102: Chapter 102 Holding Hands

After getting everything ready, the two of them went out together.

To thank Zhang Qi, Lin Yuxi chose a high-end seafood restaurant on the nearby commercial street.

She lived alone, so she would never usually bring herself to eat at such an expensive place.

This time, it was purely to treat Zhang Qi to a meal that she gritted her teeth and booked it.

Zhang Qi drove the rolls-royce phantom, carrying her as he smoothly drove out of the underground garage.

Not long after, the car was parked in the underground parking lot of the commercial street.

It was already eight or nine in the evening, the busiest time for the commercial street.

The two took the elevator to the ground level, where the streets were bustling with people, filled with neon lights and nightlife.

Lin Yuxi's red and black female swordsman outfit instantly made her the center of attention.

Especially since she was an incredibly beautiful woman with a tall, slender figure.

Many passersby stared blankly the moment they saw her.

Their gazes seemed glued to her, unable to look away.

A few young men even stopped in their tracks.

They took out their phones and secretly took pictures of her from a distance.

This scene was just like seeing a big celebrity walking down the street.

For the severely socially anxious Lin Yuxi, this was nothing short of torture.

She felt the fiery gazes around her like needles pricking her skin.

This put her under immense psychological pressure, making even her breathing feel tight.

However, her outward appearance showed absolutely no signs of panic.

There was no expression on her cold, stunning face.

Her eyes were fixed ahead, her chin slightly raised, and her pace was steady.

Paired with this dashing ancient costume, her cold and aloof aura was simply perfect.

She looked exactly like a cold-blooded swordswoman who had stepped out of a martial arts world.

Other girls might find being watched by so many people enjoyable.

But for Lin Yuxi, every second was an ordeal.

She was currently enduring it entirely for Zhang Qi's sake.

If it weren't for Zhang Qi walking by her side,

she might have turned around and bolted back to the Rolls-Royce the moment she got out of the car and was stared at.

"Yuxi, are you nervous?" Zhang Qi suddenly asked.

As a man who had spent several years as a simp, he was naturally very observant.

He could see at a glance the tension and strangeness hidden beneath Lin Yuxi's cold exterior.

He could even see a layer of goosebumps rising on her fair neck.

"I'm okay, we're almost there," Lin Yuxi said softly, pursing her rosy lips.

Her voice was very low, and her hands were tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning white.

"Give me your hand." Zhang Qi stopped and reached out a large, broad hand.

His gaze was calm and gentle as he looked at Lin Yuxi.

Lin Yuxi also stopped immediately and turned to look at Zhang Qi.

A seductive flush quietly spread across her fair, cold cheeks.

"You might feel better this way," Zhang Qi said calmly, his tone brooking no argument.

A clear flash of hesitation crossed Lin Yuxi's eyes.

Since she was young, because of her outstanding face, her suitors had been as numerous as the hairs on an ox.

But with her aloof personality and social anxiety, she had never accepted any man's advances.

She was extremely averse to even ordinary physical contact.

Lin Yuxi was extremely intelligent and perceptive; how could she not see it?

Zhang Qi's action was clearly a bit ambiguous, testing her boundaries.

But… she didn't actually feel resistant in her heart.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally made a decision.

She slowly raised her fair, slender hand and placed it gently into Zhang Qi's large hand.

Zhang Qi took the opportunity to hold it gently.

The moment he held it, Zhang Qi felt a delicate, warm softness.

The small hand was soft as if it had no bones, and the skin was as smooth and tender as fine mutton-fat jade.

He could even feel the slight sweat seeping from her palm due to nervousness.

Zhang Qi smiled slightly and said in a relaxed tone, "Let's go."

Afterward, Zhang Qi walked through the crowd, holding Lin Yuxi's small hand just like that.

With the warmth and strength transmitted from Zhang Qi's broad palm,

the fear of being watched that Lin Yuxi felt miraculously dissipated significantly.

She lowered her head slightly, obediently letting Zhang Qi lead her.

The two walked through the bustling commercial street and arrived at the high-end seafood restaurant she had booked.

A waiter greeted them enthusiastically and led them to the window seat that had been reserved.

It wasn't until they were seated that Zhang Qi naturally let go of her hand.

Lin Yuxi kept her head down, the flush on her cheeks still not fading, and she didn't dare look up at Zhang Qi.

She simply pushed the exquisite menu in front of Zhang Qi.

"Brother Qi, you order," she said softly, her voice still trembling slightly.

Zhang Qi took the menu and didn't stand on ceremony with her.

He ordered a few of the restaurant's signature seafood dishes that weren't cheap.

Things like Australian lobster and king crab—all expensive, premium dishes costing thousands.

Sitting opposite him, Lin Yuxi watched, not feeling pained by the money at all.

Instead, she felt very comfortable and at ease.

She felt that Zhang Qi was straightforward in his actions and didn't put on any pretense.

If Zhang Qi had deliberately ordered cheap dishes to save her money,

she would have felt that he was pitying her, and she would have felt uneasy.

After all, Zhang Qi had just spent over two million without blinking an eye for her.

Treating him to a meal of seafood worth a few thousand was only right.

After the waiter took the menu and respectfully retreated,

the two began to chat while drinking the warm tea in their cups.

After setting aside the initial nervousness, Lin Yuxi gradually spoke more.

The two talked about short video shooting and the future development of the account, chatting happily.

Zhang Qi knew very well to quit while he was ahead.

With Lin Yuxi's severely socially anxious and aloof personality,

the fact that she could hold hands today and wear this outfit to eat with him

meant the progress of their relationship was already considered very fast.

So he wasn't in a hurry to push things further, just enjoying this pleasant dinner.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city.

Inside an old rented apartment near Shencheng University, the lights were somewhat dim.

Chen Nianshu was sitting quietly on an old sofa with peeling leather.

She was wearing a simple, elegant white cotton and linen dress.

Her long, jet-black hair draped softly over her shoulders without any complex styling.

Her face was devoid of makeup, yet it exuded a kind of refined, otherworldly beauty.

She looked quiet and elegant, radiating a strong scholarly aura from head to toe.

But at this moment, her beautiful eyebrows were slightly furrowed.

She was looking down at her phone screen.

On the WeChat interface, the friend request sent to Zhang Qi was still in a pending state.

Chen Nianshu's expression looked a bit disappointed, and she sighed softly.

Just at this moment, the door of the rental apartment was pushed open from the outside, and a tall, athletic beauty walked in with long strides.

She was wearing a tight black sports tank top and gray ultra-short yoga pants.

Her long, powerful legs were displayed without reservation.

She was still sweaty, clearly having just returned from exercising outside.

This beauty was named Lei Lei, Chen Nianshu's roommate, and also...

She was also a professional fitness coach with a straightforward and fiery personality.

Lei Lei wiped the sweat from her neck as she approached the sofa.

"Nianshu, he still hasn't accepted your friend request?"

Lei Lei asked, staring with wide eyes at Chen Nianshu's phone screen.

Chen Nianshu nodded gently, her eyes revealing a hint of disappointment.

"Yeah, still hasn't."

"That bastard!"

Lei Lei was instantly furious, looking filled with righteous indignation.

She threw the towel she used to wipe her sweat onto the chair next to her.

"My Nianshu took the initiative to add him on WeChat, and he's actually acting all high and mighty!"

"Don't say that," Chen Nianshu interrupted Lei Lei softly.

"He has a girlfriend now; it's only right that he doesn't add me."

Hearing this, Lei Lei furrowed her brows tightly and pondered for a moment.

"Logically speaking, since he has a girlfriend, we really shouldn't disturb him."

"But you can only accept him; there's no other way."

"Besides, I don't want you to find any other man…"

In Lei Lei's tone, she was brimming with absolute confidence in Chen Nianshu's charm.

"Just call him directly and arrange a place to meet and talk."

"With your charm, I don't believe he won't come!"

Listening to her best friend, Chen Nianshu fell silent.

She thought for a while, her expression looking very conflicted and helpless.

"...Alright, fine."

Chen Nianshu bit her rosy lips and finally compromised.

She picked up her phone and flipped to the number saved in her contacts.

Taking a deep breath, she dialed Zhang Qi directly.