On the way back to school, Lin Jianqing wasn’t keeping his face tense the whole time for a change.
The night scenery outside the window continuously receded, the lights in the center of Linzhou City stretched into thin strands, like paint scattered by rain.
The car was very quiet. Shen Huaixue didn’t continue joking about him wearing women’s clothing, nor did she say anything strange.
This instead made Lin Jianqing a bit uncomfortable.
He was sitting in the passenger seat, hands on his knees, occasionally glancing in Shen Huaixue’s direction. She was driving.
She had one hand on the steering wheel, her expression calm, her profile outlined by the dim blue light from the dashboard, giving her a cold contour.
When she didn’t speak, she actually looked quite normal.
She even somewhat resembled that kind of very reliable mature woman.
Of course, that was just how she looked.
Lin Jianqing quickly added a comment to himself.
‘After all, as soon as this person opens her mouth, she can precisely destroy the little illusion he had just formed.’
But tonight she really didn’t do anything too excessive. Shopping, eating, buying clothes.
Although the process was very torturous for Lin Jianqing, especially when trying on clothes, Shen Huaixue’s gaze was clearly playful, making him want to escape from the fitting room several times.
But apart from that, she didn’t go further.
Even at the end, she even had the driver send the purchased items somewhere else, not making him carry those big bags back to the dorm.
Lin Jianqing had originally prepared himself to carry a pile of paper bags back to the dorm and experience social death again.
In the end, Shen Huaixue just casually said:
“Those clothes don’t need to be taken back. I’ll have someone put them away.”
At that moment, Lin Jianqing was stunned.
Shen Huaixue seemed to see his confusion and lazily added:
“Your dorm isn’t a warehouse. Besides, your hiding skills probably aren’t great. If your roommate finds out, with your language ability, you probably wouldn’t be able to explain it, right?”
Lin Jianqing wanted to retort on the spot. But the words were on the tip of his tongue, and he silently swallowed them back. Shen Huaixue was right—his hiding skills really weren’t that good, and his mouth was clumsy. From childhood, whenever he argued with others, Lin Jianqing had never won.
That suitcase from yesterday was still under the bed. Every time Lin Jianqing saw it, he felt guilty, always thinking that one day his roommate might inadvertently pull it out. He thought of this, and his expression turned subtle.
He secretly glanced at Shen Huaixue.
‘So this person isn’t completely unreasonable after all?’
This thought had just appeared, and Lin Jianqing immediately suppressed it in his mind.
‘No, can’t think like that.’
‘He could summarize that Shen Huaixue was the type to give a little benefit first, then let people let their guard down, and then drop a big bomb later.’
‘Anyway… the current feeling is scheming and nasty.’
‘But on the other hand…’
Today’s dinner was really good. The fish at that restaurant was also nice, and the dessert suited his taste.
Shen Huaixue even seemed to have specifically told the waiter to put less chili.
Lin Jianqing initially thought it was a coincidence, but later realized that Shen Huaixue had very naturally taken into account that he couldn’t eat spicy food well when ordering.
The problem was, he seemed to have never told Shen Huaixue that he couldn’t eat spicy food well.
Thinking of this, Lin Jianqing’s expression stiffened again.
‘But… thinking carefully, Shen Huaixue really did investigate him thoroughly.’
His mood, which had just become slightly calmer, instantly turned complicated again.
Shen Huaixue seemed to notice his gaze and suddenly spoke:
“You’ve looked at me seven times the whole way. What do you want?”
Lin Jianqing was startled and immediately looked away.
“Nothing.”
“There is.”
“You’re counting this while driving?”
“I have a very good memory.”
Lin Jianqing had nothing to say.
After a few seconds, he couldn’t help but ask in a low voice:
“Those clothes… really don’t need to be put in my dorm?”
Shen Huaixue glanced at him.
“What, you really want to hide them? Or do you actually like them so much that you sometimes secretly try them on?”
“Of course not.”
“Then what are you asking for?”
“I’m just confirming.”
Shen Huaixue’s lips curled up slightly.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let you carry women’s clothing in and out of the boys’ dorm every day.”
When Lin Jianqing heard the words “women’s clothing,” the tips of his ears turned red almost instantly.
Lin Jianqing felt he shouldn’t have brought up this topic.
Shen Huaixue, seeing him choked, seemed in a good mood.
“Your ears are red.”
Lin Jianqing immediately raised his hand and touched his ear.
After touching it, he regretted it.
Because that action amounted to admitting it.
Shen Huaixue chuckled.
Lin Jianqing put his hand down, trying hard to keep a calm expression.
“It’s a bit hot in the car.”
“It’s nighttime.”
“It’s my constitution.”
“Oh, really? Since when did you have such a strange constitution?”
Shen Huaixue dragged out her words, clearly not believing him.
Lin Jianqing simply shut up. He realized that every time he bickered with Shen Huaixue, he ended up losing.
But maybe because Shen Huaixue really hadn’t gone too far today, although Lin Jianqing was a bit annoyed by her teasing, he didn’t feel the same intense pressure as before.
At least now, he could still retort a few times.
He could still feel embarrassed.
He could still want to find a hole to crawl into because she caught him with red ears.
This seemed a bit better than the breathless state of a few days ago.
When the car approached the school, Shen Huaixue didn’t stop directly in front of the dorm building. Instead, she pulled over at a spot a short distance from the dorm area.
Lin Jianqing was stunned. “Are we here?”
“Mm.”
Shen Huaixue unlocked the doors.
“Get out here.”
Lin Jianqing looked outside, then at her.
This place was a few minutes’ walk from the dorm building, but there were far fewer people here than at the dorm entrance, and it wasn’t easy to run into acquaintances.
Lin Jianqing suddenly understood her intention.
He had originally expected Shen Huaixue to deliberately park in front of the dorm building so others could see him, or at least tease him about it.
But she didn’t.
She had even, as if thinking ahead, parked in a spot that wouldn’t embarrass him too much.
Lin Jianqing’s fingers holding his phone twitched slightly.
The wariness in his heart hadn’t disappeared.
But there was also a bit more of something indescribable.
‘It’s not gratitude, definitely not.’
‘Just… slightly less annoyed.’
‘A little, just a little.’
“Thanks.”
Lin Jianqing said in a low voice.
After he said it, he felt uncomfortable himself.
Shen Huaixue also seemed a bit surprised. She turned her head to look at him, her eyes carrying a hint of playfulness.
“Thanks for what?”
Lin Jianqing immediately regretted it.
He knew Shen Huaixue wouldn’t let this opportunity slip.
“Nothing.”
He was about to get out of the car, but Shen Huaixue called out to him with a smile.
“Lin Jianqing.”
“What now?”
“Did you just think that I’m actually not a bad person?”
Lin Jianqing’s body stiffened.
‘Can this woman read minds?’
He turned his head, trying to force a calm expression.
“No.”
“Really?”
“No.”
“Then why are your ears red again?”
“Shen Huaixue!”
Lin Jianqing was genuinely a bit flustered this time.
He reached for the car door, his movements much quicker than before.
Shen Huaixue watched his flustered yet composed manner, and her smile deepened.
“Take care.”
Lin Jianqing’s foot, which had just stepped out, paused.
He didn’t turn around, just let out a very soft “Mm.”
Then he closed the car door and walked toward the dormitory with his head down. The night breeze blew, tousling the hair on his forehead. After walking a distance, Lin Jianqing couldn’t help but look back.
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