187: Chapter 187 I really want to hold hands...

The flagstone path along the edge was very narrow, just enough for two people to walk side by side.

Shen Qingxue walked on the inner side, and Lu Li walked on the outer side, with a distance of about a fist's width between them.

Lu Li's hands were shoved into his trouser pockets, and his attention was entirely focused on the slightly swaying little hand by Shen Qingxue's side.

He was thinking about something.

He had been thinking about it for a long time.

At this moment, he so desperately wanted to hold hands.

Finally, as if having made up his mind, his hand was pulled out from his trouser pocket.

Hanging by his side, it swung gently with the rhythm of his walk.

Shen Qingxue didn't notice his action, her gaze falling upon the wondrous sights within the garden.

Lu Li's fingertips curled slightly, but quickly relaxed again.

He cursed himself inwardly.

What was there to be cowardly about? It was just holding hands, not going to the battlefield.

But as the saying goes, being with the person you love is just like winning a triumphant battle.

Lu Li secretly glanced at Shen Qingxue; the profile of her face was exceptionally soft in the setting sun.

Then he noticed that the hand Shen Qingxue had hanging by her side was slightly open, as if waiting to be held.

Lu Li's heartbeat suddenly skipped a beat.

He wasn't sure if this was a coincidence or something else, but that action was too natural, making him somewhat hesitant to be certain.

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

Screw it, I'm going for it!

Worst comes to worst, I'll act like a scoundrel for once!

Then he quickly reached out, his fingertips tentatively brushing against the back of her hand.

At that instant, Shen Qingxue's hand paused, and her whole body came to a stop.

Lu Li stopped as well.

He felt her fingers curl slightly, as if startled, or perhaps as if confirming something.

However, she didn't pull away.

Two seconds later, her fingers slowly relaxed, and then she slightly turned her palm over, grasping Lu Li's hand in return.

Lu Li was stunned for a moment and looked down.

Her hand was very white, still faintly radiating coolness, and now resting quietly in the palm of his hand.

With almost no hesitation, he quickly turned passive into active, wrapping his entire hand around hers.

Shen Qingxue didn't look at him, her gaze still lingering elsewhere, but Lu Li noticed that the flush on the roots of her ears had quietly spread to her neck.

She pressed her lips together, then relaxed them, and then resumed her steps, continuing forward with a pretense of nonchalance.

Lu Li smiled and didn't expose her.

He just followed her. There was still a fist's distance between them, but their hands were already locked together.

The breeze blew across the water, carrying a stray strand of her hair onto his arm, tickling him.

His palms began to sweat.

He didn't know if Shen Qingxue noticed, but he could feel the temperature between her fingertips gradually becoming as warm as his.

"Let's go, let's look around other places," Shen Qingxue said nonchalantly.

"Ah? Oh, oh, okay."

Lu Li was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly responded.

Thus, for the rest of the time, the two of them walked under the blazing sun holding hands; even though their palms were sweating from the heat, neither of them could bear to let go.

By the time the two of them came out of the garden, the sky was already growing dusky.

Shen Qingxue lowered her head to check the time; it was almost six o'clock.

Lu Li also leaned over to glance at her phone screen, then straightened up and stretched lazily, his bones popping in a series of cracks.

"Good times always pass so quickly; it feels like we just went in not long ago, how is it already this time."

Shen Qingxue put her phone away into her pocket, turned her head to look at him, and the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.

"Because a certain someone kept looking at fish, flowers, and objects, and was even squeezing my hand there."

Lu Li was choked up by her words, his ears burning slightly, but he refused to yield an inch with his mouth.

"What do you know? I was appreciating garden art and cultivating my sentiment. This is going to be of huge help to my song-writing in the future!"

"Oh? Is that so? Then you squeezing my hand... was that also cultivating your sentiment?"

Shen Qingxue blinked, her tone carrying a rare hint of slyness.

Lu Li opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found that he couldn't come up with a suitable reason.

He scratched his head, averted his gaze, and pretended to look at a streetlamp by the roadside.

"...That's different."

Shen Qingxue didn't press further, but the curve at the corners of her mouth couldn't be suppressed no matter what.

The two of them walked down an old street.

Lu Li's fingers moved in his trouser pocket, but he still couldn't help himself and reached out to hold her hand again.

This time Shen Qingxue didn't hesitate; she just squeezed his hand slightly and continued walking forward.

"Where are we going to eat?"

Shen Qingxue asked.

Lu Li thought for a moment, tilting his head to look at her.

"Why don't we just grab a casual bite? You still have a competition later, so don't eat too much, lest it affects your state."

Shen Qingxue nodded, then stopped in front of a wonton shop by the roadside.

The shop wasn't large, but it was steaming hot, with the owner busy working in front of the stove.

Lu Li peeked inside, then pushed open the door and let Shen Qingxue go in first.

"Let's do this place, to warm up our stomachs."

The two of them found a seat in the corner and each ordered a bowl of small wontons.

When the wontons were served, shredded egg and scallions floated on top of the soup, emitting an appetizing aroma.

Lu Li lowered his head to scoop a spoonful of soup, blew on it, took a sip, and narrowed his eyes.

"Mm, not bad."

Shen Qingxue also lowered her head to taste a wonton; the skin was thin and the filling tender, and the soup was fresh and sweet, much better than she had expected.

The two of them ate quietly, occasionally exchanging condiments in their bowls, fortunately without any factional wars breaking out.

After finishing, Lu Li stood up to pay the bill.

The two of them walked out of the wonton shop, and the night breeze rushed at them, carrying a trace of coolness.

Lu Li stood on the steps, took a deep breath, and then tilted his head to look at Shen Qingxue.

"Let's go, time to head back."

"Mhm."

Hailing a cab, the two of them quickly returned to the competition venue.

At the Sucheng Grand Theatre at this time, isolation tapes had already been put up at the entrance, with several staff members busy at work, and spectators entering sequentially at the entrance.

Lu Li's pace unconsciously slowed down a bit.

He felt Shen Qingxue's grip on his hand tighten slightly.

He turned his head to look at her.

Shen Qingxue's expression remained calm, her gaze falling upon the theater entrance ahead, revealing no emotional fluctuations.

But her hand didn't let go.

Lu Li didn't ask either, instead grasping her hand in return, gently pinching her fingertips, and continuing to walk forward.

The two walked to the side door entrance, and the staff members saw them and quickly hurried forward.

"Teacher Shen, Teacher Lu, you're back. The backstage is already prepared, and the makeup artists are waiting for you."

Shen Qingxue nodded, but unexpectedly, she didn't let go of Lu Li's hand.

Lu Li, on the contrary, was somewhat surprised. Then he squeezed her hand and took the initiative to let go.

After all, before a formal confession, it was better not to make a big fuss yet.