Chapter 348: 278 men only think about their own happiness
Luo Xianyu, carrying her bag, tried to walk through the O'Leys mall as if nothing was amiss. Her conspicuous attire occasionally attracted the gazes of passersby, but fortunately, the sunglasses she wore helped her to barely hold it together, despite her anxious mood.
She had played dress-up with Nuo Nuo many times before, but usually, she was with Nuo Nuo and You You, and all Luo Xianyu had to do was be Xia Nuo's little follower. She let them worry about everything else.
However, this was the first time she found herself without anyone to rely on, so Luo Xianyu felt a small but distinct sense of nervousness.
Just then, Ayu's watch suddenly started ringing with a ding-ling-ling.
The music that rang out from the phone was the theme song of "Princess Fanxing," "Which Planet Are You From?" —
This was the exclusive music for the eldest daughter of the family!
It's, it's Nuo Nuo calling!
Luo Xianyu answered the phone with trembling hands.
"Hello, hello, hello, is that Ayu?"
Xia Nuo's bell-like voice rang in Luo Xianyu's ear:
"What, what's up?"
"Why didn't you come over to play today?"
Xia Nuo sounded excited on the phone, "I was actually planning to invite you to watch the latest "Princess Fanxing" movie! Let's watch it in my home theater!"
"I, I'm a bit sick, cough cough..."
"You're sick? And you didn't even tell me!"
Xia Nuo's tone became extremely agitated on the other end of the phone, "I'm coming over to take care of you right now!"
"No, no need... My mom is taking care of me at home."
As Luo Xianyu spoke, suddenly a group of young men and women's playful and noisy voices reached her ears.
Xia Nuo immediately sensed something was off: "Wait... Why is it so noisy at your place?"
"I, I'm watching TV!"
"You're sick, and you came downstairs to watch TV?"
Full of suspicion, Xia Nuo said, "From what I know about you, if you're not feeling well, don't you usually not even feel like getting out of bed?"
"Because, because—"
Luo Xianyu, seeing the line of people waiting outside a restaurant nearby, got an idea on the spot, "Okay, my mom is calling me to eat, I'll hang up now!"
Luo Xianyu hurriedly ended the call.
Why do I feel a little guilty...
Could it be because I'm doing this behind Nuo Nuo's back?
Luo Xianyu, who is 11 years old this year, was doing something that could change her future, an act that took a great deal of courage.
She was shopping alone in the mall.
But then again, now that I think about it, I'm already 11 years old, even taller than many adults, so there's really nothing to be scared of!
Yes!
The healthy and happily growing Luo Xianyu had quite a strong sense of confidence.
Okay...
I've found the Zeliria restaurant!
Luo Xianyu lingered at the entrance of the Zeliria restaurant, trying to spot Fang You and the others through the window like she had last time.
Just then, a greeter from Zeliria, smiling and holding a menu, came forward as if to strike up a conversation with Luo Xianyu.
Don't, don't, don't come near me...
Socially anxious Luo Xianyu instantly panicked. Just as she was about to walk away pretending to ignore him, the smiling greeter immediately blocked her path.
Luo Xianyu's heart sank completely!
"Hello, miss, how many are in your party? There are plenty of open tables inside. Please, feel free to take any seat!"
"I, sob sob sob sob... just looking!"
Luo Xianyu hemmed and hawed, hardly able to utter a few words, before she quickly ran away.
I really am afraid of every stranger who tries to initiate a conversation with me!
Luo Xianyu held her almost shattered chest, then tried to take deep breaths to stabilize her breathing rhythm.
I can't just go up recklessly, or the staff will talk to me again.
I am a talented girl, I have to use my own smarts...
Luo Xianyu was sneaking around by the claw machine when she was suddenly attracted by the smell of milk behind her.
Is, is that egg waffles!
Luo Xianyu rubbed her little stomach, which was growling with hunger.
Hmm...
Feeling a bit hungry.
Luo Xianyu approached the shop, and the staff immediately greeted her with a smile:
"What would you like to order?"
Luo Xianyu pointed at the menu to the last item, which looked incredibly lavish—the egg waffle combo.
"You want this chocolate strawberry taro cheese quadruple mix egg waffle? That will be 36 yuan."
Luo Xianyu deliberately lowered her voice, "And this, too."
Luo Xianyu said, "I'll have this 'Juju' Coconut Milk Sea Salt Milk Tea, and a serving of each of the small toppings here."
...
Did I just accomplish the amazing feat of shopping independently?
Turns out, striking up a conversation isn't that scary after all.
Luo Xianyu was holding a satisfyingly full egg waffle in one hand and a bursting coconut milk with a heap of Oreo toppings in the other, super pretty and super luxurious.
Luo Xianyu's popularity soared even higher!
Children on the street cast envious glances her way, one after another.
A little girl who looked to be only four or five kept staring at Luo Xianyu, who was eating her egg waffle, saliva dripping from the corner of her mouth.
At that moment, her mother turned around to lead her away, but she clung to her mother's hand, unwilling to let go.
"Mommy, I want that too, I want that one!"
"Oh dear, eating so much will give you cavities, child."
"No, I don't care, I want that one!"
Seeing the little girl being pulled away by her mom, crying and unwilling to leave, Luo Xianyu thought for a moment, put down the milk tea, and handed the girl a small piece of egg waffle.
"Here you go, eat up."
She tried to strike up a conversation with the little girl, who along with her mother, was stunned for a moment.
After glancing back at her mom and not being stopped, the little girl tentatively reached out, took Luo Xianyu's egg waffle, and stuffed it into her mouth, busily chewing away.
"Oh my, this child really... she craves other people's treats so much, even though she's just had some!"
"It's okay, it's no big deal."
Luo Xianyu said with a smile and a casual wave of her hand before adopting an elegant composure and asking the little girl in a low voice:
"Is it good?"
"Yummy, so yummy!"
The little girl bowed deeply to Luo Xianyu, her eyes brimming with joy, "Thank you, Auntie!"
Upon hearing this, Luo Xianyu's smile froze, and the nearby parent hurriedly corrected her daughter:
"Hey! What auntie? You should call her sister!"
She drew her daughter into her arms, then said with a smile, "I'm so sorry, kids don't know any better..."
"It's fine... it's totally fine! No worries!"
Luo Xianyu's face blossomed with a smile sweeter than honey: "No problem at all!"
What was going on with her?
Being called an auntie was supposed to be annoying, yet she managed to remain so composed?
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Wait a second... did her voice sound strange?
Her tall stature and mature figure, coupled with sunglasses and lipstick, robbed Luo Xianyu of any childlike innocence.
Of course, no one could sense the thrill inside Luo Xianyu's heart—
Heh, I've matured to the point where I can be called an auntie!
Luo Xianyu considered herself a fully qualified adult.
And at that moment, she was brimming with confidence!
She quickly polished off the remaining egg waffle and the generously topped coconut milk.
With her belly satisfyingly full, Luo Xianyu once again approached the entrance of Zeliya Restaurant, where the receptionist was introducing the menu to newcomers; Luo Xianyu casually took a seat on a stool by the door.
Then she began to look around for Fang You.
Ayu's daddy radar, activate!
Let this auntie see where my You You is slacking off—
...
???
!!!
Luo Xianyu quickly spotted the suave Fang You within the dining area of the restaurant.
But at the same time, she also noticed the person beside him.
This was the most shocking and unacceptable thing for her.
Besides Lin Mengran, there were so many other girls!
So many big sisters!
There were four big sisters crowded around You You!
They seemed to be at least high school age, each one fashionably dressed, surrounding Fang You, listening to him articulate with admiration.
One of the ponytailed girls was resting her chin in her hand, looking up at Fang You with adoration; although Xian Yu couldn't see clearly, she could guess that her eyes were practically shining.
You You... he's definitely cheating!
Now Luo Xianyu felt a coldness piercing her heart.
Colder than the iced coconut milk she'd just drunk.
Although she had harbored a sliver of hope before coming, thinking You You really just wanted different teachers to help her and Nuo Nuo with their studies.
But Nuo Nuo and I are so clever, why would we need so many pretty big sisters to teach us!
You You was just looking for an excuse to chat up more pretty big sisters...
Yep, that's it...
Men are all the same, only thinking of their own happiness, never considering a girl's feelings, never remembering no matter how many times you tell them... they just don't see me at all!
A feeling of inexplicable sourness surged in Luo Xianyu's chest.