Li Caiyi was ecstatic to meet Dai Zhiqiang again, that she had forgotten about everything. She couldn't stop smiling even after Dai Zhiqiang bade him goodbye and left. She vaguely felt the hateful glare from a few of the girls in the crowd, but she was too lazy to bother with it.
At least now she knew he was fine, and he would return to school starting tomorrow. Just from that, her earlier exhaustion caused by the exam disappeared without a trace.
The barrage of questions she received from her friends after that was torturous, though. They demanded her to explain everything, from how to when they became closer. It was like an interrogation.
Li Caiyi had no choice but to spend hours talking and only returned when the sky turned orange.
To her surprise, the first sight she saw when she entered the room was that of Li Chunhua pacing back and forth in front of the store. She appeared undecided whether or not to enter because she repeatedly tried to reach out to the doorknob but retracted her hand in the end.
"Xiaohua, what are you doing?"
The younger twin jumped in surprise and even yelped a little. Li Caiyi's sudden call must have shocked her so much. Slowly, she turned around with a grimace.
"Nothing. I was just visiting like always."
"Then why didn't you come in?" Li Caiyi's eyebrows were raised in suspicion.
"I was waiting for you to return, of course!" Li Chunhua ran over and hugged her sister's arm in a spoiled manner. "Where have you been? Why did you return so late?"
"Oh, there is something I have to do," Li Caiyi averted her eyes, "More importantly, I know you weren't waiting for me. If you were, my phone would be bombarded with calls and texts by now. Tell me the truth."
"I was telling the truth!"
Li Caiyi took a deep breath. "I see you have no intention of telling me. That's up to you, but why don't you do it inside? People will think you are suspicious if you loiter in front of the cafe like that."
Li Chunhua pouted her lips sulkily. "What people? Since when are there people around this cafe?"
"Don't say that in front of Jingfei. That's rude."
Li Chunhua flinched again when Li Caiyi mentioned Shao Jingfei. Li Caiyi observed her sister and wondered why she was so fidgety today.
"Anyway, let's enter first." Li Caiyi said but got held back when Li Chunhua stayed rooted to her place while still keeping her arm hostage. "Xiaohua?"
"Okay, I lied. I can't get inside the way I am now!" Li Chunhua exclaimed while covering her face.
"What exactly happened? Why are you acting like this?"
"I did something very embarrassing a while back, and now I didn't know how I should face him!"
"Him? You mean Jingfei?" Li Caiyi asked in confusion. "What about him?"
"Yeah, what about me?"
The twins jolted in surprise when Shao Jingfei suddenly appeared out of thin air while wearing his work apron and a bucket in his hand. He had a curiosity mixed with confusion on her face as he bore his gaze on Li Chunhua. The latter was flustered and couldn't help but look away when their gazes met.
Li Caiyi noticed a different atmosphere between them, so she thought it would be best to retreat and give them some space. But Li Chunhua had clasped her hand before she could make any movement while staring—glaring at her, indirectly pleading for her to stay.
Li Caiyi couldn't help but shudder at her sister's terrifying insistence. "Eh, what's going on here?"
"That's what I want to know. I heard some voices from the outside, but it was only you two. Why don't you guys come in?" Shao Jingfei tilted his head.
"I just arrived when Xiaohua—"
"Who said we will not enter? We are just about to do that when you suddenly appear like a ghost and surprise us!" Li Chunhua hurriedly shouted.
Before Li Caiyi could finish her sentence, Li Chunhua cut her words. Shao Jingfei appeared more confused now because Li Chunhua suddenly lashed out and glanced at Li Caiyi for help. The latter could only shrug her shoulders helplessly.
"What are you waiting for, then? Hurry and come in." Shao Jingfei gestured for them to follow him before entering the building first. Meanwhile, Li Caiyi was still stuck in her place because Li Chunhua gripped her hand tightly.
"Xiaohua, that hurts," she complained.
"Ah! Sorry." Li Chunhua immediately released her hold before heaving a deep sigh.
"Did something happen between you and Shao Jingfei? It's my first time seeing you getting nervous in front of someone."
"What? I'm not—" Li Chunhua's words trailed off when Li Caiyi stared at her skeptically. Her shoulders sunk as she admitted defeat. "Alright, I was indeed feeling nervous because of him. Don't tell this to him, though."
"So, what happened?"
Li Chunhua bit her lips. "I was surprised when I eavesdropped on your and mother's conversation the other day, so I called him to take my mind off things. Thinking back, I acted embarrassingly in front of him, so I don't know how to face him now."
"What kind of embarrassing action?"
"Ugh! Don't ask me that. I don't want to remember!" Li Chunhua puffed out her cheeks before covering her face with her hands again. "Xiaoyi, what should I do?"
"Well, I'm sure you are overthinking what happened then. Jingfei didn't seem any different from usual, so you don't have to feel self-conscious."
"Hearing that doesn't make me feel better. It makes me more ashamed now for being the one who feels self-conscious about this!"
"What are you going to do, then? Are you going to avoid him forever?"
Li Chunhua calmed down after she heard that. "No, that's why I'm here. But I'm too nervous to talk with him, so promise that you will be there for me while I'm talking with him!"
"Eh? But I want to take a shower first. I'm sweaty and tired," Li Caiyi groaned.
"That can wait. This one is more urgent! Come on!" Li Chunhua refused to take no as an answer and dragged Li Caiyi by her hand.
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