Vol3 Chapter 6: Barbeque

A few days later, at dusk, Xia Mi burst into the dorm like an over-energetic fawn, bouncing with excitement.

“Senior Sister Bai! Let’s go, let’s go! Barbecue at the back hill tonight—Senior Brother Chu’s already got the meat!” Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Bai Ci, who was sitting quietly at her desk, no longer obsessively tidying but still unnaturally subdued.

Bai Ci instinctively shrank back. “I don’t want to go.”

“Come on, don’t be a hermit! Fresh air’s good for your body and your brain!” Xia Mi ignored her protests, her strength surprising. “Senior Brother Chu’s treating us—rare chance! Zero’s going too!” She shot a glance at Zero, who was reading quietly.

Zero closed her book, stood, and looked at Bai Ci calmly. “I actually want to eat.” Her tone was flat but carried an undeniable certainty.

Bai Ci met Xia Mi’s sparkling, coercive eyes and Zero’s calm but insistent gaze. The refusal rolled in her throat but was swallowed back. Silently, she stood, half-dragged, half-pulled out the door by Xia Mi.

Meanwhile, Lu Mingfei was “invited” by Chu Zihang.

“Lu Mingfei,” Chu Zihang stood at his dorm door, voice as flat as a mission briefing. “Tonight, back hill, barbecue. Seven o’clock.”

Lu Mingfei, zoning out at his computer, jolted, nearly slipping off his chair. “Huh? Senior Brother, you’re treating me to dinner?”

“Fingel’s getting the drinks.” Chu Zihang’s eyes flicked over Lu Mingfei’s pale, haggard face. “Be on time.” He turned and left, no room for argument.

Lu Mingfei gaped, watching Chu Zihang’s tall figure vanish down the hall. Barbecue? With Xia Mi and Zero? Something felt off, but Chu Zihang rarely treated—skipping it would be rude. Besides, it felt more like an order than an invite.

He sighed, resigned, and started digging for his jacket.

The back hill, far from the campus bustle, was alive with chirping crickets and rustling leaves. The night sky hung low, stars like a spilled box of diamonds across a deep blue velvet canopy, the Milky Way a breathtaking streak. The air was cool, scented with fresh grass and wood.

Yet, under this stunning sky, the atmosphere was painfully awkward.

Lu Mingfei stood stiffly to one side, unsure what to do with his hands or feet. He’d arrived a few minutes early, only to see Xia Mi herding Bai Ci up the path like a prisoner, Zero trailing silently like a shadow.

Their eyes met, and the air froze.

Lu Mingfei’s heart clenched, skipping a beat before hammering wildly.

Is this a setup? His lips twitched. The infirmary’s cold “I’m sorry” and his frantic escape flooded back. Embarrassment and pain surged, and he dropped his gaze to his muddy shoes.

Bai Ci’s steps faltered. Xia Mi nudged her from behind, prompting a small, puppet-like step forward. Her face, pale in the starlight, flicked over Lu Mingfei’s bowed head and tense shoulders before darting to a patch of swaying wild grass. Her fingers twisted her jacket hem unconsciously.

Xia Mi glanced between them, her scheming excitement wilting under the heavy tension. Clearing her throat, she tried to break the silence: “Wow, these stars are unreal! Senior Brother Chu picked a great spot, right, Senior Sister Zero?” She elbowed Zero.

Zero looked up at the glittering galaxy, her ice-blue eyes reflecting the stars, and nodded. “Mm. Perfect for a barbecue.”

Chu Zihang stood a bit away, silent. Catching Xia Mi’s look, he paused, then spoke, his voice cutting through the quiet night: “Lu Mingfei, Bai Ci, you’re on grilling duty. Xia Mi, Zero, come with me to find Senior Brother Fingel.”

The order was crisp, leaving the two who wished they could vanish alone under the romantic starlight.

Lu Mingfei’s eyelids twitched. Why does finding Fingel need three people? That two-meter musclehead can’t get lost! Senior Brother, your matchmaking skills suck!

Xia Mi glanced back repeatedly, her eyes screaming, Don’t waste this chance! before Zero dragged her off.

Only Lu Mingfei and Bai Ci remained.

The world’s sounds vanished, leaving a suffocating silence and their pounding hearts. Crickets and wind felt deafening.

Lu Mingfei’s back was slick with cold sweat. He stared at the ground, willing it to sprout flowers. What could he say? Apologize? Pretend nothing happened? Both felt idiotic. He stole a glance at Bai Ci. She faced away, gazing at the stars, her posture rigid.

Sometimes, saying something—anything—eases the pressure. Silence would drive them mad.

His throat was dry, but he mustered his dwindling courage, voice raspy: “Uh… standing so straight like that… you’ll get a herniated disc…”

He instantly regretted it. Why did I say that? He thought she looked strained, standing so perfectly when no one was watching. A relaxed stance would be better—plus, it really could cause back issues… He wanted to slap himself.

I’m the one who got rejected, right? I should be the sad one. Why do you look like you’re suffering too?

Bai Ci’s body trembled faintly. She didn’t respond immediately, holding her pose. After a few seconds, a barely audible “…Mm” came.

Then, more toe-curling silence.

Suddenly, Bai Ci looked down, fiddling with her phone.

Her body stayed tense, as if it could hide her panic. She wanted to say something to salvage their relationship, but seeing his face shattered her thoughts. She pulled out her phone, fingers battling over the keyboard. One finger hovered over a pre-drafted message, ready to send, while another screamed, Stop! You traitor! What about dignity?! You crushed his heart days ago, and now you’re groveling? Where’s your face? Sending this now—is it pity? Regret? It’ll make him despise you, think you’re fickle! You made your choice—don’t backtrack!

The other finger fought back: Screw dignity! It’s useless! Don’t send it, and Lu Mingfei’s done with you! Can dignity fix this? Send it! Say, ‘Forget what I said!’ or ‘Can we still be friends?’ Anything! He’s practically burying himself in the ground! Dignity’s nothing with him! Do you want him or not? Fix this now!

Her fingers clashed silently, knuckles white. A suffocating frustration clogged her chest, vision darkening, neck and cheeks burning, ears scalding.

“Are you sick? Your neck’s so red,” Lu Mingfei’s hesitant voice broke through. Unable to hold back, he’d glanced up, catching her flushed neck.

“Hot—it’s hot!” Bai Ci blurted, voice high with panic and guilt, jarring and awkward. She regretted it instantly—what kind of answer was that? It screamed cover-up. She wanted to bury her head, disappear into the ground.

“Oh… want some water?”

Lu Mingfei glanced at her, absently grabbing a water bottle from nearby, handing it to her, then opening one for himself. Polite, courteous, like distant guests.

Seconds later, Bai Ci’s head snapped up, meeting his eyes—worried, a touch lost.

A fierce, almost reckless impulse seized her. She was done—done with this suffocating silence, this endless self-torment, these days without Lu Mingfei!

Screw being a monster! Screw not being good enough! Screw future regrets!

She needed an answer now. A resolution. Either push him away for good or… go all in!

Action outpaced thought, even shame.

As Lu Mingfei sipped his water, about to start grilling—

Bai Ci lunged forward!

Her move was startlingly fast, fueled by desperate resolve, closing the gap instantly. Lu Mingfei, caught off guard, fumbled, dropping his just-opened water bottle with a clank. Water gushed, soaking the grass.

He barely noticed, his attention locked on her face—suddenly close, flushed with stunning red and fierce determination. He could see her trembling lashes, the storm in her eyes.

“Lu Mingfei!” Her voice, soft but breathless, cut through his chaotic thoughts with undeniable force. She stared into his shocked eyes, each word squeezed from a burning chest: “Those words from that day… I take them back!”

“Huh?”

Her heart pounded, threatening to shatter her ribs. She forced herself on, voice trembling but resolute: “I… I need some time… to think it through… Please… give me some time! At least… until I’m back from Japan!”

Lu Mingfei froze for two seconds, then gave a silent laugh. He felt a flicker of joy, maybe.

Like a dog—whacked with a stick, then tossed a treat, wagging its tail and scampering over, no matter what came before. So pathetic…

Take it back? Miss Bai, this isn’t a store return! You think you can just retract it? I’ve known you forever and never knew you were this funny. Or are you pitying me, seeing me like this? If you liked me, why reject me then? What am I to you? Will you ‘think it through’ just to reject me again, all righteous?

Her faltering courage began to deflate like a punctured balloon as she saw his half-smile.

No! It couldn’t end like this! She needed a clear signal, something to shatter the barriers, or she’d retreat into her cold, hard shell!

Almost recklessly, as Lu Mingfei’s mind swirled—

She leaned forward again!

This time, so close he could smell the faint grassy scent in her hair, feel her warm breath on his skin.

Then, a soft, trembling, scorching touch—like a dragonfly skimming water—brushed his cheek, quick and fleeting!

Time stopped.

The crackle of the fire, distant chatter, even the wind vanished.

Lu Mingfei felt the spot on his cheek burn like it’d been seared by a red-hot iron, the heat spreading through him. His blood rushed to his head, then froze. He stood like a powered-down robot, eyes unblinking.

Bai Ci, pulling back as if she’d spent a lifetime’s courage, stepped away, her face tomato-red, neck flushed vivid scarlet. Overwhelming shame and inner turmoil nearly choked her.

“If… I mean, if… I had to pick a guy to marry!” she stammered, “I-I’d only… pick… you…”

Head down, she fled to the grill, silent.

Lu Mingfei stood petrified, still in his “attacked” pose. The night breeze ruffled his hair, cooling nothing of the searing heat on his cheek.

After what felt like a century, he slowly, stiffly raised a hand, fingertips gingerly touching the spot she’d “stamped,” dazed with disbelief.

The touch… was real, burning.

Did she… kiss my cheek?

And say… she’d… marry me?

Boom—!

A torrent of joy, shock, confusion, and surreal disbelief obliterated his reason, drowning him entirely.

He stood, mouth agape, voiceless, his mind looping one thought, amplified by the vivid warmth on his cheek:

She kissed me?

She kissed me?!

She KISSED me!!!

Like a thunderstruck fool, Lu Mingfei stood, hand on his burning cheek, staring at the silent girl grilling meat.

From the shadows, Xia Mi, mouth covered by Zero to stifle her squeal, frantically slapped Chu Zihang’s arm and pinched Zero’s shoulder, stomping with excitement. Fingel, camera in hand, admired his work with satisfaction.