“I… what the…”
The stall owner stared at the scene in utter shock, watching the tall young man skillfully toss arrow after arrow into the wine jar, as if it was as easy as eating or drinking.
“It’s over, it’s over, it’s really over, all my work today was for nothing…” he muttered to himself, a pained expression plastered on his face.
He had thought things were under control, but disaster never comes alone.
Now he had run into not one, but two masters…
“Ahahaha… Come again next time!”
The middle-aged man forced a smile as he sent off the young man and woman, inwardly wanting to cry but with no tears.
His bottom line had dropped again and again, but at least he was grateful the two didn’t clear out his entire stock.
Please don’t come again next time!
I’m begging you!
Squeezing out from the crowd, the two continued walking down Lantern Street, exploring as they went.
Lin Xinyuan thought of the stall owner’s face just now, and could no longer control her expression. She couldn’t help but burst out laughing with a melodious “puchi” sound.
“What are you thinking about, Xiaoyuan? You’re so happy.”
Hearing the question, she looked like a little kid eager to share, her willow brows curved with excitement, and she quickly explained, “You didn’t see it, the look on that stall owner’s face when he saw you throw so many arrows in, hahaha… that expression… hahaha…”
It was the first time Qin Nanfeng had seen the girl laugh so brightly. Usually, she was gloomy, and even when happy, her expressions were always restrained.
He smiled gently, quietly watching the girl’s lively face as she recounted the story, nodding in agreement and laughing along with her from time to time.
When Lin Xinyuan finally calmed down from her emotions, Qin Nanfeng changed the topic.
“Seems like just now Xiaoyuan was talking bad about me to someone, huh?”
The young man’s expression suddenly turned playfully unfriendly, his tone teasing, which instantly made Lin Xinyuan panic. Clearly, she hadn’t expected the topic to switch so fast.
Is this guy sharp-eared or something? How did he even notice?
“No, I… I was just talking about clothes?”
Her tone was uncertain, her eyes dodged his gaze, and when she caught sight of Qin Nanfeng’s smile, she felt even more uneasy.
Qin Nanfeng saw her guilty look and pretty much guessed the truth.
He couldn’t help but feel a bit complicated inside—Lin Xinyuan really didn’t know how to protect herself, always letting her feelings show on her face.
Even though she’d always been withdrawn since childhood, to still be like this wasn’t easy. But it also made him worry about her.
Yet, it was exactly her simplicity that made everything he did go much more smoothly…
“Mm.” Qin Nanfeng didn’t pursue the matter further. He handed over the plastic-sealed box in his hand. “Here, take this, I don’t need it.”
Lin Xinyuan was a little stunned, not expecting this guy to let her off so easily this time.
“What are you spacing out for?”
Hearing this, she finally snapped out of it, suspicion appearing on her face. “Really?”
She didn’t dare to reach for it, afraid it was another one of Qin Nanfeng’s tricks. And even though she wanted it, something so expensive made her hesitant to accept.
This Huaxing phone’s official price was over six thousand yuan!
Not that she wanted to use it herself—she was still getting by just fine with a cheap phone.
For her, as long as a phone worked, it was good enough.
She just wanted to sell it for some cash…
But if Stinky Blond really gave it to her, she probably wouldn’t sell it after all…
“Fake, then I’ll just give it to someone else.”
Lin Xinyuan immediately became anxious. After all, better herself than someone else!
Her left hand was still hugging the brand-new Niso Headphones she’d just gotten, so she reached out with her other hand to take it. “Eh? I want it, okay…”
But right at that moment, Qin Nanfeng, as if predicting it, raised both hands.
Lin Xinyuan opened her mouth slightly, tiptoeing to try and grab it, but the young man played with her just like dangling a cat toy in front of a kitten—lowering it one moment, raising it the next.
Just when she was about to get it, he would raise it again, over and over, never letting her touch it.
She jumped lightly in place, but it was useless—the height difference was just too much.
“Fine, forget it…”
A minute later, Lin Xinyuan looked at the smile on Stinky Blond’s face and turned away, fuming.
She got it—this guy was just messing with her! As expected, another trick!
What an annoying guy.
A boring big dummy…
The girl unconsciously puffed up her cheeks, her defeated look pitiful yet somehow making Qin Nanfeng even more delighted.
Seeing Lin Xinyuan walking faster and faster, clearly wanting to ignore him, he grinned and caught up to her in a few big strides.
“Kidding, kidding, here, it’s yours.”
Lin Xinyuan was still a bit frustrated, but she wasn’t ungrateful. She knew Qin Nanfeng’s personality. Even though she didn’t know why Stinky Blond liked teasing her so much, in truth, she didn’t hate it.
In fact, maybe she kind of hoped things could always be like this…
It’s not that she had some weird preference, it’s just—she was afraid…
Afraid that one day, Qin Nanfeng wouldn’t joke around with her like this anymore…
If it ever got to that point, it would mean their relationship wasn’t as close anymore, or maybe Stinky Blond wouldn’t care about her at all…
That was something she didn’t want to accept…
“Mm.”
Lin Xinyuan quietly took what Qin Nanfeng handed over, her mood inexplicably sinking, walking absent-mindedly on her own.
She bit her lip lightly, her eyes unconsciously growing moist, her heart in turmoil.
Just then, a large hand suddenly reached out in front of her.
Lin Xinyuan was stunned, following the broad hand with her gaze to see Qin Nanfeng raise his eyebrows at her, and nod toward the item she was holding in her other hand:
“I’m just missing a pair of headphones, why don’t you give me one?”
“You…” Lin Xinyuan stared blankly at Qin Nanfeng’s face, tears glittering in her eyes. She quickly realized she was acting strange, turned her gaze away, and handed it over, “H-here… for you…”
Qin Nanfeng took the plastic box without a glance, then reached to hold her small hand.
“What are you doing!”
Whether it was because of her period or not, Lin Xinyuan just couldn’t stop the wave of irritation. She tried to break free from his hand, but with Qin Nanfeng’s strength, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape.
After a while, her mood gradually calmed. She realized how unreasonable she had just been, and looked down awkwardly.
Looking at the now-tamed little kitten who was no longer throwing a tantrum, Qin Nanfeng playfully kneaded her slender fingers. “Crybaby Xiaoyuan, what are you thinking about, getting all moody again?”
“…
The girl hadn’t managed to finish her sentence when Qin Nanfeng interrupted, “No, huh? Can’t you tell me something new for once?”
“PS…”
Hearing this, Lin Xinyuan didn’t want to say anything at all, shrank her head, and walked on in silence.
She didn’t want to answer, and Qin Nanfeng wasn’t in a rush. The atmosphere between them cooled with time, but holding hands, both of them still felt a strange, comforting warmth.
The rest of the way, the two were pretty much like that.
Along the way, Qin Nanfeng somehow found a paper bag, packed up the prizes they’d won at the arrow-tossing stall, and carried it himself.
As for Lin Xinyuan, she kept her head down the whole time, staring blankly at the stone-brick road beneath her feet.
Truthfully, her little tantrum had long faded—not because of pride, because pride is the last thing that matters. She just didn’t feel like talking, that was all…
“Ow!”
Lin Xinyuan suddenly felt her forehead hit something hard. A sharp pain instantly brought her back to her senses.
She stepped back, quickly clutching her forehead and taking a sharp breath.
“Hiss…”