I Want Ice Cream!

Su Lexuan, who had been overjoyed moments before, flushed crimson at the ambiguous misunderstanding.

She cleared her throat, lowering her head to take small bites of the red-oiled duck, secretly observing Shen Lang's reaction to the comment.

Shen Lang also coughed awkwardly, unsure what to say. Following the System's prompt, he simply picked up more duck for Su Lexuan.

Su Lexuan nodded repeatedly, thanking him as she continuously stuffed her mouth with the duck he served her, her fair cheeks puffed full.

The two, who had been chatting and laughing, inexplicably fell silent. The sounds of other guests around them became distinctly audible.

Yet, this atmosphere wasn't awkward; instead, it held an unspoken, intimate charm.

To put it plainly, the woman knew the man had ulterior motives, and the man knew the woman was feigning modesty.

In such a situation, letting things develop naturally towards a successful outcome was ideal.

But the waitress's comment directly broke through that barrier between them. How could it not be awkward?

After dinner, Shen Lang paid the bill and took Su Lexuan to a nearby lantern festival.

As they left the restaurant, the atmosphere between them inexplicably returned to normal, and they began chatting and socializing animatedly again.

Arriving at the ancient street, the lantern festival was just beginning, with dazzling lights everywhere.

Colorful lanterns hung on both sides of the ancient street, each emitting a unique glow, making it feel as if they had stepped into a dreamlike world.

The streets were packed with people, bustling with endless noise and vibrancy. The two weaved through the bustling crowd, chatting and laughing.

Every shop shimmered with colorful lights, and the characters on their signs swayed gracefully in the light, attracting the gaze of passersby.

Su Lexuan followed Shen Lang, joyfully looking at the shops on both sides of the street, occasionally stopping to gaze for a moment.

The streets were filled with the sound of drums and gongs, and performances like dragon and lion dances, acrobatics, and magic were ongoing.

Such a grand spectacle naturally attracted many streamers.

They carried their live-streaming equipment, shouting hoarsely into their phones, begging their "family" for support.

Tourists cheered loudly and applauded continuously, while children were especially excited, running around the ancient street, their laughter echoing.

Besides the performances, the ancient street's lantern festival also offered many traditional foods. Shen Lang even bought Su Lexuan a Sugar Painting of a rabbit, letting her eat it as they walked.

Su Lexuan loved the place; her smile hadn't faded since they arrived. Every now and then, she'd ask Shen Lang to hold the Sugar Painting so she could take a flurry of photos with her phone.

Ding! Su Lexuan's Favorability towards the host has increased by 6 points, currently 17 points. Please keep up the good work!

"Maybe this is what having a boyfriend feels like?"

Listening to the System's prompt, Shen Lang looked at the half-eaten rabbit Sugar Painting in his hand, then at Su Lexuan, who was excitedly snapping photos of the lion dance beside him. A contented smile spread across his face.

Just then, Su Lexuan was bumped by a child in the crowd, causing her to stumble, almost dropping her phone.

The mischievous child paid no mind, merely glancing curiously, making a face at Su Lexuan, and then hopping away.

"You scared me! My phone almost fell."

Su Lexuan pouted indignantly, watching the child run off.

1: Chase after the mischievous child, slap him, demand he apologize to Su Lexuan, or else tell his parents!
2: Warn Su Lexuan to stand further back when filming, so she doesn't disrupt the performance!
3: Hold Su Lexuan's hand, gently remind her that it's crowded here, and suggest going for a walk by the sea.

Handsome people have partners, ugly people also have partners, only timid people don't deserve partners.

Since encountering Su Lexuan, this saying had been firmly etched in Shen Lang's mind.

"It's... it's crowded here."

Without much thought, Shen Lang stepped forward and took Su Lexuan's soft, fair hand. His gaze drifted as he said, "Sh-shall we go for a walk by the sea? There's a place called Yusha Bay up ahead; it's quite fun."

Even with the System's help, Shen Lang was still very nervous about holding a girl's hand so openly in public.

He worried that his abrupt action might displease Su Lexuan.

We haven't even officially confirmed our relationship, and I'm already holding her hand? Will she think I'm too forward?

What if she says it's too fast, she's not ready, and then pulls away? Wouldn't that be incredibly awkward?

As Shen Lang's mind raced, Su Lexuan watched her hand being gently but firmly held by Shen Lang. She was also somewhat surprised, her previous liveliness immediately vanishing.

She shyly looked up at Shen Lang, her small face instantly flushing. She parted her lips as if to speak, hesitated for a moment, then finally responded in a voice no louder than a mosquito's hum: "Mhm..."

Upon receiving Su Lexuan's reply, Shen Lang's smile trembled with excitement: "Then, let's go."

Jianghai City is a coastal city.

The tourist attractions that locals proudly mention, besides some historical sites, are primarily the various beaches.

Yusha Bay is located in a relatively remote area and has a low reputation in Jianghai City's tourist guides.

The entire area consists only of a rather large conch sculpture; the rest is just endless stretches of sand and the vast sea.

Basically, only people living nearby come here to stroll in their free time; tourists from out of town hardly notice this unassuming little beach.

Shen Lang held Su Lexuan's hand as they walked along the cobblestone path.

Beside them was the boundless sea, and scattered passersby strolled along the beach.

The sea breeze was strong tonight, but they were both dressed warmly, so it didn't really matter.

Su Lexuan didn't say much on the way.

Occasionally, she'd glance up at Shen Lang, then blush and stare at her hand, which he was holding, lost in thought.

Su Lexuan was from an inland area and rarely had the chance to see the ocean.

In the past, she would have long since taken off her shoes at the beach, walked barefoot on the sand, and happily taken countless photos.

She was naturally that kind of lively, enthusiastic girl.

It was just a shame that her hand was now held by Shen Lang.

Experiencing this romantic sensation of skin-to-skin contact for the first time, Su Lexuan felt both a sudden bewilderment and an eager anticipation for romance.

Just then, the System's options popped up again.

[1: Smile teasingly and say, "Didn't you say you'd never seen the ocean before? Well, what do you think, want to go play on the beach?"]

[2: Put an arm around her waist and say longingly, "It's getting late. Let's get a room. I want some ice cream, and I'll take you back to school tomorrow!"]

[3: Ask caringly, "Why aren't you talking? Do you want to go back to school? Should I take you?"]