Pinching Isn't Hand-Holding

Shen Nian tightened his grip on the girl's little finger, giving it a small, gentle squeeze, then hooked her ring finger over as well.

Xia Yanchun visibly warmed up, feeling even her hair become frizzy and restless.

She yanked her arm hard, not wanting Shen Nian to hold her hand, but he showed no intention of letting go.

"Let go!"

"Just until the bike shed," Shen Nian grinned, showing his teeth. He knew to be content; intimacy had to come bit by bit.

Hearing him say that, Xia Yanchun pouted her little mouth. Thinking about the big meal they were about to have, she decided not to stay angry with him.

But she still had to get the last word in.

"This isn't holding hands. Consider it me letting you pinch them."

"This doesn't count as holding hands?"

"If I say it doesn't count, it doesn't. You talk less."

"Alright, alright, your hand, your rules."

Shen Nian was content.

Holding onto Xia Yanchun's two fingers, they took the elevator down together. No matter how calm or quiet Xia Yanchun tried to be, that youthful, innocent shyness was practically overflowing. Even without a single word, Shen Nian knew Xia Yanchun was embarrassed.

He reached up and brushed aside the hair that had fallen over her face. Sure enough, her fair skin had turned a soft pink, smooth and tender like a peach.

"You're blushing."

"Shut up! I let you pinch my hand, isn't that enough? Do you have to embarrass me too?"

"Okay, okay, I won't say anymore."

Her embarrassed look was adorable too.

Afraid she might bring up the past again, Shen Nian obediently went to get his scooter.

Today he was driving, with Xia Yanchun sitting behind him, holding onto his shoulders. Once she put on her helmet, Xia Yanchun felt a bit better.

Blushing with nowhere to hide was the worst.

Originally, her hands were on Shen Nian's shoulders, but before starting, he reached back, pulled her small hands down, and placed them around his waist.

"Do you just love hugging that much? Hugging every single day, like a little kid..." Xia Yanchun huffed, letting both hands rest there, leaning her chin on his shoulder, watching his eyes in the rearview mirror.

"I like it," Shen Nian stated bluntly.

He'd already made his feelings clear; there was no need to beat around the bush.

His directness left Xia Yanchun at a loss for how to reply. She could only hide her face so Shen Nian couldn't find her in the mirror.

But the two hands around his waist never let go, occasionally pinching his flesh or digging her nails lightly into his skin, as if punishing Shen Nian for his bluntness.

At the mall, Li Shiyan had arrived early today. She'd already queued at the bubble tea shop and bought drinks, waiting to hand them to Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun when they found her.

What kind of person would feel too embarrassed to accept a female classmate's kindness? Anyway, Shen Nian accepted it without a second thought. It was just a classmate treating them to bubble tea, no big deal.

"You took her bubble tea, so now you have to carry our shopping bags later!" Xia Yanchun had recovered, mumbling around her straw.

"Accepting a gift ≠ I agree. Inequality solved instantly. So what? What can you do? What about it?" Shen Nian accidentally triggered a combo.

"People like you will never find a girlfr..."

Xia Yanchun stopped halfway.

Whether Shen Nian could find a girlfriend or not... the deciding factor seemed to lie with her herself.

Thinking this, she felt a bit awkward and shy again, along with a sliver of indescribable excitement.

Having him wrapped around her finger felt great!

"Go on, finish your sentence."

"Hmph, people will dislike you if you act like this."

Shen Nian had been curious what Xia Yanchun would say, but that was it?

He looked at Li Shiyan. Before he could even speak, she shuddered, shaking her head like a rattle drum, her ponytail swinging, a strand of hair caught at the corner of her mouth unnoticed.

Cotton candy I like? Kick it flying.

Originally, Shen Nian wasn't carrying Li Shiyan's bags. She didn't dare say anything, silently carrying them herself. But with so many bags big and small, it was really inconvenient, so Shen Nian simply took hers too.

No helping it. Shen Nian was the nice guy of the neighborhood, especially since he'd scolded that loli girl last night.

Of course, they were going to Miniso again. They'd already been to the one in the last mall; this time they were hitting another mall's branch. Girls, really.

Shen Nian just wanted to come for the Haidilao hot pot, but he ended up trailing behind the two girls for half an hour.

When girls go shopping, they have to glance at everything that looks good. Shen Nian thought the stereotype was right; in the eyes of these two girls, he had already become a puff of air.

Haidilao's discount time was at 2:30 PM, with a 69% off student discount. Li Shiyan had gotten her older sister's university student Alipay account, so when it was time to pay, Xia Yanchun could pay less.

So thoughtful. Xia Yanchun was practically moved to tears. Turns out, the three of them getting along well was really important.

At 2:30 PM, the two girls finally settled down, sitting together inside Haidilao.

Shen Nian originally wanted to sit next to Xia Yanchun, but she humphed and pushed him to sit across the table.

Shen Nian wasn't annoyed at all, his nice-looking knuckles tapping lightly on the table.

Whether Xia Yanchun gave him a nice face or not wasn't important. What mattered was that when they were alone, he had already achieved hand-holding freedom.

"Here, you order. Get whatever you want to eat. This meal's on me." Xia Yanchun handed the tablet to Shen Nian.

"Don't worry, I've never been polite with you."

"Then maybe you should start being a bit polite. My wallet can't handle your 'David Dai' appetite." Xia Yanchun instantly felt exasperated.

"What 'David Dai'? I have abs, you know."

"..."

It was true. This guy ate a lot, but he did have solid abs. Xia Yanchun's small hands clenched slightly—she had felt them herself.

Hmm.

It was Shen Nian who made her hug him; it wasn't like she went out of her way to touch them. That needed to be clarified.

The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt. Under the table, Xia Yanchun stretched out her little white sneaker, groped around, and stepped on the tip of Shen Nian's shoe.

A question mark seemed to pop up above Shen Nian's head, his eyes seemingly able to speak.

Sneak attack, huh?

"Looks like we need to add an extra order of crispy fried pork," Shen Nian said, tapping on the tablet.

After all, he wasn't the one paying. The thought of Chun Bao's little wallet bleeding heavily because of him made him unable to suppress a smile.

Xia Yanchun immediately pulled her foot back. Endure for now, and the wind will calm, the waves will subside.

She decided to kick him twice after Li Shiyan left.

Li Shiyan was like a ghost watching TV in the living room, still happily looking at a dipping sauce tutorial on her phone, beaming with joy, completely unaware of the fierce battle under the table. After watching the video, she even clamored to make dipping sauces for Xia Yanchun and Shen Nian.

The sauce she made turned out sour and spicy, not at all to Xia Yanchun's taste. In the end, Xia Yanchun had to take over personally and made a different flavored dipping sauce.

"Wow, Xiaochun, even your shoe sole would taste good with this!"

"Not bad. I learned it from a video before. I remembered it after having it a few times."

"Did you used to come eat here often with Shen Nian before?" Li Shiyan's big eyes shifted between the two of them.

Shen Nian shook his head. "No, this is my first time too. Your ghost friend has been here a few times and never brought me."

"Huh? But you live really close, right? Why didn't you come out together?"

"Our relationship was bad back then. Your ghost friend was always in spine dragon mode, hissing at me. How could she bring me out?"

"Hey, hey, hey! Do you want to die, Shen Nian? Only talking about other people's faults and not your own problems, huh?"

"You were this fierce even back in the Guimi days. I never dared to go play with you when you asked, you scared me to tears."

Yanxi reminds you: Due to Tomato's request for over 3 million+ daily visits causing excessive server pressure, it is now recommended that you use sources from other big bosses.