Chapter Twenty-Four: The Date

“I’m here. Where are you?” Mo Nianian called, glancing around as she spoke. The biting cold reddened her cheeks, and she hunched her neck deeper into her coat.

“Turn around, big sister,” came a voice from her phone—overlapping perfectly with the one behind her. Mo Nianian turned. Standing just behind her was Jiang Hu, holding out a bouquet of flowers.

They were a riot of colors, beautiful in their exuberance.

“These are for you,” Jiang Hu said with an obedient smile.

Mo Nianian wasn’t particularly fond of flowers, but when they came from this little cub, their meaning was entirely different. Her eyes brightened. “What made you think of giving me flowers all of a sudden?”

“Because I want to give you the best. If everyone else has them, so should you.”

Mo Nianian looked around. Indeed, many girls on the street were holding bouquets.

It dawned on her then—it was Christmas Eve. No wonder the little cub had invited her out to celebrate. Christmas Eve, as she recalled, was a family holiday abroad. She was comforted that Jiang Hu hadn’t forgotten his “aunt.”

Hugging the flowers, Mo Nianian’s eyes curved with delight. “Thank you, I really like them.”

In that moment, it was hard to say which was more dazzling—the flowers or the girl.

A deeper color flickered in Jiang Hu’s eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed. He curled his fingertips several times, tamping down the wild thumping of his heart.

Mo Nianian hadn’t been out for days and hadn’t expected such a sudden drop in temperature. Shivering, she asked, “Where are we going?”

Truthfully, she didn’t want to go anywhere—she just wanted to go home and lie down. But she couldn’t bear to turn down the cub’s invitation.

Ah, she was still too kind. Look at all she’d done for this child’s well-being.

Suddenly, she felt a weight settle on her shoulders, enveloping her in warmth. She looked up, startled.

Jiang Hu had taken off his coat and draped it over her. Now, he stood in only a thin black sweater.

“What are you doing? If you catch a cold, no one will take care of you,” Mo Nianian scolded, handing the coat back.

“I’m not cold. I’m strong and healthy. You’re the one who should take care,” Jiang Hu replied, putting the coat around her shoulders again.

He wrapped her up snugly. Seeing Mo Nianian swaddled in his clothes, a gleam of joy shone in his eyes.

His sister, wearing his coat, carrying his scent—what a delightful sight.

Mo Nianian was completely bundled up in his coat. Jiang Hu had grown so much—now a full head taller than her. His coat covered her completely.

All she could smell was Jiang Hu—a faint fragrance of the same laundry detergent she used, mingled with an indescribable scent all his own.

“Are you sure you’re not cold?” Mo Nianian raised her eyebrows at him.

Could it be that young men all had such fiery energy? Just looking at him made her shiver twice more.

Jiang Hu was about to say he really wasn’t cold, but changed his mind at the last second. “It’s fine, big sister. I can handle it. No matter what, I can’t let anything happen to you.”

His eyes sparkled—he all but wore his mission to protect her on his sleeve.

“Well, all right then.” Mo Nianian never knew the meaning of embarrassment. Now that she was warm, she finally had leisure to appreciate the scenery.

In celebration of Christmas Eve and Christmas, the street was adorned with festive decorations, a scene of pure joy.

Mo Nianian took it all in with curiosity as they walked along, but her enthusiasm faded quickly. Soon, she was bored. “Where are we going next?”

“You don’t want to walk around anymore?” Jiang Hu sounded disappointed—this was their first date, after all.

“Not exactly…”

Mo Nianian finally noticed the cub’s cheeks, flushed red from the cold.

“Are you sure you’re not cold?”

“Maybe a little, but it’s fine.” Jiang Hu’s smile brimmed with warmth, tenderness almost overflowing from his gaze.

Mo Nianian reached out to touch his face. The coldness made her gasp. She looked at him with admiration. “Forget it, you’d better put your coat back on. If you get sick, I’ll have to look after you, and that’s just a hassle.”

Jiang Hu hesitated for show, then his eyes lit up. “Big sister, I’ve thought of a solution.”

He opened his coat and wrapped them both inside. “See? Now neither of us is cold.”

Suddenly pressed close to him, Mo Nianian froze for several seconds. For a moment, it seemed perfectly reasonable.

The system watching this scene could hardly bear to look. How could its host not see through such an obvious flirting tactic? This wasn’t just being dense—she had no nerves at all.

“No,” Mo Nianian refused solemnly.

Both Jiang Hu and the system tensed.

“If we do this, we won’t be able to walk,” she said, face serious and sincere.

Jiang Hu and the system both let out a breath, not sure whether to be grateful for or lament her obliviousness.

Jiang Hu reluctantly pulled away. “Then… you wear it. I’m fine.”

No sooner had he spoken than a shudder went through him, and a sneeze escaped.

“Put it on, look at you, you’re frozen stiff,” Mo Nianian insisted.

“No, you’re cold. I’m fine.”

“Miss Mo?” Someone stopped beside them. As Mo Nianian turned to look, Jiang Hu took the chance to drape the coat back over her.

Officer Liu happened to be passing by. Seeing the pair, he paused to greet them. “What are you two doing?”

“Officer Liu, what a coincidence,” Mo Nianian replied.

Jiang Hu turned, shooting Officer Liu a hostile glare. He pulled the coat more snugly around Mo Nianian, one hand possessively resting on her shoulder.

“Big sister, don’t catch cold,” he said, casting a provocative glance at Officer Liu.

Officer Liu smiled lightly, his eyes landing on the bouquet in her arms, a knowing look flickering there. “So, where are you two headed?”

“Just wandering around,” Jiang Hu replied coldly. If he could, he’d have shielded Mo Nianian completely from the man’s view.

Jiang Hu’s hostility was obvious, and Officer Liu, no fool, noticed it at once.

He raised his brows, deliberately asking, “Forgive me for asking, but the flowers—?”

“These? Jiang Hu gave them to me. Why?”

Officer Liu’s eyes grew more teasing. “Oh, nothing. Just curious—they’re quite nice.”

Jiang Hu’s hostility only intensified; he looked ready to drag Mo Nianian away.

Officer Liu took his time, adding, “Forgive one more question—you two aren’t related, are you?”

“Of course not. You know that, don’t you?” Mo Nianian replied. After all, he’d handled their case; he should be well aware.

“Just making sure,” Officer Liu said, undisturbed by Jiang Hu’s murderous glare. “Well, I’ll be off then—otherwise…”

He shook his head with a smile, taking his leave.