38. Shopping Trip
A ride-hailing car pulled up to the bustling shopping district.
The right door swung open, and Wen Yang jumped out first, then held the door open, waiting for Ning Chu.
“Ugh…”
“Why the long face?”
Wen Yang looked at Ning Chu as she shifted her little b*tt in the car, peeking her head out.
“What do you think?!”
Once out of the car, Ning Chu shot Wen Yang a disgruntled glare before sweeping her eyes around.
It was a weekday afternoon, and even though this place was a busy commercial street, there weren’t many pedestrians. This allowed Ning Chu to relax her taut body a little.
She tugged at her short skirt, feeling like it was just a tad too short.
Wearing a skirt and pants was a whole different experience. The skirt let her legs breathe, but the wind brushing against her thighs? Talk about feeling vulnerable!
“Shall we wander around first?”
Seizing the moment, Wen Yang reached for her hand, but she swiftly dodged away, hopping a few meters aside like a startled rabbit.
“……”
“Have been on guard against you!” Ning Chu shot him an angry look.
Her cheeks always had a faint blush, and the scowl she directed at Wen Yang was anything but threatening—it was kind of cute, really.
This Wen Yang! He’s getting more and more outrageous!
This morning, he shamelessly suggested she assist him with… *ahem* personal matters, and now in the afternoon, he was trying to hold hands and stroll around like a couple.
Dream on!
She hadn’t even settled the score with him about tricking her into wearing that dress!
Ning Chu hastily walked ahead, her mind not really on shopping anymore. She was fully on guard against Wen Yang’s antics.
This male protagonist was clearly getting more desperate with his advances.
It was evident that her original plan to keep Wen Yang’s feelings for her in check—neither too fond nor too resentful—had completely flopped.
To make matters worse, she felt a bit strange herself…
After walking for just a couple of minutes, Ning Chu couldn’t help but turn back and glance over her shoulder.
Seeing Wen Yang made her heart feel a lot calmer.
“Check out what you want to buy for the movie starting in an hour,” Wen Yang called out, meeting her gaze.
“What movie?”
“Uh… you’ll know once we get there.”
Ning Chu squinted, sizing up Wen Yang.
This guy was definitely more proactive than usual today. She used to mock that shy little virgin.
She still preferred that bashful virgin; at least he didn’t put her in awkward situations.
“No way it’s a romance or horror movie…” Ning Chu muttered.
Wen Yang’s face froze; she had hit the nail on the head.
“Ha ha.”
She rolled her eyes at him, as if he thought she didn’t understand. Watching a romance meant he could make all sorts of moves in the cozy theater, and horror films? He just wanted her to cling to him in terror.
What a daydreamer!
Dressed in her short skirt, her sense of security plummeted, prompting her to slow down and walk beside Wen Yang.
It felt like the surrounding pedestrians were all taking an interest in her, their gazes drifting over her thighs and pretty face, which made her uncomfortable. She was worried there might be some perverts mixed in.
“Want to buy a nice outfit you like?” Wen Yang pointed to a nearby women’s clothing store.
“No, it’s fine,” Ning Chu quickly shook her head.
“How about some snacks instead?”
“Sure!”
They stumbled upon one of those ubiquitous snack shops, filled with towering potato towers and skewers displayed at the counter. Ning Chu couldn’t help but gawk.
Even though she had seen many of these shops, she had never tried them before.
Especially those skewers—they looked as long as her forearm, and those enormous meat chunks were mouthwatering.
“How much for the skewers?” Wen Yang already pulled out his phone to pay. “And a milk tea, too.”
“I’ve already paid,” Ning Chu said, glancing at the displayed prices and quickly finishing the transaction.
Wen Yang blinked, looking at her flushed face.
Isn’t it usually the guy who pays when out with a girl? Why was Ning Chu so eager to pay?
“Wen Yang! This skewer is HUGE!” After taking the gigantic skewer, Ning Chu instantly perked up, flaunting it in front of Wen Yang, eyes sparkling as she took a big bite.
Then, with a disgusted look, she shoved the skewer into Wen Yang’s hands. “Here, you eat it.”
“Not good?”
“It’s good~ but the good stuff is for you~”
From the tone, it was clear the skewer wasn’t all that great.
But Wen Yang wasn’t picky, coming from a regular family that didn’t waste food.
“It’s all spices; this might be duck meat. No wonder it’s so cheap…” Ning Chu grumbled as she sipped her milk tea, soon spotting a sauce-flavored cake and running over excitedly.
At first, she felt awkward in women’s clothing, but her alertness faded with the eating and drinking.
“Whoa! Meat dumplings! I can’t believe they have them here!”
“Do you like oyster omelet?”
“I need a slushy~”
Wen Yang thought Ning Chu would want to check out clothes or accessories, so he had borrowed money from Zhang Shaoqing.
But this girl only seemed interested in food and drinks. She didn’t even look at him when paying. After half an hour on the shopping street, he had spent just thirty bucks on the ride and two discounted movie tickets, yet he felt like he’d overeaten!
“It’s about time to head to the cinema,” he reasoned, determined to spend all the borrowed money. “The theater is in the mall; we can grab dinner afterward.”
“Dinner?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m full, though…”
“……”
Ning Chu had just finished her strawberry slushy and let out a burp as she looked towards the large mall not far away. “Let’s go watch the movie.”
Wen Yang, feeling exasperated, followed her while grabbing her hand.
Once again being pulled along, Ning Chu looked up in astonishment but didn’t bother resisting this time, muttering, “Is it really necessary?”
She was honestly too preoccupied to keep watching for Wen Yang’s tricks.
With a resigned sigh, she decided to lay it all out. “Wen Yang, I’m not interested in you at all… when I said I was your girlfriend before, it was just to help you shake off your clingy ex.”
Wen Yang nodded, wrapping her soft little hand tightly in his palm, as if afraid she might escape.
“I only see you as a useful little brother,” Ning Chu shot him a look. “After all, you do what I ask.”
“Yep, yep, yep!” Wen Yang nodded vigorously, eager to see just how stubborn this little vinegar jar could be.
“……”
Ning Chu was in such a rush that she almost blurted out about the plot.
Did the male protagonist in the book cling to girls like this? Aren’t they usually just testing the waters and having a bit of fun? Rarely did they actually get emotionally attached, and even then, they didn’t doggedly pursue a girl!
So why did he seem like he absolutely had to stick to her now?
“A little brother holding the big brother’s hand makes perfect sense, right?”
“Not in the slightest!”
——————
Woke up with a seriously sore back…
