Xie Ruhe had already closed his eyes and added, “It’s fine just for tonight.”
“…”
“Come sleep here; I need to hold you.”
Whether it was the power of Xie Ruhe’s embrace or Shu Nian’s “cow” counting strategy that worked, before long, she who had been wide awake for half the night suddenly felt drowsy.
As soon as she closed her eyes, Shu Nian fell asleep.
She woke up at daybreak.
Shu Nian didn’t linger in bed but immediately got up to wash.
After being fed breakfast by Xie Ruhe, she returned to her room and, following the advice she’d found online, changed into a plain, warm-colored dress that fell just below the knee. Then she dawdled at the dressing table for a long time, reluctantly applying some makeup.
Xie Ruhe didn’t rush her and waited in the living room.
After a while, Shu Nian came out of the room.
Xie Ruhe sat on the sofa with a laptop in front of him, still working.
Shu Nian walked over and said, “Are we leaving?”
Hearing her voice, Xie Ruhe immediately closed his laptop, responded with a low sound, and then looked up. He suddenly noticed Shu Nian’s appearance, and his gaze fixed on her.
Shu Nian felt strange under his stare and asked, “What is it?”
Xie Ruhe said softly, “Come here.”
She hesitated for a moment where she stood, but then obediently walked over.
Just as she reached about half a meter away from him, Xie Ruhe grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms. His eyes were pitch black, surging with unnamed emotions: “You’re very beautiful.”
Shu Nian hadn’t yet reacted.
His kiss had already fallen, accompanied by words that weren’t very clear.
“Let me kiss you.”
Ji Xinghuai’s place wasn’t far from Xie Ruhe’s home, about a half-hour drive.
On the way, Xie Ruhe drove while Shu Nian sat in the passenger seat, like a student cramming before an exam, continuing to look at her phone, reading tips for meeting parents.
Xie Ruhe occasionally glanced in her direction, unable to help but curve his lips into a smile.
After a long while.
Shu Nian looked up, gazing out the car window.
The scenery outside flew backward, blurring her vision. The sky was clear, without a single thick cloud. Sunlight fell, glittering on the seawater, and unidentified flocks of birds flew by.
Music played inside the car—one of Xie Ruhe’s songs.
Shu Nian’s mood suddenly calmed considerably, and she put her phone back in her pocket.
Noticing her movement from the corner of his eye, Xie Ruhe asked, “Not looking anymore?”
“I’ve finished looking,” Shu Nian said, as if self-hypnotizing, her voice very soft, her pace very slow, pronouncing each word distinctly, “I will perform very well; you don’t need to worry.”
Xie Ruhe couldn’t help but laugh: “Why are you so nervous?”
Shu Nian honestly said, “I’m afraid your grandfather won’t like me.”
Xie Ruhe said, “He won’t.”
Shu Nian muttered, “How do you know?”
“When you came to the house to record before,” Xie Ruhe said, “I originally told Fang Wencheng to find another music producer. But he listened to my grandfather and brought you to the house.”
Shu Nian was confused: “Why?”
“He hoped,” Xie Ruhe said calmly, “that you and I would see more of each other.”
“Huh?”
“So he won’t dislike you.”
Shu Nian looked at him awkwardly.
Before long, the car arrived at Ji Xinghuai’s residence.
It was in Ruchuan City’s wealthy neighborhood.
Like a scene from a TV drama, Shu Nian felt a bit lost when she got out of the car and immediately went over to hold Xie Ruhe’s hand, extremely dependent.
Xie Ruhe took the gift bags from the back seat and said softly, “Don’t be nervous.”
Shu Nian still couldn’t help asking, “What if I don’t perform well…”
Before she could finish speaking, the door of the villa in front of them suddenly opened, and a middle-aged man walked out. Seeing the two of them, he waved and smiled, “You’re here?”
Xie Ruhe nodded to him and called out, “Second Uncle.”
Shu Nian, nervous with sweaty palms, instinctively followed suit: “Second Uncle.”
The man looked at Shu Nian and also smiled: “You must be Nian Nian?”
Shu Nian hurriedly nodded: “Yes.”