Rong Shaoze intuitively felt that Lin Xinlan was upset and followed her into the bedroom, where he hugged her and demanded to know what was wrong.
Lin Xinlan laughed and refused to say, so he tickled her until she couldn’t take it anymore and confessed.
After finishing, she smiled sheepishly, "Actually, it’s nothing. I’m just sulking with myself. I look like an old granny right now, so it’s reasonable for people to mistake me for Xiaofan’s grandma."
Rong Shaoze’s eyes grew solemn as he sighed, "Xinlan, I’m sorry you had to suffer this indignity."
"What does it have to do with you? Don’t take all the blame upon yourself."
Holding her tight, Rong Shaoze whispered, "It’s my fault for not protecting you well and letting you suffer. I’m sorry."
"You," Lin Xinlan pointed at his forehead speechlessly and chuckled, "you’ve been good enough to me. If you blame yourself, I’ll be upset too."
Rong Shaoze gazed at her, smiled charmingly, and suddenly said, "Xinlan, let’s go out and have fun tomorrow."
"Ah?" Lin Xinlan blinked, then shook her head resolutely, "No, absolutely not! I refuse to go out even if I am beaten to death!"
"Let’s go, just the two of us."
Rong Shaoze rocked her body back and forth, relentlessly coaxing her, "Please, will you? I really want to go out with you. Just agree, okay?"
"Let’s do it when I’m feeling better," she replied.
"No, I want to go tomorrow," Rong Shaoze insisted.
Lin Xinlan got a bit angry, "I’m not going, and if you want to go, go by yourself."
By insisting on taking her out, was he intentionally wanting her to embarrass herself?
A handsome young man like him taking an old lady like her out would surely make everyone think they had a lovely ’grandparent-grandchild’ relationship.
If anyone discerned the ambiguity between them, they would probably be grossed out.
No, absolutely not going.
"Xinlan, won’t you go even if I beg you?" Rong Shaoze looked at her earnestly.
Fearing to hurt his feelings, Lin Xinlan whispered, "I went out today and didn’t feel well. Let’s go another time."
"Xinlan, are you afraid of other people’s stares?" he asked directly.
Lin Xinlan suddenly became angry and pushed him away, saying angrily, "Yes, I’m afraid of their stares! If you want to have fun, you’d better find a younger girl to go with you! I’m an old lady unworthy of such pleasures!"
A hint of amusement flashed in Rong Shaoze’s eyes as he asked with a smile, "Are you angry?"
"You clearly know that I fell for you, and no matter what you look like, you’re the only one I see. By telling me to find someone else, aren’t you hurting me?"
As she heard his gentle tone, Lin Xinlan felt her resolve soften.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean what I said just now..."
The man quickly seized the opportunity and said, "I don’t want an apology; I want you to accompany me tomorrow."
Lin Xinlan’s eyes widened in surprise, and she angrily pushed him again, "Rong Shaoze, you’re driving me insane!"
He knew very well why she didn’t dare to go out, yet he still insisted on taking her out.
What exactly did he mean by that?!
Could it be that he was planning to take her, the ’old lady,’ out in front of everyone to announce that he didn’t care about her appearance, that he’d love her for a lifetime, and that she shouldn’t undervalue herself?
Lin Xinlan was stunned by her own thoughts.
No, even if he didn’t mind, she couldn’t follow him and lose face.
Having made up her mind not to go, Lin Xinlan stuck to her decision, and Rong Shaoze didn’t press her further, but he didn’t say he wouldn’t go either.