Chapter 20

That night, I drove him home again.

This time, I didn’t stay over. I made him open the door for me.

“Lu Xiao, it’s not appropriate for me to stay here.”

“Then I’ll drive you home.”

“You’ve been drinking.”

“Then I’ll ride with you while you drive your car home, and then you can drive me back here.”

“…”

I was speechless. “Are you trying to create an infinite loop?”

Defeated, Lu Xiao opened his front door with a scowl.

As I was leaving, I turned back and gave him his gift.

A pair of cufflinks that had cost me several months’ salary.

“Lu Xiao, happy birthday.”

“Is this the only gift?”

I knew what he was hoping for.

But I opened my mouth several times and in the end, all that came out was a mumbled, “…Yeah.”

After that, I went home. I used vacation days as an excuse and didn’t leave my house for three days.

I was deep in thought.

Lu Xiao called and texted me, but my replies were short. So he started waiting downstairs, smoking one cigarette after another. At night, I could see the small, glowing orange dot from my window.

My bestie couldn’t stand it anymore. She kicked my door down to have a heart-to-heart with me.

Her fiery anger immediately fizzled out when she saw my greasy hair, unwashed for three days.

She asked cautiously, “Sweetie, are you avoiding Lu Xiao?”

I shook my head.

“Not exactly avoiding him.”

“Then what’s been going on with you these past few days?”

“I’ve been thinking. Seriously thinking.”

“About what?”

“About what my feelings for Lu Xiao really are, and whether he’s just acting on a whim or if he genuinely likes me.”

“The first question is simple. All you have to do is say you don’t like him, and I swear, even if my family goes bankrupt, I will go downstairs right now and help you turn him down.”

“…That won’t be necessary. I… I like him too.”

My face turned red. It was a shy, embarrassed kind of blush. From the very first day he started pursuing me, I had never once said I didn’t like him. I just felt like I wasn’t good enough, and so I hesitated.

Lu Xiao was a great guy. No one could bring themselves to reject him.

My bestie understood, and a smile spread across her face.

“Good. Now for the second question. If you want to know what Lu Xiao really thinks of you, go downstairs right now. See if his eyes light up or if he looks disgusted.”

That was a good idea.

So, I went downstairs.