Li Juanjuan had decided on their positions when she noticed Luo Qianqian and Xu Tianyi quickly carrying a huge bundle of books, moving out of the private room to sit outside, looking puzzled, "What’s with them?"
"Qianqian doesn’t trust me, but also doesn’t want to disturb me, and with someone else here, she worries about awkwardness, so she went outside to eat. She’ll take me home after we finish eating," Chu Ci said with a light laugh. She knew when Qianqian said that earlier, Qianqian was afraid the elders would feel awkward, but it wouldn’t be good for her to go outside alone. It’s different with Xu Tianyi there.
"My dad isn’t going to kidnap children... Is she so small because she doesn’t like to eat? I feel like even you’re short enough," Li Juanjuan stood up and measured the height difference between herself and Chu Ci.
"Qianqian is 12 years old," Chu Ci said softly, "Doesn’t she seem unlike a child? Even though I’m older, she’s always the one protecting me." They protect me. Chu Ci shook her head with a laugh. Was it because she was scared by Chu Yu’s torment that she needed a child for protection?
"Holy shit..." Li Juanjuan cursed, "She’s that age and in high school?"
"Do you know about skipping grades?" Chu Ci said softly, "That boy with her is the sole reason she hasn’t been the top of her grade since junior high, but even being second to him, she’s far beyond our advanced class."
Li Juanjuan opened her mouth but didn’t speak. At first, she only felt that the kid seemed to dominate the conversation a bit, but now thinking about it, it seems she was the one at fault.
"She is my favorite friend, without exception." First as a little sister, then as a classmate and friend, and now as family, a family closer than that of her own sister, a family she could confide in.
"Got it," Li Juanjuan said with a smile, "I’ll treat her as my little sister from now on."
Luo Qianqian, who was in the middle of ordering, suddenly sneezed, touched her nose, looking confused.
"Caught a cold?" Xu Tianyi frowned, his handsome brows knitted.
"Maybe someone is badmouthing me, or perhaps my brother is missing me; ignore him." Luo Qianqian felt no signs of a runny nose or a headache and shook her head, "Another rice porridge, and that should be enough."
Because she was eating with Xu Tianyi, Luo Qianqian had given up all spicy food choices and ordered mild, refreshing, and even stomach-friendly dishes.
Xu Tianyi didn’t say anything, just softened the expression on his face, "Should we pack some food to take home for them later?"
"Right, I sent a message, I’ll bring some easy-to-carry food later," Luo Qianqian nodded, her face blushing, "Xu Tianyi, do you want to go out tomorrow?"
He paused for a moment, amused as he looked at Luo Qianqian, "Are you asking me out? Hmm?"
"Not at all..." Asking you out? Obviously, isn’t it? This is asking you out!
"But studying tomorrow is a better plan, let’s go out the day after tomorrow," Xu Tianyi laughed gently, "I’ll ask you out, will you come?"
Luo Qianqian nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes." Then she realized with embarrassment that she had agreed too quickly, "I mean..."
"It will rain tomorrow," Xu Tianyi said softly, looking at the sky outside, as if explaining his previous refusal.
Luo Qianqian looked out the window suspiciously, the sun had already completely disappeared below the horizon, and a crescent moon hung in the sky.
"It looks clear..." she remarked.
"You’re still too young," Xu Tianyi didn’t explain, for if he revealed everything, what would there be left to show off? This bit of outdoor survival knowledge, he owed it all to the Luo family.
"Humph," Luo Qianqian was not upset, "Then great sage, may I ask what subjects will we have on our school exams?"
"You’re not afraid of anything, are you?" Xu Tianyi smiled, "I have to go back to school too, and I’m really not used to sitting still for so long."
"You’re leaving?" Luo Qianqian’s eyes widened with surprise, "Aren’t you supposed to..." protect me?
But she didn’t finish her sentence, as she saw something unexpected enter Wanhai Tower.
"The Han family!" Luo Qianqian quickly slapped a book over Xu Tianyi’s face, covering it up while she glanced outside. Watching through the window, she saw people enter the private room.
"What are they doing here?" Luo Qianqian frowned, feeling uncomfortable no matter how she thought about it.
"Who knows?" Xu Tianyi narrowed his eyes and ignored the part of his face that had been smacked red. He secretly clenched his fist. In the current market, there was only one reason that would make a rival big family like the Luo Family send someone here, and that was Luo Qianqian.
Luo Shufan had already gone to Capital City, where was there of such importance to come to this small city with great fanfare? Looking at that person, who was clearly of the direct lineage, were they planning to take drastic measures?
Luo Qianqian also knew about the rivalry between the Luo Family and the Han Family, which was why she was so nervous. But her reason for nervousness was the fear of Xu Tianyi being discovered. After all, Xu Tianyi was also a descendant of the Xu Family, which had marital ties with the Han Family. Why did things feel like they were getting more complicated?
"It looks like my prayers worked?" Luo Qianqian playfully blinked her eyes. "I just prayed, hoping you would study here."
Xu Tianyi was taken aback for a moment before his eyes lit up. That’s right, since I have to study anyway, why not do it while being able to protect her? Why not?
"Then I’ll ask my uncle tonight," said Xu Tianyi, nodding his head.
Luo Qianqian laughed lightly, "Do you know your room has been taken by your brother?" I won’t expose you, look how nice I am.
"I know." Xu Tianyi nodded and stirred the millet porridge that had just been served. "My surname is Xu, but everything I have was given by the Luo Family, so you don’t need to worry. Even if it’s my life, I’ll give it to you." His voice was very soft, but Luo Qianqian heard it, her face full of surprise.
"Do you realize what you just said?" Luo Qianqian asked.
"Hehe... I’m inexplicably excited." Luo Qianqian rubbed her palms together and looked at Xu Tianyi, "Is grandpa planning to have you as my child betrothed husband?"
Luo Shufan almost spat out the mouthful of millet porridge he hadn’t swallowed yet but managed to gulp it down, his face turning red as he drank half a glass of water.
"Is it true? Like the kind raised according to my preferences, and when grown up, can be directly taken home?" Old Master Luo: I’m not raising pigs!!! And certainly not pigs to uproot my own home’s dewy Little Cabbage!!!
"What preferences do you have?" Xu Tianyi’s face darkened. Was it possible that someone else could fulfill her demands and then she’d run off with them?
Sensing that Xu Tianyi’s expression was off, Luo Qianqian quickly changed her tune, "I like you." Her cheeks reddened as she spoke, feeling guilty for speaking such a fluent line of love talk as a minor. No, no, keep calm, keep calm.
"Watch less TV dramas," said Xu Tianyi, continuing to eat his meal with the corners of his eyes slightly curved, indicating his good mood at the moment.
Was she being rejected? Was this a rejection of her confession? Luo Qianqian’s eyes spelled utter disbelief, "Shouldn’t you be the one saying you like me instead?"
"Eat your meal. It’s better to do a couple more problems than think so much," he said.
Returning home that evening, He Wenyu and the newly arrived Chu Ci were reluctant to speak a word as they watched Luo Qianqian, with a gloomy expression, furiously doing her practice problems.
The two exchanged glances in silence.
He Wenyu: What’s wrong with her?
Chu Ci: I don’t know...
He Wenyu: Weren’t you with her?
Chu Ci: I don’t know...
He Wenyu: What did you guys do?
Chu Ci: I don’t know...
Chu Ci: I don’t know...
"If you’ve got the leisure to stare at each other, you might as well come over here and do some problems with me!" Luo Qianqian, biting on her pen, said fiercely.