Chapter 057

Lu Jin is tall, and He Ye is not short either, standing about 1.7 meters tall with long arms.

Lu Jin grabbed her hands, which were hiding behind her back, and placed them on his shoulders.

In the dark, closed entrance, their breaths mixed together. He did this again, and He Ye felt weak: “What are you doing?”

Lu Jin held her hand when she tried to pull back: “Hold me.”

He Ye felt a rush of emotions. He was still the same, saying anything so calmly as if it were normal.

Lu Jin looked at her and said, “When you didn’t like me, you never hugged me first.”

He Ye’s heart felt cold and a bit sad, as if someone had dropped rain on it.

Did she need to hug Lu Jin back then? She wanted to protect herself from his strong feelings every time they met. How could she dare to be the one to hug him first?

She started college soon after their breakup, focusing on her studies, competing for study spots in the library, and preparing for exams.

Her dormitory had four people, and she was the most dedicated. Unless she needed clothes or skincare products, she wouldn’t shop casually. Other roommates were pursued by boys and were in love, but she…

She turned down many boys, but whenever someone pursued her, she would think of Lu Jin.

No one was more handsome than Lu Jin, no one had a cooler vibe, and no one’s pursuit was as genuine as Lu Jin’s.

At first, she wasn’t used to Lu Jin kissing her, but later she accepted it. However, when other boys kissed her, she found their lips uncomfortable.

Since Lu Ye only had this one relationship, she remembered many little things about being with Lu Jin clearly, including what she liked and what she disliked.

But those memories only surfaced occasionally, on nights when she listened to her roommates discuss their relationships or when she saw couples on her way to study alone.

Usually, He Ye didn’t often miss Lu Jin.

What kind of feeling was that?

He Ye couldn’t explain it well, but she remembered on the first day they reunited before the New Year, after a welcome banquet, Lu Jin drove her home and left without any hesitation. She felt a bit wronged inside.

He used to be so nice to her; why had he become so distant, colder than ordinary old classmates or new colleagues?

She was the one who ended the relationship, so how often had Lu Jin, the one who got broken up with, thought of her in those six years?

She realized he had been overly enthusiastic, so in his memory, she probably seemed like a very cold ex-girlfriend.

He Ye wrapped her arms around his neck.

This position made her lean against his shoulder naturally. He Ye closed her eyes and whispered, “No, I don’t dislike it.”

It was just that she didn’t like him as much as he liked her. She had been scared of him and wanted to break up quickly, thinking she really didn’t like him at all.

“Well, thank you. It has somewhat lessened how much of a scumbag I was back then.”

He Ye smiled.

Lu Jin lowered his head and kissed the corner of her upturned lips.

It was a gentle kiss until He Ye opened her lips.

This time, Lu Jin didn’t ask any more questions. He held the back of her head and deepened the kiss eagerly but carefully.

It was already eleven o’clock when Lu Jin left.

They started standing, then Lu Jin sat on the shoe-changing stool and held her in his arms. When he was about to leave, they stood up again.

From He Ye’s collarbone upwards, almost every part of her body had been kissed repeatedly by him, even her hair.

He Ye’s legs felt weak, her hands trembled, and her heart was completely soft.

She leaned against the entrance for a while before picking up her phone from the sofa and heading to the master bedroom in the dark.

She turned on the light and stood in front of the sink in the bathroom. In the mirror, her hair was messy, her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were bright red as if they were swollen.

He Ye tried pressing her lips and felt a little uncomfortable. It wasn’t painful, but they were too sensitive.

He Ye washed her face again and crawled softly into bed.

Team leader: [Are you happy?]

He Ye pretended to be confused: [When was I unhappy?]

Team leader: [When I saw you off and was about to leave, you looked unhappy when you closed the door.]

He Ye: [No.]

Team leader: [Really? I thought you also couldn’t bear to part with me.]

He Ye stared at the word “also” and thought about its meaning.

She asked, “If I didn’t look unhappy, would you not come?”

Team Leader: [Of course! A boyfriend who’s finally back should be able to understand your feelings.]

He Ye: [Your eyesight is still not very accurate. I am really not unhappy.]

Team leader: [Yes, I misread it. I will look more carefully tomorrow night.]

He Ye: […Are you home?]

Team Leader: [Still in your garage.]

He Ye: [Why aren’t you leaving yet?]

Team leader: [I haven’t been this happy for a long time. Let’s reminisce.] 

He Ye: […Whatever you want, I’m going to sleep.]

Team leader: [Good night, remember to put on lip balm.]

He Ye realized she really forgot! 

That summer, her lips were chapped because Lu Jin kissed her for too long each time!

He Ye promised her father she would go home this weekend. She is the only daughter, and both Wu Li and she treat her like their own. He Ye returned to Ancheng to work to spend more time with her family. It’s impossible for her to ignore her family once she falls in love.

On Friday evening, it was drizzling. Lu Jin drove into the underground garage and took He Ye to the bottom of Building 7.

Seeing he was about to unbuckle his seat belt, He Ye hurriedly said, “Uncle and Aunt are still waiting for you to have dinner together, so go back quickly.”

Lu Jin looked at her but didn’t insist and asked, “Are you going to help in the store later?”

He Ye nodded and warned, “You are not allowed to go.”

Lu Jin smiled, his eyes on her rosy lips.

Someone might pass by the garage anytime. He Ye didn’t like kissing in such places, so she quickly opened the door, got out, and waved at him.

Lu Jin had no choice but to drive away.

After a few turns in the garage, he parked near Building 10. 

After locking the car, Lu Jin took the elevator to the eighth floor as if he were familiar with the place. When he reached the door and unlocked it, he heard faint voices inside.

Lu Jin went in.

Lu Jiping was cooking while Lin Yun was talking to him. When she heard the door open, she casually looked towards the entrance.

The mother and son looked at each other. Lu Jin asked while changing his shoes, “Why are you off work so early today?”

Lin Yun stared at her son’s face and asked, “Are you still single?”

Lu Jin: “…Is it really that obvious?”

Lin Yun: “It would be strange if it wasn’t obvious. When I was heartbroken, my face showed no emotion. There was no difference between going to work and going home. But when I got a partner, I looked youthful again.”

Lu Jin looked at his father who joined in.

Lu Jiping: “Yes, the change is indeed obvious.”

Lin Yun told him to go back to cooking and asked her son with a half-smile, “You already have a girlfriend, why don’t you go on a date? You don’t seem like someone who would skip dating a girlfriend for your parents.”

Lu Jin didn’t argue and said, “My girlfriend is more filial.” 

Lin Yun: “…” 

Who did this kid inherit his shamelessness from?

When dinner was served, Lu Jiping asked curiously, “Is she the daughter of Mr. He from the fruit shop?”

Lu Jin looked up: “You went there to buy things too?”

Lu Jiping said calmly, “I don’t go there often, maybe once a week, at least to get to know each other. Xiang Ming’s father added him on WeChat since high school; we should at least recognize him.”

Lin Yun sarcastically said, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t know each other. Maybe your son will be dumped a second time. Breaking up is very normal.”

Lu Jin: “…”

Lu Jiping: “Has Xiao Ye told her family?”

Lu Jin: “…She just graduated. There’s no need to rush. You guys should pretend you don’t know. Just keep doing what you did when you saw Uncle He and the others getting along.”

Lin Yun exchanged glances with her husband.

Lu Jin: “…”

He lowered his head and ate without saying a word.

After dinner, Lu Jin sat on the sofa and talked with his parents about their work. He checked the time and sent a message to his girlfriend: [Are you in the store?]

Xiao YeZi: [Yes.]

Lu Jin: [What time will you be home? I’ll pick you up.]

Little Leaf: [Let’s go at 8:30. It’s raining, so you don’t need to come out.]

Lu Jin: [See you at the old place.]

There aren’t many customers in the fruit shop after eight o’clock, especially since it was raining today.

He Yong: “Xiao Ye, go home and rest. You didn’t have to come here.”

He Ye: “If I don’t come, you can’t close the store and go home early, so what’s the point of me going home?”

Wu Li listened to the father and daughter bickering with a smile, checked the 300-gram package of durian pulp she had taken out to thaw, and handed it to her daughter: “Eat it; this batch is very sweet.”

People who like durian find its taste very strong, while those who don’t like it probably can’t stand it.

He Ye liked durian, but thinking about meeting Lu Jin later, she closed the durian box and said, “I’ll take it home and eat it later.”

The couple didn’t think anything was wrong. No matter how tidy the cash register in the store was, it wasn’t as clean and comfortable as home.

While they were not paying attention, He Ye quietly sent a message to Lu Jin: [I’m leaving, have you arrived yet?]

Team Leader: [Just arrived.]

He Ye walked out of the fruit shop holding a plastic bag of durian in one hand and an umbrella in the other.

The drizzle made the temperature drop several degrees compared to the previous days. The rain washed the road, and the lights of the shops were reflected on the wet surface.

He Ye walked in the rain and headed towards the east gate. She spotted a tall figure standing under a tree about fifty meters away. He was holding an umbrella, and his face was blurred in the night.

This kind of scene had happened many times six years ago, but it was the first time since their reunion.

He Ye quickly approached Lu Jin, but he remained still.

She asked, “Are we going?” 

Lu Jin glanced at her umbrella and said, “Put it away.”

He Ye looked around and saw not many people on the rainy road. She stood under his umbrella for a moment before putting it away.

Lu Jin even had a storage bag ready.

To make it easier, He Ye handed him the bag of durian.

Lu Jin asked, “Are you giving it to me?”

He Ye smiled and said, “Do you like it? If you do, I’ll give it to you.”

Lu Jin replied, “Not really.”

He Ye’s eyes flickered.

Even though Lu Jin said he would take her home, he led her towards the community playground. Since it was still early for her parents to close the store, He Ye didn’t question him.

The playground had a large group of slides, and the area under the main slide was suitable for kids to play games.

On a rainy day like this, no one would be at the playground, and the streetlights barely illuminated under the slide.

Lu Jin took He Ye inside.

He told her to set down what she was holding while he kept the umbrella.

Despite the secrecy, He Ye felt nervous, worried about being seen. “Maybe we should go to the stairwell.”

Lu Jin vaguely said, “That’s not good.”

He didn’t explain why. He looked at her, whose breathing had quickened, and said, “Hold me.”

After hugging him a few times, He Ye wrapped her arms around his neck. Just as she was about to close her eyes, she suddenly smiled and said, “I ate some durian in the store.”

Lu Jin didn’t respond, but lowered his head to smell her lips.

He Ye felt a mix of shyness and excitement as he rubbed against her.

“I can’t smell it; let me taste it.”

He touched her lips.

He Ye turned away, “What if I really did eat it?”

“Then kiss here.” 

Lu Jin suddenly kissed her neck, like a wild animal finally seizing its prey.

He Ye, caught off guard, screamed in surprise.

She pushed back harder but didn’t dare speak again.