88: If you want to scold me, go ahead...but can you please not hit me?

Gu Xiaoxiao's eyes were filled with astonishment, as if she had suddenly woken up from a dream of Chaos, momentarily unable to distinguish between reality and illusion.

She frantically looked around and found herself lying in front of the railing by the shore.

She was surrounded by a dense crowd of curious onlookers, who had encircled her three layers deep, their eyes sparkling with barely contained excitement.

The buzzing of whispered discussions entered her ears, each word like a needle pricking her eardrums.

Gu Xiaoxiao felt a stinging pain on her face, as if it had been burned by fire, instantly turning crimson, the scorching heat threatening to engulf her.

She subconsciously raised her hand to cover her cheeks, her fingertips radiating a burning shame, the heat traveling all the way to her heart, making her flustered.

Her eyes darted around frantically, trying to find a way to escape through the gaps in the crowd.

Her body also unconsciously curled up slightly, as if she could hide from those burning gazes that way.

"Xiaoxiao, you're finally awake!"

Zhao Jiaqi let out a long sigh beside her, her voice pulling Gu Xiaoxiao's wandering consciousness back.

Zhao Jiaqi squatted down, placing a hand gently on Gu Xiaoxiao's shoulder, her eyes full of concern and the joy of surviving a calamity.

Gu Xiaoxiao looked at her good friend, a trace of lingering confusion still in her eyes, like the morning mist that had yet to dissipate.

She stammered, asking in disbelief, "Jiaqi, did I really... do those things just now?"

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, carrying a hint of powerlessness and panic.

Zhao Jiaqi's lips held an inexplicable smile, a smile that contained both teasing and helplessness towards her friend, as she nodded repeatedly:

"Yes, everyone saw it all. Not only those sweet nothings you said, but also that kiss, it was all very clear."

The moment Gu Xiaoxiao thought of that scene being witnessed by others, her mood instantly collapsed.

The more she thought about it, the redder her face became, shyness like a surging tide completely engulfing her. She felt her face was like a ripe tomato, so red it was about to drip blood.

She never expected that those impulsive scenes from her dream would actually replay in reality.

She really kissed Lu Chen, and in front of so many people, and said those words?

This, this, this... was it really like this?

Gu Xiaoxiao subconsciously pursed her lips, the real swelling and pain on her lips making her heart tremble violently.

The sensation seemed to linger, carrying a hint of defiance and unwillingness.

Gu Xiaoxiao suddenly felt her heart sink halfway. Putting aside the shame, would Lu Chen be even more angry because of this?

Would he completely ignore her from now on?

She lowered her eyes to look at herself. At some point, she had changed into a set of dry clothes, her hair was smooth and gave off a hint of shower gel scent, as if it had just been carefully washed.

Gu Xiaoxiao was slightly stunned, a thought quietly rising in her heart: Did Lu Chen help her, no, did Lu Chen have someone help her wash her hair and change her clothes?

As soon as this thought surfaced, her heart was gently brushed by a feather, creating an indescribable ripple.

Thinking of this, her heart jumped, and she suddenly turned her head to look around, searching for that familiar figure.

Unexpectedly, she actually saw him!

Lu Chen stood quietly not far away, his posture as tall and straight as a pine, standing out among the crowd.

He was dressed in his usual well-tailored dark suit, the hem of his jacket gently fluttering in the breeze, making his figure appear even more slender.

His face was as stern as a sculpture, with sharp features, and his deep eyes were like a bottomless cold pond, currently gazing quietly at her.

There was an indescribable meaning in his eyes, the lingering coldness had not yet faded, but the previous indifference and distance were gone.

It was as if that coldness was simply his inherent nature.

He just gazed at her quietly, and as their eyes met, it seemed as if there were a thousand words, yet it was also like a silent, deep pond, making Gu Xiaoxiao's heart grow more flustered, yet she couldn't help but be drawn in.

The surrounding clamor seemed to become background noise at this moment, and the whole world seemed to be left with only the two of them.

Time also seemed to stand still, with only Gu Xiaoxiao's drum-like heartbeat echoing in her chest, one beat after another.

Gu Xiaoxiao subconsciously looked at Lu Chen's lips, which indeed also had some swelling.

It was as if someone had sucked them hard with a toilet plunger.

For some reason, this thought suddenly popped into Gu Xiaoxiao's mind at this moment.

Because it really looked like it.

The entire circle of Lu Chen's sexy thin lips was red.

One could imagine how hard and fiercely she had kissed him just now... Gu Xiaoxiao's heart, which had already sunk halfway, instantly plunged into an ice cellar, completely chilled.

It was over, she had actually kissed Lu Chen.

He must be furious now, right?

He might even slap her hard in front of everyone.

As soon as she thought of this, Gu Xiaoxiao's heart fluttered like a startled bird, and tears uncontrollably welled up in her eyes, almost spilling out.

She really didn't do it on purpose, she really thought it was just a dream. Who would have thought that the absurd things in her dream would become real in broad daylight... At this moment, Gu Xiaoxiao was completely unaware that she no longer had her former pride towards Lu Chen, only endless humility, and even her composure was gone.

Her first kiss was gone just like that, and in public. Yet, all she worried about was whether Lu Chen would get angry, completely neglecting to grieve for her own loss of composure.

She was simply humble to the dust.

Gu Xiaoxiao's eyes were filled with alarm and helplessness, blinking frantically, her hands subconsciously gripping the hem of her clothes, her cheeks burning red, but her heart was icy cold.

Under this duality of ice and fire, her lips trembled slightly, and she stammered, as if about to burst into tears the next second.

Gu Xiaoxiao struggled to stand up, disregarding the chaotic thoughts in her mind and the strange looks from the people around her.

At this moment, she had only one thought:

She absolutely couldn't let Lu Chen get angry because of her impulsiveness just now.

She shuffled step by step to Lu Chen's side. The moonlight, like water, sprinkled on her delicate body, her hair danced lightly in the wind, a few strands messily clinging to her tear-stained cheeks.

The glistening tears in her eyes were like fragmented moonlight, crystal clear.

She looked up at Lu Chen, her eyes a mix of timidity and anticipation, crystal tears hanging on her long eyelashes. As she blinked, the tears rolled down.

She gazed at Lu Chen like that, noticing that his eyes seemed to have lost their previous coldness, but her inferiority complex made her unable to believe it.

Having been completely devastated by Lu Chen's indifference just now, she dared not hope that he would suddenly change his attitude.

Gu Xiaoxiao's lips parted slightly, her voice tearful, soft, and trembling:

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have treated you like that just now. It's my fault. If you want to scold me, then scold me... But can you please not hit me?"

She looked like a small animal injured and cowering in a corner, evoking pity and appearing incredibly beautiful and tragic.

Each word seemed to drain all her strength. As her voice faded, her shoulders trembled slightly, her beautiful eyes closed slightly, and she lifted her small face, as if awaiting the judgment of fate.

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of strangeness and curiosity in his eyes, and asked softly, "Why would I hit you?"

Gu Xiaoxiao was momentarily dazed, not yet accustomed to his gentle tone. She paused, then subconsciously asked back, "You... aren't you angry?"

Lu Chen shook his head and chuckled, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Why would I be angry?"

He paused, then continued, "I'm not at a disadvantage. If I were to still be angry after that, wouldn't that be taking advantage and then pretending to be innocent?"

Gu Xiaoxiao was truly stunned.

Her eyes wide open, she gazed quietly at the smile on Lu Chen's face, her mind a blank, feeling as if all of this was an illusory dream.

A moment later, she suddenly came to her senses, as if to grasp this fleeting reality, and pinched her arm hard, with such force that she gasped in pain.

But then, her eyes burst forth with immense joy.

It's real!

This isn't a dream!

Lu Chen really isn't angry, he's really smiling, and he's smiling at her!