Chapter 11: Chapter 1.10
"Sir, what is your order?" the waiter asked, glancing at the three of them.
'Ah, three handsome guys!'
Noticing the subtle tension crackling between Jun Hao and Lu Minzhe, the waiter's eyes sparkled with amusement.
'Oh? These two seem to be at odds… Could it be that they're fighting over the cute one?'
Xi Lian glanced at the menu, scanning the options before ordering a simple vegetable stir-fry, tofu soup, and a side of dumplings. He preferred light, savory flavors over anything too sweet or heavy with meat.
When the food arrived, he hesitated, noticing that neither Jun Hao nor Lu Minzhe had started eating yet. His large eyes flickered between them uncertainly.
Seeing his hesitant yet adorable expression, the silent battle between Jun Hao and Lu Minzhe came to an abrupt halt. Both instinctively reached out with their chopsticks to place food in Xi Lian's bowl—only to freeze when they saw the other doing the same. Their eyes met, sparks flying once more.
Before they could continue their silent battle, both of them paused mid-air when they noticed Xi Lian was already eating without hesitation, completely unbothered by their antics.
'Well, food comes before anything else,' Xi Lian thought, savoring his meal. If this had been in the past—when he wasn't as familiar with these so-called heaven's darlings—he wouldn't have had the confidence to act this casually. But now? He had no intention of letting their silent war disrupt his lunch.
While eating, Xi Lian suddenly remembered something.
"System, there's not even a hint of pink bubbles around them. Are you sure they'll be a loving couple?" he asked in his mind, glancing at Jun Hao and Lu Minzhe, who were still silently competing.
"Host, you don't have to worry about that. They will be a couple," the system's monotonous voice replied.
Xi Lian, focused on his meal, didn't notice the subtle omission in the system's words—it never mentioned love.
As they stepped out of the restaurant, the scorching sunlight greeted them. Xi Lian instinctively closed his eyes, momentarily dazed by the sudden brightness.
Before he could adjust, a shadow fell over him. Jun Hao had seized the opportunity, positioning himself in front of Xi Lian to shield him from the sun.
Lu Minzhe's gaze darkened instantly as he watched the scene unfold, his usual playful demeanor shifting into something more intense.
Lu Minzhe walked beside Xi Lian, effortlessly keeping pace with him. Throughout the stroll, he cracked jokes, his lively energy filling the air.
Xi Lian, who rarely laughed so freely, couldn't help but chuckle at his antics. His usually reserved expression softened, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
Jun Hao,who turned his head hearing Xi Lian's lovely laugh, watched the scene with an unreadable expression.
Lu Minzhe cast a smirk at Jun Hao, a silent challenge in his gaze. This time, Xi Lian caught it, his steps paused slightly in confusion.
Neither Lu Minzhe nor Jun Hao seemed to care that he had noticed—or perhaps, they had never intended to hide it in the first place.
They were both aware that Xi Lian misunderstood their relationship. Though they were always seen together, it wasn't because of affection but rather a shared indifference towards the world . One openly displayed his indifference, while the other concealed it behind a carefully crafted mask.
You can build on this moment to emphasize their connection! Here's how you can refine and extend it:
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As they turned a corner, a bicycle suddenly whizzed past, startling Xi Lian. Losing his balance, he stumbled backward.
In that split second, both Jun Hao and Lu Minzhe moved at the same time—Jun Hao reaching out, but Lu Minzhe, being closer, got to him first.
Xi Lian blinked as he found himself steady in Lu Minzhe's grasp.
Xi Lian blinked as he found himself steady in Lu Minzhe's grasp. Realizing what had happened, he quickly stepped back, a faint flush dusting his cheeks.
Before he could say anything, Lu Minzhe smirked. "You're lucky I was here."
Xi Lian, still a little flustered, mumbled, "Thank you."
Before Lu Minzhe could continue his teasing, Jun Hao stepped in, his voice laced with concern. "Are you okay?"
Lu Minzhe shot him an annoyed glance but, hearing the question, he too looked at Xi Lian with a hint of worry.
"Hm… just a little pain," Xi Lian replied, feeling slightly embarrassed under their intense gazes.
Jun Hao nodded but then, in an attempt to sound casual, asked, "Do you need a back ride?" His words were nonchalant, but the tips of his ears betrayed him, turning a noticeable shade of red.
Lu Minzhe, catching this, couldn't hold back his laughter. "Or would you prefer being princess-carried by a handsome boy?" he added with a playful wink.
Xi Lian sighed, rubbing his temples. "No need. I can walk just fine."
Some that happened next day at school caught Xi Lian off guard.But that was another day.