The car drove quietly along the road.
Well-fed, Fan Shengmei leaned lazily against the seat, eyes closed as if resting.
Wu Bai kept his eyes on the sea of traffic. After a moment, while waiting for a red light, his gaze drifted uncontrollably toward the person beside him.
With her eyes closed and her features relaxed, the young woman lacked the striking, alluring presence she had when awake, appearing instead adorably well-behaved. She looked like an innocent girl who knew nothing of the world, rather than a siren capable of seducing and teasing men.
As Wu Bai watched, the corners of his lips curved upward slowly, his eyes filled with a boundless tenderness he was entirely unaware of.
The brief red light passed, and the car started moving again.
Their destination was a shopping mall. The car followed a line of vehicles into the underground parking garage and finally found a parking space in a secluded corner.
Although the parking lot lights were on, the interior of the car remained somewhat dim, and as the engine died, a quick stillness settled over the vehicle.
Wu Bai pulled out the keys and let his gaze fall on the seemingly sleeping woman, hesitating whether he should wake her. But as he looked at her soft, beautiful sleeping face, his hesitation grew longer.
"How much longer do you plan to stare at me?" Her lips parted slightly, breaking the quiet inside the car.
Fan Shengmei opened her eyes. Her slightly curved eyes met Wu Bai's startled gaze as she continued, "At this point, wouldn't any guy who has the slightest crush just lean in and kiss me? It seems little brother doesn't like me at all."
Hearing this, Wu Bai's body instantly went rigid.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Fan Shengmei had already unbuckled her seatbelt, grabbed her bag, opened the car door, and gotten out.
In the end, Wu Bai never said the words of denial, choosing instead to quietly follow behind the young woman.
Fan Shengmei, however, strolled leisurely, admiring the shopping mall. After walking for a while, she slowed her pace to let Wu Bai catch up, and asked, "What do you need?"
Wu Bai turned his head to look at her and replied in a low voice, "Not sure. Let's look around first."
"Then," Fan Shengmei tapped her chin with a fingertip and said, "I just saw there's a movie theater here. How about we go see a movie first, and then continue shopping afterward? By the time we finish, it'll be about time to go home anyway."
"Sure," Wu Bai nodded indifferently.
The cinema was on the fifth floor.
They took the elevator up and came to the ticket counter. Several films were showing today. Fan Shengmei looked at the titles and posters, chose one, and asked Wu Bai, "What do you think of this one?"
A romance film?
Wu Bai was slightly startled, but he still nodded, though his heartbeat couldn't help speeding up.
"Alright, you buy the tickets, and I'll go get the popcorn." With that, Fan Shengmei walked over to the concession stand.
Wu Bai slowly pulled out his wallet, his gaze drifting from time to time toward Fan Shengmei over by the counter, wondering continuously if she had some other motive in choosing this, especially since she didn't seem particularly fond of such movies herself.
"Handsome, are you buying tickets?" The attendant waited for a moment, but when Wu Bai didn't offer any money, she had no choice but to speak up awkwardly.
Hearing this, Wu Bai hurriedly and awkwardly paid for the tickets.
There was still less than half an hour before the movie started, so the two of them had no choice but to wait in the lounge area.
Fan Shengmei chose a corner seat and sat down. Then, lifting her chin, she said, "Little brother Xiaobai, I want a drink."
Wu Bai, who had just been about to sit down, straightened up instantly and replied, "I'll go buy it."
"Great, hurry back~" Fan Shengmei waved with a beaming smile, and as soon as he left, she picked up her phone.
The group chat was buzzing with activity.
[Fan Shengmei: I'm at the mall. If anyone needs anything, I can pick it up for you.]
[Qiu Yingying: Wow, Sister Fan, you guys went shopping!]
[Qiu Yingying: How's the date going? Any progress?]
[Fan Shengmei: Not yet. Little brother Xiaobai is just too shy ┑(￣Д￣)┍]
[Qiu Yingying: No way, when I'm not around, he didn't make the first move?]
[Qu Xiaoxiao: So the blind date was a success?]
[Qiu Yingying: Not that one, it's another... well, no, that's not right either.]
[Qu Xiaoxiao: What's with this and that? But to think it's a younger guy—Sister Fan is amazing, actually getting into a cradle-snatching romance (smirk.JPG).]
[Fan Shengmei: You could have a romance with an older brother too; little brother Xiaobai has a cousin, you know, and he looks very good.]
[Qu Xiaoxiao: Really? (big eyes.JPG)]
[Qiu Yingying: Really, I guarantee it, he's super handsome.]
[Qu Xiaoxiao: Quick, quick, are there any photos? I want to see!!!]
[Fan Shengmei: None.]
[Qu Xiaoxiao: (crying.JPG)]
[Qiu Yingying: Hahaha, I have some~ Beg me and I'll give them to you.]
[Qu Xiaoxiao: Little Earthworm, tell me, are you trying to rebel?]
[Qiu Yingying: I have photos, and they're super clear.]
[Qu Xiaoxiao: Give them to me! Don't make me beg you on my knees.]
[Fan Shengmei: Pfft.]
[Guan Ju'er: Pfft.]
[Andy: Pfft.]
[Qu Xiaoxiao: You're all bullying me (crying.JPG)]
[Qiu Yingying: Here you go, here you go.]
"I bought the drinks." Wu Bai placed the drinks on the table and cast a casual glance at the phone, only to see a photo of his own cousin. His other hand instantly clenched around the bottle of mineral water.
Fan Shengmei looked up and instantly read his bad mood from his expression. She reached over to pick up a drink and handed it to him, saying with a natural smile, "Little brother Xiaobai, help me open this."
Though Wu Bai was indeed feeling unhappy inside, he obediently helped twist off the bottle cap.
Taking the drink and taking a sip, Fan Shengmei tapped the table with her fingertip and smiled, "Little brother Xiaobai, move a bit closer."
Wu Bai glanced at her, stood up silently, picked up his chair, and moved it next to hers. Just then, he saw Fan Shengmei pick up a piece of popcorn with her delicate white fingers, hold it out to his lips, and say, "Taste it, honey-flavored, it's very sweet~"
He opened his mouth to bite it, took it in, and chewed. It was indeed sweet, and Wu Bai's mood instantly improved.
Seeing his brow relax, Fan Shengmei thought to herself that this younger boy was really easy to coax.
He felt even more appetizing now.
"Little brother Xiaobai," Fan Shengmei said in a low, soft, seductive voice, her fingertip brushing against Wu Bai's lips, "Have you ever kissed anyone? It tastes slightly sweet, pretty much like how you feel right now~"
The sensation on his lips made Wu Bai stop chewing. He fell quiet for a moment, and without knowing what possessed him, he suddenly looked over and asked, "You know this so well—is it because you've kissed a lot of people?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt a wave of regret. He opened his mouth again to apologize, but Fan Shengmei pressed a finger to his lips and said with a honeyed, smiling voice, "Little brother, are you jealous?"
Faced with this question, Wu Bai reached out to grab her hand and retorted, "No!"
Yet that voice and tone sounded thoroughly like putting up a bold front.
Wu Bai clearly realized this as well, awkwardness and shyness written across his brow. Under Fan Shengmei's smiling gaze, he blushed, turned his head away in silence, and refused to look at her, though his grip on her hand remained tight.
Fan Shengmei finally couldn't help bursting into laughter, her clear, melodious voice drawing the glances of others nearby.
Seeing the man and woman, everyone exchanged understanding looks.