Chapter 029 — Interlocking Fingers

If Shen Qingli hadn’t brought it up, Pei Songjiang would have almost forgotten—it was his birthday today.

He paused for a couple of seconds before replying,
“I had cake at lunch, so I didn’t get another one for tonight.”

While he said that, Pei Songjiang actually felt a bit guilty.

But Shen Qingli didn’t question him. She didn’t suspect a thing.

After all, who would think someone would even fake their birthday?

At that moment, Yang Qianyu returned with the cards. The eight of them gathered around the sofa, forming a circle. Yang Qianyu sat on Shen Qingli’s other side, excitedly placing the deck on the table and calling out,
“Come on, come on, draw a card!”

Old Seven finally liked a junior girl—of course they had to give it their all and help him chase her down!

After everyone had drawn a card, Yang Qianyu called out,
“Who has the A? Who drew an Ace? Show it!”

Everyone looked at their cards. Pei Songjiang flipped his over—it was a 2.

This was Shen Qingli’s first time playing a game like this. She turned her card over—it was the Ace of Spades!

Pei Songjiang raised an eyebrow and looked at Yang Qianyu.

Yang Qianyu gave him a wide-eyed innocent look, clearly saying, I didn’t rig anything! Must be fate!

Yang Qianyu brought over two small boxes and asked Shen Qingli,
“Alright, little junior, truth or dare?”

Shen Qingli hesitated for a moment, then said,
“Truth, I guess.”

The moment she answered, all the upperclassmen’s eyes lit up.
“Oho~ Truth, huh? You’re not allowed to back out now!”

Shen Qingli: “……”

One smiling upperclassman reached into the box labeled Truth and pulled out a slip of paper, handing it to Shen Qingli.
“Here, junior—open it and see your question.”

Shen Qingli took the paper and slowly unfolded it. Yang Qianyu leaned in and read it out loud:
“When was your first love?”

Everyone stared at her with eager curiosity.

Even Pei Songjiang tilted his head slightly, looking at her, unable to resist his curiosity.

Shen Qingli hesitated for a few seconds. If she was just counting this lifetime, then no—she hadn’t had a first love yet.

But if she factored in her past life, then she had started secretly liking Jiang Junwen when she entered A University at 18. They began dating when she was 19.

She hadn’t forgotten those memories. After such a disappointing and painful relationship, she could never return to that innocent, naïve state of her first love.

She gave an awkward smile and answered vaguely,
“Back when I was still in school.”

She didn’t say which level of school, so it was basically a non-answer.

The group looked at her, then all turned to Pei Songjiang.

His expression stiffened slightly, his gaze a little colder.

**”While still in school”—but when exactly?

Yang Qianyu cleared his throat and asked curiously,
“Junior, we just started the semester a month ago… so when you said ‘when you were in school’… you mean now? Who’s your boyfriend?”

Shen Qingli rolled the paper back up, put it back in the box, and said a little shyly,
“Senior, not this time I started school.”

Yang Qianyu: “…”

So it was high school puppy love?

A girl chimed in,
“Actually, I had a crush when I was just starting kindergarten. That counts as a first love too, right?”

Another guy shouted,
“If we’re counting that, then I had a crush at age three!”

Everyone: “……”

Hearing that, Pei Songjiang relaxed slightly.

Okay… that made a bit of sense too.

Yang Qianyu threw up his hands,
“Fine, fine, everyone’s had a first love, okay? Let’s keep going!”

In the second round, a senior girl drew the Ace. She chose dare, and Yang Qianyu loudly read the challenge:
“Pick someone and sit on their lap for five minutes!”

Everyone started yelling:
“Not me, not me! My knees can’t handle it!”
“Pick Old Yang! He’s strong!”

Yang Qianyu joined in, patting his thighs:
“Come on! I’ve been waiting for this! No one fight me for this honor!”

Everyone burst out laughing.

But the girl grimaced and said,
“Forget it, Senior Yang. I choose the sweet-smelling girl instead.”

Then she picked another girl.

The game continued, and this time, Pei Songjiang drew the Ace.

He revealed his card, gave a small smile, and said,
“I’ll choose dare.”

Yang Qianyu quickly handed him the box of challenges, sneaking him some very obvious glances.

Pei Songjiang: “…”

The hints were far too obvious. Pei Songjiang looked helpless.

He followed Yang Qianyu’s eye signal, picked a paper slip, opened it—and Yang Qianyu immediately took it and read aloud:
“Interlock fingers with the person to your right for ten minutes!”

The room erupted:
“Whoa! Old Seven, you lucky dog!”

The bulky guy to Pei Songjiang’s left hollered,
“Hey now, don’t scare the junior like that! Just hold my hand instead! It gets a little sweaty, sure, but that’s no big deal, right? Come on, Old Seven!”

As he reached over to grab Pei Songjiang’s hand, Pei swiftly shoved his hands into his pockets.

The guy grabbed at his arm anyway, trying to pull it out:
“Don’t be shy! I don’t mind—why should you?”

Pei Songjiang pulled back,
“Cut it out! I’m not holding your hand!”

Yang Qianyu stepped in, blocking the guy and saying,
“Follow the rules, people! Alright, little junior…”

He smiled at Shen Qingli,
“It’s just a game. You don’t mind, right?”

Watching their banter, Shen Qingli felt a little envious of their easy friendship.

She smiled a little awkwardly and shook her head,
“I don’t mind.”

Then, she even reached out her hand voluntarily, her eyes crinkling with a gentle smile as she looked at Pei Songjiang.

A faint red rose along the tips of Pei Songjiang’s ears. He kept his composure and said,
“Thank you.”

Then, his right hand clasped Shen Qingli’s left, and his long, slender fingers slid between hers, gently weaving through them.

The moment their fingers interlocked, Shen Qingli’s face instantly flushed bright red.

This was the first time she’d ever held hands with a boy like this.

It was an intimate gesture—usually reserved for lovers.

But even in her five-year relationship in her previous life, she and Jiang Junwen had never held hands like this.

The game went on, but Shen Qingli’s heart was racing. All her attention was focused on her left hand being held—her whole body felt stiff, and her face was burning.

Pei Songjiang, on the other hand, looked perfectly composed. But anyone who knew him well would’ve noticed his subtle stiffness and slower movements—he clearly wasn’t as calm as he looked.

Shen Qingli’s hand was small and soft, while Pei Songjiang’s was large and warm, his palm almost completely enveloping hers. The heat from his palm seemed to seep into her skin and spread through her whole body.

She was way too nervous.

The feeling was so… strange.

She subtly tried to pull her hand away.

But Pei Songjiang was holding on too tightly—she couldn’t get it loose.