Chapter 114: Need to Go Home First?

Carrying a bag full of dried fruits, I walked ahead, leaving the shop first. Zhinian’s light footsteps followed behind me.

Even though the marks on my fingers had been wiped off, and Zhinian had thoughtfully cleaned them again with a wet tissue, I still felt a lingering dampness, as if those traces had seeped into my skin.

How should I put it… even minutes later, I still couldn’t fully recover. If any normal guy had a seemingly aloof but incredibly suggestive cat-girl like Zhinian lick his fingers, his heart would surely pound as if struck by a sledgehammer.

The soft barbs on a cat-girl’s tongue, under Zhinian’s gentle licking, made it feel like all my senses were stripped away, focusing entirely on that one finger.

I lost count of how many times I swallowed or took deep breaths to suppress the torrent of thoughts surging in my mind.

If I didn’t stop it, who knows what dangerous things might happen next.

I pride myself on my self-control, but in front of Zhinian, it seems to falter. I have to admit, just her wet, silky gaze alone is enough to shatter my defenses.

Since Christmas, Zhinian has been getting bolder… I can’t help but wonder if something’s off with our relationship.

Reflecting briefly on recent events, there hasn’t been any trust crisis threatening our bond. Zhinian’s probably just too dependent on me, which explains her suggestive actions.

I can’t rule out that she might genuinely have feelings for me, but for some reason, I don’t quite believe that’s the case. So when sorting through my thoughts and reasoning, I try to steer clear of that possibility.

I couldn’t quite figure out what thoughts were swirling in my mind after Zhinian’s bold advances. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this unable to understand myself.

If I can’t figure it out, then I won’t dwell on it. I’ll just let things unfold naturally.

Glancing back, I saw Zhinian holding plastic bags with both hands, her eyes lowered obediently, seemingly lost in thought. Her cat ears were softly curled, looking incredibly cute.

I watched her for a while, confirming she was still immersed in her own world and hadn’t noticed me staring.

Only then did I look away. It was at that moment I realized I was smiling—a genuine smile from the heart, unconcerned with others’ perceptions.

For today, at least, I’ll let myself avoid the answers to these questions and simply enjoy the happiness of shopping for New Year’s goods with Zhinian.

Even though my mind was tangled with all sorts of thoughts, I didn’t bump into anyone due to distraction.

As I slowly pushed through the mountain of thoughts and reconnected with the real world, I noticed Gu Fan extending his strong arm to my side, shielding me from the passing crowd, ensuring my fragile frame wouldn’t be knocked over.

The feeling of being deliberately protected was unexpectedly comforting…

It was completely different from my usual fantasies. Experiencing it firsthand, I found my heart racing faster, my body reacting uncontrollably in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

Perhaps this is the gap between fantasy and reality. Relying solely on my clumsy mind to construct stages and scenarios, it’s hard to achieve full immersion, and my body doesn’t react much as a result.

Occasionally getting excited is already the peak. Once the thrill fades, I become almost ascetic, and no matter how much I fantasize about suggestive scenes, they don’t stir me much.

One person’s strength is too feeble—compared to the vast world, I’m less than a speck of dust.

That’s exactly why I crave Gu Fan’s affection in reality. I know it brings a thrill dozens, even hundreds of times stronger than my imagination.

Lost in these thoughts, I was suddenly bumped on the shoulder by a stranger. I glanced at them—they were hurrying past with a big bag of stuff, not even sparing me a look.

…It didn’t hurt, but being bumped like that still annoyed me. I really don’t like crowded places, especially as a girl—it’s inconvenient.

Gu Fan noticed my discomfort, his brows furrowing tightly. With a guilty expression, he leaned closer and guided me toward a less crowded pavilion.

I followed him obediently, watching as he bought two bottles of orange juice from a nearby vending machine. Once we sat down in the pavilion, we both let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew… so many people.”

With my arms crossed over my chest, I murmured to myself, unsure of my tone. Was it a statement? A complaint? Maybe a bit of both.

Thinking about it, it’s kind of amusing. Our classmates are all back at school, studying hard for exams, while we’re here, having skipped class with the excuse of “feeling unwell.”

Instead of lounging at home or going on a date, we’re out in this bustling market buying New Year’s goods.

Glancing at the passersby, I noticed their expressions. With the New Year approaching and their hands full of holiday necessities, their joy naturally shone through.

Seeing how they seemed to enjoy this crowded atmosphere, it felt like they were already celebrating the New Year early.

Though I couldn’t fully relate, I could at least understand their excitement.

I also longed to sit with someone close, eating hotpot, watching TV… and maybe snuggling up to sleep. Hehe.

If Gu Fan and I got married and were forced to be apart for a long time, only reuniting at home during occasions like the New Year, I’d probably be even happier than these people carrying their holiday goods. I might even do something wild and crazy to let out the overflowing joy.

The two bags of New Year’s goods sat by our feet. Mine was smaller since I’m not much of a snacker and have a modest appetite. To avoid wasting food, I only bought a little of each item.

Gu Fan, on the other hand, carefully picked out a variety of good-looking, tasty dried fruits and snacks. My “little of each” was entirely copied from his choices.

“Are you feeling uncomfortable from the crowd? Want to head home early to rest? I didn’t think it through—didn’t expect so many people buying New Year’s goods. We could’ve come earlier or just shopped online.”

“Hm? No need, I’m fine. It’s kind of fun to join the bustle sometimes, and… you’re here protecting me, right?”

Realizing Gu Fan was looking out for my feelings, worried the crowd might overwhelm me, my heart filled with a sugary sweetness.

Sure, I’d love to go home and crawl into bed, but I couldn’t bear to miss this chance to spend time with him. No matter how annoyed I got, I’d endure it.