Honey, I'm Full

Wang Yanran, standing nearby, couldn't help but wear a peculiar expression as she watched Luo Hao’s flustered demeanor.

"Hey buddy, you’re practically becoming part of their little drama—haven’t you noticed?"

Picking up her tray, Wang Yanran said, "Well, I won’t disturb you any further."

After a glance at Ye Chuan, she turned and walked away.

Since her goal was already achieved, she could just reach out again in five days.

"Give me one of your spare ribs," Ye Chuan said, eyeing the steamed ribs with black bean sauce on Luo Xi’s plate.

"Get it yourself," Luo Xi replied without looking up from her phone, where she was watching an online lecture.

"Can’t you feed your dear old dad one?"

"Fine, fine. Only because of that ‘secret family recipe’ of yours," Luo Xi relented, picking up a rib and feeding it to Ye Chuan.

As Ye Chuan chewed, he glanced at Luo Hao’s constipated expression.

"I’m done eating," Luo Hao said stiffly, his face dark as he stood up with his tray.

"Mm," Ye Chuan responded nonchalantly, spitting out the bone.

Hmph.

With Luo Hao gone, only Ye Chuan and Luo Xi remained at the table. Still focused on her phone, Luo Xi asked curiously, "Chuan Chuan, why are you so hard on Luo Hao?"

She wasn’t stupid—she’d noticed Ye Chuan’s pointed jabs at him.

"That guy obviously has a thing for you," Ye Chuan said with a smirk.

"No way. We barely talk," Luo Xi replied, puzzled. "How’d you even notice?"

"A man’s sixth sense."

"Men have sixth senses?"

"Actually, I’m a woman who just happens to be a lesbian with a thing for girls. So having a sixth sense isn’t weird… Oh, and I’m also a vegan environmentalist—just with a slight case of pica." Ye Chuan deadpanned, stacking absurdities like buffs.

Luo Xi: "…"

She was used to Ye Chuan’s nonsense, though it had rubbed off on An Shiyu too—when the two were together, their mouths never stopped.

"Even if Luo Hao likes me, can’t I date someone? I am in college now," Luo Xi said playfully.

"Go ahead. Just don’t come crying to me when you get taken advantage of," Ye Chuan muttered.

Hmph~ Luo Xi seemed oddly pleased.

Propping her chin in her hand, she gazed at Ye Chuan, her eyes glimmering. "Chuan Chuan, since you’re single too… why not date me instead?"

"Sure."

"That casual?"

"Not casual at all," Ye Chuan said, side-eyeing her. "I know you’ve been eyeing me."

"Ugh, stop being so full of yourself!" Luo Xi swatted at him repeatedly.

This guy had zero romantic flair, making it impossible for Luo Xi to gauge his real feelings.

"I don’t care—you just called me your girlfriend, so you owe me some girlfriend privileges!" She poked his cheek, acting as if she’d been shortchanged.

"Oh? The nearest hotel off-campus isn’t far…" Ye Chuan pulled out his phone to check the map.

"Why a hotel?"

"To do it, obviously."

"?!"

Unsurprisingly, Ye Chuan’s bluntness turned Luo Xi’s face scarlet. When it came to verbal sparring, she was hopelessly outmatched.

"Tch. I’m even offering myself up for you to nibble on, and you’re the one hesitating." Ye Chuan sighed, looking at her like she was pitiful.

"I gave you a chance, and you blew it."

"I—I was just joking! No way is that a girlfriend privilege!" Frantically, Luo Xi pulled out her phone and searched, landing on a guide.

"Found it! First one says… feeding each other!"

She paused. Wait, didn’t they already do that all the time? Was that really a couples-only thing?

Ye Chuan watched with amusement.

"Uh, scratch that. Second one… holding hands in public…"

Luo Xi looked at him. "Hand-holding?"

"Haven’t you done that enough?" Ye Chuan countered. "You’ve been dragging me around by the hand since forever."

Luo Xi: "…"

"Third one… spanking each other." She fell silent again—they’d literally kicked each other’s butts that morning.

Why did it feel like they’d already checked off all these boxes?

"Told you. Only the hotel’s left."

But Luo Xi had gone quiet. In a small voice, she murmured, "Then what are we? Just… childhood friends?"

As she said it, her eyes lifted to meet Ye Chuan’s, shimmering with unshed emotion.

Suddenly, she hated that label.

It felt like a barrier—one they could never break through.

"We can be more."

With a smile, Ye Chuan leaned in and kissed her.

The moment their lips touched, Luo Xi stiffened—then melted into it.

A few seconds later, Ye Chuan pulled back, studying her flushed face. "Well?"

"You’re sneaky…" Luo Xi mumbled, clutching his sleeve. "Do you do this with other girls too?"

"Hard to say." Ye Chuan grinned.

At her indignant glare, he added, "But that was my first kiss. Treasure it."

"…" Luo Xi touched her lips, then broke into a giddy smile.

"At least you’ve got some decency."

After a beat, she asked, "So… are we official now? Am I your girlfriend?"

"If you want. Or we can just call it ‘fun’—I don’t mind."

"No!" Luo Xi instantly protested. "You’re my boyfriend now!!"

Ye Chuan smirked. "Mm."

"Then… I guess I could go to a hotel with you," she stammered, her voice shrinking to a whisper.

"That eager?" He raised a brow.

"N-No!!"

Ye Chuan pinched her cheek. "You’re kinda cute sometimes."

"Jerk~" She let him squish her face, then mumbled, "So how do we act now? Should we tell our parents?"

"That fast? Up to you."

"I want your opinion," Luo Xi insisted. "Besides, girls love it when their boyfriends shout from the rooftops that they’re taken."

Ye Chuan stood up abruptly. "Honey, I’m done eating!"

His voice, loud and clear, instantly drew stares from everyone nearby.

"Y-You idiot! Not like this! Let’s go!" Mortified, Luo Xi nearly dove under the table.

Ye Chuan shrugged. "Let’s go. I’m full anyway."

"H-Hurry up!"

Clutching his arm, Luo Xi scurried out of the cafeteria in retreat.