Chapter 19: Allergic to Romance 

Jiang Wanwan stood frozen at his words. How in the world did that translate to love? She tilted her head slightly and caught a glimpse of Shen Tingjun’s face out of the corner of her eye, and he actually looked a little moved.

Jiang Wanwan went completely still, unsure of how to react, while her mind screamed in panic. What in the world are you getting emotional about, big brother? Did I say some amazing sweet nothings? No! Get a grip! You’re going to make me think you’re some gullible idiot!

But Shen Tingjun couldn’t hear her thoughts. He pulled her into his arms and, instead of letting go, held her even tighter. “I love you, too.” He rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice full of affection. “Even though you use me, lie to me, always try to get rid of me, and act like a crab every day.”

Jiang Wanwan frowned. Was he not just insulting her?

“But I still love you, Wanwan.”

At the sound of that name, Jiang Wanwan’s eyes widened. She immediately pushed Shen Tingjun away. “What did you just call me?”

Shen Tingjun seemed confused. “Wanwan. What’s wrong?”

“You’ve always called me ‘Xiao Jiang.’ Why did you suddenly call me… Wanwan?”

Shen Tingjun smiled, a rare gentle expression on his face. “Everyone calls you ‘Xiao Jiang.’ Relatives and elders call you ‘Huiwan.’ I just wanted to find a name that was only for you and me. The moment I held you, I suddenly wanted to call you that. What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

Jiang Wanwan looked steadily at Shen Tingjun, a smile slowly spreading across her face. “I love it, I love it so much. But I prefer the ‘wan’ from ‘evening’ instead of the ‘wan’ from ‘gentle.'”

“Don’t they sound the same when you say them?”

“No. When you say the second one, it makes me feel like you love me a little more.”

“Then how about we get married after your birthday? I’ll call you that from morning to night.”

“…So, what’s the relationship between Sun Lao’er and Sun Laosan?”

“…”

In the end, Jiang Wanwan never found out what the relationship between Sun Lao’er and Sun Laosan was, but her relationship with Shen Tingjun became much closer. The name “Wanwan” seemed to be the secret code to getting through the game of winning over Jiang Wanwan. Their relationship finally transformed from a casual, transactional one into a proper romantic relationship filled with pink bubbles. Even though Jiang Wanwan popped every one of those pink bubbles the moment they appeared, it was definitely a real romance.

Actually, Jiang Wanwan never expected that she would be allergic to romance. Whenever the atmosphere became a little romantic, she felt goosebumps prickle all over her skin and couldn’t help but do something to break the awkwardness. As a result, their relationship progress was stuck in the early stages of romance, with no further advancements.

Shen Tingjun was also quite helpless about it. He never imagined that just when the two of them had finally expressed their feelings, they would hit another snag, and their relationship wouldn’t progress beyond holding hands. He couldn’t even complain to anyone about it. After all, some of the married people he knew hadn’t even held hands before their weddings.

Shen Tingjun wasn’t trying to do anything too outrageous before marriage, but a little romantic atmosphere was perfectly normal for a couple in love. But Jiang Wanwan just wouldn’t allow it.

For example, one day, Shen Tingjun took advantage of his family being out and brought her to his bedroom. He had it all planned out in his head: it was the first time a young woman her age had ever been in a man’s bedroom, so she would surely blush, her heart would race, and she would be flustered. At that point, they could hold hands, touch cheeks, and whisper sweet nothings, and their relationship would surely take a leap forward.

But reality was nothing like what he had imagined. Jiang Wanwan showed no shyness as she entered his bedroom. First, she marveled at the bathroom, then she gave a long, detailed review of his room’s decor. Finally, she stopped in front of his bookshelf, unable to move at the sight of the comic books.

And so, Jiang Wanwan spent the entire afternoon in his room reading comic books. She even tried to stuff a few into her bag on her way out.

As for Jiang Wanwan, she couldn’t be blamed. It was just that there were too few forms of entertainment in that era. Who would have thought that a girl who once hated studying would now be reduced to reading high school textbooks to pass the time? So when Jiang Wanwan, who was severely starved for intellectual nourishment, saw that shelf full of comic books, she felt like a parched land after a long drought and couldn’t see anything else.

When Shen Tingjun walked Jiang Wanwan home, he couldn’t help but tease her, seeing how she treasured the comic books.

“You like reading these things so much? I have a box of them under my bed, along with some novels, but those are banned books now, so you have to lock the door to read them. How about you and I get our marriage certificate right now? Then you can just live in my room and read as much as you want.”

He was only joking, but seeing the look on Jiang Wanwan’s face, he couldn’t laugh anymore. So, he wasn’t as charming as a box of comic books?

His ego bruised, Shen Tingjun went home and began to grittingly make a plan. He was determined that he would get the upper hand over her. It made no sense that the face that used to have her head over heels was now useless. So, as soon as Jiang Wanwan confirmed when she would return the books, Shen Tingjun went straight to the bathroom to take a shower.

“Why are you showering in the middle of the day?” And the front door is wide open downstairs. If some crazy woman walks in, this young man’s chastity will be in danger.

Jiang Wanwan grumbled to herself, placed the comic book she had finished on the desk, and pulled another book from the shelf.

“I was playing ball earlier and got all sweaty,” Shen Tingjun said as he came out of the bathroom. “I felt sticky, so I figured I’d take a quick rinse.”

Jiang Wanwan looked up just as she was about to remind him to lock his bedroom door when he showered in the future and to be a gentleman. But her eyes widened as she saw his bare torso. He was drying his hair as if she weren’t there.

Jiang Wanwan was rocking in her chair and was so startled by the sight that she couldn’t keep her balance. The chair and she tumbled to the floor.

Shen Tingjun, forgetting about his big reveal, rushed forward to help her up. But a dazed Jiang Wanwan looked up and found herself staring directly at Shen Tingjun’s chest. She watched as water droplets from his hair trickled down his neck, past his well-defined, muscular abs, and followed his waistline down, disappearing into the unseen depths of his lower abdomen.

“What were you doing? You’re bleeding from your nose! This is bad—you must have hit your head. We have to go to the hospital!” Shen Tingjun frowned, his face filled with anxiety. He grabbed a shirt to cover himself and was about to pick up Jiang Wanwan to take her to the hospital.

“No!” Jiang Wanwan quickly stopped him, but her panic only made her nosebleed worse. She had to tilt her head back and pinch her nose. “I’m fine! Put me down!” Jiang Wanwan said, her voice muffled, as she pushed Shen Tingjun with her free hand.

But her hand landed on his warm skin. She quickly recoiled once she realized what she was touching and could only push him away with her elbow, refusing to let him pick her up.

“You’re bleeding from your nose, and you’re saying you’re fine! Listen to me, we’re going to the hospital to get you checked out.”

Shen Tingjun was both angry and anxious. He regretted coming out shirtless just to get her attention, never thinking she’d have such a strong reaction that she’d fall over. The two of them were in a stalemate: one trying to pick her up and take her to the hospital, the other lying on the floor, stubbornly refusing.

The tense standoff continued until a woman’s piercing shriek was heard from the doorway, followed by an angry roar—

“What are you two doing?!”