That was true—at least in name, she really was his girlfriend…
But that wasn’t the point!
The point was, as the male lead, how could he casually engage in physical contact with a girl?
Even if she was currently his cannon-fodder girlfriend.
She opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but couldn’t find the right words.
In the end, all she could do was glare at him indignantly, her cheeks growing even redder.
Watching her angry yet helpless expression, like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on but couldn’t retaliate, a trace of satisfaction flickered through Xi Liye’s eyes.
Recently, Qin Yu had been bombarding him nonstop.
Ever since he posted that relationship announcement on Moments, Qin Yu had activated full mother-hen mode.
Terrified that this “potential lunatic” didn’t understand normal dating rules and would either scare the girl away or lead her astray, he had sent him countless articles overnight.
Things like:
“How to Have a Healthy Relationship: Respect, Communication, and Boundaries.”
“Ten Secrets to a Long-Lasting Relationship: It Starts with the Little Things.”
“Everyday Activities That Strengthen Couples’ Bonds.”
There was even one titled:
“Thirteen Positions That Increase Your Partner’s Physical and Emotional Happiness — Illustrated Guide.”
Xi Liye had glanced at the last title and immediately closed the chat window expressionlessly.
Boring.
But the earlier articles…
For some inexplicable reason, he had actually read a few.
For example, one article stated that in a healthy, normal romantic relationship, intimacy usually progressed in stages:
Holding hands.
Hugging.
Kissing.
And…
Sex.
While reading that article, Xi Liye unconsciously began comparing it to his relationship with Wen Chu.
A few days ago, they’d already held hands in the cafeteria.
Her fingers had been cool and soft.
The feeling of holding them…
Had been better than he’d expected.
The photo they used for their relationship announcement had also featured their fingers intertwined.
Then, according to that sequence…
The next step should be hugging.
Xi Liye had never considered himself the type to follow such cliché rules.
But…
The feeling of holding her hand had indeed been pleasant.
So what about hugging?
Pulling Wen Chu completely into his arms.
Even through layers of clothing, he’d probably be able to feel her heartbeat more clearly.
Her body warmth.
Perhaps even that faintly pleasant scent she carried.
And her reaction…
Would probably be adorable.
Just imagining the scene stirred a subtle anticipation inside him.
So when Wen Chu jumped up after his teasing and tried to hit him—
Xi Liye caught her almost instinctively.
The feeling of her wrist matched exactly what he’d imagined.
Thin.
And her reaction was exactly as he’d predicted.
It felt good.
Sure enough, her face turned bright red.
Embarrassed and angry.
Far more expressive than usual.
Mm.
Hugging felt better than holding hands.
The only pity was that Wen Chu was dressed too warmly.
He hadn’t been able to feel her body temperature.
His gaze swept casually across her puffed-up cheeks.
No rush.
There would be opportunities later.
“Let’s go.”
“I’ll buy you candied hawthorn.”
“I’ve passed by several times. There aren’t many people there at this hour.”
Suppressing that subtle restlessness, his tone returned to normal, as if the brief hug had been nothing more than an accident.
After leaving campus and turning two corners, they spotted a warm yellow light glowing ahead.
A small glass display cart stood beneath it.
In the cold winter evening, the bright red, glossy candied hawthorn skewers looked particularly tempting.
Several girls were gathered around, chatting as they selected their treats.
Xi Liye walked up to the stall.
Tall and cold-tempered, he looked somewhat out of place amid the sweet, cozy atmosphere.
Even the vendor gave him a few extra glances.
“What do you want?”
He turned and asked Wen Chu.
She shuffled closer and looked through the glass case.
Hawthorn.
Chinese yam.
Strawberry.
Mandarin orange.
All coated in glittering sugar shells.
“Mm…”
“The strawberry one.”
She liked strawberries.
“One strawberry skewer.”
Xi Liye told the vendor.
Then glanced through the display again.
“And one hawthorn.”
The vendor quickly packaged them and handed them over.
Xi Liye paid, accepted the skewers, then turned around and handed the strawberry one to Wen Chu.
She accepted it.
The bamboo stick felt cold in her hand.
The sugar coating rustled softly against the paper sleeve.
She lowered her head and took a small bite.
The sugar shell cracked with a crisp crunch.
Sweetness exploded across her tongue, followed by the slight tartness of fresh strawberry juice.
…It was actually pretty good.
She secretly glanced at Xi Liye.
He hadn’t touched his own hawthorn skewer yet.
Instead, he was watching her.
“How is it?”
He asked.
“G-Good.”
Wen Chu answered honestly.
A tiny bit of sugar stuck to the corner of her mouth.
Xi Liye reached out.
His thumb lightly brushed her lips.
The movement happened so quickly she didn’t even react in time.
“You got something there.”
He explained.
Only then did he lower his head and bite into his own candied hawthorn.
Wen Chu froze.
The spot he’d touched felt strangely warm.
Her thoughts became a complete mess.
All she could do was lower her head and silently take another bite.
Sweet.
Sour.
Exactly like her current mood.
Xi Liye finished the first hawthorn in a few bites and held the remaining skewer loosely.
“Ready to go back?”
Wen Chu’s mouth was still full of strawberry.
She nodded vaguely.
“Mm.”
The two of them followed the road back.
Wen Chu nibbled slowly on her candied hawthorn.
The cold sweetness helped calm her down a little.
Eventually, Xi Liye escorted her back to her dormitory building.
The moment they approached, a familiar atmosphere hit them.
The unmistakable scent of romance lingering around every girls’ dormitory at night.
Under the dim yellow streetlights, couples were everywhere.
Laughing quietly.
Holding hands and refusing to let go.
Some hidden in dark corners, practically glued together, their heads pressed so close it was impossible to tell where one person ended and the other began.
Wen Chu’s footsteps instantly froze.
Her scalp tingled.
Help!
How had she forgotten this iconic university landscape?
For someone with social anxiety, this was a nightmare zone.
Even before transmigrating, she’d hated passing by dormitories at night.
Every time, she’d practically sprint through without looking around.
If she’d known…
She would’ve stopped at the intersection earlier.
Heat crept into her cheeks again.
An indescribable embarrassment washed over her.
Xi Liye naturally noticed everything.
He hadn’t expected the dormitory area to be this lively either.
But what caught his attention more was Wen Chu.
She looked like she wanted to shrink into herself.
Her ears were red.
Xi Liye thought.
Without saying anything, he subtly adjusted their route.
Leading her around the most crowded couples and toward a quieter path.
Eventually, they reached a relatively empty area near the dorm entrance.
Wen Chu finally relaxed.
“Then I’m going back!”
She spoke quickly.
Eager to escape.
Then immediately turned toward the entrance.
“Wen Chu.”
Xi Liye called after her.
He stood about a step away.
The light from the dormitory illuminated his tall figure.
Under the streetlamp, his gaze rested quietly on her face.
A faint but unmistakable smile curved his lips.
Nearby, another couple was embracing before parting.
Both of them had seen it.
“Before you go…”
His voice carried a trace of amusement.
“Should we hug too?”
Originally, Xi Liye hadn’t planned on saying anything.
He had intended to leave after escorting her back.
But perhaps it was because of that couple.
Or perhaps because he genuinely wanted to experience hugging her again.
This time properly.
There was also a subtle, almost mischievous curiosity.
He wanted to see whether her reaction would be even more interesting.
And so, naturally, the words slipped out.
The effect was immediate.
Wen Chu froze.
Staring up at him blankly.
Her brain processor worked overtime.
She had never imagined herself becoming one of those clingy couples outside a girls’ dormitory.
An overwhelming sense of embarrassment flooded her.
“No thanks.”
“We can hug next time.”
The moment the words left her mouth, she hurried away.
Only after her figure completely disappeared from sight did Xi Liye slowly withdraw his gaze.
As expected.
Her reaction had been even more entertaining than he’d imagined.