Holding Hands to Cross the Street Safely

Chapter 125

Like?

These two words exploded in Ye Zhenzhen's mind like a sudden clap of thunder.

She liked Gu Ran?

This realization sent all the blood rushing to her head. Her heart pounded uncontrollably, thumping so loudly it made her eardrums ring.

How could that be?

How was that even possible!

He was just a younger brother to her!

But...

The tingling sensation on her neck last night, the crisp scent she caught when he pulled her into his arms, and those eyes that grew so deep they seemed to pull her right in...

Scene after scene replayed uncontrollably in her mind, every frame becoming incredibly clear.

So, her inexplicable fluster last night, her tossing and turning in bed, wasn't out of anger or embarrassment.

It was... her heart fluttering.

This discovery threw Ye Zhenzhen into complete disarray.

She froze in place, staring blankly at the young man who was still talking non-stop, her eyes losing their focus.

Gu Ran was enthusiastically talking about several store locations he had his eye on, when he suddenly noticed the atmosphere across from him wasn't right.

He stopped talking and looked at the girl who had suddenly stood up, looking completely dazed. His heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, what was wrong with this little princess now?

"Ye Zhenzhen?" he called out tentatively, his body subconsciously leaning back slightly, ready to receive his "older sister's loving discipline" at any moment.

Called out by him, Ye Zhenzhen suddenly snapped back to reality.

Meeting Gu Ran's inquiring and wary eyes, the heat in her cheeks rose again.

No!

She couldn't let him see it!

She was the older sister!

This was way too embarrassing!

The girl took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the stormy waves in her heart, trying to regain control of the situation.

She cleared her throat and spoke in a tone she thought was very serious, but was actually a bit shaky.

"Ahem! That... that plan you just mentioned, I think... I think it's necessary to... supervise it!"

Gu Ran: "???"

Supervise?

He looked at the girl in front of him, her back straight, pretending to be calm, yet the tips of her ears were so red they were almost bleeding. He almost laughed out loud.

What kind of play was this?

"Oh? You want to personally supervise, sister?" Gu Ran raised an eyebrow, leaning forward with his elbows on the dining table, moving closer with great interest.

"Then how do you think you should supervise, sister? A field inspection, or... close-contact guidance?"

He deliberately said the words "close-contact" very lightly, carrying an indescribable ambiguity.

Ye Zhenzhen's mind buzzed and went blank again.

Close... close-contact guidance?!

What on earth was inside this bastard's head!

She stiffened her neck, her eyes darting around frantically, just not daring to look at him.

"I... of course I have to go with you! What if you get scammed! I'm... I'm exercising my rights and obligations as an older sister!"

She said this with righteous indignation, but she lacked confidence, her voice trailing off at the end.

"Oh—"

Gu Ran dragged out the syllable, looking as if he suddenly understood. "So that's how it is. I thought you just couldn't bear to part with me and wanted to spend time together."

"Who... who can't bear to part with you! Stop flattering yourself!" Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Ye Zhenzhen instantly bristled, her voice rising an octave.

This reaction was too interesting.

The smile on Gu Ran's lips deepened.

Seeing her mixed with embarrassment and anger, yet unable to do anything about him, Gu Ran felt a surge of secret delight.

It seemed the "warm water" from last night had worked well. Today, the "frog" was already jumping into the pot on her own.

So he stopped teasing her and gave her an out.

"Alright, then I'll have to trouble her ladyship to lower herself and accompany her younger brother on a trip. Get ready, we'll head out in a bit."

With that, he stood up and walked leisurely back to his room, leaving Ye Zhenzhen with a dashing view of his back.

Watching him disappear behind the door, Ye Zhenzhen finally let out a sigh of relief, her whole body going soft as she slumped into her chair.

She raised her hands to cover her burning cheeks, her heart still beating rapidly.

It was over, it was all over.

She really seemed to have... fallen for this bastard.

...

Half an hour later, the two walked side by side on the tree-lined path of their residential complex.

Ye Zhenzhen deliberately kept half a step away from Gu Ran. She kept her head down, her eyes wandering, her hands nervously clutching the hem of her shirt, not saying a word.

Her mind was now filled with the two conflicting thoughts of "I like him" and "I'm his older sister" fighting each other, leaving her in a state of extreme contradiction and confusion.

Gu Ran turned his head and glanced at the girl beside him who was hiding like a timid quail, finding it amusing.

He slowed his pace to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with her, then seemingly unintentionally reached out and accurately grasped her small hand that was currently ravaging the hem of her shirt.

"!"

Ye Zhenzhen's body stiffened, and she tried to pull her hand back as if she had been electrocuted.

"Don't move." Gu Ran's voice was deep, carrying an unquestionable tone. "We're crossing the street, there are a lot of cars. It's safer to hold hands."

Ye Zhenzhen looked up.

Ahead was the main gate of the complex. Let alone cars, there wasn't even a single person in sight.

This excuse was way too lame!

She complained in her heart, but her hand stopped struggling, allowing his warm palm to wrap around hers.

This stupid younger brother had large hands, but his knuckles were distinct, like a hand model's.

The girl's heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed embarrassingly once again.

She secretly peeked at the young man beside her out of the corner of her eye.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on his sharply contoured side profile.

His long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and a faint smile hung on the corners of his lips.

Bah!

What a charmer!

Ye Zhenzhen scoffed inwardly, but she felt her own palm starting to heat up, the warmth spreading up her arm and all the way to the bottom of her heart.

It seemed... she wasn't so opposed to it after all.