CHAPTER 16: “Confessions, Chopsticks, and Fluttering Hearts”

As they entered the cafeteria, the tables were filled with delicious dishes. The SEVENTEEN members stood in line with their trays, calmly serving themselves. Nian and Xuanye blinked in confusion.

"Should we just… follow what they're doing?" Xuanye whispered.

Nian nodded, so they quietly took trays and copied the boys' actions. Once everyone had their plates, the members sat down together and began eating. Nian and Xuanye, still shy, chose a different table and sat quietly with their food.

Meanwhile, Woozi and Wonwoo looked around, searching for the girls.

"There they are," Woozi said, pointing.

Vernon frowned. "Why are they sitting all the way over there? We've been trying to make them feel at ease."

Boo shrugged. "They're not scared of us. They're scared they'll fall in love."

DK and Minghao immediately choked on their food and looked up in shock.

The others stared at them, then burst into laughter.

"Boo, you're not supposed to spill the truth like that," Jeonghan teased. "What'll they think of us now?"

Jun added with a grin, "They're like magnets — totally different, but perfect opposites. Should we help them?"

Scoups sighed and shook his head. "Let them be. If they need our help, they'll ask for it."

Dino and Hoshi buried their faces in their hands, blushing. Boo sat back dramatically. "Why am I always in the middle of this chaos?"

DK and Minghao exchanged glances and chuckled awkwardly. Their silent smiles asked the same question: Was it really that obvious?

From their table, Xuanye noticed the members laughing.

"Nian… why are they laughing like that? Are they talking about us?"

Nian pointed her chopsticks at her. "Don't dream, Xuanye. They're probably just joking among themselves."

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After lunch, everyone returned to the van. As the vehicle started to move, Nian sat next to DK, her heart racing. She couldn't breathe properly — her nerves were all over the place.

DK noticed her fidgeting. He gently took off one of his headphones and tucked it over her ear. Nian froze.

She slowly turned her head toward him, eyes wide. DK smiled, his eyes twinkling — it was like an arrow straight to her heart.

"Keep me company," he said warmly.

Nian nodded quickly, blushing so hard she thought her face would explode. She turned away shyly, but DK saw her red cheeks and chuckled to himself.

Across the van, the other members — Boo, Scoups, Wonwoo, Vernon, Jun, Joshua, Jeonghan, Dino, Mingyu, Hoshi, and Woozi — all stared at DK in disbelief.

Then they turned to look at Minghao… who was currently very awkwardly attempting to talk to Xuanye.

Xuanye, still in project mode, asked, "What are your favorite things?"

Minghao blinked as if he was being interrogated by a detective. He looked completely flustered, not answering.

Xuanye tilted her head and frowned. "Are you uncomfortable with my questions?"

Minghao nodded slowly.

"I knew you'd say that," she replied, a little annoyed. "Fine, let's change the topic. You can ask me questions instead."

Minghao blinked again, then finally asked, "Why are you asking these useless questions?"

That stunned her into silence.

Meanwhile, the other eleven members were laughing hysterically, hugging each other like they were watching the best drama of the year.

Xuanye groaned. "If you're that curious, I'll give you my professor's number. You can ask him. Even I want to ask, but if I do, he'll bury me under a pile of extra assignments."

Minghao finally laughed. Xuanye smiled at the sound and continued with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Minghao, I've wanted to say this for so long… Whenever I watch you on screen, it feels like you're casting a spell. Your part in HOT, Super, Thunder, Maestro, Orbit... the list goes on. You melt my heart like ice every time."

She pulled out a folded note from her bag and handed it to him with a small bow.

"Minghao, would you… sign this for me?"

Minghao's cheeks flushed pink, and he couldn't suppress the huge smile forming on his lips.

"I will," he said softly.

Xuanye lifted her head quickly, her eyes lighting up as if someone had turned on the sun inside her. She looked like she might burst with joy.

Back in the corner, the rest of the members were still clinging to each other.

Hoshi sighed dramatically and hugged Boo. "Why don't we have someone like that, huh~"

Boo, with his usual plain face, just patted him gently and said nothing.