“Miss, you’ve obviously trained, haven’t you?”
Jiang Fuyue replied calmly, “There’s no rule here that says trained people can’t play, is there?”
The stall owner looked as though he’d been struck by lightning. “I…”
“Besides, weren’t you the one who told me to buy more darts?”
The stall owner’s face crumpled with regret. “I was wrong, okay? I regret everything! Let’s count this round as a gift—no charge! You can pick any plushie you want. No—make it two!”
Jiang Fuyue rubbed her chin, hesitating. “…That doesn’t feel right.”
“What’s not right? It’s totally right!”
“Feels like I’m forcing you.”
“No, no! I’m the one forcing you,” the owner said, patting his chest with conviction. “I’m forcing you to take two plushies! And forcing you not to pay!”
Jiang Fuyue: “…”
The stall owner was sweating bullets. Right now, he had only one thought in his head: Please, Little Ancestor, just pick and leave! Don’t stir up more trouble!
Jiang Fuyue blinked but didn’t respond.
Seeing he couldn’t persuade her, the stall owner glanced sideways at Xie Dingyuan and quickly switched targets.
“Brother, do me a favor—talk to your girlfriend, tell her to stop. I earn an honest living…”
As soon as Xie Dingyuan heard the words “your girlfriend,” his heart gave a fierce thump.
He instinctively glanced at Jiang Fuyue. Seeing that she didn’t react, he felt… conflicted.
On the sweet side: she didn’t deny it.
On the bitter side: she didn’t admit it.
He couldn’t tell if she was quietly agreeing or just indifferent.
His face twisted for a second in silent torment.
But the truth was, Jiang Fuyue hadn’t even noticed the stall owner’s phrasing. Just watching him jump around on the spot was entertainment enough.
“Bro? Hello? Say something!” The owner waved a hand in front of his face.
Snap! Xie Dingyuan jolted back to awareness. “Ahem.”
He glanced at the stall owner, then at Jiang Fuyue.
Brows twitching, he said, “Boss, how about this…”
They turned their backs and began whispering. The owner nodded furiously, his face slowly brightening again.
“Okay, okay, sure thing… I’ll go with that!”
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow and perked up her ears.
Even though they weren’t far away, the two had lowered their voices, and with the background noise, she only caught a few broken words.
But judging by the stall owner’s expression… it seemed settled?
Sure enough—
When he turned back around, his smile was broader than ever—almost glowing.
“Miss, since you enjoy playing, go ahead—have fun, go wild! I’ll get you a fresh target board right away!”
Jiang Fuyue’s eyes slid past him and landed on Xie Dingyuan. Under the streetlight, her beautiful peach blossom eyes shimmered faintly as confusion flickered across her face.
Just what exactly had he said?
In return, the man gave her a light smile, tinged with what seemed like… smugness?
The stall owner quickly set up a new board and stepped back with a cheerful grin: “Enjoy!”
Jiang Fuyue picked up a dart—one hand, two hands…
Once again, all ten darts landed in the inner ring.
But this time, the stall owner didn’t show the slightest sign of irritation. In fact, he gave her a thumbs-up: “Miss, your skills—amazing! That’s your second 95 points. Go ahead and pick another plushie.”
He turned to get another board ready.
Jiang Fuyue: “I’m done.”
The stall owner froze.
Xie Dingyuan shook his head and chuckled.
In the end, they paid 60 yuan—the cost of 20 darts—and walked away with two medium-sized plushies.
One was a long-haired husky, the other a short-furred bunny.
Remembering the stall owner’s “golden advice,” Xie Dingyuan immediately put it into practice: “Let me carry those.”
And just like that, the two plushies ended up in his arms.
A tall, distinguished man in a trench coat and polished leather shoes, with perfectly groomed hair… holding two fluffy stuffed animals?
Too. Much. Contrast.
Every girl walking by couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.
“Look at her boyfriend… then look at mine—wait, I don’t have one!”
“A massacre of the single dogs!”
“Could you two stop being so disgustingly cute in public?! I’m dying over here—ugh!”
“Just saw a couple kissing a second ago, then turned and saw this guy carrying plushies for his girl… My titanium-plated dog eyes are officially blind [smile emoji]”
“Burp! I’m full! Domestic dog food hits different!”
“By the way, their figures are amazing! Can’t see their faces clearly, but no way they’re anything but hot!”
“Absolute couple goals!”
…
Xie Dingyuan subtly swept his gaze around and noticed at least ten people watching him.
“Did I… do something wrong?” he asked, confused, turning to Jiang Fuyue.
“Ever heard of ‘tough guy goes shy’?”
His pupils shook. He spoke with difficulty: “I… went shy?”
Jiang Fuyue’s mouth twitched. “Not saying you literally went shy. It’s a metaphor. That strong contrast? That’s what you’re giving off.”
Xie Dingyuan swallowed. Even though he understood what she meant, he still couldn’t accept the fact that he—a serious professor—could be associated with the word shy.
“I’ll carry them,” Jiang Fuyue offered, seeing that his ears were red enough to drip blood. She didn’t want to embarrass him. After all, a respected researcher holding plushies on the street was… a bit much.
But as soon as she reached out, he stepped back sharply.
Jiang Fuyue: “?”
“No need! I’ll hold them!”
He strode forward confidently, chin up, chest out, as if daring her to try and stop him.
Jiang Fuyue: “?”
…She was baffled.
To prevent her from freeing her hands and insisting again, Xie Dingyuan even went and bought her a cup of fruit tea.
“I saw online that this one’s really good. You should try it.”
With a drink forcibly shoved into her hand, Jiang Fuyue was once again left speechless: “?”
Still, it was good tea.
“What did you say to the stall owner earlier? Why did he agree to let me keep playing?”
Xie Dingyuan’s lips curled. “Guess.”
Jiang Fuyue realized he’d changed.
When they first met, he was cold and blunt—cutting right to the point. It often came off as tactless, but at least it was straightforward.
Now? He was… a bit cheeky? Bold? Even teasing?
He’d become a man who cracked jokes, dropped sarcastic comments, and—shockingly—had a human side.
Yes, a human side.
No longer hiding behind coldness and pride to wall himself off from the world.
No longer curled into himself, heart sealed away in a carefully constructed shell.
He was beginning to show his true self—like a flower blooming at the summit of a lonely peak. To those looking up from below, he was no longer just awe-inspiring or rare—he was quietly lonely, unreachable, but vulnerable.
“I’m not guessing,” Jiang Fuyue said, smiling as she shook her head.
“Why not?”
“Because you’ll tell me eventually. If I want to know something—you’ll always tell me, right?” Her tone was certain, without a hint of doubt.
A surge of sweetness rose in his chest. Even he wasn’t sure why.
“Yeah,” he nodded. “I will tell you.”
“So why?” Jiang Fuyue asked, hands behind her back, leaning in slightly.
Their eyes locked, breath mingling.
“Because,” he swallowed, and the plushies in his arms got a little squished under his tightening grip—though neither of them noticed, “I told the stall owner that aside from the first one, I’d buy the rest of the plushies you win.”
“Tch, what a sucker,” Jiang Fuyue scoffed and walked off.
Xie Dingyuan stood frozen for a beat.
Then scrambled to catch up, looking awkward and a little stunned.
Emotionally, he was always on the passive side—his feelings constantly swayed by her moods, delighted by her ambiguous gestures.
The moment he admitted he liked her, Xie Dingyuan knew—he’d already lost completely.
From now on, maybe even for the rest of his life, he’d be led by the nose by this girl named Jiang Fuyue.
He never imagined he’d become this kind of man.
He, who used to be so proud, so arrogant, looking down on the world with cold eyes— Now letting one woman hold all the strings to his joy and sorrow.
And yet, life has a way of slapping faces.
Because words said too firmly?
Always come back to bite.
He finally caught up and explained, “I’m not a sucker. I knew you’d only play a few more rounds before stopping. No way you’d finish all the darts.”
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow: “And how would you know that? What if I did want to finish them?”
“Ahem… From the way you looked at those plushies, I could tell you didn’t like most of them.”
Actually, it was obvious—her expression had been full of disdain.
“You were watching me?” she shot back, eyebrows raised. “And you watched carefully.”
Jiang Fuyue suddenly leaned in, their noses almost touching. Her lashes fluttered, and she said softly:
“Xie Dingyuan, what are you trying to do? Hm?”
The lifted tone, dripping with flirtation, was a direct hit.
His heartstrings vibrated like crazy.
Dog-uncle (asking everyone): Is she… flirting with me? [confused emoji]
