Chapter 54: Confession

Before Bai An could take a closer look, Lu Jin’an suddenly reached out and blocked her line of sight.

With her view suddenly obstructed, Bai An turned to Lu Jin’an in confusion, “Brother, what’s wrong?”

Facing Bai An’s question, Lu Jin’an frowned and said, “Don’t you remember him?”

Bai An shook her head, “I didn’t even get a good look at his face.”

Although Bai An didn’t remember, Lu Jin’an did; that person was the one who had been tugging at Bai An at the bus stop yesterday. He never expected the boy would come to their home.

At the door, Wan Qing saw the boy standing there, looking down and not speaking. She understood he was shy but didn’t quite grasp what there was to be shy about.

“Come in and have a seat. Aren’t you looking for Bai An? She’s just in the back.”

As she spoke, Wan Qing invited the boy inside.

He still didn’t look up. In response to Wan Qing’s invitation, he slowly stepped inside, taking small steps, and quietly said, “Thank you, Auntie. You can call me He Chuan.”

“Alright, He Chuan. Didn’t you come to see Bai An for something? Go ahead.”

Under Wan Qing’s encouragement, He Chuan finally found the courage to stand in front of Bai An, his entire face flushed to his neck, unsure of how to position his hands, ultimately crossing them in front of his abdomen.

“B-Bai An, do you remember me?”

Seeing that he hadn’t sat down, Bai An also stood up. Lu Jin’an stood up alongside her, watching the boy with a wary eye, sensing his ulterior motives.

As soon as Bai An saw his face, she exclaimed in surprise, “I remember! You’re the one who helped me with my books yesterday and gave me your seat.”

Upon hearing that Bai An remembered him, He Chuan felt a joy he couldn’t express.

Wan Qing, hearing Bai An’s words, immediately cast an approving glance at He Chuan. “Not bad, you helped her a lot yesterday.”

Then she turned to Bai An and said, “You two chat for a bit; I’m going to tidy up the house. Bai An, bring out some snacks to entertain him.”

Bai An nodded, but He Chuan quickly waved his hand and said, “No need, Auntie. I just wanted to ask if I could speak to Bai An alone for a moment.”

“You can’t.” A cold voice came from the side. At this point, Lu Jin’an could no longer hold back. The moment He Chuan arrived, his eyes had been glued to Bai An; he certainly knew what He Chuan was after.

“Is there something you can’t say here?” Lu Jin’an stood possessively in front of Bai An, hiding her behind him and looking at He Chuan with a scrutinizing gaze.

He Chuan then seriously looked at Lu Jin’an in front of him and couldn’t help but marvel at how good-looking he was. How come everyone in Bai An’s family looked so good?

When he saw Lu Jin’an frown, He Chuan hurriedly said, “I just want to say a few words to Bai An.”

With that, He Chuan straightened his posture, his expression serious as he said to Bai An, “My name is He Chuan. I’ve been in the same classroom as you. Once, I accidentally fell in the hallway, and you helped me up.”

“Really?” Bai An felt a bit at a loss; she didn’t remember this at all.

“I came specifically to say thank you,” He Chuan’s voice grew quieter, his face reddening further, and his hands began to fidget awkwardly.

Bai An leaned out from Lu Jin’an’s arm, saw He Chuan’s shy demeanor, and quickly waved her hand, saying, “No need to thank me; it was nothing.”

Seeing that He Chuan only came to thank Bai An, Lu Jin’an’s expression softened slightly.

“Since you’ve said thank you, then it’s fine,” Lu Jin’an said, still feeling a bit hostile toward the boy whose blush had yet to fade.

Bai An looked at He Chuan, who seemed hesitant to speak, and asked, “Is there anything else?”

Prompted by Bai An, He Chuan blinked at her and earnestly said, “Do you have any plans for marriage?”

“Ah?” Bai An looked at the boy in front of her, confused.

Lu Jin’an, feeling displeased, clenched his teeth and suppressed his growing anger, saying coldly, “She doesn’t have any plans, so you can leave.”

Upon hearing the rejection, He Chuan was undeterred, clenched his fists as if gathering courage, and shouted, “If she does, you have to tell me first!”

Before Lu Jin’an could react, He Chuan embarrassingly ran out.

Inside, Wan Qing was startled by He Chuan’s voice and curiously walked outside.

Seeing Bai An’s bewildered expression and Lu Jin’an radiating coldness in front of her, she asked in confusion, “Where did He Chuan go?”

“He left.” Bai An walked over to Wan Qing and said, “He just asked me if I had any plans for marriage. Mom, does he like me?”

Wan Qing couldn’t help but laugh at that moment. “He probably does. So, Bai An, did you say anything to him?”

Bai An shook her head. “I didn’t say anything; he just ran off. Does he really like me? But I don’t even know him.”

Lu Jin’an walked over to Bai An and casually said, “Don’t worry about him. Just reject him when the time comes. If he bothers you again, just tell me.”

“Bai An, if you’re not interested in him, find a chance to make it clear,” Wan Qing said, patting Bai An’s head. “Maybe at this age, feelings are more intense.”

Listening to her mother and brother, Bai An nodded earnestly. “Then I’ll talk to him if I see him at school tomorrow.”

Seeing Bai An say this, Lu Jin’an’s anger eased a bit, but thinking about how shy that boy was when confessing to Bai An still made him feel annoyed.

As the sky gradually darkened, Bai An looked up at the setting sun in the distance and anxiously asked, “Mom, why hasn’t Dad come back yet?”

Wan Qing stepped outside, glanced at the sky, and hesitantly replied, “Perhaps he’s been delayed by something.”

“Really?” Bai An couldn’t wait any longer, standing up and tugging at Lu Jin’an’s sleeve. “Brother, why don’t you come with me to the village entrance to wait for Dad?”

Lu Jin’an looked down at Bai An’s hand pulling his sleeve and nodded.

Seeing her brother agree, Bai An turned to her mother and shouted, “Mom, I’m going to the village entrance with my brother to wait for Dad!”

“Be careful, you two.”

“Okay.”

After Bai An finished speaking, she pulled on Lu Jin’an’s sleeve and headed for the door.

Lu Jin’an hesitated for a moment, then removed Bai An’s hand from his sleeve and intended to hold her hand instead.

But Bai An was completely unaware of Lu Jin’an’s intention. When she saw him take her hand away, she thought he found it inconvenient, so she moved ahead.

Lu Jin’an’s hand remained awkwardly suspended in the air as he watched the carefree Bai An walk ahead. He couldn’t help but sigh and followed her.

Bai An hadn’t taken a few steps when she heard a faint sound coming from beside her.

“Brother, did you hear that sound?”

Lu Jin’an stopped and turned his head. “There is indeed a sound.”

Saying this, he walked in a certain direction, and Bai An followed behind him. Lu Jin’an reached out and pulled out a bag from behind a mound of dirt, frowning as he tried to open it.

But the bag’s opening was tied in a tight knot. Bai An watched as Lu Jin’an tore the bag open with his hands.