239 - I Don’t Want to Be Turned Into the Female Protagonist by the System

# Chapter 239: The Studious Wang Zijin Su Qi agreed to the request from the young shop assistant but ultimately didn't let her pay for their meal. After a quick estimate, she figured the items that Zijin ordered amounted to roughly 200 yuan. Su Qi, although primarily a freelance concept artist, had gained some insights through part-time jobs with Wang Dongxu and Wu Wei, discovering that such service staff typically earn no more than 150 yuan a day. Would this meal end up costing the young assistant a whole day's effort? Su Qi didn't think her photo was that significant, nor was she that heartless. Moreover, the shop assistant had genuinely adhered to ethical standards. She even showed the photo she took to Su Qi and Wang Zijin, which captured the two of them as they were finding their seats. In a restaurant full of scenic views, the photo stood out for its beauty, especially with the two lovely girls holding hands and smiling at each other. Wang Zijin thought that if they were dressed in wedding gowns, it could very well be a wedding photo. Talking about weddings, as she glanced at Su Qi, who was examining the photo, Wang Zijin mused over how nice it would look if they were actually married. The shop assistant, thrilled to hear she could keep the picture, promptly shared it with Wang Zijin before retreating to the kitchen to await the dishes. Once the shop assistant left, Su Qi noticed her dear Zijin was busy and engrossed with her phone. Curious, she peeked over, finding her sweetheart using Photoshop on the newly taken photo, not for odd edits like pulling waists in or slimming them down. Wang Zijin merely changed their outfits to wedding dresses with a single plugin, adding a caption, "Happy Wedding." She then posted the photo to her social media, all under Su Qi's watchful gaze. Shortly after, the phone pinged with message notifications. Wang Zijin handed the phone to Su Qi, pointing excitedly at a comment, saying, "Look, my mom approves too. Should we meet the parents one day?" Hearing this, Su Qi wasn't sure whether to feel nervous or relieved. After all, they were both girls. Wouldn't announcing their intent to marry in front of her mom end badly? And if they got married, what about An Ning? For the first time, Su Qi found herself grappling with the dilemma of possibly having two lovers. Meanwhile, at their university, those acquainted with Wang Zijin also caught a glimpse of the president's social media post. Being both a campus belle and a capable student council president, Wang Zijin already garnered significant attention. The dining photo with Su Qi quickly spread among the student body. Many recalled the previous shopping trip with campus belles Wang Zijin and An Ning, where Su Qi was also present. Back then, Su Qi hadn’t yet admitted she was a girl, which drew a lot of ire from the FFF brigade. However, after the courthouse incident, even the security guards at the school gate knew Su Qi was female. It marked the first time since the courthouse incident that Brother Qi had reappeared in public view, and the news spread rapidly across the university. On the forums, people speculated about the restaurant location, eager to catch a glimpse of the trending figure, Brother Qi. With the internet’s immense power, it didn’t take long for someone to pinpoint the restaurant based on the unedited background. People began to stir with excitement. As people started making their way over, Su Qi and her beloved Zijin had already begun savoring their meals. Every dish glistened under the light, lifting Su Qi's spirits immeasurably. Reflecting on how rough her previous lifestyle was compared to now, made her appreciate her current life with Zijin even more. Wang Zijin ordered two main dishes: a seafood risotto, which had caught Su Qi's attention, and a classic Bolognese for herself, along with two side dishes—Hainanese coconut shrimp and a trio platter. The food, presented on unique plates, looked stunning together. Particularly enchanting was the Bolognese in front of Wang Zijin, its golden hue shimmering under a bright, flavorful sauce. It was placed on a pure white plate adorned with small floral motifs, garnished with a halved cherry tomato and two slices of lemon, undeniably a feast for the eyes. It looked like something out of a gourmet show and suddenly made the price seem worth it to Su Qi. At that moment, the shop assistant brought over two cups of coffee that Wang Zijin hadn’t ordered. Winking at Su Qi, she put her finger to her lips and said, “Your meal is all set. Please enjoy,” before bowing out. Su Qi stared at the coffee on the table, a bit stunned. Was this a fan's tangible gift to her? Taking a small sip, the rich, sweet flavor easily surpassed the packet coffee she had in high school. Wang Zijin watched her beloved, indulging contentedly. If they weren’t in a cafe, she’d want to taste the sweetness from her lips to see if it was truly that delightful. The Hainanese coconut shrimp was crispy and went perfectly with the dipping sauce—each bite was immensely satisfying. After having two shrimps, Su Qi watched as her Zijin offered her fork with some Bolognese. "Here, dear, ah—" Two girls in school uniforms entered the restaurant at that moment. Su Qi felt a bit embarrassed eating from her partner’s fork in public. For a homebody like her, it was a challenge. But seeing Zijin’s expectant gaze, Su Qi obliged and took a mouthful. The burst of sweet flavors made Su Qi’s eyes widen with delight. She hadn’t expected it to taste so good. Although her seafood risotto was delicious, the sweetness catered to her palate better. After finishing the Bolognese, Su Qi noticed Zijin staring at her seafood risotto with a clear longing. Though she felt a bit shy, Su Qi scooped a generous spoonful of the risotto, deliberately placing a large shrimp on top, ready to offer it to her Zijin. As she lifted her gaze to pass the spoon, she froze at the sight of her beloved. Zijin gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, accentuating her neckline's elegance. Her soft almond-shaped eyes sparkled mischievously, and she slightly parted her pink lips, awaiting Su Qi's offering. For some reason, Su Qi felt this moment seemed straight out of one of her illustrations. It even had an alluring undertone. Indeed, just as Su Qi had imagined, her beloved Zijin had studied all of her artworks and rehearsed dutifully at home to execute the perfect moment. Seeing the spoon frozen midway, Wang Zijin chuckled with satisfaction. But this was just the beginning—there was more yet to unveil. Although the spoon had paused, overcoming obstacles was simple. Wang Zijin deftly leaned forward and captured the entire spoonful in one move. Her eyes closed, her head tilted slightly in an expression of pure bliss. Once Su Qi withdrew the spoon, it emerged spotless, gleaming like new. Involuntarily, Su Qi glanced at Zijin, who lowered her head and opened her mouth, signaling she’d finished every bite. Her pristine teeth and agile, pink tongue were on display. Su Qi felt a sense of deja vu. That's when she heard her sweet Zijin murmur, ”Dear, I’ve finished it all. But oh, you’re quite the treat!” As Zijin’s words sank in, Su Qi froze momentarily at the table. Watching her partner gradually come back to her senses, cheeks red as tomatoes, Wang Zijin’s heart swelled with accomplishment. Tailoring her studies to fit her partner worked wonderfully, didn’t it? Nearby, the two newcomers watched with rapt attention, both slightly flushed. To a couple of high school students, this dining scene was thrillingly intense.