Chapter 17: Luo Xing's Request—She Wants Gu Shiyan to Be Her Boyfriend!

Gu Shiyan placed his hand over the ones circling his waist. "Let go first," he said, his voice as cool and indifferent as ever, though those who knew him well could hear the subtle warmth beneath it.

Luo Xing released her hold, but in the next moment, she grabbed Gu Shiyan’s right hand. There was a trace of blood at the web between his thumb and forefinger. "Does it hurt? This won’t do, you need to go to the hospital right away! What if it gets worse..."

"Not mine," Gu Shiyan clarified, his gaze resting on her fingers clutching his hand.

"Oh..." Relief washed over her face as her tense shoulders relaxed. Gently, she rubbed at the bloodstain on his skin with her soft fingertips.

Only after making sure the skin underneath was perfectly unscathed did she finally let go.

Gu Shiyan took in the entire sequence of her small actions.

He curled his fingers slightly, his thumb unconsciously stroking his palm, as if that gentle touch still lingered there.

"Luo Xing, you’re bleeding," Li Zhao noticed the cut on Luo Xing’s right arm.

Gu Shiyan seized Luo Xing’s hand, his gaze fixed on the wound before turning a stern look on her. "Why did you, a girl, follow us here?"

"I—I was just passing by," Luo Xing replied, her explanation unconvincing.

Gu Shiyan heard the obvious lie but didn’t expose her. The image of her chasing after him, calling his name in the rearview mirror, flashed through his mind. For her to have arrived so quickly, she must have taken a cab.

Yi Chuan took a bandage from his pocket and handed it to Gu Shiyan.

Gu Shiyan hesitated for a moment, then took it, unwrapped it, and pressed it onto Luo Xing’s wound.

One hand gripped her slender arm, the other applying the bandage.

His eyes were fixed intently on the cut, but his mind had already drifted far away.

That soft, fleeting touch at his thumb seemed to stir something strange deep inside him.

"This bandage—I’m going to keep it forever!" the girl exclaimed breathlessly, her excitement breaking through his wandering thoughts.

He glanced at Luo Xing out of the corner of his eye.

She wore a clean, bright white T-shirt, a pale yellow suspender dress with a hint of pure white lace peeking out at the hem, stopping just above her knees. The tips of her off-white shoes were smudged with dust. Despite being grown, she still carried a cartoon water bottle.

After finishing with the bandage, Gu Shiyan reached out and ruffled the bun atop her head.

"Hey! Don’t mess up my hair!" Luo Xing protested, quickly smoothing her style.

"Let’s go," Gu Shiyan said, glancing at the blinding sun beyond the alley. He patted Li Zhao’s shoulder. "You can ride my bike back."

Li Zhao thought the invitation to leave was meant for him, but when Gu Shiyan handed him the keys, he realized otherwise. "Aren’t you coming with us?"

Yi Chuan noticed Luo Xing standing beside Gu Shiyan, her gaze fixed on the humble bandage, and suddenly understood.

He tugged Li Zhao's collar and led him away.

Luo Xing watched them go, wiped the silly grin off her face, then waved at Gu Shiyan. "Bye-bye!"

Gu Shiyan lifted his hand, mimicking her gesture but didn’t move. He curled his four fingers, beckoning her closer.

Luo Xing obediently shuffled two steps forward. "Gu Shiyan, is there something you want to say to me?"

He parted his lips, then pointed at the fresh bandage on her arm. "Remember to change it."

Luo Xing’s smile widened as she nodded vigorously. "I will, but I won’t throw away the one you put on for me!"

"Let’s go," Gu Shiyan said, nodding toward the street.

Luo Xing walked a couple of steps, then turned to look back at him. "Bye-bye!"

Gu Shiyan chuckled softly. "To the right."

Luo Xing glanced right. "Oh, but my house is to the left."

He took her wrist and guided her rightward, pointing to an open pharmacy.

Seeing her still staring up at him in a daze, he led her inside.

He bought a bottle of iodine and a box of bandages.

Hooking the transparent bag with his finger, he handed it to her.

Luo Xing’s eyes sparkled as she pointed to herself. "You bought these for me?"

Gu Shiyan didn’t hand her the bag after all, just carried it himself. "Shall I walk you home?"

He expected Luo Xing to agree happily.

Instead, she shook her head. "No need. The sun’s blazing—what if you get heatstroke? I’ll call you a car."

She pulled out her phone, opening a ride-hailing app.

"Thank you for today," Gu Shiyan said. "Make a request."

He watched her intently as she lowered her gaze.

She looked up, meeting his eyes. The sunlight shone in her clear, bright gaze, her face glowing as if filtered, the tiny hairs on her cheeks catching the light.

"A request? Any request at all?"

Gu Shiyan glanced at the cartoon bottle she was gripping so tightly, the stickers nearly peeling off.

Suppressing a smile, he replied with a low hum.

No sooner had he given his answer than Luo Xing spun in place, then turned back to him with a crescent-eyed smile.

"Wait, wait, wait!" she exclaimed.

Without another word, Luo Xing grabbed his hand and dashed toward a quieter spot.

She bounded ahead, pulling him along.

Gu Shiyan glanced at their joined hands, easily matching her pace.

Wrapped in sunlight, they soon slipped into the shade.

Gu Shiyan, who rarely let his thoughts show, couldn’t help but wonder what Luo Xing had in mind.

His earlier words had, in fact, been a silent promise—whatever she asked, he would agree.

Luo Xing beamed at him, then released his hand and turned away.

Moments later, Gu Shiyan’s phone chimed.

He opened a message from Luo Xing:

[Luo Xing’s Request: Gu Shiyan, be my boyfriend! (big laugh)(rose)(rose)(rose)]

Gu Shiyan lowered his head and chuckled, tapping a single character in reply.

[Okay]

"Ah!" Luo Xing hurried back to him, stopping so close they nearly touched, then took a startled step back. "You—you really... agreed?"

Gu Shiyan looked away, one hand holding his phone at his side, the other in his pocket, his stance casual but upright, his height lending him an air of easy grace.

"Or else? Should I reject you?"

Luo Xing bounced with excitement. "No way!"

Her voice was thick with suppressed joy, delight shining unmistakably through.

At the entrance to her neighborhood, Gu Shiyan turned to leave.

Luo Xing hooked her finger around his. "Wait, Gu Shiyan."

He looked back as she reached into his pocket, retrieving his phone.

He raised an eyebrow—barely a couple minutes as a couple and she was already bold enough to touch his phone.

Luo Xing held up his lit screen. "Unlock it."

"What for?" he asked, tapping the screen.

"You’ll see," she replied, taking the unlocked phone, turning her back to him, and tapping away.

Standing behind her, Gu Shiyan—tall enough to see over her shoulder—watched as she changed her contact name in his phone to...

Little Star Baby?

His brows furrowed, but he didn’t stop her.

"Done!" Luo Xing handed the phone back.

She looked up at him, eyes curved into a bright smile.

"I have an eight a.m. class tomorrow. What do you want for breakfast? I’ll bring it for you, okay? Let’s sit together in class, all right? And lunch—shall we eat together at noon?"