Chapter 57: Holding Hands—There’s Only Zero Times or Countless Times

Fortunately, the subway ride from the School of Business to Sky Street was only four stops. About ten minutes later, the subway arrived.

Jiang Miao walked out of the subway with a dazed expression, still reminiscing about the lingering warmth in his palm.

Looking at Senior Sister’s small hands from behind, he bit his lip, feeling slightly stirred.

After stepping on the escalator, he glanced at Shen Yu and Zhang Panfeng standing in front. Then he turned his head to look at the other side and silently reached out his hand to hold Senior Sister’s hand.

It’s really soft.

Her fingers are so slender.

They feel smooth and delicate.

Could holding hands be addictive?

Su Huaizhou showed no resistance and allowed him to hold and caress her hand. Her heart was racing just as much as Jiang Miao’s.

This is holding hands… She bit her lip, her heart thumping violently. She stared intently at Shen Yu’s and Zhang Panfeng’s backs, afraid that they might suddenly turn around and see this scene.

Holding hands with Junior Brother and keeping it a secret from her good friend was really exciting!

It gave her an inexplicable sense of guilt.

“Senior Sister, what are we doing this morning?” Jiang Miao whispered in her ear while holding her hand gently.

This time, Su Huaizhou’s ear was attacked by Junior Brother. Her ear felt ticklish, causing her to shiver slightly.

“F-first, we’ll shop and then find a place to have lunch.”

After coming out of the subway station, the two of them separated again.

Shen Yu and Zhang Panfeng were still in front, with Su Huaizhou and Jiang Miao following behind.

The four of them walked into the shopping mall on Sky Street and strolled around leisurely.

Girls seemed to have a natural talent for shopping. Even if there was nothing urgent they needed to buy, they could still find treasure-hunting-like fun in any store.

The popular shops included but were not limited to cosmetics shops, clothing shops, bag shops, eyewear shops, shoe shops, snack shops, accessory shops, daily goods shops…

In short, they were all places that Jiang Miao would never visit on his own.

Or rather, if he were alone, he wouldn’t have gone out at all.

If he needed something, he would just buy it online. How could he be in the mood to go shopping? It was a waste of time and energy.

But today was different. He was here to gather material.

So while Jiang Miao was accompanying Senior Sister shopping, he fully implemented the spirit of actively gathering material.

As long as they were in a spot where Shen Yu and Zhang Panfeng couldn’t see, Jiang Miao would take the initiative to hold Senior Sister’s hand and silently enjoy—oh no, silently gather material.

He didn’t know why.

Before they went out, he had clearly been worried about this and that, afraid that the strange couple in front would discover him and Senior Sister.

But after the incidents in the taxi and on the subway, he suddenly became bolder.

Or perhaps it was the irresistible allure of Senior Sister’s hand.

It was so great that he could no longer control his rationality.

Whenever Jiang Miao felt a pang of guilt, he would automatically use excuses such as “This is just for material,” “It’s fine as long as we’re not caught,” “Senior Sister agreed it,” or “If I don’t take the initiative, Senior Sister will sneakily hold my hand anyway.”

Therefore, from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m., Su Huaizhou and Jiang Miao had been secretly ‘gathering material’.

Su Huaizhou felt that her hand had become warm.

The two of them were like new lovers who had just tasted the fruit of romance. It was the first time they had held hands for such a long time and shopped. Their hearts were shy and excited, and they wished they could hold hands forever.

There were a few times when Shen Yu and Zhang Panfeng almost saw them because they were reluctant to let go.

“Junior Brother, I’ve let you gather material for so long today. You’d better not disappoint me,” Su Huaizhou said with a slight blush as she brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.

Jiang Miao was still holding Senior Sister’s hand, and his earlier excitement had calmed down, but his expression remained tense, and he was always paying attention to the movements in front.

“Hmm… I’ll definitely write a lot when I get back.”

“How much is a lot?” Su Huaizhou asked with a playful smile, covering her mouth.

“Ahem… I can’t update too much during the new novel period. I have to wait for the recommendation,” Jiang Miao explained with thick skin and then added, “Once it goes premium, I’ll do a mass release.”

“Ten thousand words a day?”

“… Five thousand a day.”

“Only five thousand?” Su Huaizhou curled her index finger against his palm and questioned him with a sidelong glance and a playful smile.

“… Senior Sister, please have mercy on me.”

“Okay, I’m just teasing you.” Su Huaizhou, seeing that he was really in a difficult position, spared him for the time being. “Quality comes first. It doesn’t matter if it’s just three thousand words a day as long as it’s a good read.”

“I agree.” Jiang Miao nodded repeatedly.

“But it would be even better if you could write ten thousand a day.”

“…”

When it was almost time for lunch, the four of them found a hotpot restaurant and sat down.

Shen Yu and Zhang Panfeng sat together, so Jiang Miao could only sit beside Su Huaizhou.

As soon as they sat down and ordered, Senior Sister’s hand crawled along the cushion of the booth towards Jiang Miao’s hand.

He turned his head and looked at her, only to see her pursing her lips and smiling at him.

He glanced across the table. Judging by the height of the table, it seemed very safe.

So, should I continue gathering material?

Jiang Miao had yet to make up his mind, but his body was already moving dishonestly.

By the time he returned to his senses, his hand was already holding Senior Sister’s.

Su Huaizhou acted as if nothing had happened and discussed what to order with Shen Yu and Zhang Panfeng.

But when she felt Junior Brother’s warm, large hand wrapping tightly around her small hand, her heart fluttered uncontrollably.

Ever since she had tricked him into holding hands on Tuesday, she had been constantly reminiscing about the feeling.

Sometimes, she would subconsciously think about it and find herself holding her own hand, but it never brought the same heart-racing excitement.

Was this the wonder of love?

… Even though it was just pretend.

But at least, at the very least, the feeling in her heart wasn’t fake.

If it were any other boy, Su Huaizhou would be repulsed at the thought of holding hands.

But when it came to Junior Brother, she would feel some anticipation.

If he refused, she would even feel slightly disappointed, as though she couldn’t satisfy her desires.

She clearly wanted to hold his hand, but she still had to deceive him in the name of gathering material.

It made her feel like she was a bad woman.

However, without the pretense of gathering material, it wouldn’t have been this easy with him.

Su Huaizhou sneaked a glance at Junior Brother from the corner of her eye. Seeing him pretending to be calm and serious, she immediately pursed her lips to stifle a giggle.

But when he squeezed her fingers, she instinctively bit her lip.

This feeling of wanting to resist yet wanting to cater to him was truly intoxicating and addicting.

…

[I Am Studying]: (Picture)

[I Am Studying]: Look! They’re holding hands again!

[I Am Studying]: So they’ve been sneaking around all morning?

[I Love Studying]: I wouldn’t call it sneaking around. At most, it’s just a secret relationship.

[I Am Studying]: Hmph! I want to hold hands too! Hubby, be more proactive~

[I Love Studying]: …

[I Love Studying]: I want to, but you know my situation, Wifey.

[I Am Studying]: Aren’t we out on a date to solve this problem?

[I Love Studying]: I’m trying.

[I Am Studying]: I’m trying too!

[I Am Studying]: But it’s also very important to peek at Zhouzhou holding hands with Junior Brother.

[I Am Studying]: Do you think they’ll secretly find a place to kiss?

[I Love Studying]: Uh… They shouldn’t go that far, right? Besides, we’re still here…

[I Am Studying]: Then how about we create a chance for them to be alone later?

[I Love Studying]: I’ll listen to you and do whatever makes you happy, Wifey.

[I Am Studying]: Great~ Mwah, Hubby~

After ordering, Jiang Miao, still holding Senior Sister’s hand, looked at the silent couple across from him and fell into thought. Senior Sister Shen Yu and Senior Zhang Panfeng are such a tricky pair. Along the way, have they exchanged more than ten sentences?

Judging from their progress, they were really inferior to him and Senior Sister, who were pretending to be a couple.