As they ate, the two of them began talking about their views on love.
Lu Nanxun was very straightforward.
“I’ve been studying pretty much my entire life. As you know, clinical medicine is an eight-year program, so by the time I graduate and start working, many of my friends will already be in relationships and have children.”
“But I’m still a blank slate who’s never been in a relationship.” He gave a self-deprecating laugh before continuing. “So if there’s ever anything about the way I treat you that makes you uncomfortable, or if I don’t handle something well enough, you can tell me directly.”
Liu Qingye was stunned.
She hadn’t expected Lu Nanxun to have been single since birth. No wonder he had given a woman a black fountain pen as a gift.
She didn’t show any of this on her face, however, and smiled sweetly. “How could that be? I think you’re very meticulous, and you always consider things carefully.”
Lu Nanxun gave a quiet “Mm,” then looked at her and asked bluntly, “What about you?”
From Dr. Lu’s perspective, the fact that the two of them had begun dating meant they had developed some mutual attraction.
At a time like this, being honest about at least part of one’s past was important.
Liu Qingye tugged at the corners of her lips.
What could she say?
Should she honestly tell him that she had been dating since college, and that she’d had more ex-boyfriends than she could count on both hands?
That would definitely scare this honest man away.
So Liu Qingye covered her lips and said softly, “Mm… I’ve been in one relationship before. It was with an older student from my department when I was in college, but we broke up after graduation.”
“It was because we ended up living in different places.”
That wouldn’t sound too fake. There was a beginning and an end to the story, and dating in college was perfectly normal.
There was nothing he could criticize, right?
Lu Nanxun nodded, then asked, “So are you planning to settle down in Hai City permanently?”
Of course not.
Liu Qingye was an actress. In the future, she would definitely be traveling all over the country with various film crews.
But what she said was, “Yes.”
Lu Nanxun got straight to the point. “If you’re filming, you’ll have to stay with the production team, so you should be very busy. Do you think a relationship requires a lot of time together?”
Liu Qingye pressed her lips together and thought for a moment before answering, “I think love is important, but so is one’s career. As an adult, I believe I’m capable of balancing the two.”
“Of course, if I really end up holding hands with someone in the house, I think I’ll become completely love-brained.”
As she said this, she looked a little frustrated and tapped her head with a finger.
She looked adorable.
In reality, she was merely pretending to be cute.
At least, Lu Nanxun completely missed the meaning behind the gesture. Instead, he asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Is the air-conditioning blowing too cold? Do you have a headache?”
Liu Qingye was terribly embarrassed.
Still, she forced herself to remain calm. “N-no, I’m fine.”
“I’ll switch seats with you. You’re sitting right under the vent.” Lu Nanxun stood up with great gentlemanly consideration.
Liu Qingye thought about it, then rose to her feet as well.
She was thinking, What kind of date is this? There isn’t even the slightest hint of romantic tension. Lu Nanxun’s questions are more brutally realistic than the last.
This won’t do.
If there aren’t at least a few pink bubbles floating around, how are the viewers supposed to ship them?
So, as they switched seats and passed each other, Liu Qingye deliberately twisted her ankle and cried out, “Ow—”
Hearing the sound, Lu Nanxun immediately reached out to steady her.
As luck would have it, just as he moved to catch her, her arm happened to come to rest at exactly the right angle.
All he had to do was grab her, and he would be able to support her.
What a coincidence!
Lu Nanxun helped her regain her balance and escorted her to the seat across from him before quickly letting go.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Liu Qingye shook her head, biting her lower lip in apparent annoyance. “I’m fine. I’m really sorry. The heel on my high heels is too thin today, and I accidentally twisted my ankle.”
“It’s a good thing you caught me.”
As she said this, she raised her head and looked directly at him, her eyes shy yet inviting.
But Lu Nanxun’s heart remained completely calm.
He even found the whole thing rather absurd.
He had seen very clearly that Liu Qingye hadn’t twisted her ankle by accident at all. She had deliberately done it—and had even held that position, waiting for him to come and support her.
And the “Are you all right?” she had just asked him hadn’t been out of concern. It had merely been a test.
He hadn’t expected Liu Qingye to lie so openly, without even blinking.
Lying had clearly become second nature to her, something she could say without thinking.
Lu Nanxun felt conflicted, disappointed, and even a little sad.
Because he had discovered the true nature of his date’s character.
Hypocrisy.
Yes, that was right. She was the kind of hypocritical person who could casually lie without hesitation.
At that thought, he closed his eyes.
Yet the face that appeared in his mind was Ji Liuyue’s vivid, expressive one, along with the provocative, arrogant look in her eyes whenever she gazed at him.
So full of life.
…
The atmosphere in the house remained wonderful.
As the second pair of dates to return, Cen Yu and Zhang Weiyi brought everyone some cookies they had made themselves.
“You two made cookies today?” Wang Aitian asked enviously.
Cen Yu’s gaze swept past her, and he said casually, “Yes. I usually enjoy cooking and baking, so I chose a baking DIY studio as our date venue.”
Today, Zhang Weiyi had dressed in a very ladylike fashion. She wore a blue chiffon halter dress, and her short hair was clipped back with a barrette, giving her a sweeter, more adorable look.
She pointed at the teddy bear design in the box. “This one was made by Cen Yu, and I made the other one with the flower design.”
“That sounds like so much fun!” Ji Mingtian squeezed over to join the conversation.
Cen Yu nodded. “It was pretty fun.”
Wang Aitian glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, then quickly looked away.
She picked up two cookies and said quietly, “I’m taking these to Yueyue to try.”
Ji Liuyue was sitting on the terrace, admiring the view. When she heard footsteps, she turned around and saw Wang Aitian.
Wang Aitian smiled at her. “Yueyue, Cen Yu and Yiyi are back. They made cookies on their date today. Look, I brought you one.”
“Thanks.” Ji Liuyue had just taken it when she noticed the smile slowly fading from Wang Aitian’s face.
“What’s wrong, Tiantian…?”
Before she could finish speaking, Wang Aitian lost control of her emotions and threw her arms around Ji Liuyue, burying her face against her chest. Her voice came out muffled.
“Yueyue, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“I kept telling myself that everyone’s interactions in the house were perfectly normal, but when I saw Cen Yu and Yiyi come back from their date, laughing and chatting together, I still… felt so awful.”
Ji Liuyue gently patted her back and comforted her. “You two mutually chose each other for your first date, so you still have feelings for him. It’s only natural that you’d care.”
Wang Aitian hesitated. “But when the girls made their second choices, I was the one who chose Xu Jinsi first, leaving Cen Yu without a partner… Do you think he was upset at the time too?”
Ji Liuyue spoke gently. “First, you need to figure out whether you care about him because you genuinely like him, because of possessiveness, or because he makes you feel secure.”
Wang Aitian shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Ji Liuyue thought for a moment, then said, “Then use this time to think it through properly, and make a firm choice on your next date.”
Wang Aitian lifted her head and nodded vigorously before burying herself in Ji Liuyue’s arms again.
After nuzzling against her, she mumbled, “Yueyue, you’re really wonderful. If I were one of the male guests, I’d definitely steal you away.”
“Silly girl.” Ji Liuyue smiled and gently patted her on the head.
At the corner where the terrace met the main platform, Xu Jinsi had intended to return to his room for a jacket, but he happened to overhear their conversation.
Watching her gently comfort Wang Aitian, the corners of his lips lifted as well.
He thought to himself: She may seem a little clumsy and silly, but she’s actually quite kind-hearted.
