The antique girlfriend of a chaebol heir

"I..." she began, but Jiang Duo suddenly loosened his grip.

He pressed his forehead against her shoulder, his warm breath sizzling against her collarbone. Shen Ci froze, feeling a very soft, almost helpless sigh escape from his chest.

"Youyou," he called her by her childhood name, his voice muffled against her neck, "what am I supposed to do with you?"

Suddenly, a night bird took flight from the lake, landed on the hood of the car, flapped its wings a few times, and flew away, breaking the stagnant air in the car.

Hearing his muffled voice, Shen Ci suddenly felt a strange, astringent, and uncomfortable feeling in her heart.

"Jiang Duo," she said softly, "I didn't..."

"I know," he interrupted her, lifting his face.

The moonlight slanted in through the car window, cutting out lines of light and shadow on his sharply defined face.

He looked at her, the darkness in his eyes gradually settling into something deeper. "I know."

He leaned in again, this time very slowly, so slowly that Shen Ci could clearly count the number of times his eyelashes fluttered.

Perhaps they had already keenly sensed her instinctive dodge.

Jiang Duo no longer pressed her forcefully as before, but instead firmly pressed her slender shoulders with both hands, trapping her firmly in the seat.

His lips pressed against her forehead in a restrained, almost pious kiss, then slowly moved down, brushing past the tip of her nose, finally stopping just half an inch from her lips.

"But I'll be jealous."

He spoke softly, his breath brushing against her moist lips.

A slight tremor came from beneath his palm, like the fluttering of startled butterfly wings between his fingers.

Jiang Duo looked down into those eyes—the pupils were veiled with a layer of water, misty and foggy, as if he were some kind of monstrous beast who would do anything to her regardless of time or place.

A hint of helplessness flashed in Jiang Duo's eyes, but he ultimately suppressed the turmoil in his heart and stopped bullying her.

He slowly released his grip on her, but his brows furrowed slightly.

"What exactly are you afraid of?"

He stared at her intently.

Shen Ci turned her face away, her voice barely audible: "I... I wasn't afraid."

Jiang Duo remained silent.

He grabbed her wrist.

Beneath her fingertips, her delicate wrist was trembling slightly, uncontrollably.

He raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with a mix of mockery and certainty: "Still saying no?"

Unable to break free from his iron grip, Shen Ci could only bite the bullet and make up an excuse: "I'm just... a little cold."

Jiang Duo's hand, which was clasped on her wrist, slowly slid down, his knuckles brushing against her cold fingertips, before he took her small hand in his.

His palms were dry and warm, and he guided her hand into the pocket of his coat.

"You're afraid of the cold, yet you're wearing a skirt," his voice came down from above, "and your coat is so short."

As he spoke, his gaze slowly traveled down her collarbone.

She was wearing a dress tonight with an exquisite square neckline that perfectly showcased her beautiful neck. Her collarbones were dazzlingly white and delicately beautiful.

She wore a short jacket over her dress, which did look good with it, but the hem of the jacket just barely reached her waistline, completely failing to cover her slender waist and leaving her delicate waist exposed to the public.

She even changed her hairstyle today.

Her once stiff ponytail was finally loosened, and her chestnut-colored long hair was loosely tied behind her head with a diamond-encrusted hair clip, with a few strands of hair hanging down her neck, making her look even more gentle and beautiful.

This was completely different from when she was with him—on those occasions she always wore ordinary casual clothes, covering up her beautiful figure completely.

Looking at her like this, Jiang Duo's eyes grew even darker, and the jealousy he had just suppressed seemed to be about to resurface.

"Next time you come out with me," he suddenly said in a low voice, "you'll dress like this too."

Shen Ci was stunned for a moment, then looked up at him.

"I'm your boyfriend."

His thumb gently caressed the back of her hand, and the warmth from his pocket gradually warmed their hands.

"Isn't that right?"

Shen Ci lowered her head, staring at the tiny folds on her skirt, and after a long while, she whispered, "...I understand."

Jiang Duo's lips finally curved into a very faint smile.

He took her hand out of his pocket, then put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him.

"I want everyone to know," his voice fell on the top of her head, his tone low and deep, not like he was joking.

"You are my girlfriend."

Shen Ci's back stiffened for a moment.

"That way," he tightened his grip slightly, resting his chin on the crown of her head, "no one will dare to covet you anymore."

Shen Ci was afraid that he would actually do that.

"Can we wait a little longer?"

"Waiting for what?" Jiang Duo frowned slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

Shen Ci lowered her eyelashes, carefully considered her words, and said softly, "Can we go public with our relationship when our feelings are truly stable, when we're... sure we won't break up?"

Jiang Duo looked at her cautious demeanor and remained silent for a long time.

Perhaps she really just lacks security and is afraid that their relationship won't last.

The darkness in his eyes gradually faded, and he raised his hand to gently pat her back, as if comforting a frightened kitten.

"it is good."

He responded softly, his voice conveying compromise and tenderness.

"This time, I'll listen to you."

……

When Shen Ci pushed open the dormitory door, the lights inside were already off, with only three bedside nightlights casting a warm yellow glow in the darkness.

She tiptoed, and just as she placed her bag on the chair, she heard a rustling sound coming from the upper bunk—

Chu Xuanxuan was the first to peek out from the bed, followed by Li Yueran and Yu Nuo, who also lifted the covers and sat up.

"Xiao Ci, you're finally back!"

Chu Xuanxuan was the quickest. She climbed off the bed barefoot and even locked the dormitory door from the inside with a click to make sure no one else would come in.

She turned around, her eyes shining brightly in the dim light.

"Xiao Ci, are you really dating Senior Jiang?"

Jiang Duo has already personally explained their relationship at the club.

Therefore, she could no longer hide it from her roommate.

Shen Ci nodded.

"ah--!"

Chu Xuanxuan had just shouted out when she quickly covered her mouth with her hand, her shoulders heaving with excitement.

She leaned closer, her voice low and brimming with barely suppressed excitement: "When did you two start dating?"

"Was it Senior Jiang who pursued you?" Li Yueran and Yu Nuo also climbed off the bed, clearly eager to hear the details.

Three girls surrounded her, their eyes filled with pure excitement, like children waiting to hear a story.

As Shen Ci looked at them, she suddenly felt a soft spot in her chest.

Before returning to her dorm, she thought her roommates would be angry and blame her for lying.

But they didn't.