Volume 1 Chapter 72: Expressing Gratitude with a Kiss
The two girls, each with their own thoughts, slowly fell into silence. They walked from the busy city center all the way to a quiet street corner. It was now night, the bright moon hung in the sky, and stars were scattered across it. There were no other people around anymore.
“Hmm… by the time, it should be about right now.”
Since a while ago, Bai Muxue had been looking at her phone, thinking about something.
Next to her, Qin Xiyao was also thinking about her “plan.” Her face slowly started to turn a little red.
Honestly, Qin Xiyao already felt very satisfied. She had been able to get closer to Bai Muxue, even hold her hand. It felt like their relationship had taken a big step forward.
But it still wasn’t enough.
Today’s “date” was about to end. After this, would they still have chances like today, walking together, talking together, staying so close?
Qin Xiyao really didn’t want this time with Bai Muxue to end. Because of that, a small desire in her heart slowly started to grow.
She wanted more, more than just holding hands. Even if she did something a little more bold, a little more intimate, she wanted Bai Muxue not to mind it.
“Um, Xiao Xue…”
After a long hesitation, Qin Xiyao finally spoke carefully, breaking the silence between them.
“Hmm? What is it?” Bai Muxue put down her phone and looked at the girl beside her, who had her head slightly lowered.
Qin Xiyao raised her head, her eyes serious.
“Have you ever gone out like this with that friend of yours?”
Her gaze quietly moved to their hands, still lightly holding each other.
Bai Muxue paused for a moment, then gently shook her head.
“No.”
When was the last time she went shopping holding hands with Tang Xingwan? Ten years old? Nine?
After becoming a young lady of the Bai family, she definitely hadn’t done it again.
So her answer was honest.
“Then… what about your tutor? Have you done this with her?”
Qin Xiyao’s voice became a little lighter this time.
No way that would happen.
Bai Muxue shook her head again. “No.”
“I see…”
As if she had gotten the answer she wanted, Qin Xiyao nodded with a meaningful look.
—So… am I the first person who does this kind of thing with Muxue?
That thought appeared in her mind, but she didn’t say it out loud. She just lowered her head and smiled softly, and the earlier nervousness in her eyes slowly disappeared.
Bai Muxue had actually read Qin Xiyao quite well. She really was a girl who lacked a sense of security and often needed confirmation.
Even though Bai Muxue had already said Qin Xiyao was very important to her, Qin Xiyao still couldn’t help but test things like this from time to time.
But even so, she rarely said her true feelings directly. Instead, she always kept a gentle and polite smile.
Maybe it was because of her family, her mother preferred obedient and well-behaved daughters. So Qin Xiyao thought Bai Muxue would also dislike troublesome or emotional girls.
But in the end, Qin Xiyao was still a teenage girl. Those small, complicated feelings couldn’t completely disappear.
Just like she knew her question was a bit silly. It might even make Bai Muxue think she was unreasonable, like she was trying to “compete” even in normal friendships.
But she just couldn’t hold it back, the feeling of nervousness and excitement inside her kept growing. So she wanted to ease that feeling by doing something more forward.
As she thought this, her eyes slowly became more determined.
Qin Xiyao suddenly let go of Bai Muxue’s hand. She quickly stepped forward and walked in front of her. Then she placed her hands behind her back.
“Xiao Xue, I’m really happy you invited me out today…”
Her eyes curved into a crescent shape, but her smile carried a hint of mischief.
“So I want to say thank you to my Xiao Xue.”
“Thank me?” Bai Muxue was a bit confused. She thought, if this girl wanted to give me a gift, why didn’t she do it at the mall just now? Or did she secretly buy something without me noticing?
For a moment, Bai Muxue’s thoughts drifted away, and she didn’t notice anything strange in Qin Xiyao’s expression.
“It’s just…”
In that moment of distraction, Qin Xiyao quickly closed the distance between them. Under Bai Muxue’s slightly surprised eyes, she leaned forward slightly.
“Xiyao??”
Bai Muxue didn’t even have time to react.
Qin Xiyao’s soft lips gently touched her cheek.
…Eh?
For a moment, Bai Muxue’s mind went completely blank. Even the moon in the sky seemed to hide itself out of embarrassment. The whole world felt like it disappeared, leaving only Qin Xiyao’s scent… and the soft, warm feeling on her cheek.
The kiss was very short, so short that by the time Bai Muxue came back to her senses, Qin Xiyao had already pulled back and turned her head away, looking shy.
She had bravely moved close to Bai Muxue, but only dared to leave a light kiss on her cheek.
“Xi, Xi, Xiyao???”
Bai Muxue finally snapped back to reality after a long pause. Her face was completely red. She covered her cheek and stuttered, unable to even speak properly.
After overcoming her inner hesitation and doing something so bold, Qin Xiyao’s own face was also completely red. Her heart was beating very fast.
As a sensitive and gentle girl who even hesitated before holding hands, this simple action almost made her explode from embarrassment.
She forced her trembling voice to calm down, took a deep breath, and then smiled in a calm and graceful way.
“Eh? Why are you making that face, Xiao Xue?”
“It’s normal for good friends to show a little affection sometimes, right?”
This was the excuse she had prepared in advance. After all, for some girls, a cheek kiss between close friends wasn’t something too strange.
Of course, that was only how it looked on the surface. Only Qin Xiyao knew her real thoughts inside.
She coughed lightly and pretended to be casual.
“It’s just that I was too happy, so I wanted to express my thanks,” she said. “There’s a saying, ‘A spring breeze brushes the face, like meeting an old friend again’… don’t think too much, Xiao Xue.”
Of course, she only said that. Deep down, she actually hoped Bai Muxue would think about it more.
Qin Xiyao didn’t know what Bai Muxue was thinking right now, but she was very clear about one thing. After today, she could no longer ignore her own feelings.
As for what to do next, even she wasn’t sure.
“Oh, my ride is here. No need to send me off, Xiao Xue. I’ll go now… I was really happy today. We… we can talk again tomorrow.”
Not knowing what else to say and feeling more and more embarrassed, Qin Xiyao quickly grabbed the bag from Bai Muxue’s hand and ran off in a panic toward the distance.
In the end, only Bai Muxue was left standing alone by the street.