Face-Slapping System

Janine's body stiffened slightly.

Her heart skipped a beat the moment Roland held her hand.

His hand felt warm and soft. It was hard to believe that it was the hand of man.

That was the first thing she noticed.

His hand was warm, steady, and strangely comforting, completely opposite to the chaos raging inside her chest as of this moment.

The trembling in her fingers gradually eased, her foot stepped on the brake gently, doing as she was told.

Only then did she realize that the speedometer had unknowingly climbed past a dangerous number.

If not for Roland's soft reminder, it would have become even more dangerous.

Her eyes widened slightly.

She immediately loosened her foot from the accelerator.

The deafening roar of the Ramborghini Sian softened as the car slowed down little by little, returning to a safer speed, before ultimately pulling on the roadside.

She parked the Ramborghini Sian and slowly calmed her emotions. It would be dangerous to continue forward with such tumultuous emotions after all.

"S-Sorry…" Janine whispered softly.

Her voice was so soft and quiet, Roland could barely hear it.

Fortunately, his senses have been improved multiple times.

She bit her lower lip lightly, still refusing to look at Roland directly.

She could not help but recall what she did earlier.

Although it was just a spur of the moment, she still felt like burying herself in a hole and disappearing from his sight.

The embarrassment from earlier only intensified after he held her hand.

And the worst part?

His hand still had not let go.

Janine's cheeks turned even redder.

The atmosphere inside the car became strangely warm, and yet at the same time chilly.

Janine could not describe what she was truly feeling as of this moment.

Roland glanced sideways at her flushed face before a helpless smile appeared on his lips.

"Look at me," he said seriously.

Janine refused to do so. Her eyes were glued to her own hands in the wheel, refusing to even budge an inch.

Roland sighed and removed his hand from hers.

Janine was taken aback. Although she did not show it, she actually liked his hand to be resting on hers.

Just as she was about out, she suddenly felt his warm and soft hand touching her chin.

With a little bit of force, her face was pulled sideways, finally allowing her to face Roland.

Her face immediately blushed as their eyes met. Her cheek turned rosy as she tried to look away out of embarrassment. Unfortunately for her, Roland did not allow her to do so and instead stared softly at her eyes.

'Cute.'

Roland honestly found her reaction amusing.

This was completely different from her usual self.

Right now, Janine looked more like a shy girl who had gotten caught doing something bold for the first time.

Well, she technically did that earlier.

And honestly… It was hard not to find that adorable.

The inside of the Ramborghini Sian became quiet once more.

However, this time, the silence no longer felt awkward. It instead carried a strange warmth, as the two soft gazes met with each other.

Roland reached out his other hand, intertwining it hers. Her soft hand was resting against her palms as kept his eyes locked on hers.

Her face remained slightly red.

No—

Very red.

Even the tips of her ears had turned crimson.

She could still feel the warmth of his hand clearly, on her chin, and on her hand.

Every second he continued holding her hand only made her heart beat faster and faster.

Her hair that has grown a bit longer complemented her pretty and small face.

Meanwhile, Roland simply stared at her beautiful face.

To be honest, if this was his view all day long, he would definitely not feel bored.

Roland did not pressure her. Did not ask unnecessary questions.

Allowing her to slowly get used to his warm touches.

He knew that this was crucial for Janine.

She had opened his heart to him, who was he to not reciprocate her feelings?

He simply stayed beside her calmly, gently rubbing his thumb against the back of her hand every now and then as if reassuring her.

That small action alone nearly destroyed the composure Janine worked so hard to maintain.

Because this was unfamiliar.

So unfamiliar.

Janine had always distanced herself from other men ever since she was a child.

There were a lot of times that she would get hit on while racing, but she would always tell them to shut up.

Amidst her shy personality was also something fierce hidden beneath.

However, getting nervous from the simple act of holding hands… This was a first to her. And she would only feel it if it was Roland.

With Roland she felt strangely not with herself. She would do things she would not do to other people… for example, kissing him in public all of a sudden.

She had not even imagined herself kissing someone before, much less do it so in public.

Her fingers tightened slightly around his hand unconsciously. Her eyes locked onto his, this time around, her gaze was firm, and not forced.

Roland noticed it immediately.

He turned his head slightly toward her.

"Still nervous?" he asked softly.

Janine's eyelashes trembled faintly.

"A little…"

Her voice sounded embarrassingly honest.

Roland smiled faintly.

"You know," he said gently, "you don't have to force yourself to act calm around me."

Janine froze slightly.

Those words struck deeper than she expected.

Because that was exactly what she had been doing this entire time.

Ever since what happened earlier, she had always tried to maintain her calm while he was sitting beside him. She always tried to mask what she was feeling with what seemed like calmness.

Yet somehow, with him, that composure crumbled apart little by little.

Especially today.

She still could not believe she actually made the first move earlier.

Thinking about it made her chest tighten in embarrassment again.

"I made things weird, didn't I?" Janine asked quietly after a long pause.

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A/N: Janine's character reference is now online. Kindly check it on the novel's main page.