"Let's go, I'll take you back to school first."
After leaving the mall, Qin Tian said to Zhang Peng and the other.
"Brother Tian, there's no need. The subway is just a few steps away, and it's even faster."
Zhang Peng held Tian Jiajia's hand and politely refused with a smile.
"Yes, we'll just take the subway. It's on the same line."
Tian Jiajia also chimed in.
Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan exchanged a glance, then nodded and smiled, "Alright, I'll take you to the subway entrance, and then I'll leave you guys to it. This gives Zhang Peng a chance to show his gentlemanly demeanor and escort you back to school."
Tian Jiajia blushed a little, feigning indifference, "I don't need him to escort me. We're just going the same way."
The four chatted and laughed as they walked to the parking lot.
Qin Tian drove them to the subway entrance.
Zhang Peng took Tian Jiajia's shopping bags from the trunk, and then the four bid each other farewell.
"Jiajia, let's go shopping together again when we have time."
Xia Nuannuan said with a smile.
"Sure, call me anytime you're free. We have a lot of free time at our school."
Tian Jiajia happily agreed.
"Hehe... We won't be so free from now on."
Xia Nuannuan winked at Zhang Peng beside her, teasing playfully.
Before, it was always her close girlfriends who teased her, but now she finally had a chance to return the favor.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand. Let's go!"
Tian Jiajia waved her hand, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"Brother Tian, drive carefully."
Zhang Peng said with a smile, carrying several shopping bags in his hands.
"Got it, we're leaving!"
Qin Tian replied, shifted into gear, and stepped on the accelerator, driving away.
After watching the car drive off, Zhang Peng and Tian Jiajia turned to look at each other.
"Let's go, I'll take you back to school."
Zhang Peng grinned.
Tian Jiajia's pretty face blushed slightly as she let out a soft "mm." Feeling a bit unaccustomed, she mimicked Xia Nuannuan and Qin Tian's way of walking hand-in-hand, reaching out to link her arm with his.
Zhang Peng, already holding many things, found it even more awkward to walk with her arm linked through his.
But he felt quite good about it, so he didn't say anything. The two walked a bit stiffly into the subway entrance.
...
...
"They're finally together, that's great."
In the car, Xia Nuannuan exclaimed with a beaming smile.
Qin Tian glanced at her and said with amusement, "Why do you seem more anxious than them?"
"Not at all!"
Xia Nuannuan vehemently denied it and chuckled, "When we high school classmates have gatherings in the future, people won't just be teasing the two of us anymore. Don't you think that's good?"
"It is good!"
Qin Tian nodded in agreement with a smile.
"By the way, I need to tell Su Yan and the others this good news."
Xia Nuannuan suddenly remembered and hurriedly took out her phone from her pocket, typing a message in their study group from before the college entrance exams.
"Nuannuan."
After a moment of silence in the car, Qin Tian suddenly called out.
"Hmm?"
Xia Nuannuan responded, continuing to type without looking up.
"Just now... it felt really good!"
Qin Tian said out of the blue.
Xia Nuannuan's hands trembled upon hearing this, and her phone happened to fall onto her chest, which she quickly covered with her hands in panic.
Qin Tian, seeing this scene from the corner of his eye, involuntarily swallowed.
"You... what are you talking about!"
Xia Nuannuan's face turned red, and she glared at him, a mix of shame and indignation in her eyes.
"Cough, cough, I didn't say anything."
Qin Tian immediately pretended to be oblivious.
Xia Nuannuan lowered her head and looked back at the phone screen, muttering shyly and angrily,
"So annoying, you made me mistype."
"It's still early, are you hungry? How about we find a place to eat something?"
"No, after eating so much hot pot, you're still hungry?"
Xia Nuannuan looked at him suspiciously.
"Not really, I'm just craving... no, my mouth is watering."
Qin Tian corrected himself in time.
Xia Nuannuan didn't quite understand, feeling there was an unspoken meaning behind his words. She asked with a hint of doubt, "You're not plotting something bad again, are you?"
"No, how could I be."
Qin Tian flatly denied it.
"Alright then, if you want to eat, I'll join you. But no alcohol, we have classes tomorrow!"
"Why? Tomorrow is the weekend. I was planning on getting some grilled skewers and a bit of beer or something."
"No drinking. You were very naughty today, and drinking might lead to recklessness."
"Uh..."
Qin Tian was momentarily speechless. He said earnestly, "I won't, Nuannuan, you have to trust me."
"Hmph, I don't believe you. Siqi told me that a man's mouth is full of lies."
"You believe her over me? Stop listening to her nonsense."
"I want to listen to her. I don't believe you."
Xia Nuannuan pouted dismissively.
"Alas, no trust, no love."
Qin Tian feigned sadness and sighed.
Xia Nuannuan sent her typed message and gave him a roll of her eyes.
"Stop pretending, I won't fall for it. Do you think you've been learning bad habits from Cao Mingliang recently?"
"Have I?"
Qin Tian put on a thoughtful expression, as if seriously considering the question.
"Yes!"
Xia Nuannuan nodded vigorously, her pretty face still tinged with a blush.
"Perhaps I've been influenced without realizing it!"
Qin Tian agreed earnestly.
Xia Nuannuan paused, her expression becoming peculiar. She added, "Now that you say that, I don't think so. It's just your own mischievous thoughts."
"Hehe... Isn't there also a saying, 'A woman loves a bad man'!"
Qin Tian grinned and said, "You know the atmosphere in the cinema, that was an uncontrollable situation. Besides, you promised me last time that I could..."
"Ahhh... I didn't say that, I didn't promise! You bad guy, don't say it anymore."
Xia Nuannuan suddenly shouted, cutting him off, her entire face as red as a ripe apple in late autumn.
"Okay, okay, I won't say it."
Qin Tian smiled helplessly, no longer teasing her.
After driving back to the school and parking the car, they discussed it and decided not to get late-night snacks after all.
He wasn't hungry either. Qin Tian had suggested going for late-night snacks because he genuinely wanted to spend more time with Xia Nuannuan, and as she had said, he still had a bit of lingering desire.
Thinking that there would be many more days to come, Qin Tian felt that today was enough.
After dropping Xia Nuannuan off at her dormitory building, he stopped her as she turned to leave and pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss.
Only when Xia Nuannuan's face was flushed and she was slightly out of breath did Qin Tian release her.
"Alright, go up and wash up to rest!"
After kissing her forehead again, Qin Tian smiled and released his hands that were around her waist.
"Bad guy!"
Xia Nuannuan gave him a shy roll of her eyes and ran into the dormitory building.
"Slow down, don't fall."
Qin Tian shouted.
Xia Nuannuan didn't reply but slowed her steps as requested.
Watching her go upstairs, Qin Tian turned away, humming a little tune as he left.
Not far away, several freshman girls who had also just returned from outside the campus put their heads together, whispering with envy and excitement.