Zhang Ruoxi was like a startled rabbit.
She did not even have time to glance at Chen Lin before turning and running.
Her flat sandals slapped rapidly against the bluestone paving, and the hem of her white floral dress fluttered in the sunset. Within seconds, she had vanished behind the guest room door.
Bang!
The door slammed shut with crisp finality.
Only Chen Lin and Chen Qianqian remained in the courtyard, staring at each other.
Chen Qianqian still held up two cups of milk tea, frozen in a comical "I'm backing away" pose, her expression wavering between gleeful hunger for gossip and sheer survival instinct.
"Bro..."
Chen Lin glanced at her.
Just once.
Chen Qianqian's survival instinct instantly kicked into overdrive.
She gently set the two cups of milk tea on the stone table and pressed her palms together, looking utterly contrite.
"I was wrong."
"I didn't see a thing."
"I'm leaving right now."
With that, she shot out through the courtyard gate at a speed no eighteen-year-old girl should have been capable of.
After running a dozen paces, she sneakily poked half her head back around the gate and added with a sly grin, "Bro, I helped Ruoxi pick out that dress she wore today. Pretty, right?"
Chen Lin bent down and picked up a small pebble.
Chen Qianqian's head whipped out of sight. Her footsteps rapidly faded into the distance, accompanied by a string of barely suppressed cackles.
The courtyard fell completely silent.
Chen Lin stood where he was, his fingers unconsciously brushing his lips.
It seemed his fingertips still held the warmth of her cheek from that brief moment when their breaths had mingled.
He took a deep breath, then slowly let it out.
I couldn't be blamed.
*When that girl took the initiative, she really could