Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Once, Ming Ge joked with Qin Si while drunk, cautioning him that his foul mouth might hinder him in pursuing a young girl in the future.

At the time, he scoffed and declared that he would never seek anyone's affection in his lifetime, let whoever love whoever.

Due to his childhood experiences, he never received warmth and didn't know how to interact with others to win their affection. He never felt the need for it. As a child, his only desire was to survive, to take revenge on those who had bullied and humiliated him. Now, as he grew older and his goals were in sight, he found his heart remained empty.

Like an apple rotten to the core, emanating a decomposing odor inside and out, he found himself repulsive, let alone being appealing to others.

Nobody would love him, and he always stubbornly believed that he didn't need anyone's love. Now, it seems, indeed, he wasn't the kind to win others' affections.

The confusion of adolescence enveloped him, with no one to guide him.

...But wait, whose affection did he want to win?

That inexplicable irritation surged again, making him too restless to stay here any longer.

Meanwhile, Zhao Tingyuan continued talking to Lu Nian in a tone that was lighthearted and affectionate, but not to the point of annoyance, "... being able to get along so well with Qin Si, you are quite impressive."

Qin Si was an excellent student and excelled in all aspects at his age. However, he was aloof, always keeping to himself, and maintained a distance from everyone, rarely showing any emotions.

Qin Si looked at him, his words chilly, "Where did you see that we get along well? Does acquaintance equate to a good relationship?"

He stood a bit further away from Lu Nian, shadows from the trees casting a deep gloom on his handsome face.

"Moreover, are we close acquaintances?" he asked.

The youth's words were cold and piercing, just like his gaze.

Zhao Tingyuan didn't know how to respond and stood awkwardly in place.

Lu Nian, "..." Qin Si had always spoken like this. When they first met, she had suffered a lot under his harsh words; he had even said worse things to her.

"I'm leaving," he said to Lu Nian, his tone still icy, "I need to get to work."

Lu Nian quickly packed her backpack and followed him. After a few steps, she turned back and apologized to the two, "I'm sorry, we were arguing just now, please don't take it to heart."

Zhao Tingyuan managed a smile, "It's fine, we don't mind."

Not until they had gone far did he give Su Qing You a wry smile, saying, "I don't even know what I did to offend her."

Su Qing You was fixated on the receding figures of the two individuals in the distance, suddenly recalling the time when this girl came to look for Qin Si in class during their primary school days.

She was well-aware of the relationship between these two, but Zhao Ting Yuan might not be. Most of Zhao family's businesses were located in other cities, and Zhao Ting Yuan had grown up in Hai City, only returning to An City in middle school. Therefore, it was not surprising that he was unfamiliar with the intricate relations and affairs within these affluent families.

Su Qingyao said, "He's just like that, somewhat temperamental, but it's understandable, considering he grew up without parents. A bit of eccentricity in his character is only natural."

Zhao Tingyuan was astonished, "Qin Si is an orphan?"

Su Qingyao nodded, proceeding to explain the relationship between the Lu family and Qin Si to Zhao Tingyuan in detail, with Zhao Tingyuan's eyes widening more and more as she went on.

The young mistress and the adopted poor boy?

However, compared to the other young mistresses he had met before, there was absolutely no trace of arrogance or a sense of superiority in Lu Nian.

Zhao Tingyuan remarked, "The first time I saw her, I felt a sense of familiarity, as if she reminded me of my younger brother."

Su Qingyao inquired, "Ya Yuan?"

Zhao Tingyuan nodded affirmatively, "In a year or two, he might join me here for studies."

Yet, owing to this vague familiarity, he developed a slight fondness for Lu Nian, unexpectedly discovering later that she was indeed the heiress of the prestigious Lu family in Ancheng.

As for Qin Si... their interaction did not resemble that kind of relationship at all. Instead, Lu Nian seemed to be the more understanding and considerate one between them.

Zhao Tingyuan found it perplexing, "Why is Lu Nian so kind to him?"

"Who knows?" replied Su Qingyao, with a shrug.

She muttered to herself, "However, this investment might not necessarily be without returns in the future."

For someone like Qin Si, kindness could be a much more potent force in taming him compared to violence. She believed, if a day came when Qin Si truly lost control, turning into a rabid dog, there would be only one person capable of taming him — the individual who had extended a helping hand and warmth during his vulnerable times.

Lu Nian could tell that he wasn't in a good mood.

"May I visit where you're currently living?" asked Lu Nian.

The young man responded stiffly, "I am living just fine, there's nothing to be concerned about."

The secondary school's campus was situated in the bustling city area; the two stood at a bustling intersection,

The weather was somewhat hot, and spotting an ice cream truck at the corner, Lu Nian swiftly ran over and returned with two ice creams in hand, "Want an ice cream?"

"No."

"Come on, have one," Lu Nian urged, holding out both of the ice creams she had brought back.

In the girl's fair and delicate hands, she held an ice cream scoop in each hand, the hot weather causing them to melt slightly, the drips already trickling onto her hands.

He remained silent but eventually accepted one.

After finishing his ice cream, his gaze fell on her left hand, which was now grimy from the ice cream drips.

Lu Nian hadn't finished hers yet. Seeing him extend a tissue, she subconsciously assumed he was offering to wipe her hand. She switched the ice cream to her other hand, nibbling it daintily.

The girl looked up and smiled sweetly at him, her soft, dark hair falling gently beside her tender cheeks, her face full of trust and reliance.

Once again, he found himself unable to control the warmth spreading across his face, hoping fervently that she hadn't noticed — until Lu Nian very naturally and logically extended her small hand in front of him.

She thought he was offering to help clean her up.

The boy froze mid-motion.

Without saying a word, his expression unreadable, he retrieved the tissue and placed it on the chair beside her.

Lu Nian, "…"

Yes, she suddenly recalled with a hint of disappointment.

Qin Si had always been like this, even reluctant to be near her, let alone be willing to touch her hand.

After finishing her ice cream, Lu Nian took out a tissue, wiping her hand herself. She stole a glance at him and muttered under her breath, "You really haven't changed at all."

"Still so unlovable," she grumbled very softly.

The heat behind the boy's ears gradually receded, and he scoffed coldly, "You've just realized who I am?"

He was just that kind of person, devoid of any qualities that might endear him to others.

Compared to him, there were many others who could and were willing to please her, such as Lu Yang, and then Zhao Tingyuan... Any one of them could do it, and were willing to.

She seemed to quite enjoy their company as well.

Why bother coming to see him?

"Alright, alright," Lu Nian hurriedly finished her ice cream, feeling that she had inadvertently ruffled his feathers again.

"So, can you take me to see where you're staying now?" she asked cheerfully.

The boy didn't respond, his expression obscured as he stood in the shade of a tree.

Ming Ge had started a side job, owning a bar that was doing pretty well. Qin Si was temporarily staying in the innermost room there.

"A bar?" Lu Nian mumbled to herself, intrigued.

She felt this wasn't a good place, and moreover, it seemed to harbor many individuals of odd shapes and peculiar personalities, the kind who might negatively influence Qin Si.

She inquired, “What sort of people usually come here? Are you familiar with them?”

The young man maintained a neutral expression, “A lot of people come here, all sorts, mostly for drinks or gatherings.” He didn't handle the specifics at this place; Ming Ge took care of that. His role was accounting and coordination. The young man showed great aptitude in this line, teaching himself programming and statistics over the past year.

Lu Nian asked curiously, “Does anyone invite you for a drink?”

Qin Si slightly pursed his lips, responding stiffly, “No.”

It was clear he didn't want to discuss too much about himself with her.

Qin Si’s room was on the second floor, in the most secluded part.

Just like when she used to enter his attic in the past, as Qin Si opened the door, Lu Nian naturally extended her hand to push it open, asking, "May I take a look inside?"

“No,” he suddenly seemed to remember something, blocking the doorway with his body.

His room was furnished simply; the most noticeable item was a box. Inside were the clothes and other gifts she had given him that winter, all clean and neatly folded, stored within the box.

He had never worn those clothes, and he had outgrown them a long time ago, unable to fit into them now.

They should have been discarded a long time ago, but perhaps he was not thinking clearly; not only did he not throw them away, he even preserved them. Just yesterday he had tidied them up but hadn't had the time to move the box, leaving it conspicuously in the center of the room.

Letting her see these now would be more embarrassing than killing him outright.

Lu Nian was now considerably shorter than him, and with his tall frame blocking the doorway, she couldn't get in, forcing her to retreat with a disappointed expression.

Under her clear and scrutinizing gaze, he felt a piercing discomfort, as if he was being harshly grilled over open flames, finding the situation extremely unbearable.

“You're so strange,” Lu Nian mumbled, “Did you hide something embarrassing in your room?”

The boy reacted as if he was a cat whose tail had been stepped on, bristling with a blend of embarrassment and anger, “Are you done looking?”

“Once you're done, leave,” he said coldly, “This isn't your home.”

Lu Nian held her tongue, but she seemed to be slightly reassured.

That night when she returned home, she suddenly remembered this incident and asked Miao Miao, “What do boys usually have in their rooms? Why can’t they let others see?”

Miao Miao giggled, “Of course he won't let you see. You're a girl, and boys his age all have their own secrets, they can be shy too.”

Shy?

That Qin Si, he could feel shy?

Lu Nian tried to imagine it, finding it both difficult to envision and somewhat amusing.

At times, she even felt that Qin Si had been stone-hearted since birth, always cold and distant. Could he actually experience such emotions?

He was growing up too, after all.

They are all growing up, day by day.

Hence, would he perhaps fall for a young lady in the future? If everything follows the right track, he won't transform into that cold, tyrannical, and gloomy demon king of the future.

Engulfed by these thoughts, Lu Nian gradually drifted into a dreamland.

Lu Nian’s high school life unfolded without much drama. She frequented the art studio to paint and had begun learning the violin. Her academic performance remained steady at school, oscillating between the top fifty to a hundred rank in her grade.

She often spotted Qin Si's name in the grade rankings, his grades were constantly improving, and his position climbed steadily. In a prestigious school like Ancheng High School, maintaining such performance virtually guarantees entrance into a top-tier university.

Lu Nian remembered that the original character, Lu Nian, died at fifteen, in her ninth-grade year, leaving just over a year left. It seemed that the original storyline didn't fully detail whether the demise was due to suicide or illness, leaving Lu Nian unsure.

Nowadays, Lu Nian has annual health check-ups. However, she keeps her apprehensions about the future to herself, silently awaiting the arrival of that foreboding day.

The girl, embracing her textbooks, walked through the hallway, her adolescent body beginning to develop, resembling a willow twig in spring, unfolding soft and tender curves seemingly overnight.

Author's note: Wait until I employ the passage of time technique, pff, the romance line will then follow.

Poor Si Si feels so aggrieved. Where is he not adorable? Little Si is the cutest innocent young boy. (Stern voice) (runs away laughing hysterically)