Chapter 23: A Confusing Infidelity? (Additional Update 6)
“Um… classmate Zhiyin, can I ask you a question?”
After speaking, Long Qinxin clutched the chopsticks Lu Zhiyin handed her, while her other hand tightly gripped a corner of her school uniform, looking at Lu Zhiyin nervously.
“…”
Lu Zhiyin was as nervous as her.
What did Long Qinxin want to ask? Lu Zhiyin wasn’t sure if she could answer Long Qinxin’s question.
However, seeing the expectant look on Long Qinxin’s face, Lu Zhiyin still nodded.
“Ask away.”
She closed her eyes, holding the chopsticks, and pretended to be casual as she took a bite of her meal.
“Leng Qing Qiu said you hate me and that you’re her girlfriend. Are these true?”
As Long Qinxin’s question was spoken, Lu Zhiyin’s vision went black. The hand holding the chopsticks loosened slightly. Fortunately, she hadn’t completely lost her grip, preventing the chopsticks from falling to the ground, which would have been too embarrassing.
“Ha…”
Looking up at Long Qinxin, Lu Zhiyin was troubled by this question.
She couldn’t understand why Long Qinxin would ask such a question. Of course, she could lie to Long Qinxin. She could easily say she had nothing to do with Leng Qing Qiu.
However, this was ultimately untrustworthy. Long Qinxin and Leng Qing Qiu didn’t get along; they often argued. If Long Qinxin accidentally let something slip during an argument with Leng Qing Qiu, she would be finished.
But what if she admitted to being Leng Qing Qiu’s girlfriend? How would Long Qinxin react? Would she hate Lu Zhiyin? Would she leave? Her favorability rating would probably drop significantly.
Weighing the pros and cons, Lu Zhiyin finally shook her head.
It was just a few words, not a real infidelity anyway. Leng Qing Qiu probably wouldn’t do anything to her, maybe just slash her a few times with a knife?
Holding onto this fantasy, Lu Zhiyin spoke.
“I don’t hate you. As for my relationship with Leng Qing Qiu… would anyone treat their girlfriend so terribly?”
Lu Zhiyin didn’t answer directly but answered a question with a question, leaving herself some room to maneuver.
She was a foolish person, but not entirely foolish.
“…Is that so… Yes, who would hurt their girlfriend like this.”
Long Qinxin released her clenched fist, closed her eyes, and her previously tense face calmed down.
“Phew…”
Breathing out a sigh of relief, Long Qinxin stood up.
“Um, classmate Zhiyin… I think I’m starting to like you… Can we, can we date?”
Mustering the greatest courage of her life, Long Qinxin tentatively asked.
She knew it wasn’t very proper to confess immediately after asking about Lu Zhiyin and Leng Qing Qiu’s relationship, but Long Qinxin really didn’t want to endure it any longer.
She had never been in a relationship before and was experiencing the emotion called affection for the first time. She didn’t yet know how to establish a relationship with someone, and everything had to be a clumsy exploration.
“……?”
Upon hearing Long Qinxin’s words, which were practically a confession, Lu Zhiyin froze completely. The chopsticks in her hand truly slipped from her grip. The pair of chopsticks first landed on the coffee table, then rolled to the ground, making a crisp clatter.
After a while, Lu Zhiyin came back to her senses.
“Haha… Dating… dating with me, classmate Qinxin must be joking…”
Bending down, Lu Zhiyin picked up the chopsticks, wiped them haphazardly, and then placed them on the bowl.
While doing these actions, she stiffly made small talk, trying to muddle through.
If not admitting to being Leng Qing Qiu’s girlfriend might be forgivable, then dating someone else while being Leng Qing Qiu’s girlfriend would definitely be fatal if Leng Qing Qiu found out.
Lu Zhiyin didn’t want to take such a huge risk.
“I’m not joking! I really, really like you, classmate Zhiyin. Perhaps, I took a liking to you from the first time we met, and everything that happened afterward made me truly fall for you. Do you know, you’re the kindest person to me in many years. You are the only light in my life. You are so gentle, yet you are always hurt by others. Such a wonderful you shouldn’t be treated like this. I want to protect you… Please, go out with me! I will treat you very, very well. I will give you everything I can.”
Clumsily expressing her affection, Long Qinxin squatted down, cupped Lu Zhiyin’s hands, and held her tender fingers tightly, her gaze fixed on Lu Zhiyin’s face.
She knew her confession was presumptuous, but she just wanted to do it.
It wasn’t bad to be willful once in a while, right?
Thinking this, Long Qinxin’s gaze towards Lu Zhiyin became even more fervent.
Was this simple affection or true love? Long Qinxin didn’t know herself, and she didn’t want to figure it out.
Time would slowly prove everything, and she would eventually get her answer.
“Uh hmm…”
Looking at the fervent Long Qinxin, Lu Zhiyin didn’t know how to refuse.
She tried to pull her hand free from Long Qinxin’s grip, but it was futile, only causing Long Qinxin to hold on tighter.
Lu Zhiyin frowned.
“We haven’t known each other for long, have we? There’s no need to rush into dating… What I mean is, perhaps we can spend some more time getting to know each other?”
Still trying to brush it off, Lu Zhiyin’s voice remained soft, gently stirring Long Qinxin’s heart.
“…It’s not too early at all. Isn’t it the same to get to know each other after dating? Classmate Zhiyin, please don’t reject me, I beg you…”
After being a little firm, she became soft again, her gaze towards Lu Zhiyin filled with pleading.
She thought that if she were rejected this time, she probably wouldn’t have another chance. Therefore, even though Lu Zhiyin had subtly shown signs of refusal, Long Qinxin was unwilling to let go.
“…”
After a long silence, Lu Zhiyin’s mind was in a mess.
She didn’t know if she should continue to reject Long Qinxin.
If she continued to reject Long Qinxin… she would probably really leave her… But if she really dated her, it would be difficult to explain to Leng Qing Qiu.
Caught between the two female leads, Lu Zhiyin felt her head was about to split open.
“…Then, let’s try a little? If it doesn’t work out, we can break up…”
Finally, Lu Zhiyin chose Long Qinxin again.
“Okay! Classmate Zhiyin, Classmate Zhiyin…”
Ignoring Lu Zhiyin’s latter half of the sentence, Long Qinxin hugged Lu Zhiyin, repeatedly repeating Lu Zhiyin’s name. Her hug was tight, showing her immense joy.
Lu Zhiyin couldn’t understand why Long Qinxin liked her so much.
She was in a bad mood now, worrying about her future.
“Classmate Qinxin… Don’t bully me later…”
Gently pushing Long Qinxin away, Lu Zhiyin looked at the black-haired girl in front of her and pursed her lips.
“Mhm, I won’t bully you like that trash Leng Qing Qiu.”
Nodding heavily, Long Qinxin hugged Lu Zhiyin again.
Lu Zhiyin listlessly let Long Qinxin hug her.
She didn’t take Long Qinxin’s promise seriously.
After all, she still had to try and woo Qin An and Zhu Qing, these other female leads. It was almost impossible to prevent Long Qinxin from turning into a villain.
Closing her eyes, Lu Zhiyin pushed Long Qinxin.
“I can’t breathe…”
As she spoke, Long Qinxin immediately and nervously released Lu Zhiyin.
She stood up straight.
“Ah… S-sorry… I was a bit too excited.”
Apologizing profusely, Long Qinxin’s hands were pressed tightly to her sides, like a child who had made a mistake.
“…It’s okay, let’s eat.”
Lu Zhiyin gave her a smile and then gestured to the sofa beside her.
Long Qinxin joyfully sat down and began to eat the meal on the table, which had started to cool.
