Pursuing Her Best Friend after Confession Failed-Chapter 95 - 83: Luring the Treasure Girl Home (Please Subscribe)_2
Li Yuan had a general idea of the kind of family Xia Zhijin came from. He now understood why she was so low-key, why she deliberately hid herself, and why she had rushed to find a part-time job in the cafeteria right after starting university just to make ends meet.
Weren’t other girls treated like precious gems when they first started university? Only she had to deliberately hide in the shadows.
Li Yuan squeezed her small hand tightly. If it weren’t for the crowd in the supermarket, he would have pulled her into his arms, giving her a warm shoulder to lean on.
With her eyes red, Xia Zhijin looked earnestly at Li Yuan. "Li Yuan, will the day you mentioned really come?"
Feeling her expectant, passionate gaze, which was filled with endless hope, Li Yuan’s heart trembled. He replied resolutely, "Trust me. I promise that day will definitely come."
He was an insignificant participant in that great era, one who had accomplished an unprecedented, historic achievement...
Xia Zhijin nodded emphatically. "I... I believe you."
Li Yuan tousled her hair. "Stop crying, or you’ll get streaks all over your face like a little kitten. You should be happy. From now on, every year, every month, every day, every minute, and every second should be filled with joy."
Xia Zhijin chuckled, her clear, flawless eyes reflecting Li Yuan’s silhouette. She whispered almost inaudibly, "Li Yuan, it’s so good to have you."
「」
In the snack aisle, Li Yuan started tossing his favorite treats directly into the shopping cart. "Zhijin, you should get more of these. Plum snacks, chocolate, nuts, sunflower seeds, pistachios... Get whatever you want to eat."
Seeing Li Yuan on a shopping spree, Xia Zhijin quickly grabbed his hand. "Li Yuan, I can’t eat all of this."
Li Yuan shrugged. "If you can’t eat it all now, you can just keep it in your dorm. Snacks have a long shelf life anyway, so you can eat them slowly. They’ll be gone eventually. Besides, your roommates are all little foodies. You can share with them."
Following beside Li Yuan, Xia Zhijin muttered, "But won’t eating so many snacks make me gain weight?"
Li Yuan glanced at Xia Zhijin’s figure. She seemed a little malnourished, not as ample as Little Fish’s or Bai Weixi’s. "Zhijin, I think you should eat more. The right places need to fill out."
Xia Zhijin asked, puzzled, "What do you mean by ’the right places’?"
"COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!" Li Yuan coughed awkwardly. I’ve gotten too used to making crude jokes in the dorm and my mouth is running away with me. My bad, my bad. A pure and innocent girl like Xia Zhijin shouldn’t be tainted by worldly things. It’s best if she stays this innocent forever...
"You probably misheard me. Anyway, just make sure to eat more from now on."
"Oh, okay!"
After buying a huge bag of snacks, Li Yuan pulled Xia Zhijin over to the produce and meat sections.
"Hehe, Zhijin, you promised me the other day you’d have a cooking competition with me. You haven’t forgotten, have you?"
Xia Zhijin shyly lowered her head. How could I possibly forget? Every little moment since I met Li Yuan replays in my mind during the quiet of the night...
Gazing at the dazzling array of fresh vegetables, poultry, eggs, and various kinds of seafood, Xia Zhijin looked eager. She hadn’t cooked in more than half a month.
Li Yuan smiled. "Zhijin, what are your specialty dishes? We’re going home to cook for ourselves today."
"Hehe, I’ll show you a thing or two as well. You’ll get to taste my handiwork."
The two of them filled a large shopping cart with common vegetables and meats.
「」
Li Yuan drove to Jiangnan Garden, a high-end residential complex next to Jinxiu Villas. It was one of the three fully-furnished properties he had purchased.
This apartment was a spacious 148-square-meter flat with a fantastic, open view. It had four bedrooms, two living rooms, and two bathrooms. It was a fully furnished unit where he had occasionally stayed for short periods during his military training.
Xia Zhijin sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her palms starting to sweat as her nervousness grew. She occasionally glanced out the window at the endless rows of buildings. In Modu, every single one of these homes represented a millionaire, a concept so foreign she could barely imagine it. It was like they existed in two different worlds.
She stole a glance at Li Yuan’s smiling face, and her heart began to race with new, more anxious thoughts. He’s taking me to his home... If he tries to make a move on me, what... what should I do?
Li Yuan, of course, had no idea what was going through her mind.
"Zhijin, we’re here. I live on the top floor of this building," he said. "We can just put the groceries in the elevator."
Xia Zhijin suddenly looked shy, stammering as she asked, "L-Li Yuan, can I ask you something?"
"What is it? Go ahead."
Xia Zhijin’s face grew even redder as she lowered her head. "Are... are your parents home?"
Li Yuan paused. He was about to answer truthfully when an idea struck him. He decided to tease this timid, bashful gem of a girl. "My parents are both at home."
"Ah?" Xia Zhijin’s face went crimson, and her body began to tremble violently. Her eyes were fixed on Li Yuan. "Li Yuan, this is... this is too fast. I’m scared."
Xia Zhijin’s heart was in turmoil; she hadn’t even considered this possibility. Back in her hometown, visiting a man’s family was a formal affair, something to be taken very seriously.
A wave of panic washed over her, and a dreadful feeling welled up in her heart. How am I supposed to face his parents? Will they look down on me? Will they forbid me from dating Li Yuan? I come from a humble background, just an ordinary girl from a remote mountain village. Will a prominent family like Li Yuan’s look down on me?
If his parents don’t like me, I’ll leave. I can’t put him in a difficult position... As this thought crossed her mind, Xia Zhijin glanced at Li Yuan’s profile. Over the past half a month, while enjoying his meticulous care, she had already fallen for him.
Seeing the tears glistening in Xia Zhijin’s eyes, Li Yuan reached out, took her small hand in his, and said decisively, "Zhijin, don’t worry. I’ve got this."
Xia Zhijin looked at Li Yuan and said nothing, simply nodding her head.
The atmosphere in the elevator was heavy. Li Yuan inwardly regretted his prank. If he had known it would make her overthink things so much, he would have told her the truth from the start.
DING. The elevator doors slid open.
Xia Zhijin managed a smile as she helped Li Yuan with the groceries. Her cheeks were tinged with red, and her body trembled slightly, as if she were awaiting the "judgment" of Li Yuan’s parents.
Li Yuan opened the apartment door. Once inside, he turned and gestured invitingly to Xia Zhijin, who was standing dazed in the hallway.
"Classmate Xia Zhijin, welcome home."
Hearing the words "welcome home," Xia Zhijin’s eyes unexpectedly misted over. The apartment was completely silent.
She asked nervously, "L-Li Yuan, aren’t your parents home?"
Li Yuan laughed heartily and pulled her inside, teasing, "Classmate Zhijin, my parents don’t live here. Today, you are the lady of the house."
Hearing the words "lady of the house," Xia Zhijin blushed and lowered her head, a wave of relief washing over her. So it’s not a formal meeting with his parents after all. Good. I really don’t know how I would face them. It’s just too soon...
Xia Zhijin stepped inside and curiously surveyed the apartment. Her first impression was that it was huge and spacious. The balcony had massive floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a direct view of the nearby river.
This is Li Yuan’s home?
Li Yuan checked the time. It was around noon, time for lunch. He walked over to Xia Zhijin, extended his hand, and pulled her to her feet. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
"Hehe, today’s lady of the house, it’s your turn to show what you’ve got."
