Chapter 23: The Love Scheme

  "Hello, your takeout has arrived, can you come down and get it?" Qiu Tao dialed the number and said softly.

  But after several seconds, I heard the echo: "I'm busy, yesterday's money I left with Auntie on the first floor, you go find her to get it, today's meal money will be given tomorrow as per usual, that's all, bye!!"

  Qiu Tao was deceived again, and he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that he still hadn't seen the real person. He rode his bike back and forth alone, and this happened several times in a row. The girl always made excuses to avoid him, eating one meal after another.

  As time went on, Qiu Tao also clearly remembered the dishes that the girl always liked to eat and would prepare them in advance. When she called him, there was no need for pleasantries, he would directly say: "Your takeout will arrive soon, I'm busy!"

  Gradually, she stopped calling 'Lan Xuan' directly and called Qiu Tao instead. He would then respond with: "Your takeout is downstairs!!!!!"

  As time went on, the "transactions" between them became a unique agreement. Sometimes when they chatted, it wasn't just the usual pleasantries between buyer and seller, but also other greetings like "What are you busy with? When will you be done?" or "How long do you work? How's your pay?" These seemingly dull topics gave each other an inexplicable warmth.

  Of course, on rainy days, Qiu Tao's phone would never ring, because she knew that delivering takeout on wet and slippery roads was not safe.

  And he would continue to insist on delivering takeout to the door every day, having long been accustomed to a life of rain and shine. That persistence may be a habit that Qiu Tao had grown used to hearing familiar sounds and was unwilling to give up, or perhaps she had already been moved by his persistence.

  "Miss, eating takeout for such a long time isn't good for your body. Maybe all the flowers outside have bloomed already. If you're willing, after class just come straight here and I'll get the boss to prepare everything in advance." Finally, Qiu Tao gave her a friendly reminder.

  "What's wrong, are you afraid that one day I won't give you money, silly kid?"

  "Of course not, I can still afford the food you eat, I've calculated it, you spend 180 yuan a month here, and I make an extra 200 yuan by eating at my boss's place, so I'm 20 yuan ahead."

  "How was it? You're finally out!!!", The girl didn't say another word, her face full of happiness, but the person in front of her had no idea.

  You can tell from talking to her that she's not a girl who locks herself in the house, it's as if there's something hidden and she's intentionally avoiding it.

  Since entering the school, Qiu Tao has been working in 'Lan Xuan', which can save living expenses every month. However, he is not a person who can take care of both ends, and there is not much extra time to study. His grades are not good, and he can only ensure that he does not fail each semester, with an average score of just over 60 but not exceeding 70.

  Of course, he and she have always maintained that unclear, ambiguous and opaque relationship, occasionally showing concern, support and encouragement for each other is essential.

  "Dummy, how did you know what I wanted to eat today? I want to order two dishes, one is ramen and the other is double pepper covered rice. Send them to the pavilion in the backyard, hurry up! That's it, bye!"

  She could hear the girl's voice trembling with eagerness and delight, as if she couldn't wait.

  Qiu Tao doesn't mind those words "fool, silly boy, idiot" because he got used to them from the first sentence between them, and after a long time, he even felt accustomed to it.

  Just hearing "Double Pepper Covered Rice" made him swallow a mouthful of saliva, because that was his favorite dish. In short, those two dishes gave him a very warm feeling, and the pavilion was also where he often went to recite vocabulary.