Lin Feng stopped a few steps short of the intersection and turned to look at Tang Bingyao. Whats got her all shivering? Its not that cold Well, its cold. Its almost winter! Wait. No. Dont tell me this is about the food. Does she want me to pay? I offered her half! I only ate it all when she said that she didnt want any! He looked at Tang Bingyao and probed, Whats up?

Tang Bingyao stared at Lin Feng, clenching her fists in her mittens. Then she glanced at the stoplight at the intersection. Still red. I need to say it. Itll turn green soon. If I keep making excuses, I wont say it at all. Mhm! Ill say it! She bit on her lips and looked down at her feet. Uhm, Lin Feng? she repeated. Uhm She glanced up at the stoplight again, waiting for it to turn green. Go to green! Go! Now! Now! It jumped to green a few seconds later, which was her cue. She looked up at Lin Feng and said, Its my birthday next month Oh! The light is green. You cant miss it, go! See you tomorrow! Bye! Then she turned the corner and ran home.

Lin Feng stared after Tang Bingyao, dazed. What? Then he shook his head and shrugged. That was probably nothing. Oh, I should go home! He crossed the street at the intersection and then walked the last bit home. Su Xue called out to him from the kitchen when he opened the front door, saying something about dinner. He wasnt entirely sure, his mind playing the scene with Tang Bingyao on repeat. I missed something. There was something there. Right? Was there? Maybe Im just imagining things. But that was a hint, right? I think so But what was she hinting at Her birthday Birthday Then he shrugged. I dont know. Ill think about it later. He went to his room and played a game of League of Legends, waiting for Su Xue to call him for dinner. But still, something didnt feel quite right. He just couldnt put his finger on what that was.

Su Xue looked at the feast she had prepared, proud of herself. That came out better than expected! Lin Feng is going to love it! Talking about that kid LIN FENG! DINNERS READY! she shouted through the apartment.

Lin Feng dashed out of his room and sat down at the dining table. His eyes went wide when he saw all the food and he said, This looks delicious! Can I? Can I? He didnt even wait for Su Xues nod. He put a chicken cutlet in his bowl and grabbed it with his chopsticks. Then he paused. Tang Tang What did she want? Birthday He put his chopsticks down and mumbled, Im not really hungry. Tang Tang bought me some chicken cutlet on the way home

WHAT? AGAIN? Su Xue blurted out. Then she threw her own chopsticks on the table and shouted, Its the same thing every day lately! Wasnt I clear to you about this just the other day? I spend hours in the kitchen to prepare dinner for you! HOURS! What am I doing all that hard work for if youre not even eating it? I couldve spent that time streaming! She clenched her fists and breathed in, trying to hold back the tears. She waved at the food and yelled, IS MY FOOD NOT GOOD ENOUGH? DO YOU NOT LIKE IT? IS THAT IT?

Lin Feng scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and explained, Of course I like your food! Its really good! But I cant help it that Tang Tang bought me milk tea and chicken cutlet on the way home. It was really filling. Maybe Ill be hungry again in a few hours. Ill just eat your food then!

Su Xue glowered at Lin Feng, a vein throbbing on her temple. You knew I was making dinner. You couldve told Tang Tang that I was making dinner. Or you couldve called me and told me you were having chicken cutlet. OR YOU COULDVE SAID SOMETHING WHEN YOU GOT HOME!

Well, you see, Tang Tang was treating me and I felt bad for not eating it. So its not really my fault Lin Feng argued.

Su Xue growled through gritted teeth, It is your fault. Dont try and shift the blame on Tang Tang. This was all you! She took a deep breath. Calm down. He is helpless. He is helpless. He doesnt understand it. He is an idiot. She forced a smile and asked, Why is she treating you so often anyway?

I dont know! She says she had some spare change! If I didnt eat the chicken cutlet, itd be a waste of food! Lin Feng fired back. Then he grinned and continued, Besides, I couldnt say no! She was just trying to be nice!

That hit the wrong snare. Su Xue exploded and yelled, OH, IS THAT SO? THEN WHAT ABOUT ALL THE FOOD I MADE FOR YOU TONIGHT? HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO THAT? She took short, laboured breaths and closed her eyes. Deep breaths, Su Xue Deep breaths. Calm down. You cant hit him. Thatd be child abuse. And getting angry is bad for your skin. Yes I wont let him ruin my perfect skin. She took several deep, calming breaths and then asked, You still didnt answer me. Why does she keep buying you food?

How should I know? She just has a lot of spare change lately! Lin Feng answered, finding nothing strange about it.

She just happens to have a lot of spare change lately? Su Xue shook her head. Oh, Tang Tang She knew what Tang Bingyao was trying to do. Shed tried to do it herself too back in high school. It was so easy. Just find an excuse to get some alone time with your crush. Then offer him the food and smile cutely. Hell melt and stumble over his words as he asks you out on a date. But I never crushed on a blockhead like Lin Feng My god, how can he be so oblivious? I have to contact the Guinness Book of World Records one of these days. He deserves to be in

Oh, right! Lin Feng suddenly shouted, interrupting Su Xues thoughts. Tang Tang told me her birthday is next month! Then he shook his head and added, I was really scared when she brought it up. She looked so embarrassed that I thought she was going to ask me to pay for all the food she bought me. I dont have that much money! Buying skins on League of Legends is expensive, you know! But He looked at Su Xue, uncertain. ...maybe I should pay for it sometime? She always pays What do you think?

Su Xue shook her head and said, I swear, its a miracle you get any girls to talk to you at all! Youre an idiot. Im done. Im done. I cant talk to you right now. I just cant. She gorged down the rest of the food in her bowl, shaking her head every few seconds, and then got up from her chair and walked to the kitchen to do the dishes.

Lin Feng spent the hours after dinner on his homework and procrastinating. At 11 P.M. sharp he finished and glanced over at the alarm on his nightstand. Im not tired yet Maybe Su Xue is streaming? He got up and walked over to Su Xues room, where he poked his head around the door. She is streaming! Ill just keep her some company! Shell like that! He walked into the room and sat down next to Su Xue.

OH SHIIIIIIIZ is that lil bro!?

whos that guy?!?!?!?! does xuexue have a bf????

CREEP ALERT CREEP ALERT! THERES A CREEP IN SNOWFALLS ROOM!!!!!!

Could someone kindly explain to me who that guy is and what is going on? Thank you in advance.

Su Xue looked over at Lin Feng and asked, Youre done with your homework?

Yep! All finished! Lin Feng replied, grinning. He then leaned closer to Su Xue and waved at the camera. Hey guys! Long time no see! How is everyone?

FENG FENG!!!! WELCOME BACK!!!!

ahhhhhhhhhh! havent seen you in so long! missed you so much!

Hows school, lil bro?

OUT WITH THE MAID! OUT WITH THE MAID!

the maid is tryna show off on korean server. But oh my lord shes bad. Like, no joke, i wanna hang myself!!

What the HEY! Im not doing that badly! Su Xue cried out just as her screen went grey again. She looked at the top right corner of the game client, which showed her KDA. Her Lucian was 2/5/4. She shook her head and mumbled, Well, I might be doing a little bad But that isnt my fault! I just wanted to play at a higher rank for my second commentate video and since Im Platinum on the Ionia server, I thought I could also play at Platinum on the Korean server! Who knew the skill level would be so much higher here! You really cant blame me for this! And I still got two kills!

You cant even rank your Korean Gold account to Play Why did you think you could play in Plat? lel

just let lil bro take over. hell carry this for yaaaa

DONT FORGET TO GET HIM SOME WATER!!!!!!

I wanna see Feng Feng carry DO IT

Lin Feng turned to look at Su Xue and asked, Want me to take over next game? This one looks about over

Su Xue pursed her lips but eventually relented. She said, Fine fine! Play! Then she glared at her camera and said to her viewers, But I dont want to hear any of you threaten to unfollow me again! She focused back on the game. Its lost. No point to keep pushing for it She sighed and started a surrender vote, which was unanimously accepted by her team.

Lin Feng quickly pushed Su Xue out of her gaming chair and sat down in it. Then he looked at the account and flexed his fingers. He laughed and said, Platinum on the Korean server? This is going to be so much fun! Watch me carry this game, guys!

CARRY WITH YOUR LEBLANC!!!!

godleeeee i wanna see your godleeeeeee

LIL BRO >>>>> KOREANS HARHARHARHARHAR

feng feng is playing. Ez gg

Su Xue sat down in the chair next to Lin Feng and smiled as she watched him bantering around with her viewers. Were the perfect duo. Im the cute face that tries really hard and he is the pure talent many people want to see. And when we get together, theres always something fun to see for the viewers. Jokes to make. He really helped me turn this one-person stream into a team-stream. And the viewers are loving it! She pretended to sulk when the viewers said something mean about her. And she got up and brought Lin Feng a glass of water as had become tradition. She didnt mind doing it. It was all part of the game. And she was winning. She relaxed back in her chair and watched Lin Feng play. These are the days. I wish it could be like this for the rest of my life. Thatd be perfect.

Lin Feng woke up the next morning with Tang Bingyaos message about her birthday still on his mind. He thought about it under the shower, while eating breakfast, and while walking to school. Why did she tell me that and then run away? She was just really embarrassed about it, but why? Does she normally not celebrate it or something? Maybe she didnt have a lot of friends to celebrate it with? No, thats ridiculous. She has so many friends! Guys keep approaching her! It wasnt until he walked into the classroom and saw his friends that it started to make sense to her. Maybe she really wants to have a big birthday party but is too shy to tell everyone, so she confided in me! Right, so how do I go about this?

Lin Feng mulled on that thought for the rest of the day, until finally the dismissal bell rang. I should just tell the others. Theyll know what to do! He turned to Ouyang sitting next to him, then to Yang Fan sitting in front of him, and finally to An Xin sitting on the other side of him and said, Yo, guys! Guys! I need to tell you for Tang Tang that its her birthday next month!

Ouyangs eyes went wide. It took him a moment to recover and then he shouted, PARTYYYYY!

Yang Fan adjusted his glasses and said, Next month already? Thats pretty soon. We wont have much time to organize it.

An Xin leaned over from her desk and chimed in, Lets get started then. Its for Tang Tang, so we have to do it properly. Were going to throw her a big party!

YES! A PARTY! IM THE KING OF PARTYING! Ouyang shouted, grinning. Then he patted his chest and said, All we need is 10 beer kegs and a ton of plastic cups! Oh oh! Chen Ze and Wei Dong can help out too!

Lin Feng nodded and said, Yeah! Lets do that! That sounds great! Then he turned to Tang Bingyao whod just walked over and said, See? That was really easy to say, right? You dont have to be so shy, you can tell us! Were all friends here! Of course well celebrate your birthday! Wed love to!

Tang Bingyao stared at Lin Feng, dazed. W-what How? Uh? What is happening. Then she mumbled, Uh, oh, uh thanks. But she didnt look happy. She lowered her head and chewed on the inside of her cheeks. Thats not what I meant. Its not at all why I told you. I couldve told them. Im not that shy. I wanted to tell you

Ren Rou sat down on Yang Fans desk, quietly following the conversation. And while everyone else was excited about the prospect of a big party, she was the only one who noticed Tang Bingyaos dejected response. She glanced at Lin Feng and then back at Tang Bingyao before shaking her head. You poor girl. Hes braindead, you know that. We talked about this. You need to spell it out for him, and even then he might not get it Hes braindead. Dont let him drag you down with hi

RING-RING-RING! RING-RING-RING!

Ouyang turned to look at Lin Feng, confused. It took him a moment to gather his thoughts before asking, Whos calling you?

Lin Feng rummaged through his pockets and located his phone in his coat. He grabbed it and checked the Caller ID before scrunching his eyebrows in surprise. Eh? Chu Fang? Why is he calling me? Wait. How does he even have my phone number?