262. Shivering Cola【4/122】
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The small park had almost no other pedestrians. Lin Nan had her hands stuffed into her jacket pockets, head down, trying her best to dodge the biting cold wind.
Even though she couldn’t feel the chill, the winter breeze was slicing her face like a kn*fe, and in just half an hour outside, her cheeks had turned as red as a tomato.
Her skin was tender and couldn’t withstand such torment.
Chen Yao, noticing her plight, stood tall in front of Lin Nan, glancing back at her crimson face, and helplessly asked, “Why didn’t you wear a scarf?”
“I forgot…” Lin Nan hid behind him, clutching the hem of Chen Yao’s jacket like a little chick playing with an eagle, trying to match his stride.
With Chen Yao providing cover, the pain in her frosty face started to ease.
Having not stepped out for over ten days, she greedily inhaled the fresh air, realizing for the first time that this small county actually had decent air quality.
“My high school classmates said that once the pandemic is over, if school hasn’t resumed, we should all meet up,” Chen Yao said, strutting ahead and surveying the monotonous scenery, “Our class teacher will come too; I remember he liked you pretty well.”
“Yeah.”
Back in high school, their class teacher was a classic protective figure. Once, when Lin Nan got hit in the head by a basketball on the playground, the teacher came rushing over and pulled the culprit out from a crowd of ten to make him apologize.
And even though he was pushing forty, he had no formal airs around students. Lin Nan often tagged along with a group of classmates to his office for some fruits and snacks.
“Wasn’t it said that the class teacher got divorced?”
Lin Nan suddenly recalled some gossip she had heard earlier.
“Yeah, last year. Now he’s a solo act. I was thinking of organizing a dinner right after the vacation and planned to visit him, but then this whole situation happened.”
“Uh-huh.” Lin Nan nodded absently.
She didn’t actually have much faith in love or marriage.
Her parents had turned against each other after twenty years of marriage, and with all the news about cuckoldry online, she naturally didn’t harbor any expectations for marriage.
But if it was with Chen Yao…
Lin Nan looked up at Chen Yao’s broad back.
Although he was a stereotypical straight man, she could always trust him.
“What if I joined the army? Wouldn’t you be a military wife?” Chen Yao joked, turning back with a grin. “But it’s probably for the best if I don’t go. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even know who you ran off with.”
“Who would I run off with?” Lin Nan rolled her eyes.
“Like, Zheng Qian?”
Immediately, Lin Nan understood that Chen Yao was jealous. She nodded, “He might be a bit more handsome than you, has a higher degree, and is generous… plus, he’s charming…”
Chen Yao’s smile froze.
“But I don’t like him.” Lin Nan blushed, turning her head, the next words sticking in her throat like an awkward burr, “I like… like…”
“Who do you like?” Chen Yao pressed eagerly.
Lin Nan’s shy emotions boiled over into irritation, and she kicked his knee, “Who do you think!”
Chen Yao jumped back, dodging her attack. He knew Lin Nan was usually pretty bashful, but teasing her was just too much fun.
He decided not to push his luck further, grinning as he took hold of her hand.
No matter how chilly it was, Lin Nan’s hands were always like ice, making his heart ache.
“I should get you some gloves.” He suggested.
“No need, I’m used to it.” Lin Nan looked down at her shoes. “My feet are frozen too; wearing socks doesn’t help.”
At Chen Yao’s house, she practically wore socks all day to keep her feet warm, but unless she soaked them in hot water, they were still cold.
“Just warm them up a bit, and they’ll feel better.”
Chen Yao stuffed Lin Nan’s hand into his coat pocket.
She felt a little shy but didn’t resist, just pursing her lips and gazing at the artificial lake beside them, her mouth curling slightly upwards.
Their pace seemed to lighten, and the cold wind didn’t feel as piercing as before. Lin Nan savored the peaceful moment.
The two strolled around the artificial lake for a few laps until Lin Nan’s legs began to ache, and only then did they head back home.
“I don’t know how those girls in high heels can endure hours of shopping.” As soon as they got home, Lin Nan kicked off her shoes and plopped onto the sofa with a comfortable sigh.
Chen Yao, focusing on slipping off his own shoes, didn’t quite catch what Lin Nan said, and excitedly looked up, “What? You’re going to wear high heels?”
“???”
Lin Nan stared at him in confusion, a few seconds passing, “No way?”
Though he had once been a guy, every guy’s interests varied, and Lin Nan was only just discovering that besides loving his tall stature, Chen Yao also had a thing for high heels.
And truthfully, high heels seemed to make legs look longer.
“What a shame,” Chen Yao said, placing his shoes into the shoe rack, “But high heels aren’t good for your feet. You should probably avoid them.”
Suddenly, Lin Nan stood up and marched over to him, gesturing wildly to compare heights.
Chen Yao was nearly six feet tall, and Lin Nan was just over five foot three; standing side by side, her forehead barely brushed his chin.
It seemed like wearing high heels was a must; otherwise, it would be awkward going out together, and looking up to talk to Chen Yao all the time would eventually strain her neck.
“What’s up?” Chen Yao peered down at her movements.
“I’ve decided! I’m getting a pair of high heels! Ten centimeters high!”
Definitely not because Chen Yao liked them.
“Aren’t you afraid of breaking your feet?”
Chen Yao reached out to ruffle her nearby little head, but Lin Nan shot him a glare and swatted his hand away. She took two steps back, looking displeased, “Why are you so tall? You were barely my height in middle school!”
“Who told you to stop growing after freshman year?” Chen Yao teased with a smirk. “No problem, just stay at my place a few more days; with some good nutrition, you might even grow a few centimeters more.”
The mention of this topic suddenly brought Lin Nan’s mood down.
In just a few days, she would have to leave, and she just couldn’t bear the thought of parting from Chen Yao.
If it had been just a few days ago, she might have happily slipped away, but after that confession, Chen Yao had climbed higher and higher in her heart.
Or rather, what had originally been a close friendship suddenly felt like there was so much more beneath the surface, but Lin Nan didn’t dare show it.
“There’s no place to sleep at your grandfather’s house, and there’s no inn around.” Chen Yao shrugged. “Should I sleep on the street instead?”
“Forget it, once the pandemic’s over, I’ll come back and stay for a few days. We can go to school together then?”
As they were talking, a piercing meow suddenly echoed from the bedroom. Both turned and saw that Cola had become a blur and dashed over, clinging to Lin Nan’s calf.
What on earth was happening?
