Fu Jiang’s face flushed red, and Lin Ze’s antics made her laugh. “You wish,” she said.
“What a shame…” Lin Ze said, falling into thought.
“Thinking about what?”
“Don’t interrupt me, I’m trying to recall the feeling. It was too quick, I wasn’t prepared.”
“Cut it out. You’re always picking on me. Now you know how it feels, huh?”
“No, at this very moment I’m treating you like the school beauty. Once I’ve recalled the feeling, you’ll be back to your old self. The treatment will be the same as before,” Lin Ze said with a mischievous grin, making Fu Jiang deflate.
“This bad guy always knows how to mess with my emotions. I feel like I’m going to be tied to him for life. But… it’s not bad,” she thought. She shook off her chaotic thoughts and squeezed Lin Ze’s waist. “Don’t tell Gajeel or the others about what happened just now! Absolutely no one!”
Fu Jiang was actually quite nervous. She felt like a naughty kid who had stolen someone else’s candy. If Gajeel found out, she wouldn’t make a big fuss, she would just stay silent and silently digest it all. Fu Jiang would rather Gajeel make a scene. Since that’s the case, might as well go all the way.
Her hand began to slowly circle around his waist. “If you dare tell anyone, I’ll fight you. If you don’t… I… I’ll repay you for one of the debts I owe you,” she threatened.
“You said it. That’s settled then,” Lin Ze said with a happy expression, but secretly he sighed with relief. He said that because he didn’t want to make things too formal. It would just be awkward for both of them. Until he had a proper plan, he couldn’t reveal his feelings to either of them.
As for why he always acted that way towards Fu Jiang, it was because she suited this kind of treatment. The people around her were always trying to pamper her. If something happened, they would treat her cruelly. Lin Ze wanted to do the opposite, be against her, tease her when everything was fine. But when something happened, he would stand firmly behind her. Only then could she experience “human” life.
“I always keep my word. And… take a picture with me.”
“A picture? You want me to take a picture for you?”
“No, the Gajeel kind.” Fu Jiang's expression became awkward. It felt like she was envying Gajeel.
“Sure, how do you want it?”
Fu Jiang hugged Lin Ze’s arm, pressing her body against his. With one hand, she made a heart sign towards the camera. With the click of the camera, the cute girl’s heart-shaped photo for her boyfriend was complete.
When Gajeel and Hanako returned, Fu Jiang acted normal. Everything seemed like nothing had happened. Within minutes, people started to gather around them.
As the sky gradually darkened, brilliant fireworks suddenly shot up into the sky. The dazzling fireworks pierced through the darkness, illuminating Gajeel and the others. Their eyes held a glimmer of hope, just like the hope that Lin Ze had ignited within them.
“Look at the camera!” Lin Ze shouted over the roaring fireworks.
The group photo, with the fireworks as a backdrop, marked the end of the gathering for the day.
After contacting Tsukino, the group headed towards the parking lot. “Today was so much fun. I don’t want it to end,” Hanako said, and Gajeel and Fu Jiang nodded in agreement.
“How about… you guys don’t go home tonight?” Fu Jiang’s shy suggestion made Hanako’s heart skip a beat. She had never stayed overnight at a friend’s house before.
“I can call my mom and ask. What about Gajeel?”
“I… well… I fed Xiao Hei a lot of food before I left. I’m fine. Whatever you guys decide,” Gajeel thought for a moment. She didn’t have to worry about Xiao Hei, and her parents didn’t care about her. She could actually stay over. But she immediately looked at Lin Ze behind her.
“Hey～ Does Gajeel want me to stay over too?” Noticing Gajeel’s gaze, Lin Ze leaned over slightly and asked in a low voice.
“I… I… I want to stay with Lin Ze… a little longer. We can all play together for longer,” Even though she was shy, Gajeel would definitely answer Lin Ze. Over the past few days, as she became more familiar with Fu Jiang and Hanako, she had gradually changed in front of them. She wasn’t as cautious as before, but only with the three of them.
“Then it depends on whether Fu Jiang wants me to stay over. But I’m a guy, and Fu Jiang’s house probably doesn’t have many extra things for guests. How about… we go to my place? For certain reasons, I have a lot of extra stuff for guests at my place. I’ll set up a room for you guys. My house is pretty big.”
Fu Jiang, who had been eavesdropping, rolled her eyes at Lin Ze. But when she heard him suggest going to his house, she was also tempted. She had suggested they stay overnight because she wanted someone to keep her company. She knew she would be thinking about the haunted house experience when she was alone at night.
“Go to Lin Ze’s house? Okay, okay. I’ve never been there before. Have you been there, Gajeel?”
“Yeah.” Everything between her and Lin Ze had started that day.
“Gajeel has been there? Then we have to go!” A strange thought popped into Fu Jiang and Hanako’s heads. “Whatever happens, we can’t fall behind!”
“But Lin Ze, isn’t your sister at home?” Gajeel suddenly remembered that Lin Ze had family at home.
“It’s fine, she’s been in her room upstairs reading and playing on her phone the last couple of days. I’ll just tell her when the time comes. What do you say?” Lin Ze asked Fu Jiang. Gajeel and Hanako had agreed, only she was left.
“Gajeel and Hanako both want to go, I can’t really object, I guess. It’s up to a certain someone if they welcome me,” Fu Jiang’s words were all about considering Gajeel and Hanako, and in the end she threw Lin Ze’s previous words back at him.
Fu Jiang’s haughty remarks made Lin Ze burst into laughter. “Welcome, Miss Fu Jiang, you’re gracing my humble abode. How could I not welcome you? Hanako, why don’t you call your mom and ask?”
Originally, Hiraki’s mother was a little worried when her daughter said she would be spending the night out. But when she learned it was with Lin Ze, she felt reassured. She told Hanako not to stay up too late and to be careful when out and about, before hanging up the phone.
Tsukino’s car was already in sight. When Lin Ze and the others got in and learned that they didn’t need to drop the girls off at home and could go directly to Lin Ze’s place, Tsukino, even though he knew Lin Ze’s character, almost couldn’t help but lecture him. It was just a professional habit.
“Come in.” As soon as he entered the house, Lin Ze saw a pair of shoes at the entrance. Did someone come over?
“You guys go ahead and change your shoes. I’ll go check the living room.”
Lin Ze arrived in the living room and saw Qinzi sitting on the couch drinking tea, with three large boxes next to her.
“Sister Qinzi? What are you doing here? What are all these?”
Qinzi didn’t even want to look at Lin Ze. Lin Ze was trouble, but he was important trouble that couldn’t be thrown away. What could she do? She had to gradually solve the trouble, but this trouble was prone to trouble itself! There was no choice but to keep him in sight.
“Sigh…” Qinzi let out a sigh. “My luggage. I’m staying here from now on. Someone will bring the rest of my stuff tomorrow.”
“Ah? Long-term?”
“What? Not welcome?”
“No, no, it’s just a little surprising. But it’s comforting to have Sister Qinzi here. What about Zhenqin?”
Don’t mention Zhenqin. Mentioning her made Qinzi’s head hurt even more.