Chapter 49: Male girlfriend (second watch ~)

An Unexpected Request

Holding hands?
Lin Lu hadn’t misremembered—they’d broken up, hadn’t they?
And it was a clean break.
They weren’t even friends now.
After all, what ex-couple stays friends?
Even if Lin Lu wanted to treat Yi Diandian as a friend, she’d likely see him as an enemy instead.

Just Classmates

At best, they were just classmates.
Drinking milk tea or watching a movie together was normal for classmates.
But holding hands? That was crossing a line.
It didn’t make sense, and even Lin Lu felt awkward about it…
“Uh… why do you want to hold hands?”

A Prepared Excuse

Lin Lu looked back at Yi Diandian, but she seemed to have her excuse ready.
Pointing at her delicate high heels, she said, “I’m not used to wearing heels. If you don’t hold my hand, I might twist my ankle…”
“Then why not wear flats like usual?”
Yi Diandian pointed to her Lolita dress, blinking her big, sparkling eyes with conviction.
“They’re a set. They have to be worn together to look good.”

An Irresistible Look

Lin Lu glanced down.
It did look good.
The lace-trimmed high heels paired with white stockings caught his eye, even though he wasn’t into feet.
For someone who was, they’d probably be drooling already.
“And when we shot that vlog, I noticed you’ve gotten taller over the years…”
Yi Diandian gestured at the growing height gap between them, pouting.
“If I don’t wear heels, I’d look so out of place next to you—like a father and daughter…”

Height Insecurities

Lin Lu looked at her curiously.
“You’re still hung up on your height?”
“I’m not insecure about my height! I just care about the height difference between us!”
Yi Diandian retorted instinctively, then lowered her eyes, feeling wronged.
‘He doesn’t get me at all!’
“It’s just holding hands. We’ve done it before. We’re so familiar—why won’t you even do this…”

A Reluctant Offer

As Yi Diandian sulked, a large, strong hand appeared before her, like a father’s.
“Come on.”
“Mhm!”
Blushing, Yi Diandian slipped her hand into Lin Lu’s warm palm.
It felt familiar, wrapped in his grip, but there was a slight roughness—a trace of calluses from his recent years of hard work.

Mixed Feelings

Her heart was a tangle of emotions.
There was a hint of satisfaction, as if Lin Lu deserved this hardship, but also a pang of heartache.
He was supposed to live a life of luxury, not toil for a living.
More than that, she felt the guilt of betraying her best friend…

Lin Lu’s Own Thoughts

It wasn’t just Yi Diandian lost in thought—Lin Lu was too.
‘This hand is so damn small and smooth!’
He could hardly imagine how nice it’d feel to…
Such a beautiful hand, wasted if not used for something better than manual labor!
Lin Lu didn’t want to upset Su Keke, but he needed Yi Diandian’s help today.
He had to keep this little princess happy, no matter what.
Even if she wanted to sleep with him, he’d have to go along with it.

Natural Chemistry

Despite the years apart, they held hands effortlessly.
No awkward adjustments, just a natural, magnetic connection, like muscle memory.
On the subway, Lin Lu shielded her in a corner to keep her from being jostled by the crowd.
Her small frame couldn’t handle the pushy commuters.

A New Proposal

“Xiao Lin… do you know what a male best friend is?” Yi Diandian suddenly looked up and asked.
“Yeah, a guy who’s like a best friend. Why?”
“Has any girl ever asked you to be her male best friend?”
“Nope…”
“Oh…”
Yi Diandian inched closer, nervously asking, “Then… can you be my male best friend? Don’t get the wrong idea—it’s a totally pure relationship, nothing to do with getting back together. Just like friends, but a bit closer.”

A Strategic Move

“I don’t think I’m the right fit. We’re not even friends…”
“You’re perfect!” Yi Diandian cut him off, blushing.
“You’re a bit of a player, but you’re still handsome. If my online friends and classmates knew I had a guy as good-looking as you as my male best friend, they’d be so jealous.”
So she was banking on his looks to boost her ego…
Fine, it was just a transaction.
As long as it wasn’t too much, he’d go along with it.
“Alright, whatever you want. I don’t mind.”

The Male Best Friend Label

Lin Lu wasn’t clueless.
He knew the “male best friend” label had a bad rep online.
It was a gray area—more than friends, less than lovers—where boundaries could easily blur, leading to things only couples should do.
Plenty of guys got cheated on by their girlfriend’s “male best friend,” while the girlfriend thought her boyfriend was just being petty.
Whatever.
As the “male best friend,” he wasn’t losing anything.

Escalating Contact

The moment he agreed, Yi Diandian, who’d only been holding his hand, went further.
Her other hand wrapped around his arm, pulling it close between her “two little bunnies.”
Before Lin Lu could ask, she blurted out, red-faced and excited, “Since you’re my male best friend, holding hands and linking arms is totally normal! If you don’t believe me, check Baidu. Young people do this all the time!”
She seemed a bit defensive…

A Convenient Excuse

Lin Lu actually felt relieved.
If Su Keke somehow found out about today, he had a flimsy excuse to cover himself.
This wasn’t cheating or embarrassing her—she’d have no reason to hold it against him.
Seeing Lin Lu didn’t object, Yi Diandian relaxed too.
She hadn’t betrayed her best friend.
She hadn’t.
Absolutely not…

At the Movie Theater

After getting off the subway, they soon reached the cinema.
Despite his tight budget, Lin Lu generously asked Yi Diandian if she wanted popcorn, determined to make her experience perfect.
Of course she did, but she insisted on just one bucket to share, saying they shouldn’t waste money.

An Unexpected Venue

After checking their tickets, they followed the signs to the theater, only to find it was a couples’ screening room.
Everyone around them was paired up, entering hand in hand.
They didn’t stand out, holding hands like a couple themselves, but…
“Xiao Lin, this… this is a couples’ screening room…”
Yi Diandian could barely look at him.
“Uh… the regular seats were sold out. Only the couples’ room had tickets left. No big deal.”
“Oh…”

Surprising Compliance

Lin Lu tugged her hand to lead her inside, expecting resistance.
But she just lowered her head, lost in thought, and followed him obediently.
Inside, each couple had a double sofa, just big enough for… certain activities.
The room was filled with a hormone-stirring fragrance, as if something scandalous could happen any second…