My Girlfriend Is Very Stingy (Please see the author's note, thank you.)

Looking at Tang Manman's shy and flustered demeanor, Lin Yu appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly, he was utterly stunned.

Her behavior was a hundred percent off—completely unlike her usual self!

Why did it feel like what she was holding wasn’t just medicine from the pharmacy, but an unspoken love letter instead?

Lin Yu glanced at Tang Manman’s slightly flushed cheeks, then at the medicine clutched in her delicate hand, before looking back at her face—now even redder than before.

Her skin was already so fair it seemed almost unreal, and the slightest hint of emotion would paint her porcelain complexion in broad strokes of pink.

Now, that pink hue was deepening into a full-blown crimson, accentuated by her delicate features and the pure, untainted innocence radiating from her. For a moment, Lin Yu found himself staring, mesmerized.

A gentle breeze brushed past them, carrying the fleeting seconds along with it.

Under Lin Yu’s unwavering gaze, Tang Manman’s face grew hotter and hotter, until even the hand holding the medicine bag began to tremble.

Just as she felt her cheeks might combust from the heat, Lin Yu finally snapped out of his daze and spoke lightly:

"Tang Manman."

"You…"

"Don’t tell me you like me?"

At the question, Tang Manman’s peach-blossom eyes widened in shock. Her darting gaze finally stilled, locking onto Lin Yu’s face, her clear, dark pupils dilating with panic.

"N-no! Of course not!"

"Not at all!"

"I—I just really appreciate your help and wanted to repay you."

"I don’t like you."

"Definitely not."

She shook her head rapidly, her words stumbling over each other in her haste to deny it.

Watching Tang Manman’s face turn so red it looked almost feverish, Lin Yu suddenly came to his senses.

Holy crap!

What the hell did I just blurt out?!

"Haha, good, good. That’s a relief."

Lin Yu scratched his head, forcing a laugh to mask his awkwardness.

A few dry chuckles later, the air between them thickened with an unbearable tension—so awkward it made him want to bang his head against a wall.

After a long silence, it was Tang Manman who finally raised her hand again, offering the medicine to Lin Yu in a small voice:

"Please take it. You’re still not fully recovered."

"No need."

Lin Yu gave another strained laugh and shook his head.

By now, he had completely snapped out of whatever trance had come over him earlier. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself.

He knew he couldn’t let things continue like this.

Then, an idea flashed through his mind, and before he could think better of it, he blurted out:

"Take this stuff back and return it."

"I can buy my own medicine."

"And from now on, try to keep your distance from me. You’re too pretty—if my girlfriend saw us together, she’d get jealous."

The nervousness and shyness on Tang Manman’s face shattered like a fragile stained-glass window, revealing pure shock beneath.

She stared at Lin Yu blankly, as though struggling to process his words.

"Don’t dwell on the times I helped you. You’ve done me a huge favor too, right?"

"Let’s just call it even."

Lin Yu smiled.

"Next time we meet, let’s pretend we don’t know each other."

"My girlfriend’s the jealous type."

"I don’t want to upset her."