Love Me, Please Look - Chapter 24
Chapter 24
In their junior year, life became pretty easy for most of them. Aside from Qi Junhe, who still had a full sophomore schedule, Zhang Yan and Zhang Shixu rarely had more than three classes a day.
Chen Nan didn’t sit idle either—he picked up a part-time job at a coffee shop.
Zhang Shixu told him not to push himself too hard.
Chen Nan shot him a look and replied, “What part-time job haven’t you done? Back when I finished high school, I was lugging crates of alcohol in a bar.”
He seemed rather proud as he said it—even the foam art he was making for Zhang Shixu ended up a bit crooked.
There weren’t any customers at the moment, so the two of them stood and chatted.
“Look at you now, that belly’s huge,” Zhang Shixu said, sipping his latte, clearly unimpressed. “You shouldn’t even be on your feet.”
Chen Nan shot him a glare. “Just drink your coffee and get lost.”
Zhang Shixu glanced at his phone and added casually, “He’s been so busy with his art that he barely notices I exist. By the way, it’s getting cold. Make sure you bundle up.”
Chen Nan let out a dry laugh. “You know what’s funny? The lady living downstairs told me yesterday I looked like a walking teddy bear with this belly stuffed inside a down jacket.”
Zhang Shixu nearly choked on his drink. He looked up at Chen Nan—who was wearing a black turtleneck and an apron that barely concealed his pregnant belly—and chuckled, “She’s not wrong.”
“Nonsense! I’m obviously a handsome guy,” Chen Nan declared dramatically.
Zhang Shixu raised a finger. “You don’t want people commenting, but you can’t stop them from looking.”
“All right, enough.” Zhang Shixu coughed to change the subject. “What are your plans for Lunar New Year?”
Chen Nan continued rinsing cups. “I was hoping we could just skip it.”
“I’m being serious.”
With the holiday a month away, Zhang Shixu was genuinely worried Chen Nan might end up spending it alone in City B.
Chen Nan looked him in the eye. “So am I.”
“Come on, you’re due soon. I won’t feel comfortable leaving you here alone.” Zhang Shixu thought for a moment. “Why don’t you come back home with me?”
Chen Nan looked at him like he’d just suggested jumping off a building. “No way—I’d collapse the moment I saw your lawyer mom.”
Zhang Shixu: “…”
“She doesn’t want you home?”
“She probably wishes I disappeared altogether.”
Zhang Shixu frowned. “It can’t be that bad.”
Chen Nan scoffed. “Did I mention? Chen Rui’s getting engaged at the end of the year.”
“What? Already? That was fast.”
An order came in, and Chen Nan pulled on his mask again to prep coffee. “She found some rich guy from our hometown. The family arranged it.”
He paused, then added, “They told me to come home too—for a blind date.”
Zhang Shixu had no response. He sipped his coffee in silence.
They kept chatting casually until a delivery person arrived to pick up the coffee order.
Zhang Shixu checked his phone—it was almost time for Qi Junhe’s class to end. He waved goodbye. “I’m heading out.”
The shop was starting to fill up with evening customers, so Zhang Shixu didn’t say much more. He pushed open the door and walked out, taking the subway back to campus.
That night, he and Qi Junhe had dinner in the school cafeteria. Qi Junhe was too tired to drive anywhere fancy, and simple food was enough for both of them.
While they were eating, Xu Xinyi video-called.
“Baby! Have you eaten yet?” Her voice rang out from the phone.
Zhang Shixu teased, “Your mom?”
Qi Junhe nodded and put down his chopsticks. He signed, “We’re eating.” Then turned the camera around so Xu Xinyi could see their meal.
“Is that Shixu across from you?” she asked, eyes sharp.
“Hey, Auntie. It’s me,” Zhang Shixu greeted her with a wave.
“You two are having dinner together?” Xu Xinyi smiled.
The real reason she called was to ask about Qi Junhe’s boyfriend. She’d suspected for a while, but he hadn’t said a word. She finally couldn’t hold back and called—only to realize his boyfriend was right in front of her. She felt awkward bringing it up now.
She ended the call with a reminder to eat well and something about final exams.
After hanging up, the two looked at each other.
“You’ve been away from home too long. Auntie probably misses you,” Zhang Shixu said gently.
Qi Junhe hadn’t been home much since summer. He’d even spent his susceptible periods on campus. Xu Xinyi and Qi Qiming had to come visit him instead.
Feeling guilty, Qi Junhe nodded.
“How about I go home with you this weekend?”
“With me?” Qi Junhe looked up in surprise.
“Yes. We’ve been together a year. I think it’s time we talk to your mom.”
Qi Junhe nodded like a bobblehead. “I think so too.”
“Then eat up.”
…
That night in the dorm, Qi Junhe texted Xu Xinyi to let her know he was bringing his boyfriend home this weekend.
Xu Xinyi read the message while doing a face mask. She immediately tore off the mask and dashed to the study, where Qi Qiming was reading.
“What’s the matter?” Qi Qiming asked with a smile. “Why the panic?”
Xu Xinyi was practically glowing. “Your son is bringing his boyfriend home this weekend!” She shoved her phone at him.
Qi Qiming was so shocked he dropped his book. “You’re serious?!”
“See for yourself.”
Sure enough, the message was clear.
Xu Xinyi couldn’t contain her excitement. She and Qi Junhe were extremely close.
“Are we finally going to have a sweet little Omega in the house?” she gushed.
Their household was full of Alphas—except for Li Yi, Xu Canyang, and Qi Junhe himself.
Before Qi Qiming could even say anything, she was already thinking out loud about what to cook on the weekend.
She breezed out of the study and called the housekeeper to ask her to return to the main residence and help her plan the menu in detail.
Qi Qiming picked up his book again and opened it, thinking to himself—this weekend is going to be very interesting.