Chapter 1.10

"Sir, what can I get for you?" the waiter inquired, glancing at the trio.

'Ah, three charming guys!'

The waiter noticed the subtle tension crackling between Jun Hao and Lu Minzhe, and his eyes sparkled with amusement.

'Oh? These two seem to be at odds… Are they competing for the cute one?'

Xi Lian looked over the menu, quickly deciding on a simple vegetable stir-fry, tofu soup, and a side of dumplings. He preferred light, savory dishes rather than anything too sweet or meaty.

When the food arrived, he hesitated, noticing that neither Jun Hao nor Lu Minzhe had started eating yet. His large eyes flickered between them, uncertain.

Seeing his hesitant yet endearing expression, the silent standoff between Jun Hao and Lu Minzhe came to an abrupt end. Both instinctively reached for their chopsticks to serve food into Xi Lian's bowl—only to freeze when they realized the other was doing the same. Their eyes locked, sparks flying once more.

Before they could resume their silent competition, both paused mid-air when they noticed Xi Lian already digging in, completely unfazed by their antics.

'Well, food takes priority,' Xi Lian thought, enjoying his meal. If this had been in the past—when he wasn't as familiar with these so-called heaven's darlings—he wouldn't have had the confidence to act so casually. But now? He had no intention of letting their silent war interfere with his lunch.

While eating, Xi Lian suddenly recalled something.

"System, there aren't even any pink bubbles around them. Are you sure they'll end up as a couple?" he asked in his mind, glancing at Jun Hao and Lu Minzhe, who were still silently vying for attention.

"Host, you don't need to worry about that. They will be a couple," the system's monotonous voice replied.

Xi Lian, focused on his meal, didn't catch the subtle omission in the system's words—it never mentioned love.

As they stepped out of the restaurant, the blazing sunlight greeted them. Xi Lian instinctively squinted.

Before he could adjust, a shadow loomed over him. Jun Hao had taken the chance to position himself in front of Xi Lian, shielding him from the sun's rays.

Lu Minzhe's expression darkened immediately as he observed the unfolding scene, his usual playful demeanor shifting to something more serious.

Walking alongside Xi Lian, Lu Minzhe matched his pace effortlessly. During their walk, he filled the air with jokes, his vibrant energy infectious.

Xi Lian, who seldom laughed so openly, found himself chuckling at Lu Minzhe's antics. His typically reserved face softened, and his eyes sparkled with amusement.

Jun Hao turned his head at the sound of Xi Lian's delightful laughter, watching the moment with an unreadable expression.

Lu Minzhe shot a smirk at Jun Hao, a silent challenge evident in his gaze. This time, Xi Lian noticed it, his steps faltering slightly in confusion.

Neither Lu Minzhe nor Jun Hao seemed to mind that he had caught on—or perhaps they had never meant to conceal it at all.

They both understood that Xi Lian misinterpreted their relationship. Although they were often seen together, it stemmed not from affection but from a shared indifference toward the world. One wore his indifference openly, while the other hid it behind a carefully constructed facade.

As they rounded a corner, a bicycle suddenly zipped by, startling Xi Lian and causing him to lose his balance and stumble backward.

In that instant, both Jun Hao and Lu Minzhe reacted simultaneously—Jun Hao reached out, but Lu Minzhe, being closer, caught him first.

Xi Lian blinked as he found himself steady in Lu Minzhe's hold. Realizing what had just happened, he quickly stepped back, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks.

Before he could utter a word, Lu Minzhe grinned. "You're lucky I was here."

Still a bit flustered, Xi Lian mumbled, "Thank you."

Just as Lu Minzhe was about to continue his teasing, Jun Hao interjected, his voice filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

Lu Minzhe shot him an annoyed glance, but upon hearing the question, he turned to Xi Lian with a hint of concern in his eyes.

"Hm… just a little pain," Xi Lian admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed under their intense scrutiny.

Jun Hao nodded, then tried to sound casual as he asked, "Do you need a back ride?" His tone was relaxed, but the tips of his ears turned a noticeable shade of red, giving away his true feelings.

Lu Minzhe noticed this and couldn't help but laugh. "Or would you rather be princess-carried by a handsome boy?" he teased, winking playfully.

Xi Lian sighed, rubbing his temples. "No need. I can walk just fine."

Getting home, Xi Lian directly went to bed for a afternoon nap.

What happened the next day at school caught Xi Lian off guard. But that was a story for another time.