I'm a senior in high school, and the Emperor Development System has arrived!

Chapter 117 I really want to take you to Longhu Mountain and let the Celestial Master take a look at you.
Qin Xiao's mischievous smile almost overflowed from her narrow, single-eyelid eyes, and she deliberately dragged out her words:
"Wow~ Why are you calling her 'Nannan' so affectionately? When are you going to make an official announcement? So we ladies can get some sweet moments?"

Jiang Xia's cheeks instantly flushed red. She waved her hand hastily, her voice rising slightly:
"That's not true! Qin Xiao, don't listen to his nonsense! Chen Zhou, he... he was just joking!"

Chen Zhou reacted quickly, extending two fingers to precisely pinch the fabric at the back of Jiang Xia's school uniform collar.

Like picking up a disobedient kitten, you can easily pull her back to your side.

He sighed helplessly at Qin Xiao, his tone carrying just the right amount of distress:

"Sigh, don't even mention it. I accidentally offended this little devil this afternoon, and she's demanding that I bleed money to treat her to a meal as an apology!"

As he spoke, he gestured to Jiang Xia with his eyes to cooperate.

Qin Xiao's features are not particularly delicate, but he is cheerful and outgoing.

When she smiles, her single eyelids narrow into two crescent-shaped slits, exuding a carefree and cheerful vibe.

Seeing their "one willing to hit, one willing to be hit" stance, she waved her hand with a laugh and then uttered something surprising:

"Alright, alright! Go ahead! Wishing you both a long and happy marriage and many children!"

"Xiao-Xiao-!"

Qin Xiao ignored her, shaking his head vigorously, and muttered to himself:
"Sigh, this deskmate is hopeless. She values ​​romance over friendship! She heartlessly abandoned this lonely old man to go and be all lovey-dovey with her childhood sweetheart..."

That mournful tune sounded just like a discarded cabbage.

Watching Qin Xiao's retreating figure, Jiang Xia's pent-up embarrassment and anger instantly found an outlet.

She whirled around and unleashed a powerful, primordial-force Pegasus Meteor Fist, striking Chen Zhou precisely on the shoulder:
"Chen Zhou! I really should pack you up and send you to Longhu Mountain so that the Old Celestial Master can see if you've been possessed by some unclean spirit!"

"Ouch!"

Chen Zhou exaggeratedly rubbed the spot where he had been punched, but his face was full of smiles:
"Wow, Jiang Xia! You're growing at such a rapid pace, did you secretly take some kind of super-nutritious pill? Your attack power is skyrocketing!"

Jiang Xia sullenly crossed her arms, turned her head to the side, leaving only a huffy back of her head and slightly reddened ear tips visible:

"Isn't it all thanks to that certain 'master'? You become like the company you keep, it's all from you!"

Chen Zhou chuckled softly and caught Jiang Xia's small hand, which was hanging by her side and hadn't yet clenched into a fist, with remarkable precision.

"Okay, okay, it's my fault, it's my fault. If we don't leave now, there won't be any seats left at the shops near the school. How about we go for some pickled fish?"

Jiang Xia recoiled as if burned, his fingertips jerking back as if he'd been electrocuted.

However, Chen Zhou was prepared and tightened his grip on her slightly cool hand.

The blush on her earlobes quickly spread to her neck, her voice tinged with eager shyness:
"Why...why are you holding my hand! There are people coming and going in the school, let go! It would be bad if someone saw us..."

That being said, her symbolic struggle was so weak as to be negligible.

The two of them went into the small shop, whose signboard was almost blurred by cooking fumes, as if they knew the way inside.

The space is small, only enough to fit five or six tables.

The owner, wearing a greasy apron, looked up and immediately put on a familiar smile:

"Hey! What would you two like to eat?"

"Large portion of pickled fish!"

Chen Zhou responded loudly, and pulled the still somewhat hesitant Jiang Xia straight to their usual window seat.

The wait for the food to be served is always a bit boring.

Chen Zhou picked up the menu on the table:
"Would you like to add another serving of your favorite dry-fried potato slices?"

Jiang Xia couldn't help but lick her lips and whispered:
"Hmm... how about adding some wide rice noodles to the sauerkraut fish?"

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Zhou had already raised his head and shouted:

"Boss, I'll have sauerkraut fish with wide rice noodles! And a serving of dry-fried potato slices, please! Thank you!"

The menu was slammed back onto the table with a "thud".

Chen Zhou stood up nimbly, and casually and naturally took Jiang Xia's wrist:

"Let's go, before the fish is ready, let's get a milk tea, drunk, drunk, to cleanse our palates!"

The movements were so fluid, as if they had been rehearsed hundreds of times.

The gentle glow of the setting sun spilled onto the stone-paved sidewalk, lengthening the shadows of two people walking side by side.

The milk tea shops lining the school gate are mostly no-name brands with fancy names.

Chain brands like Gu Ming and CoCo are only available in shopping malls far away, and delivery services are not convenient to the school gate.

Therefore, "Yiya You," a small shop with affordable prices and decent taste, has become a favorite among students.

Order, pay, wait.

The movements are done in one go.

The two cups of milk tea were delivered very quickly.

Jiang Xia took his cup of mango pomelo sago, eagerly put the straw in his mouth, and took a big gulp.

The cool liquid, a blend of sweet mango and slightly sour grapefruit, slid down my throat, instantly soothing the heat in my heart.

She squinted her eyes contentedly and let out a small sigh:

"Phew—I'm alive! In this sweltering summer heat, this is a lifesaver!"

Chen Zhou, standing next to him, held the "Queen's Milk Green Tea" and took a careful sip, frowning as he did so.
"Hiss... What's this taste? Why is it bitter? Where's the queen I was promised? This is a total rip-off!"

Jiang Xia looked at his expression and couldn't help but laugh smugly:
"See? See? Smart people like me never try new products! Mango pomelo sago is the best! Classics never go out of style, don't you understand?"

She deliberately shook the tempting golden glass in her hand.

Chen Zhou exaggeratedly pursed his lips, his eyes glancing at the tempting-looking mango pomelo sago in Jiang Xia's hand:
"Tsk, miscalculation... This doesn't taste as good as yours."

Before he finished speaking, his hand had already reached out very "naturally" towards Jiangxia's mango pomelo sago, aiming directly at the straw.

"Think beautifully!"

Jiang Xia reacted extremely quickly, like a little animal guarding its food, and suddenly hid the milk tea behind her back.

"You ordered the poison yourself, you have to drink it even if you have to kneel! Don't even think about taking my mango pomelo sago! Besides, I've already drunk it!"

She tilted her little face up and deliberately held the milk tea high.

Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow, a sly glint in his eyes.

He suddenly leaned forward without warning, as if to pounce and grab!

"what!"

Jiang Xia gasped in fright and instinctively backed away to avoid the attack.

In a flash, Chen Zhou's left hand had already "smoothly" wrapped around her waist, stopping her from retreating.

At the same time, his right hand moved with lightning speed, steadily placing itself on the milk tea cup she was holding high.

Jiang Xia's body froze instantly, and he even held his breath:
"Chen...Chen Zhou! You..."

Just one bite! Just to taste it!

Chen Zhou's voice was low, with a roguish yet affectionate tone.

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly looked down, like a whale that hadn't eaten for days discovering a swarm of plankton, his cheeks puffing out—

"Glug! Glug! Glug!"

Thanks to her amazing lung capacity, after taking a sip, the golden liquid level of the mango pomelo sago pudding dropped by more than a third at a visible speed!

"you--!!!"

Jiang Xia finally snapped out of her shock, her cheeks instantly turning bright red. She was both ashamed and angry, and forcefully shoved Chen Zhou's shoulder, which was as solid as a wall.

"Robber! Bandit! Who told you to drink so much! One sip?! You call that one sip?! My mango pomelo sago! You bastard!!!"

Chen Zhou raised his head with satisfaction, looking at Jiang Xia's flustered appearance, and smiled like a cat that had successfully stolen some fish.

He reached out and very naturally ruffled the strands of hair on her head that had been ruffled by the wind:
"You're so stingy! What's wrong with me drinking your milk tea? It's no big deal..."

He waved the "Queen's Milk Green" in his hand:
"I'll treat you to this one? It's not very good, but it's a new drink, so why not give it a try?"

Jiang Xia protected Yangzhi Ganlu, glaring warily at Chen Zhou.

She glanced at the over-the-top milk tea with its flamboyant name, her eyes filled with undisguised disdain:

"Just hearing the name tells me it's a trap! 'Queen's Milk Green Tea'? Hmph, what a chuunibyou! I don't care! Besides..."

Her voice trailed off, carrying a hint of coquettishness she herself was unaware of:

"And...you've already drunk it!"

Chen Zhou shrugged, his face showing both innocence and a sense of entitlement:

"We're like family, aren't we? You've already had your mango pomelo sago dessert, haven't you? Do you think I'm disgusted by it?"

Jiang Xia's face flushed instantly, from her cheeks to her ears, even her small earlobes looked like ripe cherries.

She stomped her foot in embarrassment and annoyance:

"That...that's different! You...you're indirectly...indirectly...heartless! Absolutely heartless!"

In his haste, Jiang Xia stammered.

Chen Zhou deliberately feigned extreme surprise, his eyes widening:

"Wow! Jiang Xia, your taste... is a bit heavy! Foie gras is one thing, but you actually want to eat goose heart? That's quite a unique hobby!" "I'm not a straw boat! Don't shoot your arrows at me!"

Jiang Xia was both embarrassed and anxious, and glared at him fiercely.

Chen Zhou looked at her puffed-up face, helpless and exuding an air of "I'm angry but I won't say it," and couldn't help but smile.

He reached out again and, with remarkable naturalness, ruffled the top of her hair.
"Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore, or you'll really get angry."

This intimate gesture was so familiar, as if it had been done a thousand times.

Jiang Xia's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, but in the end, she did not dodge as she had before.

The two continued walking in the direction from which the aroma of pickled fish wafted.

Jiang Xia deliberately kept a "safe distance" of about half an arm's length from Chen Zhou, while sipping the remaining mango pomelo sago in small bites.

The setting sun cast a long shadow over her slender figure, and the evening breeze playfully ruffled the stray hairs on her forehead.

Chen Zhou suddenly quickened his pace by half a step, and with remarkable ease, reached out and precisely grasped her left hand, which was hanging at her side.

Jiang Xia froze, and almost reflexively tried to pull his hand back.

However, Chen Zhou's deep, smiling voice rang out from above at just the right moment, tinged with a hint of teasing:
"You said there were too many people and too much attention at school, but now we're two streets outside the school gates, is that alright?"

Or... are you afraid of me?

He deliberately dragged out the ending sound.

"Who...who's afraid of you!"

Jiang Xia retorted, sticking her neck out, and tried to pull her hand back forcefully, but he only held it tighter.

Taking advantage of the force, Chen Zhou gently pulled himself towards the other side.

Caught off guard, Jiang Xia staggered forward a half-step, and the distance between them instantly closed to the point where they could almost feel each other's warm breath.

"Then what are you hiding from?"

Chen Zhou tilted his head slightly and deliberately shook the two hands that were tightly clasped together.

"I remember... when we were little, we played house, and someone cried and begged to be the bride. What? Now that we're all grown up, you can't even hold hands?"

Jiang Xia abruptly turned her face away, her voice urgent and shy, with a thick nasal tone:
"That...that was when I was little! I didn't know any better! Now...now the situation is different! You...you should let go!"

She was so caught up in her embarrassment and anger that she didn't realize her fingers were unconsciously gripping his fingers in return.

Chen Zhou's smile was almost overflowing when he suddenly and without warning loosened his grip on her hand.

The sudden loss of warmth and the feeling of being enveloped in his palm left Jiang Xia feeling utterly empty.

It felt like I'd missed a step; a sense of bewilderment and a vague feeling of loss washed over me instantly.

She hadn't fully grasped what this sudden sense of emptiness meant.

The next second, a strong and powerful arm tightly wrapped around her waist!

Chen Zhou gently rested his chin on the top of her head, rubbing against her soft hair:
"Since holding hands doesn't work... then I'll just have to carry you. Is that alright?"

"Chen Zhou—!"

Jiang Xia was both ashamed and anxious, struggling futilely in his arms like a frightened rabbit.

Her voice had a noticeable tremor:
"Let me go! There are so many people watching in the street! I'm so embarrassed!"

"Then let them watch."

Chen Zhou tightened his grip on her arm.

Jiang Xia's face turned so red it looked like it could bleed, but her struggles grew weaker and weaker.

Finally, as if she had exhausted all her strength, she gave in with immense shame:

"...Then...then you should...hold my hand..."

The sound was so faint it was almost drowned out by the noise of the street.

Chen Zhou chuckled softly and released her arm as she wished, but the next second, he grabbed her hand again—

This time, it wasn't just a simple handshake; it was intertwining our fingers!

Jiang Xia exclaimed in surprise:

"No...that's not how you hold a hand!"

Chen Zhou turned his head, looking at her with an innocent and puzzled expression:
"Hmm? Not like this? Then how else can we hold hands? The textbooks don't teach any other positions. Teacher Jiang, can you teach me?"

He pretended to be stupid.

Jiang Xia's heart pounded like a drum under his gaze, and she was so embarrassed that she couldn't speak, so she could only lower her head.

This was Chen Zhou's first time...

Hold her hand in this way, with your fingers interlocked.

However, this feeling of excitement and shyness didn't last long, because from around the corner ahead came a familiar sound of laughter and chatter from the girls in the class!
Jiang Xia, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, suddenly raised his head.

They saw several familiar figures walking towards them, chatting and laughing!

She panicked instantly and, with almost all her might, pulled her hand out of Chen Zhou's iron-like grip:
"That classmate... is from our class..."

Chen Zhou couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at Jiang Xia's guilty expression.
"Tsk, it's just holding hands, why is it acting like we're secret agents meeting? Is this considered having an affair?"

As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed Jiang Xia's hand, which she hadn't had time to hide, and clasped it tightly again!
He even deliberately puffed out his chest, looking all righteous and open.

"What do you know!"

Jiang Xia stamped her feet in anxiety, her ears turning bright red as if they were about to burn, and her voice trembled with tears.

"If my classmates see this... I don't know what they'll say behind my back! Let go!"

She tried to twist her wrists in vain, but they were locked in place once again.

Unfortunately, her struggles and protests came too late.

Several girls had already approached, their eyes all falling on the two people's tightly intertwined fingers, their faces instantly filled with surprise and an "Oh~~~" of understanding.

The air seemed to freeze for a second.

Fortunately, the girls were sensible enough not to make a scene. They just exchanged knowing glances, smiled knowingly, and quickened their pace to walk past them.

But the barely suppressed low laughter and the frequent glances back were enough to say everything.

"It's over..."

Watching his classmates' departing figures, Jiang Xia sighed deeply, his voice filled with despair:

"My lifelong reputation... is completely ruined... I can't clear it even if I jump into the Yellow River..."

Chen Zhou was amused by her utterly dejected look, reached out and poked her puffed-up cheek, teasingly saying:
"Alright, Jiang Xia, you've been hanging out with me for so long, what kind of clean reputation do you still have?"

Jiang Xia suddenly raised her head, glaring at him with dead fish eyes that screamed "I give up," and said in a defiant, "What the hell?"

"...Okay. What you're saying... doesn't seem to make much of a difference."

The two returned to the sauerkraut fish restaurant, where the sauerkraut fish had already been served, steaming hot and fragrant.

Seeing the delicious food, Jiangxia regained her energy and picked up her chopsticks with sparkling eyes.

Let's get cooking!
As the two enjoyed their meal, the sky outside the window was quietly changing.

The orange-red sunset gradually dimmed, as if ink had been splashed on it by an invisible hand, and the edges of the clouds were tinged with a deep purple.

Chen Zhou wiped his mouth, looked at the sky, and said:

"You go to class first, I need to go to the track and field for training."

Jiang Xia leaned back in his chair, satisfied, and patted his round belly, saying:
"Keep it up, Chen Zhou. Don't let your skills falter and end up saying something like 'A heavy rain ruined my sports dream.'"

Chen Zhou wiped his sweat and said:
"Don't make fun of me. This is just a hobby, and I may not pursue this path in the college entrance exam."

Jiang Xia asked in surprise:

"Then why are you still practicing? You're already a senior in high school, bro!"

Chen Zhou shrugged and said:
"Trust me, no surprises, the college entrance exam is a piece of cake."

Jiang Xia said helplessly:
"Alright, alright, it's definitely Strong's spirit."

Chen Zhou said helplessly:
"What do you mean, 'strong bro'? Can't you learn some decent words?"

Jiang Xia turned his head and snorted:

"I call this a precise description!"

As she spoke, she glanced at the time in the store and asked:
"By the way, what time do you train tonight?"

Chen Zhou, who was training on the first night, also lost track of time. He recalled:

"6:30, right?"

Jiang Xia quickly pointed to the clock on the wall and said:

"No, bro, there are only two minutes left! It's not even enough time to get from the store to the school gate! You still need to get to the gymnasium..."

Chen Zhou also suddenly woke up and quickly got up to say to Jiang Xia:
"I'll go first then, drive carefully!"

With that, Chen Zhou sped off, running towards the track and field.

　Jiangxia's Little Theater has changed its writing style, making it more relatable to romance. I wonder if everyone is getting used to it?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)