Fu Hongli's hand was very soft and very cold.
But that wasn't the main point. The main point was that Lin Yang's heart was about to leap out of his chest.
This was the first time he had ever held hands with a girl.
Fu Hongli was in no better state.
It was her first time holding hands with a guy too, but unlike Lin Yang whose heart was hammering wildly, she just felt awkward—unbelievably awkward.
Still, she gritted her teeth and endured it.
True to her reputation as the campus belle of Jiang University, the moment Lin Yang led her into the cafeteria by the hand, it caused a massive uproar.
The commotion wasn't because Fu Hongli had come to eat at the cafeteria, but because her hand was being held by a male student.
Some people looked stunned, some snickered, some wore looks of absolute despair, and others looked utterly heartbroken.
Lin Yang completely ignored all of them.
He smiled and asked, "What do you want to eat? I'll go buy it for you!"
"Just get whatever you think is fine, something light will do!" Fu Hongli replied indifferently.
This was meant to be a show put on for those utterly tactless guys who kept harassing her, so what she ate didn't matter in the least to Fu Hongli.
To outside observers, the two of them were standing remarkably close, truly resembling a young couple deeply in love.
Lin Yang smiled and said, "Alright, then go find a table and sit for a moment while I get the food!"
Fu Hongli obediently gave an affirmative hum.
She looked around and casually pointed to an empty table. "I'll wait for you over there!"
Lin Yang smiled and nodded.
They let go of each other's hands. Fu Hongli walked toward the empty table while Lin Yang went to buy the food.
It was peak lunchtime, and the cafeteria was packed to the brim.
Fu Hongli sat down unhurriedly, looking completely out of place in the noisy, bustling cafeteria.
She sat there aloof from the world, so beautiful that people couldn't tear their eyes away.
Yet Fu Hongli's gaze followed Lin Yang's figure.
This was, of course, part of the act as well.
In fact, the moment Fu Hongli announced on social media that she had a boyfriend, the entire Jiang University had exploded.
Campus forums, confession walls, and even various chat groups were buzzing with speculation about who on earth Fu Hongli's boyfriend was.
Fu Hongli knew many people were curious about her boyfriend's identity and whether she was truly in a relationship, so she didn't mind making the act look more convincing.
Seeing Lin Yang standing in line, a number of girls approached him one after another to greet him and even ask for his WeChat, but Lin Yang turned every single one of them down.
Seeing this, Fu Hongli had to admit one thing: the shield she had chosen seemed remarkably competent.
The food was bought and brought back quickly, and just as Fu Hongli had requested, everything was very light.
To be frank, Fu Hongli didn't even look at what the food was before she started eating.
The entire point of this meal was to proclaim to everyone that she had a boyfriend; eating had somehow become the least important thing.
Fu Hongli had exquisite table manners, chewing slowly and with extreme elegance.
Lin Yang ate somewhat fiercely because he was hungry.
Fu Hongli, who originally had little appetite, watched Lin Yang eating with such gusto and inexplicably found her own appetite whetted.
"Let's talk about something, otherwise it's going to be way too awkward!" Lin Yang said in a low voice.
Fu Hongli raised her eyes and glanced at him.
She asked indifferently, "What department are you in?"
"The Mathematics Department. But I'm a slacker, so when I graduate, chances are I won't be working in this field!"
For over two years of university, Lin Yang had been busy working and making money, leaving his studies in a total mess.
He didn't want it to be this way, but his creditors wouldn't allow it.
Managing to avoid dropping out was already the result of him trying his absolute best.
Fu Hongli gave a nonchalant nod. In truth, she didn't care in the least what department Lin Yang was in, how well he studied, or what kind of job he wanted to do in the future.
She had merely asked the question off the top of her head.
"What department are you in?" Lin Yang smiled and asked.
Fu Hongli said coldly, "Economics and Management."
Lin Yang remembered her nickname as the little princess of the Beijing circle, and then recalled how she hadn't even blinked when transferring money to him, guessing that her family must be extraordinarily wealthy.
Studying that major was probably to better inherit the family business.
Credit where credit is due, Fu Hongli was truly a favorite of the heavens.
Not only was she blessed with a face carved by a divine artisan, but she was also given a fortune she probably couldn't spend across several lifetimes.
He truly had no idea what kind of worries someone like her could possibly have.
And he had even less idea just how outstanding the boy abroad that she liked must be!
Lin Yang didn't envy Fu Hongli. The past two years of being battered and tormented by life had given Lin Yang a deep understanding of the saying that everyone has their own destiny.
However, Lin Yang did envy the guy who had managed to capture Fu Hongli's heart; that dude must have saved the entire universe in his past life.
After a brief chat, Fu Hongli put down her chopsticks.
"I'm done eating, you can take your time!"
With that, she stood up to leave.
Fu Hongli didn't want to stay with Lin Yang.
It wasn't that she hated Lin Yang; she simply disliked being around the opposite sex.
Or rather, aside from that person far away abroad, she didn't want to have such close contact with anyone at all.
"Sit back down!" Lin Yang said quickly.
A flash of cold light crossed Fu Hongli's eyes.
"What's the meaning of this?" she asked coldly.
Lin Yang looked at her, crying and laughing at the same time. "Fu Hongli, what kind of girlfriend gets up and leaves before her boyfriend has even finished eating? People will think we just got together and broke up right away."
"We're not even..."
Fu Hongli's words came to an abrupt halt.
Because she noticed that not far from where she and Lin Yang sat, many people were casting scrutinizing gazes at them.
Fu Hongli dismissed the thought of leaving.
Sensing that she felt somewhat uncomfortable staying, Lin Yang smiled and said, "Wait a moment, I'll be done in a second!"
"No rush, take your time!" Fu Hongli said, using a tone as non-frigid as she could muster.
By now, Fu Hongli had figured it out.
Today's performance required following Lin Yang's lead.
Otherwise, given her own personality, she would definitely blow her cover.
Lin Yang smiled and began devouring his noodles like crazy.
In less than three bites, the large bowl of noodles was inhaled by Lin Yang in a storm-like fashion.
Watching his intense movements as he gulped down the noodles, along with his bobbing Adam's apple, Fu Hongli once again felt that strange sensation that watching Lin Yang eat made the food look appetizing.
Fu Hongli even had the wild thought that if Lin Yang were a mukbang streamer, relying on that face and the way he ate, he would definitely attract a massive wave of fans.
Lin Yang finished off the noodles and let out a satisfied burp.
Fu Hongli inexplicably felt a sense of satisfaction wash over her.
"Can we go now?"
Lin Yang nodded and said, "Of course, let's go!"
Fu Hongli breathed a sigh of relief.
She stood up swiftly.
The bustling cafeteria made it hard for Fu Hongli to stay a moment longer; she disliked lively crowds, and she disliked places with too many people even more.
If not for acting out this scene today, Fu Hongli would never have come to eat in the cafeteria.
Seeing that Fu Hongli was about to leave, Lin Yang unhurriedly reached out his hand.
"We have to commit to the act all the way, right?" Lin Yang said with a smile in a low voice.
Fu Hongli frowned slightly.
Holding hands again?
Her heart subconsciously began to resist.
Yet, seeing countless pairs of eyes staring at her inside the cafeteria, she knew that if she rejected Lin Yang, today's performance would have been for nothing.
Fu Hongli took a deep breath, suppressing the discomfort in her heart.
Then, she took hold of Lin Yang's hand, which was so warm it made her daze for a split second.
Lin Yang smiled and turned his hand over, interlocking his fingers with hers.
Finger in finger!