×××
…
In a pot shop.
"Yes … I'm with Explode senior, don't worry."
Don't worry. "Holding the smartphone, An Qiu held a pair of chopsticks.
She lowered her eyes and said softly, "… I'll be back on time, OK."
She hung up the phone.
An Qiu was not surprised to see Explode's confused eyes. He seemed to be curious about why she mentioned his name so directly.
"… Almond will be very relieved when he hears that I'm with you, so I said it directly.
Is it a big deal? "
An Qiu tilted her head and looked at Explode lazily with half-closed eyes, "She won't tell others."
… At most, she would tell senior.
An Qiu looked away guiltily.
When An Qiu said "will be more relieved" in such a matter-of-fact tone, Explode's heart tightened.
He didn't know why, but he felt very depressed. In order to express his high mood, he unconsciously added a lot of spicy food into his personal pot.
"Senior … I hope you can live a long life."
An Qiu witnessed everything that happened. She looked at Explode's hotpot soup that had unknowingly turned blood-red.
Then, he started to eat his own pot again.
…
Unlike the last dinner that ended in a quarrel, An Qiu and Tyrant had an exceptionally peaceful dinner this time. It was almost eight o 'clock in the evening when the two of them paid the bill.
They left the restaurant holding their stomachs.
"… It's cold."
As soon as she left the restaurant, the cold wind outside whistled toward her. She didn't feel anything wrong when the pot shop was warm. Now that she remembered that winter was coming, she was afraid that she would freeze to death.
She shivered and looked at Explode, who was wearing a long-sleeved shirt. She narrowed her eyes and said enviously, "You must be someone who's not afraid of the cold, right?"
"Afraid of the cold?
Are you kidding? "Explode looked at An Qiu as if he was looking at garbage.
Another hand ignited with sparks from the explosion.
The orange-red flames danced in Explode's hands.
Just looking at it made her feel warm.
— But it didn't belong to her.
An Qiu frowned and shook her head. "That's great. You and Senior Hong both have physiques that I envy — especially Senior Hong's walking air conditioner."
As she said this, Angie pulled the collar of her sweater up a little. "Winter is coming. It's scary."
Bao Hao looked at the walking salted fish next door, and his eyes instinctively turned into white inverted triangles. Really, this woman is a black hole. I can't even muster up the energy to look at her. She's really a Neanderthal.
She really didn't know why he was with her.
Moreover, Xiu had actually bought her a present when he was traveling … And that present was still lying in his pocket. He had almost crushed it to pieces, but he couldn't give it away no matter what.
Damned woman.
Explode was infuriated. He hated people who he couldn't figure out the most.
…
On the other side, An Qiu, who was next door to Explode, secretly looked at him when Explode wasn't paying attention. She felt that she had been seeing this senior a lot recently.
And she had also unknowingly received a lot of help from Explode.
Whether it was during the time when they were sleeping together in the forest, or after she went missing, or after the cultural festival, he asked her out … From the time they met until now, this cold-faced but warm-hearted teenager had helped her a lot.
What a magical relationship.
Recently, she would even feel at ease whenever she saw Xiao Hao. Could it be that she had unknowingly become dependent on him?
An Qiu looked at him, and her eyes unknowingly became as soft as water.
— Perhaps, she should do something to thank him.
An Qiu thought for a while and said calmly, "… By the way, since Senior Explode is here, why don't you walk with me again?"
…
"… Huh?"
Just as Explode was complaining about An Qiu in his heart, he heard An Qiu suddenly ask in a calm and natural tone. Explode's heart tightened, and he looked at Asakura Yasuaki, who seemed to be in a state of inactivity. Why did she ask him to go first, and then take the initiative to ask him to accompany her?
— Go to hell!
He wouldn't agree to it!
Explode was so angry that he wanted to refuse, but when he met An Qiu's smiling eyes, he was scared. His expression stiffened, and he turned his head away and said sullenly, "… It doesn't matter."
"That's great." An Qiu nodded with a smile on her face.
Explode turned his head away: Why didn't I blow myself up?
An Qiu also noticed the struggle on her senpai's face. Although she didn't know why he was struggling, as long as he agreed, everything would be fine. Thinking of this, An Qiu naturally made up an excuse, "… Actually, I want to pick a new coat for Almond. I'm wearing her coat, but I accidentally dirtied it today, and I'm too embarrassed to return her an old one."
"Is this a white-haired one?" Explode looked at her with disdain, "No wonder it doesn't look like your coat at all."
"My coat?
What does it look like? "
"It's gray and gloomy, like you're dying!" Explode gritted his teeth and said.
"Don't say that. Even if Senior is that kind of person, his clothes shouldn't be covered in blood." An Qiu blinked her eyes and wanted to smile at the tyrant. She looked harmless.
Explode exploded in a second. This stinky woman, she's f * cking teasing me!
But just before Explode exploded, An Qiu shook her head and interrupted him, "… I'm just kidding. Senpai, don't be angry."
Explode stared at her fiercely, afraid that he couldn't skin her alive.
"Aiya, senpai, that shop looks good!"
An Qiu also saw Explode's murderous expression, so she acted as if she didn't see anything. She casually grabbed Explode's hand and walked into the shop.
On the other hand, Bao Hao's heartbeat suddenly stopped. He only felt that his pair of warm hands were suddenly covered by something ice-cold, causing him to quiver all over.
He was about to curse, but he swallowed all his emotions back. He stared at An Qiu's fair and slender hands, feeling the soft touch on the back of his hand, and suddenly had another thought.
She wasn't lying. Her hands were cold.
Just as Explode was about to say something, An Qiu had already pulled him into a chain of clothing stores. When they reached the destination, she threw away Explode's hand without saying a word. Explode's hand hung down, and a wave of disappointment rose in his heart.
"Senpai, what do you think of this?"
An Qiu casually picked up a pure white thick sweater jacket, pointed at the clothing, and asked seriously.
"It's okay. It's similar to what she usually wears." Explode frowned and said without any objection.
"That's great." An Qiu nodded with satisfaction, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face like a child.
"How about this?" An Qiu picked up another pink one, blinking her black eyes as she asked.
"That one is better."
Explode crossed his arms and looked at An Qiu's serious action of picking out clothes for Prunus. He did not expect this woman to be so concerned about the white-haired guy.
No, why did he feel sour in his heart?
Explode frowned and looked at An Qiu who was walking further and further away from the clothing rack. He said gloomily, "… I'll wait for you outside. Don't wander around for too long. I don't want to go past the curfew."
An Qiu seemed to have heard the tiredness in Explode's voice. She looked up at his back as he turned and left.
Aiya, could it be that she had made him unhappy?
…
After leaving the store, Explode crossed his arms again and stood still outside the store, thinking of something.
What was he doing?
Last time, when he saw that she was acting strangely at the cultural festival, he took the initiative to ask her out. Today, when he saw that she was being pestered at the coffee shop, he also subconsciously went over to help her out. After that, when he saw that she had suddenly disappeared, he was so anxious that it was as if he had been kidnapped.
Bao Hao lowered his eyes and took out the gift he had bought from the Capital. He had even bought something for her.
It was fine that he bought it for her, but why couldn't he give it to her?
Explode's mind was empty. His mind was filled with the scenes when he was with her. Why was he so nervous about her?
Many things intertwined in his mind and piled up together. It was so confusing that he could not get an answer.
In this chilly early winter night, only his heart was beating alone but excitedly.
That woman, what was she to him?
"Senior Explode, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
While Boar Hao was in a daze, An Qiu's cold voice suddenly sounded. Boar Hao's expression stiffened and his heart jumped to his throat. He hurriedly clenched his fist that was holding the gift and stuffed it into his trouser pocket, squeezing it so hard that water was about to come out.
… He did not know what he was nervous about.
"Senior?" An Qiu hesitated for a moment and walked in front of Explode.
"… It's nothing. Have you chosen?"
Tyrant looked down at the beautiful girl from above. At this moment, she was looking at him with a pair of jet-black eyes that were filled with doubt. It was as if she wanted to see through him, which made him feel very uncomfortable.
"Yes, I've chosen."
An Qiu's thin lips curved slightly. She reached into the paper bag in her hand and took something out. She handed it to Explode, "… This is a thank you gift for you. Although I wanted to choose together with you, it's your fault for being so impatient."
Her tone was very soft. Even though her words still carried a bit of her usual annoying tone, the gentle smile on her face was not detestable.
Bao Hao's eyes widened as he looked at the thing that the young girl handed over to him. He naturally took it. When their fingertips touched, Bao Hao's heart tightened.
It was a pair of sports wristguards. It was grayish-black and did not have any extra patterns on it. It was just a small sports brand logo, which suited his taste.
He did not expect to receive such a gift from this heartless girl before he gave it away.
Explode held the item in his hand and met the gentle gaze in front of him. He did not move or speak. He only felt his heart beating faster, his breathing heavier, and his blood flowing faster.
"Aiya, could it be that Senior is scared silly?" An Qiu found it funny as she looked at the stupefied tycoon in front of her. She then laughed out loud.
"…" Bao Hao didn't say anything. Instead, he gloomily stuffed the things into his trouser pocket and started walking on the street without looking back.
"Oh, wait, Senior."
An Qiu realized that the tyrant was shy and proud. Her playful smile grew even wider. She, who was not considerate to begin with, chased after him with a smile, hoping to see the tyrant's expression more. However, when she took a step forward, she suddenly saw something black flying straight towards her face.
"Puff."
An Qiu raised her hand and caught it, preventing herself from being disfigured in the nick of time. She then lowered her eyes to look at the little thing.
It was a small black ornament. It was ugly but adorable. It even had the name of a scenic spot in the capital written on it. An Qiu looked at the two cute devil horns on the ornament's head and curled her lips. "What an ugly thing!"
"It suits you very well!" Explode was not angry. He said angrily, "I'm giving it to you!"
"… For me?"
An Qiu looked at the young man's back. A warm feeling welled up in her heart. She could not help but smile happily.
"Do you want me to hang this on my backpack?
Just like what Senior Almond asked … "An Qiu's mouth slowly curved into a playful smile.
"… You're dead if you dare to hang it on!" Explode's eyes turned white as he roared.
"I'm kidding."
An Qiu's smiling eyes were filled with malice and success. She used the same tone that Explode always used to drive him crazy. The only thing that was inconsistent with her words was the way she put the ornament into her pocket. "… But to be honest, other than Almond, no one would give me a gift like this. I'm quite happy, Senior."
Explode looked at her from afar. His left hand was still tightly clutching the wrist guard she had given him. Looking at her calm attitude, he felt like he had lost.
Thinking of this, he felt that this could not go on. He silently waited for An Qiu to catch up with him. He frowned and said, "Hey, stupid woman. Let's find a day to go out for a walk after the exam."
"Why?" An Qiu blinked and opened her mouth in surprise.
"No reason."
Explode's tone was a little gloomy. He glared at her fiercely. "… What other reason do I need?"
"So … the two of you are going out to have fun?"
An Qiu looked at Explode and noticed an indescribable emotion in his deep orange eyes. She could not help but feel nervous.
… Could it be that Senior Explode was interested in her?
An Qiu's face flushed red. Many things that the two of them had experienced together flashed through her mind. She looked at the deep look in Boisterous Tyrant's eyes and then lowered her head. Her heart was beating uncontrollably for no reason.
"What's your answer?" Explode asked impatiently after not hearing an answer for a long time.
"Since it's Senior, I'll think about it …"
An Qiu's thin lips parted slightly. She said half of her sentence in an annoying tone. Then, before Explode could get angry, she mischievously changed the topic. "… I'm just kidding. Let's go out."
"Since it's Senior's invitation."
…