Chapter 143: The Worst Is When the Air Suddenly Falls Silent (Third Update!)

It was her. She had appeared!

A trace of cool warmth reached Yang Hao’s fingertips, and delight bloomed in his heart.

Savoring the strange sensation of that touch, Yang Hao suddenly seized the other person’s hand and clasped it tightly in his palm.

At the same time, Lin Zijin, who had just reached out to him, stiffened.

The next moment, their eyes met.

Just as Lin Zijin turned away shyly, Yang Hao’s next move left her completely flustered.

In an instant, he pulled her into his arms.

Lin Zijin was clearly caught entirely off guard by his sudden action. In her panic, she struggled faintly.

But Yang Hao did not let go.

On the contrary, he held her even tighter.

Feeling the warmth radiating from his chest, Lin Zijin suddenly fell silent.

A smile slowly touched the corners of her lips.

This feeling…

Closing her eyes, Lin Zijin pretended that nothing had happened and quietly savored this tender moment.

However, after a while, when she opened her eyes again, Yang Hao still had not made any other move.

He was still holding her tightly, refusing to let go.

But the two of them had already been standing there embracing for quite some time.

This was not a secluded place. People passing nearby cast curious and peculiar looks in their direction.

In an instant, Lin Zijin’s face flushed crimson.

It was the first time she had ever behaved so intimately with someone in front of so many people.

She was, after all, a young woman, and she no longer dared raise her head. She could only let Yang Hao hold her as he pleased.

“Mommy, Mommy, what are they doing?”

“They’re doing something naughty.”

“What kind of naughty thing? I want to do it too!”

“Don’t ask so many questions, or the big bad wolf will come and get you tonight.”

“But what exactly is this naughty thing?”

“Well… when you grow up, you’ll understand.”

“When will I be grown-up?”

“Stop asking questions. Hurry up and come along, or you’ll never grow up.”

“That’s scary…”

A mother and child’s conversation suddenly drifted past their ears. Only after it ended did Lin Zijin dare to secretly lift her head.

She watched the mother and child walk away, the blush on her face having already spread all the way to her ears.

Yang Hao had naturally heard the conversation as well, but he showed no reaction whatsoever.

At that point, even someone as slow to catch on as Lin Zijin could tell that he was doing it deliberately.

Feeling the odd looks from the people around them once again, Lin Zijin gave Yang Hao an annoyed slap on the back. A trace of embarrassment and irritation glimmered in her eyes.

Yang Hao still did not react.

With no other choice, Lin Zijin slapped him again, this time with considerably more force.

Yet Yang Hao remained unmoved. It seemed the fellow had become addicted to taking advantage of her.

Lin Zijin smiled.

This time, she held nothing back.

Since subtle hints were useless, she had no choice but to resort to other methods.

She swung her palm straight into Yang Hao’s back.

At that moment, a woman’s mercilessness was displayed to perfection.

Suddenly, Yang Hao let out a muffled grunt.

And yet—

To Lin Zijin’s astonishment, not only did Yang Hao fail to release her, he held her even tighter.

She cursed him silently in her heart, feeling utterly helpless.

But after seeing that her previous tactic had failed, Lin Zijin gave a cold laugh.

The next instant, her hand quietly moved to Yang Hao’s waist. She extended two fingers and gently pinched a certain spot.

Yang Hao was startled and seemed to realize that something was wrong.

Unfortunately, by then, it was already too late.

“Hiss—”

As Lin Zijin completed a full one-hundred-and-eighty-degree twist, Yang Hao sucked in a sharp breath.

A howl of agony rang out.

The two people who had been locked in a tight embrace instantly sprang apart.

The commotion attracted even more attention from the surrounding onlookers, who had already been watching them with considerable interest.

Yang Hao had no time to care about that.

Lin Zijin, however, lowered her head shyly once more.

Feeling the lingering pain in his waist, Yang Hao looked up at Lin Zijin, a shiver of fear running through him.

Women!

This technique was practically a talent unique to women, something they were born knowing.

Who would have thought that the usually aloof Lin Zijin had already mastered this supreme art to such perfection?

With the least amount of effort, she could inflict the greatest possible pain. This technique truly was terrifying.

What frightened Yang Hao even more was that, judging from Lin Zijin’s performance just now, she seemed quite capable of carrying this formidable art forward and making it even more powerful.

If that happened, it would be nothing short of a disaster for Yang Hao.

“What are you looking at?”

Facing Yang Hao’s gaze, Lin Zijin, who felt slightly guilty inside, put on a calm expression and challenged him.

“Nothing. I was just wondering when you learned that remarkable technique you used just now,” Yang Hao asked helplessly.

At his question, a flicker of embarrassment crossed Lin Zijin’s face. She then raised her brows and smiled.

“I taught myself.”

Seeing Yang Hao’s miserable expression, a hint of amusement quietly surfaced in Lin Zijin’s eyes.

She then extended her hand and vaguely gestured toward him, repeating the same motion she had made earlier.

Yang Hao saw it all. The corner of his eye twitched, and his entire heart went cold.

Utterly, thoroughly chilled.

It seemed that women truly were not to be offended.

Still, considering how long he had held her just now, Yang Hao felt that it had been worth it.

More importantly, Lin Zijin had not resisted him at all.

As for what happened at the end… that could simply be ignored.

A smile returned to Yang Hao’s face, and Lin Zijin rolled her eyes at him in exasperation.

That fleeting expression of feminine charm left Yang Hao staring blankly. He nearly lost control of himself.

Just then, a voice suddenly came from a loudspeaker overhead.

“Dear customers, good afternoon. We interrupt our regular announcements to issue a missing-person notice. A young woman surnamed Lin has become separated from her companions somewhere inside the supermarket. She is in her early twenties, approximately one hundred and seventy-two centimeters tall, and is wearing a white dress and white flat shoes. If anyone has seen this young woman, please notify a member of staff immediately.”

“In addition, if the young woman in question can hear this announcement, please make your way to Section B of the snack aisle. Your boyfriend is waiting for you there.”

“We repeat: we now interrupt our regular announcements to issue a missing-person notice. A young woman surnamed Lin…”

The announcement did not end after being delivered once. Instead, it was repeated.

At the same time, the moment Yang Hao heard it, he was completely dumbfounded.

This…

Good grief…

What were the odds?

It could have happened earlier or later, but no—it had to happen right now.

Almost simultaneously, Yang Hao raised his head and found himself meeting Lin Zijin’s utterly astonished gaze.

Their eyes locked, and a subtle tension filled the air.