Fell In Love With My Older Sister’s Friend - Chapter 10

“Little one.” Lin Qingyue put down her fork, her tongue lightly tracing her lips, leaving a faint, subtle sheen of moisture, making her lip shape even more alluring.

Xu Luzhi looked up at her, confused, not reacting immediately: “Huh?”

Lin Qingyue’s ‘peach blossom’ eyes curved into crescents, her smile captivating. With a casual gesture of her slender hand, she pointed to the beverage in Xu Luzhi’s cup.

Xu Luzhi suddenly understood. Without hesitation, she picked up the glass cup and quickly drank the entire greenish kiwi juice, licking her lips contentedly, savoring the slightly sour and tingling sensation in her mouth.

More than that, it was the sweetness that flowed into her heart.

Following that, as if in a challenge, she found an identical bottle on the table, easily twisted off the cap, and poured a full glass for Lin Qingyue.

Amidst the crisp ‘glug-glug’ sound, Lin Qingyue propped her chin in her hand, nonchalantly watching the liquid rise, seeing the cup gradually fill with a translucent green.

It formed a stark contrast to the red of the wine from before.

She quietly waited for Xu Luzhi to hand the glass to her. She gave a light laugh, reached out to take it, her pure black nail polish reflecting on the cup wall, harmonizing unexpectedly with the jade green inside.

Xu Luzhi blinked and softly called out, “Jiejie…”

Lin Qingyue nodded lazily, took a sip of the drink in the cup, feeling the rush of sourness.

She looked at the young girl before her, her peach blossom eyes filled with an enchanting smile, her smoky voice low, casual, yet solemn: “Happy Birthday, little one.”

Xu Luzhi froze there. Those few simple words looped repeatedly in her mind, lingering until they filled her entire being.

Her ears felt numb and tingly, as if an electric current had passed through. The close distance felt too far.

For a moment, she forgot countless things. All she saw was Lin Qingyue’s seductive and charming smile, and the ‘Happy Birthday’ that she had spoken just for her.

She had heard those four words, ‘Happy Birthday,’ countless times today, and they had long since lost their novelty. But when they came from Lin Qingyue’s mouth, they sounded so new and captivating, each word delightful to hear again and again.

She wanted to stay in her embrace and hear her say it over and over, and then again.

The air conditioning in the venue was cool, and she had just drunk a cup of juice, yet Xu Luzhi felt a heat spreading through her entire body at that moment, threatening to burst out of her skull, clamoring and driving her to do something impulsive.

She unconsciously swallowed and involuntarily called out, “Jiejie…”

Lin Qingyue looked up at her, her peach blossom eyes incredibly beautiful, full of allure. It was just an ordinary glance, but it felt like deliberate seduction.

Xu Luzhi could no longer feel her own heartbeat because it was beyond her control.

She took a deep breath, masking her panic and awkwardness, and subtly acted spoiled: “Where is my present?”

Lin Qingyue seemed to remember something, letting out an “Ah,” her face devoid of apology: “I came in a hurry and didn’t bring any gift.”

She propped her chin up, watching with interest as the girl before her pouted, looking a little sad.

Xu Luzhi, who had just been all smiles, was now blinking her eyes, which were slightly misty, looking like she was about to cry, appearing very wronged.

She is still just a child after all.

Lin Qingyue’s heart instantly softened, and she smiled languidly: “I’m just teasing you.”

The moment she said this, she saw the girl’s eyes light up like stars, filled with anticipation.

Lin Qingyue suddenly felt that her gift was a bit too embarrassing to give.

Although she was sitting in the corner, she had clearly seen that the gifts Xu Luzhi had received throughout the day could fill a small cart. The families present were all wealthy and influential; there were surely many rare items, and Xu Luzhi certainly wouldn’t lack anything.

And she had only brought a tube of lipstick out with her, which felt a little meager.

However, under Xu Luzhi’s earnest gaze, Lin Qingyue couldn’t bear to disappoint her.

She pondered for a moment, then beckoned lazily to Xu Luzhi: “Come sit here.”

Xu Luzhi obediently walked over and sat down beside Lin Qingyue, looking up at her, her long eyelashes lightly fluttering, her face radiating innocence.

A sight of ‘pity I see, a lovely young maiden.’

“Close your eyes,” Lin Qingyue instructed, her tone familiar and natural.

Xu Luzhi subconsciously closed her eyes but was unwilling to accept the darkness, struggling to peep at Lin Qingyue’s every move through the slits of her eyelids.

Her little movement was easily discovered. Lin Qingyue swiftly raised her hand and lightly covered her eyes.

Warm breath, tinged with a smile, came from beside her ear, tickling: “Not listening, little one.”

Everything before her was dark, yet she could feel the warmth of Lin Qingyue’s palm. Xu Luzhi felt an unprecedented sense of security and replied in a soft voice, “I am listening.”

Her voice was so tender it sounded like it could be squeezed, and Lin Qingyue’s heart softened. She moved her hand away from the front of Xu Luzhi’s eyes, lightly pressing the girl’s slender shoulders. The touch on her palm was round and slightly cool.

Lin Qingyue lightened her grip, afraid of accidentally breaking those narrow shoulders.

The little gardenia before her is so fragile and easily broken, as if she couldn’t withstand any wind or rain.

She must be carefully cherished.

Lin Qingyue took out the lipstick she had brought from her pocket. It was a beautiful color, her favorite one. She had rushed out and hadn’t brought much else, which she originally regretted, but now, she no longer felt that way.

She even felt that the gift was too little to match Xu Luzhi.

Lin Qingyue lowered her head, surveying the primly seated girl before her. She saw that her eyes were tightly shut, her expression obedient and proper. Her skin was very good, fair, tender, and clean, full of youthful collagen. Her lips were naturally red, full, and beautiful, with a small, subtle dimple near her cheek.

Perhaps due to nervousness, Xu Luzhi’s eyelashes trembled non-stop, like butterflies startled and ready to take flight. Her small hands were clasped in front of her, playing with the strap of her dress.

Lin Qingyue’s gaze traced from top to bottom, noting the girl’s hanging braids, her fair and smooth neck, her delicate and beautiful collarbone, her slightly rising chest, her slender, fair legs, and her feet resting together, her ankles so thin they seemed easily snapped.

Although not fully developed, she was already a standard beauty. Compared to Xu Luwei, she possessed a bit more brightness, vitality, and charming grace.

In another year or two, her doorstep would surely be thronged with admirers, perhaps even more popular than Xu Luwei.

Lin Qingyue thought of the scene where Xu Luwei was constantly pursued and intercepted, and for some reason, a subtle pang of sourness rose in her heart.

Such a lively little gardenia should not be tainted by the aura of men, nor should she be defiled by anyone else.

Lin Qingyue thought aimlessly for a while before suddenly realizing her thoughts had strayed too far, and she couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Her own life was still a mess; why worry about these things?

At least for now, Xu Luzhi was still sitting obediently in front of her, waiting for her seventeenth birthday gift.

Lin Qingyue uncapped the lipstick, twisted out a small section, and said softly: “Open your mouth.”

Xu Luzhi opened her mouth wide, revealing her neat pearly whites and pink little tongue.

Lin Qingyue helplessly reached out and gently cupped her chin, complaining with a smile: “Smaller, I’m not a dentist.”

Xu Luzhi stuck out her tongue in embarrassment, closed her eyes, and opened her mouth again to the appropriate angle.

There was still a slight trace of baby fat on her cheeks. With her mouth slightly ajar and her lips slightly pouting, one could vaguely see the pink tip of her tongue and the faint dimple beside her cheek.

Lin Qingyue’s movements paused, and her heart inexplicably beat a little faster.

The dressed up girl sat upright, her demeanor poised yet slightly nervous. She lifted her face, pouting her lips, sitting there obediently and properly.

Her appearance didn’t seem like she was waiting for a gift, but rather…

…A kiss.