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After finishing the meal, Xiao Yu didn't delay Qin Guanglin's date plans and took the bucket to feed the fish again, mainly because he was too full and didn't want to stuff himself further.
Qin Guanglin picked up his phone and told He Fang that he had just finished eating. After hesitating for a moment, he sent another message, "I'll come to you."
He Fang replied quickly, telling him to wait at home and not wander around, as she was about to head out.
Wait at home? Qin Guanglin put down his phone and thought for a moment. Did He Fang mean she wanted to come over and hang out at his place again? But there wasn't much to do at home, at most just kissing and hugging...
Thinking of this, he lowered his head in shame, scolding himself for always thinking of such things. Shameless!
He boarded the bus while berating himself. He Fang hadn't arrived yet. The crowd at the bus stop had changed faces, but the number of people remained the same, all crammed under the shelter to avoid the rain.
Standing a little farther with his umbrella, Qin Guanglin watched as buses passed by, guessing which one she would get off.
Rainy days weren't suitable for wearing long dresses. He wondered which outfit she would wear; that khaki ensemble looked quite nice…
Lost in his thoughts, He Fang suddenly appeared at the back door of a bus, wearing a white casual jacket and simple, neat jeans. She opened the umbrella in her hand while getting off.
It seemed she hadn't noticed Qin Guanglin yet. She walked calmly towards him, radiating a tranquil and distant elegance, different from her usual lively and spirited demeanor.
If he hadn't known her for so long, Qin Guanglin wouldn't have thought of He Fang as a girl who hadn't yet graduated. Her serene temperament, unintentionally revealed, was more like that of a mature woman, possessing a unique charm that only time can cultivate.
Maybe it was the aura of a writer… Qin Guanglin gathered his thoughts, pushed aside his random musings, and walked toward He Fang.
"You came to pick me up even though I'm so close?" He Fang smiled immediately upon seeing him, becoming lively again.
"I originally wanted to go to the school to find you," Qin Guanglin said as he walked alongside her toward home.
"Classmate Qin is really nice."
He Fang looked up at Qin Guanglin's umbrella and then closed her own umbrella, squeezing in with him.
"Why are you looking at me?" She noticed Qin Guanglin looking down at her and couldn't help but take out her phone to check her face. Nothing seemed dirty.
"Weren't you staring at me earlier too? There's no reason," Qin Guanglin said, retracting his gaze and nonchalantly turning to look at the scenery by the roadside. He tried to hold He Fang's hand but failed as she hugged his arm and linked them directly.
It felt like touching something extraordinary; the softness could be felt through their clothes, making his heart race.
He Fang hadn't expected Qin Guanglin to say that and raised an eyebrow at him, "Classmate Qin, you seem to have learned some bad habits."
Qin Guanglin wanted to say that she taught him, but he feared she'd insist on calling her Teacher He, so he decided to keep quiet.
"Do you know what day it is today?" He Fang asked.
"What?" Qin Guanglin pretended to be clueless.
"May 20th, also known as 520, the Internet Lovers' Day." He Fang leaned against Qin Guanglin's arm, "Boyfriends usually give gifts to girlfriends today."
Qin Guanglin's heart skipped a beat. Oh no, he forgot about the gift. "What gift would you like? I'll get it for you."
"What do you mean what gift I want, it should be given voluntarily."
"Uh…"
"You didn't prepare, did you?" He Fang couldn't hide her smile. "Then you have to promise me one thing."
Qin Guanglin was a bit speechless when he heard this. So requesting a gift was just an excuse; she was waiting to trap him here!
There was no way around it; he indeed hadn't prepared a gift… Just as he was about to agree, a sudden idea struck him, "I have one!"
Digging in his pocket, Qin Guanglin pulled out a panda hair tie he bought yesterday and showed it to her, "Will this work?"
Satisfy her with this, and then give her a better one another day…
He Fang was surprised as she took it, "You actually have one. Why did you buy this?"
"Teacher Qin predicted… Ow!" Qin Guanglin started to mimic He Fang's words but was pinched by her mid-sentence.
"I'll let you off this time." He Fang pouted, but quickly became happy again, examining the hair tie and then wearing it on her wrist.
"Aren't you going to tie it on your hair?"
Qin Guanglin was puzzled, wondering if she didn't like it since it was a hair accessory worn on the wrist.
"Are you saying I should untie my hair here and tie it with this?"
"Uh, no." Qin Guanglin realized his question was quite foolish and quickly changed the topic. "Your hair is so long, isn't it troublesome to wash?"
He Fang's hair looked silky smooth, shiny and glossy, suggesting she took care of it often.
"Yes, that's why I hate rainy days. I have to be careful not to let my hair get wet."
"Then come a little closer."
Qin Guanglin moved the umbrella more towards He Fang, bringing her entirely under its center, while his shoulder got a little wet, which was fine.
Holidays, whether or not they involve time off, have their unique significance. The Spring Festival gives those away from home a justified reason to return and reunite, the Mid-Autumn Festival adds warmth to the families accustomed to mundane life, and Valentine's Day allows couples to express affection... oops, I mean helps newly dating couples enhance their bonds, fosters intimacy among lovers, and adds sweetness to humdrum married life…
Gifts are merely props, and their value is secondary; what matters is the intention behind them.
He Fang understood this and really liked the hair tie Qin Guanglin gave her. It was obvious that the gift wasn't just for the sake of Valentine's Day but something he genuinely wanted to give her anyway, coincidentally aligning with Valentine's Day.
"Well done, Classmate Qin, you've made great progress." He Fang tiptoed and gave Qin Guanglin a kiss on the cheek.
"We're outside, don't behave like that." Qin Guanglin nervously looked around, afraid that acquaintances would see them and turn them into gossip fodder for the neighborhood aunties.
That boy from so-and-so family was out kissing a girl...
They loved talking about such things, and just thinking about it was terrifying. It would ruin his face.
"Who cares if we're outside?" He Fang retorted, clinging onto his arm. "Who cares if I kiss my boyfriend?"
"It doesn't look good," Qin Guanglin said nervously as she rubbed against him, turning his head to avoid eye contact.
"Brother Lin! Is that your girlfriend?" Little Fatty suddenly shouted from the corner, "I just saw her kiss you."
Qin Guanglin snapped, "What do you know, shut up!"
He glanced at He Fang again, who was smilingly watching Little Fatty, and sighed in relief, warning Little Fatty, "You saw nothing, got it?"
"Your girlfriend is really pretty!" Little Fatty exclaimed, ignoring Qin Guanglin's warning.
"Stop talking nonsense." Qin Guanglin grumbled, although he did have that thought, he hadn't acted on it yet, and it wouldn't be good if He Fang minded.
"What nonsense?" He Fang asked.
"Uh…" Qin Guanglin was caught off guard.
She then turned and praised Little Fatty, "You've got a good eye, kid."
Little Fatty proudly lifted his head, "Of course!"
"Look at how smug you are." Qin Guanglin saw that He Fang didn't mind and stopped fretting, feeling a bit pleased, "Why aren't you going to school?"
"It's a holiday," Little Fatty replied with a goofy smile.
What kind of school gives such arbitrary holidays, not tied to weekends or major festivals...
"Have fun during your holiday!" Qin Guanglin feared Little Fatty might spout nonsense again and pulled He Fang along to leave.
"Brother Lin, you're amazing!" Little Fatty shouted from behind.
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