Shang Yuze’s eyes darkened like the night, dangerous as an abyss. His pitch-black gaze resembled an endless vortex, as if it could drag the person before him into those unfathomable depths.
Gu Qingyue’s heart skipped violently. The taut string in her mind snapped tight, and she swallowed with difficulty as her body stiffened instinctively.Why did this version of Shang Yuze feel so terrifying?
As if he were about to devour her whole.She wanted to run, but her legs were stiff and weak, making even a small step difficult.
Shang Yuze stared straight into her eyes. The girl’s glassy irises were moist and shimmering, pitiful in appearance, like a young beast that had just been bullied.
“We already registered our marriage. Why did you still say I’m your boyfriend?” His fingers lightly pinched her soft earlobe.A tingling sensation spread through her body like an electric current. Gu Qingyue’s eyelids trembled hard as her body tensed instantly.
“I… I was a bit embarrassed. If you mind, I won’t say that next time.”If people found out she was married, the news would definitely spread everywhere.
The pad of Shang Yuze’s fingers, slightly rough with calluses, gently rubbed her delicate earlobe. The numb, itchy sensation made her whole body tremble. Her legs went weak, nearly unable to support her. In that instant, the surrounding noise vanished, and her mind fell into complete chaos, as if she had lost the ability to think.
Seeing her reddened earlobe, Shang Yuze’s lips curved faintly. He released her burning ear and instead brushed back the strands of hair by her temple.“We went straight to registering our marriage, so we really skipped a lot of steps. How about we start by dating first?”
His voice was low and husky, alluring, like temptation rising from the depths of an abyss, slowly lowering one’s guard and coaxing her closer to him.
Gu Qingyue’s face burned hot. When the cool wind blew past, the sharp contrast cleared her muddled mind somewhat.As her thoughts settled, belated shyness spread from her face down to her neck.
Even her breathing became smoother, yet she still did not dare meet Shang Yuze’s eyes.Just as she lowered her head slightly, a well-proportioned hand pinched her chin and forced her to look up.
Her long lashes drooped, casting shy shadows on her eyelids. Her fair face was flushed, her bashful expression adding to her charm, vivid and captivating.Meeting the man’s unfathomable phoenix eyes, her mouth moved faster than her brain.
“Okay.”Only after speaking did she realize what she had said. Her heart began to pound wildly in her chest, as if it might leap out of her throat.
Shang Yuze smiled. His phoenix eyes curved into a beautiful arc, making his already striking face even more dazzling. He took the girl’s hand, his voice tinged with laughter. “Holding hands is the first step of dating.”
Gu Qingyue lowered her head to look at their joined hands. His palm was warm and broad, completely enveloping hers, giving her a sense of security she had never felt before.
She gently swung their clasped hands. “Shang Yuze, I’ll treat you to a meal.”Shang Yuze tapped her nose lightly. “Since when do you let a girl pay?”
Gu Qingyue tilted her head, her eyes clear and bright. “And there’s no rule that says you should always spend a guy’s money.”Ever since they met, Shang Yuze had been the one buying her all kinds of things.She wanted to do something for him too.
Shang Yuze did not refuse. “What are you treating me to?”
Gu Qingyue declared boldly, “Anything on the snack street. Order whatever you want. I’m paying.”
Shang Yuze chuckled and looked over the stalls. “I’ve never eaten here either. How about you recommend a few things?”
Gu Qingyue pulled him straight toward a jianbing guozi stall, chattering excitedly as they walked.“This place has amazing jianbing guozi. It’s on my must-eat list.”
Shang Yuze listened quietly, the curve of his lips deepening slightly. The door to this little girl’s heart was finally beginning to open to him.
There were quite a few people around, so they waited a while before it was their turn.The stall was run by a middle-aged couple.
Gu Qingyue called out, “Boss, two jianbing guozi. Add sausage and egg.”Shang Yuze’s voice cut in. “One is enough.”“Aren’t you eating?” Gu Qingyue held her phone, ready to pay.
Shang Yuze made something up effortlessly. “We’ll share one so we don’t waste food. That way we can try more things.”
Gu Qingyue hesitated. “Is that really okay?”Sharing one jianbing guozi felt a bit too intimate.“Do people who are dating worry about that?” Shang Yuze retreated to advance. “If you mind, then get two.”
“I don’t mind.” Gu Qingyue turned to the boss’s wife. “One is fine.”The boss’s wife glanced at the young couple and smiled knowingly. Such a naive girl, already being led around without realizing it.
Still, it was just playful intimacy between a couple. They looked well matched.The boss skillfully spread the batter with his spatula. “Do you want chili?”
“Can you eat spicy food?” Gu Qingyue asked.
Shang Yuze nodded.“Then just a little.” Gu Qingyue paid.The boss’s wife packed the jianbing guozi and handed it to Gu Qingyue.
Holding the steaming jianbing guozi with both hands, its aroma rich and tempting, Gu Qingyue knew it tasted best right off the griddle. She resisted the urge to eat and instead lifted it toward Shang Yuze.“Try it. It’s really delicious.”Shang Yuze did not move. “You eat first.”
Gu Qingyue felt a bit embarrassed. “Isn’t that inappropriate?”If she ate first, would Shang Yuze mind?After all, he was usually very particular.
Shang Yuze continued coaxing her. “What’s inappropriate about it? We’re a couple. This is normal.”Successfully persuaded, Gu Qingyue took a big bite without warning. It was so hot that she opened her mouth to blow air and fanned her lips with her hand.
Shang Yuze smiled indulgently. Holding her slender wrist, he leaned in and took a bite from the spot she had just bitten.
Chewing, his eyes half-lidded, he said, “It really is good.”Gu Qingyue bit her lip, her expression shy.Wasn’t this basically an indirect kiss?
To stop herself from overthinking, Gu Qingyue went into full shopping mode.At some point, the person paying had turned into Shang Yuze.
She had been busy with experiments recently, and after moving out of the dorm, she had not come to the snack street for a long time. Gu Qingyue felt like she could eat her way through the entire street.
Shang Yuze’s hands were filled with all kinds of snacks. “You bought so much. Can you finish it all?”
Holding a grilled cold noodle in her hand, Gu Qingyue grinned. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”After all, good things were meant to be shared with important people.
She pulled Shang Yuze into a noodle shop, talking nonstop the whole way. Yet the rich aroma inside only made her appetite grow stronger. “The noodles here are amazing too.”This noodle shop was also on her must-eat list.