Looking at Lin Qingya’s shy demeanor, Cheng Minghao felt a surge of joy in his heart.
He reached up to touch his head, glanced at the bag on Lin Qingya’s right waist, and said:
“Give me the bag.”
“Mm…”
Compared to before, Lin Qingya, now in a state of girlish shyness and happiness, nodded in agreement.
“Let’s go! Lead the way!”
Cheng Minghao smiled, took the backpack with one hand, swung it over his shoulder, and then reached out to hold Lin Qingya’s left hand, shaking it to signal her to lead.
“Mm…”
Lin Qingya lowered her head shyly, leaning close to her boyfriend’s chest, nestling against Cheng Minghao’s shoulder as she walked silently forward.
The night wind was cold, but her heart was warm.
There weren’t many people on the roadside, but those who passed by cast envious glances at Cheng Minghao and Lin Qingya.
The admiration and envy of strangers made Lin Qingya feel even sweeter and more bashful.
They strolled slowly through the late-night streets, heading toward an unknown destination.
They arrived at a shop.
“We’re here.”
Lin Qingya slightly moved her head away from Cheng Minghao’s embrace and explained to him on the right.
“This is it?”
Cheng Minghao looked around.
In front of him was a small shop with a red sign.
To the left was a rolling shutter door with a sign for Uncle Long’s Repair, looking somewhat rusty and old.
However, the place was already locked, with an iron lock at the base of the door.
The owner wasn’t home, so they couldn’t return the items.
“Next door.”
Lin Qingya explained simply, then approached the small shop with the red sign.
She greeted the owner, returned the item, and left a twenty-yuan fee for borrowing materials and tools.
Then she led Cheng Minghao back outside.
Standing at the entrance of the small shop, Lin Qingya asked:
“We’ve walked so far. Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? I’ll take you to find something delicious!”
Looking at Cheng Minghao’s face, Lin Qingya’s cheeks lit up with a smile, looking genuinely happy.
“Anything is fine. We passed by a Noodle Shop earlier—let’s just eat there.”
Cheng Minghao said.
“Mm, let’s go!”
Lin Qingya was delighted.
Even just chatting and walking together made her feel completely content, thanks to her boyfriend’s face and smile.
Maybe…
This is what it feels like to be in love…
Right!
—
Outside the Noodle Shop, at a dining table.
Cheng Minghao lowered his head to eat noodles, while Lin Qingya stared quietly at him from the right-side bench, forgetting to eat her own food.
“What are you looking at? The noodles are getting cold. Didn’t you say you hadn’t eaten? Hurry up and eat.”
Cheng Minghao asked, pointing at Lin Qingya’s noodle bowl.
Lin Qingya smiled.
“What else? I’m looking at my boyfriend!”
She happily picked up her chopsticks and started eating noodles.
“My boyfriend is so handsome. If I don’t look at him more now, won’t I regret it when I get old?”
“Is that so?”
Cheng Minghao smiled.
“Then my wife is so beautiful and smells so nice. If I don’t kiss her a few more times…”
“Hey! Stop!”
Lin Qingya stopped Cheng Minghao from leaning over to kiss her, preventing him from getting close.
Her face flushed as she glanced around and saw other customers watching with amused smiles.
It was a middle-aged uncle eating noodles.
Lin Qingya pushed Cheng Minghao’s shoulder away, lowered her head, and explained as she ate:
“Your mouth is all greasy. Do you want me to embarrass myself?”
“Ha~”
Cheng Minghao just chuckled, reached out with his left hand to rub Lin Qingya’s head, and went back to eating noodles.
In the cold weather, eating hot noodles was comforting.
After finishing their meal, Lin Qingya followed Cheng Minghao back the way they came.
Da… da… da…
The two walked upstairs side by side, hand in hand.
Standing at the two doorways, they turned left and right, heading toward their own doors.
But their tightly held hands gave a gentle tug.
“Mm?”
Lin Qingya made a puzzled sound, looking at their joined hands.
She smiled lightly and tried to let go.
“Then I’ll head back first.”
Lin Qingya gently shook her left hand, but couldn’t break free, making her glance again at their hands.
“What is it? You don’t want me to go back?”
She asked with a smile, moving closer to Cheng Minghao.
Standing right in front of him, she looked up and studied his face with a smile.
Cheng Minghao thought for a moment.
“Didn’t we say we were going to study together… to rest properly…?”
As he spoke, Cheng Minghao took both of Lin Qingya’s small hands in his.
He gently played with her hands, holding them in his own.
“Did we?”
Lin Qingya asked curiously, her face puzzled.
“We said we wanted to improve our grades, but we never agreed to study together, did we?”
Cheng Minghao smiled and stepped closer, accidentally bumping into Lin Qingya’s chest.
Both of them stared at each other’s chests, faces flushing with embarrassment, then looked away.
But before a second passed, Lin Qingya simply let go, freeing her hands from Cheng Minghao’s grasp and playful teasing.
Instead, she wrapped both arms around him, pressing her chest tightly against him.
She even swayed slightly, rubbing her body against him, her face blushing as she teased flirtatiously.
“Like this… do you like it?”
As she spoke, Lin Qingya suddenly closed her eyes.
Overwhelmed by shyness, she felt she was being far too bold.
“Uh~ this… I…”
Cheng Minghao was startled, even a little excited.
A smile appeared on his face as he gently embraced Lin Qingya, bringing his face close to her ear.
He whispered:
“Come back to my room with me. Let’s… study together?”
“…Mm~”
Lin Qingya hesitated, her heart pounding and nervous that Cheng Minghao might notice something.
But she bit her lip, closed her eyes, and nodded softly.
“Let’s go.”
Cheng Minghao smiled, gently patting Lin Qingya’s back.
His left hand, resting on her hip, gave a gentle squeeze.
Lin Qingya squirmed bashfully, embarrassed.
“Click!”
The door to Cheng Minghao’s room opened.
Inside were two pairs of slippers.
One pair was gray for Cheng Minghao, the other pink for Lin Qingya.
The two entered arm in arm, Lin Qingya leaning against Cheng Minghao’s chest.
It wasn’t until he lightly patted her backside that she blushed and left his embrace, walking over to the slippers to change.
“Come here, I have some practice papers. Let’s look at them together. Do you want to do them in my… lap?”
Cheng Minghao asked tentatively.
“Mm-hmm~ Okay~”
Lin Qingya felt shy, glancing to the left as if pretending not to care.
But her right hand and body were pulled into Cheng Minghao’s arms.
He pushed and pulled her, guiding her to sit on the sofa.
“I’ll get the papers. Wait for me.”
Cheng Minghao said with a smile, happily walking into the bedroom.
On the brown sofa, Lin Qingya touched the sofa cushion.
It was completely dry, but she glanced behind her, watching Cheng Minghao’s back as he walked into the bedroom.
She bit her lip.
Would Cheng Minghao notice anything strange while they were studying?
Would he think her grades had slipped?
When the exam results come out, if he thinks about it carefully…
“Mm-hmm!”
Lin Qingya pressed her lips together, eyes shut tight as she covered her face, then collapsed on the back of the sofa and played dead.