As dusk settled, indigo clouds stretched across the horizon. After serving the last group of customers, the clock quietly ticked to the time I’d been waiting for.
Realizing my shift was over, I felt a rare sense of relief. Perhaps because someone was waiting for me today, my body was unusually eager, though it left me feeling a bit tired before the moment even arrived.
Adjusting my slightly slipping strapless top, I let out a breath, said a quick word to the dozing manager at the counter, and headed to the staff break room.
Honestly, this outfit looked great, but it was really tight. When I first put it on and Gu Fan showed up at the café, my focus was entirely on him, so I didn’t notice how it felt.
It was only after he left and I started my usual tasks that I gradually realized how constricting the strapless top was. Even worse, this was already the largest size the manager had custom-ordered, and it still felt so restrictive.
Thankfully, I only had to wear it for one day. If I had to endure this every day, my chest might end up shrinking from the pressure…
Grumbling to myself, I dug out my regular clothes and slipped into the changing room to quickly swap them on.
Looking at my reflection, now bundled up in a puffy down jacket, I suddenly hesitated, wondering if I should put the strapless mini-dress back on. At least it was more alluring than this.
Girls, right? For the sake of looking good, we can endure anything. A little cold weather is nothing…
I stood in front of the mirror, agonizing for a long while, but ultimately gave up on the idea. I dutifully zipped my down jacket all the way up and wrapped myself in the scarf Gu Fan gave me.
If I really went through with it, Gu Fan might insist I wear his clothes to keep warm, and I didn’t want him to catch a cold because of me.
Plus, my body is so sensitive that cold or heat shows up clearly on my skin. My complexion is already cool-toned, and if I got too cold, I’d look scarily pale. I definitely didn’t want Gu Fan mistaking me for a ghost.
Leaving the changing room, I quickly handed over to the colleague taking the next shift and hurried toward the exit, only to be intercepted by the manager.
“Xiao Shen, uh… about you and your childhood friend, cough, how far has your relationship progressed?”
The manager’s eyes gleamed with curiosity, her smile peculiar.
She’d already asked once after Gu Fan left, but I was preoccupied with planning where to go for our evening date and brushed her off, saying we’d talk after my shift.
Now that my shift was over… I was more eager to rush out and find where Gu Fan was waiting to take me home. I wasn’t great at handling the manager’s gossip-loving nature, so instead of hemming and hawing like before, I bluntly shared my current understanding of our relationship.
“I like him. I really, really like him. But I don’t know what’s in his heart. I’ve hinted several times that I’d be okay with… you know, that… but he always skillfully dodges it.”
“Huh? You mean that kind of thing?”
The manager seemed startled by my straightforward explanation, raising her hands and tapping her fingers together in a questioning gesture.
“Um… yeah.”
Fidgeting with the wrinkled hem of my skirt, I pursed my lips and nodded, confirming the manager’s guess.
I felt a twinge of regret for being so blunt, but then I thought—why should I feel ashamed of this?
If I truly love Gu Fan, what’s wrong with offering my body to him? As long as it deepens our love, I’m willing to do anything.
It’s only natural, and the manager isn’t some villain I need to guard against. No need to fuss over these details.
“My goodness… you two are already at that stage? I guess I really am getting old.”
The manager muttered to herself, slowly shuffling back to the counter. Did I shock her? Wasn’t she the one who said she had tons of dating experience? Maybe I misread her.
Not dwelling on her reaction, I adjusted my clothes, pushed open the shop door, and stepped out.
A biting cold wind hit my face, while the lingering warmth from the shop’s heater clung to my back. I took a deep breath, pulling my scarf up over my nose, and set off on my way home.
The streetlights hadn’t yet turned on, leaving the road dim. I glanced at my phone—Gu Fan had sent his location, waiting at a restaurant not far from the maid-and-cat café.
Candlelight flickered before me, and the unlit corners of the room seemed to solidify, making the already small private dining room feel even cozier. For a space with just the two of us, it amplified the sense of security.
I nervously shifted my hips, a subtle restlessness stirring within me—a mix of emotions swirling together, slowly rising with the atmosphere.
I hadn’t expected this restaurant to be this kind of place. I thought Gu Fan was just inviting me…to grab dinner here, but when I arrived, I realized… it’s all couples here!
Upon closer inspection of the sign, I learned this restaurant is usually quite proper, but during holidays, they offer these soundproof private rooms for couples to have candlelit dinners and flirt.
I couldn’t figure out why Gu Fan invited me here. I stared at him blankly for a while, and he just propped his chin with a smile, gazing back at me through the flickering candlelight.
On the contrary, after locking eyes with him for a bit, my mind grew fuzzy, forgetting my original intent to get answers from him.
Pink bubbles floated up, swelling and bursting, their foam splashing downward, grazing my eyes, nose, lips, throat, and finally slipping into my chest, seeping into my heart, where they echoed with crisp, dripping sounds.
Suddenly, I understood why this room was soundproof…
“Gu… uh, why hasn’t the food come yet?”
I’d meant to take advantage of the wait to flirt with Gu Fan and make some more intimate moves, but what came out was such a mundane question.
The moment I spoke, I wanted to sew my mouth shut. Why not just stay silent? Keeping this ambiguous atmosphere with our gazes locked wasn’t bad at all!
“Hmm, maybe they’re looking for where to put the apple.”
“Apple?”
It hit me—today’s Christmas Eve, not yet Christmas. I forgot to buy an apple for Gu Fan on the way here.
“Zhinian, guess why I brought you here for dinner.”
Gu Fan seemed to hesitate, as if something crossed his mind, before giving me a mischievous smile.
He asked, his eyes slightly crinkling with a mischievous glint, clearly setting a trap to tease me.
But I’m just a greedy, foolish fish… Even knowing the bait is laced with danger, I’d still bite without hesitation.
“Is it to have me play the part of your girlfriend so we can enjoy a fancy meal in a cheaper private room?”
“Hmm… if you put it that way, that works too.”
Gu Fan’s teasing made my cheeks flush red in an instant. I hoped the candlelight didn’t betray my blush—it was too embarrassing to say something like that as a girl.
After his playful jab, Gu Fan’s expression turned more serious.
“Actually, I wanted to buy you a Christmas apple, but it was too late. I looked everywhere and couldn’t find any—they were all sold out or ridiculously overpriced. While waiting for you to get off work, I was wandering around and stumbled across this place. I figured instead of a Christmas apple, I’d bring you here for apple juice and apple pie. The private room isn’t that expensive anyway.”
“Oh… so that’s why…”
Learning the real reason Gu Fan brought me here, I struggled to accept it, wondering if he was teasing me again. But after thinking it over, using apple juice and apple pie as substitutes for a Christmas apple did seem very much like something he’d do, fitting his personality and style.
Gu Fan didn’t just order those apple items; he also got other proper dishes. As the waiter brought out the food one by one, I realized this private room might not be as cheap as I’d thought.
Sipping my apple juice, I stole glances at Gu Fan sitting across from me. He casually sliced a piece of pizza and placed it on my plate, as if instinctively taking care of me first.
Although the reason for experiencing a candlelight dinner for the first time was a bit strange, the result turned out to be pretty good.
From the moment I could be with Gu Fan in this holy place for couples’ dates, I knew that no matter what happened, in some sense, I had already won against Bai Niao.
“Gulp, gulp.”
I drank the apple juice in one go, hoping it would bless both Gu Fan and me with a safe and peaceful new year.