Chapter 2: Bridging the Gap
She turned around and took a glance.
He stared at her directly, with a hint of frivolity and wickedness in the corners of his eyes and at the corners of his mouth, which curved upward. He discreetly motioned to her with his finger.
She was taken aback, blushing and feeling a rush of heat to her ears. Though inwardly delighted, she struggled to maintain a dignified and reserved demeanor, covering her chest and bending over once again.
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His words tickled her heart. Before her mind could react, he let go and resumed his nonchalant and unruly demeanor—as if he hadn’t said anything at all.
Shen Shuman furrowed her brows slightly and absentmindedly returned to her seat.
“What kind of secret crush makes you keep your lips sealed like this?” Cheng Tong pressed on.
“…I’ve already taken a big risk,” she replied, refusing to disclose anything.
“Fine…” Cheng Tong pouted.
Then the conversation took a turn, and she teased Shen Shuman with a raised eyebrow, saying, “Hey, I thought he was hard to approach. Who would have thought that heroes can’t resist beautiful women, hehe… Xiao Manman, forget about your unreliable secret crush. What do you think of that guy? If you two could get together, it would be a sight to behold—handsome man and beautiful woman.”
Shen Shuman mumbled her lips, unable to utter a single word. Instead, she poured herself a glass of fruit wine and took a sip.
The scent of alcohol filled the air as the cool liquid flowed through her body. She composed herself, pondered for a while, and said with a heavy tone, “I’m going to the restroom.”
After approximately ten minutes, Shen Shuman hurriedly returned, holding back the urge, taking small, cautious steps.
With one hand pressing down the hem of her knee-length skirt and the other tightly clutching something, she discreetly touched his shoulder as she passed by him.
Perplexed, he looked up at her during this brief encounter. He saw her eyes wandering, lips pressed tightly, as she stealthily slipped something into his hand.
Sensing the soft warmth of the fabric, a gleam flashed in his eyes, and he wanted to hold onto her and say something. But she had already made a hasty escape, not even sparing him an extra glance.
He tightly held her cotton panties and chuckled in silence.
“What did you give him just now?” Jiang Xia asked, watching him covertly hide the item in his pocket.
“Oh, nothing,” Shen Shuman feigned composure, speaking as if her mouth was filled with something, her words muffled and unclear.
Suddenly, laughter erupted from the neighboring table. She didn’t dare to turn her head, fearing to see her panties being held in his hand, exposed to everyone’s view.
That would be too embarrassing, not in line with her usual dignified image.
Without the protection of her underwear, only a thin layer of flesh-colored safety shorts remained, making her feel restless while sitting.
In this lively and promiscuous bar, there were plenty of people on the prowl.
With people coming and going, she was afraid that someone would notice something unusual about her—
Beneath the intricate patterns of her ginger-yellow umbrella-shaped skirt, the thin safety shorts clung to her skin, sensually outlining the contours of her private area.
As she walked, the center seam of the safety shorts accidentally wedged into her intimate crevice, rubbing against her sensitive area, causing a strange sensation of pain and tingling, making her feel flustered and disoriented.
Her shy and delicate flower, inexplicably, began to moisten, dampening the fabric.
As her phone vibrated, Shen Shuman endured the discomfort in her body and picked it up to check.
In a small group chat called “Hair Loss Prevention Research Institute,” Cheng Tong sent a series of phone numbers.
“What’s this?” Shen Shuman asked her.
Cheng Tong threw a flirtatious glance and said excitedly, “Sis, I got you his phone number… and a few other guys’ as well. Cast a wide net to catch big fish, you know?”
“I know, like the Sea King~” Shen Shuman said lightly, but deep down, she felt a pang of heartache.
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Lowly author online, seeking support ⁄(⁄⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄⁄)⁄
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Chapter 3: Love at First Sight
Wei Shi had been a secret crush in Shen Shuman’s heart since they were six years old. Back then, she was naive and inexperienced, and even now, she still felt unfamiliar with matters of the heart.
They lived in the same neighborhood since they were kids, but he resided in Huizhen Court while she lived in Peilan Court, with a distance of three hundred meters between them.
When she was six years old, she happened to see his mother holding his hand as they passed by the entrance of Pei Lan Yuan.
There’s a saying: “At three years old, one can see someone’s appearance; at seven years old, one can see their character.”
At the time, Wei Shi was exactly seven years old, with a delicate and exquisite face, beautiful features, and a graceful walk. Despite his young age, he carried an air of nobility and seemed to possess an extraordinary aura.
A fleeting glance that resulted in love at first sight. She was temporarily bewitched, and in a daze, she followed them, mother and son, to a training institute located outside of Shuyi Community.
Upon seeing her arrive alone, the people at the training institute approached her with smiles, asking about her parents and her hobbies…
She found them noisy and annoying, and snapped at them, demanding that they leave her alone. The commotion caught Wei Shi’s curiosity, and he turned his head to look. Their gazes met, and in an instant, her mind went blank, completely captivated.
When she returned home, she pestered her mother, saying that she wanted to enroll in a class at that training institute. Mrs. Li, seeing her enthusiasm, agreed to her request.
When they arrived at the training institute and inquired about classes, they were told that she was too young for advanced mathematics, so they recommended an art class instead.
Shen Shuman didn’t have many interests or hobbies, and she wasn’t particularly fond of drawing.
The only source of happiness for Shen Shuman was when she coincidentally encountered Wei Shi passing by the art studio as his advanced math class ended. Unlike her paint-stained appearance, he always looked clean and fresh.
As he passed by the art studio, he would occasionally glance sideways, his bright eyes casually sweeping over her without lingering. However, that seemingly careless glance only deepened her infatuation.
After two months, Mrs. Li felt that her paintings were still difficult to look at and subtly asked if she had any other interests.
After careful consideration, she decided to learn ballet—even though it was a bit demanding—because it allowed her to run downstairs and watch him during her break.
She studied ballet for three years, but she stopped because he never returned to the advanced math class again. For her, unrequited love was like a raging beast.
She guarded herself diligently, struggling to control her emotions, hiding around him without causing him any trouble. You see, she had witnessed him rejecting other girls’ confessions multiple times, always with a simple reason:
“I’m not interested in dating, and your persistence has seriously disrupted my life.”
He seemed only interested in academics and his career, or so she thought. Thus, with a heavy and bitter heart, Shen Shuman refrained from disturbing him for a painstaking seventeen years.
But unexpectedly, Cheng Tong easily obtained his contact information. She had just sacrificed her own underwear to help him out, but didn’t even receive a simple thank you in return…
The scales tipped heavily, and how could her heart not ache?
Her eyes dimmed and drank the alcohol sullenly.
“Manman, didn’t you say this is your first time drinking? Are you okay after drinking so much?” Jiang Xia worriedly stopped her hand from picking up the wine glass.
Shen Shuman, with blurred eyes from intoxication, slowed down her thoughts, even her movements became sluggish. She shook her head and remained silent.
Jiang Xia and Cheng Tong exchanged a glance. “Let’s take her home.”
Cheng Tong nodded.
The car they hailed stopped at the entrance of Shuyi Community. Shen Shuman stumbled out of the car, bid farewell to Jiang Xia and Cheng Tong, and staggered into the community.
In July, Huan City was adorned with golden brilliance.
As night fell, a cool breeze brought a touch of chill.
Wearing light clothing and having consumed alcohol, she felt an inexplicable coldness in her body. She rubbed her arms, covered in goosebumps, and the sound of her high heels echoed on the stone pavement, creating a chaotic “clack clack” sound.
Under the streetlights, she was alone, with a desolate silhouette.
In her dazed state, she faintly heard rustling sounds.
Her heart tightened, and she stopped, vigilantly scanning the surroundings, but didn’t see anything suspicious. Shuyi Community was close to the city center, with a prime location, high housing prices, considerable property fees, and decent security. Every night, one or two security guards patrolled in their small vehicles.
It wasn’t the first time she came home late like this. In the past, when attending events like “high school graduation parties” or “university graduation parties,” everyone had a great time, and the gatherings usually lasted until the early hours of the morning.
Every time, she returned home safely.
This time, she was probably scaring herself. She took a deep breath, hoping to clear her mind.
She resumed her steps, the “clack clack” of her footsteps becoming louder in the silent night.
Bright streetlights, mottled tree shadows—she felt frightened. To boost her courage, she began singing: “The light of righteousness shines on the earth… Ahhh!”
Suddenly, a Mediterranean man darted out from a diagonal path, his hands tearing open the robe wrapped around his body, blocking her path. She was so startled that she immediately let out a dolphin-like scream!
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😂😂😂 a streaker??!