Ji Niu'er

At that, Xiao Bei did not answer directly. Instead, he asked Ji Qinglan a question.

"Then Qinglan, do you have a boyfriend?"

When Ji Qinglan saw Xiao Bei turn the question back on her, her face reddened slightly. Maybe it was from the spicy hotpot, or maybe it was the shyness in her heart.

"I... I don't!"

After saying that, Ji Qinglan lowered her head and tugged at the hem of her clothes with both hands.

No matter what kind of personality a girl had, during that stage between not yet lovers and being lovers—

she would show her softer, more feminine side. She would get nervous and shy.

Xiao Bei smiled slightly and looked at Ji Qinglan. "I don't either. I'm a completely innocent guy, you know~"

Hearing that, Ji Qinglan raised her head, and there seemed to be something resolute in her eyes.

"Then you..."

"Watch out!"

They were standing at an intersection, and because they had been talking, neither of them noticed the vehicles nearby.

Just as Ji Qinglan was about to say something, an electric delivery bike came speeding toward them.

Xiao Bei reacted quickly. He grabbed Ji Qinglan and yanked her backward!

Ji Qinglan fell straight into Xiao Bei's arms. The world spun around her, yet Xiao Bei's outline before her eyes was incomparably clear!

After the delivery rider's electric bike passed by—

Ji Qinglan was still lying in Xiao Bei's arms. It felt as though the air had frozen. The road remained bustling with traffic, but in Ji Qinglan's eyes, there was only Xiao Bei's face.

Feeling the warmth of Xiao Bei's chest, Ji Qinglan's mind went completely blank.

Looking at the dazed Ji Qinglan in his arms, Xiao Bei smiled. "How long are you planning to lie there?"

"Ah, oh, right. Th-thank you for just now!"

Ji Qinglan was extremely shy inside. She rarely lost her composure around people her age, but during the time she had spent with Xiao Bei today, she had embarrassed herself more than once or twice—especially since Xiao Bei was so handsome!

"It's nothing. Watch where you're going from now on. I won't be by your side every moment."

Xiao Bei said it lightly.

"Oh, got it!"

Ji Qinglan replied a little awkwardly. She only felt embarrassed now. If Xiao Bei had not been there, she really would have made a fool of herself!

The image of Xiao Bei grabbing her and pulling her into his arms was still replaying in her mind. Before she knew it, Ji Qinglan had drifted off again.

Just then, the traffic light turned green.

Xiao Bei took a step forward, then saw Ji Qinglan still standing where she was. He shook his head speechlessly and directly took her hand.

"What are you thinking about? I just told you, and you're spacing out again?"

"Ah, no, it's just..."

Just as Ji Qinglan was about to say something, she realized that Xiao Bei was holding her hand, and she immediately became shy again.

She instinctively tried to pull away, but would Xiao Bei give up an opportunity like this?

Obviously not. When pursuing a girl, you generally had to be a little bolder. Don't be all timid and hesitant, because only through a bit of physical contact could you tell whether she had feelings for you.

If she rejected you strongly, then brothers, go home and find your moms. Don't linger. But if she did not react too strongly, congratulations—you had a chance. At the very least, she did not dislike you, and that was a very good sign!

Ji Qinglan was exactly like that right now. She instinctively struggled a little, then let Xiao Bei keep holding her hand.

"Hmph! Big Bad Guy!"

"Qinglan, you can't falsely accuse a good person. I just saved you. What's this? Is this how you treat your lifesaver?" Xiao Bei held Ji Qinglan's hand as they crossed the street.

"That's a different matter. What are you doing now?"

Ji Qinglan looked at Xiao Bei holding her hand and spoke stubbornly. Actually, being held by Xiao Bei made her feel quite safe, but as a girl, she had to maintain her reserve!

Faced with Ji Qinglan's questioning, Xiao Bei shamelessly said, "I'm afraid something might happen to you again. We're crossing the street right now!"

Fine. Ji Qinglan suddenly had no way to refute him. She felt completely at Xiao Bei's mercy. Looking at their clasped hands, she lowered her head, and the corners of her lips curved upward slightly!

Just like that, Xiao Bei naturally held Ji Qinglan's hand as they crossed the street, feeling utterly delighted inside. Seriously, a goddess's hand really did feel amazing—not just anyone got to hold it.

The entrance to the park was right across the street. After they crossed, Ji Qinglan thought Xiao Bei would let go, but as if he had forgotten, he kept holding her hand and led her straight into the park!

"Um, Xiao Bei, shouldn't you let go now?"

Ji Qinglan spoke very softly. Xiao Bei smiled faintly and asked, "Do you really want me to let go?"

Ji Qinglan said, "You... tell me, how many girls have you led astray?"

Actually, Ji Qinglan did not want to let go either. She wanted to just let Xiao Bei keep holding her hand, but her words still had to stay tough as she questioned him.

Xiao Bei said, "If I said this was my first time holding a girl's hand, would you believe me?"

Xiao Bei stared into Ji Qinglan's eyes and spoke each word clearly.

Ji Qinglan huffed proudly. "Who knows whether you're telling the truth or lying? You're so practiced! And you're the Campus Heartthrob—there must be lots of girls who like you!"

Xiao Bei: "I'm telling the truth. Think about yourself."

Ji Qinglan: "Me?"

Xiao Bei: "Yeah. As the school goddess, people probably think you never lack boyfriends, right? But what about in reality?"

Ji Qinglan: "Don't talk nonsense. I... I don't have a boyfriend!"

Xiao Bei: "See? I was right. I'm just like you!"

Hearing that, Ji Qinglan felt it did make sense, yet something also seemed off. Guys and girls had different personalities, didn't they? She wanted to argue, but in the end, the words never left her mouth.

In the end, she chose to believe Xiao Bei.

Before long, the two arrived at the park, where there were indeed quite a few couples.

Just as the two fell silent, Xiao Bei spotted someone selling glowing headbands. He immediately pulled Ji Qinglan over.

Ji Qinglan simply let Xiao Bei hold her hand, lowering her head as she followed him to the glowing headband stall.

Xiao Bei picked up a glowing headband and placed it on Ji Qinglan's head.

Ji Qinglan: "What are you doing?"

Xiao Bei: "Don't talk. Don't move. Let me look!"

As he spoke, Xiao Bei released Ji Qinglan's hand and took a step back. Not bad—she looked kind of cute.

Seeing the way Xiao Bei looked at her, Ji Qinglan found it funny inside, but she still cooperatively let him look.

Returning to Ji Qinglan's side, Xiao Bei said with a smile, "Ji Niu'er, you're really beautiful. Really cute, too!"

Ji Qinglan was caught completely off guard and burst out laughing. Normally, when Xiao Bei praised her, she should have felt happy, maybe a little shy. And in this beautiful park, it should have been a rather romantic compliment.

But the nickname Xiao Bei had just used really made Ji Qinglan unable to hold it in. It was the first time anyone had called her Ji Niu'er!