Chapter 30: How did he end up stealing his first kiss?

Qi Mu’s eyes widened, blinking rapidly.

Yin Xiuzhu felt a surge of heat rise to the top of his head, turning him into a boiling kettle, with his mind bubbling and already reaching a boil.

By some strange twist of fate, his lips moved, crazily wanting to kiss Qi Mu forcefully.

Fortunately, Qi Mu had already propped himself up. When their lips parted, Yin Xiuzhu felt as though he had fallen from heaven to the mortal world, unable to tell what time it was.

“What a disaster!” The aunt was nearly driven mad, looking at this mess—was there any way to fix it? Were these two kids trying to tear the entire supermarket apart?

With such a commotion, Pang Liang and Jiang Manman also heard it. They looked over and naturally noticed Qi Mu and Yin Xiuzhu.

The young couple didn’t see them kiss; they were purely shocked by the sea of candy. Qi Mu could only offer them an awkward but polite smile.

He was still sitting on Yin Xiuzhu’s lap. Qi Mu quickly got up and reached out to pull Yin Xiuzhu.

Yin Xiuzhu remained unmoved, staring blankly. Surrounded by colorful candies and looking pale and handsome, he appeared like a character from a fairy tale, dreamlike and surreal.

Qi Mu thought about the ridiculous things he had just done and felt a wave of panic—oh no, did Yin get angry?

Was this considered his first kiss? Had it been taken away just like that? So inexplicably, suddenly, and absurdly snatched away by him?

If this happened to him, he’d be angry too. Even a good brother shouldn’t just casually take someone’s first kiss.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing; if it’s gone, one would have to wait for the next life!

Qi Mu was panicked inside but couldn’t apologize in front of so many people. He could only stammer, “D-did it hurt when you fell?”

Yin Xiuzhu suddenly looked up, his black eyes locking onto him.

Qi Mu thought he was angry and felt uneasy, “I’m sorry, I got startled and lost my balance, you…”

“Oh my heavens!” The aunt wailed, “Why did we have to encounter these troublemakers? What am I supposed to do now? I can’t work anymore!”

With such a distraction, Qi Mu couldn’t continue his apology. He quickly turned to the aunt and said, “I’m sorry, I will compensate for this.”

The aunt didn’t believe him, “Compensate? What are you going to compensate for? You troublemakers…”

Qi Mu interrupted her, “Don’t worry, I’ll buy all the candy.”

The aunt was taken aback, “What?”

Qi Mu pulled out a bank card and said, “Auntie, please weigh all the candy that I knocked over. I’ll buy all of it, and if any of the shelves are damaged, I’ll compensate according to the cost.”

At this point, the person in charge of the candy section arrived. Seeing the scene, he was also taken aback. Even though Qi Mu had made this offer, he was still uncertain…

“These candies are worth quite a lot.”

Qi Mu, acknowledging his mistake and being someone who takes responsibility, replied, “It’s fine, I’ll buy them all.” Even though Halloween had passed, he could still distribute them at school.

With this assurance, the supermarket staff got busy. Since they were just employees, they would find it difficult to handle the situation without someone taking responsibility.

Pang Liang and Jiang Manman, who were close to Qi Mu, quickly set aside their embarrassment and came forward to help, tidying up the chaotic shelves and picking up the scattered candy.

Qi Mu felt uneasy and avoided looking at Yin Xiuzhu, opting to help with the cleanup to at least make some amends.

After weighing and calculating the cost, Qi Mu paid directly with his card without hesitation.

The supermarket staff breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Qi Mu wasn’t just talking big.

The previously upset aunt realized she had misunderstood him and said quietly, “I’m sorry, I thought you two were trying to steal the candy, which is why I yelled at you.”

Qi Mu, not one to hold grudges, said with a smile when she apologized, “It’s okay, I was being sneaky myself.”

The aunt, curious, asked, “What were you two sneaking around for?”

Qi Mu sighed and replied quietly, “That young couple is my classmate. I accidentally saw them on a date and wanted to follow them secretly.”

The aunt understood, “Oh, I see…”

“Exactly.” Qi Mu said with a pitiful look, “The price of peeking is quite high!”

His few words amused the aunt, and before she left, she handed him a box of chocolates as a gift.

What was supposed to be a trip to buy cat food turned into an unexpected haul of four large bags of candy.

Pang Liang, feeling embarrassed, said, “What a coincidence.”

Qi Mu joked with them, “Not really. If it weren’t for you two, I wouldn’t have had to buy so much candy.”

Pang Liang, who was familiar with Qi Mu, knew he was joking and laughed, scolding him lightly, “Serves you right for having bad intentions.”

Qi Mu responded, “What bad intentions? If you two had been kissing openly, I wouldn’t have had to hide and peek.”

His remark made all three people present blush. Qi Mu glanced at Yin Xiuzhu and his heart sank—damn it, he should really keep his mouth shut!

Fortunately, Pang Liang and Jiang Manman were more embarrassed and didn’t notice the awkwardness between them.

Unsure how to properly apologize to Yin Xiuzhu, Qi Mu decided to take Pang Liang and Jiang Manman out for a drink.

Outside was a cafe. Because they had so much stuff, the four of them took a long table, each with a bag of candy beside them.

Qi Mu said, “You two each take a bag back.”

Jiang Manman, feeling a bit embarrassed, started to say, “I…”

Qi Mu interrupted, “Come on, publicity rep, don’t be so stingy. Help us out, it’s quite heavy.”

Jiang Manman glanced at Pang Liang, who said, “It’s fine, just consider it his way of making up to us.” What a way to ruin a nice date!

Jiang Manman shyly smiled.

They were classmates, so a few words were enough to start a casual chat.

Although Jiang Manman hadn’t talked to Qi Mu before, she knew he wasn’t as fierce as the rumors suggested. He was actually quite nice and always looked out for Yin Xiuzhu. Class 2’s perception of him had changed considerably.

As they chatted, Qi Mu couldn’t help but pry into their little secrets.

Pang Liang chuckled, feeling a bit shy yet pleased, and said, “We’re in love with each other, so we got together.”

Qi Mu exaggerated, “Why isn’t anyone in love with me?”

Yin Xiuzhu’s hand, which was stirring his coffee, paused.

Qi Mu, still too nervous to look at him, focused on having fun with his classmates.

Jiang Manman, amused by Qi Mu, became less reserved and said, “You two quite popular.”

Qi Mu, picking up on the key point, asked, “Us two?”

Yin Xiuzhu remained silent. Jiang Manman, still a bit restrained around him, whispered, “Yin Xiuzhu is very popular.”

Qi Mu, intrigued, asked, “Really? Do the girls discuss him among themselves?”

“Of course…” Jiang Manman said, “Many girls have a crush on him.”

Qi Mu looked like he had just discovered a new world, “How did I not know this?”

Pang Liang laughed heartily, “You’re not a girl, so why would you know?”

“But I don’t see any girls trying to hang out with him,” Qi Mu said. Having spent so much time with Yin Xiuzhu, he hadn’t noticed any girl making an effort to approach him.

Jiang Manman whispered, “Everyone is too afraid to approach him…”
Qi Mu was taken aback for a moment before a sudden thought struck him: “Could it be because of me?”

The three people present were confused by his train of thought.

Qi Mu added, “Since my reputation isn’t great, could it be that the girls who like Yin Xiuzhu avoid him because of me?”

Jiang Manman burst into laughter, “So you’re aware of your own bad reputation.”

Qi Mu shrugged, “Hey, a man must be responsible of his actions.”

Jiang Manman shook her head, “It’s not because of you. It’s just that Yin Xiuzhu gives off an impression that he’s not easy to approach.”

That made sense… Qi Mu glanced at the silent Yin Xiuzhu beside him, feeling a bit uneasy: Even he felt intimidated by Yin Xiuzhu when he was cold. How could he have clumsily stolen his first kiss like that? What should he do to make it right?

With Yin Xiuzhu remaining silent and Jiang Manman avoiding talking about him, the conversation shifted back to Qi Mu.

Curious, Qi Mu asked, “Is there anyone in Class 2 who likes me?”

Jiang Manman shook her head with a smile, “I’m not telling you.”
“Come on, tell me,” Qi Mu said, “I’ve never had anyone confess to me before.”

Jiang Manman looked surprised, “Never?”

Qi Mu sighed, “Never.” He had the feeling that Yin Xiuzhu glanced at him, but when he looked over, Yin Xiuzhu was once again stirring his coffee.

Pang Liang interjected, “With your track record, do you really think any girl would dare to approach you?”

Qi Mu sighed again, “I don’t hit women.”

Jiang Manman, intrigued, asked a bit more. Qi Mu, however, was reluctant to discuss it further and simply said, “That senior was looking for trouble, I just give him what he want until he’s satisfied.”

Though he spoke casually, the results were quite frightening, so Jiang Manman didn’t press further.

After finishing their coffee, the four of them went their separate ways.

Throughout, Yin Xiuzhu had only spoken once, and that was to order a coffee from the waiter.

The two of them took a taxi and sat in the back seat with the candy placed in the trunk. Once the car started moving, Qi Mu glanced at Yin Xiuzhu repeatedly. Unable to hold back any longer, he scooted closer and, in a small voice, said, “Don’t be mad. It’s my fault.”

Yin Xiuzhu stiffened at his approach, barely registering what Qi Mu said.

Qi Mu, trying to appease him, said, “I didn’t do it on purpose. If you’re still upset, just hit me?”

Yin Xiuzhu finally came to his senses and asked, “Hmm?”

Qi Mu was speechless—he was doomed; Xiao Zhuzi was really angry, and he felt like he wanted to hit him in frustration!

Heavens and Earth, he hadn’t meant it! But a first kiss, that’s something that can’t be taken back!

Qi Mu gathered his courage and said, “Let’s wait until we get home. It’s not good to discuss this in the car.”

Yin Xiuzhu heard this clearly and felt puzzled but didn’t know how to ask further.

Qi Mu, worried about annoying him, kept his distance and felt uneasy: he’d rather get a beating to vent his frustration than have Yin Xiuzhu sulk silently!

After arriving home and getting out of the car, Yin Xiuzhu abruptly asked, “You’ve never been confessed to?”

Qi Mu asked in return, “Have you been confessed to?”

Yin Xiuzhu shook his head.

Qi Mu also shook his head, “No, never experienced it.”

Yin Xiuzhu hesitated and asked, “What would you do if someone confessed to you?”

“What would I do?” Qi Mu said absentmindedly, “I’d refuse.”

Yin Xiuzhu’s heart sank.

Qi Mu continued, “If I don’t like her, I’d definitely refuse.”

Yin Xiuzhu almost asked, “Do you have someone you like?” but Qi Mu opened the door and he went in first.

As soon as they entered the room, Qi Mu sighed deeply, took off his coat with a dramatic gesture as if severing ties, and closed his eyes, saying, “Come on!”

Yin Xiuzhu was left speechless.

Qi Mu faced him, only wearing a thin T-shirt. With his eyes shut tight, his delicate lips trembled slightly beneath his elegant nose.

“Come on.”

It felt as if he was inviting a kiss.