Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Her place?

Before the young man could respond, Lu Nian promptly sent an explanation, "Usually, there is no need to book in advance, but unexpectedly the school art studio is in high demand today, fully booked... so we can only go to my house."

Qin Si is someone with a strong sense of time and is generally busy. Typically, he has everything scheduled in advance, and she fears that changing the time might result in him not coming.

She typed anxiously, "If it's not possible, are you free tomorrow?"

After a considerable while, the response came, "Whatever."

Lu Nian, "?"

Qin Si, "..."

He had no choice but to complete the sentence, "Go wherever."

Lu Nian, "Alright, I'll wait for you tonight."

There was no further reply from the other end, but Lu Nian knew that it was probably a sign of agreement.

This was an unexpected development. She stared at her phone screen, a faint smile finally blossoming on her lips. Tian Yue at her side tugged her sleeve a few times, whispering her name, "Nian Nian, Nian Nian..."

It turned out the teacher had called on her to read the text aloud.

Lu Nian quickly stood up and read through the assigned section. Due to the issues involving Lu Zhihong and Zhao Yayuan, she had been somewhat distracted and lacking sleep recently.

Fortunately, she didn't make any blunders. Moreover, Lu Nian usually adhered to rules and was perceived as a well-behaved and diligent student by her teachers, not someone who required close monitoring. Hence, her distracted demeanor and phone usage during class went unnoticed.

Lu Nian exhaled a sigh of relief, sat down, and returned her phone to her backpack.

Tian Yue leaned in, whispering, "Who are you texting with, you seem so joyful?"

Lu Nian, "..." She found herself at a loss for words when trying to describe her relationship with Qin Si.

"A boy?"

Lu Nian nodded.

Tian Yue probed further, "Boyfriend?"

Lu Nian shook her head resolutely.

She just couldn't associate Qin Si with the term "boyfriend". They had known each other for so long, and logically speaking, Qin Si had always been disdainful of her since their childhood. Lu Nian was well aware of this and naturally wouldn't indulge in such wishful thinking.

Since entering high school, there had been quite a number of boys chasing after her, but that didn't mean Lu Nian perceived Qin Si as one of them. In the end, she couldn't even envision what Qin Si would look like pursuing a girl.

Lu Nian usually traveled to and from school in the Lu family's car, often accompanied by Lu Yang.

Lu Nian texted him, "You don't have to come over today; I plan to grab a bite outside with a friend and will take public transportation home."

Lu Yang responded, "Friend? Which friend, Gu Ya Yan or Tian Yue?"

Lu Nian, "... No, not them."

She brushed him off with a few perfunctory sentences and added Lu Yang to her Do Not Disturb list, finding peace in his temporary absence from her sight and mind.

Lu Yang's oversight over her daily life was meticulous, encompassing every little detail. Even when Lu Nian chose not to share certain things, he seemed to have other ways of finding out.

She suspected this scrutiny was instigated by Lu Zhihong. At school, she had Lu Yang keeping a close eye on her, and at home, she was under the constant watch of the household staff led by Zhang Qiuping.

Lu Nian felt like she was living in a tightly woven net, sometimes finding it suffocating, unable to breathe freely.

Lu Nian joined the throng of students leaving school, and sure enough, she spotted Qin Si at the school gate.

The young man was tall and slender, his white middle school uniform seeming exceptionally good-looking on him, making him quite noticeable in the crowd. He didn't greet her when he saw her, but he paused in his steps.

It seemed like a very long time since she had last walked home with Qin Si.

Lu Nian asked, "Shall we have dinner together tonight?" After dining, they could head back to the Lu residence together.

Qin Si did not object.

Lu Nian suggested, "Let's just find a casual eatery along the street then!"

Since they were pressed for time and not intentionally dining out, they eventually settled for a humble roadside noodle house.

Over the years as the young mistress of the Lu family, Lu Nian had been accustomed to meals prepared by personal chefs at home, and occasional dining out only happened at star-rated restaurants. It had indeed been a long time since she visited such a common roadside establishment.

Yet, she didn't mind it at all.

Perhaps it was due to the excessive suppression she had experienced recently, but now, free from the omnipresent surveillance, she felt an unparalleled sense of relaxation, unable to suppress the smiles gracing her face.

The pair ordered two bowls of the quickest signature beef noodles the restaurant had to offer.

Finally, the dishes arrived. Just by catching the scent, Lu Nian felt an immense appetizing allure, and her stomach grumbled almost instantly.

Just as she was about to indulge with great gusto, the sight of an unfamiliar green object floating in the soup deflated her spirits. "I forgot to mention, no onions, please," she sighed.

She had been averse to onions since her childhood, consuming them would induce nausea and the urge to vomit. But since the chefs at home were aware of this peculiarity, she forgot to mention it when dining out.

"Would it be possible to have them make another bowl now?" Lu Nian wondered, with a pitiful expression.

Observing her demeanor, Qin Si fell silent.

There weren't many onions.

Silently, he shifted her bowl towards him, procured a clean pair of chopsticks, and began meticulously removing the floating onions from the soup.

His hands were neat and aesthetically pleasing, the fingers articulate and slender, showcasing distinct phalanges.

Lu Nian watched him intently, her gaze reminiscent of a forlorn puppy, until the last piece of onion was extracted and the bowl was pushed back towards her.

Lu Nian's eyes twinkled with mirth as she smiled brightly, saying, "Thank you!"

Unable to contain her hunger any longer, she devoured the entire bowl in one go.

Surprisingly, she hadn't had her fill yet.

Qin Si didn't eat much, maintaining a composed silence, patiently waiting for her to finish.

Feeling unsatiated, Lu Nian asked hesitantly, directing her query at the young man opposite her, "Are you in a hurry?"

Qin Si responded, "...You eat."

Without further ado, Lu Nian called the waiter over, "Could we have another bowl, please?"

The waiter promptly agreed, "Right away."

The beef noodles were prepared swiftly, and when the waiter served the dish, it was naturally placed in front of Qin Si.

Lu Nian, "..."

Qin Si, "..."

He pushed the bowl gently towards Lu Nian without a word.

Without much embarrassment, Lu Nian simply explained, "...I've been quite hungry lately."

At home, under the scrutinizing eyes of Lu Zhihong and Zhang Qiuping, meals had become tasteless affairs, even the most delicious dishes lost their flavor, and rest eluded her. Yet, today, in this humble roadside noodle shop, sitting with Qin Si, she experienced an inexplicable ease.

Naturally, she found herself eating a bit more than usual.

The girl's delicate lips turned a charming red from the hot vapors, opening and closing softly, her long eyelashes lingering in the white mist, making her petite face appear even more radiantly fair with a blush permeating through.

He watched silently for a while, then chose not to continue observing. He stepped out of the noodle shop to get some fresh air.

Outside, a young man who had just stepped out seemed to be waiting for a friend, taking the opportunity to have a smoke.

"Your girlfriend sure has a good appetite," said the young man, who appeared to be a college student, eyeing Lu Nian who was still enjoying her meal inside the shop, "and she's both slender and attractive."

She clearly possessed an ethereal beauty, resembling a graceful willow swaying in the breeze.

Qin Si succinctly replied, "She's not."

The young man paused, stunned, "Ah?"

He had assumed they were a young couple, dressed in the same school uniforms, their appearances complementing each other beautifully - the boy handsome, the girl beautiful. He had even witnessed the boy helping her remove the onions from her meal; their interactions seemed so natural, and the girl didn't seem to find it bothersome or embarrassing at all.

Qin Si didn't offer further explanation. He returned to the shop to settle the bill for the beef noodles and asked Lu Nian, "Finished eating?"

Lu Nian nodded, "Mhm."

She felt truly satisfied, as if she had never tasted such delicious beef noodles in her entire life.

The twilight had grown somewhat late.

The two walked along the road, one after the other. With Qin Si accompanying her, she felt an inexplicable sense of security, not worrying about her safety and walking freely.

The evening breeze gently lifted the girl's long hair.

The young man followed her silently, quietly observing her retreating figure.

Eventually, they arrived at the Lu residence.

"I'll go in first to get things sorted," Lu Nian said, "I'll be quick!"

They had discussed this plan while on the road.

Qin Si had no desire to meet the people of the Lu family, and bringing a boy home at night would cause Lu Nian a hassle explaining. Saying that she wanted to paint wouldn't really work.

Moreover, she couldn't let Lu Zhihong and Lu Yang know about this.

Lu Nian first returned to her room, where Miao Miao helped her change into comfortable home attire. She instructed Zhang Qiuping, "Auntie Zhang, please don't call me tonight, I plan to paint in the studio."

It had been this way before, Lu Nian often secluded herself in the studio to paint, immersing herself for long periods, disliking any disturbances during her painting sessions. Zhang Qiuping was accustomed to this and agreed naturally.

Once inside the studio, she sent Qin Si a message, "All set, you can come over now."

The studio was on the second floor, adjacent to a small balcony.

She opened the balcony door and texted Qin Si. It wasn't long before the young man silently climbed onto the balcony, as if appearing from nowhere.

Lu Nian found it quite novel, "...just like the clandestine love affairs depicted on TV."

Zhang Qiuping has a particular fondness for television dramas full of family gossip. Lu Nian hardly watches TV, but every night as she passes by the living room, if Lu Zhihong and He Tian are not around, she would find Zhang Qiuping and Miao Miao engrossed in such shows.

The young man's face flushed in the darkness, and he said coldly, "If you can't make comparisons properly, then don't."

Lu Nian had changed into her home attire, simply draped in a light grey cardigan over a soft beige dress. Her flowing black hair hung loose, giving her a particularly gentle and homely appearance.

In her childhood, she often visited Qin Si in the attic dressed like this, so she didn't pay much attention to her appearance.

The young man lowered his eyes, refraining from looking too much, and followed her into the studio.

"You sit here." Lu Nian set up the easel and beckoned Qin Si over.

The room was heated, significantly warmer than the outside.

Lu Nian suggested, "Would you like to take off your outerwear?"

The young man stiffened momentarily.

Lu Nian whispered, "Because I don't want to paint the coat, it's quite a hassle."

Another reason was that winter coats were generally bulky, concealing the natural lines of the body...

"Moreover, the heating is on in here. If you wear too much, you'll feel hot later," Lu Nian added, "If you decide to remove it halfway through my painting, all my efforts would be in vain."

The young man pursed his lips, finally relenting to remove his outer garment.

Underneath, he was wearing a black turtleneck sweater, thin enough that the attractive lines of his back muscles were faintly visible through the fabric. He looked lean yet not frail.

His black hair likely reached the nape of his neck; upon closer inspection, the strands were unexpectedly delicate, giving off a cool and smooth appearance.

Lu Nian had a strong urge to reach out and touch it, but realizing who was sitting before her, she quickly abandoned the thought.

Lu Nian sat in front of the easel, holding her brush, her gaze fixed intently on him.

From top to bottom.

Qin Si felt extremely uncomfortable under her scrutinizing gaze.

Eventually, Lu Nian simply abandoned her brush, approached him, and instructed, "Turn a little this way, like so..."

She examined him from both sides, feeling that the pose seemed appropriate now.

The girl was leaning over significantly; from an outsider's perspective, it appeared as if she was nestled within his embrace.

It seemed to be the first time since they had grown up that Lu Nian was this close to him while they were both conscious.

His entire body stiffened.

Suddenly, Lu Nian murmured softly, unaware of the tension, "Just like this... don't move."

She was now fully immersed in the moment, not entertaining any stray thoughts, her sole desire being to have him sit quietly for her to sketch.

The young woman exuded a serene fragrance that gently wafted toward him, a breath as refreshing as an orchid. Her voice, clear and light, hovered by his ear, "You will do as I say, understood?"

He couldn't utter a single word, feeling a sudden heat spreading at the roots of his ears.

...It was as if he was intoxicated, his heart nearly leaping out of his throat.

Time seemed to have halted momentarily, yet simultaneously stretched infinitely.

Finally satisfied, Lu Nian returned to her spot, picked up her pencil, and began to swiftly lay out the groundwork on the canvas.

Qin Si had always possessed a fair complexion since childhood, and when touched with a blush, especially under this bright lighting, it became particularly noticeable.

Shaking her slightly sore wrist, Lu Nian blinked, then realized, "What's the matter?"

He didn't look at her, his eyelashes cast downward, he remarked coldly, "Hot."

Unsure if it was the heat that had brought her back to reality, Lu Nian finally started to regain some clarity. She suddenly remembered the words she had uttered to Qin Si earlier, feeling an unexpected surge of guilt.

She knew how proud Qin Si was deep down. Normally, he never spoke to her with any tenderness, often resorting to cold sarcasm.

Yet she had just addressed him with such an authoritative tone.

And surprisingly, he hadn't shown any signs of anger...

Somewhat embarrassed, Lu Nian suggested, "Should I turn down the heating a bit?"

Being someone who easily gets cold, she usually keeps the indoor temperature quite high, which can indeed feel a bit too warm.

"No need."

Therefore, Lu Nian found it difficult to say anything more, simply resuming her work, once again pouring all her focus into her painting.

The young man remained silent, only urging her once, "Hurry up."

Lu Nian responded, "Hold on, don't be so impatient."

For Lu Nian, this was a warm and enjoyable period of time, however, for Qin Si, it amounted to a kind of torturous ordeal.

Lu Nian inquired, "Do you exercise regularly?"

Qin Si replied, "No."

Lu Nian, curious, asked, "Qin Si, what are your current height and weight?" She tried to gauge with her eyes, unsure of her accuracy.

Qin Si responded, "I don't know."

Lu Nian, "..."

Even as obtuse as she might be, she could tell that Qin Si was no longer in the mood to converse with her.

Perhaps he was singularly focused on having her finish the drawing quickly... or maybe he was genuinely upset.

Today's time only allowed for the completion of a preliminary sketch, establishing the layout lines and delineating a rough outline; yet the young man's refined profile and tall stature were already vividly captured on the paper.

Lu Nian was in high spirits, realizing that her line work had improved since before.

In the future, if she really does manage to escape from the Lu family and finds herself unable to sustain a living, perhaps she could sell paintings in the park; it might even suffice to support herself.

She mused sarcastically that such a life might even be happier than her current existence in the Lu family.

"Done." She clapped her hands, wiped them with a towel, gathered her drawing materials, and prepared to escort Qin Si out.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, there was a sudden knock on the studio door.

"Didn't I say not to come tonight..." Assuming it was Zhang Qiuping and the others, Lu Nian frowned slightly, but fell silent upon seeing the person at the door.

Lu Nian had not expected Lu Zhichong to return at this time, since he had already mentioned that he would be staying at the company to work tonight and wouldn't be coming home.

It was precisely because of this that she chose today, feeling safe to return with Qin Si.

And yet, not only did he return... he also came here to see her.

A chilling sensation gradually crept up her spine.

"I heard you've been painting here," Lu Zhichong said, "Knowing you've been learning to paint, I haven't visited in a long time."

Qin Si should still be in the room, not having exited yet.

But there was not a single place in this room that could conceal such a tall young man.

How was she going to explain this to Lu Zhichong? Would he believe her? She wasn't as concerned about herself, but feared that Lu Zhichong might not believe her explanation and, enraged, might do something to Qin Si.

This minute could possibly be the longest minute Lu Nian had ever endured in her life.

Lu Zhichong walked into the room alongside her.

The drawing materials were neatly organized, there was no one in the room, the balcony door was open, letting in a trace of cold wind.

Qin Si had already left.

"Remember to close the window when you paint in the future," Lu Zhichong advised, "Your health isn't the best, you can't afford to catch a draft."

Lu Nian nodded stiffly.

"Xiao Yang informed me today," Lu Zhichong continued, "Said you had dinner outside with a friend. How was it?"

Lu Nian numbly responded, "Very good." She was beginning to get accustomed to Lu Zhichong's meticulous control over every aspect of her life.

Lu Zhichong nodded, "However, try not to dine out too often, I worry it might not be hygienic."

He chatted with her about school-related matters, showing concern for her grades and health — all standard topics of discussion.

Just as Lu Nian thought this conversation was drawing to a close, Lu Zhichong suddenly asked in a languid manner, "Have you been in touch with Qin Si recently?"

Qin Si?

Upon hearing this name, Lu Nian's entire body seemed to stiffen.

Lu Zhichong remarked casually, "I heard from Xiao Yang a while back that you two are at the same school and have had interactions before."

Lu Nian, "…Yeah."

Lu Zhichong's gaze was fixed intently on her, "Then why did you say earlier that you weren't familiar with him?"

"Are you acquainted, or not?" Lu Zhichong inquired.

The middle-aged man's face bore shadows cast by the lighting, appearing especially ominous.

Lu Nian's mind was in turmoil, unable to articulate anything, remaining silent.

Given Lu Zhichong's current capabilities, dealing with either Qin Si or her would be a mere flick of a finger.

She could perhaps overlook herself, but as for Qin Si…

After all this time, Lu Nian knew he had been trying to sever ties with the Lu family, to live a life of his own. Now that he finally had a glimpse of a new life outside, how could she pull him back into this quagmire?

After what felt like an eternity, she shook her head rigidly.

Only then did a semblance of satisfaction appear on Lu Zhichong's face.

"Nian Nian, you need to understand," Lu Zhichong spoke with gravitas, "Not everyone is born equal. Although you are still young, as a daughter of the Lu family, you must learn to be judicious in your actions. Knowing how to interact with different people and when to take action, you should always have a grasp on these matters."

"You're still young, it's alright to have some fun," Lu Zhichong implied with deep meaning, "but understand what the right path for your future is. Your father has already planned it all for you, just follow that path."

He glanced at the neatly arranged art supplies beside them, "Just like painting, if you enjoy it, you can indulge in it casually. Your father supports this, but remember, becoming obsessed and losing your ambition is not what you should be doing."

Lu Zhichong didn't stay much longer, "Go to bed early, let me walk you to your bedroom."

Lu Nian followed him out of the studio, her spirits plummeting to a nadir in an instant.

As the silhouettes of the father and daughter disappeared, the curtain on the balcony fluttered slightly.

The young man silently retraced his steps back down, landing noiselessly in the Lu family's courtyard.

His fanciful dreams were unattainable, a fact he knew all too well, having long cautioned himself not to harbor such thoughts anymore.

Yet, even knowing that Lu Nian's past or perhaps present kindness and closeness towards him might be fabricated, feigned, or merely whimsical or playful gestures,

He couldn't help but harbor a sense of sorrow.

Yet Qin Si reveled in it, like a dying man gulping poison.

"I'm sorry," Lu Nian messaged Qin Si after getting back to her room. "I was in the wrong this time, I shouldn't have forced you to come to my home."

Fortunately he had already left earlier and avoided being caught by Lu Lanzhi. Still, it couldn't have been a pleasant experience.

Beneath the cold moonlight, the youth lowered his eyes silently at the screen.

"I came of my own accord," he replied.

Tears lingered at the corners of the girl's eyes. All the pent up oppression of this period seemed to have erupted tonight without her even realizing.

Lu Nian was completely surprised by his response.

"I still owe you a birthday dinner," the youth said. "If you don't want to be at home..."

He said, "Come or not, up to you."

The girl's tears stopped as she stared blankly at the screen, her bright eyes seeming to still harbor tears.

The next day, Lu Nian suffered from a fever that she hadn't experienced in a long time. By the time she returned to school, the final exams were just around the corner.

Two days later, with the exams over, she felt almost drained of energy. She lay at home for a few days, slowly regaining her strength, before needing to return to school to collect her report card.

Lu Nian collected her report card and wandered alone through the campus. It had snowed recently, and her small sheepskin boots made a gentle noise against the frozen ground.

Hearing footsteps approaching from behind, Lu Nian turned around almost reflexively.

Somewhat disappointed, she found herself facing Zhao Yayuan.

"Let me see yours." Without waiting for her response, the young man snatched her report card from her hands, then thrust his own into Lu Nian's grasp.

Lu Nian's grades were nearly several times better than his.

Lu Nian eyed the distressingly low numbers on his report card, her eyebrow twitching involuntarily, but she held her tongue.

Zhao Yayuan crumpled his report card into a ball and stuffed it into his pocket, frowning, "How come your scores are always so high?"

Lu Nian remained silent, thinking to herself, "It's not that my scores are too high, it's that yours are too low."

"How about this, why don't you come over to my place to tutor me?" Zhao Yayuan proposed, "I'll pay you a salary."

The suggestion was so absurd that Lu Nian found herself at a loss for words.

Lu Nian couldn't help but retort, "Does your family lack a home tutor?"

Zhao Yayuan replied, "I don't want them to teach me; I want you to."

His eyes resembled that of a cat's, the amber hues gleaming especially bright under the light.

"If you tutor me," he leaned in close, "I can offer you many advantages."

"For instance..." the young man's face was exceptionally fine-featured, his cat-like eyes narrowing slightly, his smile surprisingly carrying a trace of devilish charm, "I can reveal to you the truth about Nan Qiao."

Lu Nian halted in her steps.

These days, she seldom thought about this matter, but the name of that place had been lingering persistently in her mind, like a stubborn ghost.

Zhao Yayuan was observing her, not missing any subtle changes in her expression after hearing those words.

It seemed that Lu Nian truly couldn't remember.

Otherwise, unless she possessed Oscar-worthy acting skills, human microexpressions couldn't be concealed. After a period of constant probing and investigation, he had basically ascertained this.

The Lu family might also be keeping this from her.

After a long silence, Lu Nian said, "Alright."

She continued, "However, I must discuss this with my family first."

She looked at Zhao Yayuan, "If it's not possible on my end, you'll have to find another solution yourself."

Zhao Yayuan responded breezily, "No problem."

Lu Nian didn't engage in further conversation with him, bidding farewell before getting into the Lu family's car.

As Zhao Yayuan walked along, he kicked a small stone away, his mood surprisingly light.

The winter sky was crisp and clear, a wash of azure blue.

Lu Zuo was a fool, still making excuses for his sister and not holding a grudge even after experiencing such treatment.

Zhao Yayuan was no fool, he intended to help him get revenge.

What to do, then?

Zhao Yayuan pondered slowly.

He had never been in a relationship and had never been interested in girls. However, every time he got close to Lu Nian, he felt a strange urge to be even closer to her, a sensation that baffled yet pleased him.

He desired a bit more.

For the first time, he harbored such thoughts.