The warmth of Peng Kai’s large hand wrapped around Lan Hui’s small one, and she felt as if an electric current had shot through her, leaving her entire body tingling.
She silently scolded herself for being so hopeless—getting this nervous just from holding hands.
Peng Kai, on the other hand, was far calmer than she was. His whole demeanor was calm and unruffled, and only the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his good mood.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. It was just holding hands with a boy for the first time—nothing to make a fuss about.
Once Peng Kai had taken her hand, he never let go, not even when they entered the classroom. He clearly had no intention of releasing her.
Lan Hui’s face flushed red. “Kai-ge, class is starting. You should let go now.”
Quite a few people saw this scene and started gossiping in whispers.
“I told you, something’s going on between those two. Now they’re even holding hands—they must be together.”
“Yue Fu really has guts. Even Peng Kai, that big block of ice, dares to date.”
“What I really want to know now is, will Peng Kai be violent at home?”
“You can’t tell yet. They just got together; it’s still fresh. Give it a year or so and the fox’s tail will show.”
Peng Kai lowered his voice and said to Lan Hui, “I’ll let go once the teacher comes in.”
Lan Hui couldn’t do anything about him, so she could only let him be.
But inside, she felt sweet and content. Maybe being in love really does make your brain release dopamine—she actually quite liked Peng Kai’s touch.
@Infinite Good Stories, all at Jinjiang Literature City
After school, the two of them walked home hand in hand again.
Lan Hui asked Peng Kai, “Kai-ge, are you free the day after tomorrow?”
Peng Kai lowered his eyes to look at her. “What is it? Do you have plans?”
Lan Hui smiled. “I have the day off the day after tomorrow. If you’re free, how about we go see a movie?”
Although it was her first time dating, Lan Hui was smart and had watched plenty of dramas.
She knew that love was about two people; you couldn’t always make the boy do everything—girls had to make an effort too, so the relationship could stay healthy and get better and better.
Peng Kai said, “I probably won’t have time during the day. How about at night? The end of the year is coming up, and a lot of cars need maintenance or new window film.”
“Everyone wants their car to look its best to go home for the New Year. This is the busiest season at the shop. If we work hard, this month’s income could match two regular months.”
Lan Hui understood and smiled, “Alright, you work hard and make money during the day, and we’ll watch a movie at night.”
Seeing the girl’s eyes curve up in a smile, understanding and supporting him without reservation, Peng Kai’s smile grew even wider.
“Yue Fu, you’re really a good girl.”
When he’d been with Gu Shinan before, as long as she had free time and wanted to see him, no matter what he was doing, he had to go to her right away.
Even if he replied to messages a little slow, she’d get upset with him.
He’d thought all girls were like that, so he’d already prepared himself to coax her earlier. He hadn’t expected that Yue Fu didn’t need coaxing at all.
“Of course I’m a good girl.” Lan Hui was not modest about this.
Peng Kai couldn’t help but laugh, pulling her along as they kept walking.
“Yue Fu, are you going home for the New Year this year?”
Lan Hui thought for a moment. “I’m planning to. I haven’t seen my dad in a long time. I should go back and spend the New Year with them.”
She had originally planned not to go back, but after Ms. Zhang came to S City and didn’t suspect anything, she decided to return for the New Year—to fulfill Yue Fu’s filial duty and keep the elders company.
“Kai-ge, what about you? How will you spend the New Year?”
Peng Kai replied calmly, “I’ll be at the auto repair shop for New Year’s.” He’d spent it that way last year too.
Lan Hui felt a twinge of heartache hearing this.
“Kai-ge, after the New Year, I’ll try to come back early to keep you company. We’ve just started dating, and things aren’t stable yet, so it’s not the right time to bring you home.”
“When the time is right next year, I’ll introduce you to my family, and after that, we’ll spend every New Year together.”
Hearing his girlfriend think so much for him, Peng Kai felt warm and happy inside.
“You don’t have to come back early. Stay home and spend more time with Uncle and Auntie. We have plenty of time ahead of us. When you come back, I’ll get to see you every day—it’ll feel like New Year’s every day.”
Her boyfriend’s words were so sweet they seemed dipped in honey. Lan Hui’s heart was full of happiness, but when she thought about him spending more than ten days alone, she felt sorry for him again.
She glanced around like a thief, making sure no one was on this stretch of road, then suddenly hugged Peng Kai.
“Kai-ge, sorry you’ll have to put up with it this year. We’ll keep in touch by phone, and I promise I’ll be online 24/7—just call and I’ll answer.”
Her fragrant body crashed into his arms, and Peng Kai’s heart was thrown into chaos. He froze, unable to react.
He never expected the shy little girl to suddenly be so bold and hug him on her own.
The joy in his heart and the darkness in his eyes were impossible to hide.
Lan Hui was about to let go after the hug, but Peng Kai immediately pulled her back into his embrace.
Lan Hui’s face was burning red, embarrassed beyond words. “Kai-ge, we’re outside…” One hug was enough; how could they keep hugging like this?
Peng Kai’s hot breath fell on Lan Hui’s ear, his voice low and restrained. “So you do know we’re outside. But you were the one who hugged me first!”
“I… just wanted to comfort you.”
“Then comfort me a little longer.” Peng Kai was reluctant to let her go.
At this moment, Lan Hui was like a cooked shrimp, her face, ears, and neck all flushed a startling red.
“Kai-ge, that’s enough. It’s been two minutes already…”
Only then did Peng Kai reluctantly release her, his dark eyes fixed on her.
Being stared at like that made Lan Hui’s back tingle. His gaze looked like he wanted to devour her.
A little scary.
“Kai-ge, do you… not like me hugging you?” She thought everything was fine just now, but after hugging for a while, he started acting strange.
Peng Kai took a deep breath. “I like it.” With such a proactive and passionate girlfriend, what man could resist?
“You don’t look like you like it,” Lan Hui said, scrutinizing him with her beautiful eyes.
Peng Kai sighed, “It’s because I like it too much—that’s why I look like this.”
Lan Hui didn’t understand and was about to ask more when Peng Kai flicked her forehead. “Don’t ask. You’ll understand in the future.”
He couldn’t exactly say that just one hug from her was enough to make him react—what would she think he was, a beast?
He hadn’t expected the feeling to be so strong. He’d always been calm and restrained, and this was the first time he’d ever lost control like this.
Hand in hand, the two of them returned home. Lan Hui said, “Kai-ge, you take a shower first tonight. You didn’t sleep last night, so you should rest early.”
“It’s fine, I feel great. You should go first,” Peng Kai replied.
Lan Hui insisted, “Kai-ge, be good and listen. Don’t make me worry.”
“Alright.” Peng Kai really liked it when his girlfriend took care of him. “Then I’ll go get my change of clothes.”
Lan Hui nodded and went into her own room, pulling out her phone to play Fruit Crush.
***
About half an hour later, when she figured Peng Kai was probably done showering, she grabbed her pajamas and headed to the bathroom.
The bathroom was still warm, the air filled with the scent of body wash.
Lan Hui couldn’t help but remember that hug from earlier—Peng Kai’s body had smelled just like this, only fainter, very clean and pleasant.
Twenty minutes later, Lan Hui finished her shower and came out to see Peng Kai cleaning the living room. She rushed over to stop him.
“Kai-ge, didn’t I tell you to go to bed early? Why are you cleaning again? Besides, we agreed before—the living room is my job.”
Peng Kai didn’t stop mopping. “You weren’t my girlfriend before. Now you are, so as a man, I should do more around the house.”
Lan Hui really liked that Peng Kai was willing to share the chores, but she didn’t want to use his status as her boyfriend to force him.
“Kai-ge, from now on, the living room is still my responsibility. As for rent and shared expenses, nothing changes—just like before.”
Peng Kai was just about to say he’d cover the rent and household expenses from now on, but she’d already made her stance clear.
“Yue Fu, I’m your boyfriend. It’s only right for me to take on more.”
Lan Hui’s face was more serious than ever.
“Kai-ge, I’m only saying this because I see you as my boyfriend. A boyfriend isn’t an ATM. I don’t want you to do so much, and you still have debts to pay off.”
“Focus on paying those back first. As for me, I have a job, and my performance has been good lately—I make at least nine thousand a month. I can take care of myself just fine.”
Peng Kai felt a warm surge in his heart. How lucky was he to find such a good girlfriend—always thinking of him, always considering his feelings.
“Actually, my debt isn’t that urgent. I can pay a little less each month and still cover the rent and daily expenses.”
Before, when he was single, he didn’t spend much, so he used to put seventy percent of his income towards his debt. The bank only had a minimum repayment requirement, but he always paid extra.
Now that he had a girlfriend, of course he had to plan differently.
When he’d been with Gu Shinan, he was willing to work several jobs to support her through school. Now, with Yue Fu, who was so wonderful, he didn’t want to let her down—he wanted to treat her even better.
Lan Hui still insisted, “Whether you have money or not, before we’re married, you shouldn’t have to pay for everything—that wouldn’t be fair to you. Kai-ge, I think dating should be happy, sweet, and relaxed. Let’s just do things like before, whatever’s comfortable.”
“Of course, if we really do get married someday, then you can hand over your whole paycheck, alright?”
Her boyfriend was thinking so far ahead—after only a day together, she was already talking about marriage. Peng Kai was delighted; she really did want to be with him for the long run.
He nodded without hesitation, looking at her with gentle, doting eyes. “Alright, I’ll listen to Fu Fu.”
Hearing him call her so affectionately and naturally, Lan Hui blushed again.
Peng Kai noticed and his breathing grew a little heavier.
The girl had just finished her shower, her skin glowing pink and white. Her blushing face was both pure and alluring, like a lotus flower in full bloom—stunning in its beauty.
He couldn’t help but want to get closer, to experience her fragrance.
Lan Hui saw Peng Kai slowly moving toward her, his gaze dark and unreadable, filled with an emotion she couldn’t decipher.
Her heart skipped a beat.
At that moment, Peng Kai had already reached her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and with one swift motion, pulled her straight into his arms.
Lan Hui froze, her heart about to jump out of her chest.
What was Peng Kai planning to do?
That thought had just flashed through her mind when she saw his handsome face getting closer and closer.
She could clearly feel his hot breath on her face.
He wanted to kiss her!
Instinctively, Lan Hui turned her head and nervously pushed him away with both hands. “Kai-ge… it’s too fast.” With that, she fled back to her room.
With a “bang,” the door closed. She leaned against it, trying to calm herself down with deep breaths.
It wasn’t that she was unwilling—it was just that they’d only been together for a day. They’d already held hands and hugged; she felt like things were moving at rocket speed.