1103 A CUP OF HOT CHOCOLATE


    LUO JIN swiftly turned around at the sound of the familiar voice. As he did, a wave of emotion swept over him, nearly causing him to lose his bnce. The sight of the beauty before him struck his heart so strongly that he was momentarily taken aback. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "...Y-Yuqi?" he could only call out in the end.


    She stood gracefully in a silvery white cheongsam, the high cor and sleek, form-fitting silhouette emphasizing her slender figure. The dress was adorned with intricate floral patterns meticulously embroidered along the fabric, adding an exquisite touch to its elegant simplicity.


    Light makeup subtly enhanced her face, highlighting her natural beauty. Dark, expressive eyes and a soft smile radiated quiet confidence and grace.


    Her dark hair was elegantly styled in an updo, secured with a delicate hairpin that echoed the floral motifs of her dress. The hairstyle framed her face elegantly, drawing attention to her features.


    As she moved, the cheongsam flowed gracefully with her every gesture, embodying a timeless charm thatplemented her striking appearance.


    A helpless smile appeared on Su Yuqi''s face as she stood before Luo Jin. The other didn''t say anything. He just stood there as if petrified.


    "Is my appearance right now really that surprising?" she asked, and then added in a much more yful tone, "Or am I just too beautiful that seeing me left you speechless?"


    Luo Jin seemed to havee back to his senses after she said that. But the blush on his cheeks and the redness of his ears didn''t diminish the slightest bit. At times like this, one could immediately tell how young he was. As opposite to how one would quickly assume that he was much older at first nce.


    She found this contrast very adorable.


    Seeing the yful smile on Su Yuqi''s face, as well as hearing the obvious teasing in her voice, Luo Jin knew that he couldn''t be swayed here. If he did, then he would lose all momentum. Maybe when he confessedter, she would just tease him again.


    So, despite his still hot face, he answered while looking straight at her, "Both. But most of it was because your beauty really left me speechless."


    Su Yuqi blinked and thenughed. The other was like this too when they met during winter vacation. Despite obviously feeling shy, he would still say things as if he''s some kind of yboy or something. He wondered if meeting in real life gave him more courage. Since he''s not acting like that when they were in the game. Which was quite ironic.


    It was cute, though.


    "Aren''t I the one who should be surprised?" she said with a raised brow. "You suddenly appear here without notice. Is it to greet me happy birthday in person?"


    "Yes," Luo Jin said honestly. "Did I sessfully surprise you? Or did I do something unnecessary?"


    Su Yuqi gazed at Luo Jin''s face, now etched with concern. He looked at her as though everything hinged on her response. It was a daunting, yet exhrating to know that she could have so much influence on someone. Yet, she understood that she shouldn''t relish in this ''power''. If she allowed herself to indulge in that feeling, she might inadvertently harm this young man. That''s something she absolutely shouldn''t do.


    "A birthday surprise is never unnecessary," she said with a smile. "Since you''re already here, let''s go and walk around. I''ll show you Master Su Cheng Han''s masterpieces."


    Before Luo Jin could answer, Su Yuqi already casually linked her arm with his, pulling him along. He didn''t resist and let the other pulled him to wherever she wanted. Completely forgetting the fact that Secretary Gao asked him to stay put until he returned. How could he remember that when Su Yuqi was so close to him right now? Of course, his mind was only filled with her.


    Su Yuqi asked as they were walking, "So, did youe here by yourself? Or did someone apany you? Surely, Luo Yan didn''t go with you, right?"


    When she said thest question, she looked at Luo Jin as if she would scold him if she said yes.


    "Of course not!" Luo Jin quickly said. "One of my Dad''s secretaries apanied me here."


    "That''s good. I was already nning to throw you and Luo Yan to the airport if you said ''yes''."


    That was an understandable reaction. After all, the college entrance exam was less than a month from now. It would be unreasonable for Luo Yan to travel to B City in a leisurely manner under such circumstance.


    "I wouldn''t bring him even if he insisted," Luo Jin said.


    "But how did you convince your dad to let you travel here?" Su Yuqi asked curiously.


    Even if the other came here with a chaperone, it must have not been easy to convince his father. From what she heard from Bai Ze, Uncle Luo was quite overprotective of his children. Would he really let his youngest son travel like this without a fuss?


    At that question, Luo Jin remembered how he and his brothers convinced their father to let him go here. Since most of that conversation centered around his ''crush'' for Su Yuqi, he instantly felt embarrassed just by remembering it.


    "I- I was very... persuasive," he said and just left it at that.


    Su Yuqi nced at the red tint that quickly appeared on Luo Jin''s cheeks. She raised a brow. Just by seeing that, she could easily guess that the process of that ''persuasion'' must be quite embarrassing. At least Luo Jin felt that way.


    The urge to tease the other came up again.


    "What, did you tell him that you have to go because it''s the birthday of the girl you like?"


    As soon as she said that, Luo Jin''s whole face turned a darker shade of red. Her eyes widened a bit after seeing that reaction.


    No way... really?


    After the initial shock, Su Yuqi''s heart was filled with warmth and sweetness, like sipping on aforting cup of hot chocte.