Financial Independence through Cracked Apps-Chapter 88 - 87: The Park

The night grew darker.

Pingjiang Park was split into two distinctly different scenes by the musical fountain plaza at its center.

To the north was the clamor and lively bustle of the city, where brilliant lights mingled with the dynamic music of plaza dancers, creating a vibrant atmosphere full of life.

The south, however, was dense with trees, quiet and dim. The only few streetlights there flickered on and off.

In this deep quiet, two figures sat on a bench, intimately embraced, their lips pressed tightly together.

Jiang Wan’s cheeks were faintly flushed. Her eyes were closed, and her arms were wrapped around Lin Shen’s neck, as if she were afraid he might run away.

This was the first time he’d realized that girls with different personalities reacted to kissing in completely different ways.

Perhaps because it was her first time, Qin Yuenan had been rather passive. It had taken a long period of sweet flirtation before she slowly adapted to Lin Shen’s advances.

Of course, that awkward reaction was completely gone by the second time. It was clear her stiffness and uncertainty were just due to a lack of experience.

Jiang Wan, on the other hand, was proactive and passionate from the very beginning, like a tantalizing flame, offering up the purest enthusiasm for kissing from the bottom of her heart.

Even though it also seemed to be her first time, and she didn’t know anything, she found the right way to kiss under Lin Shen’s skillful guidance.

But that didn’t diminish her love for kissing in the slightest.

It was Lin Shen’s first time feeling a girl nibbling at his lips. He’d even parted his teeth, only to have Jiang Wan turn the tables and initiate a deep, French kiss where she took the lead.

Lin Shen was a little stunned. He opened his eyes slightly and saw Jiang Wan’s enchanting face, lost in the kiss.

Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing heavy.

She was clearly even more absorbed in it than Lin Shen was.

’So Senior Jiang Wan has this kind of contradictory side to her?’

As his heart pounded, a few new ideas suddenly sparked in Lin Shen’s mind.

In his impression, Jiang Wan was supposed to be a classic beauty of the gentle and virtuous type. Paired with her "big" sisterly figure, it was easy to think of her as a kind, magnanimous, and gentle girl.

But who would have thought she’d be so forward when it came to kissing?

And it was very likely her first kiss, too!

Lin Shen suddenly recalled a rumor he’d often seen online: girls who like to chew on straws or nibble on people are usually quite lustful.

His gaze drifted down and fell on the hand-squeezed orange juice Jiang Wan had set aside. Sure enough, he saw that the top of the straw was covered in a dense pattern of teeth marks.

’Could that rumor actually be true?’

Because Lin Shen was realizing that Jiang Wan’s passionate attitude could no longer be described as merely "proactive." It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it "frenzied."

But as a man, he couldn’t lose face.

So, Lin Shen’s right hand moved to wrap around Jiang Wan’s waist. The soft feel was very different from Qin Yuenan’s firm, toned abs and slender waist.

.....

Lin Shen considered himself a man with strong self-control, but under such extreme temptation, the string he’d been keeping pulled taut in his mind suddenly snapped.

Just as he was about to let go and become more unrestrained, Jiang Wan seemed to sense the increased force in his hand, and her previously passionate kiss suddenly became more hesitant.

Then, they broke the kiss.

Jiang Wan’s beautiful eyes were hazy, and her pretty face was still flushed an unnatural crimson as she seemed to be coming to her senses from the enchanting and romantic atmosphere of their kiss.

Gradually, her pounding heart returned to normal. Then, she licked her moist, red lips, crossed her arms, and shot Lin Shen a shy, reproachful glance.

"We were just kissing..."

"Sorry."

Lin Shen gave an awkward, apologetic smile and offered the same excuse he had used with Qin Yuenan.

"I didn’t do it on purpose. It’s like a guy’s ’factory settings’ from birth. Our hands just instinctively grab onto something when we kiss, otherwise our bodies might get unsteady."

"You think I’d believe you?"

Jiang Wan huffed, clearly not buying Lin Shen’s explanation.

Just then, illuminated by the Moonlight and the streetlights, she could vaguely see a sheen on Lin Shen’s lips, which were also covered in lipstick and faint bite marks.

They looked just like the gnaw marks of a rodent.

Jiang Wan blinked, her face instantly turning bright red with shame. She quickly pulled a wet wipe from her bag and began to clean Lin Shen’s lips, filled with guilt.

’Did I really go that wild?!’

’How could I have nibbled on Lin Shen that much?’

’Was I really that into it just now?’

"I can get it myself."

Lin Shen took the wet wipe from Jiang Wan and teased her as he wiped his mouth.

"Senior, I’m not sure I can handle your enthusiasm."

"You were the one who seduced me first, okay?"

Jiang Wan, who was usually so reasonable, couldn’t help but retort playfully.

"You’re the one who created such a nice atmosphere. I just couldn’t hold back for a moment..."

’Was it me?’

Lin Shen couldn’t help but roast her in his head.

’You were the one who suggested coming to this plaza, you were the one who led me to this deserted bench, and you were the one who kept getting closer to me, weren’t you?!’

’How did I end up being the main culprit?’

Lin Shen suddenly felt like he’d walked into a trap.

From start to finish, Jiang Wan had been orchestrating everything, guiding them step by step toward the final destination of a kiss.

Sure enough, beneath the gentle exterior of an older sister was a mischievous and playful heart.

Lin Shen felt he couldn’t lose the initiative, so he squeezed Jiang Wan’s hand again and chuckled.

"So, Senior... want to continue?"

"Next time."

Jiang Wan smiled and squeezed Lin Shen’s hand back.

"We’ve been out all day. You must be tired. Go home and get some rest."

"So when is ’next time’?"

"Well..."

Seeing the anticipation filling Lin Shen’s eyes, Jiang Wan tilted her head back and pretended to think for a moment. Then, she leaned in and whispered softly in his ear.

"How about during the interview tomorrow? Not only will I let you kiss me, but you can also unlock one part of my body to do with as you please."

Upon hearing this, Lin Shen’s eyes instantly lit up, and his gaze instinctively drifted down to Jiang Wan’s chest.

It was such a fiery gaze that it was impossible to ignore.

However, Jiang Wan didn’t seem to mind Lin Shen’s brazen stare. On the contrary, she deliberately puffed out her chest, as if she were hinting at something.

But then she blinked her beautiful eyes and smiled like a little devil.

"Of course, it’s not the place you’re hoping for. It’s my legs."

"Aww~!"

"What ’aww’? Are my legs not good enough for you?"

Jiang Wan reached out and poked Lin Shen’s forehead. She shot his disappointed face a look before chuckling.

"You have to understand, this is like a video game. You have to perform well to unlock the next part."

"So you’re saying... if I can beat the final boss..."

Lin Shen’s smile was full of playful mischief. Jiang Wan clearly understood the meaning behind his expression, and she glared at him with a look of shy annoyance.

"That depends on your performance."

"So you’re saying there’s a chance?"

Lin Shen suddenly leaned closer, his deep eyes shimmering with unparalleled anticipation.

"What counts as a good performance?"

"I haven’t decided yet. I’ll tell you the next time we go out."

"Fine."

Having gotten Jiang Wan’s promise, Lin Shen couldn’t help but stretch. The joy of a fruitful harvest made the corners of his mouth curl up.

Tonight, he had not only kissed Jiang Wan, but he even had the chance to develop things further!

This was great.

"Let’s go."

After getting up from the bench, Lin Shen very gentlemanly extended his right hand to Jiang Wan. As he helped her up, he couldn’t help but ask curiously.

"By the way, Senior Jiang Wan, can I ask you something a bit personal?"

?

Jiang Wan tilted her head. Seeing the somewhat conflicted look on Lin Shen’s face, the clever girl instantly understood what he was about to ask.

"It was my first time."

Jiang Wan covered her mouth and whispered softly in Lin Shen’s ear.

"Don’t laugh, but that was my first kiss. So I was a little clumsy. Sorry about that."

"It was actually fine."

Lin Shen suddenly felt much more cheerful. He touched the corner of his mouth and gave a wry smile.

"I just hope you use your teeth less next time, Senior."

"But doesn’t everyone online say that kissing is just ’eating mouth’?"

"That doesn’t mean you should actually try to eat it!"

...

The two left the park hand in hand, and Lin Shen walked Jiang Wan home.

After she went upstairs, Xu Lu, who was already home from work, immediately sprang up from the sofa, eager to interrogate her.

"Wanwan, you’re back! How was the date?"

"It was great."

"How far did you get with Lin Shen?"

Xu Lu shook her head with a bit of regret.

"I thought you weren’t coming home tonight. Looks like you haven’t gotten to the final step yet."

"What is going on in that head of yours all day?"

Jiang Wan poked Xu Lu’s forehead. Her feigned anger suddenly broke as she couldn’t contain her inner joy, and she let out a PFFT of laughter.

"But we did kiss."

"You kissed? That’s great progress!"

A mix of surprise and concern appeared on Xu Lu’s face.

"But isn’t that a little too fast? After all, this is only your second time meeting, right?"

"Third time."

Jiang Wan gave Xu Lu a speechless look.

"A minute ago you were hoping I wouldn’t come home tonight, and now you’re complaining that it’s too fast?"

"I’m just worried about you."

Xu Lu voiced her concerns.

"Lin Shen is great in every way, there’s no doubt about that. But the more outstanding a guy is, the more likely he is to be a scumbag!"

"Especially since he’s been through a failed relationship! You have to be on your guard."

"Don’t worry about that."

"Okay, good."

Seeing that Jiang Wan had taken her advice to heart, Xu Lu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she was confident she could keep Lin Shen from straying.

But then Jiang Wan suddenly changed her tune and said with a confident smile.

"I’m confident I can defeat all my rivals."