Coffee and Desserts

Gu Ximan thought to herself that the relationship between the three of them needed to be kept discreet among acquaintances, but in the face of these two persistent strangers, she had to take the firmest stance to make her position clear.

Hearing this, Lu Xuexue blinked her large, watery eyes, her long lashes fluttering adorably. She immediately caught on and nodded eagerly in agreement with Gu Ximan’s words, her rosy cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

However, the two brothers watching them had only one thought—anyone with half a brain could tell it was a lie.

The reasoning was utterly unconvincing.

Even salt wouldn’t make it more believable.

No sane person would think two stunningly beautiful girls like them would willingly date the same guy.

But then again, their explanation only reinforced the brothers’ belief that these lovely young women were definitely still single.

"Hey, beautiful, no need to be like that. We’re not bad guys," the taller guy said, flashing what he thought was a warm, charming smile. "We just think you’re gorgeous and have great vibes. We’d love to be friends."

"Yeah, we could get to know each other first. We won’t disappoint you," the leaner one chimed in.

Hearing this, Gu Ximan couldn’t help but roll her eyes slightly.

She did have intimate photos of the three of them in bed together saved on her phone as proof.

But those pictures were far too private, meant only for the three of them to cherish.

"Manman, let’s go," Lu Xuexue said, not even sparing them another glance.

"Yeah, let’s go."

Gu Ximan responded briskly, looping her arm through Lu Xuexue’s and walking away without giving the two any chance to keep pestering them.

They were long used to these little interruptions.

Over the years, they’d encountered all kinds of pick-up attempts and bizarre situations, so neither of them took it to heart, quickly brushing off the unpleasantness.

Before long, Gu Ximan tugged Lu Xuexue to a stop in front of an elegantly decorated café and excitedly suggested, "Xuexue, let’s go in for some coffee and desserts!"

"Sure," Lu Xuexue agreed sweetly, her smile radiant.

"Hehe, you bought the lingerie, so this one’s on me."

Though Gu Ximan often joked about eating Lu Xuexue’s food, wearing her clothes, and draining her savings, in reality, they always took turns treating each other—never taking advantage of their close friendship.

Pushing open the heavy glass door, they were greeted by the rich aroma of coffee mingled with the faint sweetness of baked goods.

Arm in arm, Gu Ximan and Lu Xuexue stepped inside as the wind chimes above them tinkled softly.

The café’s interior was designed in a retro-industrial style, with warm yellow pendant lights hanging from the high ceiling, casting a cozy glow over the tables.

A handful of customers sat scattered around—some chatting quietly, others absorbed in typing on their laptops.

Soft jazz music floated through the air, blending with the hum of the coffee machine and the occasional clink of cups and saucers, creating a laid-back, comfortable atmosphere.

"Xuexue, let’s sit over there," Gu Ximan said, pointing to a secluded corner by the wall.

It was relatively quiet, adorned with a lush monstera plant—a perfect spot for sharing secrets.

The moment they settled into the plush sofa, a neatly uniformed waitress approached.

Her hair was tied back in a sleek ponytail, a small silver name tag pinned to her chest. "Good evening," she said softly, handing them two leather-bound menus. "Today’s special pour-over is a Yirgacheffe, and our tiramisu is the signature dessert."

Gu Ximan flipped through the menu, her eyes sparkling. "Hmm... I’ll have a caramel macchiato, a tiramisu, and a strawberry cream cake!"

She’d never been able to resist sweets since childhood. If it weren’t for Gu Luo carefully monitoring her diet, her teeth would’ve been ruined long ago.

"Same for me."

Lu Xuexue watched Gu Ximan’s delighted expression and couldn’t help but feel happy too, already planning to share half of her dessert with her later.

However, just as they were eagerly anticipating their treats, the café’s wind chimes jingled again.

The taller guy stepped in first, scanning the room before quickly spotting Gu Ximan and Lu Xuexue in the corner.

A look of determination flashed in his eyes.

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