Chapter 66: Mutual Appreciation

With a mischievous glint, Lin Xiaoxiao hatched a wicked plan. What if she deliberately made something awful? Would he still eat it?

Heh, a little prank could be fun.

Wasting no time, she started browsing online for basic baking tutorials. The system only required beginner-level mastery—shouldn’t be too hard.

With plenty of time, she saw no need for an expensive crash course.

But after some research, she groaned. Baking required tools—an oven, a mixer… all pricey.

She couldn’t wait for summer break…

While self-studying baking and attending classes, her days became full. Two days passed like this.

During this time, she worked on embracing her female identity, getting used to the curious stares.

But one annoyance cropped up: her once-quiet WeChat was now buzzing with random friend requests daily.

It seemed she could make a ton of friends if she wanted, but she knew most were either sleazy guys or curious girls…

On Wednesday afternoon, after finishing a required PPT in the library, Lin Xiaoxiao stretched, feeling exasperated.

PPTs were evil—every course had one, and they never seemed to end…

As she prepared to head home, Ning Xi spotted her and bounded over eagerly.

They’d been chatting on and off via phone, growing closer, but Ning Xi’s overwhelming enthusiasm was hard to handle.

“Xiaoxiao, you’re in the library too?” Ning Xi plopped down beside her, leaning in close.

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded, sliding her laptop aside. “Working on a PPT. Just finished, about to head back. You here to read?”

Ning Xi pouted at her uncertain tone. “Your look hurts, Xiaoxiao. Can’t a slacker visit the library?”

Lin Xiaoxiao blinked, waving her hands. “No, I didn’t mean it like that… Sorry.”

She hadn’t expected Ning Xi to take her teasing seriously, leaving her flustered.

Ning Xi laughed it off. “It’s fine, it’s fine.”

“Hey, there’s a new milk tea shop nearby. It’s supposed to be great. Wanna go?”

Lin Xiaoxiao didn’t know how to refuse, and she had no plans anyway. She nodded.

At the milk tea shop, Ning Xi took a big sip, sighing happily. “Ahh, I’m alive again.”

Lin Xiaoxiao couldn’t relate but offered a fair review. “This place is nice. Not just the tea—the decor’s unique and creative.”

Ning Xi nodded, agreeing, then glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao. Her eyes lingered on her slightly curved chest, then dropped to her own flat one, widening in shock.

Lin Xiaoxiao squirmed under her stare. “W-what’s wrong?”

Ning Xi pouted, resentful. “Xiaoxiao, know why we’re friends?”

Confused, Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head. “Why?”

“Because we’re kindred spirits! Or we were—until you betrayed the flat-chest club!”

Lin Xiaoxiao, catching her meaning, blushed. “H-huh? I can’t help it!”

She didn’t know why she’d developed further, but she couldn’t exactly teach Ning Xi how.

Ning Xi sighed, dejected. “Is Zhou Yang avoiding me because I’m too flat?”

Lin Xiaoxiao sipped her tea calmly, shattering her fantasy. “No, it’s just because he has a girlfriend.”

Glancing at Ning Xi’s chest, she thought, Flat? More like dude-level.

Ning Xi froze, devastated.

Seeing her reaction, Lin Xiaoxiao softened. “There are tons of great people out there. No need to hang onto one tree.”

Ning Xi waved weakly. “You don’t get it, Xiaoxiao. Zhou Yang’s special, like you.”

Lin Xiaoxiao blinked, puzzled.

But Ning Xi bounced back quickly, leaning in conspiratorially. “Actually, I’m not worried about his girlfriend. The real threat is Uncle Zhou—Zhou Yang’s dad.”

Lin Xiaoxiao frowned. “Why’re you scared of him?”

Sure, Zhou Ting rarely smiled, and when he did, it felt unsettling, but a monster? Not quite…

Ning Xi grew serious. “I’m serious. You haven’t seen him. My dad’s friends with his dad, and I can’t look Uncle Zhou in the eye.”

“It’s like… he’s smiling, but there’s no emotion. Like a big shot’s aura—or maybe he’s an emotionless robot?”

“If I marry Zhou Yang, I won’t have to face Uncle Zhou daily, but we’d still cross paths. It’s daunting.”

Lin Xiaoxiao doubted Zhou Ting was that scary. And marriage? Ning Xi was thinking too far ahead, making her sweat.

They chatted about trivial things until they realized it was late.

Bidding farewell, they parted ways at the shop.

On her way home, Lin Xiaoxiao didn’t dwell on Ning Xi’s words about Zhou Ting. Instead, she planned to try making cookies—her oven and tools were already bought…