The Romance Extras Turned Out to Be a Yuri Story - Chapter 78

The yellowed paper bore the traces of time.

Lin Luoluo tremblingly opened the letter. The handwriting was neat, not yet fully formed, but already showing character: [Hello, thank you. I’ve received your kindness. I’m doing well right now and temporarily don’t need any help.]

[I’ve also been having some trouble lately. My math and physics teachers both recommended me to compete in the Olympiad, but I don’t have the extra money to buy practice books. What if I don’t do well, will the teachers be very disappointed? I wonder if the school will still waive my tuition and fees.]

[The weather is getting cold, remember to add clothes. Seeing that you’re troubled by your studies and asking me for my secret to learning, I don’t have any secret, I just study hard and practice a lot. If you do enough problems, you’ll naturally figure it out.]

[My competition results are out. I didn’t pass the physics selection, but I got into the math one. I might have to go to the city, and this will be my first time traveling far, I’m a little nervous.]

[I wonder what the weather is like where you are? It’s entered winter here. Grandma made me a very warm cotton-padded jacket, it’s just a bit unfashionable.]

[I helped Grandma work during the winter break and earned a little bit of money. This isn’t expensive, it’s a gift for you.]

[The peach blossoms are blooming vigorously here. I know you can’t see them, so I drew a picture for you to enjoy.]

[I was very sad to see you failed your midterms. If you were my classmate, I could tutor you.]

[I’m preparing to test into the city’s key high school and have been very busy lately.]

[The high school entrance exam is coming up soon. Can we meet after the exam?]

…

Lin Luoluo was weeping. Lin Xiangdong, her brother, walked over to check on her.

“Mom and Dad finished eating. I put the rest on the table for you.”

Lin Luoluo turned her back, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. “Okay.”

Lin Xiangdong walked in and crouched down, surprised. “So many letters! You guys exchanged this many letters back then?”

He tried to pick one up to read, but Lin Luoluo blocked him with her hand.

Lin Xiangdong scoffed, “Stingy.”

Lin Luoluo didn’t say anything, stood up, and carefully carried the small cardboard box full of letters toward her room.

Lin Xiangdong asked from a distance, “Are you still going to eat? If not, I’ll ask the cleaning lady to clear it.”

Lin Luoluo didn’t answer, just waved her hand, leaving Lin Xiangdong with a slightly joyful retreating figure.

Back in her room, Lin Luoluo scattered all the letters on her bed, opening them one by one, then carefully folding them back up. The memories of her communication with the person in the letters flowed gently in her mind.

She thought they were lost, but they were here all along.

Lying in the pile of envelopes, Lin Luoluo gradually fell asleep. She was woken up in the morning by Lin Xiangdong knocking on her door.

“I’m going to school. Are you going? I’ll give you a ride since it’s on the way.”

Lin Luoluo woke up, her first reaction was to look at the letters scattered on the bed. Seeing they were all there, she smiled and said, “I’m going.”

“Then hurry up and get ready. I won’t wait for you for too long,” Lin Xiangdong said haughtily.

Lin Luoluo responded, “Got it.”

She quickly got ready and came downstairs. Lin Xiangdong was sitting in the living room playing with his phone, muttering as she approached, “They really did post it.”

“Post what?” Lin Luoluo asked.

Lin Xiangdong subconsciously hid his phone, not wanting her to see, which made Lin Luoluo look at him suspiciously.

“Did you do something to hurt me?”

“Your brother has never done anything to hurt you,” Lin Xiangdong stated righteously.

“Then why are you hiding your phone?”

“Ahem, I’m not hiding it. I just saw you coming down and thought we should leave.”

Lin Luoluo twitched her lips, too lazy to argue with her smelly brother. She said languidly, “Aren’t you going to be late? You kept rushing me when I was putting on makeup, and now you’re not in a hurry?”

“In a hurry! Of course I’m in a hurry!”

Glancing at the time, Lin Xiangdong suddenly panicked. He grabbed his jacket and car keys from the sofa and bolted out. Lin Luoluo followed.

They got in the car, passed a few traffic lights, and stopped at another red light. Lin Luoluo suddenly said, “My phone bill is past due. Brother, can you pay it for me?”

“Can’t you see I’m driving? I can’t use my phone.”

“Then give me your phone, and I’ll pay it myself.”

Lin Xiangdong was worried about being late, so he carelessly unlocked his phone and handed it to Lin Luoluo.

Lin Luoluo secretly smiled. Her silly brother’s browser was still on the page he had just been looking at. She looked down and saw Lin Xiangdong’s moments. Zhang Qiu had posted a moment yesterday.

It was just one line of text.

[Broken up. Do not disturb.]

It was clean and concise, with a hint of coolness.

Lin Luoluo froze for a moment, secretly ecstatic. She glanced at Lin Xiangdong, who hadn’t reacted, then pushed Zhang Qiu’s WeChat contact to herself before exiting and paying her phone bill.

“Are you done?” Lin Xiangdong still hadn’t noticed.

“Done, done, don’t rush me.” Lin Luoluo handed the phone back, pretending to be casual as she asked her brother.

“Brother, do you know anything about Brother Gu’s love life?”

“What? Still not giving up?” Lin Xiangdong squinted at her, then turned his gaze back to the road and said, “If you two were going to happen, it would have happened already. Gu Beichen just sees you as a little sister. Why are you so stubbornly chasing him? Even though he’s my brother, I have to say, he’s a great friend, but forget about him as a husband. Given his family situation, if you really marry him, you’ll have a lot of suffering ahead of you.”

“Brother, I only asked one question, and you’ve said ten things,” Lin Luoluo complained, in a good mood.

Lin Xiangdong saw that she wasn’t angry and continued, “I’m just trying to advise you.”

Lin Luoluo acknowledged with an “Mhm.” “I know. I have someone I like.”

She blushed a little. “She’s a really good person, I’m just not sure if she’s still single.”

“What?! You’re going to be a home-wrecker?” Lin Xiangdong got anxious, slamming on the brakes and stopping the car on the side of the road. Pointing at Lin Luoluo, he said, “Even if Gu Beichen doesn’t like you, you don’t have to degrade yourself like this, do you? I forbid it, do you hear me?”

Lin Luoluo pushed his hand away, annoyed. “What do you take me for? I like her, but I haven’t made a move. Besides, I just found out she’s single again.”

“That’s good then,” Lin Xiangdong sighed in relief, then looked confused. “When did you start liking her? You’ve always liked Gu Beichen, haven’t you?”

Lin Luoluo said matter-of-factly, “That was when I was a kid. I only see him as a brother now.”

“Well, that makes things easy. Why didn’t you just deny it when Auntie Gu brought up the topic with our mom?”

“How was I supposed to know Mom would still honor that ancient, outdated agreement?”

“That was all for you, thinking that since you grew up together and know each other well, and Gu Beichen is handsome, Mom was just keeping a fallback option for you, afraid you wouldn’t get married.”

Lin Luoluo’s mouth twitched. “Thanks for the thought.”

Lin Xiangdong laughed heartily.

“We were just discussing this yesterday. Gu Beichen insisted you liked someone else, but I didn’t believe him. Did you even write a love letter to him?”

Lin Luoluo’s face flushed red.

She was tricked by the System.

Oh, right, where is the System?

Lin Luoluo was stunned. She quietly called out to the System in her mind, but there was no response. Could the System really have been taken away? Was her dream yesterday real?

“Luoluo?” Lin Xiangdong called out.

Lin Luoluo snapped back to reality. “I mistook him.”

“When are you going to get over this habit of mistaking people? You just can’t remember what people look like, it’s a real headache. So, which class is the person you like in? How about your brother helps you check them out?”

“No need,” Lin Luoluo refused immediately. “You’ll know when the time comes.”

The car arrived at the school, and Lin Xiangdong dropped Lin Luoluo off.

“Alright, big brother is leaving now. Call me when you get home.”

Lin Luoluo waved.

As soon as Lin Xiangdong’s car drove away, she impatiently took out her phone, ready to add the account Ye Luozhiqiu (Falling Leaves Know Autumn).

Zhang Qiu was easy to identify online because all her software usernames were Ye Luozhiqiu. Lin Luoluo was looking down, thinking about what to write in the friend request box for her to accept, when a message suddenly popped up.

[Ye Luozhiqiu is requesting to add you as a friend.]

[Reject, or Accept?]

Lin Luoluo jumped in surprise.

She looked around but didn’t see anyone familiar. Biting her lip, she wondered, how could Zhang Qiu be adding her? Was it because of yesterday?

Lin Luoluo hesitated, but her hand was faster than her brain, and she accepted first.

[You have successfully added Ye Luozhiqiu as a friend. You can now chat.]

What should she say?

Lin Luoluo was still thinking when the other side initiated the conversation first.

Watching the “Typing…” indicator, Lin Luoluo’s heart began to race.

[I’m Zhang Qiu. I’m very sorry about yesterday. Could I buy you a cup of coffee?]

Lin Luoluo took a breath and bit her lower lip.

[Where are you?]

[At school. Have you arrived at school? Gu Beichen said you’re a day student.]

Did you and Gu Beichen break up?

This was what Lin Luoluo actually wanted to say.

Letting out a breath, Lin Luoluo replied: [I’m at school.]

[Where are you? I’ll come find you.]

[By the school gate.]

After the chat, Zhang Qiu quickly walked over.

She was wearing a long, brown trench coat, her ponytail tied high. Inside was a white shirt, with blue jeans and sneakers on the bottom, a very simple look that enhanced her elegant demeanor.

Zhang Qiu stopped near the school gate, her bright eyes scanning the entrance. She quickly spotted Lin Luoluo and walked towards her with quick steps.

“Good morning,” her voice was very gentle.

“Good morning,” Lin Luoluo couldn’t help but smile sweetly when she saw Zhang Qiu.

Zhang Qiu’s dark eyes looked at her calmly. “Did you sleep well yesterday? You look very well today.”

She didn’t look like she did at the hotpot restaurant yesterday, where she seemed spaced out, with her mind drifting out the window while speaking, completely distracted.

“Do I?” Lin Luoluo touched her face awkwardly.

Zhang Qiu’s eyes curved slightly. “You look beautiful today.”

Lin Luoluo’s heart leaped up, then fell heavily, and a blush spread to her ear tips. She politely replied, “You too.”

“Did you eat breakfast this morning?”

Lin Luoluo shook her head.

Lin Xiangdong had rushed her too much.

“I haven’t eaten either.”

“Then let me buy you a cup of coffee. Will you keep me company while I eat breakfast?”

Zhang Qiu was tactful. If she had just said “I’ll treat you,” she was afraid Lin Luoluo would refuse.

As expected, Lin Luoluo nodded slightly when she put it this way.

Zhang Qiu knew a very good, little-known coffee shop. The location was out of the way, and she had only discovered it by chance.

The shop sold cakes made by the owner, paired with coffee made by the manager.

Zhang Qiu remembered that Lin Luoluo liked lattes.

“Do you want a latte or…?”

“Mhm, a latte.”

“One latte and one black coffee.”

They also chose two small cakes. Zhang Qiu chose a sandwich, and Lin Luoluo ordered a strawberry cake.

The two settled into their seats.

Lin Luoluo frowned at the coffee that was served. “You like to drink something this bitter?”

She hadn’t noticed this before because whenever they went out to eat, Zhang Qiu would eat whatever she ordered, without many preferences. Lin Luoluo usually ordered a latte, and she hadn’t expected Zhang Qiu’s choice for herself to be pure black coffee, without any milk or sugar.

“It’s alright,” Zhang Qiu glanced at the girl across from her, finding Lin Luoluo as sweet and soft as the strawberry cake.

Soft, curly hair fell around her face. She was wearing a plaid school uniform skirt, looking sweet and adorable, like a delicate figurine.

“This isn’t considered bitter.”

Drinking it in the morning would make her more alert.

Lin Luoluo lowered her head, scooped a bite of cake with the small spoon, and put it in her mouth. The cream melted on her tongue, and a sense of happiness welled up, making her eyes narrow slightly.

Zhang Qiu couldn’t help but smile as she watched her. She used the small spoon to gently stir the liquid in her coffee cup.

“Why aren’t you eating?” You’re just watching me.

Lin Luoluo put down the spoon, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Zhang Qiu said, “Watching you eat makes me feel very happy.”

She was a person with a very dull appetite.

She could eat good food, and she could also eat bad food.

Seeing Lin Luoluo stop moving, Zhang Qiu picked up her sandwich and took a bite.

The coffee and cake in this shop were delicious. The bread was so soft that biting into it felt like biting into a cloud. Paired with the rich coffee, Lin Luoluo couldn’t help but want to sway her body, acting as cute as a child.

Zhang Qiu finished her food in a few bites. She picked up her cup and took a sip of coffee, feeling her mind become clearer.

She had never admired a person so much, finding even the stray strands of hair on her head adorable.

Zhang Qiu felt that she truly was in love.

It was a feeling she had never experienced before.

She was in love with a girl.

Lin Luoluo finished her food with satisfaction. With food in her stomach, she felt languid. She leaned back in her chair, twirling her hair around her finger, becoming completely relaxed.

Zhang Qiu asked, “Are you done eating?”

Lin Luoluo nodded.

Zhang Qiu said, “Would you like to take a walk with me?”

She stood up and extended her hand to Lin Luoluo.

Her long fingers looked slender and fair, with faint blue veins running across the back of her hand. Her nails were trimmed short, round, and neat, a healthy light pink.

Lin Luoluo was inexplicably nervous, like the very first time they held hands. She reached out her hand, which was immediately held tightly.

Zhang Qiu gave a gentle pull, and Lin Luoluo stood up, stumbling toward Zhang Qiu’s chest. Zhang Qiu stabilized her by the shoulders, and a low chuckle came from above her head.

“Careful.”

Her heart began to pound so loudly that Lin Luoluo was momentarily afraid Zhang Qiu could hear it.

“Did you get your things?”

Zhang Qiu reminded her, lowering her head. Lin Luoluo looked up, and an unintentionally intimate distance was created between them. If Zhang Qiu leaned down even slightly, she could kiss Lin Luoluo’s lips.

Zhang Qiu turned her head awkwardly, stepped back, and they maintained a half-arm’s length distance.

“Your phone and bag, hold onto them. I’m going to pay the bill.” Zhang Qiu walked a few steps forward, then looked back at Lin Luoluo with a conflicted look. In the end, she walked back and stood in front of Lin Luoluo.

“What is it? Did you forget something?” Lin Luoluo looked toward the seat, also trying to avoid Zhang Qiu’s deep gaze. That look made her incredibly nervous, and her mind went blank instantly.

In daily life, she was eloquent and quick-witted, but facing Zhang Qiu, she couldn’t even speak.

“I forgot you. A little one without an adult to guide them might get lost,” Zhang Qiu laughed.

Lin Luoluo’s hand was held, and Zhang Qiu led her forward.

Watching Zhang Qiu’s back, Lin Luoluo’s eyes were first stunned, then reddened.

Yes, without a parent to guide me, I will get lost.

But… are you still you, Zhang Qiu?

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