Chapter 13: Wanna Come Over for Lunch?

Milk tea… is really nice.

The sweet-but-not-cloying taste of red beans slid down into my stomach like a warm current, as if it was going to melt the chill from my whole body.

Even the crispness of autumn didn’t feel quite so bleak anymore.

Although we’d successfully skipped class, all we did was wander aimlessly through the streets.

Not that I disliked it.

In fact, I really enjoyed strolling in silence with Gu Fan—just taking in the sights along the roadside was enough to make me feel content.

But I couldn’t be sure if Gu Fan felt the same. What if he was already bored?

Ugh… Seriously, why am I such an idiot?

If I’d planned ahead and actually decided to invite him to skip class earlier, I could’ve set up a whole itinerary at home!

Now all I can do is rack my brains on the spot.

I sipped the last bit of my milk tea and sighed occasionally.

Gu Fan’s eyes were fixed straight ahead, lost in thought.

The straw between his lips hadn’t moved for a while, and his mango milk tea was still half full.

Hmm… if he’s zoning out, does that mean this moment isn’t interesting enough to keep his attention?

Then—does that mean he’s getting bored?!

Tsk—

I quietly sucked in a breath from my empty cup, only to realize there was nothing left inside.

Now we didn’t even have an excuse to pass the time.

Just wandering around aimlessly like this… Gu Fan was bound to find it awkward, right?

Ahhh, come on, think of something to talk about!

Just like we did in front of the milk tea shop—make some conversation, get him to laugh a little, anything!

If it really comes down to it… maybe I’ll just have to sacrifice my cat ears and tail, let him pet me all he wants.

After all, catgirls and real cats do have a lot in common.

And since Gu Fan’s a self-proclaimed cat lover, there’s no way he could resist a catgirl like me, right?

“Watch out!”

Gu Fan’s voice rang out right next to me—just before my forehead collided with his palm.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I realized I’d almost walked straight into a utility pole.

Thankfully, Gu Fan had raised his hand just in time to shield me.

“Ah… sorry, I spaced out.”

Realizing how dumb I must’ve looked, I quickly bowed in apology. Gu Fan just waved it off.

“It’s fine. I was zoning out too. But I came back to my senses right when you were about to walk into it.”

“O-oh… thanks.”

It sounded a little weird, but it was kind of sweet in its own way.

“So… have you thought about where you want to go next?”

Gu Fan resumed sipping his half-finished milk tea.

Now that his attention was back, the drink started disappearing at a visible speed—he was practically chugging it.

“Mm… I guess you could say I have something in mind.”

I vaguely thought back to the places I’d been recently and casually picked a destination.

“Let’s go to the bookstore!”

* * * * *

I rarely go out, and I don’t even glance at entertainment spots.

There used to be a sense of self-sufficient comfort in that—but now, it just feels like I’ve shortchanged myself.

I finally managed to ask Gu Fan out. Am I really going to let the day end so blandly?

I flipped through a magazine in the bookstore.

I usually stopped by after school to pick up a few magazines, light reads, or manga to kill time.

But right now, I didn’t want to waste a single moment—it wasn’t the time for me to zone out reading.

I stole a few glances at Gu Fan not far away.

He was browsing books with genuine interest, flipping through them leisurely.

He actually seemed… pretty engaged?

Did I accidentally pick a place he really enjoys?

Wait—doubt.

Always doubt.

What if he’s just pretending to enjoy himself to match my interests?

Back when we were kids, he never showed strong preferences for anything.

He was always indifferent—except when it came to cats.

…Huh?! Gu Fan looked over!

I hurriedly averted my gaze and pretended to read seriously.

But my cat ears clearly caught the steady sound of his footsteps approaching.

Ugh… is he coming to question me?

My brain conjured up the image of Gu Fan with a terrifying scowl, yelling weird accusations at me.

Okay, okay—overreaction. Definitely overreacting.

I shook my head to erase the absurd scenes from my mind.

“Zhi Nian.”

Gu Fan’s voice was soft, and before I realized it, he was already standing so close that he was practically brushing against my side.

Since he was taller, his breath tickled my cat ears as it passed by—tingly and warm.

“Ah? Uh—wh-what is it?”

I quickly shut the magazine in my hands with a snap—only to realize I’d been holding it upside down.

I hastily hid it behind my back in embarrassment.

“Nothing big. I just wanted to buy a few books to take home.”

“Oh! Gu Fan, do you like reading?”

What a pleasant surprise.

If he really does like it, then I’ll have the perfect excuse to invite him to bookstores more often.

“I guess so. I tried reading a few pages just now and found them pretty interesting.”

Gu Fan brushed his fingers across the novels in his hand—they looked like casual essay-style stories about daily life.

“Actually, this is my first time coming to a bookstore.”

“Your first time?”

“Yeah. I always had friends buy books for me. I’ve never been a fan of reading, so I never bothered stepping into bookstores.”

Did I just… awaken a new hobby for Gu Fan?

Hehe. That made me a little happy.

We were always stuck together as kids, but we barely saw each other in middle school, so I wasn’t really sure what kind of person he had become.

All I remembered was that Gu Fan used to stay home all the time.

He never went out unless absolutely necessary—and even then, it was usually because someone dragged him along.

But since he was so naturally sociable, people always liked inviting him out.

What stood out the most in my memories was how I had to rush to ask him out before anyone else did.

For a timid girl like me, just mustering the courage to knock on Gu Fan’s door took countless rounds of internal pep talks and mental preparation.

If I hesitated too long, someone else would get to him first.

And then Gu Fan could only smile apologetically and promise to hang out with me next time.

But now… now I’m genuinely glad we came here.

I got to see him enjoy picking out books, enjoy reading.

After quickly picking out the magazines I wanted, I led Gu Fan to the cashier—and without thinking, I paid for his books too.

“Huh? Zhi Nian, you—”

We had just stepped out of the bookstore when Gu Fan, holding the shopping bag, suddenly stopped walking.

“Wh-what is it?”

“Uh… I’ll send you the money for these books later.”

“Oh! No need, no need.”

I looked down and scuffed the ground with my toe, making little squeaking sounds.

“Let’s just say I’m paying you back for the milk tea. It’s been so long since we hung out… and I can earn my own money now!”

Even if I didn’t exactly find the job myself, I still got a fixed salary every week.

That’s kinda financial independence, right?

“Oh? Zhi Nian, are you working part-time?”

“Um… sort of.”

I nodded vaguely, praying he wouldn’t ask what kind of job it was.

There’s no way I could tell him I work as a maid at a cat café.

If Gu Fan ever came by out of curiosity, I’d probably melt into a puddle of embarrassment on the spot.

Thankfully, he didn’t ask any further. He just nodded to show he understood.

Phew—what a relief.

Gu Fan really is thoughtful like that. If he had pressed the question, it would’ve been so painfully awkward.

“Zhi Nian, do you usually take afternoon naps?”

“Huh? Ah… yeah, I usually rest for about half an hour.”

“I see…”

Gu Fan was holding the shopping bag in one hand.

He checked the time on his phone with the other, then looked straight at me—serious and sincere.

“Wanna come over to my place for lunch?”

What?!

Th-that was so sudden!

“Ah…”

Everything around me started to swirl like a whirlpool.

My head felt fuzzy, and my lips moved like ocean waves—no sound coming out.

What do I do? Someone please teach me what to say!