"No!" Xiao Youran panicked.
After she said it, she noticed Xu Xiuwen's expression and her ears turned red.
Xu Xiuwen laughed heartily and stepped forward to wrap his arm around her waist.
Xiao Youran tried to break free, but when she couldn't, she allowed Xu Xiuwen to hold her.
"Do you think Teacher Gao believed what you said just now?"
"I don't know."
"I think Teacher Gao recognized me."
"What!" Xiao Youran was very surprised. "Then why didn't she say anything?"
"Maybe she didn't want you to feel embarrassed?"
"Then Teacher Gao knows I lied?"
"I think so."
Xiao Youran covered her face, feeling she had no face to see anyone. "How am I going to face Teacher Gao next time?"
"Hahaha…"
Xu Xiuwen and Xiao Youran walked down the most bustling commercial street in Langya City.
The two wore matching outfits. Although Xu Xiuwen wore a mask, his extraordinary demeanor and Xiao Youran's eye-catching appearance drew attention.
Every man they passed couldn't help but look at her.
Some even bumped into others while staring at Xiao Youran or got a slap from their girlfriends for it.
Although Xiao Youran didn't like being the center of attention, she enjoyed the feeling of shopping with Xu Xiuwen.
She instinctively pressed closer to Xu Xiuwen, leaning against him.
"Are you that happy?" Xu Xiuwen asked with a smile.
Xiao Youran nodded, "Yes, I'm really happy. It's been so long since you went shopping with me. I've been looking forward to this day for a long time."
Xu Xiuwen said, "So how are you going to thank me?"
As they were talking, a man in his thirties approached them, carrying a rack of candied haws with dozens of skewers.
Xiao Youran pointed at the candied haws and said, "Xiao Xu, let me treat you to candied haws."
"Alright."
Xiao Youran stopped the man and bought two skewers of candied haws.
The man took down two skewers from the rack and handed them to Xiao Youran.
She took money from her small bag.
While the owner was making change, Xiao Youran handed one skewer to Xu Xiuwen, then unwrapped her own and took a lick.
"It's so sweet, Xiao Xu."
The owner said while making change, "Our candied haws are the sweetest on this street."
Xiao Youran didn't respond to that but suddenly asked, "Do you think we make a good couple?"
The owner looked up at them, nodded, and said, "You're a perfect match, truly a handsome couple."
Xiao Youran smiled broadly at that.
"Then who do you think pursued whom?"
The owner answered seriously, "It must have been the young man pursuing you."
Xiao Youran asked, "Why couldn't it be me pursuing him?"
"A girl as fairy-like as you wouldn't have to pursue anyone."
"Hehe." Xiao Youran was delighted.
"You have a good eye, boss. He did pursue me." Xiao Youran laughed as she took the change from the owner.
Xu Xiuwen didn't argue, but after the candied haws seller left, he said to Xiao Youran, "Wasn't it you who pursued me?"
"Of course not."
"Then who skipped class to see me?"
Xiao Youran couldn't argue with him, so she pouted, "Can't you just let me win? Do you have to bully me to be happy?"
"Alright, alright, I'll let you win. I pursued you, okay?"
They continued shopping.
They visited many stores, selling clothes and shoes.
They bought a few things but not much.
They arrived at the central part of the commercial street.
There was a large mall and supermarket, the busiest part of the street.
Outside the store, there was a photo booth.
Xiao Youran saw it and didn't want to leave.
She pulled Xu Xiuwen and said, "Xiao Xu, let's take some photos."
Hearing the words "photo booth," Xu Xiuwen smiled.
To him, those words were a relic of the past, but they were now very popular. Many young couples took photos in those booths.
"Forget it," Xu Xiuwen hesitated.
"Oh, please! Just take some with me, pretty please." Xiao Youran pouted, using a coquettish tone she had picked up somewhere.
"Photo booths are boring. If you want pictures, I'll buy you a good camera another day."
"It's not the same. Every couple takes photo booth pictures. Just come with me, please."
Seeing her pleading expression, Xu Xiuwen couldn't refuse, so he agreed.
They stepped into the photo booth and followed the instructions to start taking pictures.
Under Xiao Youran's insistence, Xu Xiuwen had to make many silly faces for the photos. Initially reluctant, he gradually loosened up as they continued.
After they finished, the machine dispensed the photos. Xiao Youran eagerly took them and looked delighted.
"Xiao Xu, let's take some more," Xiao Youran suggested.
"Enough is enough. I'm getting hungry. Let's get something to eat," Xu Xiuwen said as he pulled back the curtain and stepped out of the booth.
Xiao Youran felt a bit disappointed but agreed.
Once outside, Xiao Youran carefully put the photos into her bag.
Xu Xiuwen asked, "Don't I get any?"
"No, since you didn't want to take more pictures. If you regret it, I can make time to take more with you," Xiao Youran teased.
"Forget it."
Xiao Youran felt both happy and a bit annoyed.
Xu Xiuwen led Xiao Youran away from the booth.
"Slow down, I can't keep up," Xiao Youran said.
"I'm hungry."
"What do you want to eat?"
"Let's get some spicy hotpot. It's been a while."
Hearing the words "spicy hotpot," Xiao Youran instinctively licked her lips. Xu Xiuwen noticed.
"You want spicy hotpot too?"
"Yes, it's been a while."
They found a roadside stall selling spicy hotpot. The stall was quite busy, with a line of people waiting.
Xu Xiuwen and Xiao Youran waited for ten minutes before it was their turn.
Xu Xiuwen ordered his favorite dish and wanted Xiao Youran to get her own.
But she insisted on sharing one large portion.
After paying, Xiao Youran eagerly picked up a skewer with a meatball and offered it to Xu Xiuwen, who didn't hesitate to eat it.
As soon as he finished, Xiao Youran fed him another spinach meatball. Xu Xiuwen ate it and said, "Don't just feed me, you should eat too."
"I want you to feed me," Xiao Youran said.
"That's a bit much, don't you think?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"Alright." Xu Xiuwen knew that if he didn't comply, Xiao Youran wouldn't let it go. He picked up a skewer with a meatball and fed it to her.
Xiao Youran happily bit into it but then pulled back, saying, "Xiao Xu, it's too hot."
Xu Xiuwen blew on the meatball a few times before feeding it to her again. This time she didn't complain and took a bite.
After that, Xiao Youran kept feeding Xu Xiuwen.
At first, Xu Xiuwen smiled and accepted it, but then he said, "You should eat too, don't just feed me."
Xiao Youran shook her head.
"You want me to feed you?"
As he was about to feed her, Xiao Youran shook her head again.
"No need. I like watching you eat."
"Aren't you hungry?"
"Seeing you enjoy it so much fills me up."
"What kind of nonsense is that!"
Xu Xiuwen ignored her and directly picked up a piece of tofu, bringing it to her mouth.
Xiao Youran opened her mouth and ate it.
Next, the two of them fed each other, one bite for him, one bite for her.
Onlookers nearby felt a pang of envy watching them.
After finishing their spicy hot pot, Xu Xiuwen and Xiao Youran continued their stroll.
They first went to the supermarket.
Soon, they ended up at the arcade.
On the second floor of the supermarket, there was a section dedicated to arcade games.
Various kinds of arcade machines were set up in the hall.
Xu Xiuwen used to enjoy playing arcade games when he was young, though he hadn't visited such arcades or game rooms often.
Xiao Youran, on the other hand, had never played, nor had she ever been to an arcade.
In her view, boys who played arcade games were delinquent troublemakers.
This was also the general perception of most girls during their school days.
When Xu Xiuwen pulled Xiao Youran into the arcade, she showed a resistant expression.
However, seeing Xu Xiuwen's excitement, she didn't object.
Upon entering the arcade, Xiao Youran initially felt reluctant, but soon she got excited.
With Xu Xiuwen's introduction and guidance, Xiao Youran started a shooting game.
The two of them teamed up to advance through the levels.
Xiao Youran was flustered and screamed nervously when attacked by enemies.
With Xiao Youran being a burden, they barely made it through the first level, but couldn't pass the second one.
When Xu Xiuwen was also defeated by the enemies, Xiao Youran regretfully said, "What a pity!"
Xu Xiuwen asked, "Want to play again?"
Xiao Youran, with a flushed face, nodded without much thought, "Yes."
Xu Xiuwen inserted more coins and continued playing the shooting game.
Such games tested one's reaction speed and teamwork.
Xiao Youran was undoubtedly a burden, though she was unaware of it.
It was extremely challenging for Xu Xiuwen to advance with her.
But with a continuous supply of coins, they eventually managed to clear level after level and finally completed the game.
After finishing the game, the two characters had eliminated the dangerous organization and saved everyone.
Xiao Youran put down the gun and excitedly jumped into Xu Xiuwen's arms, shouting, "Xiao Xu, we did it!"
Xu Xiuwen put down his gun and said, "Yes, we did."
Xiao Youran was particularly happy, as if she had accomplished something very important.
Xu Xiuwen then pulled her towards another machine.
There was a "Knights of Valour" game machine, but two players were already there, surrounded by quite a few spectators.
Xu Xiuwen gave up on that machine and instead aimed for the "King of Fighters '97" game machine.
He asked Xiao Youran if she wanted to play "King of Fighters."
At this point, Xiao Youran had forgotten her resistance to arcade games and nodded in agreement.
So he explained the game's rules and basic operations to Xiao Youran.
Xiao Youran said confidently, "Okay, I understand."
But the result was:
"Ah! Don't hit me!"
"Xiao Xu, stop!"
"Stop hitting me, I'm going to die..."
"I died. How could you be so heartless!" Xiao Youran glared at Xu Xiuwen, looking unhappy.
Xu Xiuwen laughed, "Hey, don't take it so seriously. We're just playing a game."
Xiao Youran pouted, "Can't you let me win?"
"You didn't tell me to let you win."
"Not fair! I want a rematch!"
"Sure, but what's unfair?"
"I picked all female characters just now, and you picked male characters. Of course, I couldn't beat you. It's so unfair."
Xu Xiuwen laughed at her comment.
He didn't argue back but instead said, "Alright, let's do it again."
Xu Xiuwen inserted more coins for Xiao Youran.
She started picking characters again, her face serious and focused.
In the end, she chose Iori Yagami, Chang Koehan, and Daimon Goro.
These characters certainly looked stronger than the female characters she had picked earlier.
Iori Yagami was obviously formidable with his red hair.
Chang Koehan, with his chains and giant hammer, was also not to be underestimated.
Daimon Goro, with his muscular build, looked very powerful.
Xiao Youran didn't know each character's strengths and chose based on who appeared the strongest, which was understandable.
But "King of Fighters '97" is about skillful control.
Xu Xiuwen chuckled.
When the match began, Xiao Youran tried hard, but her characters were easily toyed with by Xu Xiuwen, who had complete control.
The battle ended quickly.
Xu Xiuwen finished the match with one character against three.
"Are you convinced now?" Xu Xiuwen asked with a smile.
Xiao Youran looked a bit dejected and disappointed but couldn't help asking, "Were the characters you picked the strongest ones?"
"Hahaha..." Xu Xiuwen laughed heartily. Afterward, he asked, "Youran, I never knew you had such a competitive streak."
Xiao Youran was momentarily stunned and then fell silent.
She used to be proud and competitive, but not intensely so.
However, since going to Tianyun Mountain, her mindset had changed.
She realized that only by defeating Cheng Lu could she be happy with Xu Xiuwen.
Since then, her competitive spirit had been greatly stimulated.
"Hmph, isn't that possible?" Xiao Youran's eyes lit up as she suddenly said, "Xiao Xu, let's switch. I'll use the three characters you picked."
Xu Xiuwen laughed, "You're still not giving up, huh?"
"Alright, I'll indulge you. We'll switch places."
Xu Xiuwen stood up and let Xiao Youran take his seat.
He sat in the spot Xiao Youran had just been in, inserted coins, and selected characters.
This time, he picked the three female characters Xiao Youran initially chose.
Xiao Youran started with high confidence.
But soon, she lost two characters in a row.
Seeing the female characters, agile and elusive in Xu Xiuwen's hands, she finally realized that her skill level was lacking.
However, Xiao Youran didn't give up.
When the final character came into play, she still fought hard to defeat Xu Xiuwen.
Perhaps her earnestness moved the heavens.
Xu Xiuwen indeed started making mistakes in the ensuing battle.
Quickly, she defeated the first character.
Xiao Youran was thrilled.
The second character was soon defeated as well.
Finally, in the last battle, both sides exchanged blows and kicks, fighting fiercely.
After an intense match, Xiao Youran narrowly defeated Xu Xiuwen with a sliver of health remaining.
Xiao Youran smiled and said, "I finally won. I told you your characters were stronger."
Xu Xiuwen smiled faintly and supported her, saying, "Our Youran is really impressive."
"Of course."
Xiao Youran was ecstatic and didn't notice that Xu Xiuwen had let her win.
Later, Xu Xiuwen took Xiao Youran to play the coin-pusher machine.
Repeated disappointments finally led to a significant win.
Though it was a financial loss, Xiao Youran didn't feel that way. She felt her efforts were rewarded and was very happy.