Financial Independence through Cracked Apps-Chapter 87 - 86: Jiang Wan

5:00 PM, Fingertip Times DIY Crafts.

Lin Shen and Jiang Wan each finished making a DIY fluid bear. After the bears dried, a shop employee packaged them in exquisite little gift boxes.

They were an excellent choice, whether as a gift or to be placed on a nightstand at home.

"This day went by so fast."

Lin Shen remarked, stretching as they walked out the door.

"I don’t even care how much money we can make from visiting and reviewing these shops. Just getting to eat, drink, and have fun for free is pretty great."

"It is."

Jiang Wan held the gift box in front of her with both hands and looked at Lin Shen.

"Want to trade?"

"Are you sure?"

Lin Shen joked self-deprecatingly.

"Mine’s not very good-looking. It’s probably only useful for warding off evil."

"I think it looks great. Anything you make yourself is beautiful."

Smiling brightly, Jiang Wan took the gift bag from Lin Shen’s hands and passed him her own.

"It was my first time, too. Try not to hate it."

"Yours looks way better than mine."

Lin Shen chuckled, his gaze locked with Jiang Wan’s sparkling, beautiful eyes.

They say if a man and a woman look into each other’s eyes for more than three seconds, it’s love at first sight. More than seven seconds, and they can be together for life.

Lin Shen and Jiang Wan had already been staring for over ten seconds, and neither had looked away.

Dusk began to fall, and a gentle evening breeze stirred.

The sunlight cut between the buildings, turning the street into alternating squares of light and shadow.

At the mouth of the alley, Lin Shen was the first to finally break, stretching his neck to change the subject.

"Where should we eat tonight?"

"You want to eat again?"

Jiang Wan averted her gaze and chuckled, rubbing her stomach.

"I’m not hungry yet. Why don’t we just stroll around for the evening?"

"How about University Town, then?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Lin Shen suggested.

"Besides, it’s close to your place."

"Sure."

Jiang Wan tucked back a strand of hair that the wind had tousled. Gazing at the endless stream of cars gathering for the evening rush, she suddenly changed her mind.

"Let’s not go to University Town after all. I know a really nice place that also has those little food stalls you’ve been craving."

"Where?"

In response to Lin Shen’s question, Jiang Wan just gave him a playful wink.

"Just follow my directions and you’ll see."

*

*

「8:00 PM.」

「Pingjiang Park.」

For all the time he’d spent in Modu, this was Lin Shen’s first visit.

The park’s scenery wasn’t as beautiful as others, and it lacked a certain quiet, tranquil atmosphere.

It only had a ring of landscaping—flowers and trees—and a musical fountain in the center.

That was it.

However, as dusk fell, the area around the park suddenly filled with street vendor carts.

The Neon lights of their signs lit up the entire perimeter, instantly creating a vibrant, bustling atmosphere.

Combined with the troupes of aunties arriving with their speakers to square dance, Lin Shen felt as if he’d been transported back to a small town.

"I really recommend the grilled squid over there."

Jiang Wan pointed to a stall not far away.

"I came here with some colleagues before and tried it. It’s delicious."

"Then let’s give it a try."

At Jiang Wan’s recommendation, Lin Shen went up to the stall and ordered two skewers of squid from the owner.

The sizzling squid was dusted with chili powder and cumin, and a single bite filled his mouth with its fragrant, savory flavor.

"This is great!"

With his mouth still full, Lin Shen couldn’t help but mumble his praise.

"It’s delicious!"

"Of course it is."

Jiang Wan smiled smugly. Instead of digging into her own squid, she pointed to a nearby bench.

"Why don’t we go sit over there to eat?"

"Sounds good. Let me go buy a few more things."

Lin Shen bought some scallion pancakes and pan-fried pork buns. After watching a vendor freshly muddle two orange drinks, he led Jiang Wan to a bench.

A streetlight glowed dimly overhead, its halo filled with tiny, circling insects.

The nearby musical fountain sputtered sporadically. Several of the surrounding spotlights were burnt out, looking like they hadn’t been repaired in ages.

The setting wasn’t exactly comfortable, but Lin Shen suddenly felt his mind settle.

The stress of starting his business had kept his Spirit on edge for the past few days.

It wasn’t until he came to the park and spent some time here that his anxious heart finally began to calm.

’Besides, there’s a beautiful woman sitting right next to me. How could I not feel happy?!’

"Want some?"

Lin Shen held out the pan-fried buns to Jiang Wan. She took the container, picked one up with her chopsticks, and took a small bite.

But even with her caution, the soupy filling burst out, leaving a glistening sheen of oil on her already full, alluring lips.

"AH..."

It seemed Jiang Wan had burned her tongue. She cupped her left hand under her chin and frantically fanned her open mouth with her right.

Seeing her predicament, Lin Shen handed her the iced orange drink.

She stuck the straw in, took a long sip, and let out a sigh of relief.

"Thanks. You’re a lifesaver."

"You’re welcome."

Lin Shen smiled and changed the subject to her work.

"Your side hustle seems to be really taking off. Do you think you’ll ever quit your main job as a counselor?"

"Nope."

Jiang Wan answered firmly. Chewing on her straw, she gazed at the scattered stars in the night sky, as if she’d given his question serious thought before.

"No matter how well it does, a side hustle is still a side hustle. It’s not stable. It could stop being profitable any day. Besides, I really like my job as a counselor."

"Being around college students makes me feel younger, too."

"That’s true."

Lin Shen mused.

"It’s a great job. Must make it easy to find a boyfriend, too."

"Are you making fun of me for not having a boyfriend?"

Jiang Wan shot back, her eyes narrowing. Lin Shen quickly waved his hands in dismissal and chuckled.

"That’s not what I meant at all."

"It’s okay if you were. I don’t mind, you know."

Jiang Wan scooted closer to Lin Shen, and as she did, the fingers of her left hand ’accidentally’ brushed against the back of his right.

A jolt went through Lin Shen’s heart. He turned his head and found Jiang Wan watching him, a bright smile on her face.

"Enough about me. What about you? Have you thought about finding another girlfriend?"

"To be honest, relationships are exhausting."

Lin Shen let out a long sigh.

"I’m not really thinking about that right now."

"But if you were to, in the future..."

Perhaps because they’d broached such a critical topic, Jiang Wan grew a little nervous. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze darting away for a second before she stole a glance at Lin Shen. Under the dim streetlight, her lovely face glowed with a faint blush.

"Would you... consider me?"

?

Lin Shen froze. He turned to look Jiang Wan in the eye and saw her face tilted up toward his. Her long lashes fluttered as she blinked, her eyes full of anticipation.

This nervous, uncertain look made her seem like a completely different person from the calm, composed woman he was used to.

It was the first time Lin Shen had ever seen Jiang Wan like this, and ripples disturbed the calm surface of his heart.

"Of course."

This time, Lin Shen didn’t change the subject or try to deflect with a lame excuse. He met her honesty with a direct answer and a light chuckle.

"You’re so beautiful and kind. Having you as a girlfriend... I imagine that would make a man very happy."

"So that’s what you think of me..."

Jiang Wan looked down, a little bashful, her legs swinging back and forth as they dangled off the bench.

The quiet atmosphere gradually gave way to a charged, intimate silence.

Jiang Wan could hear her own heart pounding in her ears. Lin Shen’s words had confirmed it.

The feeling was mutual.

"So... when do you think you’ll be ready for a relationship?"

Jiang Wan looked at Lin Shen expectantly, her meaning perfectly clear.

The question left him at a loss for words; for a moment, he couldn’t seem to form a reply.

Seeing his hesitation, Jiang Wan must have felt she was being too pushy, because she quickly waved her hands.

"Hey... I was just asking. Don’t take it so seriously! Just go at your own pace. Focus on what’s in front of you."

"Thank you, Jiang Wan. I appreciate you understanding."

Seeing how considerate she was, Lin Shen felt a deep warmth spread through his chest.

He decided the time was right. He reached out with his right hand and took her left, which had been hovering near his own.

Her hand was exquisitely soft and smooth.

Compared to Qin Yuenan’s more slender fingers, Jiang Wan’s hand was softer, and more comfortable to hold.

’After making the comparison in his head, Lin Shen suddenly felt a wave of self-loathing.’

’He had become the very person he’d always despised.’

’But what did it matter?’

’As long as I treat each girl with sincerity, can I really be called a player?’

Lin Shen instantly came to a clear conclusion in his mind. Just then, Jiang Wan rested her head on his shoulder.

In an instant, he could hear the soft sound of her breathing, carrying with it the subtle, unique fragrance of a woman.

Lin Shen closed his eyes and inhaled gently, suddenly realizing that different types of women had distinctly different natural scents.

’Qin Yuenan’s was cool, like a snow orchid on a glacial plateau—at first, it seemed to keep others at a distance, but if you lingered, you could sense the tenderness hidden within the chill.’

’Jiang Wan, on the other hand, was like the lively, passionate scent of gardenia, exuding a natural, captivating Charm.’

’If he had to choose which he liked more... well, he quite liked them both.’

’After all, both women were exceptional in their own right.’

The Moonlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground with flecks of silver and making the atmosphere feel even more serene.

Lin Shen quietly savored the wonderful feeling of having Jiang Wan’s head on his shoulder, but it was clear she wasn’t content to just sit in silence.

"Oh, right."

Jiang Wan suddenly gave his hand a squeeze, turning her head to look at him with her captivating, expressive eyes.

"Want to kiss?"

Huh?

’So sudden?’

Jiang Wan’s abrupt question left Lin Shen a little stunned.

’The atmosphere was perfect, sure, but things weren’t moving *that* fast, were they?’

Seeing his hesitation, Jiang Wan smiled. She pouted her lips slightly, her soft words seeming to hold a Charm that could make one’s heart race.

"Don’t you want to see what my lips taste like?"

"..."

’Well, if you’re going to say that... then I won’t hold back.’

Having received Jiang Wan’s permission, Lin Shen didn’t say a word. He let his actions speak for his true feelings.

He leaned in and captured her luscious, waiting lips.