167: In this spring of social anxiety, let's start by falling in love!

Su Chen felt his brain was like an ancient computer forced with a virus, completely blue-screened and crashed.

His life script was torn to shreds today by a female lead who didn't follow the routine.

What about the broken engagement? The face-slapping? The 'thirty years east, thirty years west'?

How did it... skip directly to a confession and a kiss?

This isn't scientific!

This isn't Xuanhuan!

He looked at Ling Qingzhu in front of him; her head was lowered, her ears were completely red, yet she still stubbornly held his hand. His heart was filled with mixed emotions.

He was socially anxious.

A veteran, hopelessly socially anxious person.

He was used to hiding behind the scenes, used to watching the show, and used to complaining.

What he feared most was dealing with people, especially women.

But... this woman in front of him seemed a bit different.

She was the Yaochi Saintess, one of the Heavens Proud Daughters, the iceberg goddess looked up to by countless people.

She should have been high and mighty, looking down on her 'notorious' salted fish fiancé.

But she had traveled thousands of miles to this dangerous demon domain.

She even... took the initiative to confess to him.

Even... kissed him.

Su Chen had lived two lives, and for the first time, he was cornered like this by a girl who was so 'alpha' to his face.

A strange emotion ran wild in his heart.

It wasn't the joy of finding a treasure, nor the smugness of taking advantage.

It was a kind of... astonishment at the program being disrupted.

[She... the Yaochi Saintess, a future leader of the Righteous Path, is actually this brave?]

[As a grown man and a Transmigration traveler with a System, how can I lose in terms of Aura?]

[Although I have no idea what she's thinking, this... courage seems to carry some weight.]

[And, to be honest, she really is beautiful, and her figure... well... it's top-tier...]

Su Chen's socially anxious heart, which had been as still as an ancient well for ten thousand years, now felt like a red-hot iron had been tossed into it, sizzling.

He thought of the Marriage Contract in the Su Family Ancestral Hall, symbolizing the union of Two Great Lineages.

Before, he only saw it as a KPI imposed by the Family, a shackle on his salted fish life.

But now, looking at this girl willing to set aside all her pride for him, he suddenly felt that this 'mandatory project' seemed... not unacceptable?

[Forget it, I'll have to find a Dao Companion sooner or later anyway.]

[Finding someone else is the same, finding her... doesn't seem like a loss?]

[Top-tier looks, top-tier strength, top-tier background, and the key is... she's proactive.]

[If this were on Earth, wouldn't it be like a rich woman driving a Ferrari, holding a ten-million-dollar check, begging me to marry her?]

[What reason do I have to refuse?]

Su Chen's inner self conducted an intense 'cost-benefit' analysis.

Finally, he reached a conclusion.

This deal is worth it!

He took a deep breath, as if making a major decision.

His heart, which had been in 'energy-saving standby' for years due to social anxiety, began to beat powerfully.

He reached back and grasped Ling Qingzhu's cold and delicate hand.

Ling Qingzhu's whole body stiffened. She looked up abruptly, her phoenix eyes—filled with a mix of surprise, shyness, and unease—clashed directly with Su Chen's eyes, which held a bit of helplessness, a bit of amusement, and a trace of... business-like seriousness.

Su Chen stared at her, a stiff but what he considered sincere smile pulling at his face.

"Um..."

Su Chen felt his throat go dry. His socially anxious instinct made him want to find a hole to crawl into immediately, but his responsibility as a 'mature male' told him he couldn't back down.

"What you just said... were you serious?" he asked.

Ling Qingzhu's face turned several shades redder instantly.

But she still nodded heavily and forcefully.

In those cold phoenix eyes was an unprecedented firmness and determination.

Seeing her nod, Su Chen felt like he had finally finalized the last clause of a contract, and he let out a long, long sigh of relief.

In that breath, there was the exhaustion of the dust settling, the relief of throwing off a heavy burden, and a trace of... lightness that he hadn't even noticed.

"Alright."

He spoke; his voice wasn't loud, but it was as clear as a dharma decree imprinted on Ling Qingzhu's heart.

"Since your side has shown such sincerity, if my side continues to make excuses, it would seem small-minded."

"Then... from today on, let's enter a trial period."

"Let's... let's date first!"

As Su Chen said those last words, he felt his face burning.

The phrase 'dating' was too unfamiliar, too shameful, and too energy-consuming for a perpetual bachelor and socially anxious person like him.

However, those few words falling into Ling Qingzhu's ears were more moving than any Heavenly Dao oath.

Date?

He... he agreed!

An indescribable wild joy, like a galaxy bursting its banks, instantly swept away all her coldness and pretense.

Ling Qingzhu's eyes turned red instantly.

But she didn't cry.

She just nodded forcefully again, her lips blooming with a heartfelt, beautiful smile capable of melting the snow and reviving all things in the Nine Nether Demon Domain.

"Mhm!"

That single sound seemed to exhaust all the strength and courage of her life.

The atmosphere in the room became incredibly subtle for a moment.

The two 'prospective partners' who had just established a 'cooperative relationship' stood there foolishly holding hands, neither knowing what the next step in the process should be.

A suffocating awkwardness froze the air.

Su Chen's socially anxious DNA began to alarm frantically.

[Crap, what now? What should we do next?]

[Don't novels say that after establishing a relationship, you're supposed to hug or continue with some deep communication?]

[But I... I have no experience! Where's the manual?]

[What to do? Waiting online, what's the follow-up process for this project? It's urgent!]

Ling Qingzhu was equally at a loss.

Although she had initiated with a burst of courage, she was also a pure novice in love.

[Why... why isn't he talking?]

[Does he think I'm too forward?]

[What should I say? Should I ask him what he wants to eat tonight?]

Just as the two were staring at each other, so awkward they were about to dig out a three-bedroom apartment with their toes.

"Gurgle..."

An untimely, clear sound broke the silence of the room.

The sound came from Su Chen's stomach.

He... he was hungry.

Su Chen: "..."

Ling Qingzhu: "..."

After a brief silence.

Ling Qingzhu burst into laughter with a "pfft".

This laugh was like a spring breeze turning into rain, instantly dispersing all the awkwardness in the room.

Su Chen's old face also turned red for once.

[Embarrassing, so embarrassing! At such a critical moment, my stomach actually growled!]

[The face of the Divine Son of the Changsheng Su Family is completely lost today!]

Seeing his embarrassed look, Ling Qingzhu laughed even more happily.

She felt that this Su Chen was more real than the one in the diary, and... cuter.

"Let's go."

She took Su Chen's hand and spoke proactively.

"I'll take you to get something to eat."

"I know a barbecue place in this Ten Thousand Demon City that tastes pretty good."

Su Chen looked at the bright smile on her face, stunned for a moment, and then he smiled too.

"Okay."

Spring for the socially anxious seems to... have arrived just like that.

Although the process was a bit ridiculous, the result seemed... not bad?