Chapter 51: Gentle gaze

The car ultimately didn’t go straight back to school, but even if it had, Lin Jianqing would have firmly refused to get out.

Because he was still wearing women’s clothing. He couldn’t think of any place at school where he could change.

Lin Jianqing was leaning against the passenger seat, his cap brim pressed down low. He’d had more than enough for one day. If Shen Huaixue pulled another stunt, he might genuinely drop dead on the spot.

“Wait, aren’t you going the wrong way? Where are we going? And where am I supposed to change?”

Shen Huaixue rested one hand on the steering wheel, replying in a calm tone.

“We’re not.”

“Then where are you going?”

“My place.”

Lin Jianqing was silent for two seconds, then slowly turned his head to look at her.

“Your place?”

“Yeah.”

“Did I say I wanted to go to your place?”

“No.” Shen Huaixue answered naturally.

“But if you go back to the dorm looking like this, I think it’d be even more thrilling for you than getting spotted by your roommate in the parking lot earlier. If you want to try it, I can turn around right now.”

Lin Jianqing looked down at himself. She was right. He was still in women’s clothing, hadn’t even changed out of it yet. The cap and mask blocked part of it, but only part.

If he really went back to the dorm like this, the front desk attendant downstairs would just need to look at him twice before he started getting nervous, let alone the fact that his roommates were probably still in the dorm right now.

Fine… The problem was that she was right, and that fact alone was annoying.

Lin Jianqing pulled his mask up a little higher and said in a muffled voice, “Then I’ll leave as soon as I change, and also…”

Shen Huaixue let out a laugh.

“I prepared men’s clothing that’ll fit you. Also, are you really that afraid of going to my place?”

“I’m afraid of you.”

The car fell quiet after those words.

Lin Jianqing paused too, almost wanting to take it back. But Shen Huaixue didn’t get angry. She just turned her head to glance at him, and a smile slowly surfaced in her eyes.

“You say you’re afraid of me again, but I haven’t done anything too outrageous. It’s just within the scope of the contract you signed with me?”

“Don’t push your luck. You know very well why I find you annoying.”

“But you handed me the opening yourself. Why wouldn’t I take it?”

Lin Jianqing decided to shut up. If he kept this up, he’d sooner or later die from being angered to death by her.

When the car drove into the parking lot of Shen Huaixue’s residence, Lin Jianqing finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was much quieter here than the gymnasium; even the sound of wheels rolling over the ground seemed softer.

The elevator went all the way up, and Lin Jianqing stood beside Shen Huaixue, staring down at his own shoe tips while the dorm group chat messages looped through his mind.

Besides… who knew what his roommates would be saying about him behind his back.

Also, he couldn’t be bothered to explain this matter anymore. The more he tried to explain, the guiltier he’d look.

The elevator doors opened, and Shen Huaixue’s door had already been unlocked in advance.

The first thing Lin Jianqing did after entering was ask, “Where are the clothes?”

Shen Huaixue changed her shoes and casually placed her handbag on the cabinet.

“In the guest bedroom. I prepared them for you.”

Lin Jianqing was taken aback.

“You prepared them in advance?”

“Yeah.”

“Then why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“You didn’t ask. Also, I didn’t expect you to come this urgently. In such a hurry that you even forgot to bring men’s clothing. Were you that eager to see me?”

‘So shameless and arrogant!’

“I can guess what you’re thinking. Your expression is way too obvious.”

Lin Jianqing was so angry he couldn’t speak, and stomped into the guest bedroom.

The guest bedroom door was half-open, and sure enough, a set of men’s clothing was inside—a light-colored jacket, pants, and a plain undershirt. The moment Lin Jianqing saw them, the anxiety in his heart instantly disappeared.

He’d actually been afraid Shen Huaixue might have prepared some other kind of clothing, even though she’d said earlier it was men’s clothing.

But… Shen Huaixue… in Lin Jianqing’s mind, Shen Huaixue had zero credibility.

But… thinking carefully… had Shen Huaixue ever actually lied to him about anything? Yet every time he thought of that smug face of hers and her indifferent attitude, Lin Jianqing felt inexplicably furious.

Whatever. Looking at the “clean-cut” clothes in front of him, his exhausted body and tense nerves finally got a small measure of relaxation.

Lin Jianqing carried the clothes into the bathroom. Before closing the door, he turned back and warned her.

“You’re not allowed in.”

Shen Huaixue leaned against the doorframe, wearing a half-smile.

“Do you think I’d come in? I’m not interested in men. I’m only interested in the way you look in women’s clothing.”

“You’d better really mean that.”

Shen Huaixue raised an eyebrow, as if pleased by those words.

“Really.”

“Good.”

Lin Jianqing couldn’t be bothered to keep bantering and shut the door directly.

The bathroom was very quiet. The mirror showed his reflection clearly under the lights. The makeup was still on—the eye corners were shaped softly, and his lip color was slightly redder than usual.

Combined with his hair and clothes, he didn’t look like his usual self at all. Setting aside Lin Jianqing’s subjective feelings, he was a cute little thing that anyone would want to cherish at first sight.

No, wait. Why was he, Lin Jianqing, thinking that way?

He stared at the mirror for two seconds, then immediately looked away.

He couldn’t look. If he looked too long, it would really become a problem.

His makeup removal technique wasn’t exactly skilled, but at least Shen Huaixue had forced him to practice a few times, so he didn’t end up too messy.

When his face finally returned to its original state and he changed into the men’s clothing, he gradually started to feel real again.

When Lin Jianqing pushed open the door and walked out, there was already a takeout bag in the living room.

Shen Huaixue was sitting by the sofa, unpacking it. The table held hot soup, congee, several light dishes, and a box of dessert.

Lin Jianqing glanced at them, a little surprised.

“Did you order this?”

“Otherwise, did they grow legs and walk over on their own?”

Lin Jianqing was choked for a moment.

“I was just asking.”

Shen Huaixue looked up at him, her gaze lingering on him for a while.

After changing back into men’s clothing, Lin Jianqing was noticeably more relaxed. His hair was a bit messy from taking off the cap moments ago, with a few strands falling over his forehead.

His face was washed clean, and the red at the tips of his ears hadn’t fully faded away, yet he still tried to put on a calm expression.

Compared to his gentler look earlier, although Lin Jianqing’s face still retained a slight feminine quality, he looked more innocent now.

Shen Huaixue watched him, and her mood improved a little more.

“Come eat.”

Lin Jianqing originally wanted to say no—he could just grab something random at school. But before the words reached his lips, his stomach let out a soft, uncooperative rumble.

It wasn’t loud, but it was enough for Shen Huaixue to hear.

Lin Jianqing’s face stiffened. He immediately sat down, pretending nothing had happened.

“I just didn’t eat much today.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“I can tell you want to say something. I decline.”

“You’re reading me pretty carefully. Fine, don’t be stubborn. If you go eat by yourself, you’ll probably just half-heartedly deal with it. I already ordered enough for two. Come over and eat a bit. ‘Free food anyway.'”

‘Right, free food anyway… wait, isn’t that my usual line?’

Lin Jianqing looked at Shen Huaixue with some confusion, while Shen Huaixue tilted her head with some confusion.

“What are you looking at me for? Come on.” With that, she pointed to the chair beside her.

Lin Jianqing picked up his chopsticks, deciding to use eating to keep his mouth shut.

The takeout tasted good. As the hot soup went down, the emptiness in his stomach finally eased. Lin Jianqing ate more seriously than he’d expected.

Shen Huaixue didn’t keep teasing him the whole time, only occasionally pushing the dishes he liked a little closer to him.

And Lin Jianqing kept his head down, focused on eating. As for Shen Huaixue, her gaze gradually grew softer as she watched him.