Han Ning covered her ears, looking a little aggrieved.
What was that for? He could've just told her to leave, why yell so loud out of nowhere?
After sending away a few street punks, Fang Yi resumed teaching Han Ning how to keep her balance.
The roller skates available now were the double-row type—much easier to learn than the single-row skates popular in later years.
So it didn't take long for Han Ning to stand steadily without clinging to the railing.
But she still didn't dare to actually skate. She could only shuffle forward in tiny steps, her speed comparable to a snail.
Seeing this, Fang Yi reached out his hand with a light chuckle. "You won't make much progress like that. Come on, I'll guide you around the rink a few times."
Han Ning hesitated briefly before placing her small hand into his.
Her hand was soft, smooth, and delicate—Fang Yi gave it a gentle squeeze and said, "Just follow my lead, don't move too much on your own."
"I got it," Han Ning nodded, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Ready? Step with your right foot first. Keep your movements small..."
Holding her hand, Fang Yi slowly led Han Ning around the rink.
Once she got used to the rhythm, he gradually increased the speed.
"Fang Yi... isn't this getting a bit too fast?"
Feeling herself picking up speed, Han Ning began to panic. She was worried she might fall at any moment.
Fang Yi smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I've got you."
Something about the confidence in his smile calmed her down. Her nerves eased, and she began to fully enjoy the moment.
Sometimes, the right date location made all the difference—it could be half the success in one go.
Take now for example: Fang Yi got to steal some touches, made progress in the relationship, and even earned a bit of Han Ning's trust.
And trust, more often than not, came from the accumulation of small moments like these—subtle and unnoticeable.
Why did Zhao Wanqiu always follow his lead without hesitation? It was because of trust built up since childhood.
...
The two of them skated in the rink for over two hours.
For Fang Yi, those hours were incredibly fruitful—he practically got his fill just from "accidental" touches.
It was summer after all, and everyone dressed lightly.
Han Ning was a beginner, so naturally there were plenty of opportunities to hold and steady her.
After they returned the skates and got the deposit refunded, Han Ning looked up at him with a glimmer of hope. "Fang Yi, will you bring me here again next time?"
"Of course!"
Fang Yi raised an eyebrow and agreed instantly.
Was she kidding? With an offer like this, there was no way he'd say no.
"Come on, let's head back to the second floor."
As he spoke, he naturally took Han Ning's hand again.
This time, she didn't resist at all. Her expression remained calm, as if she'd already gotten used to it.
They rode the elevator back to the second floor, but instead of heading straight to the phone shop, Fang Yi brought her to a rest stop nearby and bought two cups of milk tea.
Back then, milk tea was still a rare treat.
In the whole city of Jiang Town, the only place selling it was this very mall.
It was Han Ning's first time trying it. After taking a sip, she wrinkled her tiny nose. "It's so sweet!"
Fang Yi thought it tasted pretty good—actually better than the milk tea in the future.
And it made sense. In later years, milk tea was mostly made from artificial powders, while the ones now were hand-brewed with real ingredients—genuine black tea and fresh milk.
With warm milk tea in hand and fingers still interlocked, the two of them wandered aimlessly around the mall.
They strolled until nearly 4 PM before heading back to the phone shop.
"Thanks!"
Fang Yi thanked the clerk as he received his laptop and phone. He was about to turn and leave when the cashier girl suddenly asked, "Sir, do you have a SIM card? If not, you can purchase one here."
Oh, right. He'd completely forgotten about that.
No wonder she agreed so easily to store his things—turns out she was waiting for the real business.
"Sure, I'll take two."
As soon as he agreed, the girl began eagerly promoting all kinds of pricing packages.
Fang Yi picked two plans at random and topped up each with 500 yuan.
At this time, people often said that while they could afford to buy refrigerators and air conditioners, they couldn't afford to use them. But in reality, the thing they really couldn't afford to use... was a mobile phone.
Communication fees were outrageously high—both incoming and outgoing calls were charged.
Even the cheapest monthly plan started at 50 yuan.
This situation didn't really improve until the rise of Xiaolingtong phones and the launch of telecom cards.
Thinking of Xiaolingtong, Fang Yi couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.
That thing raked in profits like Legend of Mir, but unfortunately, the PHS technology had already been acquired by Xu Fuxin and Wu Ying a couple years ago. They were probably already preparing it for the market.
If he'd been reborn just a few years earlier, he absolutely wouldn't have missed out on that goldmine.
While his thoughts wandered, he and Han Ning had unknowingly walked out of the building.
"Fang Yi, thank you. I had a really great time today!"
Han Ning cupped her milk tea in both hands, blinking her big eyes at him.
Fang Yi gave her a warm smile. "As long as you're happy."
"Oh, right. What's your number? I'll save it." she asked, taking out her phone.
After saving his number, Han Ning bit her lip and hesitated, clearly wanting to ask something.
Fang Yi noticed and tilted his head. "What's wrong?"
She fidgeted for a moment before finally speaking up. "Um... that other phone you bought... who is it for?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, her cheeks flushed red and she quickly lowered her head.
She knew she was being a bit nosy, but if she didn't ask, it would eat her up inside.
Fang Yi looked her up and down, his smile growing wider.
Not bad. Looks like she was finally slipping into the girlfriend role—already showing signs of jealousy. That's definitely progress.
He didn't hide anything and explained openly, "It's Qiu-ge's birthday soon. I bought it early as a gift for her."
Hearing that, Han Ning instantly felt a lot better.
"Oh..."
She nodded, then said softly, "Fang Yi, I'll head home now."
"Be safe on the road."
Fang Yi watched as she got into a red Xiali taxi, then turned around and walked toward the nearby electronics mall.