**Chapter 15**
"Yan Xu, are you stupid?"
"If I didn't like you, why would I accept your strawberry candies? If I didn't like you, why would I buy you clothes and shoes?"
"But you bought him gifts too." His voice wavered.
"That was to provoke you! Who told you to like me but never confess? You're a coward, but I can't be one too."
Yan Xu's hand on my waist trembled. He pinched my waist fiercely before lifting me into his arms.
"Hold on tight."
Tsk, just say you want to hug me. Though I complained internally, I obediently wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Not pretending anymore, little brother?"
"Since big sister likes me, I'll reluctantly agree."
Think you're so clever? I sank my teeth into his shoulder.
"Ye Xingli! Are you a dog?"
"So what if I am?"
"You've got guts," Yan Xu said tersely. "Biting shoulders is nothing. Dare to bite my neck?"
You think I won't? I immediately bit down hard on his neck. Take that for bullying me. Take that for being a coward.
A hiss escaped him. Pretending not to hear, I kept biting.
Later, I regretted it.
Yan Xu had planned this all along. Now the whole school knew he was my boyfriend... and that I'd pounced on him.
**Chapter 16**
Two days before college entrance exams, Yan Xu was still delivering takeout. I begged him to stop and study, but he refused. When he asked which university I wanted, I said Northern University - completely out of his reach given his failing mock exam scores.
Every night at 8 PM, we'd sit on stone steps in an alley. Between takeout deliveries, I tutored him using his wrong answers. Surprisingly brilliant, he mastered concepts after one explanation.
Before heading home, he suddenly said: "If I get into your university, grant me one wish."
Knowing it was impossible but not wanting to crush him, I agreed. He then presented a shiny new bank card.
"My earnings this month. Not much, but I'll earn more to take care of you." His eyes glittered in the dark. "After graduation, let me provide your snacks and clothes."
In that moment, I realized - it wasn't him who was smitten. I had long surrendered.
"Then reward me before exams?" Before I could answer, his lips sealed mine in another butterfly kiss.
**Post-Exams**
Yan Xu's mother invited my family to discuss our engagement. Arriving early, I wandered to his room where familiar contact lens packaging caught my eye - the exact brand I used.
So he'd known my thoughts all along. I was the prey.
Damp arms circled my waist. His dripping hair nestled against my neck as strawberry-scented steam enveloped us. "Caught me. Want to punish me?"
"Since when?" I demanded.
"Since transferring here. Bought these lenses to see you clearly... then learned they reveal thoughts." His eyelashes glistened. "I feared you'd just play with me."
"When did you start liking me?"
"As kids, after you saved me. It grew into love." His crimson-tinged eyes pleaded. "Stay with me forever?"
I clasped his neck. "I'll reluctantly agree." Then froze. "Why aren't you wearing clothes?!"
Only then did I notice his towel-draped form.
