34: Liking (6)

From the very start of the school year, the two of them had become the prime subjects of gossip due to rumors. Later, because of their grades and appearance, they turned into the campus’s most talked-about figures, attracting attention wherever they went.

At this moment, amid a chorus of astonished gasps that no one could suppress, Jin Yan placed the umbrella into Xiang Wan’s hand, then crouched down and removed her dirt-stained shoes. He bent his head and put on his own shoes on her feet, standing barefoot while holding her dirty shoes in one hand.

The rain soaked his clothes, but he didn’t mind.

Everyone was stunned, jaws nearly dropping to the floor. The proud and untouchable eldest son of the Feng family was actually carrying Xiang Wan’s shoes?!

“What the hell! Am I dreaming? Pinch me, quick!”

“As fellow human beings, when will I ever get the eldest Feng son to hold my shoes?”

Amid the noisy chatter, Jin Yan carried Xiang Wan’s shoes and watched as she lightly stamped her foot, seemingly displeased that the new shoes were too large.

After a moment, her frown relaxed and she began to walk forward by herself. For some reason, perhaps because the shoes were too big, she almost stepped into a puddle again after just a few steps.

“Xiang Wan, you are seriously my ancestor!”

Jin Yan took a swift step forward, sighing as he grabbed her wrist. At that instant, the touch felt unusually warm.

He looked down at the delicate pale skin in his hand, hesitated briefly, then tightened his grip and led Xiang Wan through the bustling crowd as they walked forward together...

The school sports meet had always been a rare occasion when all students could let loose together. In Longchuan, where academic standards were extremely strict, the event was ostensibly about networking but was actually a grand carnival for the wealthy second-generation elite.

In fact, half a month before the sports meet began, the students could barely contain their excitement because they had so many preparations: deciding what the whole class’s formation would wear to outshine everyone else, or what performances to present during the final afternoon’s cultural show that could make history at the school.

Of course, besides Xiang Wan’s introverted nature and tendency to ignore others, the main reason was that most people believed she only listened to Jin Yan, so they assumed whatever he decided was hers too and never discussed it with her.

Thus, when she was dragged into the changing room behind the stands, she was taken aback by an entire wall full of wigs.

Xiang Wan: “?!”

Turning around, she saw another entire wall covered with dazzling dragon robes.

Xiang Wan: “???”

Not only that, but the class monitor, being thoughtful, had apparently checked the weather forecast and prepared a thick fur collar for each robe due to the chilly temperature. They hung in bundles on racks, swaying in the breeze at the entrance, resembling some illicit slaughterhouse.

“Not bad…”

Jin Yan’s voice held a note of pleasure as he pulled Xiang Wan toward two especially magnificent dragon robes, one gold and one silver, their smooth, exquisite fabrics shining in the light.

She stared at the clothes for a long moment, an ominous feeling growing heavier, then turned to Jin Yan and spat out each word carefully:

“Don’t tell me one of these is for me.”

Jin Yan answered with action. He took down the silver robe and held it under Xiang Wan’s nose for comparison, praising his own judgment as he did so: “Definitely suits you. My eye for this stuff is pretty good.”

“...”

A golden horned king and a silver horned king, and they say it suits her?!

Just as Xiang Wan was considering cutting up the robes, the class monitor rushed over and said:

“You two team leaders, change your clothes quickly. Yours are the trickiest to wear. If you don’t know how, just call me—I’ll help you.”

“What?”

Xiang Wan nearly choked. “You mean the team leader holding the sign up front?”

Jin Yan nodded with satisfaction. “Of course. If I’m not the team leader, then who is?”

“…Then why am I one too?”

“Because you’re suitable!”

“…”

Are they sure she, a girl, is suitable?

Xiang Wan couldn’t bear to look at herself wearing the robe with the huge fur collar, kicking steps while holding a sign plastered with fiery slogans, shouting in front of the entire school’s students and faculty. She shuddered all over. She had never experienced such an unbearably embarrassing “highlight” moment in her life.

“I’m the team leader. If you’re not with me, then who else? If others want the role, I wouldn’t even want it!”

“...”

Jin Yan turned and picked two black wigs from another dark wall. “Come here, I’ll style your hair!”

“...”

Xiang Wan wanted to twist his head right off.

Finally, under the class’s overwhelmingly heightened sense of collective honor, and Jin Yan’s coercion—telling her if she didn’t wear it, she’d have to go on stage bare—she took one step out of the changing room, only to be dragged back to her seat by a few others.

Xiang Wan closed her eyes, her face ashen, enduring Jin Yan fussing over her hair. Soon, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

“Alright!”

Jin Yan pinched her chin and lifted it up. “My skills aren’t bad. Pretty, right?”

Then he began undoing the buttons on her jacket.

“What are you doing?”

Xiang Wan tilted her head back slightly and instinctively grabbed his wrist.

“Helping you change clothes. Don’t worry, just taking off the outer jacket...”

“I’ll do it myself.”

“This outfit is complicated. You can’t put it on alone... Hm? Your hands are so warm. Are you running a fever again...?”

“No, you’re just too cold.”

Xiang Wan brushed his hand away. She sensed something was off with her body, but didn’t want Jin Yan to know.

At this moment, curious and probing gazes surrounded her, practically piercing through her from all sides. Jin Yan’s identity was too conspicuous; every move he made was the subject of gossip behind his back, leaving no room for error.

Just like earlier on their way here, though she was a bit dazed from the cold medicine, when Jin Yan knelt to help her change shoes, the surrounding murmur broke out in a roar, making her heart jump and nearly causing her to step into a puddle again.

But he understood very well the feeling of being lonely for so long, and how, when someone suddenly treats you kindly, you want nothing more than to open your heart to them.

Now, if he didn’t pull her close, who knew what other shocking things this young master might do.

Looking back, those voices all seemed muffled by a fog. Only the youth kneeling beside her was clear, clumsy yet sincere and passionate. When his pale fingers touched her ankle, it felt as if something lightly brushed her heart.

No one had ever spoken to her so easily behind her indifferent face before. No one had persistently tried to make her laugh. Much less shown such unabashed care.