37: Chapter 37 The First Intimate Contact

The meal passed by in the blink of an eye.

The awkwardness, the strangeness, the "meeting-in-person-ruins-it" scenario I imagined... none of those unpleasant things happened.

The man sitting before me was just as he had been in our interactions these past few days—witty and wholesome, making one want to draw closer to him.

This was probably the best thing Ruan Xingyu could have hoped for tonight.

After getting dressed and stepping out of the private room, the two of them tacitly remained silent.

Wen Qi sat bored in the lobby. Having finished her meal long ago, she kept her eyes glued to the private room door. Now that it opened, her gaze focused entirely on Lin Chuyan.

This was Sister Xingxing's date!

The only man she has liked in all these years!

Wen Qi was just too curious.

[Tall, quite tall. A good head taller than Sister Xingxing, who is 170cm. I'd guess over 185cm.]

[Thin, a bit thin. Didn't she say he works out? Wonder if he has muscles under those clothes...]

[Ugh, why is the restaurant lighting so dim! I can't see clearly, but judging by his facial contours... definitely a handsome guy!]

[Alright, alright, they look like a perfect match. Is this Teacher Lin Mo? He's so young? Sister Xingxing has good taste...]

Countless thoughts flashed through Wen Qi's mind, but her face remained expressionless. She quietly paid the bill for them and then trailed far behind.

Outside the restaurant was a quiet path with little foot traffic. The lights were dim, allowing Lin Chuyan and Ruan Xingyu to walk together for a little while longer.

Neither of them spoke, simply watching in silence as the lights behind them stretched their shadows long, occasionally causing them to overlap. The sound of their footsteps echoed in their ears, and for some reason, it felt pleasant to her.

Soon, they reached Ruan Xingyu's car.

Lin Chuyan felt a bit reluctant, but he still took the initiative to speak: "Well... I should head back."

"Mm, be careful on the way."

"...I'll come find you at your company in a few days."

He felt as if he couldn't wait.

"Okay."

"Your little assistant seems to be trailing far behind and hasn't caught up yet."

"Mm..." Ruan Xingyu was a bit distracted, as if she had made up her mind about something. "Let me ask you, do you feel like we chat so well and are so familiar with each other online, but act like strangers in person?"

Lin Chuyan smiled: "I wouldn't call it strangers, but it does feel a bit strange. You say... if we find opportunities to meet a few more times, will it get better?"

"Perhaps I have a way."

"What way?"

The dim lighting made it hard for them to see each other's faces clearly, which made them bolder, allowing them to look into each other's eyes without reservation.

Ruan Xingyu leaned slightly against the car. After a moment of hesitation, she said: "Give me your hand."

[The second tactic for pursuing a guy: Make a special request.]

Lin Chuyan didn't have time to overthink it; subconsciously, he obediently reached out and held his hand out to her.

The next second.

His fingertips suddenly brushed against another set of delicate, cool fingertips.

Soft. Springy. And trembling slightly.

Neither knew whose hand was trembling.

In a daze.

Ruan Xingyu's voice came from across the way: "Tell me, will this make it better?"

Lin Chuyan didn't quite hear what she said. He only felt his heart about to jump out of his throat.

It was as if his five senses were reduced to just the touch on his hand.

Goodness, he was being flirted with.

Resisting the urge to pull his hand back, he slowly savored the touch of her fingertips. They seemed to be imbued with magic, as if connected to Ruan Xingyu's heartbeat.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

Lin Chuyan soon wasn't satisfied with just this. He didn't know where the courage came from, but his fingers climbed up along her fingertips, and then, he gently gripped half of her palm.

"Xingxing... your hand is a bit cold."

"Hmph."

Ruan Xingyu seemed startled by his "audacity," though she didn't consider who had initiated it in the first place.

She tried to gently pull her hand back, but couldn't.

After thinking about it, she simply gripped his hand back.

And so, their hands were clasped together.

They didn't let go.

So, Wen Qi, who was trailing far behind, had to wait for quite a while longer.

The sky was the same as before, but the feeling of their conversation was different now.

Even some cigarette butt carelessly tossed on the ground by someone seemed to become cute.

A while later.

"I really have to go this time. If I don't, my little assistant is going to start scolding me."

Ruan Xingyu suddenly remembered that Wen Qi was following behind, so she wanted to take the initiative to let go of his hand.

However, Lin Chuyan held on tightly, relentless: "When can I see you again?"

Ruan Xingyu was both annoyed and amused, giving him a light swat: "In the next couple of days, okay? I'll go help you schedule Brother Zheng Hai for the album recording. Oh right, send me the song, and I'll have someone make the backing track for you."

Lin Chuyan chuckled, satisfied, and let go: "Then I'm leaving?"

Ruan Xingyu put on a nonchalant act: "Go on! Bye! I won't see you off!"

Lin Chuyan didn't speak, but couldn't help glancing at her a few more times.

Damn it, she was cute again.

Watching Lin Chuyan walk away, Wen Qi dashed out from behind: "Sister! You're really something!"

"Stop talking nonsense, get in the car."

"Isn't Teacher Lin Mo handsome? Although I didn't see clearly, I saw his facial contours. Definitely handsome."

"Mm-hmm."

"Sister, did you two hold hands? Did you? I saw it just now, don't try to deny it!"

"..."

"Sister, you're amazing. It's the first time meeting! I thought you were still in the secret crush stage. How did you end up holding hands?"

"..."

"Sister, describe it. What did the first hand-holding feel like?"

"..."

"Was he the one who initiated it? It wasn't you, right? No way? Damn, that's awesome."

"..."

"You two are such a great match in height, and looks too. Great, great, I'm dying of shipping you two."

"...Just drive properly. Seriously, you're giving me a headache."

She didn't really want to engage with Wen Qi, but she couldn't hide the smile on her face.

Not long after arriving home, the system's voice rang in his mind.

Ding!

[Congratulations to the host for completing the task: Holding Hands]

[Congratulations to the host for receiving a reward: Treasure Chest (Silver)]

Open Treasure Chest.

[Congratulations to the host for receiving 5 Basic Attribute Points (can be allocated freely)]

[Congratulations to the host for receiving 1 Special Skill Point (can be allocated freely), unlocking the special skill "Kissing Technique"]

[Congratulations to the host for receiving the full Songwriting for the work "dear"]

Lin Chuyan looked at these rewards, not knowing what to say.

What the heck is Kissing Technique...

He glanced at the virtual panel. It came with 5 points. Alright, a mediocre Kissing Technique.

Don't know what the benefit of adding points is...

What, can it make the other person swoon from a kiss?

However, this song by Pan Shuai is actually quite good, and the person who wrote the lyrics for him is a heavyweight.

Honestly, the system really understands him; everything it gives is something he can sing well at his current stage.

Lin Chuyan habitually logged into Aiyue.com immediately to register the copyright.