Standing at the entrance of the marketplace, I pressed closely against Gu Fan, my expression cold as I watched the endless flow of people.
The shouts of vendors, the squabbles of bargaining, the sound of stalls putting up sunshades—all of it mixed together into such a noisy mess that my ears were about to go on strike.
Ever since I became a catgirl, my hearing has grown extremely sensitive, making it really hard for me to adapt to such overly lively places.
Today is both a school day and a workday, yet the market was still bustling. Thankfully, it hadn’t reached the point where shoulders were brushing against shoulders. That was probably the only good thing.
If it really did get that crowded, I’d rather just drag Gu Fan straight to a milk tea shop, sit down, and order New Year’s goods online on my phone.
That way it’d be easier, I could chat with Gu Fan, and I wouldn’t have to worry about being touched in weird places—like my chest or butt—for no reason.
Mmm… Even though I don’t come to crowded places like this very often, living in this society means I’ve had to squeeze onto public buses a few times.
Every time I barely manage to find a seat, I can’t help but sigh at how inconvenient it is to be a girl—especially if your chest is on the fuller side…
But right now, the situation isn’t bad. It’s a little crowded, but in just the right way—enough that I could actually take advantage of it.
I secretly glanced at Gu Fan, who was pressed against my arm. He kept his body stiff and upright, struggling to withstand the pressure from outside, carefully maintaining a delicate balance. If he relaxed even a little, his elbow would brush against the side of my chest.
I don’t think I’m some kind of pervert. At most, I just have a bit of an extreme personality… and maybe I’m just a little pervy. Really, just a little. Not too much.
At my core, I can still be considered an ordinary girl. Which means a normal romance process should work just fine when applied to me and Gu Fan.
An ordinary girl and an ordinary boy, starting their very first romance…
Hmm, is Gu Fan and I both each other’s first love? Definitely, right? There’s no way Gu Fan has ever had a girlfriend. Don’t scare yourself with that thought.
Just as the dazzling and dreamy fantasies began to unfold, the doubt of “whether Gu Fan had ever had a girlfriend” popped up, but I quickly brushed it away half-heartedly.
Its remnants sank deep into my heart, and I chose to ignore them for now.
In short, Gu Fan and I are going to experience a clumsy kind of romance. We’ll create an ambiguous atmosphere, try different ways to deepen our bond—starting with holding hands, then those “accidental” touches against my chest or other private places, followed by tight embraces where we can feel each other’s warmth… and then lips pressing against lips, until finally… huuuh… hehe…
Indecent images floated through my mind, trying to influence my actions in reality.
If the timing were right, I would definitely give in to that impulse—drag Gu Fan into a hotel under the guise of half resistance, half acceptance… or maybe just back home would do.
But right now, we’re not even adults yet. And the relationship between Gu Fan and me is still… uh, unclear?
I don’t even know how to describe it. I just feel like there’s something missing—like one last push. Without it, Gu Fan and I can only stay stuck in this awkward, in-between state.
Being just good friends sounds nice and all, but my ambitions are too big. They tell me that’s far from enough.
I stood there in a daze on the street for quite a while. Gu Fan didn’t rush me either. Only after the crowd thinned out a little did he gently tug on my arm.
“Let’s go, there are fewer people now.”
“Ah… okay.”
The sudden pull on my arm sent ripples through my heart, which soon gathered into one. My body moved instinctively, following right behind Gu Fan before my mind even caught up.
I furrowed my brows slightly. When surrounded by so many people, my head felt like it was stuffed with fog, leaving me dizzy.
Even walking straight became difficult, and my thoughts turned into a jumbled mess.
I guessed it might be because everyone around me was taller, blocking my line of sight. Without being able to see the surrounding buildings as reference points, I naturally lost my sense of direction. That’s probably why I felt dazed and unlike my usual self.
After analyzing my current condition, my mood eased a little. Understanding that this wasn’t some kind of illness in my body or mind, but rather just an ordinary psychological phenomenon—a common experience for many shorter girls—I no longer cared so much about it.
Gu Fan’s hand, which was holding my arm, never let go. He walked ahead, opening the way for me.
Although he wasn’t very old yet, Gu Fan’s physique was well-trained. Beneath his deep-blue jacket, his body carried a strong sense of power.
He was also much taller than others his age—many grown men couldn’t even reach Gu Fan’s chin.
When he deliberately exerted himself, Gu Fan could easily push through the crowd and carve out a path.
Following closely behind him, I also enjoyed this rare privilege. Without much effort, I slipped into a shop selling dried fruits.
There weren’t many customers inside, and I finally got the chance to catch my breath.
“Here we are. Let’s buy some dried fruits first. Zhi Nian, do you want to get some?”
“Anything’s fine. I’ll buy a bag.”
I wasn’t particularly interested in dried fruits, since I wasn’t a foodie to begin with. Some people like to absentmindedly chew on snacks when spacing out, but I never had that habit.
What I preferred was curling up in bed motionless, like a plant rooted in the soil—planting myself firmly into the mattress.
As for the so-called significance of stocking up on New Year’s goods, well… my mother never cared about it, so what reason did I have to care?
I’m not someone who clings to traditions. My thoughts may be a little conservative, but that doesn’t mean rituals of traditional festivals are meaningless to me.
If Gu Fan likes them, then they have value.
If I were alone, I would never spend money on food that I probably wouldn’t even touch for months.
But now, since I finally have the chance to buy New Year’s goods together with Gu Fan, I should at least make a gesture on the surface.
After all, I’m going to be Gu Fan’s wife someday! I ought to think about the atmosphere of a future household, shouldn’t I?
Isn’t this like practicing in advance? From now on, I can start learning the essential skills of a competent housewife, quietly preparing myself so that when we’re married, I can truly amaze Gu Fan.
After thinking it all through, my steps became lighter. I followed Gu Fan, glancing left and right, while also pondering which fruits and nuts carried special meanings—something I could use to convey affection to him.
I don’t want to miss a single chance for our feelings to grow deeper. Even if my observational skills aren’t that sharp, I’ll still try my best to find opportunities in every moment of daily life.
Just as I was lost in thought, Gu Fan suddenly stopped in front of a glass container. I followed and looked inside—there were strips of golden-yellow dried mango. Wrinkled, with hardly any moisture left.
“Want to try?” he asked.
“How do you try?”
I tilted my head in confusion, not understanding what he meant, since I had never been in a dried fruit shop before.
Then… Gu Fan picked up a small piece of dried mango and slowly moved it toward my lips.
“Of course, you taste it directly. Ah~ be good, open your mouth.”
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