The biting wind struck against their clothes, making a muffled sound.
Back inside Drum City it hadn’t felt so bad, but now that she was up on the city wall, the chill hit the girl all at once.
“Achoo!”
Lin Xinyuan covered her mouth, unable to hold back a sneeze. Then she hugged her arms to her chest, shivering.
This hanfu clearly wasn’t made for the cold, especially around her arms and from her collarbone to her neck—the chill seeped right in.
Just then, a wave of warmth washed over her. A coat was suddenly draped over her shoulders.
“How is it? Still cold?”
The young man’s caring voice warmed her heart. She hugged the coat closer—a coat that carried that stupid yellow-haired guy’s warmth and scent—and shook her head. “Not cold anymore. If you let me wear it, won’t you be cold?”
“It’s fine. You’re still not over that thing yet, so you need to keep warm.”
Lin Xinyuan glanced at Qin Nanfeng, who was only wearing a sweater. Even though he said so, worry still flickered in her eyes.
As if she’d just thought of something, she hesitated.
“How about…”
Lin Xinyuan found it hard to get the words out. She hesitated for a long while but still couldn’t say it.
She averted her gaze, tugged at the coat, leaving more than half of it open. “Here, in case you get sick and then blame me for making you uncomfortable…”
Pretending not to care, the girl didn’t dare look Qin Nanfeng in the eye, masking her true feelings.
Her awkwardness made Qin Nanfeng want to laugh, but knowing Lin Xinyuan’s thin skin, he held it back.
“So that’s how it is. Then I guess I should thank you, Xiao Yuan.”
As he spoke, his tall figure leaned in.
Lin Xinyuan said nothing, just kept staring into the distance, but was keenly aware of every move beside her.
Even though Qin Nanfeng’s coat was oversized, squeezing in two people was a tight fit. What space was left barely covered most of Qin Nanfeng’s back.
Better than nothing…
They stood so close, Lin Xinyuan’s shoulder pressed tight to Qin Nanfeng’s arm. Together, under the same coat, they stood behind the railing, quietly waiting for the fireworks feast to begin.
Even with the fierce wind atop the city wall, there were still plenty of people coming and going besides them, so the atmosphere was fairly lively.
Yet Lin Xinyuan’s heart was nowhere near calm. Thinking back to her own forwardness just now, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
Her nose was filled with Qin Nanfeng’s scent, his burning body heat tormenting her heart, making it race.
Qin Nanfeng could clearly feel the girl’s heartbeat. Though he was no longer the green youth he once was, with the one he liked so close, how could he remain indifferent?
His Adam’s apple bobbed. Her softness and fragrance left him addicted…
He wished he could claim her right now, but the time wasn’t right yet. What a pity…
Before they knew it, it was nine thirty. As a few slow, introductory drumbeats sounded from the center of Drum City, the fireworks feast officially began—
Clusters of light soared from afar, slicing through the darkness, streaking across the starless night, blooming into vibrant, colorful flowers.
At once, the whole world came alive.
The firelight shone on the girl, revealing her beautiful, blushing face in stark clarity.
Lin Xinyuan had lost count of how many times her face had turned red today. She only remembered that the heat had hardly left her cheeks, as long as she was with this guy…
She could feel Qin Nanfeng’s gaze resting on her, and with them standing so close, their arms touching, their breaths mingling, she felt it even more intensely.
It really was… just like a couple?
At this thought, Lin Xinyuan’s heart gave a trembling flutter.
Sometimes she really wanted to just ask Qin Nanfeng—did he realize how abnormal their daily interactions were? Or was this kind of closeness normal between good friends?
Or maybe he already knew… and it wasn’t just playful banter between friends, but on purpose…
Just thinking that her budding, secret feelings might be nothing but a toy in the young man’s eyes made her feel miserable…
Her heart was tangled, and she couldn’t hold back any longer. Finally, she made up her mind.
“Qin Nanfeng…”
“Hmm?”
Seeing the change in Lin Xinyuan’s expression, Qin Nanfeng seemed to know what she wanted to say and showed no confusion.
Lin Xinyuan bit her lip gently. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead. Don’t hem and haw—you’re always like this. Not like a man at all. I used to worry someone would bully you,” Qin Nanfeng said with a light laugh, sweeping his gaze over the girl. “Well, that’s not a worry anymore.”
“Uhh…”
Lin Xinyuan was a little embarrassed—she had lived as a man for eighteen years, and only in the past few months had she turned out like this…
Falling so quickly, and to such an extreme…
But it felt like Qin Nanfeng meant she was suited to being a girl.
Did that mean he accepted who she was now, from the bottom of his heart?
Well, it made sense… Otherwise, he wouldn’t still be friends with someone as gloomy as her…
But friends and couples were nothing alike…
Qin Nanfeng’s gentle deflection put Lin Xinyuan at ease a little. She took a deep breath and spoke slowly. “Qin Nanfeng, if… I mean if…”
“Please don’t ever ignore me again, okay? No matter what…”
In the end, she was still a coward—unable to directly ask the real question, she could only settle for the next best thing: asking Qin Nanfeng for a promise.
I don’t know, you stupid yellow-haired guy, if you’re doing this on purpose or not…
But if one day, you ever find out, please, please, never leave me…
I can’t accept it.
The girl’s petite body trembled slightly, almost as if pleading, turning her head to look at Qin Nanfeng with expectant eyes.
Another firework exploded, unable to break the silence between the two.
Qin Nanfeng finally understood what Lin Xinyuan had been worrying about.
Because of things she’d experienced as a child, the girl was overly sensitive and fragile, unable to freely respond to these new emotions.
In short, she just didn’t trust him enough…
“I don’t know why you’re like this, Xiao Yuan…” Qin Nanfeng gently patted the girl’s little head, his eyes soft, his tone full of certainty. “But if it’s you, then of course.”
He didn’t try to comfort her with words. Maybe if he confessed right now, he could win the girl over.
But it would feel like taking advantage…
What he wanted… was her whole heart and soul, without any shadow between them.
Only when Lin Xinyuan trusted him enough, when she broke through her inner barriers, would it be the right moment for him.
Like a cunning hunter, the young man hid in the grass, watching the weak little wildcat, waiting for it to relax its guard so he could capture it, skin it, pick its bones clean…
“Thank you.”
Lin Xinyuan gave a grateful smile, but in Qin Nanfeng’s eyes, it was tinged with bitterness.
Her smile was beautiful, but it carried a hint of sorrow…
At that sight, Qin Nanfeng’s mind buzzed, and a stabbing pain shot through his head.
That familiar feeling…
Damn, why now…
He clenched his right hand hard, veins bulging as he endured the sudden pain, his breath growing heavy.
Strange fragments flashed through his mind. In the end, it was the same smile, then the scene froze and instantly shattered into pieces.
It all happened in a split second. The pain faded as quickly as it came, and after a brief daze, Qin Nanfeng soon felt normal again.
“What’s wrong?”
The girl blinked her almond-shaped eyes at him, puzzled.
Qin Nanfeng’s forehead still twitched slightly, a residual ache lingering in his head.
Feeling the strange, scattered memories in his mind, his heart grew complicated.
He looked at Lin Xinyuan’s face, deep in thought, but on the surface, he betrayed nothing. He shook his head. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking it’s about time to head back—want to take a photo together as a memento?”
“Sure!”
Lin Xinyuan’s tone brightened a little. Clearly, the young man’s answer had put her in a very good mood.
“Get a little closer, Xiao Yuan.”
“Like this?”
“Yeah, just like that.”
“Click—”
M
Аг