Li Caiyi hummed delightfully as she packed her things, ready to go home. Today, she promised to take Dai Zhiqiang to the ice cream parlor, where she usually hangs out with her friends.

Zhou Ya, Chen Ruolan, and Feng Nian had always been curious about Dai Zhiqiang and wanted a chance to talk to him. But Li Caiyi was worried it would make him uncomfortable, so she was reluctant to ask.

Last night, she carefully probed if she could introduce him to her friends, and thankfully he accepted.

"I was worried you would never ask."

That was what he said to her, meaning that he had been expecting her to do so since the beginning. All that worrying was for naught.

"Guys, are you ready?" Li Caiyi walked over to her friends cheerfully. Thinking that she would have fun with people she liked soon put a big grin on her face.

"Yeah. How about Dai Zhiqiang? Should we wait for him, or we could just meet up with him at the ice cream parlor?" Feng Nian replied.

Zhou Ya checked on her phone before adding, "There is a big promo going on right now, but it has a time limit. If we move fast enough, we can still make it in time."

"Haha, no worries, guys. Let me treat you to ice cream today." Li Caiyi said jovially.

The sight of her radiant smile and the happiness aura exuded from her forced Chen Ruolan to cover her eyes with a hand. "Guh! People who are in love are too bright. Stop! I might get purified at this rate. But I shall accept your tribute gratefully."

Li Caiyi giggled before sticking out her tongue. "I can't help it. I'm just that happy."

"Haha, you sure look delighted these days. I assume everything has been going very well with Dai Zhiqiang? Come on, tell us some of your stories."

"Well, yeah. I think so?" Li Caiyi nodded with a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "We didn't do much. We only have one date so far since he is busy and all."

"Come on, brag a bit. I know you diligently visit the library every day after school to have more time with him. You can't tell me that nothing is happening at all." Feng Nian nudged on Li Caiyi's arm lightly while smirking playfully.

"You make it sound like we are having a rendezvous or something." Li Caiyi pouted. "We didn't do much except talking and occasionally studying in the library. Oh, I help him with library work too sometimes."

"What? So you guys still haven't kissed yet? Even though you guys are so lovey-dovey?' Chen Ruolan asked in disbelief.

A memory of their first kiss flashed across her mind, and heat spread throughout her face. Zhou Ya and Feng Nian didn't miss her reaction. They exchanged knowing glances before smirking at each other.

"So you have done it. I'm sorry. For a moment, I thought you guys were one of those innocent and pure couples. I can see that Dai Zhiqiang is not as square as he looks outside." Feng Nian folded her arms in front of her chest while nodding in approval.

,m Meanwhile, Zhou Ya's eyes glinted with curiosity as she put her hand on Li Caiyi's shoulder. "What does your first kiss taste like? Did he initiates it first, or was it you? Spill the tea now."

Li Caiyi once again had dug a pit for herself by failing to conceal her emotion. Faced with a barrage of questions, she was flustered and confused about how to explain.

Right when she was cornered, her phone rang like it was the salvation Heaven had sent for her. With a visibly relieved smile, she took some distance from her friends, using the phone call as an excuse.

"Hello?"

"Caiyi? It's me."

"Zhiqiang! What perfect timing. I was thinking about whether or not I should contact you just now."

"Yeah, about our promise.. I'm sorry, Caiyi, but I don't think I can make it." Dai Zhiqiang uttered regretfully. "I got an urgent call from work, and I have to go there earlier today."

Li Caiyi almost couldn't hold her disappointment back when she heard that. She carefully looked around to make sure no one was close enough to hear, before asking in a low voice, "even so, isn't this still too early for a bar to open?"

"I owed the bar owner a lot, so I always try to make time to help him as much as possible. Apparently, he needs my help right now." Dai Zhiqiang explained in a dispirited tone. "I'm sorry for ruining our plan today. I promise I'll make it up with you."

Li Caiyi knew Dai Zhiqiang had no choice, so she curbed her disappointment and replied, "No, it's okay. Work is important, and we can always go next time. Don't worry about it."

"Thank you. Please send my apology to your friends as well. I need to go now. Have fun with your friends today."historical

"En. You too. Good luck with your work today."

"I'll call you again tonight. See you later."

He hung up the call just like that. Li Caiyi didn't even have time to say goodbye. He must be in so much of a hurry.

She exhaled a deep breath, and the previous enthusiasm slowly escaped her body.

Not that she had any qualms about going out with her friends only, but there should be some flavor only sold for a limited time that day, and she wanted to share it with him.

However, there was nothing Li Caiyi could do if it was about work, so she dejectedly returned to her friends and explained the situation. Same as her, they were all disappointed, but they understood him.

"Don't mind, we can always have fun sometimes later. For now, shall we go? After all, those limited-time ice creams won't be waiting for us forever." Zhou Ya patted Li Caiyi's back encouragingly. And the latter nodded in agreement.

"You are right. Besides, I can just order some for Zhiqiang and deliver it to him later." Li Caiyi knew where Dai Zhiqiang was working. Perhaps she could stop by before returning to Shao Jingfei's place.

The four of them left the classroom while chatting and joking around like usual. However, Li Caiyi's step halted when her gaze fell on the familiar figure standing with her back leaned against the school gate.

It was a woman with long black hair cascaded through her back. She wore black sunglasses covering half of her eyes, but it couldn't hide her imposing beauty.

Most of the passerby were more attracted to the sight of her perky and full chest and slender leg wrapped in an ordinary office lady outfit, though.

The sight of mature women standing motionless among passing students was very eye-catching and conspicuous, like a fresh blooming rose among leaves.

However, that woman didn't look bothered in the slightest by the attention. She lifted her chin almost haughtily, exuding a confident aura of a mature woman.

There was no way Li Caiyi wouldn't recognize who that woman was, which was very regrettable because she hoped she knew nothing about her.

'What is Gu Xue doing here?' Li Caiyi thought inwardly in puzzlement.