"She said she wanted to be friends with him; did that mean she had changed her opinion of him significantly?"
When Ling Momo first spoke those words, her heart had been in her throat; but now, hearing Li Qingshen nod in agreement, her heart settled back into place. The pain of losing her great-grandfather seemed to dissipate a lot with his single nod. She curved her lips into a clever smile that, under the moonlight, appeared exceptionally pure. Like a child, she extended her hand toward Li Qingshen, tilting her head with a clear, vivacious tone, "Let’s shake hands for the great friendship that is about to begin!"
Li Qingshen looked at the small, fair hand extended in front of him; his gaze grew softer and warmer. He slightly lowered his eyelids before slowly reaching out his own hand and clasping it with hers. Thɪs chapter is updated by novelꞁire.net
Ling Momo, holding Li Qingshen’s hand, shook it gently up and down twice and then tried to let go. However, the man maintained his grip, making it impossible for her to withdraw her hand.
Ling Momo looked up and met Li Qingshen’s abyss-like, dark eyes. In the vast and profound stare, Ling Momo saw a stream of clear joy. She slightly opened her mouth and heard Li Qingshen’s characteristically elegant voice, seriously conveying, "I am very pleased to be your friend."
Though it was a simple phrase, Ling Momo couldn’t understand why, hearing it from Li Qingshen, she felt an unusual thrill of the heart.
She thought to herself that a true master could make even simple words feel like sweet nothings that set her heart racing.
It took Ling Momo a moment to come back to her senses, realizing that her hand was still resting in Li Qingshen’s palm. Unsure whether it was his hand or hers that had perspired, it felt slightly damp. Ling Momo instinctively pulled back her hand, and Li Qingshen suddenly reacted and immediately let go of her hand.
Afterward, neither of them spoke. Ling Momo’s emotions had returned to calm. The night had deepened, and the air had grown cooler. Seeing her dressed in a thin single-layer garment, Li Qingshen took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
His clothing carried his unique, clean fragrance, and Ling Momo, inhaling it, couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile.
It was hard to say how much time had passed before Li Qingshen finally asked, "Are you hungry? Shall we go home and eat something?"
Li Qingshen then stood up first.
Having been sitting for a long time, Ling Momo struggled to get up, so Li Qingshen extended his hand to help her rise.
When Ling Momo hesitated to take a step, Li Qingshen crouched in front of her and said, "Climb on."
She hesitated momentarily, looking at his broad back, but eventually leaned forward onto it.
Li Qingshen waited for her to settle before rising to his feet and carried her on his back, walking step by step towards home.
Ling Momo stretched out her arms to circle Li Qingshen’s neck, feeling an inexplicable warmth grow within her.
She felt that in this moment, she was truly not alone. She couldn’t help but rest her head on his shoulder, gazing at his handsome, almost picturesque profile. After a long while, she recalled the question Qin Sheng had asked her the previous day and suddenly moved her lips to whisper in his ear, "Teacher, I’m sorry for standing you up that day."