Chapter 18: After Class, Come Into My Arms (16)

After A Si finished speaking to Lu Yu, she lowered her head, intending to take another sip, but suddenly, her milk tea was snatched away. She was about to protest when Lu Yu’s lips closed over the straw.

“It is pretty sweet,” he said, holding one untouched cup in one hand and the other—the one A Si had drunk from—in the other. The boy’s tender, rosy lips lingered on the straw. A Si blinked; for some reason, it felt like Lu Yu had just licked the straw.

“Why are you like this, why did you take mine!” A Si pouted in grievance, tears shimmering in her eyes. The milk tea was meant for her, so why did he take it? How could he do that?

Her lashes fluttered incessantly, and under the sunlight, the tiny droplets of tears were especially clear. Lu Yu saw the glimmer in her eyes and felt an inexplicable panic. He quickly handed her the other cup of milk tea, saying, “You looked so cute drinking it, I wanted to try it too.”

His dark eyes locked onto her, his brow devoid of any harshness, softened entirely by the warmth she brought.

Reluctantly, A Si took the cup, inserted the straw, and cautiously stepped back, clutching it tightly for fear Lu Yu would snatch it again.

“Then why did you take mine?”

She was no longer quite so angry; her voice had softened, though when she looked up at Lu Yu, her eyes still brimmed with tears, full of grievance.

Lu Yu held the warm milk tea in one hand, recalling that she had just drunk from it, and his heart raced. Moreover, just now, he’d used the same straw she had—his cheeks burned red. He touched his reddened ear to hide it, met A Si’s clear gaze, and said earnestly, “I think yours tastes better.”

A Si was already sipping her drink and glanced at Lu Yu in protest upon hearing this. Both cups were the same flavor; he was just trying to tease her.

She huffed; she wasn’t so easy to bully.

“I’m going home now. Thank you for the milk tea.”

It was lunchtime and the area was crowded; Lu Yu had originally planned to sit with her for a while, but they hadn’t managed to get a seat despite waiting. A Si clearly had no patience left. She simply informed him, then slung her backpack and headed home.

“Wait for me,” Lu Yu’s heart felt empty as he saw her leave, and he immediately chased after her.

“I don’t want to wait for you; we don’t even live together.” She kept walking, but Lu Yu was much taller—his stride caught up with hers in just a few steps.

“Stop following me! I’m still angry!” A Si suddenly halted, lips pressed tightly together, gazing at him with accusation. Her voice, usually soft and gentle, carried a note of firmness for the first time.

Lu Yu, however, smiled gently. Even when angry, she was adorable.

His hand at his side tingled with the urge to move. He instinctively reached out, hoping to pinch her pale cheek, but when he met her dark, moist eyes, he instead rested his hand atop her head.

He gently mussed her hair and spoke softly, “Let me walk you home. You’re so cute—what if you run into trouble?”

The blue-and-white school uniform he wore was crumpled from fighting, and though his face still bore traces of bruises, he was strikingly handsome and clean. His black eyes sparkled with laughter—laughter reserved only for her.