Chapter 9 seems to have brought them a little closer.

The girl's subtle, discreet movements included her slender white fingers tentatively reaching out to gently touch the snack, then giving it a light tug, but failing to budge it.

At this moment, she seemed to slightly raise her head to look at him, but then held back. After he realized what was happening and let go, she quickly pulled her hand back from holding the snacks.

So cute! How can someone be so adorable!

Zhou Yanyao, his eyes already clouded with a pink filter, was completely mesmerized by every move and reaction of Ning Wanwan.

While pink bubbles were swirling around Zhou Yanyao, Ning Wanwan was already planning to leave.

"Where are you going?" Zhou Yanyao subconsciously grabbed Ning Wanwan's sleeve. He originally wanted to take her hand, but then he realized that given the girl's personality, she would probably run away as soon as he did so.

In that case, he'll probably mess up this second meeting again.

Zhou Yanyao had never been so grateful for his excellent athletic ability, which allowed him to react so quickly and grab her school uniform sleeve at the last minute.

And he did indeed catch the girl's expression as she looked down at his hand in almost terror, then breathed a sigh of relief.

This time, he probably did the right thing. Zhou Yanyao thought, but he didn't show it on the surface. Instead, he raised the corners of his mouth and showed a refreshing and sincere smile.

"Are you going back to class?" He didn't ask Ning Wanwan where she was going, but asked in a different way.

Ning Wanwan shook her head, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Do you know if they sell nail clippers in supermarkets? I've looked around several times but haven't found any..."

Zhou Yanyao was stunned for a moment: "I've never bought a nail trimmer before... Wait here for me, don't go!"

Before Ning Wanwan could say anything, Zhou Yanyao strode over to the cashier, smiling and saying to the students around him, "Excuse me, please move aside," while asking the cashier if they sold nail clippers.

Ning Wanwan clearly saw that in a short while, several classmates who should know him greeted him warmly, and he smiled and nodded in response, but did not stay for a second longer.

When he noticed Ning Wanwan looking in his direction, he gave her a bright smile without hesitation.

Ning Wanwan: "..." Noticing that someone was looking over at her, Ning Wanwan quickly turned around and pretended to be looking at other products.

Zhou Yanyao had somehow returned to her side, standing behind her, and curiously bent down to peek over: "What are you looking at?"

Because of the position, Zhou Yanyao's chin was almost resting on her shoulder.

Feeling the approaching warmth, Ning Wanwan's breath caught in her throat, and she quickly put the small plush toy she had picked up back on the shelf.

"Just browsing..."

She leaned slightly forward, trying to create some distance, but Zhou Yanyao seemed oblivious, smiling broadly as he said, "I found out, they have nail clippers, on the right side of the innermost shelf, then turn left..."

Ning Wanwan: "Eh..."

He spoke a little too fast, and Ning Wanwan didn't quite catch it.

She was hesitating, wondering if she could ask him to repeat it again, and to speak slowly, when Zhou Yanyao seemed a little impatient and pulled on Ning Wanwan's sleeve again.

This time, compared to a few minutes ago, it was closer to Ning Wanwan's hand, which was half-curled up in the sleeve of her loose school uniform.

It also seemed as if...they had become a little closer.

In that short time, Ning Wanwan couldn't think of much, because Zhou Yanyao said, "Forget it, I'll just take you there directly, it'll be faster."

Ning Wanwan, who had initially wanted to break free, pursed her lips, but then realized that there wasn't much time left between classes, so she let him continue to pull on the sleeve of her school uniform jacket.

Moreover, Zhou Yanyao seemed to be in a hurry, but his steps were not very big. Ning Wanwan could keep up with him, but she didn't have the mind to think too much, so she could only follow him.

"Found it, it's here." Zhou Yanyao led Ning Wanwan to a spot, glanced around a few times, and quickly found the nail trimmer knife that Ning Wanwan needed.

"But there are several kinds, and they look quite different. Which one do you want to buy?"

The nail trimmers all have similar functions, so Ning Wanwan glanced at them and picked up the most expensive one without hesitation.

If she were buying it for herself, she definitely wouldn't choose this, but since it's something Miss Lin needs, she naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to use her own standards to judge what others want.

When Zhou Yanyao saw Ning Wanwan's choice, he was taken aback, remembering how she had been eating dry steamed buns at the breakfast shop that morning.

But he didn't express surprise or question it, nor did he press for answers. Instead, he asked Ning Wanwan, "Have you already made your choice?"

"Mm." Ning Wanwan nodded, paused for a moment, and said earnestly to Zhou Yanyao, "Thank you."

Zhou Yanyao looked at the soft, slightly upturned strands of hair on the girl's head, his eyes filled with a smile.

"It's nothing. Um... are we friends now?"

Upon hearing the unexpected question, Ning Wanwan couldn't help but show a surprised expression.

She was somewhat at a loss for words.

This... doesn't seem right.

No matter what, she's just an insignificant cannon fodder character in the story, and at this point in time, it's impossible for her to have any interaction with important characters.

Not to mention, they even became "friends".

[Host, please answer this carefully, and whatever you do, don't agree!]

Even without the system saying so, Ning Wanwan would never agree.

To get home and maintain the storyline is her goal, how could she possibly do something that intentionally disrupts the storyline?

Looking at Zhou Yanyao's expectant dark eyes, Ning Wanwan moved her lips, wanting to say that they weren't friends, but she had just been helped by him, and saying it would seem like she was kicking him after she had served her purpose, which felt inexplicably scummy.

Even someone with poor emotional intelligence knows that this isn't the right response.

So Ning Wanwan, who was suffering from social anxiety again, resorted to her ultimate weapon—playing dead and not responding or speaking.

From Ning Wanwan's prolonged silence and evasive gaze, Zhou Yanyao understood what Ning Wanwan hadn't said.

"It's nothing," the tall, short-haired man with black hair said to the girl in a relaxed tone, scratching his head.

"I'm just asking out of a bit of hope, don't feel pressured, go pay the bill—by the way, do you need me to take it to pay for you? You don't seem to like crowded places."

It's perfectly normal for Zhou Yanyao to have noticed this. Putting aside the fact that Ning Wanwan's severe social anxiety isn't exactly hidden, anyone with a little attention could have noticed it.

In just two brief encounters, Zhou Yanyao's seemingly carefree and naive personality, which is actually quite meticulous beneath his rough exterior, was already clearly revealed.

Moreover, he phrased it quite tactfully, taking full account of Ning Wanwan's feelings.

So when this point was suddenly pointed out, Ning Wanwan was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered.

"It's okay, I'll pay myself. There are fewer people now," Ning Wanwan said.

She felt it was best to minimize any interaction with the other person.

Ning Wanwan walked to the cashier to pay, not seeing Zhou Yanyao behind her sighing in frustration, like a lost, rain-soaked dog.

Even if she saw it, Ning Wanwan's thoughts wouldn't change.

After paying the bill, Ning Wanwan originally wanted to leave immediately, but her conscience, which was still aching, told her that it wasn't quite right to do so.

After hesitating for a moment, she turned back a few steps when she was almost out of the supermarket, but instead of walking up to Zhou Yanyao, she gave him a small smile from a distance.

"Thank you, I'm going back now, bye-bye."

The girl's eyes were clear and serene, and her smile was mostly polite, but gentle and soft; even just a slight curve at the corners of her mouth seemed to carry a hint of sweetness.

Bang, bang.

Zhou Yanyao stood there, staring blankly at the girl's receding figure, and slowly placed his palm on his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart.

"Oh dear, what should I do? It seems like I've really fallen for love..."

He rubbed his head, a mixture of frustration and sweetness in his eyes, and muttered to himself, "Just a few days ago I was telling that kid Qi Lin that love would only slow down my sword-drawing speed..."

"That's a really ruthless slap in the face."

A note from the author:

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Zhou Yanyao: Pink Bubbles

Wanwan: Not in the zone.jpg

Thank you to the little angels who watered my plants with nutrient solution: I love you! (5 bottles)

Thank you so much for your support, my lovely readers! I will continue to work hard!