Little Fish and Mint - Chapter 3
“Looks like a flower vendor.”
Xu Yitong was stunned. Was he talking about her?
A flower vendor…
He was talking about her.
A flower vendor?!
Xu Yitong slowly turned to stone.
✧✧✧
While preparing the gift, Xu Yitong had imagined Yu Ge’s initial disinterest. But it wouldn’t matter. Once he removed the top layer of roses, he’d find the boxes of cookies, and he’d be touched.
She’d felt smug every time she pictured this.
He wouldn’t expect the real surprise.
Like peeling an onion, the various cookies would be revealed one by one. And at the very bottom, he’d find the little fish glass pendant.
She’d spent a week at her friend’s craft store, painstakingly creating it. Her initial attempts resembled a comical jellyfish, then a monstrous octopus, before finally evolving into a beautiful little fish.
She’d attached a simple card: [I made it myself ^.^]
She’d imagined his reaction: touched, surprised, happy…
She’d never imagined he’d mistake her for a flower vendor.
Xu Yitong felt suffocated.
What flower vendor dressed like her?
She was heartbroken.
…
…
“Bro, Second Aunt called. Grandma wants you to take back the money. Her treatment isn’t that expensive.”
“Let her keep it.”
Yu Nuo acknowledged, then asked, “Grandma’s coming to Shanghai for treatment in two days, staying at Dad’s. Can we visit her?”
Silence.
“Bro?”
“We’ll see.”
He hung up.
Yu Ge patted his pockets, wanting a cigarette. He didn’t usually smoke, so he didn’t carry any.
There was a convenience store fifty meters away. As he walked towards it, someone tugged at his pants.
He looked down.
The flower vendor.
She wore a bright yellow dress and black shoes, wilting like a frostbitten eggplant, crouched by a small flowerbed.
For some reason, he thought of a sun-dried SpongeBob.
She looked up at him, her eyes wide. “Don’t you remember me?”
Yu Ge was silent.
Even her voice was similar.
Seeing he wasn’t going to speak, Xu Yitong gave him a hint. “I’m Xu Yitong.”
Still silent.
“I’m the one who ate at your house and accidentally broke a bowl…” she gestured.
“Oh, it’s you,” he murmured.
They were at a busy intersection, nearing rush hour, students passing by, traffic backed up. Some drivers even rolled down their windows to stare.
He looked down. “What do you want?”
His usually smooth voice was hoarse, like he had a cold. But it didn’t diminish his coldness.
As if they were strangers.
Xu Yitong felt a pang of hurt. “I came to give you a gift…”
“A gift?” He paused, confused. “Why?”
“I heard you liked it,” she said stiffly.
What a stupid question, she thought, annoyed.
What other reason could there be besides liking him?
Did he think she’d lugged this heavy thing over just for fun?
He glanced at the bouquet. “Thanks.”
This pleased her.
“But I don’t know where you heard that.”
Xu Yitong: “?”
He looked back at her. “I don’t like flowers.”
Her smile froze. “It’s not just…”
She wanted to explain that it wasn’t just flowers, but also cookies, lots of them, which he’d surely love. But the words caught in her throat. It wasn’t the same if he didn’t discover the surprise himself.
On the verge of tears, she happened to notice his hands from her crouched position. Long, slender fingers, distinctly masculine, yet elegant.
She forgot what she wanted to say.
The wind rustled his clothes. He wore his team jersey, edged with gold by the setting sun, looking strangely gentle.
Damn it.
Her cheeks flushed before her eyes could well up.
She couldn’t cry now.
She really needed to re-evaluate her life choices.
✧✧✧
Back in the private room, most of the dishes had arrived. Seeing Yu Ge enter alone, the others stopped talking and looked at him.
Amidst their teasing, he sat down silently.
Noticing the lighter and cigarettes he tossed on the table, Will nudged him, grinning. “Why the sudden smoking? That beauty got you down?”
Yu Ge pushed him away. “Get away from me.”
“Just kill me now, why don’t you,” Will said dramatically.
Yiyi looked at Yu Ge, smiling. “Where’s the gift? You didn’t accept it?”
She tried to sound casual, but her curiosity was evident.
Yu Ge simply hummed in affirmation.
“What a shame,” Yiyi said, feigning disappointment. “Tongtong spent a lot of time preparing it.”
He didn’t reply, clearly not wanting to discuss it.
Teasing him about his love life was rare within the OG team. Yiyi stuck out her tongue, deciding not to push further.
She’d expected him to refuse the gift.
As someone close to the OG team, she knew Yu Ge better than most.
He wasn’t rude, but he had an aloof, almost arrogant air. He was naturally distant, both calm and cold.
He rarely joked or fooled around, regardless of how well he knew someone.
He seemed to care only about his sister.
But Yiyi had thought Xu Yitong might be an exception.
When she learned they’d exchanged WeChat contacts, she’d been momentarily incredulous.
She genuinely liked Xu Yitong and was happy to help. She’d be thrilled if Xu Yitong actually managed to win Yu Ge over.
But… she also had some complicated, hidden feelings. Not jealousy, but something else. If she had to describe it, it was disappointment – Yu Ge was just like any other man.
As long as you were rich and beautiful, Yu Ge was attainable.
Yiyi smoothed her hair, taking a sip of water, and discreetly observed him.
His expression remained neutral, as if nothing had happened.
There was a reason this man was considered one of the most popular players in LPL history.
There were countless handsome men, but only those like Yu Ge, unaware of their own attractiveness, held a certain allure.
He didn’t seem to care about being admired. He didn’t even bother discussing topics that highlighted his popularity.
It made people wonder…
Could this calm, unruffled lake ever be stirred by anyone?
Lost in thought, Yiyi pulled herself back to reality.
As expected, Yu Ge remained unchanged.
The unattainable flower remained unattainable.
Admired and adored by many, but never plucked.
✧✧✧
As the sun set, painting Shanghai in shades of orange, Xu Yitong stared out the car window, lost in thought.
Beside her, the pink roses drooped sadly.
The scene was melancholic – except for the music playing in the car.
When the DJ version of “Love Can Be Cruel” started, Xu Yitong froze.
The lyrics: “Tears of sorrow drown the dusty world…”
She endured it.
Then: “Still believing sincerity can touch his heart…”
She gritted her teeth.
Finally, when the lyrics “Can’t quit this humble, unrequited love…” played, she burst into tears.
“Who put on this depressing song?!”
Moli, in the passenger seat, hearing the tears in Xu Yitong’s voice, reached for the stereo.
The driver scolded, “Don’t change it! Let her listen and wake up!”
Xu Yitong sobbed louder.
Not wanting to upset either of them, Moli changed the subject. “Tongtong, a new bar opened on Huaihai Road. They have your favorite yogurt wine.”
“I want to go home,” Xu Yitong wailed.
Cai Cai, never one to coddle, said, “To go home and read The Simp’s Diary?”
“Be nice,” Moli intervened. “Tongtong’s heartbroken.”
“Who says I’m heartbroken?” Xu Yitong retorted.
Moli glanced at her. Her makeup was smudged from crying. Moli handed her a tissue. “Then why are you crying?”
“I’m just regretting…” she sobbed, wiping her tears. “I should have put the cookies on top.”
Moli: “…”
Cai Cai: “Crazy.”
Xu Yitong continued, frustrated, “How can Yu Ge not remember me? Am I that forgettable? Is his taste that bad?”
Cai Cai, driving, said casually, “Maybe he doesn’t like women.”
“Cai Yishi! You’re so annoying!”
“Fine,” Cai Cai rephrased, “Maybe he doesn’t like you.”
“…”
Lies didn’t hurt; the truth was a sharp knife.
Xu Yitong fell silent.
After a few minutes, Cai Cai glanced at the rearview mirror. “Why so quiet?”
Xu Yitong sulked, looking out the window. “I’m sad, okay?”
The awful DJ song ended, only to be replaced by a Phoenix Legend song.
“Can we listen to something slow?” Xu Yitong pleaded.
“Heartbroken people don’t listen to slow songs.”
Xu Yitong was fed up. “Do you think you’re funny?”
Cai Cai laughed. “Just trying to cheer you up.”
Moli suddenly said, “Tongtong, ask your cousin. Isn’t he similar to Yu Ge? Maybe he has some advice.”
“Ask Chen Yuzheng?” Xu Yitong was skeptical. “How are they similar?”
“They’re both pro players. Men understand men.”
Xu Yitong considered this. It was worth a shot. She messaged Chen Yuzheng: [You there?]
He didn’t reply. She sent a video call.
He declined, sending a question mark.
She gritted her teeth, imagining his smug face.
She started typing.“Xiao Zheng, help your sister figure this out — why does Yu Ge keep ignoring me? You gamers…”
But before she could even finish typing that line, a new message suddenly popped up in the chat with a whoosh—
Conquer: [How did you know I’m dating Yu Nuo? 0.o]