Held Hands

Held Hands

As she shook hands with Lin Qingyue, Gu Lianyin was still completely stunned.

She secretly pinched her own arm.

It hurt!

It was real!

I actually shook hands with Lin Qingyue. Oh my God!

She suddenly felt shy again. Usually so lively and energetic, she now acted all bashful, like a well-behaved girl.

"This is my deskmate, and also a good friend. We're more than just close."

Lin Yuan introduced her to Lin Qingyue.

After some casual chat, the car sent to pick up Lin Qingyue arrived. She invited Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin aboard to grab a late-night snack together.

"Lin Yuan, what exactly is going on? Lin Qingyue! How do you know her?!"

In the car, Gu Lianyin poked Lin Yuan.

She was a famous actress, popular all across the country, practically a household name—yet Lin Yuan knew her!

"We met by chance once," Lin Yuan said casually.

He couldn't exactly say that Lin Qingyue had been kidnapped and he had saved her.

That would damage Lin Qingyue's reputation. Besides, if he mentioned it often, people might think he was trying to imply something.

The car stopped outside a large restaurant. The group got out and entered a private room that had been arranged for them.

"Sigh, I'm leaving after tonight. I have other engagements. I don't know when I'll be able to come back to this city again."

Lin Qingyue sighed. Though she shone like a brilliant star under countless eyes, her life was not as wonderful as everyone imagined. She lived exhausted.

Lin Yuan could not think of anything comforting to say. He simply listened as she aired her grievances.

But as he listened, something felt off.

"What's the point of earning so much money? Ten million, a hundred million—I have everything I should have, but I'm still unhappy."

"Jewelry, accessories, luxury goods—I can get them with a flick of my finger. I own quite a few houses too, and they've appreciated a lot over the past few years. But there isn't a single thing I truly like."

"I'm not interested in any of that!"

That was some serious humblebragging.

Fortunately, the dishes arrived soon after, all personally prepared by the head chef. This meal had to cost at least five figures.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Gu Lianyin gathered her courage and asked Lin Qingyue if they could take a picture together.

Lin Qingyue readily agreed.

The two took a photo together. Then Lin Yuan joined them, and they took a picture of the two of them as well as one of all three together.

Gu Lianyin also successfully got Lin Qingyue's handwritten autograph and an album she had given her.

Gu Lianyin treated them like priceless treasures, her joy beyond words.

It was Lin Qingyue's autograph, something she had dreamed of getting.

She never thought that, in her lifetime, she would get to take a photo with her idol in person.

And she had even received an album personally given to her by Lin Qingyue.

She was so excited she was practically about to jump up and down.

"It's getting late. I should head back first."

Lin Qingyue said goodbye to them, then got into her car and waved farewell.

Lin Yuan silently watched the car drive away.

"Wow!"

The moment Lin Qingyue left, Gu Lianyin became like a wild horse let loose, bouncing and jumping around.

"Lin Yuan, not only did I go to Lin Qingyue's concert today, I met her in person! We took pictures together, and I even talked to her!"

She was as happy as an innocent child. She had never been this happy before.

She quickly sent the photo she had taken with Lin Qingyue to her best friend Ling Wanqing, sharing her joy.

Ling Wanqing did not reply. Instead, she called directly to ask what had happened, her voice full of shock.

"Wanqing, I took a photo with Lin Qingyue today, and I even got her autograph!"

"Ah! I don't know her. Lin Yuan does. We even had dinner together."

Gu Lianyin spoke excitedly, completely unaware of Ling Wanqing's envy, jealousy, and resentment on the other end.

"You called just to show off to me on purpose, didn't you?!" Ling Wanqing finally could not hold it in.

If she had known, she would have gone along too. She could have gotten a photo, and maybe even an autograph.

But there was no medicine for regret.

She was currently celebrating her grandfather's birthday.

A birthday celebration was one thing, but the conversation had somehow turned to her. All her relatives wanted to introduce her to boyfriends.

It was driving her crazy.

"Hahaha, aren't you mad?" Gu Lianyin wanted to keep showing off, but realized Ling Wanqing had hung up.

So she made a Moments post.

Soon, many people replied, all shocked, envious, and jealous.

Of course, Gu Lianyin had not forgotten that she owed all of this to Lin Yuan.

"Not bad. You've really been hiding things from me. You knew Lin Qingyue and didn't tell me, so I wasn't prepared and got all nervous."

Gu Lianyin put her hands on her hips and huffed.

Lin Yuan said it had nothing to do with him.

When he had given her the tickets earlier, he had already said that Lin Qingyue had personally sent them. Gu Lianyin simply had not believed him.

And just now, when he said they were going to see Lin Qingyue, she still did not believe him. Now it was somehow his fault?

"Hahaha, I'm just kidding~" Gu Lianyin giggled. "Thank you, Lin Yuan."

Lin Yuan looked at her and smiled faintly.

Gu Lianyin became embarrassed under his gaze. She turned her head away and said coyly, "What are you looking at me for? It's not like I'm pretty."

"I think you're very pretty. You're lively and cute, and you sing so well. Whoever becomes your boyfriend in the future will be so lucky."

Lin Yuan teased her, wanting to see how she would react.

Sure enough, the moment he said that, Gu Lianyin immediately blushed. She really was a girl who easily got shy and flushed.

"Peh, peh, peh! I'm only eighteen. I don't want a boyfriend yet!"

Lin Yuan only smiled without saying anything. Though Gu Lianyin said that, she had revealed her truest thoughts.

Big idiot. Super-dense straight guy. You're not proactive at all. Do you really expect me to take off my makeup, become pretty, and chase you myself?

What are you standing around for? Hurry up and take me home! Otherwise, how will you get a chance?

Lin Yuan held Gu Lianyin's little hand, trying not to laugh.

He did not care where they were going, how far it was, or where they would eventually end up.

As long as she was by his side, that was enough.

Gu Lianyin stared at Lin Yuan's back in astonishment, then lowered her gaze to look at the hand holding hers.

Then she smiled sweetly, utterly delighted.

Did this... count as a silent confession?

Whether it did or not, I'm willing!

She was willing to let him hold her hand like this, and willing to keep walking with him forever.

"The moon is beautiful tonight."

Lin Yuan looked at the bright moon hanging high in the sky.

"Mhm." Gu Lianyin softly responded.

The two walked for a long time. In the end, Lin Yuan still hailed a taxi and took Gu Lianyin home.

After getting out of the car, Gu Lianyin reluctantly waved goodbye to Lin Yuan. "See you the day after tomorrow, Lin Yuan."

"See you the day after tomorrow, cutie Lianyin." Lin Yuan waved from inside the taxi.

Only after Lin Yuan had left did Gu Lianyin withdraw her gaze, smiling beautifully.

Lin Yuan held my hand today. That's something only couples can do.

So... does that mean he likes me?

Gu Lianyin let her thoughts run wild.

When she had been pretending to be ugly, she had seemed ordinary at school. Her mindset had changed along with it, and she had completely started treating that ugly appearance as her bare face.

After experiencing her classmates' disdain when the teacher arranged seats, the mockery or indifference of so many boys at school, she could truly understand just how good Lin Yuan was.

She liked him. He knew.

He liked her. She knew.