Chapter 115: Return My People

"You keep saying you're doing this as a favor to someone, yet you still investigate me?" Cheng Yishu tossed a mocking laugh, his voice cold and teasing. "What is this, a gang? Who are you running with?"

Su Nian frowned, ignoring Cheng Yishu’s unfriendly question. He stood up and said coolly, "Time's up. We shouldn't let them wander off alone for too long... Go pay the bill, then we'll go find them."

Su Nian walked out of the snack stall first. Cheng Yishu stared at his back in a daze, taking a full minute to react. "I have to pay? You’re the one who ate the most—why should I be the one to pay?"

Though he grumbled, he knew that when you’re under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head. After all, he was the one asking for a favor!

As the night deepened, the crowds showed no sign of thinning; instead, they grew even denser. The bustling snack street was filled with an array of mouth-watering aromas. Even those who had already eaten their fill found it hard to resist buying something more to munch on while they strolled.

"Hey, this looks good! Let's get some more, let's get some more!"

"You haven't even finished what’s in your hand yet. What a waste... oh, never mind, fine!"

"Don't be like that! You're so stingy. I’ve never tried this before, hurry, hurry... Boss, two servings, please! Thanks!"

"Coming right up!"

Lin Xiaowen sighed as she pulled out her phone to pay, her movements slightly clumsy due to the sheer amount of food she was already holding.

"Mmm... this is really delicious! Try it, go on, just try it!"

An’an, with an exaggerated expression, kindly fed a 'dumpling' from her small container to Lin Xiaowen’s lips. Lin Xiaowen tried to shyly push it away, but it was futile; she had no choice but to open her mouth obediently.

"How is it? Good, right?" An’an asked with bright eyes, smiling as if waiting for praise.

It was just cheesy takoyaki—was it really that exotic?

Looking at An’an, the newly popular starlet who was smiling like a child, Lin Xiaowen suddenly felt a twinge of pity. These big stars, who seemed to live such glamorous lives in the public eye and looked stunning in front of the camera, actually suffered so much in private, losing out on such simple, basic joys.

"Is it good or not?" Seeing Lin Xiaowen staring blankly at her without answering, An’an urged.

"It’s alright, but it’s not as good as the one next to where I work... When there's a chance later, I’ll take you there to try it!" Lin Xiaowen raised her eyebrows and smiled generously at her.

An’an pursed her lips, her eyes crinkling with a playful, narrow smile.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lin Xiaowen flushed slightly and looked away. "I was just feeling sorry for you, seeing how sheltered you are. I don’t mean anything else by it!"

"Right, right, you don't mean anything else, and you definitely don't want to be friends with me. It’s all just me liking you and wanting to be your best sister, is that it?" An’an giggled, grabbed Lin Xiaowen’s arm, and leaned close to her face, pouting cutely. "Just pay attention to me then, bestie!"

"Pfft..." Lin Xiaowen couldn't help but burst into laughter, though she instantly straightened her face and said, "No more eating. Look, look, your stomach is already bulging!"

"Ah, really? Is it?" An’an immediately grew nervous, looking down at her belly and letting out a soft cry of dismay.

The look of regret and annoyance made Lin Xiaowen wonder: were the cold, composed beauty who had spoken so sharply and then gently reasoned with her earlier, and this 'little kid' in front of her, really the same person?

Pushing through the crowd, they finally spotted the two figures they had been worried about, fearing that something might happen to the two women in such an unfamiliar place.

"Why did you walk so far away? What would you have done if you ran into danger?" Cheng Yishu asked, his anxiety bordering on exasperation, as he grabbed Lin Xiaowen’s hand to chide her.

Lin Xiaowen didn’t respond immediately, but she didn’t pull her hand away either; she simply stood there with her eyes cast down.

Su Nian saw the situation and, understanding the gist of it, curved his lips into a faint smile. He looked at An’an and said, "How about it? Do you want me to take you back?"

An’an flashed a sly smile, stepped forward, and snatched Lin Xiaowen away from Cheng Yishu’s grasp. "Sure! Besides, Xiaowen is mine for the night anyway. As for who takes us back, I don't have any objections!"

Cheng Yishu raised his eyebrows high. "How did she become yours?"

Although Xiaowen was great—truly wonderful—he hadn't expected someone else to come along and fight him for her, especially someone he had brought along himself!

"Wait... what is going on with you two?" An’an clung affectionately to Lin Xiaowen’s arm. Lin Xiaowen couldn't help but smile, yet she made no move to pull away.

Looking at the milk tea, snacks, and other trinkets the two girls were holding, both men finally began to understand.

But this was just too unbelievable!

In just a short while, two romantic rivals had become best friends? Try as they might, they couldn't have guessed that the friendship between girls is often as simple as going for a walk and sharing some snacks.

"Stop causing trouble. I’ll take you back; they probably have a lot to talk about," Su Nian said to An’an in a firm tone.

An’an refused to give up, clinging to Lin Xiaowen and refusing to let go. "No, I want Xiaowen to keep me company tonight!"

If, at first, An’an had thought Lin Xiaowen was just a bland and uninteresting girl, then after they had fought over a bowl of spicy hot pot and had a long talk, she finally began to understand why someone like Cheng Yishu would fall for her.

At the same time, even An’an, who barely had any friends, began to harbor the desire to be close friends with Lin Xiaowen.

Warm, resilient, and retaining a sense of innocence amidst her maturity... these were qualities as rare in the industry as they were in the world at large.

"Stop making a scene!" Su Nian said, pulling An’an away without ceremony, which made her shriek.

"Let go, let go, do you hear me? Do you know who you’re grabbing? Aren't you afraid my fans will dox you until you can't even go home? Let go!"

"If you aren't afraid, why should I be? It wouldn't be bad to make the headlines for once; I’ve never been in the news before!"

Lin Xiaowen stared at Su Nian, stunned; she had never imagined that Su Nian could have such a side to him!

"We’re leaving now. I’ll see that she gets home, and please, make sure you return my person to me in one piece!" Su Nian said to Cheng Yishu.

"...Oh!"

Cheng Yishu was naturally happy to have the outsider leave as quickly as possible, but as he watched Su Nian and An’an vanish into the crowd—with An’an still waving goodbye to Lin Xiaowen with a smile—he felt a faint sense that something wasn't quite right.

"What... what do you mean, 'your person'?"

Cheng Yishu, reacting a beat too late, wanted to rush over and set things straight with Su Nian. Lin Xiaowen’s shoulders shook as she suppressed a laugh. When Cheng Yishu looked at her, she pretended to look elsewhere, acting nonchalant.

However, the sweetness in her eyes was already becoming impossible to hide.