Bai Yao’s acting was really poor.
Although he looked like he was just fooling around, his shifting eyes, flushed face, and hands trembling slightly from nervousness all indicated that his heart was far from calm.
He cautiously raised his eyebrows to glance at Qiu Ye’s expression.
It was expressionless! He looked a bit fierce!
Bai Yao became even more nervous.
Was it worth getting beaten or scolded for 100 yuan?
‘Maybe 200 would be more like it!’
Qiu Ye finally understood why Bai Yao seemed so strange today.
Was he planning their first time holding hands?
Although Bai Yao had held his hand back when he was in the hospital, acting like an angel to soothe his emotions, back then he was an angel.
Now, no matter how he looked at it, he seemed like a shy, lovesick young girl who admired him.
Even though he had said before that he didn’t want to date and didn’t like men…
Qiu Ye tried his best to keep a straight face, making himself look as serious, reliable, and handsome as possible.
He didn’t want to laugh out loud; laughing too much would ruin his image.
Bai Yao’s hand was cool and soft.
Their shoulders and arms were almost pressed together.
Through the thin layers of clothing, he seemed to feel the girl’s body temperature and smell a faint, delicate fragrance.
“So… are your Living Expenses still enough?”
Qiu Ye stuttered slightly, his tone almost going off-key.
“It should be enough, right? I don’t really spend much money.”
Bai Yao intentionally bumped his shoulder against Qiu Ye’s, acting competitive and mischievous to hide the fact that he was completing the hand-holding Task from the System.
Unfortunately, once Qiu Ye stood firm, he was like a mountain; no matter how much he pushed, he couldn’t budge his pace.
“Um… if you run out of money, you can borrow some from me. No interest.”
‘He wouldn’t even have to pay it back.’
“I don’t borrow money.”
Bai Yao didn’t even use Huabei; he hated the uneasy feeling of being in debt.
Ten minutes…
That was too long.
Keeping up a prank for that long made the hand-holding feel ambiguous.
Bai Yao wracked his brain for a reasonable excuse, but in Qiu Ye’s eyes, no matter the reason, as long as they were holding hands, the atmosphere was so warm it made his heart race.
“…”
Bai Yao suddenly realized Qiu Ye hadn’t spoken for a while.
He peeked at Qiu Ye.
The guy was spacing out, who knows what he was thinking.
When they didn’t talk, the hand-holding felt awkward.
He tried to find a topic.
“That game the Big Star was playing, was it called Street Fighter?”
“Huh? Yeah, Street Fighter 6.”
Qiu Ye had just been thinking about naming his future daughter when he was snapped back to reality.
“She’s trash at it, but her equipment is top-tier. She even bought a hitbox.”
“Sounds interesting.”
“If you’re interested, I’ll give you one so we can play together.”
Another gift?
Qiu Ye had already given him Monster Hunter before.
He had been a bit too generous lately.
Bai Yao felt both the joy of Qiu Ye’s generosity and the panic of being unable to pay him back later.
“I’ll just wait for a sale…”
“Okay, then wait for a sale. You can also download the trial version to practice with the characters.”
They walked deeper into The Garden, where people were scarce.
The pebbles beneath their feet were covered in a layer of withered yellow leaves.
Silence fell between them once again.
Bai Yao tried to think of a topic, but suddenly realized Qiu Ye had taken the initiative to grab his hand back.
That large hand, which could easily palm a basketball, easily enveloped his own in his palm.
‘Eh?’
He froze, reflexively wondering if Qiu Ye had a crush on him.
But then he remembered back at the Internet Cafe, Qiu Ye had said it was impossible for him to like him…
So was he doing this to embarrass him?
Because of his height, looks, personality, or various other reasons, Bai Yao was always a bit insecure.
He didn’t think anyone could truly like him.
Every time he had a suspicion, he feared it was one of the Life’s Three Major Delusions and quickly dismissed it.
Anyway, it was just in time to complete the Task.
Bai Yao pretended not to notice and continued walking slowly through The Garden with Qiu Ye.
They were just like a couple…
‘Do couples hold hands like this?’
As the thought surfaced, Bai Yao’s attention inevitably fell on the hand being held.
Qiu Ye’s hand was so big…
They had compared them before; it was a full two knuckles longer than Bai Yao’s hand.
It was like the difference between an adult and a child.
Qiu Ye’s hand was also very hot…
Being wrapped in that warmth, it was almost starting to sweat.
But there was also a strange sense of psychological satisfaction and security, like the feeling of hiding in a closet to sleep as a child.
A sinking feeling in his lower abdomen appeared again, accompanied by an increased heart rate and body temperature.
Qiu Ye’s footsteps suddenly stopped.
Bai Yao, a step behind and distracted, bumped into his shoulder.
“Wh — “
“Shh!”
Qiu Ye ducked his head, acting sneaky.
Bai Yao followed his gaze and saw a couple on a nearby bench, kissing as if no one else existed.
Well, if the two of them hadn’t appeared, there really wouldn’t have been anyone around.
“Wow~”
Bai Yao let out a soft exclamation and immediately crouched down, hiding behind a waist-high shrub, peeking out.
This was the first time he had seen this in real life! He had seen it plenty of times in dramas!
‘Hey, hey! Where are you putting your hand! Won’t you suffocate if you kiss for that long!’
That girl looked so focused and comfortable! ‘Is kissing just mouth-to-mouth?’
Bai Yao curiously touched his lip with his finger.
As expected, there was no special feeling.
His morality pulled him back in time, and he whispered, “Isn’t it bad for us to eavesdrop like this?”
Qiu Ye had been staring at Bai Yao’s small, rounded rear, which filled out his pants while he was semi-crouched.
He quickly averted his gaze and said righteously, “This is a public place. They’re being shameless and letting us watch. Besides, it’s just kissing, not anything else. Don’t act like a conservative old fossil.”
The sound of their conversation startled the young couple.
The girl hurriedly straightened her messy clothes and pulled the guy away.
At the same time, a notification from the System appeared.
**[Task complete. You have received a Cash Reward: 100]**
**[Although you are already a battle-hardened veteran, you have always merely endured the discomfort and catered to the other party during kisses, never experiencing the pleasure of a kiss.]**
**[You are looking forward to what a kiss filled with true love feels like. Right now, he is by your side.]**
**[Task: Give your lover a passionate kiss! Reward: Cash Reward: 100]**
‘Battle-hardened veteran my foot! My first kiss is still here, okay!’ ‘And I don’t have a lover!’
Bai Yao cursed in his heart, but under the System’s guidance, he subconsciously looked up at Qiu Ye’s lips.
To be honest, as a man, it was the first time he had paid attention to what another man’s lips looked like…
They were a bit thin, a healthy pale red, glowing with a rosy hue under the sunlight.
He wasn’t sure if they were handsome or not.
‘Ugh — I can’t imagine kissing a man!’
‘Would I twist my waist and look all blissful like that girl just now?’
He couldn’t imagine it at all! Bai Yao dismissively ignored the Task.
“To the Small Shop?” he asked, letting go of Qiu Ye’s hand.
“I’m tired of bumping into you.”
Qiu Ye followed behind Bai Yao, looking disappointed.
He had thought Bai Yao wanted to kiss him and had already prepared himself.