Chapter 40: "Blushes, Bakes, and a Bear Named DK"

As DK reached Nian's college, he stopped the car and turned to her with a playful grin.

"Yah~ are you still blushing that hard?" he teased.

Nian didn't respond. DK extended his index finger and tapped her arm. She looked at him, her face half-covered with her hair.

"Haa~~ OMG, you look like a ghost, Nian! I'm scared, show your face!" he joked.

Tired of his teasing, Nian finally lifted her head, tucked her hair behind her ears, and gave him an annoyed look.

DK chuckled and gently patted her head. "See? Now you look beautiful."

Nian couldn't hold back her blush again. "DK, that's enough for today. My heart is small—I can't take all this," she pleaded dramatically.

DK laughed so hard he clutched his stomach. "Nian, you're too cute. I didn't know you'd out-cute me."

Nian smirked. "Even I didn't expect this. When I saw you for the first time, I thought you were just a weird, happy virus—but now you're acting all cute and making me blush!"

DK leaned back in his seat, smiling. "Really? When did you fall for me, Nian?"

She choked a little and stammered. "I... I fell for you during the concert. When you waved to the Carats, you looked at me and smiled. I didn't know what happened, but in that moment, you were the only one I could see. Then, when I saw you again at the dorm, I was so happy. But I hesitated to love you… and you know what happened after that."

DK stared at her softly and placed his hand on her head. "I didn't know you loved me like this. I'm really lucky." He made a tiny finger heart and grinned.

Nian chuckled. "You really can't be serious, can you? But that's what makes you special, Loudie. And honestly… I'm the lucky one. If someone who has depression spends time with you, they'll be cured. That's how healing you are."

DK clutched his chest dramatically. "You're praising me too much, Nian—I can't take it!"

Nian slapped him playfully and got out of the car.

He watched her lovingly as she walked away. Nian turned back and said, "Go home early. Don't roam around, okay? And give the cakes to the members. I picked a special one just for you, so don't share it with anyone."

DK nodded, and Nian smiled, waving before heading off. He peeked at her as she entered the college, then smiled to himself and glanced at the cake box. He breathed deeply, full of contentment.

---

That evening, Nian returned to her dorm, still smiling and completely lost in thoughts of DK. As she entered, Xuanye was waiting with her arms crossed.

As Nian put her bag down and giggled while sipping water, Xuanye asked, "Where did you go? And why are you giggling? Wait—did Yichen propose again? Did you betray DK and accept him?!"

Nian choked on her water, patting her chest in disbelief. "Can't you say anything normal?!"

Xuanye raised a brow. "Then why are you blushing?"

"I went on a date with DK," Nian replied softly, blushing again.

Xuanye's eyes widened. "How? Where did you go?"

Nian giggled. "We went to a dessert shop. I bought cakes for the members and a special one for DK." She clasped her hands together, still glowing.

Xuanye raised an eyebrow. "Where's my cake?"

Nian blinked in guilt. Xuanye gasped. "You forgot me?! After falling in love?!"

Nian groaned. "Even I didn't buy one for myself."

Xuanye lit up. "Fine, I'll spare you this time."

"You're so selfish, Ye," Nian muttered.

Xuanye stuck her tongue out playfully. Nian shook her head with a sigh.

---

Meanwhile, DK arrived at the dorm around 7 p.m. with the cakes in hand. The members were in the middle of a chaotic game: playing tic-tac-toe, and the loser had to get a blindfolded makeup session by another member.

DK burst out laughing at the sight. Quietly placing the cakes on the table, he decided to prank the scariest member—Boo.

DK gave Boo a playful shove. Boo screamed dramatically and collapsed into Woozi's lap. Everyone turned to DK, who was laughing with his eyes shut—until he opened them and saw the members' faces.

Their makeup looked terrifying.

DK had planned to scare them—but clearly, they beat him to it.

Woozi thumped Boo's head gently. "Get up."

As Boo leaned back, DK burst into laughter. "Boo, you look like Thomas from that cartoon!"

Boo sulked and glanced at Woozi, whose ghostly makeup sent DK into another fit of laughter.

"Woozi! You look like a cursed doll! Who did this?! Why do you all look like ghosts?!"

The members crawled toward DK like zombies. DK froze.

Within seconds, they pounced on him. Scoups, Wonwoo, Jeonghan, and Vernon began tickling him.

DK was laughing hysterically, begging them to stop.

Meanwhile, Jun, Joshua, Dino, and Hoshi approached, looking like kindergarteners with coconut-tree ponytails. They carried makeup kits like weapons.

"Hold him down!" they ordered.

The others obliged.

Dino and Hoshi tied DK's hair while Jun and Joshua painted his face with makeup so bad, any real artist would quit their job in shame.

Once finished, they clapped and admired their "masterpiece."

Minghao laughed. "DK, now you really look like one of us."

Dino pointed at DK's cheeks. "That blush makes you look like a polar bear!"

Jeonghan opened his phone camera. "Don't take it, Jeonghan!" DK begged.

But Jeonghan clicked anyway and sent it to the group chat.

DK was stunned like he'd lost his soul.

Boo grinned. "See? You mocked me. Now look—you're prettier than Thomas. Be proud, DK!"

DK smirked, pulled out his phone, and started filming everyone.

"Show me your faces, or I won't give you Nian and Xuanye's cakes!"

The members gulped.

Wonwoo and Jun exchanged glances, clearly drooling. Mingyu, Hoshi, Dino, and Minghao slowly lowered their hands and posed proudly.

DK laughed and even got Mingyu to do a cheek poke pose after some persuading.

Scoups muttered, "You guys are shameless."

DK pointed his camera at Scoups. "Take your hands off your face, or I won't tell you what Nian said about you."

Scoups immediately lowered his hands. "What did she say?!"

DK seized the opportunity and captured a shot. Woozi placed a hand on his forehead and laughed in disbelief.