Sheng Kuang watched Lin Jing quietly, his fingertips trembling slightly.
He didn't like to publicize his actions, nor did he intend to.
He thought these thoughts would remain buried in his heart forever, unknown to anyone.
Lan Bowen and Chen Jing had known him for many years and understood him well. If they hadn't perceived it, how could he have expected this girl, whom he had only known for a few short months, to see through him at a glance?
He didn't know how to describe his feelings at that moment. He felt as if his entire heart was being held in warm, comfortable hands, carefully cherished.
This feeling was truly moving.
Sometimes, understanding was more intoxicating than love.
Sheng Kuang looked at Lin Jing, wanting to say many things, yet remaining silent.
A quiet descended upon the dining table. Lin Jing observed Sheng Kuang for a moment, then her gaze fell on his left hand, casually placed on the table.
She stared at his trembling fingertips for two seconds before looking up. "Hey."
Sheng Kuang paused. "Hmm?"
Lin Jing gestured towards his hand with her chin. "Give me your hand."
Sheng Kuang asked, but extended his hand anyway. "What for?"
Lin Jing took Sheng Kuang's hand. "I'm going to read your palm."
Sheng Kuang, watching the girl intently study the lines on his palm, raised an eyebrow. "See anything?"
Lin Jing looked up. "Yes."
Before she could continue, Sheng Kuang spoke, "Am I destined to lack you?"
Lin Jing: "..."
So he knew that line.
Lin Jing couldn't accept that her clever joke had fallen flat. She met his gaze expressionlessly for a few seconds, blinked, and then said, "No, it's... I'm destined to be kissed."
Sheng Kuang let out a light laugh, leaning back lazily in his chair, adopting an attitude of utter compliance. "You kiss."
Lin Jing: "..."
Lin Jing pursed her lips expressionlessly, feeling that retreating now would be too cowardly.
She glanced around, seeing that no one in the restaurant was paying attention to them. Then, she reached out with her other hand, cupped his hands, and lowered her head to kiss his palm.
Sheng Kuang narrowed his eyes. "That's it?"
"..."
"That's it?"
Was he mocking her?
Lin Jing looked at the boy's long, slender fingers, a sudden impulse taking hold. She lowered her head and gently took one of his fingers into her mouth.
Sheng Kuang's body stiffened, his breathing momentarily ceasing.
Lin Jing, sensing his reaction, realized she might have gone too far. Instinctively, she parted her lips, her soft tongue brushing against his fingertip.
Lin Jing froze instantly.
Three seconds later, Lin Jing released Sheng Kuang's hand. "Um, I need to go through security."
...
It wasn't until Lin Jing was on the plane, sipping a glass of ice water offered by the flight attendant, that she finally calmed down.
With half an hour until takeoff, she took out her phone, wanting to send Sheng Kuang some words of comfort, only to find that he had already messaged her five minutes prior.
She hesitated for a long while before clicking into her Moments feed.
She discovered that an update from an emotional blogger she had shared months ago had been unearthed.
Her caption then had been: "I really want to be in a relationship where both sides are invested."
At three o'clock that morning, a reply had been added to this Moment.
Chen Jing: What's with the relationship?
Qin Yu: Congratulations, congratulations.
He Wang: Feels like a feast is coming.
Chen Jing: Holy crap? Dating? Who's dating whom?
No one answered Chen Jing.
After about two hundred messages, Chen Jing finally reacted belatedly.
Chen Jing: Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, Sheng Kuang, you're dating Lin Meimei?
Chen Jing posted a screenshot of Lin Jing's Moment.
Chen Jing: You're not just dating, you're kissing? To the point of weak knees?
Everyone else had already expressed their excitement; only Chen Jing was going wild in the group chat.
When the group chat finally quieted down, Lan Bowen, as the coach, chimed in.
Lan Bowen: Although we don't forbid dating, I still need to remind you that it cannot affect training and competitions.
Lan Bowen: @miracle, @Xiao Jing Jiang
These were the last messages in the group chat.
Lin Jing, with a blank expression, finished reading the chat history. She blinked, then blinked again, and typed a line of text.
Xiao Jing Jiang: Don't worry, I won't make Sheng Kuang’s legs weak.
miracle: ...
Lan Bowen: ...
Jiang Zui: ...
He Wang: ...
Chen Jing: 6666666
The screen full of ellipses, led by Chen Jing, instantly turned into a screen full of 66666.