Fell In Love With My Older Sister’s Friend - Chapter 80

Lin Qingyue smiled sweetly, pressing her body against Xu Luzhi’s back, and asked her, “What does this code mean?”

Xu Luzhi mischievously replied, “Sister, guess?”

Lin Qingyue looked at the screen with distress and answered honestly, “I can’t guess.”

Coding, especially C language, with a few more curly braces, and even the code she just wrote might be incomprehensible to her, let alone someone else.

Lin Qingyue could understand complex musical scores, but she was completely clueless about code. After looking at a few lines, she started to feel sleepy, her voice carrying a hint of pleading, “Just tell me, Little Zhizhi”

Xu Luzhi smiled and did not answer. Instead, her ten fingers deftly struck a series of keys, finally pressing the Enter key.

Suddenly, the lights in the room went out, and soft, flowing light music began to play faintly. In the pitch darkness, only the computer screen emitted a faint glow, with a large heart shape pulsing in the very center of the screen.

The bright red color was beating, vivid and alive, even 3D and three dimensional.

Lin Qingyue froze there, vaguely sensing something, but quickly dismissed the idea in her mind. At first glance, the stunning special effect seemed like a declaration of love, but would Xu Luzhi really choose this moment to confess? Given her cautious nature, probably not.

However, Lin Qingyue inexplicably felt a flicker of apprehension. Her fingers unconsciously dug into her palm, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, unsure of her feelings.

Should she refuse? But how could she bear to make the younger girl sad?

Should she agree? But she had never tried to surrender her heart to anyone. Despite so much physical contact, she still kept her past deeply guarded. Countless people had confessed to Lin Qingyue; she was never afraid to refuse, even showing cold indifference to the deeply affectionate Meng Fan.

But she couldn’t bring herself to be harsh with this young girl she had known for only a month or two. She had grown accustomed to Xu Luzhi’s timely laughter beside her, accustomed to holding her hand while walking, accustomed to being supervised by her to drink less alcohol. If she rejected the girl’s pursuit, would all of this cease to exist?

The computer screen flickered, and Lin Qingyue’s face was also obscured by the dim light. What should have been an exciting moment instead left her with a cold sweat breaking out on her back. An indescribable mix of tension, anticipation, and fear.

However, after only half a minute, Xu Luzhi casually hit Enter again, and everything returned to normal. In the fully lit room, the young girl smiled brightly, “Impressive, Sister?”

Lin Qingyue glanced at the expression on her face her smile was simple and innocent, as if she were just showing off her coding skills. She breathed a sigh of relief, yet felt a hidden sense of disappointment for some reason. It was as if she knew this day would come, not wanting her to confess, yet not wanting her not to confess. If she confessed, she would have to face the choice of accepting or rejecting; if she didn’t confess…

Lin Qingyue’s fingertips unconsciously tightened on the back of the chair. Could this ambiguity just be a joke born from the girl’s first crush? Or perhaps, once she truly came of age, she would realize how foolish she had been, infatuated merely by beauty? Facing the girl’s calm and composed smile, Lin Qingyue didn’t want to think any further, and simply praised blandly, “Very impressive.”

She leaned down, almost resting her chin on Xu Luzhi’s head, her scent like orchid and musk, “Is our Zhizhi going to study computer science?”

Xu Luzhi nodded affirmatively, her eyes sparkling, “Yes! Writing code is so interesting! With just a few keystrokes, you can control a universe.” At that time, the definition of the metaverse was not yet so popular, but the girl’s confident smile showed that she genuinely liked it and truly understood it.

On the nearby table lay a dense stack of over ten books, each as thick as a brick. Lin Qingyue casually flipped through one, and indeed, she didn’t understand a single word.

Xu Luzhi was writing code enthusiastically, so Lin Qingyue didn’t want to disturb her, “I’m sleepy, I’ll sleep for a while.”

Xu Luzhi immediately stopped what she was doing and eagerly moved closer, “Sister, I’ll sleep with you.” She said it matter of factly, without the slightest hint of lust, as if it were simply about lying in the same bed.

Lin Qingyue shook her head, her voice soft and melodious, “You should study for a while longer.”

“That won’t do.” Xu Luzhi slipped into the bed as she spoke, her fair feet peeking out from under the covers, already clinging to Lin Qingyue impatiently. Sticky and clinging, like a little rice cake, sticking close no matter how hard she tried to shake her off.

The computer had been closed, the cooling fan still humming. The little girl, who had just been serious and focused, was now as soft as water, cuddling up to Lin Qingyue and pouting, “It’s only been a few days, of course I have to stay with Sister! You can study anytime!”

“Besides, Sister will be scared sleeping alone.” After saying that, without regard for whether Lin Qingyue was scared or not, she forcefully stuffed a bolster into her arms, deliberately concealing her true intentions. Putting a pillow between them sounded much purer, much more suitable for appearing on Jinjiang [a popular Chinese webnovel platform].

Xu Luzhi secretly chuckled. After ensuring Lin Qingyue was hugging the bolster obediently, she closed her eyes contentedly.

The lights gradually dimmed, leaving only a small wall sconce in the corner emitting a warm yellow glow, vaguely illuminating the faces of the two people. It was already very late, and after soaking in the hot spring for so long, the fatigue in her whole body surged in the warm bed. Lin Qingyue suddenly felt old. Such a small amount of activity made her sleepy she used to be able to walk all day after pulling an all-nighter. Things were different now, or perhaps it was because the bolster in her arms was too warm, and the girl’s limbs beside her were too soft. Leaning against her comfortably, she soon drifted off to sleep.

However, Xu Luzhi was still full of energy and not satisfied even at this hour. She breathed softly into Lin Qingyue’s ear, “Sister, can you tell me a story?”

Lin Qingyue was overwhelmingly sleepy and responded vaguely, “What kind of story?” Such an old person still needing a bedtime story?

But then she heard Xu Luzhi say solemnly, “I want to hear about your past stories.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Qingyue, who had been drowsy, suddenly became wide awake. She urgently blurted out, raising her voice, “What past?” Very few things could excite Lin Qingyue, and her past was one of them the most secretive and important one, which she didn’t want anyone to know. This was also why she had never been in a relationship and didn’t want to be. She didn’t want to expose her scars and ugliness being glamorous and playing the field was enough. Why should she add one more person to pretend to share her past? Moreover, they couldn’t truly share it. The gloom was overwhelming; it was merely finding brief respite and seeking pleasure amidst bitterness.

Lin Qingyue always had a clear understanding of herself, never forgetting it even in her sleep, which caused her tone to become a little fierce. She realized belatedly that she had become too agitated. She fell silent, and Xu Luzhi also quieted down, seemingly startled.

After a while, the girl spoke softly, “I just want to hear about the adventures you used to have with your friends. I’ve never experienced anything like that.” Under the small night light, Xu Luzhi’s eyes were as bright as stars, making it impossible to refuse.

Lin Qingyue breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled lightly, “How could you have experienced such things?” Both knew what they were doing, pretending the previous moment of agitation hadn’t happened. Lin Qingyue casually picked a few innocuous adventure stories to tell, drawing corresponding gasps of astonishment from Xu Luzhi.

When the story was finished, Xu Luzhi still looked full of admiration, saying seriously, “Sister, you guys are amazing. I want to play like that when I grow up too.”

“Silly girl, your parents would worry about you.” Lin Qingyue was getting sleepy from talking and let her eyelids droop involuntarily, her voice lowering, “Sleep now, little one.”

“Okay, good night, Sister.” Xu Luzhi obediently snuggled into the bed, covering Lin Qingyue tightly with the blanket, and remained ready to cover her again. In the boundless night, she lay happily beside Lin Qingyue, closing her eyes but unwilling to fall asleep for a long time.

At that time, Xu Luzhi didn’t know how happy these days of slow flowing and calm secret adoration were. She could justifiably slip into Lin Qingyue’s bed, inquire about the past, and engage in physical contact without restraint. Before anything was revealed, the world was shrouded in mist, everything was asleep, and feelings were pretending to sleep too. Everything proceeded naturally, tentatively, and precariously, just waiting for the day the secret was revealed, wondering if it would bring bright sunshine or a torrential downpour.

The next few days of the island trip proceeded as usual. Xu Luzhi and Lin Qingyue were practically together all day, inseparable. Occasionally, they would run into Yi Liang, who was diligently working hard to earn money, in some corner of the beach. Xu Luzhi asked about her situation, and Yi Liang laughed dismissively, “Same as always.” She came home late and left early, truly becoming a ‘friends with benefits’ partner, where under the cover of night, the two fully indulged, not mentioning any potential separation or any possible obstacles. Most familiar, yet most strange; only when their fingertips touched did they truly feel the other belonged to them. Every moment they wanted to cry and wanted to laugh. In the end, it was just a final kiss on Xu Luwei’s long hair before the dew evaporated, then dragging her sore arms and walking out of the hotel against the rising sun, like a thief with a guilty conscience. She didn’t know that every time the door softly closed, the woman who had just been asleep would open her eyes, staring at the doorknob for a long, long time, finally hugging the other half of the blanket and rubbing it softly. So far away, yet so close.

Seeing Yi Liang’s feigned indifference, Xu Luzhi shook her head and asked, “What about your future…”

Yi Liang shrugged, still wearing a joking smile, “How should I know? She has no standard or condition. Does she expect me to expand into a scrap metal business besides setting up a street stall and become the Scrap King of Weicheng, so I can stand alongside her?” Her words were sarcastic yet funny. Xu Luzhi burst out laughing, and Lin Qingyue couldn’t help but curve her lips, “Hmm, then I’ll be the Scrap King’s master, that has some prestige too.”

Their banter was just a joke. Xu Luzhi really wanted to offer some advice, but she couldn’t gauge her parents’ attitude either and couldn’t convince Xu Luwei for the time being. In the end, she could only advise Yi Liang, “No matter what, don’t give up on my sister.”

“When she figures things out, she will break through her inner restraints and come to you,” the young girl said solemnly.

“I know,” Yi Liang replied quickly and without hesitation, “If she likes me, I will keep moving closer to her, always.” Just like how she used to haunt the CBD day after day to get close to Xu Luwei in the past. She wasn’t afraid then, let alone now.

Xu Luzhi smiled with relief, “Then my sister will be very happy.”

But Yi Liang stubbornly shook her head, “She doesn’t know.” Xu Luwei would assume she had already turned and left. “I don’t want her to think I’m forcing things.” Perhaps this was the stubbornness of a first love even with deep reluctance, she had to maintain an outward composure. Hoping the other person would yield, yet fearing they might truly not care and walk away.

Xu Luzhi shook her head helplessly, having no way to deal with the stubbornness of the young couple, and could only wish her good luck.

However, before saying goodbye, she suddenly thought of something and asked with some uncertainty, “I heard there’s a prominent family in Weicheng surnamed Yi?” The ‘Yi’ of Yi Liang.

Yi Liang’s expression changed instantly, turning cold, “Second Miss Xu is joking. How could an ordinary college student like me, just setting up a street stall, possibly be worthy of them?”

Xu Luzhi smiled carelessly, “I just suddenly remembered. Why are you so agitated?” Her manner was calm, which only made Yi Liang look more guilty. Yi Liang was speechless for a moment, only humming and smiling bitterly, “Looking at me like this, do I look like a young lady from some big family?”

She truly didn’t have many valuable possessions on her, but her dazzling beauty, radiant assertiveness and vitality, and the sharp edges not yet worn down these were not things a child who had suffered since childhood would possess.

Lin Qingyue sized up Yi Liang from head to toe and said casually, “If one day you find out you’re a young lady lost from a noble family, don’t forget you still have a master.”

Yi Liang: “…”

She tentatively asked, her voice cold, “Don’t tell me that as long as someone is a young lady from a wealthy family, your parents won’t care about gender anymore.”

“That wouldn’t be the case,” Xu Luzhi said with a smile, “But my sister might feel like she has more support.” Perhaps because she was used to being the older sister, Xu Luwei always liked to handle things alone, not feeling at ease leaving important discussions to her. She really hoped that her future sister-in-law could make the blockhead Xu Luwei a little softer, someone she could rely on without worry. And getting Xu Luwei to feel at ease was truly a difficult task.

The island trip ended smoothly. Xu Luzhi reluctantly parted with Lin Qingyue and boarded different planes. Before the private jet took off, she secretly saw Xu Luwei and Yi Liang sitting together on the beach, seemingly saying goodbye, yet holding each other tightly.

“It’s uncertain whether they are staying together or planning to separate.

But once the plane took off, separation was inevitable.