Chapter 125: It Has the Texture of Pudding

After returning home, Bai Renjun finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Lao Bai, are you full?” Han Jiayi asked as she changed her shoes. “I noticed that at the restaurant, you only took one bite of each kind of burger…”

“Honestly, I’m not.” Bai Renjun turned and looked at her carefully. “You know, before I met you, I mostly ate things like that—fried chicken, hamburgers, and the like.”

“Why didn’t you order something else?” Han Jiayi asked curiously.

“At the time… my circumstances were limited.” Bai Renjun shrugged. “Those things gave you the most for your money.”

“But now you have me. You can eat whatever you want.” Han Jiayi smiled sweetly. “So, what do you want to eat?”

Bai Renjun looked at her and smiled, then opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace. “You’re so cute.”

“Am I only cute? Don’t I have any other good qualities?” Han Jiayi huffed coquettishly.

“You do.” Bai Renjun nodded.

Han Jiayi had assumed he would praise her for being gentle, cultured, or something of the sort, but…

“Your legs are beautiful,” Bai Renjun replied.

“What else?” Han Jiayi asked, suppressing her irritation.

“You’re also a wonderful cook,” Bai Renjun continued.

“What—else?” Han Jiayi widened her eyes, on the verge of losing her temper.

“Everything about you…” Bai Renjun smiled and gently stroked the back of her head. “I like every single thing about you.”

“Such a cop-out!” Han Jiayi angrily punched him once. “Why didn’t you say I’m gentle?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Bai Renjun nodded repeatedly. “Everything about you is wonderful. You’re practically my ideal type.”

“You’re just brushing me off!” Han Jiayi pressed her head against his chest and waved both hands, throwing a series of light punches at his shoulders. Rather than genuinely fooling around with him, she seemed more like she was being spoiled.

“All right, all right, that’s enough.” Bai Renjun gently caught her slender wrists. “You’ve been busy all day, and you still came restaurant-hopping with me. You must be exhausted, right? Go take a shower and get some early rest.”

“But I want to play games…” Han Jiayi pouted unhappily. “I haven’t played for several days.”

“In any case, go take a shower first,” Bai Renjun instructed. “If you still have the energy afterward, we can play for a while.”

“Okay!” Han Jiayi answered cheerfully, then bounced off to her room to fetch her clothes.

Bai Renjun watched her return to her room with obvious reluctance, then went back to his own room and turned on the computer.

A while later, he heard the sound of a hair dryer coming from downstairs, and an idea suddenly struck him.

When he went downstairs, Han Jiayi was standing in front of the vanity, tilting her head as she dried her hair.

“Mumu…” Bai Renjun called from behind her.

Han Jiayi switched off the hair dryer and looked at him curiously. “What is it?”

“I’ll dry your hair for you,” Bai Renjun said with a smile. “You always end up making it all messy when you do it yourself.”

“That’s just how it is when you dry your own hair…” Han Jiayi smiled, lips pursed, and handed him the hair dryer.

Bai Renjun took it and pressed down lightly on the top of her head. “Lower your head a little. You’re too tall, you little thing.”

“Then I’ll get a chair and sit down.” Han Jiayi was about to turn and go inside for a stool.

“I’ll do it.” Bai Renjun held her back, then turned and went into the room himself.

“Hee hee…” Han Jiayi could not contain her happiness and secretly giggled. He spoils me so much…

But when Bai Renjun returned with the stool, Han Jiayi hurriedly composed herself, refusing to let her smile grow too wide.

Bai Renjun pressed her down into the seat and began drying her hair, little by little, from her temples to the nape of her neck.

He carefully felt her silky hair brush lightly across his fingertips, accompanied by the shampoo’s fragrance wafting toward him. It was practically a pleasure in itself.

“Is it too hot?” Bai Renjun called loudly.

Han Jiayi shook her head and shouted back, “No! It’s just right!”

Bai Renjun smiled and nodded, continuing to dry her hair. This time, Han Jiayi could no longer contain her delight. She quickly lowered her head and giggled.

This is so wonderful… Why? He’s only drying my hair!

“What’s wrong?” Bai Renjun asked worriedly as he switched off the hair dryer. “Did I burn you?”

“No.” Han Jiayi lifted her head, her expression restored, and said with a faint smile, “I lowered my head because it makes it easier for you to dry the back.”

“You don’t need to. Just sit properly like that,” Bai Renjun reminded her.

Han Jiayi obediently nodded. “Mm.”

Bai Renjun dried her hair unhurriedly, and both of them enjoyed the process immensely.

When the last strand was dry, Bai Renjun bent down and kissed her lightly on the temple. “There. Done.”

“Mm.” Han Jiayi nodded softly and turned to look at him, sweetness filling her eyes.

The mood was perfect, and Bai Renjun’s heart began to race.

Oh no. Should I kiss her? On the lips? Would that be too fast? We’ve only been dating for a few days! But the atmosphere is so good right now. She probably won’t reject me, right?

He activated his lightning reflexes and carefully thought it over during that brief moment of slowed time.

We’re boyfriend and girlfriend now. It should be fine if I kiss her, right? At worst, I can apologize afterward. Yes… I’ve decided!

With that thought, Bai Renjun leaned toward her.

Han Jiayi’s eyes widened.

He’s going to kiss me! What should I do? Should I respond? But if I’m too forward, will he think I’m too shameless? No, I’ll just close my eyes and go along with it…

But then Han Jiayi suddenly remembered something.

They had eaten earlier that evening and she still had not brushed her teeth! His sense of taste was so sensitive. What if he noticed some strange flavor in her mouth? She would rather die!

With that thought, Han Jiayi pushed Bai Renjun away with all her strength. “No!”

“I’m sorry…” Bai Renjun’s heart jolted, and he hurriedly explained, “I just… thought the mood was pretty good.”

“No, no!” Han Jiayi waved her hands frantically. “It’s not that I dislike it. It’s just… well, the burgers we had tonight came with garlic sauce, and I haven’t brushed my teeth yet. I’m afraid… I’m afraid my breath might smell.”

“Oh… Right, right! I almost forgot.” Bai Renjun froze for a moment, then felt immensely relieved.

I ate it too. That was close… You only get one first kiss. If it had turned into a garlic-scented kiss, what a regret that would have been for the rest of my life!

“Mm…” Han Jiayi nodded, her face flushed, then ventured, “You said you weren’t full, right? Shall we heat up the burgers, eat them, and then brush our teeth?”

Of course, she did not have the nerve to say what she really meant by “brush our teeth”—that they could then conveniently kiss.

“All right.” Bai Renjun nodded.

Han Jiayi immediately relaxed and smiled. “We can just warm them up in the microwave. It’ll be easy.”

So, after heating the burgers, Bai Renjun and Han Jiayi continued eating.

“They’re actually not bad, and the price is pretty reasonable,” Han Jiayi remarked. “It’s surprising that a place like this nearly went under.”

“Didn’t you hear what he said? Business was good during the first few months, but everyone soon got tired of eating there.” Bai Renjun frowned in complaint. “And look at this pineapple chicken-leg burger. I really have to criticize it! One bite and the whole thing falls apart!”

Annoyed, Bai Renjun took the pineapple out from underneath and began chewing it fiercely, as though venting his frustration on it.

So cute…

Han Jiayi secretly giggled as she watched him and reached out to pat his head.

By the time they finished eating, it was already after ten. The two of them went to the bathroom and brushed their teeth together.

“Gurgle, gurgle…”

Han Jiayi rinsed her mouth while staring at him through the mirror with her beautiful eyes wide open. The sight made Bai Renjun laugh.

“How can you be this cute?”

“Hmm?” Han Jiayi looked at him with a curious smile and spat out the toothpaste foam.

They had finished brushing their teeth, so they could finally kiss—but the earlier mood was gone, and Bai Renjun no longer knew how to make a move.

“By the way…” Bai Renjun placed his toothbrush cup beside Han Jiayi’s. He had originally wanted to say, “We can kiss now,” but after hesitating for a long while, what came out instead was, “From now on, I’ll dry your hair for you, all right?”

“Okay…” Han Jiayi nodded with a gentle smile. “We…”

She had originally meant to say, Shall we continue where we left off and kiss?

But what came out was, “Shall we play some games?”

“Mm.” Bai Renjun nodded. “Let’s play for a little while, then get some rest.”

As they went upstairs, both of them silently reproached themselves.

What am I doing? Just say it already…

Once upstairs, they played games as usual, but neither of them could concentrate.

After only a little more than ten minutes, Han Jiayi tilted her head and yawned beside him.

Like a little cat…

Bai Renjun thought to himself, then said with a smile, “Go to bed. It’s eleven.”

“Mm…” Han Jiayi rubbed her eyes and nodded. “You should go to sleep early too, okay? We can take care of the important things tomorrow morning.”

“Got it.” Bai Renjun answered, then stood up and escorted her downstairs.

“Good night…” Han Jiayi looked at him and smiled obediently.

Her soft, sweet voice made Bai Renjun’s heart itch. He steeled himself.

Forget it. If I die, I die!

He gently cupped Han Jiayi’s cheeks, leaned forward, and lightly kissed her on the lips.

“Good night, Mumu.”

How could anything in this world be so soft, tender, and springy? It was even more delicious than the finest pudding. There was a faint osmanthus fragrance, along with the slightest hint of sweetness…

And also a trace of leftover toothpaste foam.

Han Jiayi froze for a moment, but quickly came back to herself and began to smile. She hurriedly covered her mouth, tossed out a single “Go to sleep early…” and fled back to her room as fast as she could.

Once inside, Han Jiayi threw herself onto the bed and buried her head in her pillow, letting out a scream.

“Ah! My heart is going to leap right out of my chest!”

It took her quite a while to calm down. Covering her lips, she thought anxiously, I hope he didn’t taste anything strange…

She replayed what had just happened in her mind. Though it had lasted only a brief instant, it still made her face burn and her heart race.

“Honestly…” Han Jiayi kicked her legs and hammered her pillow. “What is wrong with you? Why are you so happy?”

Meanwhile, in his own room, Bai Renjun exhaled in satisfaction.

I kissed her after all.

He had been a little worried that the pace might be too fast, but Han Jiayi did not seem to mind.

“I was still too deliberate… The timing was too stiff.” Bai Renjun shook his head with a sigh. “I’ll have to improve next time. I should make my move when the mood is right… Mm.”

(Thank you all for the monthly votes.)

—Author’s Note—

(Thank you for the monthly votes from Mountain of Books Has a Path, Good Books Are Gone, Carefree Happy Wind, Book Friend 20210817143618286, It Is Qingyi, Lamrider, Passing Years 1229, Bewitching Little Snake, Prosperity, Yan Chuyang, Utterly Evil Step Dance, Nigma, Proud Wandering Dragon, Pat Your Head, Carefree Shrimp, Mr. Charlotte, Liancheng Yu, and Don’t Take My Candy. Thanks also to Little Tang Loves Dumplings, Longma, Is Mobile Phone Binding Really This Difficult, Second Young Master Bai, and Xuanyuan Noble Descendant Ancestor of Yao and Shun for two monthly votes each.)

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