Chapter 37

Chapter 37

The meal was quickly prepared.

While Nan Qiao wasn't economically developed, what it had in abundance was fresh vegetables and fruits, and the rice grains were plump and translucent. When Zhao Yayuan first arrived in Nan Qiao, he was silent and ate very little each day. But with time, he could now consume two bowls of rice per meal.

At the dining table, Qiu Lan inquired about his well-being as usual, and Zhao Yayuan engaged in the conversation freely, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

After finishing their meal, Qiu Lan began to feel fatigued. After all, she was advancing in age and her health had not been the best in recent years. She needed a daily afternoon nap, a habit well-known to Qiu Li.

"Grandma, you go have your nap. We'll clean up here," he suggested.

"Alright, it's been a while since you two met," Qiu Lan smiled, "Spend quality time together. My health really hasn't been the best in recent years..."

Qiu Li gently interrupted her with a reassuring tone, "Grandma, you will live a long and prosperous life."

Zhao Yayuan remained silent.

After clearing the dishes, Qiu Li gently closed the door to grandma's bedroom.

Zhao Yayuan lay down on the bamboo lounge chair, stretching out his long legs casually, his hands cushioning the back of his head.

Out of the blue, he said, "I came from Ancheng."

As Qiu Li wiped the table, he asked, "Isn't your family always based in Haicheng?"

"I mentioned before, my hometown is also Ancheng," Zhao Yayuan explained, "Next year, our entire family plans to move back there."

As Qiu Li continued his work, he noted, "It's a nice place, just be cautious of the uncomfortable weather. Take care to avoid heatstroke during the summer."

Zhao Yayuan remarked, "Yes, when I first transferred, the adjustment was quite challenging. But later on, I felt much more at ease."

"Also, I encountered Lu Nian," Zhao Yayuan turned, facing him sidewise as she continued.

"Hmm," Qiu Li responded.

His reaction seemed devoid of any particular emphasis.

"Next year we will graduate from high school," said Zhao Yayuan, "She has promised to come to Nan Qiao."

This time, Qiu Li finally showed a reaction.

Strands of hair fell forward, covering his warm and gentle eyes. His expression became somewhat inscrutable as he placed the clean dishes back into the cupboard.

Zhao Yayuan added, "I can confirm, she doesn't remember anything. The entire Lu family is keeping her in the dark."

"Moreover," he slowly uttered, "Do you think amnesia can dramatically alter a person's character? To the point where they seem like a completely different individual?"

He wasn't entirely sure of what he was trying to convey, merely expressing the vague thoughts that lingered in his mind.

Qiu Li finally spoke, "Let it be, then."

Zhao Yayuan straightened up, "What do you mean?"

Qiu Li said softly, "It's good that she has forgotten. If she comes, just treat me as an unrelated friend from your hometown. No need to mention anything else."

"Don't you resent her even a bit?" Zhao Yayuan asked.

The young man remained silent for a long while, "I have no kin left. Now, only grandmother and you are my family."

"Xiao Ya, you should also let go of that incident," Qiu Li advised, "We were all young then. She must have been very scared too, it wasn't intentional."

Zhao Yayuan let out a sigh.

"You even have the leisure to sigh?" Qiu Li chuckled.

Zhao Yayuan gazed languidly at the ceiling, "I am pondering over a rather distressing matter."

"What is it?"

Zhao Yayuan rose from the bamboo chair, "Never mind, I'll tell you later."

The day following the commencement of the tutoring sessions.

Lu Nian was sound asleep at home, in a deep and peaceful slumber.

After the first day of intensive tutoring, she felt utterly exhausted. Qin Si showed no mercy, relentlessly going through topics and exercises without berating her for slow progress or misunderstanding, but indeed, apart from break time, it was a relentless barrage of clarifying concepts and discussing problems.

Recalling the so-called tutoring sessions she used to conduct for Zhao Yayuan, compared to this demonic tutoring regimen, it felt as breezy and carefree as children playing house in kindergarten.

Qin Si had also assigned her homework.

The difficulty was precisely at that delicate threshold where it was within her capabilities, yet she had to think extremely hard to complete it.

Lu Nian worked on the problems late into the night, until two in the morning.

Gazing at the full page of accomplishments.

Lu Nian let out a long sigh of relief.

Under no circumstances could she allow him to underestimate her.

However, her zeal caused her to overshoot, and after washing up, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She slept soundly until the morning, even oversleeping her alarm.

The agreed-upon time had been eight in the morning.

When Lu Nian woke up and checked the time, it was already nine o'clock, which sent her into a frantic panic.

Why hadn't Miaomiao woken her up?

...It had already been an hour.

She was doomed; she feared that Qin Si, who was known for being punctual and always keeping his promises, must be anxiously waiting for her.

In a hurry, she grabbed her phone from beside her pillow and dialed Qin Si.

"I'm sorry, I overslept."

The girl's voice was soft and fuzzy, clear signs of having just woken up.

"Have you been waiting long?"

From the other end, the sound of the girl jumping out of bed and hurriedly walking around her room in her slippers could be heard. In her haste, she tripped on something and let out a soft cry, nearly falling over.

He paused momentarily before saying, "I haven't been here long; you don't need to rush."

"I'll be right there." Her voice noticeably relaxed with a sigh of relief on the other end.

Miaomiao was standing by at the side.

She observed the young man ending the call.

Without saying a word, she smiled with her lips pressed together.

Qin Si had already been waiting for an hour, and Miaomiao had initially planned to go in and wake Lu Nian.

"Miss was solving problems until two in the morning," Miaomiao explained.

Due to her frail health, Lu Nian needed more rest than the average person, even now. She was rather prone to feeling sleepy; unlike other students her age who could maintain a normal routine with six to seven hours of sleep, she needed at least eight hours of sleep.

"No need." He didn't let Miaomiao go, "Let her sleep."

Miaomiao couldn't help but defend Lu Nian, "Nian Nian is usually very punctual. It's uncommon for her to oversleep like this; it's just because it was late last night."

The young man was examining Lu Nian's test paper, his eyelashes lowered, his focus not on her tardiness but on her well-being, "She's not in good health; don't allow her to stay up so late next time."

He planned to adjust the amount of homework tomorrow.

Miaomiao was somewhat surprised that the seemingly aloof young man would express such concerns.

He had been waiting here for over an hour without showing any signs of irritation or dissatisfaction.

When Lu Nian finally appeared in the living room, her hair still strewn about, she was in a rush. Miaomiao had already served breakfast - simple milk and bread. Lu Nian could hardly bother with what she was eating, given the significant delay, almost choking in her haste.

"Eat slowly." Qin Si, who was reading by the side, glanced at her.

Lu Nian blushed, suddenly realizing that her wolfing down food in front of him, especially as a girl, might not be very appropriate. She slowed her pace, finally managing to properly finish her meal.

The tutoring session finally began, and Lu Nian just took out her homework.

However, Qin Si suggested, "Let's move it to nine o'clock tomorrow."

Lu Nian was caught off guard, "Huh?"

The young man's voice was cool, his gaze fixed on her homework, "There's been traffic these days, and the commute takes longer. Eight o'clock means I have to get up too early."

Lu Nian was delighted, "Alright, then you can sleep in a bit more at home too."

So, Qin Si could also be a late riser.

However, after she took out her homework, Qin Si didn't mention anything special. He just pointed out her mistakes and continued to explain them.

Tsk.

As expected, hoping that he would praise her was a foolish expectation on her part.

Staring at the young man's handsome yet aloof profile.

Lu Nian thought, having such a good-looking face yet not uttering sweet words seemed such a waste.

During today's break time, Lu Nian was too lazy to move and just rested in her place.

Qin Si was reviewing her homework.

Watching him write wasn't boring at all. He had beautiful handwriting, defined knuckles, and slender bones, writing swiftly as if he didn't need to think, writing directly and fluently.

The girl rested her cheek on her hand, blinking her big eyes, gazing intently at him without blinking.

He felt his ears burning, his mind becoming chaotic, unable to continue writing, forced to put down his pen.

Lu Nian was clueless, "What's wrong?"

He averted his gaze, "I'm tired."

"Then you should take a break too," Lu Nian cheerfully suggested, "We can have a chat."

Though it was termed as 'chatting', it was more like a one-sided conversation from her end.

"Dad wants me to rank within the top hundred before I age another year," Lu Nian remarked, poking her little eraser with her finger, "But unfortunately, my math is quite weak, pulling down my score considerably."

The young man listened quietly.

He knew.

Lu Zhihong had mentioned during their conversation that if Lu Nian couldn't achieve this score, the Lu family was preparing to send her abroad.

Lu Nian continued, "However, even if I manage to rank within the top hundred, I definitely won't be able to get into your school."

They had been in the same school for so long, but university seemed to be the end of the road for their journey as classmates.

Qin Si didn't say anything, only noting, "Time's up."

Over the next few days.

Lu Nian found herself astonishingly adapting to this pace.

Qin Si's approach to explaining problems was not strictly confined to the topic at hand. His thinking was clear, his logic strong, helping her connect all the dots across different knowledge points. Coupled with the categorization of typical problems, now when Lu Nian encountered a new problem, her first instinct was to ponder what knowledge could be applied to solve it and whether she had encountered similar types of problems before.

To be precise, his approach was completely different from her previous mechanical problem-solving method.

Lu Nian began to gradually learn to analyze through his way of thinking. Although she couldn't keep up due to the intellectual gap, she had indeed become much more flexible and improved compared to before.

She felt like she had absorbed a bit of the prodigy's aura.

Lu Nian genuinely remarked, "You could make a fortune if you opened a tutoring center in the future."

Resting her cheek on her hand, her long eyelashes softened in the glow of the afternoon sun, she asked, "Have you frequently tutored others before? You seem to have so much experience."

Qin Si, "..."

He sidestepped the topic and continued with the next problem.

Although these days were strenuous, they were also fulfilling.

Being able to see Qin Si every day was a joy. Moreover, Lu Zhihong seemed to have gone on a business trip and wasn't home, and for some reason, Lu Yang's appearances had greatly decreased. Lu Nian felt an unprecedented ease, resembling a joyful sparrow living without any constraints.

Hence, it wasn't until the last day, when she glanced at the calendar, that she realized.

Why had time flown so quickly... today was already the last tutoring session.

She was unusually spaced out for a moment, a situation that the young man noticed but chose not to comment on.

He silently glanced at the calendar hanging nearby, the chain of red circles drawn on it had reached the last one.

The tutoring had come to an end.

The test papers they had worked on these past few days had accumulated into a stack. Lu Nian fetched a folder and placed all the papers inside it.

A notebook was slid towards her.

It was a seemingly ordinary notebook with a pure black cover.

Lu Nian took it and flipped it open to find it already filled with notes. She asked, "What's this?"

"My previous notes. They're of no use to me now anyway."

"Consider it a bonus."

Indeed, it was his handwriting, which seemed neater than what she had seen before, quite distinctive and unexpectedly detailed, particularly in sections that covered her weak points. The derivations of formulas, categorizations, classic examples, and common pitfalls were all laid out clearly and in detail. Lu Nian even found several problems she had previously gotten wrong inside.

"You've kept your notes really well," Lu Nian couldn't help but exclaim, "and have a good memory too."

Looking fresh and organized.

She had only seen Qin Si do his homework before, not his notes. When he did homework, he usually skipped steps to save time for his part-time job, getting to the results in a few swift moves. Unexpectedly, his notes were remarkably detailed.

The young man remained silent, watching her soft fingers turn the pages of the notebook one by one. She looked so focused, her profile extraordinarily delicate, her complexion as soft as warm jade.

His ear tips turned somewhat red, indulging himself for a moment, no longer restraining his gaze.

His eyes moved inch by inch, from top to bottom, as if wanting to etch her likeness into his memory entirely.

"Well, let me pay you again..." she said as she reached the end of the notebook, realizing the value of these notes.

This should be considered as a bonus, not included in the tutoring fee. She didn't want to shortchange him, especially considering that if he decided to sell this notebook, many people would want it given his top-scorer status and association with the prestigious university.

"Your father has already paid," he interrupted her before she could finish.

The young man's knuckles slowly tightened as he looked at her, the warmth on his cheeks receding instantly, his phoenix eyes dark and his voice icy, "Rest assured, the payment was enough to purchase my time. You don't need to pay more."

Lu Nian, "..."

The room fell silent once again.

The young man pressed his lips together and stood up, "I should go."

Lu Nian asked, "When are you heading to the capital?"

"I have a ticket for three days from now."

There were still some matters that required his attention at Ming Ge's place, all cramped into a tight schedule.

Just three days...

So it goes.

Her fleeting mood from earlier had vanished, leaving her engulfed in a sense of melancholy loss.

So, does that mean they might never see each other again? He might not come back to Ancheng during the holidays, and even if he does, their lives would no longer intersect. Would they really never meet again?

"Are you free the day after tomorrow?" Lu Nian asked.

The young man's departing steps faltered.

Lu Nian hesitantly said, "I wanted to pick out some reference books, but I don't really know how to choose..."

A long silence ensued.

He said, "Mm."

What does "Hmm" imply?

Lu Nian whispered, "If you're busy then..."

His lips pressed tightly together, he said, "I'm free."

"Then I will..." Lu Nian's eyes brightened.

He said indifferently, "No need to pay."

Lu Nian, "..."

She saw Qin Si out, saying sincerely, "Thank you for everything these past few days."

The tutoring sessions had come to an end, and she felt she had gained a lot from them. Even though she was exhausted from the intense ten days, and Qin Si showed no mercy, he never once reprimanded or showed impatience when she truly couldn't understand something.

Summer evenings arrived late, with the sky not darkening even at five or six in the afternoon.

The Lu family's yard looked even more beautiful, silently basking in the sunlight. The well-pruned branches and lush leaves filled the verdant courtyard, accompanied by intermittent cicada songs.

Lu Nian accompanied him all the way out.

His gaze lingered in one direction, and she followed his line of sight.

It was the small building of the Xu family, the attic where he used to live as a child.

Lu Nian said, "No one lives there anymore."

When he was just a little boy, he had grown accustomed to isolating himself in the shadows, nursing his wounds alone, standing at a distance while secretly watching her, unwilling to admit to it.

How long had it been since then?

It seemed to have become a sadly habitual lament.

But he was leaving, having chosen to walk away from her.

A prolonged silence.

In their childhood, they created countless memories within these courtyard walls.

Yet, even then, he often isolated himself, hiding in the branches or amidst the grass, in some inexplicable places. When she called out for him, he would only occasionally emerge, maintaining a distant stance, seldom engaging in conversation with her.

The silhouette of the young man was upright and graceful.

Lu Nian stood at the doorway, watching him slowly recede into the distance.

The sky seemed to be gently descending in the far off horizon, with the crimson hue of the setting sun gradually emerging at the junction where the earth met the sky, slowly coloring the sky inch by inch. As dusk enveloped the surroundings, twilight finally arrived.

His shadow was no longer visible.

The bar was abuzz with lively chatter and laughter.

Mingge was tidying up, beaming, "Tonight, the young scamp will come over. We are throwing him a farewell party."

Huang Mao inquired, "Isn't Qin Ge leaving in the wee hours the day after tomorrow? Why is the farewell party today?"

Mingge replied, "How would I know, ask him yourself. He said he won't have time the day after tomorrow, and there was no room for negotiation, so it had to be rescheduled to today."

Xiao Qu added, "Qin Ge seemed really tired these past few days... So much has been happening here, and he has been dealing with everything. On top of that, he seems to have other matters to attend to, writing something unknown; he's up until two or three in the morning every day."

Huang Mao chuckled, "I took a glance, couldn't understand it at all, it was either numbers or something else."

"All exams are over," Mingge remarked nostalgically, "Look, this is the difference between educated people and us. College is not a place for debauchery. Despite finishing exams, one still perseveres in studying."

He has been in high spirits recently, even happier than when he himself was admitted to the university, since Qin Si was accepted by A University.

"I always said that the kid would make something of himself in the future."

Bai Xi, sipping a cocktail nearby, remarked sarcastically, "So, in the future, when he's successful, he'll just abandon us, the common folks, deeming us unworthy of his attention, right?"

Xiao Qu shook his head, "Qin Ge isn't that kind of person."

Bai Xi sneered, "Whether or not he is, you'll see. Remember Lu Da Xiaojie from before? Wasn't he all set on pursuing her? People with aspirations like his usually cast aside old friends without a second thought once they have risen in status."

It does require some skill to enchant a young girl to such an extent. The other day, she casually spun a tale, and it was evident how unhappy the young girl became.

However, she was experienced and had clear insight, discerning that nothing significant seemed to have transpired between them.

Usually reticent, Xiao Qu now stood up, his face flushed, "He genuinely likes Nian Nian, not with the intention of climbing the social ladder."

Qin Si cherished her immensely, an unparalleled treasure.

Xiao Qu had known him for so long, and his silent affection seemed to have existed for even longer, perhaps vaguely commencing from when he was just a child. Loving her so quietly yet humbly, and even now, he had never revealed any of it to her, not even the things he did for her, never uttering a word.

Xiao Qu never doubted that, for Qin Si, as long as Lu Nian voiced a request, he would be willing to do anything for her without expecting anything in return.

He felt that using the phrase "wanting to climb up to higher branches" was a degradation of this profound emotion.

Mingge said, "Enough."

He cast a warning glance at Bai Xi, "I've told you before, stop bringing up Nian Nian in front of Qin Si. Do you never learn?"

Bai Xi's face turned pale for a moment, retorting, "So I can't even talk about it privately now, just because I avoid mentioning it in his presence?"

A wave of silence ensued.

The door to the bar swung open and a youth walked in, a chill emanating from him.

"Has it started raining again outside?" Mingge asked.

Qin Si nodded, closing the door behind him effortlessly.

Tonight, Mingge was quite inebriated, holding a wine glass, he insisted on toasting with everyone individually, "You little brat, you've done us proud."

He gave Qin Si a hearty pat on the shoulder, squinting his eyes, "In the future, if there's anything we can help with, don't hesitate to ask. Don't shoulder everything yourself. During the winter and summer breaks, hic—" he let out a long hiccup, "remember to come back to Ancheng frequently."

Huangmao quickly chimed in, "Yes, and also come back to see sister Nian Nian."

Xiao Qu added, "She would definitely be happy to see you return."

Outside, the rain was pouring down fiercely.

This sporadic rain, surprisingly, persisted until the next day.

Lu Nian felt a bit nervous, afraid that he might call to cancel their arrangement due to the rain.

Thankfully, he did not.

They agreed to meet at two in the afternoon. Lu Nian prepared herself, taking a glance at her reflection in the mirror.

"Today, are you going out with that handsome young man?" Miao Miao helped her comb her hair, teasingly inquired with a giggle.

Lu Nian cupped her face with her hands, answering crisply, "Mhm."

It was rare to see Miao Miao witness her in such high spirits.

Miao Miao hadn't been working at the Lu family as long as others like Zhang Qiuping. Apart from taking care of Lu Nian, she mostly stayed away from the gossip among the other staff. She was also from Ancheng, and she would go home whenever she had time off, so she wasn't too familiar with Qin Si's situation.

All she knew was, every time he visited, he would bring happiness to Nian Nian.

She resembled a canary trapped within a cage.

From her childhood to the present, it was rare to see her so joyous, an occasion Miao Miao didn't have the heart to interrupt or dampen.

She said, "The young handsome guy seems quite fond of you."

Lu Nian reacted, "Huh?"

How could that be possible? Qin Si has always been rather cold towards her. She suspects that Miao Miao sees the world through rose-tinted glasses, assuming everyone is enamored with her.

Miao Miao's lips curled into a smile, "He is quite considerate."

His attention to detail is substantial. If Miss Nian Nian could marry someone like him in the future, she would surely be cherished dearly.

Lu Nian, "..."

What had led Miao Miao to develop such a misconceived notion about him?

Considerate?

Qin Si seemed wholly incompatible with that word. Since childhood, it would be good enough if he didn't snipe at others; he never uttered a word of kindness. Could he really be someone capable of showing consideration to others?

Nevertheless, she got herself ready, glanced at her reflection in the mirror, slung her small bag over her shoulder, and let the Lu family's driver escort her out.

This time, she had a legitimate reason to say she was going to buy tutorial materials.

She felt quite cheerful in the car, swinging her slender legs back and forth while humming a tune.

Outside, the rain was coming down quite heavily.

She got out of the car at the entrance of the central shopping mall and immediately spotted that young man.

He stood out in the crowd, tall and straight-backed, almost instantly noticeable. He seemed to be deeply engrossed in something on his phone.

"Qin Si!" Lu Nian waved at him energetically.

He closed the app displaying flight information and stood still, waiting for her to approach.

This was the largest comprehensive mall in Ancheng, housing an educational bookstore on the first floor.

Lu Nian dilly-dallied in the bookstore, selecting several books, and of course, incorporated Qin Si's suggestions into her choices.

Still, they managed to finish shopping rather quickly.

It was still fairly early, and the rain was pouring outside, leaving them with nowhere else to go.

Lu Nian's spirits dampened slightly.

As they walked through the mall, one after the other, he suddenly suggested, "Let's browse around for a bit."

Lu Nian looked up at him.

The young man was gazing ahead, "There are a few things I haven't gotten yet."

"Alright, I'll accompany you," Lu Nian agreed, "Consider it a reciprocation for you accompanying me to buy books!"

In reality, there wasn't much to purchase, so their shopping spree concluded rather quickly.

As the pair stepped off the elevator, they suddenly noticed a large crowd gathered on the first floor. Lu Nian exclaimed, "What's going on over there?"

"Some sort of event, it seems." he replied, seemingly uninterested.

"Let's go check it out, please?" the girl pleaded with puppy-dog eyes.

"..."

He reluctantly followed her.

The crowd was packed tight, leaving no space to move freely.

"Ah, Star Hit!" Lu Nian's eyes lit up as she spotted a gigantic mascot in the center of the crowd, "Are they hosting an event here?"

Star Hit, also known as "Stellar Strike," was a comic series that Lu Nian adored immensely.

Lu Nian, who enjoyed sketching in her free time, was also a big fan of comics. She had secretly read many series that Lu Zhihong wasn't aware of, hiding a substantial collection in a secret compartment in the small study room. This series was her absolute favorite.

She had a particular fondness for a character in the series named Lu Jue, an alien being who had transformed from a little deer.

A mobile game adaptation of "Stellar Strike" was about to be launched, and she suspected that this event was a promotional activity.

"Is there any audience member willing to give it a try on stage?" the announcer called out. "The current record stands at ten minutes! We have two spots left. If you can surpass ten minutes, you'll win a limited edition Lu Jue plush toy!"

"Let's go in and take a look," Lu Nian couldn't contain her excitement, pleading, "Can we, please?"

Qin Si saw her animated expression.

It was absolutely impossible to refuse her; he couldn't bring himself to say no.

In the "Stellar Strike" series, Lu Nian's favorite character was Lu Jue. The little deer's innocent demeanor and its super-cute humanoid form - although slightly arrogant and tsundere - made it incredibly endearing to her.

Lu Nian's eyes twinkled as she gazed at the chibi version of Lu Jue on display. The character had two forms: a deer form and a humanoid form. The humanoid form, being a handsome and adorable young boy, was naturally more popular, hence most of the figures were of this form, making the deer form exceptionally rare.

Moreover, this particular design was exceedingly cute - one she had never seen before. She guessed it was a limited edition released in conjunction with the upcoming launch of the mobile game.

In the center stood a red podium, with a timer displayed. A young man was seen carrying a young woman in a bridal style, just stepping down from the podium.

Lu Nian, curious, asked a young woman nearby, "Excuse me, could you please explain how this event works?"

The woman, evidently a dedicated fan of "Stellar Strike," excitedly explained, "Oh, it's that classic pose from the series, with Yuan and Xinghe! It's a bridal carry challenge. If you can hold the pose long enough, you can win a Lu Jue figure!"

Yuan and Xinghe were the lead male and female characters in the series, heavily promoted by the creators, but the character with the highest popularity remained to be Lu Jue.

Lu Nian was almost ready to flip a table in frustration. What kind of ill-conceived event was this? Why did winning a Lu Jue figure require participating in a Yuan and Xinghe themed activity?

She took a moment to compose herself.

She cautiously asked the young lady, "Um, are there any other requirements for this event?"

The young lady replied, "To ensure fairness, carrying small children is not allowed, only those above 16 years of age can participate. Other than that, there seems to be no other restrictions. Couples, siblings, any kind of relationship is allowed, but couples will be given priority."

Couples given priority...

Lu Nian felt utterly disheartened.

"Where am I supposed to find a boyfriend on the spot?" she wondered. "Or should I just wait here and buy one?"

"Unfortunately, I don't have a boyfriend." The young lady lamented, "It's infuriating. I can only stand here and wait to see if anyone is willing to leave, but I've already been here for three hours and not one person is willing!"

After all, most of the prizes are gifts won by boyfriends, selling them second-hand doesn't seem right.

Lu Nian remained silent, "..."

"However, the standards of this group aren't very high." The young lady mentioned, "You only need to hold out for ten minutes."

Lu Nian looked on, her desire leaving her rooted to the spot.

She approached the young lady managing the registrations once more.

"Miss, I am willing to pay, is there any chance I could purchase a Lu Jue...?" she asked with a pitiable expression.

"I'm sorry, but these aren't for sale," the registration young lady replied, eyeing a young man standing nearby, "You could try participating with your boyfriend, it isn't difficult. The longest time in this group is only ten minutes. As long as you exceed ten minutes, you'll win. Your boyfriend seems capable of doing it."

She assessed the tall young man, whose arm lines were quite attractive, thinking he must be quite strong. Holding this seemingly lightweight girl for ten minutes shouldn't be a problem.

Lu Nian, "...". There indeed wasn't a problem.

Qin Si would definitely be able to hold her, but...

He might not be willing, or rather, he would definitely be unwilling.

Qin Si remained silent the entire time, and Lu Nian hadn't even considered asking him.

After all, he was reluctant to even touch her, let alone hold her for an extended period.

"Maybe I should find a guy temporarily to help out?" Lu Nian mumbled, looking around.

But she didn't have the nerve to ask a complete stranger to engage in such an intimate act with her. She tried to broach the subject a few times but couldn't bring herself to do it.

Qin Si watched her struggle the entire time, his eyelids slightly drooping, "If you want to find someone, hurry up. It's about to start."

Lu Nian, "..."

"Otherwise, it would only be me," he stated stiffly after a long silence.

Lu Nian was stunned, unable to fully process his words.

Seeing her stunned, the young man felt heat rising to his cheeks once again. With a stiff tone, he said, "Forget it if you are unwilling."

Lu Nian's eyes brightened, and she quickly regained her composure, shaking her head fervently, "I'm counting on you, please."

"I promise, I won't overthink it, nor will I act impulsively," she said.

There was only one spot left.

There was a sibling pair ahead of them.

"Couples are given priority, I'm sorry. Would you like to wait for the next round?" The staff member, a young lady, said apologetically as she noticed them approaching the siblings.

Lu Nian initially wanted to clarify that they weren't a couple, but the words were stuck in her throat.

"I wasn't mistaken, was I?" The young lady said with a smile, gesturing to Lu Nian to register her phone number.

Lu Nian, "…"

Lu Nian stole a glance at Qin Si, wondering if asking him to play along with this lie was too much.

The young man didn't look at her, standing a bit distant, his expression indecipherable.

"Alright, the last couple to take the stage in this round is a very young and vibrant pair..." the staff member heightened the excitement, "and they are indeed a visual match!"

They seemed to be the most formidable competitors in this round.

The young man was tall and the girl was slender. Breaking the ten-minute record seemed well within reach.

Lu Nian was a few pounds shy of a hundred; her petite frame made her appear exceptionally delicate. Being held felt so soft and warm, with the scent of her skin and hair continuously wafting up, impossible to ignore.

His mind was becoming increasingly clouded.

The area behind his ears was burning, and he couldn't control the heat flooding his cheeks, struggling immensely to prevent her from noticing.

Meanwhile, Lu Nian kept talking, constantly glancing at the timer behind them before whispering in his ear, "Only three minutes left!"

Just a bit more endurance, and they could break the record of this round and win her coveted Lu Jue figure.

"Can you still hold on?" she asked softly.

Qin Si's hold on her was restrained, deliberately avoiding any sensitive areas. His arms were firm and strong, the physical difference between males and females becoming evident. She realized how tiny she felt nestled in his arms, forming a small bundle.

Her heartbeat also quickened, constantly reminding herself,

As agreed, not to overthink it; he was just helping her.

The girl's aura was soft, emitting a faint fragrance that brushed against his ear, akin to a gentle feather tickling him.

Every spot where her breath touched seemed to be scorched by a blazing fire.

His body was not heeding his commands, reacting eagerly to even her slightest touch, wanting to reciprocate fervently, which brought an unfamiliar discomfort. He couldn't afford to reveal this reaction at all.

Each second felt agonizingly prolonged, and he feared that the abrupt and loud pounding of his heart would give him away to her.

"...Stop talking," his arm tightened around her, his voice tinged with a hint of roughness.

Assuming that he was too fatigued, Lu Nian hurriedly nodded, signalling that it was okay, she wouldn't disturb him anymore.

Finally, the ten minutes were over.

He put her down and stepped away, not holding her for even a second longer.

As applause erupted from the audience, Lu Nian, remembering their pretend relationship and fearing being exposed by the staff, instinctively grabbed the hem of his shirt, saying, "Wait for me, please."

Qin Si halted, standing stiffly in place.

Some of the audience chuckled.

This young lady seems to be adept at acting affectionately towards her boyfriend, indicating that she's used to doing so often.

Even the staff couldn't contain their smile, saying, "You could have held on for at least double the time, why did you stop now?"

She observed that the young man didn't appear exhausted in the slightest, wondering why he had stopped as soon as they broke the record.

Typically, wouldn't guys want to show off their strength in front of their girlfriends?

Lu Nian didn't dare to glance at Qin Si, afraid of blowing their cover. She could only force a smile and fabricate an excuse, "He's shy and doesn't like to display affection publicly."

The staff responded, "Is that so?"

She looked at the young man who had moved away, standing alone at a distance.

His appearance was refined yet restrained, characterized by a pair of classical, narrow phoenix eyes, and an icy demeanor that seemed not so approachable... yet, it seemed to be different when he was with his girlfriend.

She marked a special note on Lu Nian's contact information, praising, "You two really have a wonderful vibe, quite reminiscent of Yuanyuan and Xinghe."

Lu Nian, "..." felt an increasing sense of guilt, unable to utter a word.

Lu Nian received the Lu Jue doll, hugging it tightly to her chest, "Lu Jue is my favorite!"

On her Sea Rabbit account, she had posted many Lu Jue fan arts, being a well-known fan of Lu Jue.

The staff noticed her phone's screensaver, which indeed was a Lu Jue picture, "What is this?"

The artwork was so well-executed that for a moment she couldn't tell whether it was official art or fan-made.

The composition was superb, colored with a clear aesthetic sense, clearly portraying her fondness for Lu Jue, capturing the essence precisely.

Lu Nian pressed her lips together, smiling with a touch of embarrassment, "I drew it myself. It's not as good as the professionals, quite amateurish."

"Not at all, it's really well-drawn," the staff handed her a business card, "Let's stay in touch, there might be opportunities in the future."

Lu Nian expressed her gratitude, accepting the business card graciously.

She took away the stuffed toy, and Lu Nian held Lu Jue in his arms, unable to restrain a smile that gently lifted the corners of his lips, radiating warmth and happiness.

"I'm so lucky to have you," she said.

The young man remained silent, not uttering a word throughout their journey.

Lu Nian thought, it seemed he had been quite unfair to him.

After all, she was a girl too, being held like this by someone who was previously reluctant to even touch her.

Coincidentally passing by a café, she went in and bought two iced coffees, handing him one, "Thank you for your help."

"You're leaving tomorrow?"

He nodded slightly.

As the afternoon passed, Lu Nian felt that time was slipping away too quickly.

The rain hadn't ceased outside, and the Lu family's car had already arrived; Lu Yang questioned why she was so late buying the supplementary textbooks.

Lu Nian gave a few perfunctory responses. When she hung up, the young man stood not far away, his voice cold, announcing, "I am leaving."

It seemed he had fully reverted back to his initial state: a shallow expression, with eyes so dark that no emotion could be discerned, restrained and aloof.

"Let me walk you out," Lu Nian offered.

"No need," he replied.

The Lu family's car had arrived, and the phone calls kept coming one after another.

Lu Nian couldn't hold on any longer, unable to procrastinate further.

Outside, the rain fell in fine threads, he watched her get in the car, leaving, becoming more distant, until she could no longer be seen, only then did he depart.

The flight was scheduled for the wee hours of the morning.

He decided to skip dinner, directly taking a cab home to grab his luggage before heading to the airport.

That night, Lu Nian lay in bed, holding the freshly washed and dried Lu Jue.

She pondered upon the day's events.

In retrospect, being held by Qin Si felt quite pleasant... he smelled good, and his embrace was warm and solid.

Moreover, she strangely felt a sense of nostalgia, as if at some point, she had experienced such moments before.

She suddenly felt a delayed sense of bashfulness, repeatedly telling herself not to overthink it.

If only he could be a tad more gentle.

Many people find love during their college years.

Besides, with Qin Si's looks, if he could show even a bit more gentleness towards others, he would undoubtedly be very appealing to girls.

Perhaps by next year, he would bring a girlfriend back to Ancheng.

In that case, wouldn't it be somewhat inappropriate for her to still have the keys to his house?

Lu Nian found herself caught in a whirlwind of thoughts.

Suddenly, she felt her mood plummet.

Barefooted, she climbed off the bed, once again picking up the notebook that Qin Si had given her.

The girl sniffled, curling up on the bed, flipping through the pages one by one.

She had read it many times over these days, but this time, something unexpectedly fell from the inner fold of the book.

Bending over to pick it up, Lu Nian realized it was a slip of paper.

The handwriting was rough, yet unmistakably Qin Si’s — the strokes bold and vigorous.

Her eyes widened in realization, reading the solitary line on it, "The lock won’t change, whether you keep the key is up to you."

Was he talking about his home?... Lu Nian was taken aback.

That key, it seemed, she had not used it ever since he gave it to her.

Did he intend for her to occasionally look after his house?

After all, Qin Si had no relatives, and he had been living alone in that house.

Suddenly, Lu Nian felt a little uplifted. Did this mean that he still planned on returning to Ancheng?

If so, when he comes back during the winter break, she would go in earlier, have the house cleaned thoroughly, and prepare a feast to surprise him.

As she entertained this thought, an unconscious smile blossomed on her lips. After a long gaze, she carefully folded the note and tucked it away in her box, cherishing it deeply.

The sound of rain pelting against the windowpanes was particularly pronounced.

She turned her gaze towards the window.

The outside was engulfed in darkness, and the night rain had begun again. The summer downpour resembled a waterfall, rendering everything invisible.

It was time to leave.

With bare feet, the girl stared unblinkingly at the outside world.

After all these years, it seemed this was the first time they would be separated by such a distance.

This sense of melancholy and loneliness is uncontrollable.

Author's Note:

The boyfriend in the future is indeed quite shy.

In the future, his thick skin will gradually be cultivated by Nian Nian, hehe.