Chapter 5: It must be an illusion

“Because I really like Su Qi’s scent, so I’m pursuing him. Is that reason good enough?”

The crisp, melodious voice, laced with a playful, teasing tone, echoed clearly through the third cafeteria.

For a moment, the large cafeteria fell silent.

But the next second, it erupted into a frenzy.

Countless eyes—sharp as needles—turned toward Su Qi, who stood dumbfounded, clutching his plastic tray, at a complete loss.

Murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd.

“What the hll? Why him? He’s from Class 18, right?”

“Dmn, now even the best girls are throwing themselves at losers? I don’t get it.”

“This is unforgivable. Tonight, I’m gonna corner this guy and teach him a lesson. I can’t let this slide.”

“Count me in…”

“+1.”

Holding his tray, Su Qi shivered as the menacing whispers reached his ears. He glanced sideways.

Catching his gaze, Lin Xue, already beaming, burst into laughter, her smile radiant. In the stuffy summer heat, her black dress hugged her soft curves, trembling slightly with her giggles.

It drew even more stares.

After laughing for a while, noticing Su Qi’s growing irritation, Lin Xue finally spoke again to clarify.

“Alright, alright, I was just joking. Actually, Su Qi is my neighbor. He helped me out yesterday, so I wanted to treat him to a meal at school today. Don’t read too much into it.”

Hearing her explanation, the crowd’s gazes softened, reason returning.

Su Qi let out a breath of relief.

From his school experience, if a rumor spread that he was being “pursued” by the campus beauty Lin Xue, his campus life would become a nightmare.

He’d probably get jumped nine times in three days.

Seeing Lin Xue still looking amused, Su Qi quickly raised his tray to steer things back on track.

“Senior Lin Xue, let’s find a seat to eat. The food’s getting cold.”

At his reminder, Lin Xue glanced at the pitiful state of Su Qi’s tray—three dishes, their sauces spilled from the earlier tussle.

She shook her head, then turned her almond-shaped eyes toward Li Jian’s table, laden with untouched dishes. Her voice turned cold.

“You forced my junior to eat with you and made him spill his food. How about this table as an apology? What do you say, classmate?”

Li Jian met Lin Xue’s crimson eyes, feeling the lingering pain in his swollen wrist.

Hmph~~~

Though deeply reluctant, cowed by Lin Xue’s popularity and presence, he could only nod in humiliation. After shooting Su Qi a glare, he led his group of lackeys away in defeat.

Watching the scene, Su Qi felt a surreal twist.

‘Is this a novel? Just a moment ago, it was Li Jian’s face-slapping script, and now it’s flipped.’

‘Unbelievable.’

“Junior, sit here. Let’s eat.”

As Su Qi stood stunned, a gentle tug pulled him to a chair in the cafeteria.

Sitting so close to Lin Xue, he could smell the faint jasmine scent wafting from her.

As a lifelong single guy, Su Qi felt both awkward and confused.

By normal standards, unless she was his girlfriend, shouldn’t they sit across from each other?

This was way too close, wasn’t it?

Perhaps his expression was too readable, or his slightly red earlobes betrayed his inexperience, making him too adorable.

With the cafeteria seats already close, Lin Xue couldn’t resist teasing him further.

Leaning even closer, she brought her face near his ear, her breath soft and warm.

“Junior Su Qi, we’re sitting this close so your secret stays safe. By the way, have you thought about what reward you want?”

The sweet, warm breath tickled his ear, a sensitive spot no one had ever touched so intimately.

Already nervous, Su Qi trembled involuntarily.

In a flash, he slid over like a startled rabbit, leaving an empty seat between them, his right hand instinctively clutching his red ear.

After three full seconds of calming his racing heart, Su Qi finally processed her question about the reward.

Truth be told, until just before arriving at the cafeteria, he hadn’t settled on an answer.

But when someone mentioned wanting to join Lin Xue’s Cangyou Wildcat Team, an idea sparked.

Though his Crisp Wife ability made him no manga-hero charging into the Sacred Ruins to slay a demon king, every boy dreamed of adventure.

Plus, his sister Su Lulu had fallen into a cursed coma while exploring a specific area of the Sacred Ruins.

While selling Crisp Wife bentos kept Su Lulu’s condition stable, the longer she stayed bedridden, the greater the risks.

Compared to waiting indefinitely for the hospital to find a high-level monk, Su Qi felt he had to do something.

With the tingling in his ear finally gone, Su Qi voiced his proposal. “Senior Lin Xue, for the reward, I don’t want money. I want to join your Cangyou Wildcat Team to explore the Sacred Ruins.”

Lin Xue froze at his response.

She’d assumed he’d ask for something financial, given his sister’s illness and his frugal lifestyle—selling bentos only once a week to avoid exposure.

But hearing his desire to explore the Sacred Ruins, she realized something.

Though Su Qi played the role of a poised, beautiful Crisp Wife while selling bentos, deep down, he was still a boy brimming with adventurous spirit.

It seemed he wanted to save his sister by his own efforts in the Sacred Ruins.

Logically, taking a non-combatant like Su Qi to the Sacred Ruins wasn’t ideal.

But after some thought—considering the stat boosts from his bentos, his transformed appearance, his approachable aura, and his adventurer’s heart—Lin Xue shifted closer to his new seat and spoke softly, just for them.

“Junior Su Qi, I understand your desire to explore the Sacred Ruins to find a way to save your sister.”

“But the Sacred Ruins are unpredictable. One misstep can lead to danger. I won’t risk the team for one person, and we don’t need a liability.”

“So, to join our Cangyou Wildcat Team, just making bentos isn’t enough. Even for a support role, you need self-preservation skills and the team’s approval. Here’s the deal: add me on Tengxin. Tomorrow, after eating your bentos, we’ll head to the safer outer edges of the Sacred Ruins for a test—a mutual interview, so to speak. We’ll figure out the rest later.”

Hearing Lin Xue’s casual, slightly playful proposal as she leaned closer, Su Qi wasn’t surprised.

After all, no one’s obligated to look out for someone else.

Everyone has to prove their worth.

Though he had little confidence in the combat potential of his Crisp Wife ability, reflecting on its three skills, he thought they might have other uses.

At the very least, trying wouldn’t hurt.

If it didn’t work out, he’d chalk it up as an adventure.

Making up his mind, Su Qi nodded slowly.

And maybe it was his imagination, but he faintly heard Lin Xue, the campus beauty beside him, sniffing lightly.

It felt… like a foodie catching the scent of a delicious dish.

This puzzled Su Qi, who’d just taken a bite of cafeteria food.

‘The food today isn’t even that fragrant.’

‘Must be my imagination, right?’