Chapter 34

Xia Qingning didn’t know that Lu Jingzhe was watching them. She was focused on learning to ride with Wu Xiaodong.

She had initially thought learning to ride a bicycle was a simple task, seeing how easy it looked for others. But once she got on, she realized that a two-wheeled vehicle was harder to learn than a four-wheeled one.

The handlebars were constantly tilting in her hands, and the horizontal bar on the bike made it even harder to learn.

Wu Xiaodong was worried about her falling, then worried about her falling with the bike. After Xia Qingning’s several near misses, Wu Xiaodong was already sweating profusely.

Seeing him drenched in sweat, Xia Qingning felt a little guilty. To lighten the mood, she joked:

“Relax, why do I feel like you’re more nervous than me? Haha, if I fall, it’s me who falls, not you.”

“Yeah, haha, if I fall, it’s me who falls, why am I so nervous?” Wu Xiaodong, realizing this, also laughed.

In the vibrant evening glow, the teenager was teaching the girl how to ride a bicycle. Both of their faces were filled with smiles. The scene was originally heartwarming, but it made Lu Jingzhe incredibly uncomfortable.

If it was uncomfortable, he wouldn’t look. He pulled the curtains shut, sat on the chair with a cold expression.

But after sitting for a moment, he suddenly stood up and strode out with his long legs.

Wu Xiaodong was teaching Xia Qingning how to ride in the courtyard. He kept saying:

“No, Sister Qingning, you need to look ahead.”

“No, while looking ahead, Sister Qingning, you need to pedal.”

“Hey, hey, hey, Sister Qingning, you need to steady the handlebars.”

With Wu Xiaodong’s constant corrections, Xia Qingning became flustered. The more anxious she got, the more mistakes she made.

“Sister Qingning, handlebars, handlebars…”

She was already nervous, and Wu Xiaodong’s shout completely panicked her. The handlebars tilted, and she was about to fall.

Just then, a large hand reached out and grabbed the handlebars. The bike, which had been out of control, instantly stopped steadily.

“Wow, that was close! Luckily, Jingzhe came in time.” Wu Xiaodong, who wasn’t holding the bike, patted his chest and said. Then he immediately ran to Xia Qingning’s side, asking with concern:

“Sister Qingning, are you alright? That was really scary!”

Xia Qingning was still shaken. She was indeed scared. The bike was so tall and heavy, if she had fallen, she would definitely have been injured.

“I’m fine.” But to avoid making Wu Xiaodong feel guilty, Xia Qingning forced a smile, but her pale face betrayed her.

“Oh, it’s my fault, I wasn’t paying attention and didn’t hold on.” Wu Xiaodong scratched his head awkwardly and assured her:

“Don’t worry, it won’t happen again next time, let’s try again.”

Hearing the words “try again,” Lu Jingzhe lifted his eyelids, glanced at him coldly, and asked in a deep voice:

“Are you free?”

“Ah?” Wu Xiaodong didn’t understand, but facing Lu Jingzhe’s gloomy face, he was still a little scared. He said with a smile:

“I’m okay, hehe… not busy, not busy.”

“Not busy, go get a bottle of soy sauce.” Lu Jingzhe said, his voice serious and Deep Voice

“Ah?” Wu Xiaodong was confused again. He didn’t understand why Jingzhe would suddenly ask him to get soy sauce, it was too sudden and unexpected.

“What are you ‘ah’-ing about, hurry up.” Lu Jingzhe said, his voice carrying an undeniable seriousness.

He was already half a head taller than Wu Xiaodong, looking down at him. The cold, military aura he exuded was overwhelming. Wu Xiaodong immediately stood up straight, saluted, and said in a loud voice:

“Yes, I will complete the mission.” Then he went to get on his own bicycle.

“Walk.” Lu Jingzhe spoke again.

Wu Xiaodong was even more confused, but seeing Lu Jingzhe’s uncompromising gaze, he didn’t dare to ask anything. He ran off quickly.

Xia Qingning looked at Wu Xiaodong’s back, also confused, wondering why Lu Jingzhe would ask him to get soy sauce at this time. Wasn’t there still half a bottle of soy sauce at home?

Now that her teacher had gone to get soy sauce, she didn’t dare to learn on her own.

She hesitated for a moment, turned the handlebars, and pushed the bike towards home.

“What, not learning anymore?” Lu Jingzhe saw her about to leave and asked, his tone tinged with anger.

“I’m a little scared on my own.” Xia Qingning looked at his gloomy face and said truthfully.

Lu Jingzhe frowned and retorted:

“Isn’t there a person in front of you?”

“Ah?” Xia Qingning didn’t understand what he meant.

“What, he can teach, I can’t?” Lu Jingzhe’s brows furrowed, looking at Xia Qingning:

“Or do you think I can’t teach you?”

He wanted to teach her how to ride? Xia Qingning was a little surprised.

She had hesitated earlier, wondering if she should ask Lu Jingzhe to teach her, but she thought better of it. His aloof demeanor made it seem like he wouldn’t like teaching someone how to ride.

She didn’t want to ask and be rejected, it would be embarrassing.

But now, hearing him offer to teach her, she was surprised.

“What are you standing there for?” Lu Jingzhe spoke again, reached out and took the handlebars, held the back of the bike, and said to Xia Qingning, “Get on.”

Xia Qingning looked at him, stepped onto the bike, and sat down. She realized that the bike was suddenly stable in Lu Jingzhe’s hands, not swaying at all. She couldn’t help but sigh:

“Soldiers really do have strong hands.”

“Don’t sit so stiff, relax a little.” Lu Jingzhe said in a low voice:

“Just look ahead and hold the handlebars, don’t focus on your feet.”

Xia Qingning did as he said, taking the handlebars from his hands. But once they were in her hands, they became unruly, swaying left and right. With every sway, Xia Qingning felt insecure, and she couldn’t control them.

Seeing her fear, Lu Jingzhe softened his voice and said:

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here, you won’t fall.”

Perhaps it was the confidence he exuded, or perhaps it was the reassurance in his voice, but Xia Qingning felt calmer. She started to do as he said, and it was indeed smoother. Even when she lost her grip on the handlebars a few times, he would reach out and the bike would stop steadily.

His hands were large and strong, and the bike was incredibly obedient in his hands. As he promised, no matter how Xia Qingning rode, she didn’t fall.

He was by her side, and Xia Qingning felt a sense of security. He wasn’t like Wu Xiaodong, telling her not to do this or that, but encouraging her to ride boldly.

Because she believed she wouldn’t fall, after overcoming her initial fear, Xia Qingning slowly became more and more proficient.

“Now you hold the handlebars, I’ll help you hold the back.” Seeing that she had practiced enough, Lu Jingzhe started to let her control the handlebars on her own. To ease her worries, he reassured her:

“Ride with confidence, I’ll be there to protect you.”