Chapter 430: After Losing Weight, You All Love Me (42)

Chapter 430: After Losing Weight, Everyone Loves Me (42)

Lu Tongchu stood to the side, like a silent, stoic dragon knight guarding a princess.

Just then, Qin Zizhen's voice suddenly came from nearby. "I'll cover the medical expenses," he said. "The guy you punched was sent to the hospital with a fracture."

He had initially thought Zhang Quan's loud cries were mostly an act, but it turned out to be a real fracture... This man who had suddenly appeared was so strong, which was somewhat surprising.

Qin Zizhen frowned as he looked at Lu Tongchu, feeling a flicker of irritation. This intuition came inexplicably. Although it was his first time meeting this man, there was a strange, almost inexplicable hostility between them.

"I heard you're her neighbor?"

Lu Tongchu didn’t respond.

He looked up, meeting President Qin's eyes.

The moment their eyes met, the atmosphere instantly grew tense and quiet.

Yang Zhipeng, standing nearby, felt as if a jolt of electricity had surged through the air—oppressive and stifling!

"Changjie Rimu?"

Lu Tongchu finally spoke, directly stating President Qin’s in-game ID.

Qin Zizhen: "You know me?"

Not really.

It was that morning when he discovered in the backend data that Tang Qing had gone on a private dungeon run with "Changjie Rimu"...

So it was him.

The thought that Qin Zizhen had received such special treatment brought back that familiar agitation within him once again!

Lu Tongchu clenched his fist slightly, easily suppressing the impulse.

Yang Zhipeng, standing nearby: He clenched his fist! He clenched his fist!

I must protect our president!

Ready to step in at any moment!

Yang Zhipeng remained on edge all afternoon, but even by the time the event ended, he never had to intervene.

He marveled that someone could stay silent all afternoon without even drinking a sip of water.

The Lu Tongchu before him was like a stray dog guarding its only piece of meat by the roadside, keeping his eyes glued to Tang Qing all afternoon—hardly blinking.

As the event concluded, Zhao Ru, who had her train ticket booked, lingered by the entrance, too reluctant to leave, dragging her feet.

"Sweetheart, aww, I don’t wanna leave you~"

"Hey, sweetheart, wait for me, I'll come find you to meet IRL next time."

I wish I had stayed one more night at Tang Qing's place!

After glancing at the time on her phone for the fifth time, Zhao Ru couldn't resist giving her girl friend one last hug.

Only then did she painfully make her way!

After a few steps, Zhao Ru suddenly noticed something was wrong and yelled back:

"Qin Zizhen!"

"Come on! Let's go! Hurry up and take me to the train station!"

Qin Zizhen didn't move.

President Qin had said there was nothing urgent at the company today, so he stayed at the venue with Zhao Ru the whole day.

He even condescended to eat a boxed meal at one point, really getting down to earth.

Everything felt off... Even now, Qin Zizhen, who’s always so punctual, actually let Zhao Ru stay at the event until so late.

If they didn’t leave now, she would probably really miss her train.

"After you get back..."

President Qin seemed to have something he wanted to say to Tang Qing. Standing opposite her, he held back for a long time but finally just said, "Rest well."

His tone was almost paternal, patronizing.

The system couldn’t help but roll its mental eyes hard!

"The president probably wanted to say something else... I just detected a 2-point increase in affection points, now at 61 points."

Tang Qing said, "Okay."

"Thanks, boss, for today!"

The term "boss" seemed to have become something special between Tang Qing and Qin Zizhen. Though it’s such a common word, coming from her lips, it carried a hint of sweetness.

Qin Zizhen’s mind flashed back to their duo queue that day, and the corners of his lips twitched upward.

It was just that slight upward tilt that suddenly bothered Lu Tongchu. The usually silent man spoke up at that moment:

"It’s 6:18."

Subtext: You can leave now.

Qin Zizhen was momentarily stunned, then said, "I’ll take Zhao Ru back."

"Next time, if there’s a chance..."

Before he could finish, Lu Tongchu’s phone rang—perfectly timed!

It perfectly drowned out Qin Zizhen’s words!

Lu Tongchu: "Sorry, a spam call."

"What were you going to say just now?"

The action was too obvious; President Qin's invitation ultimately fell through due to Lu Tongchu's phone ringtone.

It wasn’t a misunderstanding—Tang Qing’s neighbor…

He clearly didn’t like him.

His eyes darkened, lingering on her for a moment before Qin Zizhen finally said, "Goodbye."

Tang Qing: "Mhm, have a safe trip."

Watching the two leave, Tang Qing turned around, only to hear Lu Tongchu’s voice again:

"I’ll take you back."

"Are you cold?"

He pulled out a jacket and handed it to Tang Qing.

Looking at the familiar clothing, Tang Qing was surprised. "This is mine?"

"How do you have my jacket?"

Lu Tongchu replied, "I grabbed it from backstage."

The air conditioning in the venue was blasting, and Dream Illusion Princess’s outfit was too light. Several times, Lu Tongchu had wanted to give her the jacket…

But,

There were too many people crowding around her.

He didn’t get a chance to approach.

She was very popular…

Aware of this, Lu Tongchu felt his heart sink gloomily.

He had always known this day would come—the star he wished to protect would eventually shine brightly.

Only he held the selfish wish: to keep this star hidden forever, to have her all to himself…

At this thought, Lu Tongchu’s expression unconsciously darkened.

Suddenly.

A warm hand touched his cheek!

It was her!

He looked up, startled, and met Tang Qing’s eyes!

Clear and pure, they held his gaze.

"You…"

At such a close distance, she was still in her cosplay costume. Against the sprawling sunset behind her, Tang Qing seemed to truly become the Dream Illusion Princess from the game.

Holding Lu Tongchu’s face, Tang Qing said softly, "Look into my eyes. Don’t turn away."

This, too, was one of Dream Illusion Princess’s lines in the game.

Even this scenario was something Lu Tongchu had designed himself...

Yet, in this moment.

When Tang Qing spoke like this, she experienced a fleeting illusion.

The person before her, at least while speaking these words... completely! utterly! belonged to her.

Her heartbeat pounded like thunderous drums!

In Tang Qing's palm, she could distinctly feel Lu Tongchu's Adam's apple bob!

That tiny motion seemed to startle Tang Qing!

She'd just begun to pull her hand away!

But Lu Tongchu seized it firmly!

The usually gloomy and silent young man now stubbornly held Tang Qing's hand, compelling her to keep her hand against his face!

From a certain angle, it looked more like Lu Tongchu gently nuzzling his face against Tang Qing's hand.

"Tang Qing..."

Lu Tongchu's voice was hoarse, his gaze so intense it felt almost physical!

"Say it again..."

"What you just said."

How could he ask such a thing!

He stared stubbornly at Tang Qing, as if a torrent of emotions seemed ready to burst forth any second!

His tone was forceful, yet his eyes looked so pleading!

Faced with Lu Tongchu's expression at this moment, the system in Tang Qing's mind completely morphed into a screaming chicken!

"Ahhhhhhhhh, Tang Qing, indulge him!"

"Quick, quick, quick, say it again, he's begging you!"

"Awwww, how does he do it? So commanding yet so vulnerable!"