You're dumping me, huh? Fine, then I'll just pick up the school beauty and make her my wif

After shooing away the two flies, the restaurant immediately became much quieter.

After Manager Xu personally supervised the security guards to throw the two people out, he scurried back, apologizing profusely to Jiang Che and Su Qinghe, and even offering to give them a free meal.

Jiang Che wasn't the kind of unreasonable spoiled rich kid. He kept things separate and shook his head, refusing Manager Xu's offer. He said it wasn't their fault and praised their attitude and efficiency in handling the matter.

After seeing Manager Xu off, Jiang Che turned to look at Su Qinghe, who was standing there in a daze, and reached out to rub her fluffy head.

"Were you scared?"

Su Qinghe was patted on the head again, her face flushed slightly, and she gently pursed her lips and shook her head.

After hesitating for a moment, she called out to him, "Jiang Che..."

"Um?"

"Thank you……"

"Here we go again." Jiang Che sighed helplessly, reached out and lightly flicked her forehead. "Eat up, these dishes will get fishy when they get cold."

"Okay~"

A faint smile appeared between Su Qinghe's well-behaved and pretty eyes.

Watching Su Qinghe eat obediently, Jiang Che felt even more that he was incredibly blind to have ever fallen for someone as stupid as Lin Wanwan.

He shook his head, trying to stop thinking about these messy things, and focused his attention back on feeding Su Qinghe.

After finishing their meal, Jiang Che led Su Qinghe out of the restaurant.

The wind was still quite cold in late autumn and early winter. Su Qinghe couldn't help but shrink her neck and subconsciously moved closer to Jiang Che.

"Are you cold?" Jiang Che noticed her movement.

"A little..."

Although she was already wearing the down jacket that Jiang Che had just bought for her at the mall, she was prone to feeling cold, and even a little wind would make her feel even colder.

Jiang Che pondered for two seconds, then tentatively released his grip on the girl's wrist and instead took her small hand in his.

Su Qinghe's small hands were cool and soft, like a piece of tender tofu.

When Jiang Che's large hand enveloped her, she visibly stiffened for a moment.

Jiang Che was actually a little apprehensive, after all, he wasn't sure whether Su Qinghe's goodwill towards him was gratitude or love.

His thumb gently rubbed the back of her hand twice, ready to release it immediately so as not to offend her.

But Su Qinghe was completely stunned at this moment. All the sounds faded away, and all that remained in her world was that warm, large hand holding hers.

They held hands?

Does this count as holding hands?

Su Qinghe couldn't even take a step anymore; she could only mechanically be pulled forward by Jiang Che.

The temperature on her cheeks rose rapidly, all the way to her ears, and even the small section of her neck exposed outside the scarf turned an alluring pink.

Should she break free?

Logically speaking, ordinary friends wouldn't walk hand in hand like that; it's too intimate and crosses the line.

But... Jiang Che's hands are so warm.

This warmth seemed to possess some kind of magic, making Su Qinghe incredibly greedy and infatuated, so much so that she couldn't bear to let go.

Su Qinghe's small hand trembled in his palm, then slowly and carefully turned over and gently hooked his fingers.

She was also tentatively trying, her five slender fingers slowly tightening, interlocking tightly with Jiang Che's large hand.

do not care.

Even if Jiang Che only saw her as a younger sister, as a friend, even if it was just wishful thinking on her part.

As long as he doesn't shake off, she wants to keep holding his hand like that.

They'll never let go.

Even if it meant being a shameless thief to steal this moment of warmth, she was willing to accept it.

Jiang Che felt the small hand in his palm stiffen for a moment, and then instead of pulling away, it softly gripped him back.

He slowed his pace and glanced down at the little girl beside him.

Su Qinghe buried most of her face in the collar of her down jacket, only revealing a pair of pink ears.

Seeing her reaction, Jiang Che understood everything.

He guessed right.

If she wasn't interested in him, would she let him hold her hand like this?

Given Su Qinghe's conservative and insecure personality, if it were someone she didn't like, she would probably have screamed and run away in fright long ago.

But Jiang Che wasn't so happy at the moment. He was a little confused and didn't know if his current behavior was considered that of a scumbag.

After all, he had just fallen out of love with Lin Wanwan, and if he were to turn around and get together with Su Qinghe, he would definitely be a scumbag.

It was irresponsible of him to himself, and even more so of his feelings for Su Qinghe.

But he couldn't keep having this ambiguous relationship with Su Qinghe forever. If he couldn't give her a proper status in the end, then he would be no different from an animal.

After much thought, Jiang Che decided that he needed to find some time to have a proper talk with Su Qinghe about this matter.

They said they wanted to talk, but there wasn't much to talk about. There were only two possible outcomes for him.

First, he wanted to fall in love with Su Qinghe and make her his girlfriend; second, he wanted Su Qinghe to stop liking him and keep her distance from him from then on.

If he had to choose, Jiang Che would of course choose number one. Who wouldn't want such a beautiful and obedient wife?

Jiang Che sighed silently in his heart. He collected his thoughts, then turned to look at Su Qinghe and squeezed her soft fingers.

"Are you still cold?"

"No...it's not cold anymore."

Su Qinghe's voice was muffled inside her collar, sounding soft and sweet, like a freshly baked glutinous rice ball.

"Hmm, your hands are so cold, yet you say you're not cold."

Jiang Che didn't loosen his grip; instead, he tightened it even more and put her hand directly into his coat pocket.

"Keep warm, don't get cold."

Su Qinghe felt her hand being pulled into a warmer, smaller space, and her body was also pulled closer to Jiang Che, her breath filled with Jiang Che's scent.

The scent is a light, fresh fragrance of laundry detergent, mixed with a hint of pleasant tobacco and the hormonal aroma of a young man.

Just smelling that scent made Su Qinghe's legs go weak and her heart race.

That's...that's too unfair...

Is this really something friends should do?

Or is it that Sister Bai is right, and Jiang Che actually likes her too?

Once this thought pops into my head, it takes root and sprouts wildly in my mind, and I can't suppress it no matter what I do.

The two walked hand in hand to the roadside.

Jiang Che used his other hand to take out his phone and call a ride-hailing car.

During the wait, neither of them spoke, but the atmosphere between them was even more sticky and ambiguous than it had been in the restaurant.

Su Qinghe's hand remained in Jiang Che's pocket, and Jiang Che showed no intention of letting her take it out, so it stayed there.

It wasn't until the ride-hailing car stopped in front of them that Jiang Che had no choice but to take his hand out, open the car door, and help Su Qinghe get in.