Chapter 111

"Is this really my wife? I'm so happy, so happy...?" Seeing Xia Yan's blissful expression, the girl warily slapped away Xia Yan outstretched hand that was trying to touch her. "What are you doing? What are you doing? I swear I only came to meet Xia Yan once! My good buddy Xia Yan was so much better... This guy is just a handsome pervert!" "What do you want?" the girl questioned, realizing she had nowhere to retreat and was about to be forced into the nearby bushes. "Uh, I've been found out..." Xia Yan pitifully rubbed his reddened hand, sniffling with an unusually aggrieved tone, as if he was about to cry, "Then what should I call you...?" "Name... nickname... anything is fine..." Hua Xin looked at Xia Yan's aggrieved appearance, a little worried that she might have hit him too hard... "Um... does it hurt?" "It hurts?" Xia Yan looked at Hua Xin with teary eyes, pointing to the back of his hand, where a large, conspicuous red mark appeared on his fair skin. Did he really use that much force? When did she become so strong? The girl hesitated slightly, then gently reached out and touched Xia Yan's hand. "My wife is so good, it doesn't hurt at all anymore." Xia Yan smiled beautifully, his eyes narrowed, and took Hua Xin's hand in return, his tone carrying a hint of triumphant joy. "?" No... you're taking advantage of my sympathy, aren't you? Why are you holding my hand? I'm your brother! (Heartbroken). Let go of me! Break free. Clench. Pull away. Clench again. Hua Xin stopped, speechless, clutching the bouquet and looking at Xia Yan with disdain. Her skirt, above her knees, swayed slightly from the moment she moved to her stop. Even on a weekday, the bustling streets were always filled with travelers and tourists, but Xia Yan, having already subtly squeezed the girl into the corner of the road, had achieved his goal. That was... Xia Yan's eyes instantly bulged with veins, his gaze pinpointing the girl's slightly moving skirt with the precision of someone playing an FPS game, almost as if he were about to fire a shot. Damn it... the movement was too small... He regretfully looked away. "What are you looking at?" Hua Xin fiercely dug her fingernails into Xia Yan's fingers, forcing him to release her grip. Without any resistance, she glared at him like a puffed-up kitten, one hand clutching the bouquet, the other gripping her skirt, her face flushed with anger. "I'm not going shopping with you anymore! I'm going home! Goodbye!" "You perverted parasite, you shrimp-headed man?!" She said firmly, turning away without even looking at Xia Yan. I'm going to be seen under my skirt... by Xia Yan like this? He held my hand... his gaze never left my legs... and now he wants to peek under my skirt?! Hua Xin can tolerate this, but Hua Xin can't?! "I'll treat you to crab roe noodles." The temptation of the cat treat in front of her was undeniable. The girl who had turned away angrily stopped, her earlier questioning and anger vanishing. Crab roe noodles?... Sounds delicious... Uh... We're buddies, he's wearing safety shorts, so being a shrimp-headed guy is fine, right? He's already held my hand, so treating him to a meal isn't too much to ask, is it? I'll treat Xia Yan to dinner later... If he leaves now, my plans will be ruined... After all, I'm used to Xia Yan's shrimp-headed behavior... If he really leaves, won't my courage and determination to make the effort be gone? I can't leave! Just a little longer! "Ahem... I forgive you." The girl walked to Xia Yan's side with a normal expression, still tightly holding the bouquet in her arms. However, she stole a glance at Xia Yan's hand, which she had pinched with her fingernails, and a hint of apology flashed in her eyes. It must hurt a lot. Xia Yan couldn't help but smile. He wasn't angry at Hua Xin's actions at all. Instead, he happily tugged at Hua Xin's sleeve: "Wife, wife, you're so [magnanimous]! Let's go eat crab roe noodles together~" "Gu Gu (Gu Gu) wife!" "Hmm..." Hua Xin nodded. Although she wanted to complain and refute, she didn't correct Xia Yan's way of addressing her. It sounded like the call of some kind of bird... But I'm a cat... Oh well... I'll let him be today... After all, they probably won't see each other again. Today was the first time, but also the last. After completing the plan, Hua Xin, who wore a mask and hood, would become good friends with Xia Yan again and live a peaceful life from then on. "Wife, wife, where do you want to go next..." Xia Yan was about to continue happily, but then his voice stopped abruptly. His hand, which had been burning and slightly painful just moments before, was now enveloped by a cool, soft touch, though not the previous "interlocking fingers." This was the first time the girl had taken his hand willingly. It was so soft, so cool. So cool that he couldn't even feel the scratches on his nails. So cool that he wanted to hold her hand forever and ever, to warm it up. So cool that he didn't want to maintain his current playful and cheerful demeanor. Actually, Hua Xin's reaction was quite normal. They had only just met, and Online Relationship was different from real life... In short, these were all insignificant things... Whether it was the way they addressed each other or whether they held hands, she had taken his hand. Xia Yan was so happy, so very happy. But at the same time, Xia Yan felt so much heartache, so very heartache. How could he not see the joy in Hua Xin's eyes when she received the roses, and the same fear and inferiority complex she showed in the photos? The moment he saw the girl, he wanted to meet her gaze. She was beautiful, so beautiful that he spotted her in the crowd at the subway exit. Xia Yan didn't know what to call this feeling—love? Infatuation? Sexual impulse? He didn't care about any of that. Xia Yan held the girl's hand tightly, trying to dispel the chill in Hua Xin grasp with his own warmth. The faint fragrance emanating from the girl beside him was like roses, and he wanted to linger a little longer. Neither Xia Yan nor Hua Xin spoke. The girl seemed conflicted and ashamed of her sudden action, yet she didn't let go for some reason. Her heart pounded faster and faster. The boy seemed to fall silent because the person he admired had made an unexpected move—joyful, yet heartbroken. His steps gradually slowed. Xia Yan suddenly released her hand; the separation of the cool and warm touch startled them both. But then their fingers intertwined. This time, it was Xia Yan who initiated it. Hua Xin's small hands stiffened slightly, but she didn't refuse. She merely flickered her eyes and pursed her lips, her gaze falling on the vibrant pink roses. They were well-cared for, their blooms more abundant than anything she'd ever seen in videos. The girl gently bent her outstretched fingers and placed them on Xia Yan's hand. Just this once, right? Hua Xin told herself, but for some reason, she also wanted to hold his hand tightly. She must be missing that person, missing the person who first held her little hand as they walked home from the restaurant. Absolutely, absolutely... she didn't want to be held by such a warm hand. Hua Xin thought to herself...