Chapter 86
After making their choices, the two groups split up.
Qiu Chengye and Liu Woxing took a car to the pier, while Xie Mi and Shen Yanqing arrived at a lively alley in the heart of the city.
There seemed to be a school nearby—the alley bustled with students coming and going, as well as many young couples.
The alley had a strong “street food” vibe, with all kinds of eateries and boutique shops dazzling the eyes.
“Teachers, there are a lot of people here. You might need a bit of disguise.”
The PD handed them hats and sunglasses.
Xie Mi cooperatively put them on, then turned to see Shen Yanqing also ready.
He was dressed in a casual black hoodie, broad-shouldered and long-necked. The sunglasses didn’t hide his strikingly handsome face—instead, they only added a touch of arrogance.
“I don’t think this works.”
Xie Mi decisively pulled out her secret disguise weapon from her backpack. “Better wear these.”
Five minutes later, chaos erupted in the alley.
Pedestrians who had been leisurely strolling suddenly screamed and scattered—“Robbers!” “Terrorist attack!” “Run!”
At the alley entrance, Xie Mi, wearing a black facekini that revealed only her eyes and mouth, stroked her chin thoughtfully.
She turned and locked eyes with Shen Yanqing—also wearing a facekini.
“Hiss… that shouldn’t be right.”
[Oh, it should. Totally should. Old Xie, you look like you’re here to rob a bank.]
[Stop, even I got scared for a second.]
[Next time, just put pantyhose over your head. Way simpler.]
[Hahaha, if I saw two fools in facekinis on the street, I’d definitely stare.]
[Disguise (×) / Terrorist Attack (√)]
The PD quickly dragged them into the car to change back into sunglasses and hats, and only then did the outside world return to normal.
In the end, Shen Yanqing still made his entrance with the cool swagger of a runway model.
Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs—suddenly, the alley became a catwalk.
All around, astonished gazes followed him.
But after taking just two steps, Shen Yanqing sensed something was off. He turned back—
And saw Xie Mi clinging stealthily to a utility pole, peeking around like a thief. Then, with a sudden forward roll, she darted behind a trash can and peeked out again.
“…?”
Shen Yanqing couldn’t hold back his laughter, his eyes full of mirth. “Teacher Xie, who’s after you now?”
“Shh!”
Xie Mi raised a finger to her lips, tense. “Didn’t the PD just say? Lots of people here—if we get recognized and cause chaos, we’ll have to leave.”
There were too many food stalls she hadn’t checked out yet; she wasn’t leaving that easily.
Shen Yanqing humored her, crouching beside her and looking in the same direction. “But isn’t there a chance that what we’re doing draws even more attention?”
Sure enough, every passerby cast them a look.
After making eye contact with five strangers in a row, Xie Mi: “…”
Sorry, first time being a celebrity—not used to it.
“Actually, I have a simpler solution,” Shen Yanqing suddenly said.
Before Xie Mi could ask, he pulled her up by the hand.
Their palms pressed together—his black hoodie sleeve brushing against her slender, pale wrist.
“There are lots of young couples here.”
Shen Yanqing’s voice was smooth and magnetic, lazy in tone. “So if we pretend to be just another couple, we’ll blend right in.”
“Do we have to keep holding hands?”
“Of course.”
Xie Mi clicked her tongue, squinting at him with meaning. “You sly wolf, huh?”
Shen Yanqing only curved his lips into a smile, offering no denial.
[Ahhhhh where did this fresh, gorgeous campus couple come from? I’m in love!]
[I literally sat up from my deathbed for this. THIS is the romance content I signed up for!!]
[So natural, the sugar hits so smooth.]
[Old Shen finally manned up—this handholding is it!]
[Waiting for the fandom moms to crank out fan content~~]
From then on, the two of them strolled the alley like any normal student couple—sampling foods, browsing trinket shops, painting plaster dolls, and even taking photobooth pictures.
But looking at the horribly painted plaster doll and the photo where her eyes looked bewitched, Xie Mi started doubting life.
How could this grown man, Shen Yanqing, like such childish things?
While she was pondering, Shen Yanqing casually took the items, smiling at the corners of his lips.
“Teacher Xie probably doesn’t like these. I’ll keep them as souvenirs.”
“Take them, take them.”
Xie Mi waved it off. What she really wanted was the bubble tea shop’s stamp card.
“So where do we eat lunch?”
Though she’d been eating all morning, her bottomless stomach wasn’t about to skip lunch.
After passing countless BBQ and hotpot restaurants, she was overwhelmed, so she just let Shen Yanqing decide.
“Want to try something different?” Shen Yanqing asked with interest.
Keen to open a “blind box” meal, Xie Mi nodded immediately. “Sure, you decide.”
So he led her through the alley, across another street, until they arrived at—
Xinghua Elementary School.
Looking at the school gate that looked exactly like one from her Ultraman-vs-monster games, Xie Mi sighed.
Inspiration really does come from life.
But still…
“Are we really going to rob them?”
It was lunchtime, and kids were streaming out—some with bread, some with rice balls, some carrying bentos from their moms.
Xie Mi seriously considered whether robbing elementary students fit with her own lack of morals.
Then—her head got tapped lightly.
“What are you thinking.”
Shen Yanqing led her to the gate, greeted the guard grandpa, and they walked right in.
Xie Mi suddenly realized. “Ah, so we’re robbing classrooms.”
“You really…”
Exasperated by her wild imagination, Shen Yanqing hesitated a long time before finally just poking her forehead lightly.
“The cafeteria is where you eat.”
Xie Mi’s eyes lit up. “So…”
Shen Yanqing raised a brow.
“Of course, we’re robbing the cafeteria.”
[Hiss…]
[I almost thought Mr. Shen was normal for a second. My mistake.]
[Look at that continuity! First, facekinis causing panic in the alley, and now robbing elementary kids. Smooth storyline!]
[You two are basically terrorizing children now?]
[Rob my little brother! He’s in Grade 3 at Xinghua! He likes sitting by the window, third row on the left—rob him!!]
[LMAO sis confirmed.]
So the two adults sat at the tiny desks in the elementary school cafeteria. Xie Mi still fit in, but Shen Yanqing—with his long legs—looked like a giant.
The giant got food at the window, the giant carried a tray, the giant sat, the giant began eating.
Xie Mi couldn’t hold it in—covering her mouth, she burst out laughing.
The giant: “?”
