Ruan Xingmian held a parasol.
She had spent the entire afternoon walking around the research institute’s residential area, viewing three apartments.
In the end, exhausted, she sat down to rest at the bus stop by the entrance.
She hadn’t gone through an agent, instead contacting landlords directly through notices on the bulletin board.
This way, she could not only save on rent but also get a sense of the landlord’s character and whether they’d be easy to get along with.
After all, she was pregnant, and many landlords might have reservations about that.
Not to mention, she planned to make some modifications to the apartment later.
All of this required a landlord who was easy to communicate with.
The amount of exercise she’d gotten this afternoon was comparable to her busiest shifts last month when she worked part-time selling clothes at the mall.
As soon as she found out she was pregnant, she immediately quit that part-time job.
Now, Ruan Xingmian was so tired her mouth felt parched.
If someone brought her an ice-cold, sweet, delicious drink right now, she’d be willing to give them a loving hug.
She scrolled through the food delivery app—the distance was only five hundred meters, but she didn’t want to waste money on delivery fees.
As for walking over to buy it herself, now that she’d sat down, she didn’t want to move.
The sound of a university’s class bell rang from behind her.
She glanced down at the time.
It was past five in the afternoon.
Gu Xing was out of school.
Could she call him?
Would that be too clingy?
Ruan Xingmian only hesitated for three seconds.
Gu Xing wasn’t the type to take the initiative.
If she didn’t take the initiative, the most they’d ever be was a couple in name only.
The phone rang for only three seconds.
Ruan Xingmian was stunned—he picked up so quickly?
The other end was silent, and for a moment, she forgot what she wanted to say.
Silence descended once again.
“Um… I… this…” She was exasperated with herself—why was she so nervous?
She gritted her teeth and took a deep breath.
“I’m at the bus stop, and I want to drink some ice-cold mung bean soup…”
“Okay.”
Gu Xing’s reply was brief and firm.
If you listened closely, there was a slight upward lilt at the end, as if tinged with a hint of joy.
Ruan Xingmian clutched the phone after hanging up, lowering her head and pursing her lips, unable to stop the corners of her mouth from curling upward.
Could she interpret it this way?
Gu Xing had also been looking forward to her call.
Looking forward to seeing her.
Before long, Gu Xing’s tall, steady figure appeared from the direction of the school gate.
His gray short-sleeved shirt was simple and neat, and the black backpack on his back never left his side.
He took long strides, his hair tousled by the wind, revealing his sharply defined features.
In his hand, he held a bag of iced mung bean soup, his fingers damp with condensation.
His cool gaze swept across the surroundings, passing over the crowd before settling on Ruan Xingmian.
When their eyes met, her heart raced like thunder. Ruan Xingmian rose from her seat in a daze.
For a moment, she forgot her exhaustion and couldn’t help but take two steps forward.
Just as she was about to rush over and hug him, she held back.
That would be too forward.
“Thank you!”
For the first time, she was grateful for Transmigrating into a Book, which had given her a handsome guy who was both easy on the eyes and only had eyes for her!
It was the peak time after school.
The area around the school gate was bustling with people.
The two of them stood in front of the bus stop, with enough space between them for one person.
If just two or three people squeezed past, they could easily be separated.
Ruan Xingmian instinctively reached out to grab the strap of Gu Xing’s backpack.
The next second, her wrist was gently held.
Her bag was taken by him.
Her wrist was enveloped in his warm, broad hand. He didn’t grip it too tightly, just held it loosely, making her skin tingle.
“Stay behind me.”
His voice was so pleasing it made her heart flutter.
Ruan Xingmian took small sips of the mung bean soup, slowly following Gu Xing’s steps.
He was tall with long legs, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist, perfectly shielding her behind him.
The passing crowd didn’t jostle her at all.
After crossing the street, the crowd thinned out.
Gu Xing looked left and right, confirming it was safe.
He slowly let go of her hand.
The next second, his palm was grasped by a soft, boneless hand.
“I want to keep holding hands.”
Ruan Xingmian’s voice unconsciously turned sweet and soft.
She suspected the mung bean soup had softened her tongue.
The sense of security from being led across the street by a man for the first time left Ruan Xingmian’s girlish heart unable to calm down for a long time.
She longed for intimate contact with Gu Xing.
Wanted to be held by him.
Protected.
Gu Xing froze for three seconds before turning his hand to grasp hers.
They walked one behind the other.
Neither could spare a glance at the other’s face.
Only the thunderous heartbeat in their chests could be heard.
Thump.
Thump-thump.
Thump, thump-thump.
If they had remembered to glance at each other,
they would surely have seen their own chaotic emotional reactions mirrored on the other’s face.
The tips of their ears redder than the evening glow.
The smiles curling at the corners of their mouths, blushing the sunset overhead.
After calming her fluttering girlish emotions, Ruan Xingmian took a deep breath and asked, “Where are we going?”
Being lovestruck really was harmful.
She didn’t even know where they were headed.
Yet she willingly offered her hand, letting Gu Xing lead her for most of the street.
“To eat at a buffet.” He had promised, stubbornly determined to fulfill it.
Ruan Xingmian’s smile widened, her fingers pressing slightly harder against the back of Gu Xing’s hand. “Let’s just eat at the cafeteria.”
Buffets were too expensive.
“I bought group tickets online. Two of them.”
He seemed to know what Ruan Xingmian was worried about.
“You mean, even if I hadn’t called you, you would have called me to treat me to the buffet?”
Gu Xing lowered his eyes and hummed in agreement, his cool gaze fixed on Ruan Xingmian.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she lifted her eyes to meet his gaze, feeling as if her whole body was about to float away, turning into a cloud, a breeze.
Her steps unconsciously grew lighter.
She took larger strides, catching up to Gu Xing, unable to resist pressing her whole body against his sturdy arm.
Sensing her closeness, the sweet fragrance of the girl lingered between his breaths.
Gu Xing slowed his pace, leaning closer to her, the tips of his ears imperceptibly reddening.
Whether they ate at the buffet no longer mattered.
Their palms grew warm, their distance continuously closing, both savoring this moment of intimacy.
On the bustling street, within the vast expanse of time and space,
they were no longer solitary individuals.
From then on, there was someone in their hearts.
Beside them, an extra warm, beating body.
The corners of Ruan Xingmian’s mouth lifted slightly.
Even though they weren’t very familiar yet,
her heart was filled with anticipation.
What was rare and precious was that Gu Xing, like her, also looked forward to the changes in their future.
After finishing the buffet,
Gu Xing had to rush back for his evening class.
They parted ways at the bus stop.
Gu Xing wanted to take a taxi, but Ruan Xingmian stopped him.
As bus 306 approached,
Gu Xing hesitated several times, words left unspoken.
“Tonight’s class is in the large lecture hall.”
“Huh?”
Ruan Xingmian didn’t understand, looking at Gu Xing with confusion.
“Never mind.” He deflated, forcing out the two words.
Afraid he would be late for class, Ruan Xingmian made a decision and rushed onto the bus first.
“Xingmian, slow down!”
Gu Xing’s features tensed, his eyes nervous.
Standing on the bus, Ruan Xingmian gave him an obedient smile, waved, and pointed at her phone.
On the bus, Ruan Xingmian searched online.
What did it mean when a boyfriend suddenly mentioned that class was in a large lecture hall?
Her question was too peculiar.
Searching the entire internet, Ruan Xingmian couldn’t find an answer.
She raised her hand.
Staring at it in a daze.
The original owner of this body hadn’t suffered much hardship.
She had rarely even helped wash dishes.
Her fingers were slender, her skin fair and delicate, quite beautiful.
Gu Xing’s fingers were also long.
Distinctly jointed, sturdy and strong.
Upon closer touch, there were thin calluses on his palms.
They tickled her palm, making it itch.
The aftereffects of holding hands were too intense.
Sitting on the bus, Ruan Xingmian suddenly felt her palm unbearably empty.
Whenever she thought of the moment she held hands with Gu Xing, it felt like a sweet river flowing through her heart.
It made her greedily reluctant to let go. Unwilling to part from him.
Ruan Xingmian suddenly thought of something and hurriedly took out her phone. Before class started, she called Gu Xing.
“Just now, did you not want me to leave? Were you inviting me to stay for your evening class?”
There was a three-second silence on the other end. “Mm.”
His voice was as light as dandelion fluff.
As if a slightly heavier breath could scatter it away.
Ruan Xingmian lowered her head, covered her face, and forced out a promise: “I’m sorry, I didn’t understand earlier. How about next time? Next time, I’ll accompany you.”
“Okay.”
The bus swayed slightly.
Gu Xing’s voice kept replaying in Ruan Xingmian’s mind.
Her breathing grew increasingly rapid and shallow.
The experience of dating an academic god was simply too overwhelming.
She stared blankly at her phone, her beautiful brows furrowed like delicate mountain peaks.
At first, it was just a fondness—she wanted to experience an unforgettable romance with the academic god and was prepared to accept a breakup if it came to that.
Her feelings for Gu Xing were like oil floating on water—clear but not deep.
Yet after just their first handhold, Ruan Xingmian felt she was about to melt in the academic god’s gaze.
She was falling—if they broke up, she would be devastated.