Chapter 60: Raised on Sweetness

Page 1

Seeing that line of English, Qiao Zhen froze, her breathing disordered, her heart skipped a beat.

—Let me be the one to protect you.

This... must have been included with the bouquet, right? Yes, it has to be that way. Qin Yichi himself said he bought it on a whim because the flower shop was having a sale, so he definitely wouldn’t have thought that much… would he?

Qiao Zhen slowly let out a breath, but couldn’t help imagining:

What if?

What if he had prepared it especially, or picked out the card himself?

Qiao Zhen covertly pressed her lips together, a cautious joy blossoming in her heart.

Like a little hamster stealing snacks.

She hugged the flowers with satisfaction, her eyes sparkling with bright stars.

This bouquet of Black Knight roses was beautiful—noble and mysterious, as if blooming quietly in the abyss, exuding an air of refined romance.

People always have a tendency to compare, and Qiao Zhen was no exception.

She glanced around, looked at the flowers in other people’s hands, then lowered her head to look at her own, and couldn’t help the curve of her lips, feeling as if her heart was steeped in honey.

She truly believed that the bouquet Qin Yichi gave her was the prettiest, the most gorgeous in the whole room!

Qiao Zhen took out her phone, ready to take photos.

Pictures of the bouquet, and the card attached.

She wanted to preserve these beautiful moments forever, just like the meteor shower last night, so she could recall them bit by bit when she grew old.

While she was immersed in this sweet thought, Qin Yichi suddenly came up beside her, his gaze deep: “Let me take the picture for you.”

Qiao Zhen almost instinctively replied with a “Okay,” but then regretted it a little.

She liked photographing things, scenery, but rarely photographed herself—her album barely had any selfies.

But she thought, she had dressed so carefully today, and with such beautiful flowers, she really ought to commemorate the moment.

Before she could prepare herself, Qin Yichi had already stepped back, raised his phone, and aimed it at her.

He even squatted down to find the right angle!

His posture for taking photos was practically textbook.

He lifted his chin, the lines of his face clear and sharp, his deep black eyes narrowed slightly, and the phone tilted gently.

Under shifting light and shadow, darkness covered half his face, giving the young man’s handsome features an edge of wicked charm.

Qin Yichi looked extremely serious and patient.

Qiao Zhen hesitated for a moment, hugging the flowers, awkwardly making a “peace sign” and smiling at the camera.

Qin Yichi’s Adam’s apple bobbed: “Alright, try a different pose.”

Page 2

Qiao Zhen’s smile slowly froze on her face, her mind racing.

Help…

She seemed only able to do the peace sign, racking her brains but unable to think of any other pose.

Suddenly, on impulse, she extended her index finger and poked her right cheek, blinking her misty eyes: “How about this? Does it look weird?”

Hearing this, Qin Yichi stared intently at the screen, his gaze fixed on Qiao Zhen’s cheek, his breathing growing heavier.

The girl wore a strapless black dress and black velvet gloves, elegant and poised.

But her silly gesture—poking her soft, fair little cheek until it dimpled, her eyes sparkling and innocent—added a touch of playful charm.

Qin Yichi’s gaze was firmly drawn, and he couldn’t help but think that little rabbits must have grown up on cuteness.

Otherwise, why would she be so adorable?

Last time, when Qiao Zhen was tipsy, he hadn’t been able to resist poking her cheek.

It was soft, delicate, like cotton candy.

Qin Yichi’s gaze drifted downward, seeing the girl’s fitted black dress accentuating her curves.

Her fair swan neck and collarbones struck him, as well as her snowy, creamy…

The contrast was striking.

At close range, the impact was much greater than viewing from the second floor—far more stimulating to the eyes.

In a few short seconds, Qin Yichi felt a heat rise in his abdomen, abruptly looking away, the tips of his ears gradually tinged with red.

His Adam’s apple moved up and down, his voice low and husky: “It’s not weird. It’s really good.”

Qiao Zhen paid no attention to his oddness, spinning around and mumbling, “What other poses are there…”

Qin Yichi switched to a side angle, “No need to force poses. Just look down at the flowers.”

Qiao Zhen obediently followed, holding the bouquet with both hands, head slightly bowed, pretending to smell the fragrance.

Without facing the camera, her expression relaxed a lot, with a touch of ease and comfort.

Qin Yichi took ten photos in total, almost always finding the best angles; the atmosphere in the photos was strong, and the proportions just right.

Especially the last one, where she was looking down at the flowers.

Qiao Zhen looked through the photos, her eyes shining and nodding in satisfaction: “Qin Yichi, you’re amazing! The pictures are beautiful!”

Upon hearing the compliment, Qin Yichi responded with a deliberately cool “Mm,” but his back unconsciously straightened, chin lifted in pride.

Suddenly, a couple nearby began to quarrel:

“Dude, you’re so sloppy with the photos—my face is all crooked! Are you even trying? Every time I ask you to take pictures, you’re so impatient!”

Page 3

The boy looked exasperated, his tone edged with anger: “Well, that’s just how you look, okay? No matter how I take it, you’re still ugly! If you think your face is crooked, why not get plastic surgery!”

“You… Shen Jin, I can’t be bothered to argue with you!” The girl’s face flushed with anger, she lifted her skirt and stormed off.

The boy called her unreasonable, didn’t bother to chase her, snorted coldly, and strode away in the opposite direction.

Witnessing it all, Qiao Zhen quietly looked at her own perfect photos on her phone, her lashes trembling.

Qin Yichi, she thought, would surely be a very attentive boyfriend in the future.

He’d take the initiative to photograph his girlfriend, lots and lots of beautiful pictures, patiently guide her poses, and never get angry with her.

But the thought of him actually having a girlfriend someday…

Qiao Zhen felt oddly stifled inside, as if her chest was stuffed with cotton, hard to breathe; like biting into an unbearably sour orange, tears threatening to spill.

She hesitated, not daring to dwell on why she felt such strange, intense emotions.

Qiao Zhen quickly patted her cheeks, trying to clear her mind.

After watching the last few contestants perform, the preliminary round in their section officially ended; the results would take some time to be announced.

Qiao Zhen put on her white down coat, wrapped her scarf, and left with Qin Yichi.

Christmas Eve, dazzling neon lights in every color; nearby shops played Christmas songs.

The sky was scattered with stars, sparkling freely against the low night.

Qiao Zhen hugged her flowers, breathing their faint fragrance, her mood as light and joyful as the air.

She couldn’t help but say again, "Thank you."

Qin Yichi turned lazily, "What for?"

Qiao Zhen looked up at him, smiling: "For your flowers, of course~"

Thank you, Qin Yichi, for accompanying her to the competition, for giving her flowers, and for photographing her.

But thank you most of all, Qin Yichi, for appearing in her life…

Qiao Zhen thought silently, when Qin Yichi won a prize with his motorbike, she too would carefully select the most beautiful flowers for him.

She was still pondering what color flowers to give him someday, when suddenly—

Qin Yichi frowned slightly, protectively moving her behind him.

Qiao Zhen looked on in confusion, poking her head out.

Under the chilly streetlamp not far away, a white figure stood motionless.

Ji Xian was there, face dark, eyes icy, staring at them…