Fell In Love With My Older Sister’s Friend - Chapter 46

Lin Qingyue remained silent, watching with cold eyes as Xu Luzhi ate nearly a full bowl, before snatching the food container away, “Stop eating.”

Xu Luzhi glared fiercely, but what came out was soft and gentle: “Mind your own business.”

Lin Qingyue was torn between laughter and tears. The child was usually well-behaved and obedient, but when she felt wronged, she became more rebellious and stubborn than anyone not even ten oxen could pull her away.

But looking at Xu Luzhi’s slightly red eyes and pursed lips, Lin Qingyue simply couldn’t harden her heart.

“Be good, stop eating, okay?” Lin Qingyue softened her voice, coaxing and pleading, finally managing to take the bowl and chopsticks from Xu Luzhi’s hands.

The young girl was upset, unable to vent her feelings, holding back tears with drooping eyelids, her little nose twitching, looking on the verge of crying.

Her flushed cheeks and aggrieved expression were utterly endearing.

Lin Qingyue observed her, suddenly recalling the term “stray dog” perhaps that was the exact demeanor. Even if driven out, harboring resentment and turning her head away, she would instinctively stick out her tongue and wag her tail the moment a hand was extended. A dog’s affection could not be hidden.

“Why are you so wronged, hmm?” Lin Qingyue asked in a low, coaxing tone, pushing a basin of grapes towards her.

Actually, she was fully aware of the reason, merely pretending not to know. The young girl’s mind was as delicate as crystal; she thought she had concealed everything well, but nothing could truly hide it.

Xu Luzhi did not answer, deliberately avoiding her gaze, her eyes fixed rigidly on the basin of grapes, not wavering even slightly. Having tasted the flavor of the fried rice just now, its previously rich combination of colors now seemed like the devil’s temptation. At this moment, that basin of agate colored grapes, speckled with dewdrops, looked exceptionally tempting. Each one refracted a crystal clear halo, like a crystal bead, perfectly round, making one want to pop it into their mouth immediately. The moment the skin broke, the sweet juice would flood the mouth, sweet to the point of being sickeningly so. It could excellently soothe the taste buds ravaged by the fried rice.

Xu Luzhi wanted to reach for a grape, but Lin Qingyue was still gazing at her earnestly. She didn’t speak, her peach blossom eyes narrowed, her gaze open and assessing, the corner of her lips slightly upturned, as if as long as Xu Luzhi ate a grape, she would consider the matter settled.

Precisely because of this, Xu Luzhi firmly refused to even touch the grapes, even shifting her gaze away, her tone cold and stiff: “Nothing.”

Unable to stare at the grapes, lest everything else seemed wrong, Xu Luzhi ended up staring blankly at the smooth, white tabletop. The surface was so bright it reflected her image small and looking utterly bullied.

Recalling Lin Qingyue’s earlier question, she felt an inexplicable pang of sadness, a sudden tremor. What was she wronged about? Nowhere was she wronged. Lin Qingyue had done nothing wrong; it was she who had been foolishly aspiring too much, leading her to be ridiculously carried away.

Xu Luzhi gently bit her lower lip, applying a little pressure. It didn’t hurt, and there was absolutely no way she could draw blood. If only she could bite until it bled; the metallic taste of blood might dilute the taste lingering in her mouth.

She sadly realized that every now and then, she couldn’t help but question herself: Was this all or nothing gamble worth it? It felt as if she had crossed a thousand mountains and rivers, yet the journey had barely begun. It was like the Eighty-One Tribulations in Journey to the West, where every step required caution and anxiety. What was worse, Tang Sanzang had three disciples protecting him, but she was going forward alone, not even knowing when the destination would appear.

Actually, Xu Luzhi was not the type to give up halfway. She was just a bit pampered, occasionally complaining she couldn’t study anymore, but in reality, she would complete the tasks without fail, earning the resounding title of a “study worm” along the way. It was the same with writing code; if she couldn’t continue, she’d take a break, look up experiences online, and eventually complete seventy to eighty percent of it.

But who could she ask for experience regarding this thing called a secret crush? How could she take one step forward, and then another? Or would she ultimately have to remain in place, maintaining a relationship that was neither too close nor too far?

Xu Luzhi’s heart felt heavy, a confusing mess of emotions. She suddenly recalled an old saying: “Love knows not where it springs from, but deepens as it goes.” Falling in love requires no conditions, only a single glance back. But what about next? Who would tell her what else was needed to move forward, little by little?

With zero romantic experience, Xu Luzhi was experiencing a system crash bug. She was a science student; she needed a formula to continue the derivation, but now there was no formula, only emptiness before her. It was like being given a computer without an operating system and being told to write a program. It was completely beyond her capabilities; she could only stand there stunned, not knowing what to do.

Although she had always behaved well, Xu Luzhi was, in reality, just a seventeen-year-old girl carefree and inexperienced terms that applied to her more than fittingly. Suddenly bearing such heavy, long-lasting pressure was like a carrot dangling in front of her, making her run but never able to catch up. The worst part was the constant fear of losing what she might gain.