Chapter 82: No Way, You’ve Crossed the Line
In a dessert shop called “Five-Character Sugar Room,”
The lighting was bright and decorated in a cozy minimalist style.
The shop was filled with young patrons.
Gan Yan Yu wore a black strap dress showing off her beautiful collarbone, making her seem quite chilly.
She sat near a large window where her reflection in the glass framed her delicate face, as beautiful as any dessert in the store.
This frosty beauty picked up her spoon with grace and took a bite of smooth, bouncy mango pudding.
“Mmm~”
She held her cheeks, letting out a blissful sigh.
“Tastes yummy!”
“Delighted you like it,” Lin Tian said with a smile, though he seemed slightly exasperated.
He had earned an advertising fee of one hundred thousand RMB and after using a “double your income card,” another hundred thousand was added to his account.
Now, he had two hundred thousand in there.
He had planned to splurge on a fancy restaurant with seven to eight hundred RMB, but instead, he chose a dessert place where eighty RMB covered his stomach well enough!
“Lin Tian, why aren’t you eating? Don’t you like it?”
Gan Yan Yu pointed her spoon at him curiously.
Lin Tian glanced at the “red river” flowing over his mountain-like desserts.
“…”
He figured this would be the last outing before the concert, so he’d take it easy.
If Lady Gan Yan Yu enjoys it, that’s good enough for him.
“Haaa—”
Yawning, she pulled out her phone and continued,
“Rehearsal’s Wednesday morning at nine. All performers must attend.”
“Rehearsal?” Lin Tian pondered.
“Yes, a full, meticulous walkthrough. Such important events always have rehearsals the day before.”
“Suits me fine.”
Even if Gan Yan Yu was new to this, Lin Tian also was.
Going through a full rehearsal could only be helpful.
Plus, it could help ease some nervousness for Gan Yan Yu.
“Don’t sleep too late; even though it’s not the real show, we still need to look our best.”
“Do I need to look my best too?”
Lin Tian’s eyes widened.
“Of course! Anyone performing needs to be on-point.”
Gan Yan Yu nodded.
Then she tilted her head and gave Lin Tian the once-over,
“Actually, I think you look pretty okay with makeup—”
“Why just ‘pretty okay’?”
Gan Yan Yu used less-than-polished wording that made Lin Tian squirm.
Isn’t my cool factor undisputed?
“Maybe really good-looking then.”
She smiled.
“Why ‘maybe’?”
“It’s settled then, you’ll be great.”
Her response was dismissive, but he didn’t want to push it.
But when it came to makeup…
Sure, in many guys’ books, makeup still carries a whiff of campiness, since true coolness is never about looks.
But in reality, even Lin Tian wasn’t against giving it a shot.
After all, he was going to be on camera! Even esports pros get dolled up these days.
“Gan Yan Yu, why are you not eating? Is there something wrong?”
She looked at his untouched watermelon ice cream pile.
“I thought you enjoyed those from last time—”
Truth be told, he did enjoy it.
Particularly the joy of playing a grave robber.
“Do you want to try my pudding?”
Suddenly, she lifted a spoonful to his face.
Lin Tian froze.
Was this an invitation for a bite?
Did she mean to be this… indirect?
“Trust me, it’s delicious.”
She tucked back a tendril of hair, tilting her head.
“Wanna try?”
Looking at the spoon, the pudding gleamed.
It had never caught his interest before.
Yet now, it seemed to wear a tasty cloak, teasing his appetite.
As if the flavor would be so delightful, it would pull his tongue.
Lin Tian took a deep breath.
Leaning forward—
Just as his lips were about to meet it—
“Nuh-uh!”
She snatched the spoon away.
“Hmm, this spoon’s been in my mouth. Sharing it now would cross the line.”
He almost shouted in frustration.
Why does she have to remind him of their boundary so clearly?
“All right, I get it. I should praise you for your vigilance?”
She placed the whole cup in front of him.
Lin Tian stretched an arm, grabbing her wrist.
“Huh?”
Startled, she looked at him, then at her hand which he took hold of.
“What’s with those calluses?” he demanded sternly.
Her delicate fingers bore hard, textured bumps.
Each looked like tiny mountains under the dessert shop lights, telling silent tales.
“My hands always have them—”
“No.”
He cut her short.
He remembered last week, during cooking at his place, her hands weren’t like this.
He had taken notice.
They were soft and flawless, with only faint traces of regular practice.
But now, they felt rougher, and those calluses were new growths.
“You’ve been practicing recently.”
“Just a bit?”
“We’ll buy some hand cream later.”
“There’s more to it than that.”
She yawned again, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
“I’m tired, let’s go home to sleep.”
“We can rehearse earlier tonight. We need preparation.”
“Alright?”
Gan Yan Yu looked at him earnestly.
He sighed,
“Yeah, good night.”
“Don’t work yourself too hard. Overexerting now could make us sick before the performance.”
