Chapter 48: Chapter 48 - Breaking the Ice

Chapter 48 : Breaking the Ice

Seeing Lin Xiaowan still sulking, Su Lin couldn’t resist and gently patted her head again, “Alright, don’t be mad anymore. How about this? I’ll treat you to a big meal at noon. I heard there’s a new barbecue restaurant nearby. Their pork belly is especially delicious – crispy and not greasy at all.”

Lin Xiaowan, who hadn’t had breakfast, was easily tempted by Su Lin’s suggestion. “Barbecue? Where?”

“There, there! But let’s make a deal, Xiaowan. If we go for the barbecue, no more sulking at me,” Su Lin said in a half-coaxing, half-commanding tone, leaving Lin Xiaowan with no room to argue.

She sniffled, “What kind of person do you think I am? Do you think I hold grudges?”

Su Lin chuckled, knowing well that if he didn’t appease her now, he would face Lin Xiaowan’s relentless nagging later. “Heh, I know our Xiaowan is generous and open-hearted.”

“Enough with the flattery, I’m starving,” she replied.

“Alright, let’s go now.”

Leaving the amusement park, they walked to a nearby barbecue restaurant. It was crowded, but neither Su Lin nor Lin Xiaowan paid much attention to it. Instead, they were drawn to a bubble tea cart nearby, with a sign reading ‘Taiwan Bubble Tea’ in a rather rustic style.

“Su Lin, is this bubble tea tasty? ‘Taiwan Bubble Tea’? Is it from Taiwan?” Lin Xiaowan asked curiously.

“Bubble tea is a flavored drink from Taiwan, and it tastes alright. But this pearl milk tea is average. I’ll find a more authentic tea shop and take you there,” Su Lin replied nonchalantly.

“Then let’s try a cup now, I’m a bit thirsty.”

“Sure~!!”

Lin Xiaowan, without realizing it, had become comfortable holding Su Lin’s hand and naturally pulled him across the street to the cart.

At the cart, Lin Xiaowan asked a middle-aged woman softly, “Auntie, how much for the pearl milk tea?”

“Five yuan a cup, half price for the second one,” Liu Mei replied without looking up.

“Oh! Then I’ll take two cups,” Lin Xiaowan said.

Liu Mei called out, “Xiao Feng, two cups of pearl milk tea.”

“Coming right up!” Ye Feng, who appeared with two cups of milk tea in hand, suddenly froze as he saw Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan. His smile vanished.

Ye Feng’s demeanor turned cold. Despite being mentally over thirty, he couldn’t maintain his composure in front of Su Lin, not even wanting to fake it. Having relived his life, Ye Feng was determined to live for himself, to be happy.

“What bad luck, running into you wherever I go,” Ye Feng said flatly.

Lin Xiaowan’s smile also stiffened. She hadn’t expected Ye Feng to confront Su Lin right then, which made her quite angry. With a cold face, she said, “Sorry, Auntie, we don’t want the milk tea anymore.”

“Heh, Lin Xiaowan, you’re supposedly a prized girl, yet you hang around with someone like Su Lin every day,” Ye Feng mocked.

Liu Mei sensed tension between her son, Su Lin, and Lin Xiaowan. It was evident that they knew each other but were not on good terms. Fortunately, it was past peak hours, so their argument didn’t attract a crowd that could affect the business.

Lin Xiaowan chuckled, “Su Lin? No matter his flaws, at least he has a bottom line. Unlike you, who deceitfully took 80,000 yuan from Xiao Yu to save her father’s life. Do you know her father is still in the hospital?”

Su Lin smiled inwardly as Lin Xiaowan launched this attack; he didn’t need to step in. He knew that Ye Feng would now have to face his parents’ wrath later.

Maintaining silence, Su Lin just held Lin Xiaowan’s hand a bit tighter. Lin Xiaowan comforted him by gently patting his hand, giving him a reassuring look.

Liu Mei, confused and concerned, asked, “80,000 yuan? What’s this about? My Xiao Feng wouldn’t steal money.”

Lin Xiaowan pointed at Su Lin, “Auntie, ask Ye Feng. He’s the one who took it.”

Confronted by his mother, Ye Feng reluctantly admitted, “Mom, it wasn’t stealing, it was borrowing.”

Lin Xiaowan sneered, “Borrowing? If it weren’t for Su Lin threatening to call the police, you wouldn’t have planned to return it. And, Auntie, Ye Feng has already returned the 80,000 yuan, but the source of that money is questionable. You might want to look into it.”

After this statement, Lin Xiaowan turned to the bubble tea and said, “We won’t be having this tea today. And Ye Feng, if I ever hear you defaming Su Lin again, you’ll have me to deal with. Su Lin, let’s go.”

As they walked away, Su Lin gave Lin Xiaowan a thumbs-up, “Xiaowan, you’re amazing. You left Ye Feng speechless.”

Lin Xiaowan replied seriously, “I can’t stand people who do wrong and then slander others. Su Lin, I don’t have a big heart like you.”

Touched by her support, Su Lin knew Lin Xiaowan would not have reacted so strongly if it was just about her. It was her concern for being misunderstood about him that spurred her confrontation with Ye Feng.

Su Lin, moved, confessed, “Xiaowan, the more you do this, the more I like you. What should I do?”

Lin Xiaowan playfully responded, “Then just do well in your next monthly exam. Beat that scum, Ye Feng, and I’ll be your girlfriend~!!!”

“Deal! I’ll definitely score high,” Su Lin promised, filled with determination.

“Xixi…” Lin Xiaowan giggled, content in their shared moment.