The Only Choice - 32

Zhou Fanfan thought Guan Yuanbai was a truly qualified partner.

When it came to maintaining their ‘couple’ facade in front of others, he was exceptionally thorough.

After the mother and children arrived at Nanjue, they settled into a Chinese restaurant there. They had barely arrived when Guan Yuanbai showed up shortly after, even bringing gifts.

A silk scarf for Fang Ting, and toys for Xiao Heng.

"My apologies, Auntie. The preparation was a bit rushed this time. I'm not yet familiar with your preferences," Guan Yuanbai said after taking his seat, addressing Fang Ting across the table.

Fang Ting was pleasantly surprised. "It's lovely, I really like it. It was my fault for being abrupt, inviting you out like this without giving you any notice."

Guan Yuanbai said, "It's no trouble at all. I happened to be nearby."

"So you're my sister's boyfriend!"Xiao Heng ignored the toys for now, his eyes fixed intently on Guan Yuanbai.

Guan Yuanbai smiled at him. "Yes."

Xiao Heng scrutinized him for a few moments with a serious expression."When did you meet my sister?"

He was so earnest, playing the adult quite convincingly.

Guan Yuanbai didn't brush him off."We met a few months ago."

"And you got together that quickly?"Xiao Heng looked at Zhou Fanfan. "Sis, isn't that a bit rash? Did you just go for his looks?"

Despite his young age, his words were surprisingly sharp, delivered with an overly cute mixed-race face that made it hard to get angry.

Zhou Fanfan couldn't help laughing and reached out to pinch his cheek. "Watch your mouth! Am I really that shallow?"

"You are! You just like good-looking people!" Xiao Heng stole another glance at Guan Yuanbai. "But... he is the best-looking one so far."

"Watch what you're saying!"

"Tsk, Big Brother bought you toys. Have you even said thank you?" Fang Ting patted his head helplessly and said to Guan Yuanbai, "Sorry, Yuanbai. He's been a bit wild since he was little, always saying whatever comes to mind."

"Not at all." Guan Yuanbai glanced at Zhou Fanfan. "After all, it was a compliment aimed at me."

Zhou Fanfan:"..."

Fang Ting smiled and shook her head, scolding Xiao Heng again, who then reluctantly muttered a "thank you" to Guan Yuanbai.

Guan Yuanbai smiled slightly. "You're welcome."

"Even though you bought me toys, you still have to treat my sister well in the future, okay? If you don't, I'll still beat you up."

"Pfft—"Zhou Fanfan stifled a laugh. "What movie did you pick that line up from? Thanks a lot."

Xiao Heng pouted."Sis, be quiet! I'm giving him instructions!"

"You even know how to 'instruct' people now..."

"Understood. Noted," Guan Yuanbai replied seriously instead.

Xiao Heng: "Really?"

"Really."Guan Yuanbai looked at Zhou Fanfan and said slowly, "I will definitely treat her very well."

The restaurant lighting was soft. His features were deep, with faint points of light reflected in his eyes. For a moment, it was hard to distinguish reality from pretense.

Zhou Fanfan's fingers curled slightly. She was momentarily captivated.

"What's wrong?" Perhaps the surprise in her eyes was too obvious, as Guan Yuanbai prompted her.

Zhou Fanfan quickly snapped out of it and joked, "Well... you can't go back on your word then. My little brother practices Taekwondo, you know. Right, Xiao Heng?"

Xiao Heng immediately struck a pose. "Yes!"

Both Fang Ting and Guan Yuanbai laughed. Zhou Fanfan rubbed her nose and chuckled along.

After lunch, Xiao Heng clamored to go play.

The Nanjue Hotel had a dedicated play area for guests with children, filled with various play equipment.

It was a good chance to walk off their meal, so they took Xiao Heng there.

"Mr. Guan, you'd be really good at acting if you ever tried it."

Fang Ting was walking ahead a little, holding Xiao Heng's hand, while Guan Yuanbai and Zhou Fanfan followed behind. Seeing the two ahead weren't paying attention, Zhou Fanfan spoke to Guan Yuanbai in a low voice.

Guan Yuanbai: "What do you mean?"

"Just now, when you said you would definitely treat me well... that look in your eyes was so convincing."

Guan Yuanbai's gaze deepened. He relaxed his hands in his pockets. "Is that so."

"Mm-hmm!"

"Hurry up, you two!" Xiao Heng turned back and waved at them.

Zhou Fanfan called back,"We're coming! Wait for us!"

Xiao Heng made a sound of acknowledgement, let go of Fang Ting's hand, and ran back. He inserted himself between the two, grabbing one hand from each. "Hold my hands and walk faster!"

Both Zhou Fanfan and Guan Yuanbai had their hands pulled forward. Zhou Fanfan said helplessly, "What's the rush?"

"I want to go play!"

"Alright, alright, we know."

Xiao Heng pulled them along for a bit. Although both adults had longer legs, they still weren't as fast as him running on his own.

"Never mind, I'm not waiting for you." Xiao Heng shook his head with great disdain, finding these adults far too slow. He then brought his two hands together, pulling the hands of Zhou Fanfan and Guan Yuanbai he was holding until they overlapped, before slipping his own out.

"You walk by yourselves—"

Neither Guan Yuanbai nor Zhou Fanfan had expected Xiao Heng to suddenly put their hands together. By the time they realized what happened, Guan Yuanbai's hand was already resting over Zhou Fanfan's.

The sensation was warm. Her skin was smooth and fine, yet the contact sent a jittery feeling, almost like a static shock.

They both froze for a moment, their first instinct being to pull away.

When they looked at each other again, there was a flash of unconcealed panic and surprise in their eyes.

Xiao Heng had just done it casually. Back abroad, he often did this with his mom and dad. The neighbor's brother did the same, holding hands with his girlfriend when they came over to play.

In his eyes, couples holding hands, or even kissing, weren't strange things at all.

So the way Guan Yuanbai and Zhou Fanfan quickly separated, as if electrocuted, actually made him pause for several seconds. He had been about to run off but stopped dead in his tracks.

"Huh?"

Zhou Fanfan stiffened and forced a dry laugh, looking at Xiao Heng. "What are you doing?"

Xiao Heng blinked his big eyes,looking between the two of them. "Don't you like holding hands?"

Fang Ting, a few steps ahead, also turned around. "What's wrong?"

Xiao Heng immediately announced loudly,"Mom! Sis and this Big Brother don't like holding hands!"

Zhou Fanfan: "..."

Fang Ting paused slightly, looking at the two with a hint of confusion.

The back of Zhou Fanfan's hand felt slightly numb. She covered it with her other hand, rubbing away the strange sensation. "You little rascal, what nonsense are you spouting..."

Xiao Heng: "But you pulled away so fast just now when I tried to make you hold hands! But aren't boyfriend and girlfriend supposed to hold hands? Braden told me you have to hold hands. He and his girlfriend are always stuck together when they walk. Why don't you two hold hands?"

Zhou Fanfan: "...Who's Braden?"

"The neighbor's brother! He's always like that when he brings his girlfriend over. Sis, why aren't you sticking close to your boyfriend?"

Zhou Fanfan's ears instantly felt warm. Out of the corner of her eye, she could feel Fang Ting's gaze still on them. She didn't want Fang Ting to suspect anything, but she was even less daring to grab Guan Yuanbai's hand.

"I..."

"Big Brother, if you won't hold hands, does that mean you don't like my sister?!"

Zhou Fanfan:"..."

Little demon, can you please just shut up!

"Who said we don't hold hands?" Suddenly, Guan Yuanbai reached over and took her hand in his.

Zhou Fanfan trembled slightly and instinctively tried to pull back, but he held on tighter.

His palm was warm and dry. That tingling, numbing sensation surged up again.

Zhou Fanfan looked at Guan Yuanbai in a fluster. He gave her a steadying look, then pulled her closer to his side by their joined hands.

"You just took us by surprise earlier, that's all," he explained to Xiao Heng.

Xiao Heng looked at them suspiciously. "Oh... so you do like my sister..."

"Of course."

Xiao Heng seemed somewhat reassured. "That's good then. I thought... Anyway, you have to hold my sister's hand tight! You have to cherish her."

Guan Yuanbai smiled faintly. "You're right. I understand."

"Xiao Heng, stop pestering your sister and Big Brother. Didn't you want to go play? Come here!" Fang Ting called.

Xiao Heng: "Okay! Coming!"

He trotted back to Fang Ting's side, though he kept glancing back at the two of them as he led her forward.

Silence.

An exceptionally heavy silence.

Walking side by side, it was so quiet they seemed able to hear each other's breathing.

Zhou Fanfan felt the hand holding Guan Yuanbai's beginning to sweat.

This feels so strange... I really want to pull my hand back... It probably wouldn't feel so tingly anymore.

Right now, that hand felt like it didn't belong to her!

"Your little brother is quite strict."

In the stillness, Guan Yuanbai finally spoke, breaking the awkward silence.

Zhou Fanfan gave an embarrassed smile. "That's just how he is... Um, if you feel uncomfortable, you can say you have something to do. You can leave first."

Guan Yuanbai glanced down at their interlocked hands, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "It's not uncomfortable. You help me out in front of my family, so it's only natural I do the same in front of yours."

Zhou Fanfan:"Uh... but the hand-holding..."

"Your palm is sweating. Are you that nervous?" he asked.

Zhou Fanfan let out a breath, her ears burning. She mumbled incoherently, "Maybe... it's been a long time since I held hands with a guy. I guess I am a bit nervous."

Guan Yuanbai was momentarily speechless. "..."

After a hesitant moment, Zhou Fanfan added, "Your palm seems a little sweaty too..."

Guan Yuanbai's expression turned blank."It's not me. It's all yours."

"Really?...Well, should I... wipe it off then?"

Zhou Fanfan pulled a tissue from her bag and waved it in front of Guan Yuanbai, signaling for him to let go.

Guan Yuanbai stopped walking and released her hand.

Freed, the nervous, tingling sensation vanished. Zhou Fanfan breathed a sigh of relief and wiped her hand with the tissue.

Strange... It's not like I've never held hands with a guy before... Ah, but holding hands with a handsome guy, especially one who slightly resembles Yiyi, is just different!

"Finished?" Guan Yuanbai looked down at her.

Zhou Fanfan:"...Yes."

Guan Yuanbai hummed in acknowledgment and extended his left hand, palm up, in front of her.

Zhou Fanfan froze, staring at his palm.

Guan Yuanbai said,"Put your hand here."

Zhou Fanfan:"...Do we still need to hold hands?"

Guan Yuanbai gestured subtly towards the little rascal walking ahead."Haven't you noticed he keeps looking back? Do you want to raise suspicion?"

"...No."

Zhou Fanfan cleared her throat. Although it felt very awkward, she still reached out and placed her hand, palm down, onto his.

Guan Yuanbai glanced at their pressed-together palms.

Her hand was really quite small...

If he closed his, he could completely envelop her hand in his.

A brief moment of contact. Neither moved.

"Sis! What kind of hand-holding game are you playing over there? Hurry up!" Xiao Heng, not far away, was hopping with impatience.

Zhou Fanfan immediately responded and moved her fingers slightly.

Fingers interlaced, clasped tightly, firmly locked together.

Zhou Fanfan's heart began to race wildly. That nervous, restless feeling surged back.

She took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and said, "Let's... let's go!"

Guan Yuanbai's thumb rubbed against hers in a small movement. His gaze fell on her reddening earlobe, and he nodded gently. "Mm.”

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