Luo Shuhe didn’t answer and instead walked straight out of the small park.
Seeing this, Gu Luo quickly picked up the grape taro balls and followed.
"Shuhe, slow down a bit, or your ankle won’t be able to handle it."
"How considerate of you."
The two walked side by side, but as they moved, Luo Shuhe naturally looped her arm through Gu Luo’s, as if it were programmed.
"Shuhe, let me make this clear—only today is allowed to be like this."
Gu Luo’s voice carried a hint of resignation.
Today was a special case. From now on, no matter what, he couldn’t let himself be "accidentally" entangled like this again.
Even if it really happened, he’d have to clarify all the terms upfront.
If something needed to be refused, he’d refuse it outright.
Protecting men’s safety is a shared responsibility.
Even if a little demon turns gentle, at her core, she’s still the same headache-inducing little demon.
Under Luo Shuhe’s lead, it didn’t take long for the two to reach their destination.
Sweet Belle—a lingerie store.
"......"
This...
Gu Luo stared through the glass at the array of intimate apparel in various styles and colors, falling into silence.
Ahead... lay hell.
After a long pause, his expression twisted with conflict before he finally spoke up hesitantly, "Shuhe, don’t tell me you want me to go in with you to buy... this?"
"Is it that hard to guess?"
Luo Shuhe replied nonchalantly, raising her hand as if to pat him again.
Gu Luo reacted swiftly, intercepting her wrist with a sigh. "Have some restraint in public, will you?"
"Oh~~~" Luo Shuhe drew out the word, her tone teasing. "So, you don’t want others to see, is that it?"
"Your phrasing is so weird..."
Gu Luo couldn’t find a retort right away and could only nod reluctantly.
He felt like he’d fallen into a trap Luo Shuhe had meticulously laid out—the more he struggled, the deeper he sank.
"Oh~~~"
Luo Shuhe drew out the sound again, narrowing her eyes with a faint, knowing smile.
Her grin held a trace of triumph, as if she’d already unraveled the thoughts in Gu Luo’s heart.
"So, this is jealousy, right?"
"If you don’t want others to see, doesn’t that mean you’re jealous?"
"That’s twisted logic..."
Gu Luo immediately countered, "This is just me fulfilling my duty to remind you."
"Then if someone really saw, would you feel uncomfortable?" Luo Shuhe pressed.
"......"
Gu Luo instinctively imagined the scenario and felt his skin crawl.
Though he didn’t answer, he gave a slight nod.
"Why would you feel uncomfortable?"
"If you haven’t fallen for me, why would it bother you?"
Luo Shuhe advanced step by step, each question like a sharp blade piercing the softest parts of Gu Luo’s heart.
He opened his mouth to argue further but found himself speechless.
Seeing this, Luo Shuhe couldn’t help but smirk victoriously, like a cat that had stolen the cream.
"You’re just being stubborn."
"......"
Gu Luo was caught off guard by her relentless interrogation, feeling like a soldier retreating on the battlefield, cornered by her words.
He didn’t want to lie unless absolutely necessary, but right now, he had no idea how to face the tangled emotions inside him.
Admittedly, after hearing Luo Shuhe’s words, Gu Luo’s resolve began to waver.
Subjectively, he liked Luo Shuning—so why did he still harbor these peculiar feelings for Luo Shuhe?
Was it because Luo Shuhe had suddenly turned gentle, mirroring Luo Shuning’s demeanor?
Or was it something else?
His mind was a chaotic mess, unable to untangle these complicated emotions just yet.
Too difficult.
"Why aren’t you saying anything? What’s on your mind?" Luo Shuhe’s voice broke the silence again, as if eager for Gu Luo to voice his thoughts honestly.
"Nothing..." Gu Luo shook his head slightly, his expression conflicted. "Shuhe, we need to have a proper talk tonight—after you tell me the whole truth."
"Fine."
Luo Shuhe nodded lightly, then tugged Gu Luo toward the lingerie store.
"......"
Gu Luo gave up resisting—it wasn’t like he could out-argue her anyway.
But this situation was unbearably awkward.
Sigh. These emotions were just too complicated.
Well, it was all to keep a promise.
Exactly.
That’s all it was.
No more overthinking.
Once inside, a cheongsam-clad saleswoman greeted them warmly.
"Welcome! Do you have any preferred styles in mind?"
"We just got a new collection of lingerie in—would the young lady like to take a look?"
The saleswoman maintained a flawless smile, her gaze lingering on Gu Luo only briefly before focusing entirely on Luo Shuhe.
(Though her peripheral vision might’ve been another story.)
Luo Shuhe nodded calmly. "Let’s see the new arrivals."
"Of course! Right this way, miss and sir." The saleswoman gestured politely before leading them deeper into the store.
As they walked, Gu Luo’s eyes darted over the rows of lingerie on display, while the curious glances from other female customers made his skin prickle with discomfort.
So. Awkward.
He didn’t even know where to look.
Left with no choice, he pulled out his phone and began scrolling mindlessly.
Truly, one of the greatest functions of a smartphone—serving as a lifeline in socially excruciating moments.
"Young lady, these are our latest arrivals." The saleswoman picked up a black lace-trimmed bra, smiling. "This one would suit you perfectly—excellent support and lift, very accommodating."
She demonstrated the details as she spoke.
Gu Luo’s eyes flicked from his phone screen to the bra in her hands—then immediately away again.
He feigned busyness, though it was unclear what exactly he was busy with, his fingers swiping randomly to appear natural.
"Baby, what do you think?" Luo Shuhe suddenly turned to Gu Luo, addressing him affectionately.
"Yes, does the young man like it...?" The saleswoman trailed off, her smile turning knowing.
Ahem.
Cornered, Gu Luo reluctantly glanced at the bra again.
He gave a hurried nod, his voice strained. "It’s nice."
Then immediately retreated back to his phone.
"Seems the young man’s a bit shy~" The saleswoman chuckled, her expression morphing into that of a delighted fangirl.
(Internally, she was shipping them hard.)
"I’ll take this one—I’m a 75C." Luo Shuhe stated without hesitation, then pointed at a few others. "I’d like to try these as well."
"Alright, the fitting room is this way."
While Gu Luo was still pondering the technical term "75C," his arm was suddenly looped through by Luo Shuhe.
"What?"
"Keep me company. Stand guard outside, or I won’t feel comfortable changing."
"Fine."
Gu Luo couldn’t be bothered to argue.
But the moment they reached the fitting room entrance, Luo Shuhe yanked him inside.
............
............