Shen Huaixue, however, remained completely calm. Her hand landed on his back and gently pulled him closer to her: “She’s shy, she was just frightened earlier.”
Lin Jianqing: She could say whatever she wanted. Lin Jianqing no longer cared.
She said “friend,” but her actions were anything but friend-appropriate distance.
Yet those people wore knowing expressions, as if everything Shen Huaixue said was mere formality—they had already filled in a completely different version in their minds.
Lin Jianqing wanted to pull away, but Shen Huaixue’s fingertip pressed lightly against his back, the meaning unmistakable.
Lin Jianqing could only steel himself and stand beside her, forcing his expression to look as if he hadn’t heard anything.
But when someone complimented his beauty, Shen Huaixue tilted her head to look at him, the smugness in her eyes not even trying to be hidden.
When they finally entered the VIP passage, Lin Jianqing felt as if he’d been completely hollowed out.
The passage was much quieter, without the crowd-packed commotion of the regular exit. Occasional staff members passed by.
Lin Jianqing thought he was finally safe—but the moment they reached the underground parking area, he saw several familiar figures emerging from the other side.
His footsteps stopped instantly. Shen Huaixue followed his gaze.
“Roommates?”
“Don’t talk.” Lin Jianqing kept his voice very low.
Those people weren’t close, with several cars and pillars standing between them. As long as they didn’t look this way, they shouldn’t be discovered. But Lin Jianqing could no longer trust the word “should.”
Shen Huaixue opened the car door and took out a black cap and a mask, handing them to him.
Lin Jianqing froze: “You have these?”
“Mm, of course.”
“Then why didn’t you take them out earlier?” Lin Jianqing anxiously reached for the mask and cap in Shen Huaixue’s hands, but she, as if deliberately, used her height advantage to hold them above her head, making sure Lin Jianqing couldn’t reach them.
“Give them to me!” Seeing Shen Huaixue’s unbothered look, Lin Jianqing was so anxious he was about to spin in circles on the spot.
“Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you.” Seeing how anxious Lin Jianqing was, Shen Huaixue felt inexplicably pleased.
She set the cap directly onto his head, then hung the mask on him, her movements unhurried, her answer especially earnest: “The reason I didn’t take them out earlier is because I thought you wouldn’t need these.”
Lin Jianqing looked at her through the mask, his eyes already half-dead.
“You’re genuinely insane.”
Lin Jianqing knew perfectly well in his heart that everything developing to this extent was inseparable from this Black Milk Dragon, yet she was now acting like the good Samaritan.
If his strength permitted, Lin Jianqing would have shown Shen Huaixue what “manly prowess” meant. That’s not right, is it?
Forget it. Lin Jianqing shook his head, planning to find a chance to get back at Shen Huaixue later.
Of course, that chance would almost certainly never exist.
“Get in the car first.” Shen Huaixue pressed his cap brim down, her fingertips brushing his ear as she spoke, “They’re about to come over.”
That sentence worked better than anything. Lin Jianqing immediately dove into the car. The moment the door closed, the outside sounds were cut off.
Still, he didn’t dare relax completely, watching through the window as those roommates walked past not far away.
***
The next second, Lin Jianqing’s phone vibrated again.
‘I think I just saw someone very similar in the parking lot.’
‘It’s clearly the same person. Didn’t you see Shen Huaixue next to her?’
‘Too bad, we didn’t get a photo.’
From the movements earlier, Lin Jianqing’s roommates had clearly intended to pull out their phones to take pictures—but Shen Huaixue had sensed it beforehand and shoved Lin Jianqing straight into the car.
Lin Jianqing nearly crushed his phone. They really had been seen after all.
Shen Huaixue leaned over to take a look, a smile immediately rising: “Their eyesight isn’t bad. They could see you from that far away. Looks like you’re truly radiating charm. Are you the type that appeals to both men and women?”
“Shut up.”
“Oho~ did I hit the mark? I never would’ve guessed, Lin Jianqing. You actually have this kind of preference. Let me guess—with your personality and your looks, you’re probably the one being dominated……”
“Get lost, Shen Huaixue!” Hearing Shen Huaixue’s words, Lin Jianqing was like a cat with its fur standing on end, lunging over to bite her.
“Hey hey… calm down now. Buckle up, we’re heading home.” Taking advantage of the fact that Lin Jianqing in the passenger seat hadn’t fully lunged over, Shen Huaixue casually “secured” him with the seatbelt.
Actually, deep down, Shen Huaixue kind of hoped Lin Jianqing would lunge over… Looking at him, just by his appearance, he seemed soft and fragrant.
Too bad, her body moved faster than her mind.
This time, Lin Jianqing would rather die than respond again. If he said one more word, he truly wouldn’t be able to return to the dormitory acting as if nothing had happened tonight.
The car slowly drove out of the parking lot. Only when the gymnasium’s lights were left behind did Lin Jianqing lean back into his seat and let out a long breath.
Shen Huaixue looked at him, then suddenly asked: “Were you scared today?”
Lin Jianqing closed his eyes and answered grumpily: “Scared. I’m scared of you, alright?” Lin Jianqing truly feared Shen Huaixue, this Plague God.
“Scared of me?”
The car was quiet for a moment. Lin Jianqing wanted to act tough, but that moment on the arena, he truly couldn’t forget. Shen Huaixue had barely moved before she sent that wind blade off course. She had the ability to control people directly.
Those mind-control silk threads… He inexplicably had a bad feeling.
The camera’s sudden turn—although cameras filming the audience was normal… but Lin Jianqing and Shen Huaixue were in the VIP seating, and VIP seating generally required privacy… And also.
What?
Lin Jianqing clearly remembered—his roommates shouldn’t have a car, right? Even when taking a taxi, no one would come to the underground garage. What were they doing in the underground parking lot for no reason?
It was somewhat unsettling to think about.
Lin Jianqing really wanted to ask Shen Huaixue whether it had been intentional or accidental, but he knew that once he opened his mouth, Shen Huaixue’s teasing was unavoidable.
“A bit.” Lin Jianqing carefully recalled what had just happened, and combined with Shen Huaixue’s various behaviors, he had no choice but to say that.
‘I wonder if this woman has mind reading abilities.’
Lin Jianqing turned sideways to look at Shen Huaixue, but she didn’t say anything.
Lin Jianqing opened his eyes and added: “Besides, you’re even more annoying today.”
Shen Huaixue was taken aback, then laughed.
“If you’re scared of me and still find me annoying? I think I’m the considerate and understanding type of person.”
“Scared is scared. Annoying is annoying.” Lin Jianqing pulled the cap down a little, his voice muffled, “You’re genuinely annoying.”
Shen Huaixue tilted her head to look at him. He’d been tormented all day. The makeup on his face made Lin Jianqing uncomfortable. The cap pressed down on the wig, and beneath the wig was Lin Jianqing’s shoulder-length hair.
The mask hung at his chin, making the whole person look tired and annoyed—yet he still refused to be completely soft verbally.
In Shen Huaixue’s eyes, Lin Jianqing wearing the mask and cap had undoubtedly entered the ‘jiahao’ form, except his eyes carried a hint of aggression.
It seemed his personality still needed some training… no, adjusting his emotional management was the correct term.
Shen Huaixue’s mood suddenly became excellent. She reached out and touched his cap brim.
Lin Jianqing immediately became wary: “What are you doing now?”
“Nothing.” Shen Huaixue withdrew her hand, a smile still at the corner of her lips, “Just thinking you’ve been quite obedient today. Looks like my training these past few days has been effective.”
Lin Jianqing was silent for two seconds. “Shen Huaixue!”
“Hm?”
“If you say that kind of thing again, I’ll really bite you.”
Shen Huaixue’s smile deepened even further.
“Then you should sharpen your teeth first. With your teeth, you probably can’t even break through my defense.”