When I was little, I often fantasized about hugging someone I cared about tightly, or just looking into their eyes up close.
Maybe it all came from the dramas I stumbled upon back then—where couples in love would declare profound truths about romance.
Those moments became the enlightenment of my younger self.
I used to wonder what it would feel like to be close—really close—to someone I cherished.
And now…
I was living that fantasy.
Staring at Gu Fan just inches away, I watched as he looked down at me.
The strands of hair on his forehead scattered gently, and with the way his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, the line of his throat moved in an irresistibly alluring way.
I don’t have much experience, but… is this what they call sexual tension?
Back when I was studying how to become a ‘proper girl’, I picked up all sorts of must-know terms from online forums—and this was one of those things girls often mentioned in hushed, excited tones.
Being trapped against the door in a kabedon position, under Gu Fan’s lingering, unreadable gaze—my heart really might stop for real!
I couldn’t last more than a few seconds in that eye contact.
Admitting defeat, I quickly turned my head away to avoid his eyes.
“Zhi Nian, are you ready?”
Gu Fan’s hand slid from my shoulder down to my waist.
My cat tail twitched at the contact, then obediently curled around his palm, its tip brushing him gently.
With my eyes lowered, I swallowed hard and gave a soft hum through my nose as a response.
There was no turning back now—nowhere for me to run or hide.
Standing here silently without replying would only make things more awkward… and keep Gu Fan waiting.
It was better to be brave.
It was just shifting positions a little—once Gu Fan found a way to open the door, this close contact would end.
Yes!
There’s nothing to fear.
With that resolve firm in my heart, I finally straightened my back and locked eyes with Gu Fan, trying to show him I was ready.
“Gu Fan… what do you need me to do to help?”
Back at the outdoor café, even though Gu Fan had held me tightly, the open space made everything feel a little… hollow.
But here—it was different.
The storage room was so narrow it barely fit the two of us.
Any movement required full coordination, and the sensation of closeness was far more intense than anything at the café.
“Just like this. First, put your leg here.”
With one arm wrapped firmly around my waist, Gu Fan gently lifted my knee with the other, guiding me to rotate slightly in a small circle.
My gaze stayed locked on his face the whole time.
He met my eyes with unwavering focus, and in those amber irises, I could see the reflection of my own panicked expression.
Everything outside the center of my vision was spinning.
The dizzying sensation filled my head, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like we were dancing—like a slow, formal waltz.
The only difference was that I had no idea where to place my hands, while Gu Fan led me with quiet confidence.
I spaced out for a while, lost in that illusion, until his hand reached up and gently ruffled my cat ears, snapping me back to reality.
Only then did I notice—the door was already open.
Gu Fan had solved the mechanism and found the hidden clue while I was completely out of it.
Damn it…
It was such a rare chance to be so close to him, and I didn’t even manage to etch the sensation deeply enough into my memory for future daydreaming.
As I stepped out of the storage room, I found myself admiring the cleverness of the trap mechanism—but also mourning the fact that I hadn’t made better use of it.
Before I zoned out, I’d still been a bit reluctant about being so physically close…
Maybe this is what they mean when they say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone?
Listlessly wandering through the rest of the escape room, I watched as Gu Fan moved confidently forward, following the logic chain he’d pieced together earlier.
In just a few short minutes, he had solved everything, and the “warehouse” door clicked open.
I hadn’t done much at all.
Did I just completely slack off?
Still, even if I didn’t get the full puzzle-solving experience, having a chance to interact with Gu Fan so closely like that—maybe it wasn’t such a bad trade-off?
Thinking it over, I came to a conclusion: that one hundred yuan entry fee was so worth it.
Honestly, if someone told me that I could spend money to get that close to Gu Fan—even for a few seconds—I might just blow all the cash I earned from part-time jobs without hesitation.
Ahem…
Don’t get the wrong idea, okay?
I just wanted to deepen our friendship.
That’s right—this is nothing more than a totally ordinary friendship… just one that’s maybe a little more intimate than most.
Back in the main hall, led by a staff member, I kept an eye on Gu Fan’s expression.
He didn’t look upset at all—in fact, he seemed rather intrigued as he scrolled through photos on his camera.
He’d taken quite a few pictures in the escape room.
I wasn’t sure whether it was for keepsakes or simply to document clues.
Either way, if Gu Fan was enjoying himself, then so was I.
I subtly quickened my pace, slipping just ahead of him.
If he got too absorbed in those photos and didn’t watch where he was going, he might trip or bump into something.
At the same time, I stole a quick glance at the photo currently displayed on the camera screen.
…Was that me?
There was no mistaking it—that familiar black-haired catgirl had to be me.
I wasn’t sure when the picture was taken.
My hair was slightly tousled, a little unkempt. Instinctively, I felt the urge to criticize myself again—messy hair, weird expression, sloppy posture.
But then I caught myself.
No… there’s no need to keep dragging myself into that spiral of self-deprecation.
I’m trying, right?
And besides, I don’t think Gu Fan would like it if I kept being so negative all the time.
Exhaling deeply, I tried to collect my thoughts.
If Gu Fan took photos of me, maybe it means… he saw something worth capturing?
Surely it’s not just some twisted sense of humor, right?
He’s not going to go home and laugh at all my worst angles or—god forbid—show them to someone else for a good chuckle…
“Zhi Nian? You’re about to walk into a wall.”
“HUH—?!”
I snapped back to reality just in time to halt myself inches away from colliding headfirst with the lobby wall.
Staff members and other customers gave me odd looks as I awkwardly froze mid-step, and I quickly grabbed Gu Fan’s hand and dragged him outside, merging into the crowd on the sidewalk.
God, how embarrassing…
I wanted to guide Gu Fan and make sure he didn’t bump into anything—and yet here I was, the one being looked after.
Honestly, how am I this scatterbrained?
I gave my foggy head a couple of light taps with my knuckles.
Note to self: stay focused.
Seriously.
After finishing the escape room, we wandered around the mall a little longer—picked up some snacks, a few trinkets here and there.
Before I knew it, the sun had already begun dipping behind the skyline.
“It’s getting late. Let me take you home.”
The moment Gu Fan said those words, a reluctant ache bloomed in my chest.
Time always flies when I’m with him…
“Mm, sorry to trouble you.”
I hopped onto the back of his motorcycle.
As we rode down the road toward home, I quietly replayed everything that happened today—especially my performance.
…Not great.
Honestly, I kind of wanted to give myself a failing grade.
I lost control of my emotions for no good reason and made Gu Fan go through all that trouble just to calm me down—he probably tanked his opinion of me right there.
I spaced out so many times I missed a bunch of chances to strengthen our friendship.
Too many slip-ups to count.
If I tried to list them all out, I probably wouldn’t finish before bedtime.
Sigh… building a bond really is such a complicated endeavor~
As we neared the familiar roads close to my house, I tightened my arms around Gu Fan’s waist just a little more, fingertips brushing against the contours of his abs.
“…Still, I had a really good time today. What about you, Gu Fan?”
My soft whisper melted into the wind, carried away before it could reach him.
Leaning into his back, I let out a quiet breath.
A warm, weighty sort of contentment settled deep in my chest—full and unshakably real.