture, quickly shook her head, refusing to accept the pastries. "You can't pay for this, senior!" she insisted, trying to push the box back into his hands. "If you are not eating it then you can't pay, let me pay for it!"Lian Feng wasn't having it. He pulled one of her hands away from the box and firmly said, "Sure I can," his voice filled with determination.Jiu struggled for a moment, but seeing that he wasn't backing down, she rolled her eyes in exasperation."Fine," she muttered, before suddenly thrusting the whole box into his hands. "Just hold this for a minute. I need to get some water."She quickly ordered two banana milks, two cheesecakes, and two chocolate-filled pastries, paying for them before the cashier could finish the transaction. With the box now firmly in Lian's hands, she gave a satisfied smile and said, "There you go, now we're even."Lian Feng just laughed, the warmth of their playful back-and-forth making the whole situation feel lighthearted."Alright, alright. You win this round," he said, his bunny smile appearing again.The evening was calm, and as they walked back toward campus, the pastries in hand, their bond seemed to grow stronger—one moment at a time.As Jiu finally settled into her hostel room, she sighed in contentment. Today had been unexpectedly fun—what she initially thought would be just a practice session turned into something more. She had enjoyed the so-called hangout with Lian Feng, and for the first time in a while, she felt lighter, happier.She opened the pastry box and picked up one of the Devil's Delight pastries, bringing it close to her lips. But just as she was about to take a bite, her eyes lingered on the assortment of desserts in front of her—Devil's Delight, Ferrero Rocher, and cheesecake.

Her fingers froze.

A sudden memory hit her.

The letter.The first letter from her anonymous admirer.

She had read it so many times, the words were etched into her memory. He had mentioned that he liked exactly these three pastries. The same three that Lian Feng had chosen today.What a coincidence.Jiu let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. Was she overthinking it? Maybe it was just a random preference they happened to share.As she stared at the pastries, she laughed softly—bitterly. She still didn't know who the anonymous writer was.The person who had sent her those heartfelt words, the one who had made her heart flutter even when she didn't know his face.

And now, a part of her was wondering… who could it be ?

Letter 1:"Hello Wifey,Wifey, I love you. My heart trembles whenever I see you. Yes, you might think it's because you're beautiful, and while that is true, I haven't even begun to describe all the wonderful things about you.Who asked my wifey to be so good at speeches and debates? Ever so confident, an academic topper, the pride of Media Academy?But can we pause for a moment to appreciate how kind you are? How helpful?Wifey, I don't dare to come up to you. I don't deserve you—you deserve the best, and I am not the best. But one day, when I become the best, I hope you'll notice me.Wifey, did you know? I like Ferrero Rocher, Devil's Delight, and cheesecake pastries a lot.My favorite color has always been white. Do you know why? Because gradually, I have started seeing it… walking down the aisle.Wifey, but you are so good.Once, I saw you helping an old man, covered in blood. I had just reached there when I saw you, and in that moment—I fell for you."*—

Jiu exhaled as she folded the letter back into its envelope. She could feel her thoughts spiraling, connecting dots she didn't want to connect.

No.

Not now.To prevent her brain from overthinking, she shut her eyes and forced herself to sleep.