As he spoke, Lin Jiage discreetly took a look behind him .

The face of Honey Tea Hair had become so awkward that her complexion was starting to look a little awful .

The moment he saw this, only then did Lin Jiage finally retract his gaze, relieved . His coaxing words didn't stop as he led s.h.i.+ Yao away—in fact, due to being some distance away, he even intentionally raised his voice in order to ensure a certain someone would hear him, "Besides, didn't I ignore her every time she tried to speak to me?"

"I didn't want to talk to her, but it's not good to drag things out . I had to reject her properly . If I didn't, she might have taken my silence as consent instead, and that would've been way worse!"

" . . . "

Lin Jiage's words shot forth one after another, leaving no interval for s.h.i.+ Yao to interject at all .

After they left the building, safe out of Honey Tea Hair's sight, s.h.i.+ Yao could finally exclaim, "Wait wait wait wait wait!" Only then did Lin Jiage stop his seemingly incessant monologue .

Lin Jiage had been holding her close throughout the entire journey, and since it was summertime, the season where everyone dressed light, s.h.i.+ Yao could clearly feel the warmth and st.u.r.diness of his chest .

His natural fragrance kept a.s.saulting her senses as well .

Her heartbeat quickened slightly, and when Lin Jiage stopped speaking, she ended up stuttering "You you you you you" for a long time with a reddened face before she finally recalled what she wanted to say, "What are you doing?"

"Oh…" In contrast to s.h.i.+ Yao's fl.u.s.tered appearance, Lin Jiage appeared much more composed . " . . . I'm recruiting your help . "

Recruiting my help?

s.h.i.+ Yao blinked at him, staring at Lin Jiage with an uncomprehending look in her eyes .

Then, it suddenly dawned on her that, in this instant, she was still being held in Lin Jiage's arms .

A burning sensation engulfed her face, and she instinctively lowered her head as she hurriedly struggled free from Lin Jiage's grasp .

At first, she wanted to ask him what he meant by recruiting her help, but after this brief awkwardness, she found herself unable to speak a word .

Silence lingered between the two for quite some time before Lin Jiage spoke up, "There's no way I could have given you a heads up given the situation, so I acted without permission . . . By recruiting your help, I meant that I was using you as an excuse to reject that girl…"

At which, Lin Jiage paused for a brief moment before asking hesitantly, " . . . Do you mind?"

In truth, s.h.i.+ Yao didn't particularly care about it either, just that he'd held her and walked for quite some distance . . .

The crimson-faced s.h.i.+ Yao wasn't too sure how to respond to Lin Jiage at this time, so she ended up maintaining her silence instead .

On the other hand, Lin Jiage stared at her slightly reddened neck for a long time before speaking up once more, this time in a deeply apologetic tone, "I just thought that it'd be fine since we're friends . If it really bothers you, I'll remember not to do it again in the future…"

Thinking that Lin Jiage had misunderstood her silence for anger, s.h.i.+ Yao hurriedly shook her head and interjected, "No, that's not it . . . Actually, I don't really mind helping you…"

She was just a little embarra.s.sed . . . but how could she possibly say such a thing in front of him!

s.h.i.+ Yao pondered for a moment, and she eventually decided that the best course of action in this situation was to change the topic, so she said, "Well . . . Aren't we going to eat now? Let's eat . . . mala stir-fry pot, how about that?"

Lin Jiage nodded casually, putting on a look as if he was fine with eating anything, "Sure . "

There was a brief moment of silence between them before he continued, "You can lead the way . "

s.h.i.+ Yao quickly nodded with an "Un un" before setting forth toward the school gates .

Lin Jiage quickly followed behind her .

The two of them didn't say a single word along the way, but from time to time, Lin Jiage would shoot a glance in s.h.i.+ Yao's direction .

As he looked, he couldn't help but recall the waist he had wrapped his hand around earlier .

Even through her blouse, he could still feel the softness of her body . . .

As he spoke, Lin Jiage discreetly took a look behind him . The face of Honey Tea Hair had become so awkward that her complexion was starting to look a little awful . The moment he saw this, only then did Lin Jiage finally retract his gaze, relieved . His coaxing words didnt stop as he led s.h.i.+ Yao away—in fact, due to being some distance away, he even intentionally raised his voice in order to ensure a certain someone would hear him, Besides, didnt I ignore her every time she tried to speak to me? I didnt want to talk to her, but its not good to drag things out . I had to reject her properly . If I didnt, she might have taken my silence as consent instead, and that wouldve been way worse! . Lin Jiages words shot forth one after another, leaving no interval for s.h.i.+ Yao to interject at all . After they left the building, safe out of Honey Tea Hairs sight, s.h.i.+ Yao could finally exclaim, Wait wait wait wait wait! Only then did Lin Jiage stop his seemingly incessant monologue . Lin Jiage had been holding her close throughout the entire journey, and since it was summertime, the season where everyone dressed light, s.h.i.+ Yao could clearly feel the warmth and st.u.r.diness of his chest . His natural fragrance kept a.s.saulting her senses as well . Her heartbeat quickened slightly, and when Lin Jiage stopped speaking, she ended up stuttering You you you you you for a long time with a reddened face before she finally recalled what she wanted to say, What are you doing? Oh… In contrast to s.h.i.+ Yaos fl.u.s.tered appearance, Lin Jiage appeared much more composed . . Im recruiting your help . Recruiting my help? s.h.i.+ Yao blinked at him, staring at Lin Jiage with an uncomprehending look in her eyes . Then, it suddenly dawned on her that, in this instant, she was still being held in Lin Jiages arms . A burning sensation engulfed her face, and she instinctively lowered her head as she hurriedly struggled free from Lin Jiages grasp . At first, she wanted to ask him what he meant by recruiting her help, but after this brief awkwardness, she found herself unable to speak a word . Silence lingered between the two for quite some time before Lin Jiage spoke up, Theres no way I could have given you a heads up given the situation, so I acted without permission . By recruiting your help, I meant that I was using you as an excuse to reject that girl… At which, Lin Jiage paused for a brief moment before asking hesitantly, . Do you mind? In truth, s.h.i.+ Yao didnt particularly care about it either, just that hed held her and walked for quite some distance . The crimson-faced s.h.i.+ Yao wasnt too sure how to respond to Lin Jiage at this time, so she ended up maintaining her silence instead . On the other hand, Lin Jiage stared at her slightly reddened neck for a long time before speaking up once more, this time in a deeply apologetic tone, I just thought that itd be fine since were friends . If it really bothers you, Ill remember not to do it again in the future… . Thinking that Lin Jiage had misunderstood her silence for anger, s.h.i.+ Yao hurriedly shook her head and interjected, No, thats not it . Actually, I dont really mind helping you… She was just a little embarra.s.sed . but how could she possibly say such a thing in front of him! s.h.i.+ Yao pondered for a moment, and she eventually decided that the best course of action in this situation was to change the topic, so she said, Well . Arent we going to eat now? Lets eat . mala stir-fry pot, how about that? Lin Jiage nodded casually, putting on a look as if he was fine with eating anything, Sure . There was a brief moment of silence between them before he continued, You can lead the way . s.h.i.+ Yao quickly nodded with an Un un before setting forth toward the school gates . Lin Jiage quickly followed behind her . The two of them didnt say a single word along the way, but from time to time, Lin Jiage would shoot a glance in s.h.i.+ Yaos direction . As he looked, he couldnt help but recall the waist he had wrapped his hand around earlier . Even through her blouse, he could still feel the softness of her body .