Running away from the Love-Brain

Droopy-Eared Rabbit

Q: Why are you making such a grand appearance? Because of Cui Muhuo?

A: It's not grand; this is just my usual routine when going out. Really, I mean it!

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Chi Buyu's pupils were darker and shinier than those of an average adult. Generally, she took pride in her eyes, believing that no matter how beautiful natural eyes might be, hers were the prettiest, and she never wore colored contact lenses.

But today, she wore light brown contacts that made her eyes appear even more radiant, probably matching her entire outfit.

Chi Buyu often fussed with her hair, trying different styles: ponytails, buns, double buns, updos, braided pigtails, half-up high ponytails... Despite all this, her hair always looked healthy, smooth, and shiny.

Today, she opted for double ponytails, with her bangs parted slightly in the middle, softly draping over her full forehead. The ends of her hair curled into gentle waves, and two silky, light yellow ribbons were tied behind her ears, resembling a bow, though not exactly. Overall, it looked quite intricate, reminiscent of a droopy-eared rabbit.

Chi Buyu rarely went out without makeup. In high school, while Cui Xijin often went barefaced with black-rimmed glasses, Chi Buyu would apply sparkly lipstick, her lips resembling freshly eaten ripe loquats. Even in university, while others rushed into class with messy hair and bags of steamed buns at the last moment, Chi Buyu would wake up an hour early to wash her face and hair, willing to skip breakfast and be ten minutes late just to have a full face of makeup, chin held high as she made her grand entrance. Of course, she raised her chin not out of disdain for others but simply because she was too tired; otherwise, the morning puffiness would give her a double chin.

Today, it seemed she had worked on the slightly drooping lines of her eyes, extending her brown eyeliner upwards, elongating the shape of her eyes. With well-defined eyelashes, when she looked up, it was as if a diluted jelly-like substance were flowing from them.

Chi Buyu insisted on every detail of her outfit being just right, wanting each element to stand out. So, that year, during military training, she insisted on wearing a pair of difficult-to-wear apple green Converse sneakers under her uniform. Today, she wore a low-saturation grayish-white wool suit jacket and wrapped a fluffy mousse-pink scarf around her neck.

"I hope I'm not late?"

Chi Buyu glanced at Cui Xijin, then awkwardly lowered her head, smoothing her slightly wavy bangs and tugging at her outfit, ignoring Chen Wenran's unrelated comment.

Cui Xijin slowly shifted her gaze away. She picked up her scissors and moved to another dead leaf, snipping it with a crisp "snap" as she said, "Nope."

Her focus remained on the pygmy date palm.

Calmly, she listened to Chi Buyu say, "Oh, good!" and Chen Wenran cheerfully welcoming Chi Buyu inside.

She heard the soft footsteps as Ran Yan asked Chi Buyu how her New Year was and if she had settled in at home.

She heard Chi Buyu gasp as she took the water cup from Chen Wenran and exclaimed, "This coffee cup is so cute! It even has Loopy on it!"

"I knew you'd think it was adorable," Chen Wenran replied.

Cui Xijin's movements paused.

She casually glanced over, seeing the three of them gathered around the wooden bar in the living room—one Lingna Belle, one Starry Disney, and one... droopy-eared rabbit.