Chapter 4: The Girls in Foot Bath City Are More Fun Than You
What does skipping drinking mean?
Is it directly about taking a dive?
For a moment, Lin Tian hadn’t caught on.
Until the girl Gan Yan Yu in front of him finished speaking and gently cupped his hand, slowly bringing her body closer.
Lin Tian finally realized.
Something’s off!
The sofa was cramped, and the young lady adjusted her waist trapped by her dress, effortlessly scooting her petite form to an alarmingly close distance.
In her strapless dress, a deep and white rift was barely visible.
Close enough for Lin Tian to catch that faint fragrance again – the same scent he had smelled on her school uniform earlier.
It wasn’t the smell from the clothes.
Could it be… natural body fragrance?
In front of him,
A beautiful face slowly lowered, with bangs blocking her eyes, making Lin Tian unable to see her expression.
“In fact, I saw you smelling my clothes.”
“Are you attracted to me?”
Those words instantly jolted Lin Tian awake.
I just sniffed once, don’t overreact like we shared a meal!
Lin Tian felt dizzy.
As expected, he got trapped by this d*mn system!
Just smelling her clothes got him accused of something else.
If I had sniffed something more… inappropriate, she would have called the cops!
Seeing no reaction, the girl continued:
“Thanks for your hospitality, but I must leave now.”
“So, what about doing something right here and now?”
Gan Yan Yu said with gentle tones.
Hearing that, Lin Tian calmed down.
He got it now.
This girl felt indebted because he had been kind and didn’t know how to leave now without returning the favor.
Thinking he was into her when he was just sniffing her clothes, she decided to repay him quickly and leave this place.
Is this what everyone feels at d*ath’s door? Just give up since there’s nothing left to hang onto?
Lin Tian was stunned.
But if he did comply, there would be no reason to keep Gan Yan Yu here any longer.
So “skipping drinking” really means that!
He felt incredibly wronged.
What does she think of me?!
Was it all supposed to turn into some drunken night of exploitation?
Nothing happened!
Just as Lin Tian was about to react—
suddenly, he felt his shoulder shaking.
Lowering his head,
he saw Gan Yan Yu’s frail body trembling against his and her hands gripping his arm.
So fragile, like a little chick.
Lin Tian found it somewhat amusing.
Who needs to act so collected?
The girls in Foot Bath City are way more adventurous than you.
If only she could master that delicate quiver to a fraction, the female technician cosplaying high school student wouldn’t charge just 699.
“Can you lift your head?” Lin Tian asked.
To be honest, Lin Tian never thought of himself as a good person.
But faced with something like this, he knew it would be truly beastly to take advantage.
“Why?”
Gan Yan Yu lifted her head, eyes dull and lifeless.
Lin Tian was somewhat exasperated.
This clumsy girl probably didn’t even know what she was doing anymore.
She could leave anytime, and he couldn’t stop her if she chose to.
Still, she felt compelled to repay some ‘debt’.
To do things she didn’t want to just for peace of mind, not wanting to trouble anyone.
Even going as far as planning every detail before ending it all.
Such kindness would only get taken advantage of.
“I think you misunderstood something,” Lin Tian explained honestly.
He removed her hand from his arm.
“What?”
Gan Yan Yu was perplexed.
Her already confused mind went into further turmoil.
Is it because my body lacks charm?
Am I less appealing than a piece of clothing?
Maybe he likes school uniforms?
Her neck recoiled, revealing a mix of sadness and embarrassment.
“I admit, while helping you with laundry, my actions were subconscious, but not because I wanted anything from you.”
“Subconscious moves?”
“Yes.”
Lin Tian stated seriously.
“For example, people rub their eyes unconsciously when they feel discomfort, or play with their hair when relaxed. These aren’t intentional actions.”
“Really?”
Perhaps hearing such theory for the first time, Gan Yan Yu processed it earnestly, twirling her side-locks around her finger.
“Look! Right now, you’re playing with your hair!”
Lin Tian pointed at her hands.
“Quite true!”
The young lady swiftly withdrew her fingers, eyes widening in surprise.
Seeing the effect, Lin Tian continued earnestly:
“When I put washing detergent on my clothes, I usually sniff them too. That’s why I reacted that way back then.”
Seeing his seriousness, Gan Yan Yu looked unsure,
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“If that’s the case, my behavior then…”
“You haven’t had anything yet, and now you’re already feeling dizzy? Surely you don’t need to joke around like this.”
Lin Tian opened a can of beer with a snap, laughing heartily.
One statement, one smile.
Whether genuine or not, it dissolved much of the awkwardness.
Without explicitly clarifying, both understood the tacit agreement.
“Thanks.”
Gan Yan Yu accepted the beer, still blushing slightly.
Though this was a misunderstanding, she felt rejected.
But, Gan Yan Yu didn’t feel overly embarrassed.
This boy with a warm smile, strangely, made her feel safe despite meeting for the first time.
She took a sip of the beer.
Too bitter.
Too nasty.
Gan Yan Yu resisted internally, but raised the bottle and drank.
At the instant the cold beer flowed down her throat,
a new rush of exhilaration surged through her, her eyes widening at the unexpected feeling.
“How does it taste?” Lin Tian asked.
“Better than I thought.”
Gan Yan Yu said, downing several more sips despite still finding it bitter.
Now, she understood why so many liked it.
Seeing Gan Yan Yu finally calm down, Lin Tian got up and fetched a stool, sitting opposite her.
“Pop!”
He also popped open a can of beer and gulped it down with gusto.
The cool sensation exploding in his throat —
no wonder the first sip of an ice-cold beer tasted divine.
With a few gulps each, they sat facing each other in that small room.
The previously tense atmosphere lightened up.
After the earlier incident, Lin Tian realized Gan Yan Yu wasn’t as difficult to talk to as he imagined.
Once the beer was open, conversation flowed easily.
“So, you took a break and went abroad?”
“Yes.”
“What for?”
Lin Tian took a swig, casually.
As if trying to mask his curiosity with this casual approach.
“To participate in a competition, and then…”
She paused mid-sentence.
Lin Tian got her implication and continued smoothly,
“Cello competitions?”
“Yes.”
“A year-long competition?”
“It had plenty involved. Main goal was honing my skills.”
“So, do you work professionally?”
Lin Tian recalled the system’s description of her career.
That question seemed to perk Gan Yan Yu up.
She propped her chin on her hand,
and smiled,
“I’m an amateur, really. Participating in small local contests.”
“If that’s the case, why return?”
“To take the college entrance exam,” Gan Yan Yu replied.
“To apply to Zhuanghua Music Academy. A dream university for every musician. There, I could meet my idols from way back…”
Her eyes glimmered with hope.
Lin Tian was taken aback.
A girl who struggled and studied hard abroad, had goals and aspirations, full of optimism for the future.
How could someone like this think of s*icide?
(End of Chapter 4)
