After a whole evening of strolling through the night market, it was already past eight at night.
Shen Lang was carrying the bags full of stuff Su Lexuan bought, while Su Lexuan was happily munching on a fluffy cotton candy and occasionally holding it up with a big smile, offering him a bite.
They walked back to the underground parking lot of the internet café, with Shen Lang half-jokingly complaining, "All you do is use me as your pack mule."
Shopping with a girl was truly a trial.
Shen Lang had thought the same when he used to go grocery shopping with his mom or the two silly girls when he was younger.
Now, as an adult, he didn't expect to go through the same kind of non-stop torture again.
Every time they passed by a clothing store at the night market, Su Lexuan would drag Shen Lang inside to look around. She tried on any clothes she liked, and Shen Lang had to pay close attention, giving feedback on how she looked—neither too flattering nor too critical. It was quite a hassle.
"Shopping is just shopping, Shen Pig. I think you're just too much of a homebody."
Su Lexuan said with a laugh, "I suggest you come out with me more often. Sooner or later, you'll start to enjoy it."
"Hold on, stop right there!"
Shen Lang said nervously, "I think staying home is pretty great. Even walking the dog, you're better at it than me."
"Haha, that's a bit much."
Su Lexuan giggled, covering her mouth. "It's not that exaggerated!"
After packing up Su Lexuan's new purchases, they got into the spacious BMW M8.
"Shen Pig, you really change cars a lot, huh?"
Su Lexuan, buckling her seatbelt, looked at the luxurious interior of the BMW M8 with curiosity and surprise. "You shouldn't spend money like this. What happened to your old Benz? Didn't you just buy it? Did you sell it as a second-hand car?"
"Nope, I still have it. So, have you gotten your driver's license yet?"
Shen Lang asked as he fastened his seatbelt.
"Why don't I let you use that car? It would be convenient for you to drive to your parents' place, and when I'm not free, you can take your friend and roommate out."
"Hehe, no thanks. I failed the first subject four times."
Su Lexuan said playfully, sticking out her pink tongue. "The driving school instructor said I have a special talent, so I just gave up on the tests."
"In that case, you might as well not buy a car."
Shen Lang sincerely suggested, "If any driving school actually gave you a license, you'd probably treat the road like your living room."
"That's not fair! I just didn't take it seriously. You're discriminating against us female drivers!"
Su Lexuan pouted indignantly, then dreamily said, "Anyway, I don't plan on taking the test again. With you around, you'll be my personal driver."
Shen Lang nodded understandingly. "Sure, sure. What can I say? I, the homebody, ended up with a social butterfly girlfriend."
"It's getting late."
As the car exited the underground parking lot and stopped at the first red light, Shen Lang suddenly asked, "Do you want me to drive you back to school or to your parents' place?"
Su Lexuan, happily enjoying her cotton candy and taking selfies with her phone, was taken aback by the surprising question. She hadn't expected Shen Lang to offer to take her back to school.
When she was about to hint at something, she noticed Shen Lang's teasing expression.
Clearly, he was trying to tease her again.
Su Lexuan crossed her arms, frowned, and turned her head away, her pigtails swaying. "Humph! Then drive me back to school!"
"Hehe, no way."
Shen Lang playfully stretched his neck and took a bite of the fluffy cotton candy Su Lexuan was holding.
"Stupid Shen Pig, stop it!!"
Su Lexuan was horrified as she watched Shen Lang bite off and devour her cotton candy.
"Hmm, it's pretty sweet."
Shen Lang said with a smirk.
Su Lexuan wanted to smack Shen Lang, but since he was driving, she could only say angrily, "Shen Pig, you owe me ten more skewers next time!"
"Sure, sure."
Shen Lang happily agreed, then turned on the car's navigation to find a nearby hotel.
[Ding! Navigation to Jinhua International Hotel. It's 13 kilometers away, about 10 minutes. Gaode Map will continue to guide you.]
Upon hearing the word "hotel," Su Lexuan's heart started to race.
Even though they had gotten close, the shy Su Lexuan still felt awkward, her delicate face visibly reddening.
At that moment, Shen Lang quietly placed his hand on Su Lexuan's thigh under her pleated skirt, lightly caressing her smooth skin.
Su Lexuan shivered, blushing and trying to push Shen Lang's mischievous hand away. "No, don't be so touchy. Just drive."
"Ahem, by the way, have you been following the news about that celebrity scandal? I remember you were pretty interested in him."
Su Lexuan was not the type to be easily swayed, and she was naturally averse to such flirtatious gestures. But Shen Lang, experienced as he was, kept up with some off-topic conversation while shamelessly continuing to touch her thigh.
In short, if a girl likes you, you just have to be persistent and pushy.
If a guy wants to win a girl over, he needs to have a thick skin. As long as the girl doesn't resist too much and has some feelings for you, being a bit pushy might just get you somewhere.
Besides, Shen Lang and Su Lexuan had already played cards together before.
As long as the affectionate gestures weren't too extreme, Su Lexuan would tolerate them.
Her refusal was mostly due to shyness.
"You're so thick-skinned!"
After rejecting him a few more times, Su Lexuan gave Shen Lang a resentful look, her annoyed expression actually quite cute, and stopped trying to push his hand away.
She even worried that Shen Lang's hand might interfere with driving and subtly moved her legs in his direction.
Noticing this subtle gesture, Shen Lang's breath quickened, and he excitedly asked, "Baby, how about I drive to a secluded place and we..."
"No way!"
Su Lexuan immediately guessed what Shen Lang was hinting at and firmly rejected, "Just drive! Otherwise, no more touching!"