Lin Jingchen did not let go of Bai Chen's hand until they reached Longquan Town.
Bai Chen felt a little awkward at first, but soon accepted it calmly.
Perhaps Lin Jingchen was only holding his hand because he was afraid Bai Chen would get lost in the crowd.
Although that explanation was a little far-fetched, it was still the best one. For now, Bai Chen could think of no other reason, nor did he dare to.
The masked ball was packed with people.
The crowd pressed in around them, and before they knew it, Bai Chen and Lin Jingchen had been swept into its midst. Getting out would not be easy.
They were still holding hands, but several people had squeezed between them, jostling them apart.
With everyone pushing and shoving, Lin Jingchen struggled to keep his grip on Bai Chen's hand. Bai Chen's slender fingers slowly slipped out of his palm.
An inexplicable panic rose in Lin Jingchen, and he tried desperately to hold on.
"Bai Chen-" he called anxiously.
Bai Chen heard his voice from the other side and looked over.
"Bai Chen, give me your hand," Lin Jingchen called to him, a little nervous.
When Bai Chen reached out, Lin Jingchen took his hand again, and his unsettled heart slowly calmed.
Holding Bai Chen's hand, Lin Jingchen slowly moved against the flow of the crowd.
His steps were slow and difficult, yet unusually determined.
It seemed he really had fallen for Bai Chen. He did not know when those feelings had planted a seed in his heart and begun to sprout, but he knew he could no longer uproot them.
It would hurt, and he could not bear to let them go.
Those feelings had arrived silently, catching him completely off guard.
He had always hated surprises,