Right after getting dumped, He suddenly learned that his best buddy was the legendary cold-as-ice school beauty. - Chapter 99

Ji Qingqing finally stepped out from behind the door.

The heroine looked… a little disheveled.

Her top hung loosely, and her skirt below she was only holding up with her hands.

Biting her lower lip in embarrassment, she almost wanted to stuff it back in and pretend none of this had happened.

But she had bought it already. Not letting Yibei see it would feel like such a waste.

The moment she stepped forward, her shame peaked… she almost wished it had gone to waste!

Who shows a “surprise” to their crush like this?

There was no joy in it—only shock.

“I bought it secretly,”

Ji Qingqing said cautiously. “I wanted to wear it for you… but I can’t put it on properly. Wang Jue taught me once, I thought I’d learned…”

Lu Yibei stared at the heroine in surprise.

A white wo shan top paired with a blue mamian skirt.

The colors suited her very well—not flashy, simple yet full of life.

But the way it was worn… it was hard to look at. Disheveled? Ungainly? Both, perhaps.

Lu Yibei almost laughed out loud.

But he quickly restrained himself, afraid the heroine would punch him and shatter his Hanfu dreams.

The blue fabric he had seen in her bag before… it was this skirt.

Although she refused to admit it, it seemed she had bought it purely to surprise him…

The result might not be perfect, but the thought itself made Lu Yibei’s lips curl involuntarily.

He stood up.

Walking over to the embarrassed heroine, he reached to adjust her top, asking gently:

“Underneath… you have something on, right?”

Ji Qingqing nodded. “I’m wearing a camisole.”

“Good.”

Otherwise, lifting the top would’ve been… inappropriate.

He smoothed the overlapping front panels, then untied the poorly tied knot underneath, adjusted the length, and tied it neatly again.

Lu Yibei lightly brushed her collar, then moved behind her.

He checked the skirt’s length front and back.

The long side of the mamian skirt was at the back, the short side in front.

At least she got that right.

“Lower the front a little,”

he whispered behind her ear, making her ears tingle. She softly hummed in agreement and adjusted the skirt to her lower waist.

Lu Yibei’s hands went around her ribs, tying a knot at her upper abdomen.

From this position, it almost felt like he was hugging her from behind…

To avoid focusing too much on her waist, he glanced upward at the ceiling lights.

Ji Qingqing licked her lips nervously.

Even so, his careful adjustments made the skirt look much better.

“Now lift the front, I’ll tie it properly for you.”

He released her waist and returned to the front.

When Ji Qingqing lifted the skirt, Lu Yibei wrapped the waist ribbon around her back, tying it neatly at her lower waist.

“…You touched me.” Ji Qingqing’s breath was soft as orchid.

“Huh? Ah?”

“Your… butt.”

“…S-sorry, I didn’t…”

“It’s fine, it happens.”

Ji Qingqing wasn’t upset.

Lu Yibei became even more careful.

He hadn’t meant to, and after realizing he had accidentally touched her, he felt a little guilty…

Distracting himself, his fingertips hadn’t registered anything unusual at all.

A pervert without even realizing it… damn!

Once the front ribbon was tied, the mamian skirt was properly worn.

But being stuffed in a backpack had wrinkled the fabric slightly.

Lu Yibei crouched down and gently smoothed out the creases.

“You’re really good at this.”

Ji Qingqing said softly, “Too practiced.”

“Mm,” Lu Yibei admitted. “I wanted to trick someone into wearing it before, so I practiced. Might come in handy for writing my novels too.”

“Hmm.”

Trick someone into wearing it? Who?

He caught the slight disapproval in her tone and chuckled softly. Then he explained:

“My roommate.”

Ji Qingqing: …

“Sun.”

Lu Yibei continued, “I mentioned it to him, and he nearly tried to throw himself into the Qiantang River with his sword, shouting something about avenging bones and switching flesh for parents. That plan got canceled. Thanks to you, heroine, I finally get to put this almost rusty skill to use.”

Ji Qingqing looked down at the young man crouching before her.

His gaze was lowered too, eyelashes fluttering as he blinked.

So earnest, so gentle, his fingertips smoothing her skirt carefully.

“…Looks like you’re confident you can help me wear Hanfu properly,” she murmured.

Lu Yibei opened his mouth to say “Mm,” but her phrasing revealed its origin.

The original sentence was “Do you have the confidence to help me wear a kimono?”—a subtle flirtation between young men and women.

The heroine truly was a master of subtlety…

Lu Yibei’s lips twitched.

He continued adjusting the skirt, maintaining his composure:

“I can help you wear Hanfu… but do you have the confidence to make me breakfast every day?”

Ji Qingqing loved this.

He understood nearly every nuance behind her words, and responded in a way she could comprehend.

But she didn’t like that question.

Because… she couldn’t cook.

After thinking a moment, she said:

“I can learn.”

Lu Yibei smiled. “No need, I can do it myself.”

“…Yibei.”

“Mm?”

“Look up.”

“What?”

Obediently, Lu Yibei raised his eyes.

Ji Qingqing lifted a strand of his bangs, pressing a tiny peach blossom kiss onto his forehead.

In an instant, the warm, wet sensation vanished from his skin.

“This is my compensation for the failed surprise,” she said.

Lu Yibei froze, as if the game had lagged, for about three seconds.

Then he lowered his eyes again, smoothing the skirt creases while smiling softly.

Suddenly, he stood.

“Ji Qingqing.”

“…Hm?”

He rarely called her full name, and the girl was startled.

“I request a hug,” Lu Yibei said.

Ji Qingqing was bad at handling surprises.

Before she could react, he reached out and wrapped her in his arms.

She remembered she had told Yibei before that she needed to request permission before a hug.

Her body shivered, her face heating rapidly.

“Idiot, even if I requested, you still have to wait for consent—”

Blushing more than angry, she tried to push him away.

She bit her lip, stomped, and pushed with all her strength.

Lu Yibei stepped back, stumbled, and fell onto the bed.

Ji Qingqing fell in response.

Then—

BANG!

Her forehead collided perfectly with his nose.

“—Yibei!!”