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Qin Guanglin was a bit flustered. His face was red out of embarrassment, not shyness.
As a man with a very complex romantic history, he had already dated in school, held hands, and even hugged, although it stopped there, it was still a complex experience.
Now he was being teased by a girl two years younger than him. Embarrassing.
His complex romantic history didn't allow him to be such a coward. As a man, he needed to maintain some dignity.
Qin Guanglin looked straight ahead at the movie, quickly chewed a few times, and swallowed the popcorn.
Thankfully, that little hand didn't reach over again after taking some popcorn. Qin Guanglin didn't even know what random thoughts were running through his mind. On the big screen, Shen Teng was inquiring about Ma Dongmei.
Feeling a bit nervous, he needed to relax. He took a deep breath, reached for the popcorn, yet touched something soft and cool.
He pulled back his hand and casually glanced at the popcorn bucket. A small hand was withdrawing some popcorn, and in his peripheral vision, He Fang was still looking at him.
He sipped some carrot juice, focusing on the movie.
"You eat the popcorn," He Fang whispered to Qin Guanglin, waving a piece before his eyes before popping it into her mouth.
Qin Guanglin felt an underlying threat from the gesture. He glanced at her. Wasn't this just teasing? Since when did men fear women?
Ridiculous.
So what if we feed each other popcorn, one by one?
He realized he had been too timid before. The more he cared, the more she would go overboard, simply doing it on purpose.
Keep calm, he told himself. I can win!
He reached out for a piece of popcorn to eat. Yes, it tasted sweet.
He took another one. Still sweet.
The movie continued, but He Fang stopped disturbing him. Qin Guanglin looked over and found her still looking at him. Although she was still smiling, the mischievous look from before was gone.
"You have some too." He instinctively offered her the popcorn. He Fang earnestly took one with her hand.
Back to watching the movie, the initial excitement was gone. Qin Guanglin felt his mind was a mess, a bit frustrated.
The teasing stopped halfway?
He had already thought of how to respond, but the other party suddenly retreated. It felt like being scolded without having the chance to retaliate, and by the time you came up with something to say, the person was already gone.
How could this be? So maddening!
He should have just grabbed her hand earlier and let her taste the bitterness of failing with her plan!
The latter part of the movie was a blur, Qin Guanglin seriously watched but missed all the jokes. He Fang kept her head turned, thinking about something unknown.
"I'll walk you back." When the movie ended, Qin Guanglin waited for her outside the restroom by the cinema entrance. It was almost nine by then.
"Sure." He Fang smiled at him again and then walked ahead as if nothing happened.
"How was the movie?" He didn't really know what to say, just trying to make small talk.
"Hmm, not bad."
Resisting the urge to point out she didn't watch at all, Qin Guanglin realized she really didn't like the movie. He could understand that feeling; if it were him watching that one performing arts movie, he'd probably be bored and find ways to entertain himself too.
Maybe he should take her to see another good movie next time as compensation.
"If you could go back in time, what would you do?" Qin Guanglin recalled the movie's theme. This seemed like a good topic.
He Fang lowered her head slightly, "How could something like that ever happen?"
"That's why it's a hypothetical," he chuckled. Everyone knew it was impossible, but there was no harm in thinking about it.
"And you? What would you do?" He Fang stopped in front of a traffic light, one that was always red whenever they came by.
Qin Guanglin looked up and thought. If he could go back in time... he'd grab her hand when she was teasing him, and thoroughly retaliate!
Of course, he couldn't say that out loud. He turned and smiled at He Fang, who happened to be looking over as well.
A moment later, a soft, cool little hand appeared in Qin Guanglin's hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze. It felt nice.
"Let's go," she urged.
Qin Guanglin snapped back to reality, finding He Fang watching him with a curious gaze.
His face warmed up again. He thought she had sensed what he was thinking, so she offered her hand. He even squeezed it twice.
Yes, let's call this payback for the earlier teasing.
The intersection was narrow, and they crossed in just a few steps. He Fang tried to pull her hand back, but Qin Guanglin held it tight and didn't let go.
She turned to look at Qin Guanglin, who was also looking at her. He gently squeezed again.
Comfortable.
Both physically and psychologically, it was comfortable.
This was what he called revenge.
Qin Guanglin smiled at her, his grin wide and genuine. This was a delayed retaliation by a man with a complex romance history.
He Fang smiled too, as if knowing what he was thinking. She turned her head and continued forward without trying to pull her hand away.
A sense of victory welled up inside Qin Guanglin. Then he felt a light scratch on his palm from her fingernail.
Just that light touch, like it tickled his heart, left him tingly.
He tensed up, heart racing. He Fang glanced at him, kept walking, and scratched lightly again.
Qin Guanglin panicked, feeling countered again. What was this?
Did his plan backfire?
They walked to the dormitory building, and Qin Guanglin still hadn't figured out a good way to maintain his victory. He was reluctant to let go, unwilling to hand over his hard-earned triumph.
"Are you reluctant to let go of me?" He Fang turned back, her smile teasing, then lightly scratched his palm with her pinky.
A wave of tingling passed from his palm to his arm, then to his chest. Reflexively, he released her hand, his heart pounding uncontrollably.
"You... I..." Qin Guanglin felt his rich experience failing him, as if he was about to shy away.
He Fang stepped closer, looked up into his eyes, "I like you, Qin Guanglin. Let's date."
Her warm breath touched his throat. Qin Guanglin either thought he heard wrong or tried to evade the sudden emotional impact by reflexively saying, "Huh?"
His lips felt a soft, fragrant touch, followed by a slight coolness, then a gentle nibble.
He stood there dumbfounded as He Fang walked up the stairs. Qin Guanglin hadn't decided on his best response yet.
Checkmate!
He had been defeated!
Instinctively turning his head, he lifted his wrist to check the time. He could still catch the B3 bus.
Harsh! Really harsh!
A complete loss!
Qin Guanglin's mind was in a whirl, dazed as he returned home.
"Are you back?" Qin's Mom saw her son enter and found him more pleasing to the eye than usual. "What have you been up to today?"
Qin Guanglin licked his lips, ready to speak, suddenly tasting something sweet. Like orange-flavored lip balm. His hands froze while taking off his shoes.
Qin's Mom didn't get a response and looked at him curiously as he paused with his shoes, "What's going on?"
Looking up at Qin's Mom, he slightly parted his lips, then put down the shoes, "Nothing, I'm going to bed."
This no longer felt like teasing.
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