Chapter 19: Are We Dating?

Hearing those words, Lin Yiqiao’s heart skipped a beat, but her face remained calm.

“Yes, I’m chasing you,” she said.

She stared intently into the man’s eyes, their breaths brushing against each other. She leaned in closer and closer.

Qi Jun turned his head away, unable to hold her gaze.

Lin Yiqiao let out a quiet sigh of relief. She glanced around and saw the two guards had already left the room, leaving the two of them alone on the balcony.

Was this moving too fast?

Before she could think further, Qi Jun turned back to her. “How’s the soup coming?”

“Haven’t even plucked the feathers yet,” she replied coolly.

She truly was afraid, and unsure of Qi Jun’s intentions.

Did he want something real with her? Or was he just toying with her?

Just yesterday, he was urgently getting her released, and now today, he was distant and somewhat flippant.

Lin Yiqiao suddenly felt she couldn’t read Qi Jun at all. He was far more complex than she’d imagined—certainly not the man she thought he was at first.

“What are you thinking now?” she asked, looking him in the eyes.

If she couldn’t figure it out, she might as well ask directly.

“Thinking what?” His dark eyes were as still as an ancient well.

“About me. I like you. I want to date you,” she smiled, dimples faintly appearing on her cheeks.

Qi Jun choked a little. How was she this blunt?

“Are you always like this?”

“Huh? Like what?” Lin Yiqiao was a little confused.

“You don’t even know me well, and you want to be in a relationship?”

“Exactly. I don’t know you, so I want to date you. I’ll get to know you slowly,” she said with a cheerful smile.

Qi Jun didn’t respond. He leaned back in the reclining chair and stared off into the distance, lost in thought.

Lin Yiqiao started getting anxious. This man was really hard to deal with. She had to lock him down today—otherwise, it’d be even harder later.

She leaned her face into his, teasing, “Hey, comrade, what are you thinking about? Are you so unhappy about being confessed to?”

She pouted, looking wounded and melancholic.

Qi Jun looked at her for a long moment. “What do you like about me?”

“Huh? So many things!”

Lin Yiqiao sat back and thought for a moment.

“Do you know that feeling of love at first sight?” She placed a hand over her heart and looked at him with sparkling eyes.

“It’s like being struck by something.”

“If you were really struck, you’d be dead,” Qi Jun couldn’t help but laugh.

“Good thing I survived,” she grinned, gently placing her hand on his, “Otherwise you wouldn’t find someone who likes you as much as I do.”

“Such a smooth talker.”

Qi Jun didn’t pull his hand back. Lin Yiqiao squeezed his knuckles and gave him a playful wink.

“We…” he started to say.

Before he could finish, Lin Yiqiao interlocked her fingers with his and finished the sentence for him: “Let’s date!”

He paused for a moment, then smiled.

“Alright.”

“Really?!”

Great. Since you agreed, be ready to be stuck with me for life.

Lin Yiqiao was beyond thrilled. She carefully rested her head against his chest, not knowing where to place her hands.

Qi Jun smiled too. Her emotions always overflowed so vividly—it was fascinating. He could feel her happiness.

Seeing her nestled against him, her hair soft and fluffy, the tip of her nose blushing red, he suddenly had an urge. He reached out and gently stroked her hair.

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They’d just started dating, and Lin Yiqiao didn’t dare let loose too much. She tidied her hair and stepped out of the room.

Dongzi and Zhu Yang were standing at the entrance of the building. She didn’t feel embarrassed at all.

“Comrades, thank you for your hard work,” she greeted with a bright smile.

Dongzi waved his hands quickly, “Not hard at all, it’s our duty,” he said in his honest, down-to-earth way.

Lin Yiqiao chuckled at him, but out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Zhu Yang giving her a deep, probing look—like the legitimate wife watching the mistress walk out of her husband’s room.

Seriously, what was up with men in Beidu? Why so gossipy and suspicious?

Unmarried man and woman dating—who were they offending?

Lin Yiqiao couldn’t be bothered with him. She turned and walked out of the building.

There was a small courtyard outside the house, filled with carefully trimmed flowers and plants. It was elegant and uncommon—a tasteful display.

Lin Yiqiao made a mental note to admire it properly another time, but as she pushed open the courtyard gate, she saw a familiar figure.

Zhao Xinxin saw Lin Yiqiao too. Her smile froze mid-face, eyes brimming with hostile judgment.

Lin Yiqiao sensed it clearly, but she wasn’t afraid. She met the younger girl’s gaze head-on.

“What are you doing at my uncle’s house?” Zhao Xinxin demanded aggressively.