Let's talk about whether I can lick you or not.

If someone who often argues with you, often annoys you, and often tries to compete with you on grades suddenly praises you, it's definitely a case of the weasel paying a New Year's call to the chicken—all with an ulterior motive.

But being praised by Shen Nian made Xia Yanchun feel really good. Even if Shen Nian truly had other intentions, she didn't really mind.

After all, it was Shen Nian.

Xia Yanchun hummed smugly, returning the courtesy, "Actually, you're not bad either, scoring over seven hundred."

"Pretty awesome, right?"

"Awesome, awesome." Xia Yanchun patted his head, wanting to coax Shen Nian into being her puppy.

Shen Nian took the opportunity to wrap her soft little hand in his palm. In the classroom with both doors closed and the curtains drawn, his fondness for Xia Yanchun became utterly unconcealed.

"Mmm..." Xia Yanchun offered her other hand into his grasp as well.

The weather was chilly, her hands were icy, but Shen Nian was warm.

If they were at home, she'd really want to tuck her feet into Shen Nian's arms and have him warm them up.

"Where's your hot water bottle?"

"It's in my backpack. It's been cold for a while now; I can only recharge it when I sleep later."

"That's just perfect." Shen Nian grinned.

"Perfect what? My hands were so stiff during the last two classes this morning that my handwriting turned ugly, and you say it's perfect?"

"If you used the hot water bottle, I'd be out of a job. Now that you can't use it, of course I have to say it's perfect." Shen Nian intertwined his fingers with hers, warming her fingertips.

"What job? You actually consider warming my hands a job?!" Xia Yanchun pouted. "This isn't a job; it's your duty, something you're supposed to do."

"This sounds like emotional manipulation. I suspect you've been emotionally manipulating me since we were kids."

"No way. Hitting you back then was just because you annoyed me."

"Six-six-six, dropping the act now?"

"You didn't hit me any less back then, wasn't it also because I annoyed you?"

"Damn, you're right."

Xia Yanchun's two hands fidgeted restlessly within the enclosure of Shen Nian's palms, wanting to dig her nails into his flesh. But her nails were always kept neatly trimmed, making it hard to even leave a mark—more like a kitten's scratch.

Shen Nian's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Actually..." Xia Yanchun chattered on, "even if I used a hot water bottle, you could still warm my hands. It's not like the hot water bottle is the only option."

The hot water bottle was originally for keeping herself warm when Shen Nian wasn't around, just to avoid getting chilblains from the cold. But today was only seven or eight degrees Celsius. Compared to a hot water bottle, she still preferred Shen Nian's body heat.

She really envied Shen Nian's constitution, being so warm even in winter.

"You want to have all the good things." Shen Nian laughed.

"You've got it backwards. You were the one who wanted to hold my hand just now, you know."

"Whoa, why didn't you say so earlier?"

Facing each other, Xia Yanchun watched her hands being kneaded and squeezed by Shen Nian, her mind wandering off somewhere.

So comfortable... she felt like she was about to bubble over with happiness.

Having a younger brother like this was just too, too, too amazing!

"And also, could you please not be so handsy with me in front of other people? It's really off-putting, you know." Xia Yanchun mumbled again.

Things like holding hands or fiddling with her hair—if others saw, it would be so embarrassing! Only a thick-skinned Shen Nian would dare do these things in public, and he doesn't get embarrassed at all!

"I'll dare to do it again next time." Shen Nian chuckled.

"Jerk, I hate you so much."

"That means you like me."

Xia Yanchun immediately bumped her forehead against his, huffing angrily, "Do you know, Shi Yan even asked me if you were chasing me!"

"How audacious! She took my candy and still didn't keep her mouth shut? I'll make her cry this afternoon."

"Get lost! So, you should be less handsy, understand?!"

"Understood, understood." Shen Nian also bumped her forehead with his. "So, what did you say?"

"I..." Xia Yanchun batted her almond-shaped eyes, "I said you were my simp, hehe."

"?"

Darn it, Xia Yanchun, you're truly something else.

Shen Nian laughed in exasperation, suddenly letting go of her hands. He shifted his chair, pushing the two chairs together, and one hand slipped to Xia Yanchun's waist, gently pulling her closer.

The last bit of distance between them vanished.

"Being a simp is fine. So, can I... you know... simp a little?"

"?!"

No way! Shen Nian's skin is really too thick!

"Oh, right, the school is holding a coming-of-age ceremony next week. Find a chance to tell your parents." Seeing that Shen Nian really seemed about to nuzzle her face, Xia Yanchun quickly changed the subject, bringing up serious business.

"You're so well-informed?"

"I heard it when I went to the office to get something. The teacher will probably hold a class meeting to talk about it. Usually, the coming-of-age ceremony is in the first semester of senior year."

"Whatever. Let's get back to discussing whether I can simp a little."

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 players.