The next morning, I wanted nothing more than to stay in bed. But Xia Tong’s text from yesterday killed that couch-potato fantasy.

After washing up, I saw Xiaoxi still asleep. I left lunch on the table with a note telling her not to wait for me.

It was already 9:10 a.m. Walking to Central Park would take twenty minutes. A guy should always arrive first—it’s basic manners. I figured Xia Tong wouldn’t show up until 9:55 at the earliest. Yet when I got there, she was already waiting.

Today, she wasn’t in a skirt like before. Instead, a tangerine sweater hugged her frame, paired with tight jeans that accentuated her rounded thighs. Youthful energy radiated from her, her figure impossible to ignore. Jet-black hair cascaded down her back. On the surface, she was flawless. Passersby stole glances, eyes wide with admiration.

Spotting me from afar, she waved. I jogged over.

"Why so early?" I’d thought arriving half an hour early was plenty. Instead, she’d beaten me here.

"Just got here!" she chirped—the girl who’d woken at six, spent two hours getting ready, and arrived by eight. The boy before her knew none of this.

Up close, her eyes sparkled endlessly. A petite nose, a classic oval face, a delicate chin tapering to a subtle point. Lips like translucent rubies. Skin pale as snow, smooth as fresh milk. Truly mesmerizing. Catching her gaze locked on me, I quickly looked away.

"So… what did you need today?" I asked casually, my eyes darting everywhere but at her.

Xia Tong smiled faintly at my shifty eyes. "Relax! Nothing serious. Look how jumpy you are—like I’m about to eat you alive."

I exhaled. Honestly, chatting with Xia Tong lately felt like navigating a minefield. "Then… this is about…?"

"It’s September. Winter’s coming, and I haven’t bought fall clothes yet. School just started, so I figured—why not shop today?"

"Why drag me along? I know nothing about shopping."

"Obviously not for fashion advice! How’s a girl supposed to carry all those bags alone? You’re the only guy I know. Help me out?" She clasped her hands together, pleading—but her eyes held zero desperation. More like, *Refuse and I’ll follow you home*.

"Just carrying bags, right?" I had to be sure. No escape routes later.

"Unless you had other ideas?" she shot back.

Damn. Checkmated. "Fine. Lead the way." I gestured for her to go ahead. She glared.

My heart skipped. What now? Before I could react, she looped her arm through mine. A blush bloomed on her porcelain cheeks—though her expression stayed calm. *If it’s awkward, don’t force it!*

I swallowed hard, trying to pull my arm free. She only tightened her grip.

"Xia Tong, this—"

"I like you. Didn’t I say that already? Isn’t this normal?"

"But at school—" We’d barely exchanged greetings all week.

"You said dating there would cause trouble! So I listened. No one’s gossiping about us anymore, right?" She rested her head on my shoulder. "The video cleared things up. We act like strangers. Even Teacher Wang left me alone. Life’s back to normal."

"Yeah, but this—"

"I’ve held back *all week* at school! Do you know how hard it is not running to you between classes? Not even saying hi?" Her voice sharpened. She buried her nose in my shirt, inhaling deeply. "No one knows us here. I kept my promise at school. Now keep yours. Or should I start visiting your classroom again?" Carrot and stick—I had no choice.

Feeling her emotions spike, I dropped the argument.

"Fine. Do what you want. But—" I pointed at her whitening knuckles. "Loosen up a little?" My arm was pinned against her chest, frozen. Warmth seeped through my sleeve, scrambling my thoughts. Yet she seemed utterly unaffected. *Does she have zero self-defense instincts?*

"Nope. I need energy reserves." She squeezed harder, as if trying to fuse my arm to her body.

"Am I a power bank now?" I muttered dryly.

"Come on!" She tugged me toward the shopping district across from the park.

My phone rang. Trapped by her grip, I fumbled it out with my left hand. Xiaoxi’s name flashed—she must’ve woken up. I signaled Xia Tong to stay quiet.

"Yeah?"

"Where are you?" Xiaoxi’s voice was muffled by toothbrushing.

"Central Park. Why?"

"What for?" Suspicion laced her weekend question.

I sidestepped Xia Tong, who kept tiptoeing to eavesdrop. "Forgot to buy something last time. Just picking it up."

"Perfect! Grab me a pudding from Pudding Heart on Snack Street on your way back. Thanks!"

"What if I’m not near Central Park?"

"You’ll go anyway. Thanks!" She hung up—never asking why I was out.

Xia Tong’s grip turned icy. "Girlfriend? Buying her snacks? How *attentive*." Sarcasm dripped, but her arms stayed locked. I glimpsed the schoolyard Xia Tong—the one who terrified everyone.

"My *sister*. Not a girlfriend."

Her face instantly softened back to the girl from the park.

"Sister? Great! After shopping, I’ll buy her something too. You can deliver it."

"You keep saying ‘sister’ like you’re her sister too," I sighed as she dragged me forward.

"Eventually! Eventually!" She dodged the question, pulling me into a clothing store.

Women shop for the journey. Men shop for the destination. The real torture isn’t walking—it’s watching her browse endlessly without buying. I’d grab what I needed and pay. Girls? They wander.

Xia Tong was different. She wandered—but every exit added another bag to my arms. After an hour, my hands were full. When she headed for the next store, I stopped her.

"Xia Tong. Enough." I lifted the bulging bags.

"Oh! I didn’t realize…" She blinked in surprise. "Time flies when I’m with you!"

"Let’s go. This’ll last you months."

She checked her phone. "It’s only noon! You’ve been so patient—I’ll treat you. There’s a snack street ahead. I’ve always wanted to try it!"

The haughty heiress was gone. This girl felt like a neighbor—close, real. Two hours of shopping had left me hungry. "What about these?" I jiggled the bags. "Can’t carry them while eating."

"Dummy." She grinned, leading me to a storage locker. "Think you’re the only one with this problem? We’ll grab them later."

After stashing the bags, she clapped her hands. "Done! Let’s go go go!" She pointed ahead, then grabbed my hand.

*Sigh… Now she’s holding hands too?*

Ignoring my grumble, she pulled me into a run.

Xia Tong attacked every humble snack stall with infectious enthusiasm. By noon, I’d stopped eating and just trailed her. Pretty girls really do have two stomachs—Xiaoxi was the same. Now Xia Tong too.

"Ahhh~ So good!" She walked beside me, patting her stomach. "Though… maybe I overdid it."

"No kidding. Eating like that?" I laughed.

"Seeing you makes me hungry. Can’t help it!" She latched onto my arm again.

"Not now." I nodded at a rest pavilion ahead. "Sit there. I’ll get drinks."

"Let me come!" She shook my arm.

I pointed at the long queue outside a bubble tea shop. "Why stand in this heat?" I gently freed my arm. She pouted but obeyed, heading to the pavilion.

"Two cups of hawthorn tea, please!"

After taking them, I squeezed through the crowd to find Xia Tong.

Xia Tong sat quietly there, her gaze fixed on me. People around kept glancing her way—her looks were incredibly eye-catching. Especially devastating to men.

I walked over and handed her the tea. "It aids digestion. Drink up." I sat opposite her and started drinking.

Xia Tong reached out to take it. "Thank you," she said softly.

"Ye Xi, do you have anything else this afternoon?" Xia Tong asked softly, twirling her straw.

"What, still need to buy something?"

"No. There’s a place I’ve always wanted to go, but my family never allowed it. Today… can you come with me?" She looked up anxiously, watching my reaction.

I lowered my head and kept drinking, avoiding her face.

Seeing that, a trace of bitterness flickered on Xia Tong’s face. "Never mind..."

"Fine!" I replied after a few seconds of silence, still staring at my drink. "But no shady places."

"Ye Xi, thank you!"

"Xia Tong, let go!" I patted her arm quickly. This girl actually stood up and hugged my head across the table. My face pressed tightly against her chest, two soft mounds firmly smothering me. What’s this called again? A face wash?!

When I pulled away, everyone nearby watched us with smiles. I really… what should I say about her?