Could You Reject Me?

An awkward silence fell over the scene. Ning Rongrong covered her eyes with her hands, her face flushed red, but her fingers unconsciously parted to leave a small gap...

This guy's got a pretty good body.

Wait, Ning Rongrong, what are you doing?! Is this the time to be peeking?!

Aaaaah...

Jiang Qin turned around awkwardly and quickly pulled on his clothes.

He hadn't expected Ning Rongrong to come looking for him so late, and...

Under such awkward circumstances, no less. It really was a bit of a surprise.

"Ahem... Rongrong, you can open your eyes now," Jiang Qin said with a couple of light coughs.

Only then did Ning Rongrong slowly lower her two fair, delicate little hands. Her once-fair face was now completely red, making her look especially adorable.

Her face flushed, Ning Rongrong's eyes darted from side to side, never daring to meet Jiang Qin's gaze.

Jiang Qin, who should have been the one feeling embarrassed, had already composed himself. He gently changed the subject. "Rongrong, what did you need me for so late at night?"

A hint of puzzlement appeared in his handsome eyes at just the right moment, as though nothing had happened and he had been focused on that question all along.

Ning Rongrong woke as if from a dream and gave an awkward smile.

Then she continued, "Um, I, I do have something to tell you..."

Ning Rongrong fidgeted, constantly rubbing the hem of her dress.

Jiang Qin said nothing, merely watching her intently as he waited for her to continue.

"Well, could you reject me?"

Jiang Qin froze. Reject? Reject what?

You haven't even said anything yet, have you? What am I supposed to reject?

Is this how the plot is supposed to unfold?

Th-this isn't right, is it?

Jiang Qin asked in astonishment, "Reject you? Reject you for what?"

Now that she had spoken, Ning Rongrong stopped agonizing over it. Her young-miss temperament returned, and she raised her chin, meeting Jiang Qin's gaze without fear.

"Jiang Qin, I like you, but I can't be with you openly, so you might as well reject me!"

Her words were firm, but a close look at her face would have shown that Ning Rongrong was panicking like crazy.

She put on a calm front, but her eyes kept sneaking glances at Jiang Qin's reaction as she waited for her answer.

Seeing the little tsundere expression on Ning Rongrong's face, Jiang Qin couldn't help chuckling.

Ning Rongrong said angrily, "Jiang Qin, what are you laughing at?! What, am I that funny?!"

That damn stinking man! I worked up all my courage to come and find him, and he actually laughed at me!

Wuwuwu, that bad man, that stinking man...

Sure enough, men are all big pig trotters!

He was so caring toward me during the day, but now he's acting like this...

"Mm~"

Suddenly, Jiang Qin pulled her into his arms. His eyes gazed at her affectionately, and without another word, he kissed her.

Ning Rongrong's tangled thoughts were cut short. Her eyes widened, holding three parts shock, three parts confusion, and...

Three parts love and surrender.

So a boy's lips could be this soft too. Ning Rongrong couldn't help closing her eyes, quietly enjoying this sweet moment.

A long while later...

Ning Rongrong's face flushed with embarrassment. She reached out with her little hand and slapped Jiang Qin's two wandering hands away.

"What are you doing?!"

Jiang Qin smiled awkwardly. "Uh... it's only natural... only natural."

"It's just that your... is so captivating, Rongrong."

That much was true. Ning Rongrong was in the bloom of youth, lively and adorable.

Mm, really not bad...

Ning Rongrong's face flushed red. She glared at him angrily, gave a soft huff, and turned her face away.

Jiang Qin took Ning Rongrong's fair, delicate little hand and placed it against his chest.

"Rongrong, I like you. Let's be together!"

Ning Rongrong looked at Jiang Qin's earnest expression. His long, layered hair had been left a little messy by their movements just now, but it only added a hint of wildness to him.

His golden eyes were as deep as the sea, and Ning Rongrong couldn't help being drawn deeply into them.

But... when she thought of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's rules, her gaze dimmed. She quickly put on a spoiled, willful expression again and said nonchalantly:

"Hmph, Jiang Qin, were you even listening to me?"

"I said, even though I like you, I can't be with you openly. Listen carefully this time!"

Jiang Qin had taken in every change in Ning Rongrong's expression. He reached out and pulled her in front of him, then lowered his head close to her ear and said with a smile, "I never said we had to go public. If we don't go public, then we don't. I agree."

"I like you too, Rongrong."

Ning Rongrong trembled involuntarily. Her eyes instantly widened, and she stared fixedly at Jiang Qin, her face full of shock.

"Aren't you going to ask why? You're just... agreeing, like that?"

Jiang Qin gently brushed a stray lock of dark hair from Ning Rongrong's forehead to her temple and spoke, half teasing and half serious.

"You have your reasons for not wanting to go public. Even though I really want to know, I respect you. You'll naturally tell me when you want to, so I won't ask, and I don't care. Having you by my side is enough."

Feeling Jiang Qin's fingers gently stroking her cheek and hearing those words, Ning Rongrong couldn't help becoming dazed.

Her cute little nose twitched, and she fell into Jiang Qin's arms. Her lips moved slightly, and suddenly she let out a sob and began to cry.

Two streams of clear tears instantly slid down her cheeks.

Jiang Qin said anxiously, "Rongrong, why are you crying? Didn't I just agree to it? You..."

Rongrong grew even less able to stop, her little fists lightly pounding Jiang Qin again and again.

"Wuwuwu, you big meanie! How am I supposed to reject you when you're like this?!"

Jiang Qin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Just as he was about to speak, Ning Rongrong rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him.

She kissed him clumsily, her movements inexperienced but earnest, a sweet, fresh scent unique to a young girl lingering at the corners of her lips.

Jiang Qin responded passionately, drawing Ning Rongrong tightly into his arms.

It was already late at night. A bright moon had risen high, and its clear light shone through the window lattice onto the two people kissing passionately in the room.

A sweet scent filled the air.

Ning Rongrong suddenly gave Jiang Qin a gentle push,

By now, the two of them had kissed their way from the floor to the edge of the bed.

Jiang Qin smiled awkwardly, took a small step back, and sat down on the soft bed.

He couldn't help it. Faced with Ning Rongrong's exquisite, almost perfect face, and the youthful dress she was wearing today...