Chapter 33

Chapter 33

This June seems exceptionally sweltering. During the two days of the college entrance exams, the sun blazed gloriously, and the entrance to the affiliated school was packed to the brim.

Mostly parents coming out in force, anxiously waiting at the school gates for their children to emerge. Nearby hotels have all been booked early on, just so the examinees could have a short rest, saving them some trouble on the road.

Lu Nian was still on vacation at home. As the exams officially commenced, she felt even more nervous than Qin Si.

She hadn't contacted him in the past two days, but from the local TV station, she could see the current bustling scene at the school entrance, leaving her with a complex feeling.

After all, Qin Si had no parents or relatives, and naturally, there was no one at home to take care of him.

She anticipated that when he returned home after a full day of exams, the house would still be desolate, and perhaps he'd have to prepare meals for himself, just like the last time he fell ill partly due to irregular eating habits harming his stomach.

Although she knew that Qin Si had been independent since childhood and wasn't exactly a sentimental person, probably accustomed to this solitude, he seemingly didn't require any concern.

Yet, she still wished to offer her assistance.

The Lu family had a dedicated chef and were acquainted with several star-rated restaurants in the city. Lu Nian subtly inquired with Miao Miao and quickly obtained a direct line to one of the restaurants.

Fearing being discovered by Lu Zhihong, she concealed her identity and, after coordinating with the restaurant, anonymously ordered meals for him for two days, even including a little card with the message "Good luck on your exams".

Although uncertain about the gesture's significance or whether he would accept it,

It, nonetheless, brought some peace to her heart.

Time flew swiftly, and now she only had the evenings free to engage in activities she enjoyed.

During these few days of vacation, she spent her days attending English classes at home—morning sessions focused on reading and writing, and afternoon sessions on speaking. The latter was taught by a British teacher and was relatively relaxed and enjoyable, while the former was instructed by a trainer from a certain institution, aged around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, whose classes were both rapid and stringent, leaving Lu Nian exhausted after each session.

On the second day of the college entrance examination, just as her afternoon class was nearing its end, Tian Yue called her, asking, "Nian Nian, the weather is so nice now. Do you have time to go out and have some fun?"

The weather was indeed beautiful; looking out from the study room window, the sky was a deep azure, with a pleasant balance of warm and cool breezes gently passing by.

Lu Zhihong, who was discussing Lu Nian's progress with Shu Hengping, frowned upon hearing the young girl's conversation over the phone.

Lu Nian covered the phone, her eyelashes drooping; she generally spoke very little in the presence of Lu Zhihong.

Shu Hengping glanced at her and said to Lu Zhihong, "Nian Nian has shown significant improvement recently, and our study schedule is quite intensive. A proper balance between work and rest can be beneficial for her learning."

She indeed had improved.

Lu Nian seemed to be in a slightly low mood these days; currently, she looked somewhat wilted, her small face pale and devoid of color. Considering her ill health and the hardships she had endured over the past few days, Lu Zhihong began contemplating her well-being.

"Are you going out with Tian Yue?"

Lu Nian hurriedly nodded, "Mhm."

Lu Zhihong spoke slowly, "Alright then, be careful on the road—Xiao Yang is off today, would you like him to accompany you?"

Lu Nian replied softly, "We're just a group of girls, planning to go shopping..."

Lu Zhihong considered it and realized it made sense. The young girls together would probably chat, shop, and buy some feminine items; having Lu Yang following them might be quite inconvenient.

He said, "Then go ahead, but make sure to answer the phone if we call you at home."

Lu Nian felt a weight lifted off her shoulders.

She happily changed her clothes and went out to meet Tian Yue.

They met up at the central mall, shopping and making purchases together. For once, Lu Nian was inclined to buy new clothes, picking up several skirts. With her eighteenth birthday approaching this summer, Miao Miao mentioned that the Lu family had already started preparing her coming-of-age gifts, which naturally included a gown for her to wear at the birthday celebration.

Lu Nian dislikes those types of gatherings. She would rather wear a skirt of her choosing and freely spend time with friends outside.

To engage in some gossip and enjoy a relaxed time.

The two sat at a café to rest, the sun gradually leaning west, and Lu Nian kept glancing at the time, not having touched the strawberry brownie in front of her even once.

Influenced by her, Tian Yue also looked down and commented, "The college entrance exam should be ending soon, right?"

"The last subject is English, it should be over by five in the afternoon."

Lu Nian responded, "Hmm."

Tian Yue sighed, "They can go wild and party tonight, whereas we still have to endure another year; it's really tough for us."

Lu Nian asked, "How will they party?"

"What else can they do? Confessing their feelings, karaoke, drinking, dating, and so on," Tian Yue said. "Basically, releasing their pent-up hormones and doing whatever they want."

Lu Nian pursed her lips, seemingly thinking of something, her mood suddenly turned somewhat sour.

As time progressed, the two grew somewhat tired from their shopping spree. They had been sitting here for quite a while, and Lu Nian had little desire to return home.

She watched the people passing by outside the glass window, with the sun gradually leaning west.

A thought sprouted in her mind. Once conceived, it quickly grew, proving impossible to suppress.

She dialed Zhao Yayuan's number.

...

"Coming to my place for dinner again?" Zhao Yayuan removed his headphones and said with a smirk, "How many times has it been now? I haven't even seen Miss Lu's face, yet this arrangement seems quite cost-effective."

Lu Nian swallowed her pride and pleaded, "Please, I don't have any other options."

The girl's voice was very soft, her words mellow, and her tone gentle and delicate.

She sounded quite pleasing when asking for a favor.

"So, you keep using me as a shield," Zhao Yayuan said in a languid tone, "and then go out to date other guys. Isn't that a bit excessive?"

"I'm with a classmate right now," Lu Nian emphasized, "a female one."

She didn't say these words with much conviction.

While appearing cynical and indifferent, Zhao Yayuan was actually quite shrewd, making it hard to deceive him. Lu Nian always found him to be a tricky person, much more so than his brother.

It was no wonder that in the original book, Zhao Tingyuan remained a powerless puppet, with the entire Zhao family eventually falling into Zhao Yayuan's hands. That is, until the female protagonist intervened.

As expected, Zhao Yayuan was not convinced at all. Despite his clear and vibrant voice, he spoke in a languid manner, "Unless you offer me some incentives, I'll consider helping you."

Lu Nian abruptly ended the call.

It seems this path is impassable.

Discarding that thought, she was extremely troubled, pondering how she could make a temporary escape without alerting Lu Zhihong.

Just then, she received a call from Lu Yang, "Nian Nian, you must be almost done with your outing, right? A car is coming to pick you up soon, please give your location."

Lu Nian asked him, "Is father still at home?"

Lu Yang replied, "Uncle has gone out for a social engagement; he won't be home tonight."

Lu Nian's eyes lit up.

"Where are you now?" Lu Yang asked, "Who are you with?"

Normally, Lu Nian would find his checking in on her quite irksome, often offering scarce responses, but this time, she cooperated unexpectedly.

She sent Lu Yang a photo that Tian Yue had taken, a selfie of them at the café.

The two young girls were smiling sweetly at the camera, with no one else in sight.

"Brother, I'm at the café with a classmate," Lu Nian said, "We're having a great time."

It was rare to see Lu Nian smiling like this, her eyes curving upward and the scattered shadows of the sunlight playing on her fair cheeks, portraying a stark contrast to her introverted and reticent demeanor at home. Clearly, she was genuinely enjoying herself.

Lu Nian tentatively ventured, "I don't feel like going home tonight. I want to dine out with my friend."

Lu Yang's gaze had just shifted from the photo, and his first instinct was to refuse.

But... seeing Lu Nian enjoying herself so heartily was a rare sight. If he dampened her spirits now, she would definitely be unhappy.

After a long hesitation, Lu Yang said, "Ensure your safety, and you can't be back later than nine o'clock. I'll come to pick you up then."

"Brother, could you please not mention this to dad?" Lu Nian asked in a hushed tone, hinting at concealed grievances, "I'm really afraid he would scold me."

Lu Yang paused for a moment before saying, "Return early, I won't say anything."

She ended the call, letting out a long sigh of relief, unable to hide her joy.

Tian Yue had been witnessing the whole conversation from across the table.

She remarked with a sense of wonder, "You're really good at acting coy."

What man could resist her such coquettish demeanor? Likely, their hearts would melt into a puddle. How did she manage to become like this?

Without a second thought, Lu Nian responded, "Oh, there is one."

For instance, Qin Si.

If she were to act coy towards him, Qin Si would probably find it nauseating, followed by a stern reprimand, urging her to behave more sensibly.

A man with a heart of stone.

She huffed audibly.

"So who is this friend you're so eager to dine with tonight?" Tian Yue asked, her tone slightly teasing. "Going through great lengths and overcoming numerous difficulties just for this?"

Lu Nian, "......"

Tian Yue cast her a sidelong glance, "Seems like there's something brewing, huh?"

Lu Nian pressed her lips together, "No, there isn't."

What situation could possibly be there? She would gladly welcome it, but it seems the others might not be on the same page.

"We all thought you and the younger Mr. Zhao were an item."

At this, Lu Nian couldn't help but burst into laughter, her eyes forming crescent moons, "How could you guys harbor such bizarre thoughts?"

"The rumors are quite detailed," Tian Yue muttered, "Would you like to hear the most widespread one? It goes that both your families have arranged for you two to study abroad together, and then, tie the knot right after graduation."

"The second most popular speculation is that you are caught in a love triangle with the Zhao brothers," Tian Yue continued, her eyes twinkling with mischief, "A rift between wealthy siblings, all because of a femme fatale..."

Lu Nian was stunned into silence, thunderstruck to her core.

"Please, stop talking," she covered her ears, utterly distressed, "Does Zhao Yayuan know about these absurd rumors?"

If he knew, there would be hell to pay. Given his devil-may-care attitude, he wouldn't hesitate to skin those rumor-mongers alive. As for causing a rift between him and his brother - could the rumors be any more preposterous?

Tian Yue nearly fell off her chair, laughing uncontrollably.

They exited the café.

After depositing their shopping bags, Lu Nian hailed a cab and headed towards the high school.

"Today marks the last day of the college entrance examination, the students just finished their tests," the driver commented, "There's likely to be a traffic jam around that area."

Indeed, as they neared the vicinity of the high school, the traffic was at a standstill, with the car barely moving an inch despite the time ticking away.

Seeing that their destination was not far off, a distance easily covered within a ten-minute walk.

Lu Nian decided to take action, "Driver, you can stop here, I'll walk the rest of the way."

Walking under the plane trees, she noticed the extended daylight of summer, which showed no signs of dimming into evening, giving her steps a sprightly rhythm.

A sea of people congregated at the school gate. Though some had dispersed, the remaining crowd was still quite formidable.

She took out her phone, intending to call Qin Si.

Just as she was dialing the number...

She cast a casual glance into the distance, and unexpectedly, her gaze met his.

The young man stood under the plane tree, his silhouette tall and straight. He wore an old backpack over one shoulder and was dressed in a plain black short-sleeve t-shirt. Despite the subdued hues of his attire, there was an inexplicable allure to his appearance.

His facial features were gentle, betraying no signs of excitement or fatigue post-examination, seemingly unchanged from his usual demeanor.

Lu Nian watched as he pulled a mobile phone from his pocket.

Holding her breath, she stealthily circled around to approach him from behind.

Her plan was to sneak up on him and give him a little scare.

Unexpectedly, his reaction was much quicker than she had anticipated. Lu Nian found herself being gazed down upon by his aloof yet captivating dark eyes. For reasons unknown, her heart began to race, forcing a nervous chuckle as she hid her small hands behind her back.

Lu Nian, "I came to this area to hang out with a friend."

Qin Si paused momentarily, "Hmm." He made a conscious effort to restrain his curiosity about who her companion might be.

Lu Nian, trailing slightly behind him, tilted her head and inquired, "How did your exam go?"

He replied, "So-so."

Lu Nian, "...", suddenly felt a surge of anxiety. Although Qin Si usually excelled academically, performance in the college entrance examination could be quite dependent on one's state on the day. With no one supervising him during those days, could it be...?

It was then that the young man finally cast a glance at her, "Not your kind of 'so-so'."

Lu Nian, "..."

Was this contempt from the school's top student?

"Where are you planning to go tonight?" She strolled along the tree-lined avenue, hands clasped behind her back, her steps light and lively. She casually asked, "Attending a class reunion? Maybe heading to a bar for drinks?"

Qin Si, "Neither. I'm going home."

Apart from necessary occasions, he seldom indulged in alcohol.

Lu Nian mumbled, thinking of Bai Xi, "Right, a date at home, is it?"

The young man pursed his lips, ultimately offering no response.

He had never dated anyone, let alone bringing someone home.

Apart from her, only Ming Ge had visited his house once when it was still under renovation.

"Don't forget, you gave me a key," Lu Nian said teasingly, "Whatever you're doing at home, I might just walk in unannounced. Don't let me catch you red-handed."

He better keep himself in check and avoid doing anything inappropriate.

The girl gazed at him reproachfully with her clear, big eyes.

Overwhelmed by a potent mix of shame and guilt, his face flushed a deep red. He appeared notably uncomfortable, his throat dry, unable to meet her gaze any longer.

The words he initially intended to say seemed to get stuck midway, rendering his mind suddenly foggy.

The young man's pace quickened, his tall stature and long legs moving at a speed that Lu Nian simply couldn't match. Left behind, she could no longer see his figure. Unaware of the reason for his haste, she called out, "Hey, wait for me!"

After what felt like an eternity, he finally slowed down a bit, allowing Lu Nian to catch up, her little face flushed pink from the run.

"Do you have some time later?"

"Yes, I do," Lu Nian responded crisply, "What's up? Want to ask me out?"

He could almost hear his own heartbeat, feeling a surge of blood rushing to his head, a miserable sight to behold. Yet, he managed to utter, "...to return the favor of the dinner you sent."

Realization dawned on Lu Nian.

Was he referring to the dinners she ordered for him during the two days of his college entrance exams? Indeed, he was meticulous in settling accounts, unwilling to owe her even the slightest bit.

The invitation she declined last time seemed to resurface due to this very matter.

But now, his college entrance exams were over, and she was just looking for a way to escape from home for a bit.

She reminisced about the last time they had dinner together. It was during the Lunar New Year when he had whisked her away from the Lu family residence in the middle of the night to enjoy a cheerful hot pot meal in a crowded yet cozy little restaurant.

"Isn't that still asking me out?" The girl appeared to ponder, "But previously, didn't you prefer to repay favors directly with money?"

She mimicked his once swaggering tone, saying how he had calculated the exact amount and would transfer it to her bank account in a few days.

Qin Si, "..."

His ears had turned bright red, leaving him cornered and so embarrassed that he couldn't utter a word.

Lu Nian was simply teasing him impulsively, genuinely not daring to take it too far. After uttering those words, she began to regret her playful taunts.

"I'll go then," she said, "Alright, I get it. You want to return the favor."

Her large, sparkling eyes then inquired further, "Will it be with Ming Ge and Xiao Qu?"

Lu Nian didn't really mind; being with him was what mattered. She didn't care about the number of people present, and besides, she quite liked Huang Mao Xiao Qu and Ming Ge — their last meal together had been very enjoyable.

Of course, this "number of people" excluded Bai Xi.

Hearing her mention those names, his fingers tightened involuntarily, recalling her rejection from the last time.

"Just me."

He averted his gaze, his voice adopting a colder tone, "If you don't want to come, then forget it."

Author's Note:

His voice was cold, yet his face was flushed, and his heart seemed ready to leap out of his throat.

Teasing Si Si was truly too entertaining, www. Nian Nian (in the future) (is well-versed in this art).