Lin Xiaoxiao subconsciously looked up at Tang Xue. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I, I just didn't mean to." Lin Xiaoxiao stammered as she explained, backing away.
"Watch out." Seeing that Lin Xiaoxiao was about to crash into the wall behind her, Tang Xue didn't care about being shy anymore. She took a few steps forward, grabbed Lin Xiaoxiao's wrist, and pulled her into her arms again. "Do you want to lose your head?"
Lin Xiaoxiao didn't say anything and was hugged into Tang Xue's arms again. It felt like every cell in her body was tense. She was trying her best to control her heartbeat, afraid that Tang Xue would hear the pounding of her heart.
Lin Xiaoxiao has always considered herself to be a straight person, straighter than a telephone pole, so how could she possibly fall in love with a woman? Although she has never been in a relationship, she is very certain about her sexual orientation.
So when Bai Bing said she liked Tang Xue, Lin Xiaoxiao was speechless. How could a straight woman like her suddenly become gay?
But if she only considered Tang Xue a friend, how could she be jealous? How could she possibly be so opposed to Tang Xue being close to others?
How could he possibly have the urge to keep Tang Xue by his side when he knew he was going to find happiness for her? How could his heart beat so fast when this person held him in their arms?
If it weren't for liking her, how could I be so infatuated with her scent? How could I miss her so madly when she's not around, to the point of sleepless nights? It turns out, all of this is because of liking her.
Unable to suppress her emotions any longer, Lin Xiaoxiao reached out and hugged Tang Xue's waist tightly, as if she wanted to meld this person into her very bones.
"Xiaoxiao, are you feeling unwell? Is your stomach hurting?" Although she found Lin Xiaoxiao a little strange, Tang Xue was more concerned about Lin Xiaoxiao's health.
"I'm fine, I'm okay, my stomach doesn't hurt, don't worry." Lin Xiaoxiao sighed softly, tightening her arms around Tang Xue's waist again.
Why didn't she realize it before? Was her infatuation with this person a sign of caring or liking?
"Xiaoxiao?" Tang Xue called softly.
"Mmm." Lin Xiaoxiao made a sound through her nose, her head still nuzzling against Tang Xue's chest. She didn't want to think about anything right now; she just wanted to hold this person quietly.
Looking at the fluffy head in her arms and confirming that the other person was indeed not feeling unwell, Tang Xue's attention naturally shifted to other things.
Soon, Tang Xue realized that at this moment, she was holding the person she liked in her arms. This was the first time she had been so close to Lin Xiaoxiao since she met her.
She could easily smell the delicate fragrance emanating from Lin Xiaoxiao, and could clearly feel how soft the person she was holding in her arms was.
This was the first time she had realized that hugging a girl could be so comfortable, so addictive.
Tang Xue could feel the temperature on her face rising, and she could feel her heart beating at an abnormally fast pace in her chest.
Just as Tang Xue's heart was about to race out of control, the little head in her arms lifted up and left her embrace.
The lingering fragrance vanished, and her arms suddenly felt empty. The warmth that had filled her chest dissipated instantly, even causing Tang Xue to shiver involuntarily.
"I'm sorry, Xiaoxue, I made you worry about me." Only after she was sure she could talk to Tang Xue properly did Lin Xiaoxiao leave Tang Xue's embrace, but even after leaving, she didn't look at Tang Xue, but kept staring at her toes.
Her mind was a bit of a mess. She realized that she had developed feelings for Tang Xue that she shouldn't have. Lin Xiaoxiao was scared, afraid that Tang Xue would see through her inappropriate feelings. But she was also happy, because this was the first time she had ever liked someone.
It was a strange feeling, like just thinking about that person made me feel like I had the whole world. It was a feeling that was both sweet and bitter.
It was as if she had been fed a mouthful of honey, and before she could even react, she was stuffed with a mouthful of bitter herbs. Lin Xiaoxiao pursed her lips tightly, as if she had already tasted the bitterness in her mouth.
"Don't mind it, and don't be so polite with me. Aren't we friends?" Tang Xue held the word "friends" on her tongue as if she had to use a lot of effort to utter it, and her expression became somewhat disappointed because of these two words.
"Yes, you're right." Lin Xiaoxiao bit her tongue and gave Tang Xue her signature smile. Friends? This was a relationship she longed for and cherished, but at this moment, those two words felt so irritating.
The word "friend" was like a dividing line between her and Tang Xue, preventing her from crossing it. "I brought you milk tea and some delicious snacks. Let's go out quickly."
"Xiaoxiao, what you just did..."
"Just now," Lin Xiaoxiao smiled a little embarrassedly, "I accidentally dropped a cup of milk tea on the ground and got my clothes dirty. I was planning to come see you, but I ended up looking so disheveled, and I feel really bad about it."
"Is that so?" Tang Xue tilted her head, feeling that something was not quite right, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
“Yes.” Lin Xiaoxiao nodded, her expression very sincere. “Let’s get out of here quickly, or people will misunderstand and think we fell in.”
Lin Xiaoxiao chuckled and picked up the milk tea and snacks she had left on the sink. "I was so focused on cleaning myself up that I forgot to clean up the floor first. I'll have to thank the staff who cleaned up my mess later."
Lin Xiaoxiao acted normally. From Tang Xue's face, she could tell that the mask on her face was perfect, and Tang Xue did not notice anything amiss.
It didn't take Lin Xiaoxiao long to go from realizing she liked Tang Xue to accepting it. After clearly knowing that she had feelings for Tang Xue that she shouldn't have, Lin Xiaoxiao's first reaction was to hide it from Tang Xue.
She didn't want to leave Tang Xue, nor did she want to become estranged from her, so all she could do was continue to play the role of a good friend.
Suppressing her true feelings and always remaining a little sun wasn't a difficult thing for Lin Xiaoxiao.
Lin Xiaoxiao used to be an orphan. She grew up in an orphanage, and life there was not pleasant. The world is not simply black and white.
This is a principle that Lin Xiaoxiao understood when she was very young: she couldn't cry, or she would be disliked; she couldn't express her true emotions, or she would be beaten.
So from a very young age, Lin Xiaoxiao knew that she had to smile, because children who smile are liked, and even if you hate someone the most, you can't show your dislike; you have to be happy and smile.
It was from that time that Lin Xiaoxiao learned to use a smile to hide all her emotions. Even after she grew up, left the orphanage, and began to support herself, this habit remained with her.
But because she was able to support herself with her own hands after she was released, she no longer had to force herself to smile all day long.
The mask that always wore a smile could finally be temporarily removed from her face, and she began to learn to express her emotions with different expressions.
Lin Xiaoxiao really enjoyed her life after leaving the orphanage. Although it was tough and she no longer had her friends, she was finally able to experience what true happiness was.
She felt that only then did she truly live like a human being, because she possessed more than just a smiling face after coming into this world.
The reason Lin Xiaoxiao was able to accept everything here so quickly was not only because she had no attachment to her original world, but more importantly, because this world gave her a new life.
What Lin Xiaoxiao didn't expect was that this time, when facing Tang Xue, her instincts, which she thought she had long forgotten, actually helped her, preventing her from revealing any flaws in front of Tang Xue.
So she will smile, because Tang Xue said that smiling suits her best. So she will smile, just like when she was a child. As long as she smiles, she will definitely not be abandoned.
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Author's Note:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 19:37:47 on January 31, 2022 and 18:00:26 on February 5, 2022!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Haze (5 bottles);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 36
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Tang Xue followed behind Lin Xiaoxiao, looking at the back of the person in front of her. Tang Xue felt that something was strange, but the smile on Lin Xiaoxiao's face was still familiar to her, and there was nothing wrong with the tone of her voice when she spoke to her.
Tang Xue felt a sense of unease, but couldn't quite put her finger on it, especially since Lin Xiaoxiao seemed perfectly normal.
Tang Xue could only tell herself that she was overthinking things. She shook her head to clear the strange feeling from her mind, then quickened her pace and caught up with Lin Xiaoxiao.
"This is a new product from their shop, you should try it." After the two sat down, Lin Xiaoxiao unpacked the dessert she had bought and handed it to Tang Xue, looking at her expectantly. "They said this flavor is delicious."
Looking into the person's bright, sparkling eyes, like a big dog waiting to be petted by its owner, Tang Xue lowered her eyes, took a bite of the dessert in her hand, and said, "It's delicious."
"I'm glad you like it." Lin Xiaoxiao had tasted the dessert before buying it and thought it was delicious, so she specially bought it for Tang Xue. But she was also afraid that Tang Xue might not like it, so she also bought the same flavor that Tang Xue used to like.
“Um…” Tang Xue’s gaze lingered on the dessert that Lin Xiaoxiao had unwrapped.
"I was afraid you wouldn't like this new product, so I bought the one you liked before." Lin Xiao said, taking a bite of the dessert in her hand. "Here's some milk tea, it's your favorite flavor."
Tang Xue was charmed by Lin Xiaoxiao's adorable last syllable and reached out to ruffle Lin Xiaoxiao's hair. "Thank you. Also, may I have a bite of your dessert?"
Lin Xiaoxiao was taken aback for a moment, "Of course you can, do you prefer this one?"
"Not really." Tang Xue's gaze swept over Lin Xiaoxiao's lips, where there was still strawberry jam from the dessert.
Tang Xue's eyes were deep and unfathomable. What she really wanted to eat was this. She brushed her long hair aside, leaned forward, and took a bite from the spot where Lin Xiaoxiao had bitten. "Thank you."
Lin Xiaoxiao was genuinely stunned, her eyes wide open. She had intended to give Tang Xue the side she hadn't bitten, but Tang Xue took a bite out of the spot she had already bitten.
Was this considered an indirect kiss? Lin Xiaoxiao's mind was a little dazed, and just then, a straw was placed to her lips, "Try it."
Lin Xiaoxiao subconsciously opened her mouth and took a sip. Only after swallowing the milk tea did she belatedly realize what had happened.
Tang Xue had drunk from this cup of milk tea. Lin Xiaoxiao turned around and saw Tang Xue casually put the straw into her mouth. Lin Xiaoxiao swallowed.
She wanted to touch her face, but she also knew that exchanging food between close friends was a normal thing, so she suppressed her wildly beating heart.
Lin Xiaoxiao's expression returned to normal, with only a slight pink tinge on her earlobes, which was easily overlooked if not carefully observed.
Normally, Tang Xue would have noticed this anomaly, but at this moment, she was so nervous that her heart was about to jump out of her mouth.
It turns out that when she realized she had fallen for him, everything really changed. Physical contact and intimate touches would make her heart race.
But Tang Xue is an actress. Even though she has never appeared on screen, her talent is undeniable, thanks to her powerful acting skills.
Suppressing the blush creeping onto her face, and with her heart pounding wildly, she looked at Lin Xiaoxiao beside her and asked, "Isn't this milk tea delicious?"
"Mmm, it tastes pretty good," Lin Xiao said, sticking out her tongue to lick her lips, as if savoring the taste.
Tang Xue's throat moved as she watched the pink tongue lick around the lips before quickly disappearing.
But the lips moistened by saliva appeared even more vibrant red and plump, like freshly ripened strawberries, glistening with morning dew, making one want to pick one and devour it.
Realizing her desire, Tang Xue quickly looked away and finished the dessert in her hand in a few bites. It seemed that this action could suppress the restless desire in her heart.
"Give me that, I'll go throw it away." Lin Xiaoxiao pointed to the cardboard box next to Tang Xue. Normally, Tang Xue would have said that they could just throw it away after they finished drinking the milk tea.
But now, she desperately needed time to sort out her emotions, so without the slightest hesitation, she handed the box to Lin Xiaoxiao.
After taking the cardboard box, Lin Xiaoxiao quickly got up and walked towards the trash can where she had thrown away the milk tea. Watching Lin Xiaoxiao's figure disappear around the corner.
Tang Xue's face turned red as if by magic, from her neck all the way to her ears. She and Lin Xiaoxiao had just indirectly kissed, and thinking of those alluring red lips, Tang Xue's face turned even redder.
After leaving Tang Xue's side, Lin Xiaoxiao threw away the trash and, seeing that there was no one around, reached out and rubbed her face.
She almost couldn't keep up her smile just now; her self-control isn't strong enough when facing someone she likes.
Thinking that the two of them had just eaten the same dessert and drunk the same cup of milk tea, the blush on Lin Xiaoxiao's face gradually spread to behind her ears.
Just thinking about that scene makes her blush. No wonder she always heard people say that a straight woman's subtle flirting is the most deadly. Now she finally understands it.
If Lin Xiaoxiao didn't know she liked Tang Xue, she felt she would have thought everything she said earlier was proof of her good relationship with Tang Xue. Now, Lin Xiaoxiao felt she needed to strengthen her self-control and absolutely couldn't give herself away in front of Tang Xue.
After calming herself down, Lin Xiaoxiao rubbed her face again before returning to Tang Xue's side. However, as soon as she sat down, Tang Xue handed her a half-cup of milk tea, saying, "This is for you."
"Thank you, thank you." Lin Xiaoxiao, who had just made up her mind to strengthen her willpower, almost couldn't keep up the smile on her face. She put the milk tea on her right side, looked at Tang Xue, and said, "There's actually something else I wanted to tell you today."
"Go ahead," Tang Xue said, turning her gaze away from the half-finished cup of milk tea and looking at the person beside her.
"It's about what happened online..."
"I haven't properly thanked you for this yet." Tang Xue tilted her head and looked at Lin Xiaoxiao. Lin Xiaoxiao's Weibo post had indeed attracted most of the criticism.
Regarding this matter, she really should thank Lin Xiaoxiao. At least, Lin Xiaoxiao kept her promise. Tang Xue's eyes softened. "Xiaoxiao, thank you so much."
"You're welcome, it's what I should do." Lin Xiaoxiao smiled. "You don't need to be so polite with me."
Seeing Lin Xiaoxiao's smiling face, Tang Xue also smiled. Speaking of which, there was one thing about the internet that surprised Tang Xue quite a bit.