Jiang Nian froze.
She had only casually told Lu Zhiheng to learn how to be a good boyfriend…
And he had actually gone and studied it?
Was this really normal?
Jiang Nian’s social media posts were only visible for one month. Ever since transmigrating here, she had posted from time to time. Some were purely text updates, while others were various photos she had taken. She liked writing little rambles on the pictures, simply wanting to remember her feelings in those moments more clearly.
There was not much content, but it was enough for Lu Zhiheng to gain a deeper understanding of Jiang Nian.
A wave of embarrassment suddenly surged through Jiang Nian’s heart. “You… looked through all of them?”
Lu Zhiheng kept his eyes on the road. “Mm.”
It was reasonable for his cooperative partner to require dates and meetings to prevent flaws in their agreement from being exposed, so he had read some online advice posts.
And dating was all about catering to the other person’s preferences. He admitted that he was not familiar with Jiang Nian at all, and the internet had suggested using the other party’s social media accounts in situations like this.
System 999 could not help sighing emotionally:
【The Male Lead truly deserves to become a business tycoon who established himself firmly in Jing City later on. His seriousness and execution ability are incredible!】
Jiang Nian responded helplessly in her mind:
【There’s really no need for him to be this eager to learn!】
Remembering her character setting, Jiang Nian still deliberately found fault with him.
“But you only looked at one month’s worth. That can’t really count as deep research, can it?”
Lu Zhiheng answered calmly, “Then open more permissions for me?”
Jiang Nian blinked.
Sure enough, even a top academic genius could not withstand provocation tactics. He was actually willing?
Her brain spun rapidly before she finally blurted out, “If there’s anything you want to know, you can just ask me directly!”
Lu Zhiheng neither agreed nor disagreed. After looking at her for several seconds, he withdrew his gaze. “Got it.”
Jiang Nian waited a few more seconds, but Lu Zhiheng did not continue speaking. The Male Lead himself was not someone who actively initiated conversations.
For a moment, the inside of the car became extremely quiet. Jiang Nian lightly adjusted her sitting posture, and even the sound of fabric rubbing together seemed amplified.
She glanced at the navigation screen. Traffic was somewhat congested, and it would still take over twenty minutes to arrive.
“Ahem, Lu Zhiheng, I want to listen to music!” Jiang Nian decided to break the silence. “It won’t affect your driving, right?”
Lu Zhiheng replied, “It won’t. Go ahead.”
After receiving permission, Jiang Nian leaned over and fiddled with the electronic display between them. She casually selected a trending playlist and hit play.
The next second, explosive drumbeats suddenly blasted through the car.
The previous owner apparently had the volume set to maximum. The heavy bass made the entire car vibrate slightly, and even their eardrums buzzed from the sound.
Jiang Nian jumped in fright and hurriedly reached to turn the music off.
At almost the exact same moment, Lu Zhiheng also freed one hand and reached toward the display.
The two hands unexpectedly collided midair.
Lu Zhiheng’s finger landed precisely on the back of Jiang Nian’s hand. A trace of warmth brushed across her smooth skin before disappearing in an instant.
System 999 immediately announced:
【Lu Zhiheng’s dislike value +2. Current dislike value: 12! Niannian, our guess was right! The Male Lead dislikes physical contact!】
Jiang Nian: “!”
She instantly jerked her hand back and widened her eyes.
This… she had not done it on purpose! Besides, she was clearly the one who got touched. Why did Lu Zhiheng’s dislike value increase too? Was this the legendary Male Lead purity buff?
Jiang Nian looked over at him.
Lu Zhiheng seemed to notice her gaze. The hand lingering there paused briefly before lowering the volume.
Fast-paced rap lyrics continued playing, but the atmosphere inside the car somehow became awkward. The red traffic light ahead was still counting down.
After thinking for a moment, Lu Zhiheng finally said, “Sorry. That was accidental.”
Jiang Nian had thought the matter would simply pass. Touching hands really was not a big deal. But after Lu Zhiheng spoke, her eyes drifted toward his hand again.
Lu Zhiheng’s hands were extremely attractive. His joints were distinct, his fingers long—neither overly rough nor too slender. They were practically heaven for hand enthusiasts.
The art student DNA inside Jiang Nian was faintly stirred. If she had possessed a hand model like this back in the day, she could have drawn a hundred or eighty sketches a day without getting tired. It would have been pure enjoyment!
Remembering the increase in dislike points earlier, Jiang Nian suddenly developed criminal intentions.
【Little Three-Nine, if I touch him back, he probably won’t hit me, right?】
System 999 immediately encouraged her:
【He won’t! The Male Lead isn’t some violent lunatic. Go for it, Niannian!】
With the system backing her up, Jiang Nian stretched out her hand and rubbed the back of Lu Zhiheng’s hand once.
“O-okay then. We’re even now.”
Like a thief committing a crime.
Several seconds passed. Lu Zhiheng did not say anything. He only turned his head and glanced at her once. Meanwhile, the system also did not announce any increase in dislike value.
Jiang Nian: “…”
Damn it. What exactly had she become now?
Stiffening her scalp, Jiang Nian awkwardly complimented him. “Your hands are really nice.”
“Thank you.” A faint ripple passed through Lu Zhiheng’s eyes as his gaze lowered toward Jiang Nian’s hands. “Yours too.”
Jiang Nian stopped twisting her fingers together like fried dough twists and let out a completely emotionless laugh.
“Haha, thanks.”
Lu Zhiheng no longer looked at Jiang Nian, though inwardly he found the situation somewhat amusing.
Did this count as wanting to steal but lacking the courage?
While Jiang Nian screamed internally, she suddenly heard System 999 comforting her.
【It increased, Niannian! The dislike value increased by another 2 points!】
Jiang Nian: “…”
—Alright then, no problem anymore!
…
The two remained silent the rest of the ride. Only when they were nearly at their destination did Lu Zhiheng finally speak again.
“Sichuan Flavor Residence is inside Ancient Alley. Cars aren’t allowed in, so we’ll have to walk from here. It’ll take about ten minutes.”
Jiang Nian expressed no objections.
After getting out of the car, Jiang Nian naturally extended her hand, signaling for Lu Zhiheng to carry her bag.
Perhaps because the memory of her fake sweet voice from last time remained vivid, Lu Zhiheng cooperatively took it without protest.
It was currently dinner time, and Ancient Alley itself was already a small internet-famous tourist attraction. At the moment, the place was packed shoulder to shoulder with people, filled with noisy chatter.
Originally, Jiang Nian had been walking side by side with Lu Zhiheng. Unfortunately, she was wearing ten-centimeter high-heeled boots today, so she walked cautiously, afraid she might fall.
While lowering her head to watch the road, Lu Zhiheng’s denim-blue figure unknowingly moved one step ahead of her.
Jiang Nian was just about to catch up when a child suddenly darted in front of her. The parents chasing after the kid also blocked her path amid the crowd.
Jiang Nian had no choice but to move around them while calling out, “Lu Zhiheng!”
Her voice was quickly drowned out by the surrounding noise. Seeing Lu Zhiheng about to turn into a side alley, Jiang Nian gathered her breath and prepared to shout again.
At that moment, Lu Zhiheng seemed to realize the person beside him was gone. He abruptly stopped walking and turned around to search for her in the crowd.
Jiang Nian stood out tremendously among the people around her. He spotted her almost instantly.
At that moment, the young girl stood there alone, like a little kitten abandoned by someone. Her face was filled with grievance and a trace of panic, while a vivid brilliance seemed to flicker in her eyes.
“Excuse me.”
Lu Zhiheng took several large strides and pushed through the crowd.
The moment Jiang Nian saw Lu Zhiheng turn around, she let out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness he noticed. Otherwise, her entire fortune would have run off with him.
Right then, System 999 suddenly exploded in excitement.
【This is unbelievable, Niannian! Why is Lu Zhiheng suddenly being so generous?!】
【Male Lead Lu Zhiheng’s dislike value +5. Current dislike value: 19.】
Joy instantly surged through Jiang Nian’s heart. Before she could figure out what exactly the Male Lead hated so much that the dislike value had suddenly skyrocketed, a flash of denim blue interrupted her thoughts.
Jiang Nian lifted her eyes and saw Lu Zhiheng frowning tightly as he extended an arm toward her.
“Hold onto me.”