Chapter 18: A tacit understanding?

“Will you go to class tomorrow?”

“It probably won’t work tomorrow. I have things to do. It should be fine this week.”

“What can you do? You just wander around.”

Tao Shuxin glanced over with a hint of disdain.

“It’s you who wants to take me for a stroll, okay?”

Xu Mingyuan turned away with disdain.

It’s almost three o’clock in the afternoon. I have almost finished all my work for the day, except for moving the computer back home.

“I’m just wandering around? We only have half a day off a week! What’s wrong with just wandering around? That’s not like you!”

Speaking of this, Tao Shuxin was full of resentment. She felt that her complexion had turned worse due to the high-intensity study every day.

“Xu Mingyuan, where is the newly opened milk tea shop you mentioned? It’s already two intersections after turning left, right?”

Tang Lin on the side couldn’t stand it anymore and interrupted their conversation. Was she the only one who noticed something was wrong?

“Uh… maybe it’s closed. Why don’t we go over there? It’s hot today, so ice cream is better.”

It was originally a trick, but I didn’t expect that the two of them were really going to the place they made up. Xu Mingyuan thought they had a destination, so he followed them.

“Hey, are you kidding me? You’ve walked this far before you tell me. Come this way. There’s a smoothie shop at the intersection.”

Tao Shuxin’s home was not far from here, and he was familiar with the area, so he pointed to a place.

“You made us walk so far, please treat us!” said Tang Lin.

“Yes, treat us!” Tao Shuxin echoed.

“I have no money, I’m going home.” Xu Mingyuan turned around and was about to leave.

“Don’t leave! You mean bastard!”

Tao Shuxin stopped him, but hadn’t yet asked him what he had been doing these days.

There were quite a few people in the smoothie shop on Sunday, mostly young people. There were also a few couples hiding in the corner kissing and feeding each other ice cream, and they seemed to be middle school students.

Xu Mingyuan was used to it. Seeing that the empty seats were all next to the young couple, he pulled out a stool and sat over.

Tao Shuxin and Tang Lin were somewhat awkward. After looking at each other, they sat down.

It’s not uncommon for young people to fall in love. There are quite a few in my class, but it’s quite rare to see them hugging each other openly.

“What do you want to eat? Watermelon milkshake?” Xu Mingyuan asked.

“Let’s have a watermelon milkshake. Watermelon is the best.”

“Tang Lin, what about you?”

“Mango smoothie.”

Xu Mingyuan nodded and took note of it, then went to the bar to order himself a cup of lemon tea, and also asked for some melon seeds and peanuts and took them back.

While eating melon seeds and chatting, Xu Mingyuan experienced the life that an eighteen-year-old should have.

It feels pretty good, relaxing and comfortable.

What surprised Tao Shuxin was that Xu Mingyuan seemed to have really changed.

Tao Shuxin is confident. When she makes eye contact with other boys, the embarrassed boys are always the first to run away.

Xu Mingyuan is probably the same, but he is thick-skinned and always pretends to be indifferent.

On the contrary, the most obvious thing about Xu Mingyuan now is that he is no longer as impetuous as he was last semester. He even smiles when he looks into his eyes, and there is no sign of fluctuation. He is as calm as if he had met a good friend by chance.

Xu Mingyuan is no longer a child, and the ignorance of his youth has long gone. Maybe he liked Tao Shuxin back then, but that was then, and those feelings have long been erased by the long river of time.

Moreover, we have seen Tao Shuxin’s mature and charming appearance too many times. Her youthful and lively appearance only has the advantage of her age, and she is far less advanced than she will be in the future.

When the ice cream and drinks were served, Tao Shuxin threw away all the inexplicable thoughts in her mind, scooped a big spoonful of ice milkshake and put it into her mouth.

I sipped it for a long time, waiting for the ice milkshake to completely melt in my mouth and be swallowed before I let out a “wow” of comfort and satisfaction.

“Hey? Xu Mingyuan, how do you know Taotao likes watermelon milkshakes? Even I didn’t know that.”

“Ok?”

Xu Mingyuan was stunned and looked at Tao Shuxin, and found that she was also in a daze, biting the spoon as if thinking.

She still had short hair and looked dazed, with a light flickering in her eyes, as clear as a lake.

“I remember she said that once before.” Xu Mingyuan said nonsense.

Tao Shuxin did say that she likes to eat watermelon milkshakes, but not now, but in the future.

During several dessert conversations after meals, Tao Shuxin would order a watermelon milkshake.

At that time, Xu Mingyuan asked casually, and Tao Shuxin answered casually, saying that her favorite food in recent years was still watermelon milkshake, but it was a pity that the store she ate when she was in school went bankrupt, and in order to maintain her figure, she no longer ate these things.

This time Xu Mingyuan didn’t think too much and asked her directly.

“Oh~ So that’s how it is. You still remember it clearly.”

Tang Lin touched Tao Shuxin with her shoulder and joked, “Of course, I’ll buy you a box of mangoes next time.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, forget it. I wanted to go drink milk tea, but you couldn’t find a place either.”

Tang Lin was stirring the smoothie in the cup, making smacking sounds. Tao Shuxin’s cheeks turned slightly red. She pinched her a few times under the table, causing her to laugh like silver bells. She then deliberately rubbed against her.

Xu Mingyuan was cracking melon seeds calmly, and soon a small pile of melon seed shells appeared on the table in front of him.

After playing around for a while, Tang Lin saw Xu Mingyuan looking at the two of them boredly. She felt a little bored and no longer wanted to tease him.

Tao Shuxin adjusted the corner of her clothes and glanced at Xu Mingyuan suspiciously, as if with some deep meaning.

She really likes watermelon milkshakes. The cool and sweet taste is refreshing and there is nothing better than this.

But I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone about this. After all, I don’t have much time to eat a milkshake. It’s usually good enough for me to bring some fruit from home to school.

But how did he know that? Did he really say that?
Then Tao Shuxin took a breath of cold air.

“Xu Mingyuan! You’re following me!”

“Pfft, cough cough cough…”

No matter how well-educated Xu Mingyuan is, he cannot resist the train of thought of an eighteen-year-old girl.

Fortunately, Xu Mingyuan spit most of the drink back into the cup, so it didn’t get all over the table. He took out a tissue to wipe it off and said, “You may be a little fanciful. I suggest you watch fewer spy movies in the future.”

“How do you know I like watching it?”

“…” Xu Mingyuan was speechless, “I saw it through your window. Do you understand now?”

“You’re lying. I don’t like watching it.”

Tao Shuxin rolled her eyes and changed the subject.

The students only had a few topics to talk about, like the pressure of studying was too great, the baseline test was too difficult, and gossip like someone having problems with someone else. Xu Mingyuan listened with great interest and seldom interrupted.

However, Tao Shuxin was still confused. It would have been fine if she hadn’t been reminded. But after hearing what Tang Lin said, she suddenly felt that Xu Mingyuan’s words were a little strange.

What do you eat? Or a watermelon smoothie?

It feels so familiar, as if we have eaten it together before.

Could it be that we have telepathy?

Tao Shuxin shuddered unconsciously and stole a glance at Xu Mingyuan.

Xu Mingyuan’s appearance was not bad, but he had a bit of a ruffian air, which made Tao Shuxin feel very uncomfortable. She always wanted to correct this bad habit of his.

In fact, it is not a bad habit. There are still girls who like his type. Tao Shuxin has seen girls from other classes giving him love letters or gifts several times.

When I saw Xu Mingyuan again this time, that unruly feeling seemed to have disappeared. He became sunny and confident.

Of course, there are also some annoying points, such as his condescending attitude, as if he doesn’t care about anything around him.

“It’s almost time, isn’t there any homework assigned by the teacher? Go home and do your homework. I won’t disturb you anymore. I’m leaving now.”

Seeing that the atmosphere had died down, Xu Mingyuan did not try to find any more topics to talk about and planned to disband this gathering of classmates.

“It’s what it looks like now!”

Tao Shuxin frowned and stared at him, complaining in her heart.

“It’s only half a day off, but the teacher still gave me homework!”

Tang Lin sighed sadly.

I didn’t realize it before, but now I think it’s quite interesting to chat with Xu Mingyuan. He’s humorous and unpretentious. I spent a pretty good afternoon.

Three cups of iced drinks with peanuts and sunflower seeds cost less than thirty yuan and I was able to sit there for an entire afternoon.

Xu Mingyuan threw down the money and wanted to leave, but Tao Shuxin stopped him and insisted on settling the bill.

With all this time wasted, Xu Mingyuan could have taken a taxi and left, but he had no choice but to wait for the little girl to settle the bill.

In the end, Tao Shuxin’s watermelon milkshake was the most expensive, costing twelve yuan per cup, which almost accounted for half of the total consumption.

Tao Shuxin had a sad face. It was so expensive. It was enough for two lunches, with two servings of meat.

How did Xu Mingyuan know this? Although he was greedy, he seldom ate well, and mostly came with his brothers and sisters to eat and drink.

After looking at Xu Mingyuan, Tao Shuxin’s eyes were filled with suspicion.

“What the hell are you looking at? You still want to regret it now that the money is in my hands? I won’t pay you next time you treat me.”

Xu Mingyuan snatched the change from her hand and stuffed it into his pocket.

“I’m not inviting you.” Tao Shuxin then reminded him, “Remember to go to school tomorrow! I’ll tell the teacher. If you don’t come to school, you’re dead!”

After walking two steps, Tao Shuxin was still worried, so she turned around and shouted, “Hey! I will definitely tell the teacher!”

“understood.”

Xu Mingyuan waved his hand indifferently, stopped the car and left without looking back.

(End of this chapter)