A Day of Shopping and Surprises

They continued to wander through the mall for a while, until Lin Yi’s soles went completely numb. Only then did Chen Sishi finally decide it was time to stop.

Conveniently, there were several public benches nearby, perfect for a short rest.

As his feet left the ground, Lin Yi felt an unprecedented sensation of relief, a sweet ache.

Even when he had gone out with Lin Yiting before, he hadn’t walked for such a long time. He couldn’t understand why these girls never seemed to tire, no matter how far they walked.

After allowing his mind a brief respite, Lin Yi glanced at the time. It was already noon, and none of them had eaten lunch yet; they were likely famished after all that walking.

“Are you hungry?”

“Mmm… a little.”

“I’m alright…”

“Hey, Brother Lin, why don’t we check out the fifth floor? I recall there’s a restaurant area there, right?”

Li Yan’s suggestion instantly brightened the eyes of both girls.

“Oh, yes, yes!”

“I don’t mind.”

Both Chen Sishi and Bai Zhiyue readily agreed, leaving only Lin Yi without an opinion. Three pairs of eyes settled on him, and for a moment, Lin Yi was unsure whether he should consent or decline.

“Um… isn’t upstairs quite expensive?”

“It’s fine, I’ll treat this time too.”

“No, no! You treated us this morning, so it’s my turn now!”

Bai Zhiyue and Chen Sishi glared at each other, their small hands twitching, poised to erupt into another squabble. Lin Yi quickly stepped forward to intervene, feeling that if this continued, he would truly become a kept man.

This situation absolutely had to be reversed!

“Alright, alright, let me pay for this meal…”

“No!”

They spoke in unison, startling Lin Yi so much he instinctively recoiled. Yet, he reasoned, it wouldn’t do to let the girls pay for everything while they were out having fun.

“Hey, it’s fine, Brother Lin. Being a kept man isn’t so bad,” Li Yan chimed in.

“Get lost!”

Lin Yi shot Li Yan an exasperated glare before stepping forward and gently pulling the two young women apart.

“Alright, I’m paying for this meal.”

Chen Sishi glanced at Lin Yi, knowing his financial situation well. If he paid for this meal, he would likely be eating instant noodles for the rest of the month.

“Lin Yi, don’t try to be a hero. Let me handle it…”

“I said I’m paying, so I’m paying!”

His deep, youthful voice boomed between them. While Lin Yi’s voice wasn’t particularly pleasant, it carried a certain authority when he was serious.

Lin Yi quickly clamped his mouth shut, realizing he had instinctively raised his voice. ‘Chen Sishi wouldn’t have an episode, would she? No, surely not?’

As Lin Yi thought anxiously, he subtly cast a glance at Chen Sishi, only to see the girl’s face rapidly flush crimson.

His heart skipped a beat, and Lin Yi instinctively stepped back, putting distance between himself and Chen Sishi.

Lin Yi’s words replayed endlessly in Chen Sishi’s mind as she lightly bit her lower lip. His earlier demeanor had struck her like a powerful hammer, hitting her heart squarely. His domineering tone and captivating appearance held a strange magic, drawing Chen Sishi deeper and deeper. Her gaze, fixed on Lin Yi, was now brimming with adoration, her eyes practically sparkling with hearts.

“Ahem, I have no objections. Let Lin Yi pay.”

Seeing that Chen Sishi’s state was becoming somewhat concerning, Bai Zhiyue quickly stepped between them, then leaned in to whisper to Chen Sishi.

“Sishi, if you have another episode, you’ll scare him away. We’ll find a chance to tie him up and take him home later. Then you can have as many episodes as you like.”

Still lost in her fantasy, Chen Sishi was abruptly pulled back to reality by Bai Zhiyue. She composed her expression and nodded gravely.

The four of them took the escalator to the fifth floor, a vast space bustling with numerous shops. Perhaps due to the high prices, there were few patrons in the restaurants at that hour.

They casually picked a restaurant and ordered a few dishes. After eating their fill and paying the bill, Lin Yi winced at the amount displayed on his phone.

This outing had truly been a massive loss. Not only had he been on edge the entire time, but he’d also spent a considerable sum – enough for several days’ worth of meals!

Even after leaving the mall, Lin Yi couldn’t resist Chen Sishi and Bai Zhiyue’s persistent pleas. He ultimately agreed to go to a haunted house with them.

Li Yan seemed particularly enthusiastic about this idea. He immediately dashed to the roadside, waving down passing taxis without a moment’s hesitation.

Seeing this, Lin Yi quickly followed, unwilling to be left alone again.

Reaching Li Yan’s side, Lin Yi nudged his arm and asked.

“How far is it from here?”

Li Yan pondered for a moment, opened his phone’s map, and then calculated the distance in his head.

“It’s a bit of a distance. The drive to the haunted house will probably take about half an hour, or twenty minutes if traffic is light.”

Even as he spoke, a taxi pulled up to the curb. Lin Yi was about to open the front passenger door, but Li Yan beat him to it.

“Hey, Brother Lin, you and Sister-in-law can just take the back seat.”

With an impish grin, Li Yan dove into the car. *Thud!* The door slammed shut.

Lin Yi opened his mouth, wanting to protest, but no words came out. Seeing the two girls approaching from behind, he gritted his teeth and slid into the back.

This wasn’t the first time Li Yan had tricked him, and Lin Yi deeply regretted bringing him along. After silently cursing Li Yan’s entire ancestry, Lin Yi forced himself to calm down.

A familiar fragrance wafted into Lin Yi’s nostrils—Chen Sishi’s scent, one he knew all too well.

Chen Sishi settled naturally beside Lin Yi, her mesmerizing, watery blue eyes fixated on him.

Lin Yi dared not meet her gaze, fearing he would be pulled into their depths if he did. Once Bai Zhiyue got in, their bodies were pressed tightly together.

The girl’s skin felt incredibly soft and resilient to the touch. Coupled with the lace fabric Chen Sishi wore, it made the already alluring girl appear even more captivating.

Lin Yi instinctively leaned towards the car door; having been single for so long, this sudden intimate contact with a girl made him feel quite shy. However, Chen Sishi showed no mercy. The more Lin Yi tried to distance himself, the more she clung to him.

Even when Lin Yi had nowhere left to retreat, Chen Sishi continued to press closer. Her posture suggested she wanted to merge with him entirely.

The familiar scent lingered at his nose, the individual fragrances of Lin Yi and Chen Sishi mingling in that confined space. He could even detect the faint taste of her breath.

Lin Yi’s face alternated between crimson and pale. He had never experienced such a potent sensation in his life; Chen Sishi’s proximity had undeniably stirred him. Forcing down the throbbing in his chest, Lin Yi painstakingly turned his head away, finding some small measure of relief.

The taxi slowly started moving. Lin Yi desperately tried to focus his attention on the scenery outside the window. After a while, he found himself so thoroughly squeezed that he could barely tolerate it. With a sigh, he reluctantly patted the girl’s delicate shoulder and spoke softly.

“Sishi, it’s a bit cramped. Could you move over just a little? I’m getting warm, and I tend to get carsick when it’s too hot.”

“Oh, alright…”

Hearing his request, Chen Sishi symbolically shifted a fraction of an inch, allowing Lin Yi to finally breathe.

Barely had a moment passed when Lin Yi’s right hand was suddenly enveloped by a small, soft one. His amber eyes, wide with disbelief, darted to Chen Sishi beside him. Chen Sishi, however, feigned complete ignorance, tilting her head in an innocent, questioning manner.

“What’s wrong?”

Lin Yi choked, his face flushing crimson. As if sensing his shy reaction, Chen Sishi’s lips curved upward. Her delicate hand swiftly breached Lin Yi’s defenses, firmly entwining with his slightly rough palm.

Lin Yi felt utterly paralyzed. This was no ordinary hand-holding; Chen Sishi was forcefully interlacing her fingers with his, and, crucially, Lin Yi dared not make a move.

‘Help! A yandere girl is forcing me to hold hands with her! What should I do? Waiting online, it’s urgent!’