Chapter 117: Dependency

After Lin Xinyuan stepped out, she walked a short distance before spotting a somewhat familiar black sedan.

This was also why she had specifically told Qin Nanfeng to park a little farther away.

She glanced around cautiously for a moment, then quickly jogged over, opened the door, and got in without hesitation.

“Drive!”

As soon as Lin Xinyuan got in, she urged hurriedly. Her grandfather was still wandering somewhere outside, and she was a little worried about him seeing her return—it would be a disaster!

Qin Nanfeng didn’t start the car immediately. Instead, he glanced sharply at the person beside him. Seeing her flustered expression, he changed his mind and feigned innocent curiosity, “You look pretty anxious, huh?”

Lin Xinyuan had just fastened her seatbelt and hadn’t expected Qin Nanfeng to suddenly ask such a question. Her mind went blank for a moment, stammering, “Uh… I… I’m not—”

She quickly recovered and instinctively retorted, “I’m not anxious at all! Not even a little!”

She wanted to pretend everything was normal, but since she wasn’t good at lying, she couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty.

“Oh… really? Then should I go out for a smoke?” Qin Nanfeng said cheerfully, making a move to open the door.

“Hey, you… don’t!”

Lin Xinyuan immediately panicked, leaning over and tugging at Qin Nanfeng’s sleeve.

If he went out like this, wouldn’t it be even easier to get noticed?

“Why not?”

Qin Nanfeng turned his head and stared straight at her, raising an eyebrow.

The young man’s eyes were deep and sharp, radiating a predatory intensity as they locked onto Lin Xinyuan. Her body stiffened involuntarily.

She hadn’t felt much before, but now under Qin Nanfeng’s gaze, seeing his handsome face made her involuntarily recall certain memories…

Her heart raced, and she quickly lowered her eyes, turning her head to avoid looking at him, releasing her grip on his sleeve.

Her mind was a mess. Thinking about what she had done with that smelly blonde over the past few days made her neck flush with red.

“N-no… it’s nothing…”

“Then should I go out?”

“No!”

“Then tell me why.”

“Because I said no, that’s why!”

Lin Xinyuan’s tone was flustered, but she dared not turn back. She kept staring out the window, knowing that if she looked back, that smelly blonde would definitely see her blushing face.

“Oh, alright then.”

Qin Nanfeng chuckled quietly and dropped the matter. After all, going too far wasn’t good either. It was rare to bully a girl face-to-face like this, and it felt pretty satisfying.

Without another word, he started the engine and drove away.

The two remained silent throughout the journey, the atmosphere calm.

Lin Xinyuan was still trying to calm herself, attempting to stop recalling those images. Fortunately, it somewhat worked—the burning sensation on her face had eased considerably.

Meanwhile, Qin Nanfeng drove on, occasionally casting subtle glances at the girl.

In the unseen corners of the car, his gaze was like a sly old wolf, secretly watching with determination.

It wasn’t clear how long passed before Lin Xinyuan’s thoughts finally settled, and she managed to compose herself.

“Where are we going to play?”

She suddenly asked, pretending to be casual as she glanced at Qin Nanfeng beside her, then turned her gaze back to the window like nothing had happened.

The road widened, and the buildings on the roadside grew taller. Judging by this, they had likely arrived in the city center.

“I don’t know, you recommend somewhere?”

Lin Xinyuan rolled her eyes in frustration. “I don’t know anything about Lei City. Asking me is useless.”

“Then I’ll look up some nearby spots online.”

“Whatever. You’re the guide anyway.”

“All right.” Qin Nanfeng nodded, found a spot to park, and began searching on his phone.

Lin Xinyuan waited quietly, bored, stealing glances at Qin Nanfeng from the corner of her eye.

Though he usually acted frivolous, when he worked, he was focused and serious.

They say a serious man is handsome, but when someone already strikingly handsome becomes serious, it’s truly eye-catching.

The girl unknowingly got drawn in, her legs tightening together, a faint flush appearing on her face…

“How about Drum City? The reviews seem pretty good.”

“…”

Qin Nanfeng suddenly looked up, startling Lin Xinyuan back to reality. She quickly looked away in embarrassment. “Anything’s fine…”

She was a little flustered now, not sure if the smelly blonde had noticed…

But Qin Nanfeng acted as if he hadn’t, just nodding, “Okay, then let’s go. It’s close.”

Seeing this, the girl quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

If Qin Nanfeng found out she had been secretly staring at him so intently, she’d probably be branded a pervert from Nan Tong.

She was afraid he’d leave because of it…

Even if not that extreme, he’d tease her every day afterward!

The car drove steadily until they reached the destination, parking in the lot.

Lin Xinyuan got out and closed the door, her eyes immediately catching the tall city gate standing not far away.

It was peak season, and the square in front of the gate buzzed with people.

At first glance, it looked like an ancient building, but Lin Xinyuan only took a distant look before realizing it must be a newly developed tourist attraction.

The bricks and tiles were too new, and there were even advertisements plastered on the city walls, which looked out of place.

As a local, Lin Xinyuan had heard of Drum City before, though she hadn’t visited Lei City until now.

Drum City was a tourist spot built around the region’s deep drum culture.

Those pseudo-ancient cities followed the same concept…

“Shall we go?”

Qin Nanfeng locked the car and walked up to Lin Xinyuan.

“Mm.”

They walked in single file, passing through the city gate quickly. Shops and stalls appeared on both sides of the road, and the crowd thickened.

Lin Xinyuan walked silently. The crowd was quite large, and many people kept glancing at her, which made her uncomfortable.

Maybe others would enjoy the attention, but not her. Yet she couldn’t exactly wear a sack and go out.

Her pace unconsciously quickened.

When she remembered there was someone behind her and turned to look back, the tall figure in the crowd had already vanished.

Crap…

Where did that smelly blonde go?

Panic crept up inside her as she looked around, searching amid puzzled glances from others.

Still no sign of him…

Where did he go…

No…

A sour feeling bloomed in Lin Xinyuan’s chest, memories of lonely times flashing through her mind, making her breath quicken.

Just as she reached to pull out her phone to call Qin Nanfeng, a hand suddenly patted her slender shoulder.

“Hey?”

Lin Xinyuan’s body shivered instinctively, her breath halting for a moment. Then, hearing that familiar voice, she immediately turned her head.

“Where did you just go?”

Looking at Qin Nanfeng, she couldn’t help but sound reproachful, her eyes still tinged with lingering panic.

For some reason, the moment she realized Qin Nanfeng was missing, she couldn’t stop feeling scared…

Reminding her of those days going to and from school alone…

“Sorry…”

Qin Nanfeng saw tears welling in her eyes and froze for a moment, then quietly handed her something hidden behind his back.

“Here, tanghulu.”

“I’m not eating that! I’m not a kid.”

Lin Xinyuan’s voice was muffled, clearly displeased by Qin Nanfeng’s obliviousness.

Was this a little tantrum?

Qin Nanfeng knew Lin Xinyuan rarely threw tantrums. She was too good-natured, basically soft and easy to bully…

He hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from her.

But maybe that was a good sign—it proved his place in the girl’s heart was growing stronger?

How wonderful…

Heh…