Chapter 48: Want to hold your hand

Getting Ready for the “Date”

Although girls hate being called out last minute without getting ready, this was the first “date” Lin Lu had proposed in years.
Yi Diandian was not only in a great mood but also got dolled up at lightning speed.
She managed to head out in just an hour.

Second Thoughts

While getting ready, she couldn’t help but wonder if it was okay to dress up so extravagantly to go “date” her best friend’s boyfriend.
Should she send a message to inform Su Keke?
Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a bit unfair to her…

Justifying the Decision

The thought of Su Keke finding out and this “date” inevitably falling through made her abandon the idea.
She started making excuses for herself…
Lin Lu wasn’t just Su Keke’s boyfriend; he was also her ex-boyfriend, wasn’t he?
Meeting her ex to discuss serious matters like event planning didn’t require reporting to Su Keke, right?
Yes, that’s it.
She wasn’t betraying her best friend at all.

Arriving in Style

Though Yi Diandian owned several cars, she didn’t drive any of them.
She had the family driver take her to the location Lin Lu had sent.
Her outfit today wasn’t suitable for driving.

Meeting at One Dot

The meeting spot was a milk tea shop called “One Dot.”
As soon as she stepped out of the car, she spotted that familiar figure.
Though he wore a black mask, it didn’t hide his sunny, handsome vibe.
It even added a touch of mystery and melancholy.
He was standing in the sunlight, focused on his phone, looking like he was memorizing vocabulary.

Lin Lu’s Public Persona

Thanks to Su Keke’s public announcement, Lin Lu, an ordinary college student, had become an internet celebrity.
He could go out alone just fine, but if he was meeting a girl, he had to wear a mask.
Otherwise, people might think he was cheating on Su Keke.

A Striking Appearance

Lin Lu gradually noticed the murmurs around him.
Turning his head, he froze, just like the passersby.
The girl wore a pink Lolita dress, with white stockings clinging tightly to her slender, well-proportioned legs.
They faintly revealed the sheen of her skin.
Her small feet were in Lolita high heels, with silk ribbons wrapped around her ankles, tied into a cute bow on the side of her calf.

A Noble Air

Most eye-catching was her white furry shawl cloak.
It added a touch of Western aristocratic elegance, perfect for the suddenly overcast weather.
A cool breeze blew, tousling her soft hair.
She instinctively raised a hand to shield her face, while the other hand tugged her shawl’s collar a bit tighter.

Mistaken for a Star

Everyone almost thought she was the lead actress from some film crew scouting the milk tea shop for a shoot.
Some even started snapping photos.
Lin Lu instinctively glanced down at his plain Taobao clothes…
If she was going to play like this, it was no fun.

A Playful Exchange

Under the gaze of many eyes, Yi Diandian, a bit shy but proud, walked over and sat at Lin Lu’s table.
He whispered, “Why did you dress up like this? Are you heading to a cosplay event at a convention later?”
“Doesn’t it look good? This is my favorite outfit, custom-made from a famous online designer named Mumu…”
Yi Diandian blushed.
It was a date, after all, so of course she had to dress cute.

A Subtle Compliment

Lin Lu put on a serious expression, eyeing her up and down, then smiled.
“You look like a little princess. I feel like a servant next to you—way too much pressure.”
Yi Diandian caught the subtle compliment, her heart bubbling with joy.
She couldn’t help but feel that today’s Lin Lu was different from the past few days.
Before, he’d been cold, even avoiding her after their reunion, showing little interest.
But today, he not only took the initiative to ask her out but was also especially warm, just like when they were dating.

Overthinking Motives

Her girlish thoughts turned sensitive, analyzing Lin Lu’s motives for asking her out.
Was it really just for planning the campus festival?
But he hadn’t been enthusiastic about it before—she’d had to threaten him with her student council president status to get him involved…
Could it be… he wanted to…
Yi Diandian’s face flushed red.

A Moral Dilemma

Seeing his black mask, she thought of Su Keke.
They’d just gone public last night.
Betraying her best friend wasn’t right…
Even setting Su Keke aside, she shouldn’t just agree to Lin Lu’s request.
What about settling old scores?

A Thoughtful Gesture

“Princess, here’s your milk tea~”
Lost in thought, Yi Diandian was interrupted when Lin Lu returned with a cup of milk tea and handed it to her.
“Don’t know if you still like this flavor?”
Looking at the red tea macchiato Lin Lu had ordered, Yi Diandian’s heart swelled with joy.
Not only did he remember her favorite milk tea shop, but he also remembered her favorite drink.

Perfect Memory

Truth be told, with so many ex-girlfriends, Lin Lu sometimes mixed up their details.
But when it came to their milk tea preferences, he never got it wrong.
Yi Diandian loved the sweet richness of “One Dot.”
Su Keke preferred the milky taste of “CoCo.”
Zhuang Yanyue liked the strong tea flavor of “Tea Yanyue.”
Mi Xue enjoyed the budget-friendly “Mixue Ice City”…
He’d bought so much for them back then—on dates, it was a must; at home, he’d order delivery.
It had become muscle memory, impossible to forget.

A Slip of the Tongue

“Xiao Lin, thanks for the milk tea. It’s so good~”
Yi Diandian took a sweet sip, accidentally letting slip the affectionate nickname she used to call him.
Lin Lu preferred her calling him by his full name—her calling him “Xiao Lin” like a kid felt weird, though she was indeed older than him…

Shifting Plans

“About the event planning, I made a survey link last night…”
Before she could finish, Lin Lu cut her off.
“Let’s not talk about that today.”
“Then… what are we doing today…”
Yi Diandian grew inexplicably nervous, her legs pressing tightly together under the table, her toes curling shyly in her high heels.

A Surprise Invitation

“There’s a new Makoto Shinkai anime movie out, the kind of campus romance you used to love. I’ve already bought tickets. Wanna go?”
“Huh? A m-movie…”
“You don’t want to?”
“I do!”
Yi Diandian could hardly believe it, feeling like she was dreaming.
Lin Lu had used event planning as an excuse to ask her out, but he actually wanted to go on a date!

Hidden Nerves

What she didn’t know was that Lin Lu was even more nervous.
He wasn’t sure if Yi Diandian would give him, her “enemy,” the face to go watch a movie, let alone the rest of his plans…
If she didn’t, he’d be in trouble.
Luckily, while getting ready that morning, he’d been recalling Yi Diandian’s preferences.
Everything today was tailored to her tastes, minimizing the chance she’d refuse.

A Bold Request

“Xiao Lin…”
Lin Lu was leading the way to the subway station when he heard her call.
Turning back, he saw her blushing, mustering the courage to meet his eyes.
“I want to hold your hand!”