Chapter 23: Testing the Waters

Lu Jingchen glanced at the two of them, leading the way. He had left before them and already paid the bill.

“Brother, I have something to do and will be back later. Can you send Yanyan back? You know the place.”

Lu Jingchen raised an eyebrow and looked at Qin Ruyan. Her lips were tightly pressed together, and her brow furrowed slightly, seemingly reluctant to be sent back by him.

He smiled and agreed, “Okay, go home early, don’t go past eleven.”

Zhang Qiyao nodded, said goodbye to Qin Ruyan, grabbed her bag, and slipped away.

Qin Ruyan stood there, speechless and motionless.

Lu Jingchen stared at her unabashedly for a while, sighing inwardly.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you back?”

Qin Ruyan nodded and followed Lu Jingchen slowly towards the exit.

They reached the parking lot, and Lu Jingchen opened the passenger door for her. Qin Ruyan glanced at the back seat, but she didn’t dare ask Lu Jingchen to be her driver. She didn’t have the courage.

Qin Ruyan sat in the passenger seat and was about to turn to fasten her seatbelt when Lu Jingchen leaned towards her, his hand reaching for the seatbelt buckle.

Qin Ruyan froze, instinctively turning her head. Just as Lu Jingchen lowered his head, she turned and her lips brushed against his.

Qin Ruyan was startled and leaned back, resting against the seat. They were still very close.

Lu Jingchen was stunned for a moment when she kissed him, but he reacted quickly. He touched his lips, then looked down at the person who was almost shrinking into the seat, raising an eyebrow and speaking with a smile.

“So, Yan’er doesn’t want to be my sister?”

What was he saying?! What was he calling her?!

Qin Ruyan’s face turned crimson, her fingers clenched as she forced out a response.

“Brother Lu, I was just careless. I didn’t mean it. You suddenly leaned over, and I didn’t have time to dodge.”

Her face was flushed, her eyes misty, looking like she was about to cry.

Lu Jingchen pondered for a moment and mercifully let her off the hook for now.

He stood up, looked at her for a while, then closed the car door and went to the driver’s seat. He didn’t rush to start the car. He turned his head and looked at Qin Ruyan.

“What if I said I don’t want to be your brother?”

Qin Ruyan froze, turning to look at him.

Lu Jingchen leaned closer to her and chuckled softly.

“You and Yaoyao are in the same class. During a school event in your first year of high school, my parents couldn’t go, so I went for her. It happened to be you hosting, and you even danced, right?”

Lu Jingchen fell into his memories as he spoke.

That time, the experimental school held a welcome party for the new high school freshmen.

His parents were both out of town and couldn’t make it back, but they couldn’t bear to let Zhang Qiyao be disappointed without anyone there. So, Lu Jingchen, who was already in college, flew back from out of town.

He still remembered that the weather was a bit hot that day. He arrived a little late, and Zhang Qiyao was waiting for him at the door. Because he hadn’t arrived, her eyes were unusually red.

“Brother, I thought you wouldn’t be able to make it.”

Lu Jingchen patted Zhang Qiyao’s head and patiently explained, “Yaoyao, I’m sorry, the flight was delayed a bit. Brother promises he won’t be late in the future. Don’t be sad?”

At that time, Lu Jingchen was still in school. Although he had a cold personality, he was still very gentle and patient with his own sister.

Zhang Qiyao nodded and pulled him inside.

“Our class’s performance is at the back, it hasn’t started yet. Brother, the host is my goddess, the best-looking and best-performing student in our class. I’m going to cheer her on later, and when we clap, you have to clap with me.”

Lu Jingchen smiled and stroked her hair, “Okay.”

Zhang Qiyao led Lu Jingchen to the side. They were considered late, and it wouldn’t be good to walk in the middle. Even though Lu Jingchen was tall and had long legs, as he walked from the side to the middle, his figure could be seen reflected in the lights of the performance room because he was bending over.

After they took their seats, Qin Ruyuan came out on stage wearing a Hanfu. She was performing a folk dance today.

Lu Jingchen wasn’t originally interested in watching, but because Zhang Qiyao kept saying that the person on stage was her goddess, he glanced at her casually. Then, his gaze couldn’t move away anymore.

Qin Ruyuan had put on light makeup today. She already had fair skin, long legs, and delicate features with a bit of baby fat that hadn’t completely disappeared. But it was clear that she was beautiful.

Lu Jingchen’s hand tightened. At this moment, he suddenly realized that his heart was racing and his breathing was a little tense.

This feeling continued until Qin Ruyuan finished her dance and didn’t stop. That day, he believed that there was a kind of love called love at first sight.

Qin Ruyuan didn’t expect that he knew her before, she opened her mouth, but couldn’t say a word.

Lu Jingchen didn’t continue speaking, only said lightly, “I’ll send you back first. You can think about it slowly, no rush. When you’ve decided, give me your answer.”

Qin Ruyuan nodded blankly, not noticing that she was being led by Lu Jingchen.