A social phobic can also fall in love. - Chapter 20

Late December.

On Christmas Day, the school held an event. Yan Tingmo wandered around the sports field and saw the student council setting things up.

A giant Christmas tree stood in the middle of the field, surrounded by wish walls and food stalls. He was curious but hesitant to approach because he spotted Qi Xing in the crowd.

After the café photo debt incident, he had been avoiding Qi Xing whenever possible. He firmly believed that as long as they didn’t meet, Qi Xing wouldn’t remember what happened.

“Mo Mo?”

A gentle female voice sounded nearby, and Yan Tingmo turned to see Li Yinong waving at him.

The field was crowded, and her enthusiastic gesture immediately drew attention. Flustered, he quickly lowered his head, pretending not to see her, and turned to leave.

“Mo Mo!!” Li Yinong raised her voice and even jogged toward him.

Panicking, he thought, Please don’t call me! Don’t! Embarrassed, he started to trot away.

But he underestimated the explosive power of a determined girl. Li Yinong quickly caught up, grabbing the back of his neck. “I was calling you. Why are you running?”

“Uh?” Yan Tingmo played dumb. “I didn’t hear you. Sorry.”

Li Yinong didn’t seem convinced, smiling. “Are you walking alone? Want to come and help decorate?”

Yan Tingmo declined. “I don’t think so…” We’re not that close, are we?

“What are you afraid of?” she spun him around. “Come on, come on, help us decorate the Christmas tree.”

“Senior, I really have something to do…” he struggled. “I’ll pass. Hey, don’t drag me!”

Resigned, he found himself standing in front of the giant Christmas tree, arms full of snowflake ornaments. At his feet were fairy lights, candles, pinecones, baubles, a star for the treetop, figurines, bells, and more.

“Senior,” Yan Tingmo said, looking up at the tree. “I can’t reach.”

Maybe get a taller guy to help?

“Can’t reach, huh?” Li Yinong teased. “Then I’ll find someone to help you.”

He was speechless, staring at her helplessly as she called for reinforcements.

To his horror, Li Yinong turned and shouted, “Qi Xing, someone here needs help!”

“…!!” Yan Tingmo was stunned. I didn’t expect you to be like this, Senior! Regret washed over him, and in his panic, he gripped the snowflakes too tightly, causing one to prick his palm. The sharp pain made his eyes water.

“What kind of help?” Qi Xing walked over, smirking. “Too short? Why not jump up and—”

His words stopped abruptly when his eyes met Yan Tingmo’s behind Li Yinong.

After a brief silence, his expression remained unchanged. “So you’re outsourcing now?”

Li Yinong chuckled. “Why not?”

Qi Xing retorted, “Sure, but why call me over?”

Li Yinong turned and pointed. “He can’t reach and needs your help.”

Qi Xing glanced at Yan Tingmo. “Do you need help?”

“No!!” Yan Tingmo quickly shook his head. Please just leave, or I’ll go instead.

Qi Xing raised an eyebrow at Li Yinong as if asking for an explanation.

Feigning ignorance, Li Yinong suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, Sisi’s calling me! You two handle this. Bye-bye!” With that, she ran off without looking back.

Leaving them awkwardly staring at each other.

After a moment of silence, Yan Tingmo mumbled, “Senior dragged me here.”

Qi Xing smiled. “I know.”

At a loss for words, Yan Tingmo stood there pitifully.

Noticing the glistening tears in his eyes and the blush on his cheeks, Qi Xing leaned in slightly. “Are you hot?”

“No,” Yan Tingmo replied.

“Then why is your face red?” Qi Xing asked, smirking.

Speechless, Yan Tingmo bent down to put the snowflakes on the ground and showed Qi Xing his hand. “It poked me. My hand hurts.” That’s why my face is red.

Misunderstanding the situation, Qi Xing thought he was being coquettish. Without thinking, he gently took his hand. “How did this happen?”

His tone was soft and concerned. Examining the small wound, he suddenly leaned down and blew on it. “There, all better.”

His tenderness left Yan Tingmo feeling a strange warmth, a fluttering sensation he’d never experienced before.

“Qi Xing…”

Embarrassed, Yan Tingmo tried to pull his hand back, but Qi Xing held on tighter.

“What’s there to be shy about?” Qi Xing teased. “It’s not like I kissed you.”

Yan Tingmo’s face turned even redder. Under Qi Xing’s straightforward gaze, he felt trapped, unsure of where to look. His eyes eventually settled on his head.

Wow, Qi Xing’s head is so round, and his hair looks so fluffy. I bet it feels nice to touch.

His fingers twitched, tempted to ruffle Qi Xing’s hair.

“All right.” Qi Xing stood up, interrupting his thoughts. “Let’s decorate the tree. The event starts tonight.”

Qi Xing was so natural about it that Yan Tingmo started to question himself. Am I being inappropriate? Why am I still hung up on my ex’s kindness after breaking up?

The Christmas tree was enormous, and even with Qi Xing’s help, they struggled to reach the higher branches.

“What now?” Yan Tingmo asked, feeling stumped.

Qi Xing rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment before suggesting, “You can sit on my shoulders. That’ll work.”

Horrified, Yan Tingmo refused. “That’s not a good idea…”

“Then what’s your solution?” Qi Xing countered. “Think fast; we’ve only got two hours to finish this.”

“Uh…” Yan Tingmo scratched his head and admitted, “I don’t have one.”

Qi Xing gave him a knowing look, then handed him a bunch of decorations and crouched down. Tilting his head slightly, he said, “Hop on.”

Holding the decorations, Yan Tingmo stared at Qi Xing’s back, thinking, How strange. Even after breaking up, we’re still tangled together.

“Hurry up.” Seeing no movement, Qi Xing urged him, “What are you daydreaming about?”

Yan Tingmo gritted his teeth and bravely climbed onto his shoulders.

Qi Xing held onto his calves firmly and said in a low voice, “Hold on tight.” The next moment, he stood up steadily.

“Start hanging them.”

Yan Tingmo, still balancing precariously, heard Qi Xing’s words from below.

In truth, he wasn’t brave at all. Sitting on someone’s shoulders without any support, he trembled uncontrollably. Clutching a small snowflake ornament, he fumbled to hang it.

Sensing his unease, Qi Xing spoke gently, “Don’t be afraid. I’m right here holding you. I won’t let you fall.”

Strangely, the anxious thumping in Yan Tingmo’s chest subsided, replaced by a surprising calm.

The two of them worked seamlessly—Qi Xing adjusted their position while Yan Tingmo swiftly hung the decorations.

Ten minutes later, a crowd had gathered around them.

At first, Yan Tingmo was focused on the task at hand. But as the crowd grew, the chatter grew louder, seeping into his ears.

“What’s going on? Didn’t they break up? Why are they together again?”

“Who knows, maybe they got back together.”

“A good horse doesn’t graze on old pastures. They’re done for sure.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I think they make a great couple. Hot guys should be with hot guys.”

“Tch, isn’t Yan Tingmo not even in the student council? What’s he helping with?”

“Probably here to chase after the president.”

…

Yan Tingmo heard every word clearly. Sitting on Qi Xing’s shoulders, he was the center of attention, visible to everyone.

Whether passersby or spectators, all of them seemed to have something unkind to say about him.

Still holding a plush toy in his hand, he pressed his lips together, unsure whether he should keep going.

Just as he hesitated, Qi Xing suddenly shifted, turning to face the crowd.

“Have you all seen enough?”

“If not, I can invite you closer for a better look.”

His tone wasn’t harsh, even sounding calm and indifferent. But those two sentences were enough to scatter the crowd like leaves in the wind.

Yan Tingmo lowered his head to look at him. From this angle, he could only see his long, thick eyelashes and his high nose bridge.

Just then, Qi Xing looked up, and their eyes met briefly before darting away again.

“Let’s continue,” he said, turning back around.

Yan Tingmo said nothing, silently working with him until all the Christmas decorations were in place.

By evening, everything was ready.

As soon as the work was done, he tried to sneak away.

“Let’s have dinner together,” Qi Xing called out, stopping him in his tracks.

Yan Tingmo froze and turned back stiffly. “That’s not necessary.”

“It is,” Qi Xing replied. “My treat.”

Yan Tingmo hesitated.

“Come on,” Qi Xing added. “I’ll take you for clay pot rice.”

Yan Tingmo didn’t want to go. I don’t even like clay pot rice.

Half an hour later.

He sat in a small restaurant, eating quietly. Truth be told, it tasted pretty good, but he didn’t admit it.

Qi Xing came back with a plate of pickled radish and leisurely unwrapped a pair of disposable chopsticks. “Eat slowly. Don’t choke.”

Yan Tingmo ignored him.

Qi Xing then said, “After dinner, join me for the event.”

“Huh?” Yan Tingmo looked up, confused. “Why?”

“To thank you for helping out.” Qi Xing pushed the pickled radish toward him. “I’ll set up a stall for you. You can take orders.”

Yan Tingmo blinked, still puzzled. “Take orders?”

“Yeah,” Qi Xing said. “You can do quick sketches.”

Yan Tingmo paused, setting his chopsticks down. “Aren’t these stalls usually for food? Won’t I seem out of place?”

Qi Xing chuckled. “It’s fine. I’m in charge.”

Yan Tingmo wasn’t falling for it. “You already treated me to dinner.”

That’s enough gratitude.

Qi Xing shrugged. “Then this meal can be on you.”

Yan Tingmo: “…”

“Are you serious?” he asked.

Qi Xing raised an eyebrow. “What do you think?”

Speechless, Yan Tingmo mulled it over for a moment before poking at his rice with his chopsticks. “Fine, I’ll set up a stall.”

No way I’m paying for dinner after helping out. I’m not that dumb.

“Oh, I see,” Qi Xing said, pretending to be reluctant. “In that case, I’ll reluctantly treat you.”

Yan Tingmo was stunned. Why does it feel like he’s doing me a favor?

Wait, didn’t he say he’d treat me to dinner? That’s why I came! Ugh, fickle man.