Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The New Year was approaching quickly, and the Lu family had the tradition of paying homage to their ancestors before the celebration. The Lu family was extensive, and relatives within five degrees of kinship who hadn't moved too far from An City would participate. Due to Lu Zhihong's success, the Lu family estate was the liveliest place every year at this time, brightly lit and bustling day and night.

Lu Nian finally had a break. After being tormented by schoolwork for so long, she truly didn't want to see numbers again upon returning home. She only wished to lounge comfortably on her bed.

"Nian Nian," Lu Zhihong entered, impeccably dressed. "Get ready, your father will take you to meet some people shortly."

Lu Zhihong looked at his daughter with pride. She had clearly improved physically over this period. Though her weak constitution meant she was still smaller and paler than her peers, the positive trend brought great joy to Lu Zhihong.

"Meeting someone?"

"A few uncles and family acquaintances," Lu Zhihong said, "You haven't met them much earlier due to your frail health."

He directed to the maid standing nearby, "Get Nian Nian ready in ten minutes; I'll be waiting for her at the door."

Lu Nian lamented her predicament but before she could voice her grievances, at Lu Zhihong's command, the efficient maid swiftly extracted her from the bed. She changed into a skirt and coat, had her hair neatly brushed, and was promptly handed over to Lu Zhihong to be escorted to the hall.

"Is this Nian Nian? She has grown up to be so beautiful."

"She seems much healthier than before."

Following the stern-faced Lu Zhihong and He Tian, whose laughter made her uncomfortable, Lu Nian felt each second stretch like years.

Bombarded by a volley of flattering remarks, her head throbbed painfully. Being naturally adorable and the only daughter of Lu Zhihong, she found the exaggerated praises increasingly insufferable, leaving her ears feeling numb.

Finally finding an excuse to escape Lu Zhihong's side, she barely made a few steps before encountering Lu Yang's ecstatic face at the doorway, "Nian Nian!!"

Lu Yang had naturally come along with his family. Upon seeing Lu Nian at the door, he had to blink twice, having never seen her appear at such events before.

He chased her outside, incessantly chatting with her.

Lu Nian half-listened to his chatter, hastening her pace towards the exit, until she heard Lu Yang exclaim, "It's quite lively today, Nian Nian! It seems like everyone living in your house has gathered, hasn't they?"

Distracted, Lu Nian responded absent-mindedly, pondering that not everyone had come; someone was distinctly missing.

She suddenly thought of someone she hadn't seen in a long time, her gaze dimming slightly.

Since their falling out that day, she hadn't encountered Qin Si again.

On reflection, she sensed that Qin Si was deliberately distancing himself from her. Given their proximity and attending the same school, it seemed almost impossible to not bump into him, especially considering her active efforts to find him.

As Lu Yang continued his enthusiastic conversation, Lu Nian's mind wandered, her gaze fixating on the hem of his jacket—a stylish and evidently warm piece of clothing.

Her mind drifted back to her initial encounters with Qin Si, who was always adorned in a worn, dark-colored thin hoodie that seemed too old and short for him. Even in winter, he persisted in wearing thin clothes.

Qin Si, with his inherently good looks, would likely captivate many girls with his silent, profound eyes when he grew up. A little grooming, and he would certainly outshine Lu Yang.

However, she mused, any attempts to gift him clothes would undoubtedly be rejected, possibly inciting his anger.

Lost in her whirlpool of thoughts, they had already stepped out of the mansion's gates. "Nian Nian, where are you planning to go?" Lu Yang asked.

"I just need some fresh air," replied Lu Nian.

Frowning slightly, Lu Yang objected, "It's quite dark outside. I'll accompany you. Otherwise, we should inform Uncle Lu; he won't be comfortable with you going out alone."

Lu Nian, "..." The implication in Lu Yang's words was glaringly apparent.

If she resisted his company, he would notify Lu Zhihong, effectively barring both of them from leaving.

The Lu family's estate was expansive, meticulously designed by professionals. Currently, it was maintained by two full-time gardeners, ensuring that the greenery and flowerbeds were well taken care of. However, during the winter nights, the usual elegance was replaced by a certain eerie aura.

Lu Nian noticed a slight rustle among the tree branches, as if a shadow had flitted by. She stopped in her tracks, feeling somewhat curious, "Is there someone there?"

"Probably just a bird, there's no one there," Lu Yang replied, "If Nian Nian is scared, stay closer to your brother."

Lu Nian rolled her eyes where Lu Yang couldn't see, her response trailing into silence.

Lu Yang chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. Lu Nian's hair was well-taken care of lately, tied into a soft little bun. Touching it felt plush and pleasant.

Lu Nian deftly withdrew her head from his grasp, leaving no trace of her movement. Lu Nian disliked being touched by others casually.

Due to the incidents she encountered right after arriving here, her impression of Lu Yang had always been unfavorable. Now, she was genuinely annoyed and wanted nothing more than to shake him off swiftly.

Fortunately, the area was shrouded in darkness and her petite frame allowed her to seize a moment when Lu Yang was distracted to stealthily hide behind a low tree, before making a quick escape around the corner.

It was only after a while that Lu Yang realized that Lu Nian had disappeared. Although he didn't visit the Lu estate frequently, and was unfamiliar with this dimly lit area, he groped his way around, calling out Lu Nian's name as he went.

“Nian Nian?” He noticed a rustle in the branches ahead, seemingly caused by a child's footsteps.

Overjoyed, he hurried towards the sound. Unexpectedly, just as he stepped past the hedge, the ground beneath him gave way, causing him to stumble and fall heavily into a pool, sending a spray of water into the air.

It was one of the Lu family's fountain pools, which contained icy cold water even though the fountain was off for the winter. It wasn't deep, but Lu Yang's new clothes were thoroughly soaked, leaving him in a pitiful state, sneezing repeatedly.

Lu Nian hadn't expected to encounter Qin Si at this time. Due to the poor lighting, she squinted and moved closer to confirm that it was indeed him.

The boy seemed to have grown taller since they parted over a month ago. Under the night sky, his somewhat pale complexion made his starry eyes shine even brighter, radiant yet cold. His lips were pursed as he looked at her, seemingly in a bad mood.

She felt somewhat awkward and didn't know what to say, merely offering a greeting, although she felt her smile was stiff.

In her efforts to shake off Lu Yang, she had lost her way and was now trying to find the exit amidst the surroundings.

Without uttering a word, Qin Si suddenly turned and started walking away. Lu Nian stood transfixed, watching his retreating figure. After a few steps, sensing she hadn't followed, Qin Si halted, his expression unclear as he asked, "Coming or not?"

Lu Nian remained dazed, "Coming?"

Qin Si seemed somewhat irritated, "I'll take you back."

Lu Nian hesitated, "Would that be too much trouble for you?"

Qin Si replied coldly, "Do you know the way?"

Although Lu Nian was the rightful owner of the estate, she could count the number of times she had ventured out within its grounds throughout her life on her fingers.

Lu Nian, "...". She followed Qin Si, walking silently. As they approached the brightly lit main building of the Lu estate, a sudden apprehension gripped her, and she stopped, declaring, "I don't want to go back."

"They are so boring. If I go back, my father will keep taking me out to meet people," Lu Nian confessed resolutely, "I would rather remain ill as before, at least I wouldn't have to meet these strangers."

Qin Si remained silent.

"It's alright, I won't disturb you," Lu Nian said formally, "I will just stroll around nearby. Thank you for bringing me back."

After all, she knew that Qin Si disliked her, having stated previously that he didn't want to see her again.

She just wanted to assist Qin Si, without intruding into his life.

The boy remained silent, just as Lu Nian thought he had decided not to speak any longer.

His expression tense, he abruptly asked, seemingly out of nowhere, "Are you coming or not?"

Lu Nian, "Huh?"

It seemed like Qin Si was having second thoughts, turning to leave, he said, "Never mind."

Lu Nian exclaimed, "I heard that!"

She joyously followed Qin Si, embodying her characteristic openness - unable to hide her happiness or sorrow, and becoming particularly chatty when happy. She chattered incessantly, while the boy silently listened all the way, his thoughts unreadable.

The Xu family of three had gone to the main house of the Lu family to celebrate, so no one was home at the moment. It was pitch dark inside. Qin Si switched on the light and led her upstairs. With every step, his regret seemed to deepen, reaching a peak by the time they arrived at the attic door.

Lu Nian hadn't expected him to reside in such a place, finding herself somewhat stunned momentarily. Her large eyes widened, unblinkingly observing the exceptionally sparse interior. She recalled Zhang Qiuping mentioning otherwise; why had his room turned into this?

The boy quietly observed her, his pupils pitch black.

He remained silent, yet missed not a single subtle change in her facial expressions.

This was the first time in his life that he had brought someone home.

It was as if a young beast had retracted its claws for the first time, opening a small corner of its den to an outsider, cautiously observing and tentatively probing, ready to bare its fangs at any sign of threat.

But Lu Nian had already stepped inside. On the floor lay two cushions, one dark and the other beige. She made herself comfortable, unhesitatingly settling down on the beige cushion.

"This place is quite secluded, isn't it? Those people surely won't find me here," the girl said, her eyes sparkling. "My dad doesn't know about this place, does he?"

Qin Si remained stiff, unable to respond, never anticipating that this would be Lu Nian's first remark.

Lu Nian blinked her eyes, "Can I stay here for a while? But if you're unwilling... then I..."

Seeing Qin Si's uneasy expression, she had no choice but to reluctantly get up, her small mouth puckered in displeasure. She muttered, almost inaudibly, "You were the one who called me here in the first place..." She dared not let Qin Si hear these words, whispering them secretly.

Qin Si, "..."

A cold voice echoed from behind her, the boy's face taut, "I don't mind."

Lu Nian's eyes curved into a smile, "Then I'm staying." She looked around, realizing the surrounding space was quite limited.

Given their young age and small statures, they could sit comfortably for now. However, Qin Si, being a boy, would eventually grow taller; how could he continue to reside here then?

She hesitated for a moment, "The room my family assigned to you... it wasn't this one, was it?"

She had only heard about Qin Si's treatment at the Lu family previously, but witnessing it firsthand, the experience was countless times more profound than just hearing or seeing.

The boy's eyelashes fluttered slightly, he said coldly, "It is my own willing choice."

In the future, he would definitely move out, but not with her assistance. Qin Si did not want to use her to achieve any goals, nor did he need her pity.

That would torment him more than a direct death.

In the presence of Lu Nian, this emotion was particularly pronounced. Qin Si found himself increasingly irritable, becoming even less talkative than his usual reserved self.

Lu Nian, on the other hand, couldn't fathom what was going through his mind. Qin Si was exceedingly inscrutable, and she could only discern his reluctance to accept any help from her.

Silence enveloped the room until Lu Nian glanced around and noticed a box of jigsaw puzzles on the corner of Qin Si's desk.

"You have puzzles here too!" she exclaimed with joy.

Lu Nian had always enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, in both of her lives. When alone, she often assembled puzzles in her room. She had even contemplated joining the school's puzzle club once high school started, but unfortunately, she 'passed away' before that day arrived.

It was a very ordinary box with a rather mundane picture, "May I play with this?" she asked, seeking Qin Si's permission.

Qin Si replied, "As you wish."

After assembling a small portion, she struggled to fit two pieces together despite several attempts, finding herself stymied. She frowned at the pieces in her hand, thinking she must have been befuddled by the previous topic and Lu Zhihong.

The boy reached over her hand, selected another piece from the pile, and threw it in front of her.

It fit seamlessly.

Qin Si hadn't been watching her initially, engrossed in his book instead.

"Stupid," she read Qin Si's lips forming the word, but he didn't vocalize it. The boy kept his eyes down, masking his expression adeptly.

Lu Nian responded, "Oh."

So she was stupid, so what? In both her lives, she had never been particularly clever.

Qin Si remained silent. At this moment, Lu Nian sensed something different about him, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was, so she continued with her puzzle.

The two children sat side by side, the girl engrossed in her puzzle, her soft hair bathed in the gentle glow of the lamp, revealing her delicate peachy cheeks and soft fuzz clearly.

The boy, however, seemed rather uncomfortable, his expressions and movements betraying a certain stiffness and unease.

It wasn't until Lu Nian's neck started to ache from leaning over the puzzle that she shifted her gaze outside the window and exclaimed with joy, "Look, we're so close to my house! I think I can see the light in my room!"

The boy, who had been sitting cross-legged, suddenly stood up, briskly pulling the curtains shut, his swift movements causing a gust that scattered the pieces on the table. He gritted his teeth, "You're mistaken."

Lu Nian questioned, "Huh?" Can't be.

Noticing the boy's unusual demeanor, she shuffled closer to him while still seated on the cushion, asking with concern, "What's wrong?"

"Stay away from me," Qin Si's vehement retreat nearly frightened Lu Nian, she hadn't anticipated such a strong reaction from him, his tone verging on ferocious.

At this moment, Qin Si could only harbor deep regrets, regrets that seemed to multiply exponentially. In hindsight, he should never have asked her to come here. He retreated into the shadows, unwilling to let Lu Nian witness his current state, wanting nothing more than to distance himself from her as far as possible.

Then, he heard the girl's exhilarated voice, "Can I come back during the New Year?"

Author's note: How will you manage in the future with your heightened sensitivity, Si Si...

In the future, being teased by Nian Nian until he blushes and his heart races, ultimately unable to resist retaliating.

(PS: Saw some little angels asking in the comments, Nian Nian wasn't very old before entering the book, about to enter high school, roughly 14 or 15 years old.)