35 Teaching You

Jiang Ci paused, blinked at him, and her heart suddenly began to race.

After a moment of hesitation, the young girl placed her slightly cool hand into his palm. The moment their skin touched, Jiang Ci could clearly feel her cheeks burning as if they were completely beyond her control.

When Zhang Heyu touched Jiang Ci’s hand, he was also taken aback. He hadn't felt much when they held hands on the roller coaster last time, but now he realized how small and soft a girl’s hands really were. Glancing down at Jiang Ci, he saw that her earlobes were flushed an incredible shade of red, making her look like a little rabbit, and he couldn't help but curl his lips into a light smile.

Help, how can his girlfriend be this cute!

Worried that Jiang Ci’s hand would get even colder exposed to the chilly air, Zhang Heyu simply took her hand and tucked it into his pocket, which he had warmed up beforehand. Jiang Ci felt the warmth and realized he had placed a hand warmer inside, specifically tucking it into her palm.

"Where are we going?" This was the first time Jiang Ci had gone out so formally with a boy as his girlfriend, especially with the person she had secretly loved for so many years.

"To a movie," Zhang Heyu said, holding her hand as he walked to the roadside to hail a cab. "The first movie I'm watching with A-Ci."

A-Ci.

Besides her grandmother, Zhang Heyu was the second person to call her that. She had never imagined that the name "A-Ci" could sound so pleasant coming from him.

Once they were in the taxi, he barely let go of her hand for a minute before taking it again after buckling her seatbelt. Jiang Ci couldn't help but curve her lips, letting Zhang Heyu lead her. It seemed like Zhang Heyu was not quite the person she had imagined.

The cinema was on the fifth floor of the mall. Zhang Heyu had originally considered taking her to his family's private cinema, but remembering it was only their second day of dating, he worried such an impulsive move might make Jiang Ci uncomfortable.

At the ticket counter, Zhang Heyu first retrieved two tickets from the self-service machine and then bought a large bucket of popcorn. Thinking of Jiang Ci’s sensitivity to the cold, he swapped the cola for milk tea. When Jiang Ci received the milk tea, she was stunned for a moment, and then she heard Zhang Heyu say, "A-Ci, since you're sensitive to the cold, don't drink anything cold for now. Have something warm instead."

"Thank you." Jiang Ci felt a soft warmth in her heart and smiled gently. "A-Yu."

Zhang Heyu, holding the popcorn, stiffened at those two words. He suddenly beamed and asked, "What did you just call me?"

Jiang Ci blinked, her clear eyes fixed on him. Confused for a few seconds, she thought he didn't like the nickname and murmured, "Do you not like me calling you that?"

"What did A-Ci call me?" Zhang Heyu’s thin lips curved upward. His languid voice carried a smile that was incredibly bewitching. "Say it again, let me hear it."

Jiang Ci’s fair earlobes instantly flushed pink at his words. She opened her mouth and whispered, "A-Yu."

The soft, sweet tone sounded just like she was acting spoiled. Zhang Heyu was stunned; his Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily, and he said with a laugh, "Good girl, call me that from now on."

Jiang Ci nodded.

They took their tickets and entered the theater. She checked the seat number on her ticket and walked in front, while Zhang Heyu followed behind, shielding her with the snacks. The only light in the cinema came from the screen, so Jiang Ci had to find their seats in the dark. Once she reached the approximate area, she subconsciously reached out to hold Zhang Heyu’s hand and whispered, "Our seats are here."

Zhang Heyu hummed in response, staring at Jiang Ci with gentle eyes. Her every action constantly tugged at his heartstrings.

The movie Zhang Heyu chose was a Thai film about an ordinary girl who had a crush on a senior and did many silly things to get his attention. She worked to become more beautiful and accomplished, and with every change, she caught the attention of the one she liked—not realizing that the senior had fallen for her long before she ever made those changes.

Jiang Ci understood the feeling of liking someone all too well. As she resonated with the plot, she couldn't help but tear up, sobbing softly in her seat. Zhang Heyu hadn't really been watching the movie; his peripheral vision had been focused on the young girl's emotions the entire time. Hearing her quiet sobs, he calmly took out a tissue, leaned over toward her, and whispered in her ear, "A-Ci, look at me."

At the sound of his voice, Jiang Ci turned her head and looked up at him, eyes red and brimming with tears, her lips pouting as she tried to hold back. Seeing how adorable she was, Zhang Heyu chuckled, took the tissue, and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She was crying over a movie; she really was a little crybaby.

Even though she was empathizing with the heroine, meeting Zhang Heyu’s deep, dark eyes made her heart skip a beat. The person she liked was Zhang Heyu. The only difference between her and the movie was that in her youth, her secret crush had received an echo.

When the movie ended, the lights in the cinema came on. Zhang Heyu naturally took Jiang Ci’s small hand as they left. Before they even exited the mall, Jiang Ci went to the restroom. When she came out, she bumped into a few beautifully dressed girls chatting in hushed tones.

"Look, there's a handsome guy!"
"His looks are top-tier, a real catch!"
"I want to go ask for his number."

Jiang Ci followed their gaze and saw Zhang Heyu standing there, leaning against the railing in a relaxed posture, head down as he played with his phone. Suddenly, two figures appeared in her line of sight—the same girls who had been planning to ask for his number.

Jiang Ci unconsciously tightened her grip on her fingertips and looked at Zhang Heyu. Zhang Heyu frowned impatiently at the two girls, but then, sensing an intense gaze, he looked up. Seeing Jiang Ci’s bewildered expression, he curved his lips into a smile. "Ask my girlfriend. If she says I can give it to you, then I will."

The two girls looked toward the girl standing behind them. When they saw Jiang Ci, their eyes widened. They muttered, "Sorry to bother you," and scurried away.

Seeing this, Jiang Ci was stunned. Once she recovered, she walked toward Zhang Heyu. "What did you say to them just now?"

Zhang Heyu raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. "I told them my girlfriend would get jealous and become a little crybaby."

Jiang Ci pouted and looked away, refusing to meet his eyes. "I’m not jealous, and I’m not a little crybaby."

"Is that so?" Zhang Heyu reached out to drape an arm around her shoulder and smiled. "Then let’s assume my girlfriend is just being generous."

Jiang Ci pursed her lips, finding his self-talk somewhat amusing. This side of Zhang Heyu was rare. Usually, he was languid and aloof, but now Jiang Ci felt he was actually a bit childish.

"You seem different from when I first knew you," Jiang Ci said softly, turning to look at him.

"Tell me, A-Ci, how am I different?" Zhang Heyu raised an eyebrow. "Can’t you tell that I like you even more?"

The topic shifted too quickly, and Jiang Ci was a bit dazed. Seeing the young girl remain silent, he reached out to ruffle her hair and leaned in to whisper in her ear, "I like you. I like you so, so much."

The warm breath brushing against her cheek made her heart race violently, and a tingling sensation like an electric current surged from the back of her neck through her entire body.

Jiang Ci blushed. "...I know." She could feel Zhang Heyu’s bold and fervent love. Just as Yu Xijin had said, every time Zhang Heyu looked at Jiang Ci, his eyes seemed glued to her.

"What do you want to eat?" Zhang Heyu walked her around the mall. "It’s getting late."

Jiang Ci wasn't picky, but remembering that Zhang Heyu had treated her to a movie, she wanted to treat him to a meal. "Let’s have dinner."

"Alright."

They chose a Cantonese restaurant. Unsure of what he liked, she ordered a simple Yangzhou fried rice and handed the menu to him. Zhang Heyu glanced at her selection—just a simple bowl of rice. Realizing what she was trying to do and worried she wouldn't be full, he ordered a few more dishes.

The girl had a small appetite and couldn't eat much. Seeing she was almost finished, Zhang Heyu stood up unhurriedly. Jiang Ci paused, her mouth full of rice, and just as she was about to ask where he was going, she heard him say, "Going to the restroom, I'll be back in a moment."

Jiang Ci gave a muffled "Okay."

By the time she had finished, she noticed there were still quite a few leftovers on the table, some of which hadn't even been touched. Upholding the principle of not wasting food, she decided to pack them to go. But when she went to the front desk to pay, the server told her the bill had already been settled.

She knew it must have been Zhang Heyu. When she walked out of the restaurant, Zhang Heyu happened to be returning. He paused, walked to her side, and took the bag from her hand. "Ready to go?"

"Yes," Jiang Ci nodded.

"Alright then." Zhang Heyu patted her head. "Let’s go."

They hadn't walked far when Jiang Ci looked down at Zhang Heyu’s hand hanging by his side. After half a minute of hesitation, she called out, "Zhang Heyu."

"What’s wrong?" Zhang Heyu stopped and turned to look at her.

Jiang Ci curved her lips and summoned her courage. She reached out with her slightly cool hand, interlaced her fingers with his, and held on tightly. "I want to warm my hands."

He smiled, gripped her hand firmly, interlaced their fingers, and tucked them into his pocket. His voice was languid. "You're a fast learner."

Jiang Ci blushed, turned her head away in shyness, and said nothing.

Zhang Heyu hailed a taxi to take her home. Jiang Ci checked her phone and was surprised to see it was already past nine in the evening. The car stopped steadily at the entrance of her apartment complex. The temperature in Nancheng had dropped significantly over the past few days; although there had been a brief snowfall on Christmas Eve, the snow had melted by this morning.

Walking to the gate, their hands remained interlaced. Jiang Ci smiled. "I’m home, A-Yu."

"Yeah." Zhang Heyu gazed down at her face, rubbing his fingertips against her knuckles, and asked in a husky voice, "Is there anything you want to say to me?"

Jiang Ci blinked, staring at him for a long time. "It’s cold, you should head back soon."

??
Something wasn't right!?

Hearing this, Zhang Heyu’s gaze grew suspicious. Seeming to realize something, he hummed a laugh. "My girlfriend doesn't seem very clingy, huh?"

"Huh?" Jiang Ci didn't understand.

"At a time like this, shouldn't you be hugging me, not letting go, asking for a kiss or a hug, and saying goodnight?" Zhang Heyu let go of her hand, his thin lips curving into a playful, mischievous arc.

His words were enough to make Jiang Ci’s heart race. Her cheeks heated up again, and she stood there, feeling hesitant. Seeing the dazed and silly look on her face, and knowing it was quite cold out, Zhang Heyu didn't tease her further.

"Go on back, it’s cold, don't catch a chill."

Jiang Ci paused and looked up at Zhang Heyu. He kept his eyes lowered, and she couldn't read his emotions. After a moment, she agreed, "Then I’m heading in?"

"Go on." Zhang Heyu’s expression remained the same. "Text me when you get home."

Jiang Ci nodded and started walking inside. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped. Zhang Heyu, who was watching her go, asked in confusion, "Wh—"

Before he could finish, a soft body threw itself into his arms. Her hair brushed against his chin, and the scent of sweet osmanthus filled his senses. The moment she lunged into his arms, Zhang Heyu was momentarily stunned. When he regained his senses, his throat felt dry, and he momentarily forgot how to breathe.

Jiang Ci didn't dare look up; just doing this made her legs feel weak. "Zhang Heyu, I... I’ve never dated before, I don't know what I’m supposed to do, I didn't mean to..." Her words became jumbled. "Can you... please don't be mad at me?"

He stood there, stiff and upright as the girl held him. For a few seconds, countless images flashed through his mind, and unknowingly, the tips of his ears turned a faint red.

Zhang Heyu’s languid voice was tinged with hoarseness. "Are you silly? I'm not mad."

Jiang Ci looked up from his arms. She was so nervous that her palms were sweating, and her cheeks were flushed an impossible shade of red.

"Really?"

"Really." Zhang Heyu raised a hand to stroke the back of her head, his other hand resting on her waist. "Baby, I like it when you take the initiative."

Only when you take the initiative can I believe that you have me in your heart.

Hearing him call her "baby," her ears burned, and she shyly avoided his gaze. But then she heard him add, "You don't know how to date? Your boyfriend will teach you."