Fell In Love With My Older Sister’s Friend - Chapter 102

Spoiled by good food and drink, Lin Qingyue became increasingly lazy and carefree over two months. When she was utterly bored, she decided to play the guzheng (Chinese zither) on the balcony and stream a session with a veil covering her face.

Unexpectedly, just her peach blossom eyes were enough to captivate countless people, and paired with her flowing musical notes, she attracted streams of netizens and fans. In just a few days, Lin Qingyue’s follower count skyrocketed.

The most frequent comment was: “Sister, don’t play the guzheng, play me!”

Lin Qingyue: “…” She raised a hand to stroke her face, gazing wistfully at the stunning beauty in the mirror, and began to ponder a question.

Does she look that much like a lesbian?

After thinking it over, she turned her head and saw Xu Luzhi clinging to her side pitifully.

The young woman had just finished writing a piece of code and looked at Lin Qingyue with a resentful gaze, accusingly saying, “Sister, you’re flirting with people online!”

Lin Qingyue laughed: “How could I?”

She leaned in to affectionately peck at Xu Luzhi’s lips: “I barely have time to appease my girlfriend.”

Xu Luzhi was greatly pleased by being called “girlfriend,” but she was still unsatisfied. She scrolled through a few comments under the stream and read them out in a clear, deliberate tone: “Sister, I’ll buy you a supermarket…”

Before she could finish, Lin Qingyue shut her mouth with a long kiss. Then, Lin Qingyue covered her hand with her own and murmured, “What? Do you want me to take the lead?”

“Are you better than me at it?” Xu Luzhi retorted.

Lin Qingyue clearly wasn’t; her guzheng playing was quite good, but perhaps the woman and the guzheng were not quite the same thing.

She argued, “I can practice.”

Xu Luzhi gave her an indulgent look: “Good, then let’s go practice now.”

Lin Qingyue’s eyes lit up, and she enthusiastically washed her hands several times.

Xu Luzhi was very considerate and let her be on top.

However, the feeling of being on top seemed different from what Lin Qingyue had imagined?

Firmly held by Xu Luzhi’s arms, she had nowhere to run. The young woman nestled beneath her, savoring the sweetness, while she could only let out a few broken sounds.

Her long eyelashes were tightly shut, but she couldn’t help but writhe along, thinking as she moved, Xu Luzhi is such a bad little thing.

But, it feels so good, I want more.

Lin Qingyue’s plan to take the lead completely failed. However, to reassure Xu Luzhi, she immediately wrote “Has a girlfriend” in the first line of her profile, occasionally showing a glimpse of one of Xu Luzhi’s hands, finally turning the netizens into CP (couple) fans.

They were obsessively rooting for them every day.

Xu Luzhi asked her: “Sister, so you’ll be staying in the capital now?”

Lin Qingyue mumbled vaguely, “Wherever you are, I’ll follow you.”

She was unattached and had no worries this time, she wouldn’t leave Xu Luzhi’s side again.

Xu Luzhi hesitated: “Then, Sister, you… aren’t you going to look for your mother anymore?”

After a moment of silence, Lin Qingyue shook her head with a light laugh, her expression both wistful and calm: “I won’t actively look for her anymore. I won’t disturb her life. If fate allows, our mother and daughter will definitely, definitely meet again.”

Xu Luzhi didn’t speak, only held her hand tightly.

Lin Qingyue didn’t hear any promises, but she saw one in the girl’s eyes.

The young woman would try her best to give her a home.

During the New Year, the two returned to Lincheng. Lin Qingyue tidied up the apartment they had rented, cancelled the lease, and had all her belongings packed and shipped.

She had already resigned from the traditional music shop, but Xu Luzhi still accompanied her to visit Xing Fei and Lulu, bringing some local specialties from the capital as an apology.

Xu Luwei had also returned, still alone, unmoved by her elders’ pressure to marry. No one could be sure if she had truly set her heart on a certain girl.

Walking hand in hand through the streets and alleys of Lincheng, Lin Qingyue suddenly felt a pang of reluctance to leave.

She had only stayed in Lincheng for a year, but so much had happened in that year from darkness to light, all in a single thought.

With the girl by her side, it seemed she had nothing to fear.

Xu Luzhi took Lin Qingyue shopping and bought her lots and lots of pretty clothes and jewelry. Even when Lin Qingyue said she had enough, she still insisted on adorning Lin Qingyue beautifully.

That year, Lin Qingyue tasted steaming hot lamb hot pot and looked down from the revolving restaurant on the 78th floor at the brightly lit Lincheng. A gentle breeze brushed her cheek, feeling like the world giving her a soft embrace.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xu Luzhi took her to a temple to see the plum blossoms. It hadn’t snowed this year, so they boldly knocked and entered, staying inside for an hour.

They took many, many photos together and talked about many, many things.

Lin Qingyue had never felt so content, so happy, as if her heart was completely full, leaving no empty space for the wind to leak in.

Enveloped by the girl’s ardent gaze, her whole body felt warmly hot.

She picked up a red plum blossom petal and suddenly felt a touch of unease, asking softly, “Will you always like me, Zhizhi?”

Xu Luzhi looked at her seriously: “Yes, Sister.”

Lin Qingyue always asked such silly questions, but she was willing to answer patiently again and again, giving the answer over a lifetime.

“But, why?” The woman turned around, feigning ignorance, “Why do you like me so much?”

“Because you are very, very good, Sister,” Xu Luzhi looked into her eyes and said word by word.

“I’ve liked you since I first saw you when I was seventeen,” she said, her gaze as passionate as the sun. “I can’t figure out any reason why I wouldn’t like you.”

Lin Qingyue rested her chin on her hand and tentatively tested: “I have no money.”

“Oh, I’ll support you then.”

“My family background is bad.”

“Oh, that man has long been out of your life.”

“I have blood on my hands.”

“Me too.” Xu Luzhi replied with a playful smile. Lin Qingyue suddenly understood what she meant.

Annoyed, she lightly bit her finger not hard enough to hurt then pulled back, lightly criticizing her, “So young, how do you have such thoughts in your head!”

Xu Luzhi looked up and smiled at her, shamelessly: “Sister taught me well.”

“Nonsense, when did I teach you that?”

She then bit Lin Qingyue’s earlobe, murmuring ambiguously, “Doesn’t Sister seduce me every night…”

“I don’t!”

“You do.”

Lin Qingyue, do you know how much I love you?

In the beginning, you were the enchanting, mysterious, and aloof older sister, hard to figure out, yet I felt an uncontrollable urge to get close. Later, I glimpsed the fragments of your brokenness, and I wanted to grow up fast to protect your fragility with my own wings.

You always talked about your background, your difficulties, but you are already so wonderful.

You finally left the mire and stood on the bright path full of gardenias, running firmly towards me.

I will certainly not let you down.

I think this is probably the most ideal state in my heart we are both under heavy constraints, yet we still struggle with all our might to break free from the shackles, just so we can hold hands with you and look at the scenery along the way side by side.

Lin Qingyue, life is so long, will you grow up slowly with me? Will you live through a fresh and unrestrained eighteen years with me again?

Excerpt from “Xu Luzhi’s Proposal Speech”

When Xu Luzhi was a junior in college, she went abroad for an exchange program and brought Lin Qingyue with her.

Her first independently developed software was called Zhi Le (Joyfully Knowing/Understanding Music).

There are many software applications on the market that can produce musical sounds, but most are just mechanical clicks, lacking the process of plucking, and the digitalization of traditional Chinese musical instruments is even more difficult.

With Lin Qingyue’s help, the first instrument in Zhi Le was the guzheng.

It allowed for simultaneous plucking with both hands, featuring a 3D simulated effect, which was a major test of touch sensitivity, reaction time, and computational ability.

Fortunately, overseas environments emphasized the spiritual aspect more, with less pressure from pragmatic concerns, allowing Xu Luzhi to secure funding and, together with a few like-minded friends, focus on perfecting the software development.

At least for her level as a novice, it was considered very perfect.

Before graduation, the Zhi Le software was essentially finalized. Its first release featured Lin Qingyue as the experience tester for an online live stream.

Even before it started, the stream room was already bustling, everyone eager to watch the beautiful goddess play the guzheng, not to mention a performance combined with high technology comments scrolled by in an endless stream.

There were also many comments in foreign languages, standing out incongruously among the Chinese ones. Lin Qingyue’s face was overly striking, not fitting the foreigners’ image of classic Chinese beauties, but once she sat before the guzheng, that assertive and bright temperament made it impossible to look away.

She shattered stereotypes with her practical demonstration: the guzheng was not only about gentle elegance and small bridges over flowing water it could also be about Ambush from Ten Sides, decisive action, and even Plucking the Moon from the Ninth Heaven, dazzling and captivating.

The scheduled time arrived. Lin Qingyue appeared wearing a pale blue dress, a custom made style based on Hanfu silhouettes, which added a sense of technology. Paired with her beautiful face, she was incomparably gorgeous.

Her entrance immediately captured everyone’s attention.

A tablet was placed in front of her. After nodding to the camera, she sat down and deftly tapped to open the Zhi Le software.

The screen image was clearly displayed in the stream room: an exquisite guzheng. Lin Qingyue demonstrated that every string could be plucked, and different sounds would be produced based on the strength of the pluck.

Every note had been meticulously tuned to ensure the closest possible match to the real timbre.

Lin Qingyue had also contributed greatly to the software’s development to discern the differences between tones, her ears nearly became calloused.

Xu Luzhi had to beg her to kiss her after listening to each note.

Thinking of their shared journey in starting this venture, Lin Qingyue suddenly broke into a radiant smile, like a tree full of peach blossoms scattering their petals in a flurry.

She raised her hand, the sheet music already flowing effortlessly from her fingertips. The music poured out smoothly, almost indistinguishable from playing on a real guzheng, so authentic it could fool anyone.

She played a lingering, poignant ancient Chinese love song “Guan Ju.”

Guan guan ju jiu, by the river isle, the lovely, virtuous girl… a good match for our lady.

The music score was also her original composition. Compared to the previous piece, “Jian Jia,” this one was much more cheerful and joyful, carrying the delight and happiness of a secret crush, as well as the wistfulness of something yearned for but unattained, concluding, however, with a warm and passionate embrace.

When the piece finished, the audience remained immersed, unable to break free, but Lin Qingyue sparingly withdrew her hands and smiled openly: “This piece, I dedicate to my girlfriend.”

The entire audience gasped. Everyone knew Lin Qingyue had a girlfriend, but who this divine person was, and why she was suddenly making an official announcement at this moment, stunned them.

Soon, the gossip mongers found the answer.

Lin Qingyue smiled sweetly: “My girlfriend developed the entire Zhi Le software, so I hope everyone will support it a lot!”

The woman smiled charmingly, looking almost mischievous, making people want to indulge her.

But the thought that she already had a girlfriend, and that girlfriend was the engineer who developed this software…

Xu Luzhi’s name was prominently displayed in the title. A well-meaning person quickly compared their ages and posted: “Has anyone noticed that her girlfriend is seven years younger than her!”

“Oh my god, a top student from H University, and she independently developed software before even graduating.”

“Thank you, I’m truly jealous. Some people are young, accomplished, and have a beautiful girlfriend, while all I do is play on my phone.”

“What a fairytale CP (couple), Xu Luzhi and Lin Qingyue, Zhi Le… this is just too sweet, killing self with love.”

“Can we consider the possibility that the genius invested so much money to develop a piece of software just to have a toy for her sister?”

“I feel like a dog by the roadside. I just wanted to learn about cutting-edge software and got inexplicably kicked.”

“I’m different from the person above. I’m full from eating dog food [public displays of affection], hic.”

So, during that grand new product launch event, Xu Luzhi and Lin Qingyue publicly came out. The gossip mongers were quick, rapidly spreading the news back home, even making it onto the trending topics.

The CP of the genius software engineer girl and the guzheng goddess with stunning looks, complete with a beloved age gap, was something everyone happily shipped.

In just a few days, Lin Qingyue gained a million new followers and even received several invitations to appear on variety shows.

She declined them all, except for accepting a formal concert performance at a major international theater, contributing to the promotion of excellent traditional Chinese culture.

Meanwhile, Xu Luzhi faced questioning from her parents. She listened quietly and then showed them her achievements one by one: “…The Zhi Le software company offered a high price for acquisition, and the school also invited me to pursue a Ph.D. here. I will continue to work hard; even without family support, I can live very well on my own.”

“We can adopt a child, or use IVF, so don’t worry about my future.”

“She is truly very, very good. I liked her before I was even an adult.”

When Xu Luzhi said these things, she held Lin Qingyue’s hand tightly, giving her no chance to be distracted or overthink.

In the end, her parents didn’t say much, only urging her to take good care of herself abroad.

Xu Luzhi smiled contentedly and sweetly said, “Thank you, Mom and Dad!”

Lin Qingyue was initially worried that Xu’s parents might be prejudiced against her, but the anxiety completely vanished when Xu Luzhi finally brought her home as her openly acknowledged girlfriend.

Lin Qingyue had visited Xu Luzhi’s home a few times, but this was the first time as Xu Luzhi’s legitimate girlfriend. Mr. and Mrs. Xu were polite and warm towards her, making no demands; instead, they pressed many red envelopes and jewelry into her hands.

Lin Qingyue was stunned and tried not to accept, but Mrs. Xu smiled and insisted: “We know about your situation. From now on, treat us as your own parents, it’s the same thing.”

She said earnestly: “We have two daughters, and we doted on both as they grew up. What our daughter likes, we will like too.”

Lin Qingyue clenched the red envelopes in her hands bit by bit, suddenly feeling on the verge of tears.

Her life had always been difficult, but now, she could openly be Xu Luzhi’s girlfriend, standing in the sunlight, completely free and clear.

The year Xu Luzhi graduated from college, she and Lin Qingyue got married abroad.

The wedding was grand, everything tailored to Lin Qingyue’s preferences. The two stood in wedding dresses, embracing and kissing under the clean sunlight, met only with blessings and laughter.

Xu Luzhi told her that some countries would not recognize marriage certificates issued elsewhere.

“So…” Xu Luzhi pounced on her with a smile, “Sister, when we slowly travel all over the world, every place we go, I want to marry you again, okay?”

Lin Qingyue chuckled: “Silly girl.”