Classmate Zhao Yan, Who Excels at Exuding Charm

"Knock, knock～"

Just as the two of them had fallen into silence, sipping their drinks, the door of the coffee shop's private room was suddenly knocked.

Su Cheng froze for a moment before raising his head to look toward the door.

Zhao Yan spoke softly, "Come in."

Soon, the door opened, revealing a young waiter standing outside. He carried a tray with an iced coffee dessert and first apologized, "Sorry for the interruption."

After placing the dessert on the table, he explained, "Every guest in a private room receives a complimentary new item of the day. Enjoy your time."

With that, he set the coffee down and promptly left without giving them a chance to refuse.

This forced complimentary gesture made Su Cheng feel a bit uneasy.

Then, his gaze fell on the drink with a double-straw—one designed for two people to share—and he couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

This kind of straw…

Seemed very convenient, especially for two people drinking together.

If he got used to it, sharing drinks with Li Guanqi in the future wouldn’t require taking turns—they could drink at the same time!

Wait—no!

That wasn’t the point!

The real question was: Why would they give out something like this!?

Could it have been arranged by Zhao Yan?

Thinking this, he lifted his head to observe her reaction.

He noticed Zhao Yan picking up the menu beside her, skimming through it with a faint smile on her lips as she casually explained, "Today’s new item is a couple’s special—ice cream coffee."

"Oh."

Su Cheng nodded in realization, his eyes inadvertently scanning the menu next to him and confirming her words. His gaze eventually settled back on the straw.

Zhao Yan followed his line of sight and noticed the straw as well, her cheeks suddenly flushing slightly.

This was something she had specially arranged with the shop days in advance.

After all, it wasn’t often she got to spend time alone with Su Cheng, so she had to create opportunities. She had spent the past few days meticulously planning their Saturday outing.

Of course, this was just one part of her plan.

She quickly averted her eyes, lowering them to the menu as if nothing had happened, pretending to browse casually.

"You can have this ice cream coffee," Su Cheng suddenly offered, feeling that a true gentleman should always yield to a lady.

After all, ladies first.

A proper man should always show respect, care, and consideration toward women through his words and actions.

"But this is a couple’s portion—I can’t possibly finish it alone," Zhao Yan frowned, looking genuinely troubled before shaking her head and pushing the coffee back toward him. "How about you drink it instead?"

"Alright then, it’d be a shame to waste it," Su Cheng agreed, nodding as he accepted the coffee.

He had offered, after all.

Now he could drink it with a clear conscience!

Once it was in his hands, the first thing he did was yank out the straw and toss it into the trash. Then, he popped off the lid and chugged the entire drink in one go—completely devoid of any grace.

Zhao Yan stared at him, dumbfounded, as he downed the ice cream coffee in one breath. She forced a smile and asked, "So… how was it?"

Su Cheng finished the last sip before finally looking at her and answering earnestly, "Not bad. The milk I ordered earlier was too hot to quench my thirst, so I just treated this like water. Tasted pretty good."

Hearing this, a faint trace of disappointment flickered across Zhao Yan’s face.

Of course…

Sharing a drink right off the bat was too much to ask.

After all, they were just ordinary friends.

But she didn’t let it dampen her spirits for long. Instead, she smiled warmly again and suggested, "In that case, would you like to order some more cold drinks?"

"No need, I’m already full!" Su Cheng quickly waved his hand in refusal.

But when he looked up at Zhao Yan, he found her staring at him with an intense gaze.

After their eyes locked for three full seconds, Zhao Yan suddenly seemed embarrassed, lowering her head with a shy smile as she asked, "Then… how about some dessert?"

The sheer impact of this moment made Su Cheng’s entire body go weak.

A usually bold and domineering girl like her suddenly acting all shy and cute?

This was lethal enough to make someone pregnant!

But…

For Su Cheng, who spent every day surrounded by beautiful girls, while his heart did skip a beat for a second…

He quickly regained his composure.

After all, it couldn’t compare to Li Guanqi’s "I won’t listen, I won’t listen!"

Or President Ji’s "Bai Cha, come out already～"

"No need for dessert," Su Cheng shook his head.

Zhao Yan’s expression stiffened slightly—her next move required food as part of the setup. Without it, her entire plan would fall apart.

Suppressing her frustration, she forced a cheerful tone and recommended, "According to public reviews, this shop’s truffle cake is amazing—one of their must-try desserts. It’d be a real shame to miss out."

Hearing this, Su Cheng realized she must want to try it herself. Without hesitation, he picked up the menu and pressed the service bell.

Soon, the waiter returned with a polite smile. "How may I assist you?"

Su Cheng pointed at the table. "Two truffle cakes, please."

The waiter nodded: "Certainly, please wait a moment. It will be served shortly."

Soon, two exquisitely crafted truffle cakes were brought to the table.

Su Cheng stared at the cake, reluctant to take a bite. For a moment, he even considered storing it in his spatial storage to share with Li Guanqi later.

But after a brief hesitation, he dismissed the thought. He could always order one to-go before leaving.

With that in mind, he picked up his fork and took a small bite. The cake was velvety smooth, sweet, and refreshing.

Su Cheng closed his eyes in satisfaction, savoring the flavor, then glanced at Zhao Yan sitting across from him and couldn’t help but say, "Thanks for the recommendation. It’s amazing."

"Mhm."

Zhao Yan nodded with a faint smile, then removed her coat, revealing fair arms, a delicate neck, and elegantly defined collarbones. She picked up her fork and knife with grace, eating the cake unhurriedly.

Su Cheng’s gaze flickered over her collarbones, and for some reason, his heart stirred.

It was a feeling of being utterly captivated.

He quickly shook off the distracting thoughts and focused on his cake.

Zhao Yan took another bite, set down her utensils, and casually swept her golden hair to one side, deliberately angling her face to showcase her striking profile. With a soft smile, she remarked, "It truly lives up to its reputation."

However, Su Cheng didn’t even glance up, merely nodding absentmindedly as he continued eating.

He found this woman far too alluring—almost dangerously so.

Noticing that Su Cheng remained completely absorbed in his cake, not sparing her even a sidelong glance, Zhao Yan felt a twinge of frustration.

As a woman, she naturally wanted to display her charm.

Yet Su Cheng showed no interest in admiring her beauty, not even the slightest curiosity.

This only deepened her irritation.

But she decided it was time to pull out all the stops.

She knew that with someone as reserved as Su Cheng, hesitation and passivity wouldn’t work.

She firmly believed—

To be beautiful, mysterious, unique, and coquettish was the ultimate strategy!

So she resolved to create an opportunity, a moment where her allure would shine in full force.

"I’ll be right back—just need the restroom," Zhao Yan suddenly announced, standing up before leaving the table.

"Sure."

Su Cheng, still engrossed in his cake, nodded without looking up.

Once in the restroom, Zhao Yan checked her reflection in the mirror, tidied her hair, and touched up her makeup, ensuring everything was flawless. Then, with renewed confidence, she strode back toward the private dining room where Su Cheng waited.

She easily found the room, hesitated briefly at the door, then knocked.

Knock, knock, knock.

Su Cheng’s voice soon responded from inside: "Come in."

Taking a deep breath, she slowly turned the handle and stepped inside.

Su Cheng glanced at her briefly before returning to his cake, eating with obvious enjoyment.

Zhao Yan held her breath as she walked toward her seat, mentally preparing herself. Then—

She pretended to trip, letting out a soft gasp before "accidentally" tumbling onto the nearby sofa.

Su Cheng instinctively looked up—and froze.

Zhao Yan lay sprawled on the sofa, her youthful yet unexpectedly mature posture, combined with the way her gaze locked onto him…

It was undeniably awkward, yet paradoxically mesmerizing, creating an irresistible allure.

"Don’t worry, I just tripped. I’m fine."

Her voice carried a hint of embarrassment as she pressed her lips together before speaking.

Adding to the effect, the slightest lean from Su Cheng would grant him a glimpse of forbidden territory—paired with her deliberately restrained expression, it created an intoxicating push-and-pull.

At this moment—

Zhao Yan had unleashed her full magnetic charm.

Su Cheng immediately averted his eyes.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yan stood up, smoothing her disheveled clothes and regaining her composure before sitting back down, cheeks faintly flushed. "Sorry about that," she murmured, her tone laced with unmistakable shyness, as if mortified by her own actions.

"It’s fine. I trip all the time," Su Cheng replied, sighing inwardly. "As expected, this woman is even trickier than I thought."

He could sense Zhao Yan’s interest in him, but she had never made any overt moves—only maintaining friendly small talk, including this outing under the pretense of Xuan Ying’s invitation.

If he confronted her prematurely, it would only strain their relationship. Since she hadn’t confessed outright, rejecting her in advance would be humiliating.

They were classmates, after all, seeing each other daily. He had to consider her feelings.

Unlike Xuan Ying, who had once rummaged through the trash for his discarded pens—only to be caught red-handed.

Zhao Yan’s actions and words were ambiguous, so he couldn’t possibly assume her intentions and reject her preemptively.

What if he was wrong? The embarrassment would be unbearable.

"Let’s just keep this between us," he said lightly.

Zhao Yan smiled, and after speaking, she extended her delicate hand, intending to proactively shake Su Cheng's hand.

"Alright, I'll take this secret—oh, I mean, I understand now."

Su Cheng nodded with a smile and reached out his hand.

However, Zhao Yan's hand only gave a polite, fleeting touch before withdrawing gracefully, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

Perfectly measured, neither too forward nor too reserved.

Su Cheng silently admired her poise.

She didn’t even give him a chance to refuse, simply drawing him into her scheme under the guise of friendship.

Though he grumbled inwardly, even the most skilled hunter must eventually strike.

"I'm finished eating too."

At that moment, Zhao Yan dabbed her lips with a napkin, then spoke with a gentle smile before her expression turned serious. "Let’s return to our earlier topic."

Su Cheng raised an eyebrow at her words but said nothing, merely nodding to signal her to continue.

"Xuan Ying has been sneaking off to the library behind my back lately."

Zhao Yan spoke earnestly, her tone sincere.

Hearing this, Su Cheng was genuinely surprised. He hadn’t expected Zhao Yan to actually reveal her best friend’s secret about Sister Qin and the library.

This caught him completely off guard.

"The library?"

Su Cheng feigned ignorance, playing dumb.

"Perhaps you’ll understand if you visit the library sometime when you’re free." Zhao Yan gave a faint smile, offering no further explanation.

Though she didn’t spell it out, her words clearly pointed to one place—the school library.

If not for Li Guanqi’s prior warning, Zhao Yan’s hint would have been a huge help. But Li Guanqi had already tipped him off.

Su Cheng remained silent for a few seconds before responding, "Alright, I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll follow Xuan Ying there when I have time."

Zhao Yan pressed her lips into a small smile. "Mm."

After some more casual conversation, lunchtime approached. After all, a café wasn’t a proper restaurant—they couldn’t just make a meal out of desserts.

"My place is nearby. How about having a simple lunch at my home?" Su Cheng suggested.

At his words, Zhao Yan’s pupils briefly contracted, her face flickering with a mix of emotions—excitement, hesitation, pain, and struggle…

But in the end, she composed herself and shook her head with visible regret.

"I’m truly touched by your invitation, but I’m sorry," she said apologetically. "My family doesn’t allow me to eat outside."

Her voice carried a note of disappointment, yet also a hint of resolve.

"I see. That’s too bad," Su Cheng shrugged.

"Yes, what a shame." Zhao Yan lowered her gaze, her long lashes fluttering slightly before she looked up again. "But if there’s a chance in the future, I’d love to visit and taste your cooking. I hope you won’t mind teaching me then."

"Anytime."

After exchanging pleasantries, Su Cheng took the bill, and Zhao Yan hurried off.

Watching her retreating figure, he felt a headache coming on.

This woman was far trickier to handle than Xuan Ying.

The moment she left, a server approached and asked, "Sir, would you like to settle the bill?"

"Sure."

Su Cheng pulled out his wallet, handed over the cash, and stood up.

He glanced outside—the sunlight was blazing.

Stepping out of the café, he immediately turned back in.

He’d forgotten to get a truffle cake to-go for Li Guanqi!

Just as he was about to order one, he paused mid-thought.

Since he had nothing to do in the afternoon…

Why not invite Li Guanqi out for tea?

The truffle cake and iced coffee here were absolutely amazing!