Chapter 30

Signature?

Why would I want her signature? Isn’t this person just a teacher bringing her student to Guangying Square to play?!

Then Cangjiao ran over to the ramen shop because she was too hungry, and she came looking because she was worried her student had gotten lost.

He probably doesn’t know who the famous people in New Aelidu are—maybe the person standing right in front of him is actually a celebrity?

And while he didn’t have paper in his space bag, he had prepared a deck of playing cards just in case of special situations.

“Um...” Ye Qingfeng hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a playing card from his pocket and handed it over. “Please sign here.”

P...playing cards?

Yue Chengliu’s lips twitched involuntarily—this was the first time she’d ever been asked for a signature on a playing card. Though she didn’t quite understand, she still took the Nine of Hearts.

“Why do you carry playing cards with you?” Cangjiao tilted her head slightly, lifting one finger to her chin. Just one second later, her finger pointed directly at Ye Qingfeng. “I get it! You’re a magician!”

“Cangjiao! Pointing at people is rude!” Yue Chengliu played the role of mother, pressing down Cangjiao’s arm. She glanced apologetically at Ye Qingfeng and handed him back the card with her signature. “I’m so sorry—this child is still young.”

Cangjiao was baffled by Yue Chengliu’s words. Huh? Am I still a kid in Liu-jie’s eyes? Oh well, Liu-jie must have her reasons for saying that!

“Yeah! I’m still young!”

Cangjiao nodded vigorously, fully accepting Yue Chengliu’s words.

Ye Qingfeng, watching this scene, was reminded of the past—when a child had accidentally bumped into him, his mother had said something almost identical. So it wasn’t a teacher-student relationship after all—it was mother and daughter?

But this doesn’t look like mother and daughter at all! Right...?

Not to mention Miss Yue Chengliu is still so young—and yet she’s already married, to a blue-skinned muscular giant.

No! That’s impossible! I can’t accept it... not even remotely as a blue-skinned muscular giant!!

“It’s fine...” Ye Qingfeng asked hesitantly, his heart pounding. “May I ask—are you two mother and daughter?”

“No! How could that be!” Yue Chengliu’s expression panicked, her pupils dilating instantly. She waved her hand frantically, denying it loudly. Then she realized how overly tense she’d sounded, and her cheeks flushed slightly. “We’re just colleagues... if you must put it that way, we’re like sisters...”

Ye Qingfeng breathed a silent sigh of relief. Thank goodness—thank goodness that terrifying thing hadn’t happened...

“Liu-jie’s face is red!” Cangjiao had already finished her large bowl of ramen and looked up just in time to notice Yue Chengliu’s change. She instantly stood up, alarmed. “Are you feeling unwell? Should we go to the hospital?”

Cangjiao’s comment made the already awkward situation even more awkward, deepening Yue Chengliu’s blush and causing her to lower her head in embarrassment.

“Liu-jie, Liu-jie!” Cangjiao tugged at Yue Chengliu’s sleeve. “You...”

“Cangjiao... I’m fine. I’m not sick.” Yue Chengliu quickly regained her composure, grasping Cangjiao’s small hand, then looked up at Ye Qingfeng with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry for the trouble.”

“It’s nothing...”

“Alright! Cangjiao, it’s time to go home!”

Yue Chengliu grabbed Cangjiao’s hand and walked out. Before leaving, she nodded politely to Ye Qingfeng.

“Thanks for the cookies!”

Cangjiao obediently followed behind Yue Chengliu, turned back to Ye Qingfeng, and gave him a sweet, innocent smile as she waved goodbye.

Ye Qingfeng’s lips curled upward slightly as he gave Cangjiao a small wave in return.

He turned around and continued eating the ramen he hadn’t finished, recalling how Yue Chengliu had blushed—somehow, his heart stirred. Even a serious person looks kind of cute when shy.

What if! I mean, just hypothetically! If Miss Yue Chengliu became his girlfriend, wouldn’t he also get a sweet, headless little Cangjiao?!

Oh right! But there’s also Miss Zhu Yuan! Oh no! Now who should he choose? This is so troubling!

While he was lost in these fantasies, the noodles in his bowl were already gone.

Ye Qingfeng stood up and decisively left the ramen shop. He pulled out his phone and saw that Nico and Anbi still hadn’t replied—his heart sank slightly...

After checking the time, he wandered aimlessly along the street.

Of course, beyond just strolling, he hoped he might encounter another potential romantic target. He walked along, following his instincts, stopping to buy anything interesting or delicious with Ding Ni’s money.

Before he realized it, evening had arrived. Ye Qingfeng ordered a cup of plain tea at the tea shop he’d visited once before. While waiting, he remembered the messages he’d sent to Nico and Anbi at noon—he hadn’t checked his phone all day, so he assumed they’d replied by now...

He walked to the sidewalk, leaned against a utility pole, and pulled out his phone to check.

Nico: I’ll arrive in two days. Don’t rush.

Anbi: I just went to see a movie, and let me tell you—

Anbi followed up with a long stream of movie plot details. Ye Qingfeng wasn’t interested at all. He sent them both a brief message telling them to figure out dinner themselves.

Buying groceries and rushing back to cook would be too tight on time. Better to let them handle dinner themselves—he could grab his own meal and stroll back slowly.

Seeing the time was right, Ye Qingfeng casually stuffed his phone into his pocket and walked straight toward the tea shop.

“Senior Qingyi, working overtime these past two days has been so exhausting...”

He had just taken the tea from the shop attendant when he heard a voice he recognized instantly—if he wasn’t mistaken—it was—!

“Zhu Yuan!”

Ye Qingfeng turned around eagerly and saw Zhu Yuan walking past him, accompanied by the green-haired little girl he’d met before.

Both had changed into casual clothes, so to Ye Qingfeng’s eyes, it looked like Zhu Yuan was walking with a child.

“Huh...! Qingfeng, what are you doing here?”

Zhu Yuan, hearing her name called, turned curiously—and there he was, just a meter away. She was genuinely surprised, and a little flustered.

Perhaps because this unexpected encounter was too sudden, and because she secretly harbored some fondness for Ye Qingfeng, and because Senior Qingyi was standing right beside her.

That’s why she was now blushing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

“What a coincidence... What are you two up to?”

Ye Qingfeng didn’t overthink it. He inserted the straw and took a sip, asking casually.

“We’re heading out to eat...” Zhu Yuan lightly bit her lip, secretly hoping as she asked, “Qingfeng, would you like to join us?”