At the dining table, steam from the hot pot kept rising, and the rich aroma of beef tallow and chili filled the air, creating a blazing atmosphere in this winter.
The group chatted about other topics as they ate.
Winter Hearth Chat of the Mortal World—there’s no denying it’s one of life’s rare treasures, and for a while, everyone was having a great time.
Especially Qin Nanfeng, who always managed to come up with new topics whenever there was a lull in the conversation. His discussions were vivid and interesting, so much so that even Tang Chengmin, who had been probing him, couldn’t help but admire him.
Meanwhile, Lin Xinyuan kept quietly eating, just listening to their conversation. Still feeling awkward, she rarely joined in.
Even when she couldn’t eat anymore, she kept pretending, so after more than ten minutes, it seemed like the food in her bowl hadn’t been touched at all—it was already getting cold.
Noticing her state, Qin Nanfeng shook his head, then suddenly reached out, took her bowl, and dumped all her food into his own, preparing to eat it himself.
This move left not only Tang Chengmin and his sister astonished, but even Lin Xinyuan herself was stunned.
“What are you doing…” Lin Xinyuan patted Qin Nanfeng’s thigh under the table with her small hand, a little embarrassed, and whispered as she leaned in, “I’ve eaten it, there’s my saliva on it… Don’t eat it…”
Qin Nanfeng only gave her a mysterious smile and, very naturally, took out his phone, looking as if he was seriously replying to messages.
After putting the phone back in his pocket, Qin Nanfeng gave Lin Xinyuan an almost unnoticeable wink, hinting for her to check her phone.
[It’s nothing, I’ve already tasted your little mouth.]
Lin Xinyuan’s face instantly flushed after reading the message. She didn’t say a word, just lowered her head even more.
That feeling of being overtaken by the young man lingered in her heart, impossible to dispel.
Stupid yellow hair… Perverted guy…
Mmph…
Seeing her so shy, the siblings exchanged glances, not sure what had happened, only feeling like they’d just eaten a mouthful of dog food.
But aside from that, Tang Yayun seemed excited, the light in her eyes still shining bright.
It was much like the strange comfort you feel when you see the leads in a movie finally end up together after overcoming many hardships…
Time slipped by, and this hot pot meal lasted almost two hours before it finally ended.
Lin Xinyuan and Qin Nanfeng stood shoulder to shoulder by the roadside, while not far away, Tang Chengmin and his sister waited on their electric scooter. They didn’t rush Lin Xinyuan to go home; instead, they tactfully left space for the two to talk alone.
Qin Nanfeng took the girl’s small hand, ignoring her shyness and struggles, gently kneading it as if it were a precious treasure.
“Xiaoyuan, is there really nothing you want to say to me?” Qin Nanfeng spoke first, his voice soft, a lover’s murmur. “You know, I’m your boyfriend…”
Lin Xinyuan was most vulnerable to Qin Nanfeng speaking like this. No longer his usual teasing self, he sounded so tender and sweet she couldn’t refuse him at all.
“I said you’re not…”
Lin Xinyuan instinctively retorted, mumbling softly, too embarrassed to look at him. Feeling the warmth and touch from his palm, she found it hard to speak. Ever since their relationship had started, she had become much less daring than before.
As parting drew near, it was only natural to feel a bit reluctant, especially for Lin Xinyuan. But her reserved nature kept her from showing it, and with her cousin and the others still watching from not far away, her shame was all the greater.
“Really, so stubborn… Even after sharing food, Xiaoyuan still wants to argue?” Qin Nanfeng teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief, as if he’d just remembered something. “I recall that when someone was dating before, she only ever held hands, never anything more…”
He slowly leaned in, suddenly wrapping an arm around the girl’s soft, slender waist, making Lin Xinyuan shudder in surprise.
“What are you doing! Don’t… There are so many people…”
She could feel the curious glances of many passersby, making her embarrassment almost unbearable. Such intimate gestures in public were too much for her to handle.
Besides, this guy was still saying all sorts of shameless things.
But Qin Nanfeng paid no attention to her protest and continued, “Think about it—someone who’s never even kissed, just held hands, and already calls themselves a couple. Isn’t that funny?”
“You…” Lin Xinyuan’s expression twisted with shame and frustration, her face turning bright red.
The memories of her ex-boyfriend surfaced, especially those of his ex-girlfriend Li Xue.
Not only had her feelings been stifled by the stupid yellow-haired guy, but he’d also stolen her away, and now she herself… had fallen in…
A sudden wave of regret surged up from deep within, the leftover emotions of Lin Xinyuan. Maybe they’d never fade…
Because those were the traces of the boy who once existed…
Yet even if she regretted it, she didn’t dislike him—instead, she felt a bit lucky.
After all, if things hadn’t happened this way, she might never have had anything to do with “happiness”, wouldn’t have these loving elders by her side, or these friends…
Still, that sense of being humiliated by the stupid yellow-haired guy left her mortified.
And now, the culprit was confronting her in public, forcing her to admit to being his girlfriend. Even though it was basically true, how could she possibly say it out loud…
So shameful…
It was as if Lin Xinyuan could feel the passersby listening to their conversation. The conflicting emotions of being humiliated and being cared for made her fragile heart tremble, until she could only whimper weakly, “Stop talking…”
“In the end, he was left with nothing at all…”
Seeing Qin Nanfeng about to say more, Lin Xin could no longer take it. She quickly reached out and covered his mouth, trying to make him stop.
Her cheeks burned red, a mix of shame, embarrassment, and an indescribable twist of emotions churning in her heart. Her chest felt a little sour. “Brother Feng, please…”
The girl’s voice was soft and pleading, so quiet it was like a gentle drizzle. It was clear she was worried about the looks the passing strangers were giving them.
Lin Xinyuan’s fair, delicate hand was a little cold, still carrying her unique fresh scent, making one want to linger.
With her hand covering his mouth, her fragrance filled his nose. Qin Nanfeng narrowed his eyes, a hint of mischief glinting within.
He couldn’t help but gently savor her softness.
“Ah…”
The sudden damp warmth on her palm made Lin Xinyuan’s mind go blank for a moment. When she realized what happened, her hand felt like it was burning and she quickly pulled it back.
“You… disgusting…”
Her voice was so soft it was hardly scolding at all, but impossibly cute. She was about to cry—this guy had done such a thing in public… that familiar feeling…
“It’s alright, I don’t mind. Every part of you is sweet, Xiaoyuan…”
Qin Nanfeng leaned in close, whispering brazenly in the girl’s ear, his words endlessly ambiguous.
As soon as those words left his mouth, Lin Xinyuan’s body turned limp and she couldn’t say another word.
She simply couldn’t win against him—saying anything only made Qin Nanfeng tease her harder…
Seeing the girl shamed to her limit and unwilling to speak, Qin Nanfeng chuckled softly, then raised his voice, as if those shameless words just now weren’t from him at all: “But since Xiaoyuan has already said so, of course I won’t say anything more.”
“So, back to what I asked before: is there really nothing you want to say to me?” Qin Nanfeng patted her little head, his voice gentle. “If not, your boyfriend will be very sad.”
“…”
Lin Xinyuan quickly responded, not daring to refute Qin Nanfeng’s claim anymore.
She kept her gaze lowered, eyes full of struggle and hesitation, biting her lip. After a long while, she finally summoned a bit of courage.
“…Brother Feng, today I was… really happy…”
Her voice trembled, and though she only spoke under Qin Nanfeng’s pressure, the sincerity was clear in her words.
“…With you… by my side… I feel so happy…”
Illogical as it was, it was the most awkward and honest expression she could muster.
And to this point, it was the farthest someone as gloomy as her could go in expressing the shyness in her heart.
Her watery eyes lowered, unconsciously tinged with a trace of reluctance.
“Brother Feng, see you next time…”