24 Path without retribution

Zhao Lin continued teaching Feng Qiao, oblivious to the worried his action inflicted to the other members.

He didn't think that there's anything wrong with the way he acts towards Feng Qiao, it was all natural.

He didn't know why but he really enjoyed this cat's company and he felt comfortable around him. It may be because of this cat is so gullible and innocent that he didn't felt the need to put his guard up around him.

"Feng Qiao..." He muttered subconsciously.

"yes?" Feng Qiao was trying to practice the way he walks when he heard Zhao Lin call him.

".... Let's go eat lunch." To brush off the fact that he muttered Feng Qiao's name subconsciously, he brought up the lunch deal between them.

"About that... I may not be able to have lunch.... with you..." Feng Qiao said while looking down, his voice sounding like a whisper at the end.

"What? Why?"

Feng Qiao clasped his hand tightly behind him before answering: "My mother always makes my lunch so I don't eat at the cafeteria... I don't want to waste my mother's effort to accompany you to eat..."

"It's not like it has to be you accompanying me, I could accompany you instead." Zhao Lin said straightforwardly.

"B-but I eat lunch at the former fashion dept building... It is dirty there, unfit for someone like you."

"I don't mind." Zhao Lin said as he took out his phone to order food from ***.

"Done, let's just wait for it and we would eat lunch." Zhao Lin said as he smiled at Feng Qiao who seems to be in a daze.

"You would really eat with me?" Feng Qiao asked.

"Of course, I told you didn't I? I'll make you used to me."

Hearing this, Feng Qiao finally felt relieved, he really wanted to eat lunch with Zhao Lin but he was worried that Zhao Lin wouldn't be willing to eat lunch with him at a place like that.

Zhao Lin is really kind, not only he taught me personally, he was even willing to accompany me to a place he's not used to.

Thinking like this, an enchanting smile blossomed upon his pinkish lips.

Zhao Lin was momentarily stunned seeing him smile like that. All this time, whenever Feng Qiao is with him, though he always smiles, it always seemed forced and full of nervousness, that's why he was surprised to see him smile from the bottom of his heart, devoid of any worries, only happiness.

After a while, Zhao Lin's order came and they got up to leave.

"Pres! Where are you going with Junior Feng?" Wang Shu asked when he saw the two leaving on their own.

"Lunch" Zhao Lin replied briefly.

"You're not eating with us?"

"Hmm, I'll be eating with Feng Qiao from now on. Don't wait for me." Zhao Lin answered as he casually put his hand in Feng Qiao's head, savoring that addicting softness with a faint sweet smell emanating from it.

Eh? Eating with junior Feng?

The members felt like a bolt shot through them again upon hearing that, and seeing how their pres touches and looks at junior Feng, it looks like their pres is already going down that path without any retribution...

And it looks like he doesn't even realize it...

"It's alright pres kekeke, go on and eat with Junior Feng, don't worry about us." Xiao Yu sweetly smiled while she was blocking Wang Shu's mouth from blabbering nonsense again.

Zhao Lin nodded and left without a word with Feng Qiao.

Both of them went straight to the rooftop where they met for the very first time.

Upon seeing the familiar surroundings, Zhao Lin couldn't help but reminisce the first time he saw Feng Qiao. Back then, this cat was very aloof and guarded, immediately running away upon seeing him. Maybe it was because he was hurt by others before which made him unable to communicate properly, resulting in him running away or stuttering in anxiousness.

If you look at the Feng Qiao from before and the Feng Qiao who's beside him. You could see the difference. He's not aloof and guarded as he was before, instead, he was more open and relax. He doesn't even stutter when talking to them anymore.

Zhao Lin knew that Feng Qiao was still in the process of healing himself up completely, if not, why would he still eat lunch in this isolated environment?

He could guess that Feng Qiao probably still can't deal with other people aside from the team. Being alone for years without any friends made him used to being alone, resulting in him lacking the appropriate social 'skills' needed to connect with other people.

Nevertheless, this would be only, for now, this is why the team is here, to help him to redeem himself and gain the confidence he lost.

"Senior?"

Zhao Lin snapped out of his thoughts upon hearing Feng Qiao calling him.

"Let's eat there, that's where I always sit hehe," Feng Qiao told him with a smile.

"Hmm, yeah, let's go eat." Zhao Lin nodded as he smiled faintly.