35: Chapter 35 Just a little praise is enough

I had thought the next time I would meet Lin Xi would be after school started, but unexpectedly, just a few days later, I received a message from Lin Xi.

[Lin Xi: "Are you busy tomorrow?"]

[Chen Fan: Nothing much, what's up?]

[Lin Xi: I heard the newly built park in the south of the city is very lively, do you want to go take a look?]

Seeing the message from Lin Xi, Chen Fan's eyes lit up. Was she actively inviting him?

Naturally, Chen Fan would not refuse Lin Xi's invitation.

[Chen Fan: Sure!]

[Lin Xi: Then let's meet at the Cultural Square at 9 a.m. tomorrow.]

[Chen Fan: No problem, see you tomorrow.]

In fact, after visiting the Cultural Square last time, Chen Fan felt he had developed feelings for this girl, Lin Xi, so he had been thinking about asking her out himself one of these days.

Although he hadn't been in a relationship in his past life, Chen Fan understood that when pursuing a girl, you have to be proactive. If you want to wait for a girl to pursue you, unless you're handsome, or handsome and rich—like Chen Fan is now—it won't happen.

The next morning.

Chen Fan got up early.

After freshening up, he went to his room and started picking through his pile of clothes.

With money, Chen Fan naturally wouldn't mistreat himself. He bought big-brand clothes, unlike his previous life, where he would wear short-sleeved shirts that cost only a dozen yuan.

After picking for over ten minutes, he finally chose a simpler outfit.

A black long-sleeve top and a black down jacket on top, and a pair of black sweatpants and sneakers on the bottom.

Although simple, worn on Chen Fan, it looked stylish and very handsome.

After changing, he went to the mirror to take a look—not bad, very handsome.

After admiring himself in the mirror for a few minutes, he went to the living room to eat breakfast, and then Chen Fan prepared to leave.

"Mom, I have something to do today, I probably won't be home until evening, so don't wait for me for lunch."

"Alright~"

Watching Chen Fan looking so "dashingly dressed" and hurried, Wang Mei couldn't help but mutter to herself, "This child, could he be dating a girlfriend?"

After leaving the residential complex, Chen Fan immediately headed toward the Cultural Square.

It was only one or two kilometers from the complex to the Cultural Square, so he could get there quickly on foot.

After arriving at the Cultural Square, Chen Fan took out his phone to check the time: 8:35.

There was still nearly half an hour until 9 o'clock.

He figured Lin Xi would still be a while.

So, he went to the pavilion next to the square, sat down, and waited while playing on his phone.

He didn't wait long.

A few minutes later, Chen Fan's phone received a message from Lin Xi.

[Lin Xi: Are you there yet?]

[Chen Fan: I'm here, at the pavilion.]

[Lin Xi: Then I'll come find you.]

Chen Fan put away his phone and looked toward the opposite side of the square. Soon, a familiar figure began walking toward him.

She was wearing a white down jacket, her hair tied in a high ponytail, with sweatpants and white sneakers on the bottom.

After seeing Lin Xi's outfit, a strange look appeared in Chen Fan's eyes.

She was dressed almost exactly like him—both in down jackets and sweatpants—but the colors were different, one black and one white, looking just like a couple's outfit.

Lin Xi seemed to have noticed this too, and a flush of pink gradually appeared on her face.

She steadied herself and looked at Chen Fan.

"Did you arrive long ago?"

"No, I just arrived a little while ago too."

Lin Xi said an "Oh," her gaze lingering on him for two seconds before quickly moving away.

Chen Fan looked down at himself, then at her, and suddenly smiled.

"Quite a coincidence."

Lin Xi's ears turned red, and she muttered softly, "What's so coincidental about it..."

Chen Fan didn't respond, just watched her and smiled.

Embarrassed by his smile, Lin Xi changed the subject: "How are we going to get there? By taxi or by bus?"

"Either is fine with me, how about you?"

"Either is fine with me too, you decide."

Taking the bus would take half an hour, while a taxi would take less than ten minutes, so Chen Fan decided to choose...

"Let's take the bus then."

"Okay, let's go."

The two walked side-by-side toward the bus stop nearby. The black-and-white combination was quite eye-catching in the empty square.

After waiting for less than five minutes at the bus stop, the bus to the park arrived.

The fare was one yuan per person, so Chen Fan dropped two yuan in directly.

After paying the fare, the two found a pair of seats in the back.

Lin Xi sat by the window, and Chen Fan sat next to her.

The bus started up with a wobble.

The street scenery outside the window slowly receded, and sunlight shone through the glass, landing on Lin Xi's profile, dyeing the stray hairs by her ears a light gold.

Chen Fan's gaze was unconsciously drawn to her.

"What are you looking at?" Lin Xi suddenly turned her head.

"Nothing, just think the sunshine is quite nice today."

Lin Xi was stunned for a moment, then gently curved her eyes, not asking any further.

"I remember when we were desk mates in the second year of high school, you were only a little taller than me, but now you're a whole head taller."

Chen Fan didn't respond to the comment about height; instead, he looked at Lin Xi and asked:

"Do you think... there's a chance we could be desk mates again?"

"How could that be? We aren't even in the same class."

Lin Xi was startled at first, then shook her head gently, her tone carrying a bit of helplessness, yet still soft:

"How could that be? We aren't even in the same class."

"You never know."

After saying that, he turned his gaze toward the window.

After driving for half an hour, the bus stopped.

The bus stop was very close to the park entrance, just a few dozen meters away.

As soon as they arrived at the park entrance, the security guard at the gate said they needed to buy tickets.

The tickets weren't expensive, 10 yuan per person.

Chen Fan took his wallet out of his pocket to pay, but was stopped by Lin Xi.

"Let me buy them."

"It's okay, let me."

"You bought the bus tickets just now, this time let me buy them for you."

Chen Fan looked at her earnest expression, and didn't insist further, letting her go buy the tickets.

After buying the tickets, they entered the park.

Surprisingly, although it was only past 9 o'clock, there were quite a lot of people in the park. Perhaps they were all drawn by the fact that it was newly built, and on top of that, it was the largest park in the county, so everyone had come to join in the excitement.

The two walked side-by-side on the park's stone path. The lawns on the side were neatly trimmed, and as a gentle breeze blew, it carried the faint scent of grass and trees.

A gust of wind blew by, and Chen Fan felt as if sand had gotten into his eye, so he couldn't help but stop.

"What's wrong?" Lin Xi looked at Chen Fan's uncomfortable appearance, a hint of concern appearing on her face.

"It's nothing, some sand might have gotten in my eye, I'll just rub it and it'll be fine."

"Don't rub it, it'll just hurt more the more you rub." She tilted her head up, looking seriously into his eyes, her voice soft, "Don't move, let me blow on it for you."

Chen Fan's body stiffened, and he stood obediently in place without moving.

"Lower your head a little."

Chen Fan quickly crouched down a bit.

Lin Xi stood on her tiptoes slightly, leaned close to his face, and carefully pulled back his eyelid.

Warm breath gently brushed over his eyelashes, carrying a faint, fresh scent that lingered at the tip of his nose.

Chen Fan could clearly feel her gentle breathing. Being this close to a girl for the first time, his heart rate accelerated uncontrollably, and he even softened his own breathing.

After blowing a few times, Lin Xi slowly pulled back and asked softly: "Is it better?"

"Yeah... much better, thank you."

"I'm glad you're okay." Lin Xi's face flushed slightly, "You shouldn't rub your eyes when sand gets in them; it can hurt your cornea."