Volume 2 Chapter 43: An Indirect Kiss?
“N-no, no… it’s nothing!”
Facing her sworn enemy’s questions, the girl, already crying from how bitter it was, still forced herself to hold back her tears and said firmly,
“N-nothing at all… ugh—”
“Uh…” Gao Liang tried hard to keep a straight face, but he could clearly tell something was wrong with Lin Lin. This was obviously not normal!
How should he describe her expression? It was like someone who had never eaten spicy food suddenly swallowed twenty kilos of chili peppers in one go.
No matter how talented someone is, too much will eventually cause a breakdown.
And Lin Lin was clearly… right at that breaking point!
The way she was squeezing her eyes and face made it look like she might need to go to the hospital any second!
“Ah—”
Lin Lin was still trying hard to hide her pain. To avoid making her enemy suspicious, she even forced herself to take another sip of the drink.
But…
Pinching your nose while drinking, are you serious? Are you sure this isn’t some horrible bitter medicine?
“Ugh—”
She was hit by the bitterness again. This time, the bitter taste stayed in her throat, going back and forth. She frowned deeply, and her tears finally started to fall.
Still, Lin Lin was actually quite tough. The tears weren’t because she felt emotional—it was just a physical reaction.
Her tear glands simply couldn’t take it anymore.
Ugh—
Watching all of this, Gao Liang finally realized the problem was the coffee. He quickly stepped forward and gently patted her on the back. She was coughing, but her breathing was still okay.
Uh…
At last, Gao Liang understood.
“Lin Lin, you can’t handle how bitter this coffee is, right? Is it too bitter?”
“Uh…”
Lin Lin looked away. She had just tried to act mature in front of her enemy, admitting it now felt a bit embarrassing.
But this coffee really was way too bitter!
Hmm…
Seeing that she didn’t answer for a long time, Gao Liang took it as a yes. He quickly handed her his lemon drink and said:
“H-how about this? Let’s switch. You should drink the lemon water instead, Lin Lin. It can help wash the taste away.”
“Mm…”
Lin Lin looked at him. At first, she felt a little touched, and also a little shy.
This guy… he actually stepped in to help her.
Maybe she had misunderstood him. He was kind of thoughtful, and it didn’t seem like he wanted to bully her after all.
Hmm, even though switching drinks now would make her look a bit childish, but—but—but—
She really couldn’t drink this anymore.
In the end, the girl sighed and decided to stop forcing herself.
She gave up. Lemon water was better after all.
Just as she nodded and was about to hand the coffee to him, suddenly—
She blinked.
Looking at his hand reaching out to take the drink she had already used, she suddenly realized something.
No!
She quickly pulled her hand back.
No, no, no!
Th-this…
She had already drunk from this coffee!
And not just once, she had taken two sips.
Um…
If this guy took it and drank from it too…
“Th-then then then…… doesn’t that mean, indirectly…… indirectly…… we kind of… kissed?!
Huh—there’s actually that kind of meaning too?!”
The girl only imagined the scene for a tiny moment, and whoosh!
It was like steam burst from her head, making her little stray hair stick straight up.
A deep blush spread from her neck all the way to her face. Her brain kept heating up, until finally… there was nothing left.
“Ah… ba… ah ba…”
“Lin Lin? Lin Lin?”
Gao Liang called out to her twice, confused. She had clearly been about to switch cups just now, so why did she suddenly stop?
Lin Lin was pulled back to reality by his voice. Well, at least her body was. Her mind was another story.
She quickly lifted the coffee and took two more sips. While forcing her expression to stay calm, she pretended nothing was wrong and said to Gao Liang.
“Hahaha, it’s fine, Gao Liang. I can drink coffee. See? I’m drinking it just fine.”
“Uh… are you sure you’re okay?”
“Mm… re-really… really okay! Cough… really okay! Cough cough…”
She kept forcing her voice to stay steady. Gao Liang watched her for a bit, then finally nodded.
Alright then. If Lin Lin didn’t want to switch, then they wouldn’t.
“Then let’s go to the art studio!”
Lin Lin quickly nodded and followed her rival. The two of them walked together until they reached the studio area.
As arranged before, the staff warmly led them to a room and pushed the studio door open.
The place really felt artistic. The colors were simple, with wooden, old-style decorations. Even the door used a classic push-open design.
They stepped inside on peach-wood flooring. Lin Lin even looked down to check the cleanliness.
It was extremely clean, so clean that she couldn’t see any dust at all. It felt like you could walk barefoot without worrying.
“Please feel free to use the studio. Just leave before ten tonight. Thank you for choosing us.”
The staff politely left. When the door closed, Lin Lin finally let out a long breath.
“Phew~”
For some reason, she always felt nervous when facing strangers.
She looked around the room, thinking how spacious it was, while watching Gao Liang organize his things.
Blinking, Lin Lin asked, “So… the tools here are pretty complete, right? I saw you didn’t bring much. Are they… enough?”
“Mm… yeah, they look pretty complete,” Gao Liang nodded. “Haha, actually, I asked them in advance to prepare everything. I didn’t want to carry too much.”
“Uh…” Lin Lin curiously looked at a bag he had just placed on the sofa. “Th-then… what’s in that bag?”
“Cough… you’ll find out later.”
“Huh?”
The way he said it so mysteriously made Lin Lin feel a little nervous.
As she stayed nervous, watching Gao Liang set up the easel, she started to feel thirsty.
In fact, since she hadn’t drunk any water, the bitter taste of coffee was still lingering in her mouth.
And then she realized something she hadn’t thought about before…
Coffee is coffee, the more you drink, the thirstier you get.
“Mmm…”
After hesitating for a long time, she quietly glanced at the lemon water he had placed on the sofa earlier.
That guy…
He still hadn’t touched that lemon water at all.
Maybe he wasn’t thirsty. Haha.
If that’s the case…
Is it possible that, while he’s busy right now…
She could stab him in the back?
Secretly drink his water?!
Hmm…
Wow… this suddenly feels like a genius idea!