Chapter 83: Christmas Wish

“The weather’s getting colder…”

Gu Fan muttered as he zipped his jacket all the way up.

The collar stood up, tugged into place, offering a bit of warmth to his enticing neck.

Gu Fan didn’t like wearing too many layers.

The jackets and long sleeves he usually wore were always thin—very thin.

If I, with my delicate body, wore those clothes, I’d probably be shivering nonstop, so cold I wouldn’t even be able to walk properly.

“Um… do you need me to take off something for you to wear?”

I looked at what I was wearing.

Aside from the dress close to my skin, the only thing I could take off was the light green knitted shawl draped over me.

“No, no, I’m fine. My body’s doing well. It’s okay if it’s a bit cold.”

Gu Fan narrowed his eyes and glanced at me.

His cat ears curled up tightly in the cold wind.

He firmly rejected my offer.

We were currently standing at the entrance of the shopping center, having just parked and about to head inside.

At home, we only drank some tea and chatted for a bit.

Since it was almost dinnertime, Gu Fan planned to take me out to eat.

But…

I already brought Gu Fan home, didn’t I?

If we still went out to eat like it was nothing, wouldn’t that be such a waste of this rare opportunity?

So I pleaded with Gu Fan in a spoiled tone to make noodles for me one more time.

Last time, even though I had eaten the ramen, my mom’s sudden return home had turned the taste unbearably bitter.

This time, I wanted to eat the noodles Gu Fan made while feeling truly happy and safe in my heart.

There was no one else to interfere—just Gu Fan and me, sitting at the dining table, quietly enjoying this moment of peace.

Eating at “home” with Gu Fan made my heart race.

Even if there were no noodles at home, even if we only drank water or tea, I’d still be overjoyed.

The feeling of an empty stomach slowly being filled was great, but even more fulfilling was watching Gu Fan do all sorts of housework beside me.

It made life feel real.

My heart, emptier than my stomach, was suddenly flooded with pink sweetness.

In a daze, I felt like I could float off the ground.

Thinking back on this beautiful memory, I couldn’t help but cup my cheeks and smile like a fool.

“What’s wrong? Are you cold?”

Gu Fan said he was cold, yet when he reached out to touch my forehead, his fingers were still warm.

There was even a heat that pierced straight into my heart.

Compared to my ice-cold hands, his were on the opposite end of the spectrum.

“Mm-mm, no. I was just thinking about some things.”

His rough fingers rested on my forehead.

I couldn’t bear to shake them off—on the contrary, I wanted to place my own hand over his, to keep them from leaving.

I quietly basked in the warmth coming from Gu Fan’s hand.

My head, being the closest, was already getting so hot it felt like steam was about to rise—probably because I was feeling so shy.

I held back the urge to stick out my tongue, pressed my lips together, and barely managed to steady my breathing.

Gu Fan pressed my forehead a few more times, then rubbed my cheek with the back of his fingers.

His expression gradually turned troubled.

“That’s strange… why does it feel like you’re getting hotter? Could you have a fever?”

“Ah… no, no! Don’t worry about it.”

There’s no way I could explain to Gu Fan that my face was red just because I was enjoying the physical contact with him too much.

That kind of thought, which could easily be misunderstood, is something I’d never say out loud… right?

But thinking about it carefully, wouldn’t teasing Gu Fan like that be kind of fun?

Since I’m not good at regular social talk, maybe I could just say shameless things only to Gu Fan to satisfy his manly desire for conquest.

If that’s the case, could this be an untapped talent of mine?

That idea made me feel weirdly excited.

Just as I was about to try out the seductive line I’d come up with, Gu Fan moved his fingers away before I could say anything.

“Alright then… I’ll buy you a cup of hot milk tea later. We still have a long way to go—sip it slowly.”

Damn it! Why’d he have to move away at that exact moment?

I glared at Gu Fan’s back with grievance, surprised that he actually seemed to have let down his guard around me.

Maybe I should’ve just kept pretending to have a fever.

Now my brain was full of those unspoken seductive lines, and since they had nowhere to go, the tension spread through my entire body.

I followed awkwardly behind Gu Fan, a faint gloom hanging over my heart.

What a pity.

I can only blame myself for hesitating at the critical moment and missing the perfect opportunity.

If I’d followed through with my plan just now, I might’ve successfully piqued Gu Fan’s interest.

Even if he didn’t do anything inappropriate to me, at the very least, I would’ve planted the seed in his heart.

But now? It’s neither here nor there.

To Gu Fan, it probably just seemed like a normal, everyday moment—not even something worth remembering.

Idiot, idiot, idiot—I’m such a huge idiot.

While Gu Fan was walking ahead and couldn’t see me, I furiously pounded on my chest a few times.

But my body fat was too thick, so I couldn’t even feel much pain.

Damn it, even my own body is betraying me?! It won’t even give me the chance to use pain to remember this lesson—so frustrating.

I switched tactics and stomped my feet a few times until the spot where my calves met my ankles began to tingle from the concrete’s recoil.

Only then did I finally stop.

After walking for quite a while, I finally calmed down and let out a long sigh.

I started to take in my surroundings.

At the entrance to the shopping mall, the big tree was already decorated with all kinds of colorful ribbons.

Now that it was nighttime, the lights had been turned on, glowing softly and looking quite beautiful.

Several decorative Christmas stockings and candy canes were hanging from the branches.

I saw a few children being lifted high by their parents, tossing coins into the stockings while loudly chanting their Christmas wishes.

So that’s what those decorations are for?

Could it be… they’re for making wishes?

That thought sparked my interest a little—I wanted to go give it a try.

Even if there’s a chance it’s all just a gimmick, I didn’t want to miss a single opportunity.

“Gu Fan, let’s go take a look over there.”

I didn’t want to give Gu Fan any chance to say no when it came to this.

He simply gave a faint smile without saying much.

Then, after glancing in the direction I was looking, he took the initiative to grab my wrist and led me over.

“Zhi Nian, do you have any wishes you want to come true?”

“…Yes.”

It’s not just that I have a wish—
I have so many, so many that I want to spend a lifetime slowly fulfilling them.

And the key to making those wishes come true… is you.

I stared at Gu Fan.

I licked my lips.

But I didn’t dare say what was really in my heart, afraid I might scare him away.

Is that twisted of me?

I don’t think so.

Wanting to do meaningful things together with Gu Fan—how could that possibly be called twisted?