Chapter 42 Then kiss me first.

Lou Yumin grabbed her hem, looking nervous.

Seeing his worried expression, Lu Jinlan's heart softened. She stroked the corner of his beautiful eyes with her fingertips, and her tone finally warmed. "I'm not going to Fengchun Pavilion. I'm going to find Ruzhen for a drink. You should go to sleep first."

Lu Jinlan bought a new house and renovated the villa as well. She invited Xiang Ruzhen to come and stay several times, but Xiang Ruzhen, who was self-disciplined and respectful of etiquette, refused each time, saying, "There are too many men in your family, it's inconvenient."

Fortunately, the Lu residence and the academy are separated by only one wall, like neighbors, making it very convenient for them to visit each other.

Lu Jinlan carried two jars of fine wine, climbed over the wall as if walking on flat ground, took a shortcut on the roof, and reached the roof of the library in a few leaps.

Looking down through the skylight, she saw only a single lamp illuminating a dim, yellowish corner of the library.

Amidst a vast sea of ​​books, in the stillness of the night, only one person is engrossed in writing under the lamp.

The campus was unusually quiet on the day off, the desolate world seemed even more vast, but Xiang Ruzhen was immersed in her lively atmosphere, full of interest.

What others might perceive as loneliness, Lu Jinlan knew that Xiang Ruzhen enjoyed her solitude. She not only endured loneliness but had also grown accustomed to being alone.

Lu Jinlan sighed, rolled over and lay down on the roof, then opened a jar of wine. He took a sip, closed his eyes, and let his mind wander.

A moment later, another jar of wine was picked up.

Lu Jinlan opened her eyes, slightly surprised: "Why did you come up here?"

Xiang Ruzhen said, "I heard you calling me."

Lu Jinlan chuckled lightly, "You're hallucinating."

Xiang Ruzhen said, "Why aren't you staying in your comfort zone? Coming back to the academy on your day off is so unlike you."

Lu Jinlan sighed helplessly, "The house is a mess, it's quiet here."

Xiang Ruzhen shook her head. "I think it's your mind that's in turmoil. You came in second in the midterm exams. Did a man affect your performance? Or did you deliberately let me have first place?"

Lu Jinlan laughed and denied it, "No, I'm not as diligent as you. If I slack off even a little, I won't be able to pass the test as well as you. It's only natural that I'm below you."

“It’s not that you can’t beat me, it’s that you didn’t intend to take the test seriously. Wu Xin said you’ve been acting like you’re on drugs these past few days, finding fault with everything. Actually, I can tell you’re unhappy and angry. But you’ve been tormenting that young master Song for half a month, aren’t you going to forgive him yet?”

"I haven't thought it through. I hate the feeling of being manipulated. If he really cares about me, he shouldn't lie to me."

"There is another possibility: he cares about you too much and is afraid that he will lose you if the lie is suddenly exposed, so he keeps delaying. He only dares to tell you when he feels that the relationship is stable enough and there are no obstacles at home."

Lu Jinlan was silent for a moment, then said, "Perhaps, who knows? Maybe he just doesn't care about my feelings. If you were in his shoes, what would you do?"

Xiang Ruzhen chuckled softly, "Then I might as well tell you the truth: if I were you, I wouldn't care whether he cares about me or not. Marrying him would give me 200,000 troops from the Song family. Even if he hates me, I would still marry him."

As Xiang Ruzhen spoke, she raised the wine jar and said, "The chief wife should have ambitions for all corners of the world and a heart for all under heaven. Why be so concerned about trivial matters? Besides, Young Master Song is unparalleled in appearance and is in love with you. You have already taught him a lesson. Let bygones be bygones. Let it go."

Lu Jinlan took a swig of wine. "Let me think about it some more."

*

That night, Lu Jinlan returned to Lou Yumian's room to rest. The next day, Qing'er hurriedly delivered a letter, "Young Master, this is from Young Master Song."

Lu Jinlan read the letter and saw that Song Lincheng said he was returning to Lingzhou, but he wanted to see her one last time before leaving, asking her to meet him at Jixia Mountain outside the city before sunset. The letter also said that as long as she went to keep the appointment, he would no longer bother her.

Lu Jinlan frowned. "Which of you gave him some bad advice this time?"

Yu Mian and Qing'er both denied it, saying, "We've been at our wits' end for a long time."

Lu Jinlan didn't ask any more questions. After her afternoon nap, she sat alone at her desk practicing calligraphy to calm her mind.

Lou Yumin and Qing'er silently did their needlework, watching the sun slowly move westward, but Lu Jinlan showed no sign of moving.

The two exchanged a dozen glances, neither daring to speak rashly, each anxious.

Until the sky suddenly darkened and a heavy rainstorm arrived in an instant.

Lou Yumin breathed a sigh of relief. "It's raining. Every autumn rain brings a chill, and I'm afraid it will be even colder in the mountains outside the city."

Qing'er quickly added, "Yes, Young Master Song didn't even bring an umbrella when he left. I wonder if he'll get soaked."

Lou Yumin: "You can recover from getting soaked, but Jixia Mountain is steep, what if you slip and fall..."

Before he could finish speaking, there was a loud bang as Lu Jinlan slammed the pen down on the table.

The two immediately stopped talking, and after a moment of silence in the room, Lu Jinlan suddenly said, "Bring an umbrella."

*

Song Lincheng waited at Jixia Mountain for a short day, but the hope in his heart gradually faded away like the dawn.

He had prepared a whole speech to express his feelings, carefully choosing each word and even practicing his tone repeatedly. However, the person he wanted to see did not appear. He went from muttering to himself to remaining silent, and his eyes gradually dimmed.

He leaned against an old tree and drifted off to sleep. He was suddenly awakened by a torrential downpour.

My first thought was: Has she been here before?

Frustrated, Song Lincheng searched everywhere, but the place was deserted, with nothing but lifeless flowers, trees, and stones.

"Lu Jinlan! Lu Jinlan!" he called out again and again, unwilling to give up. The dense raindrops pelted him, and his body and heart grew colder and colder.

When Lu Jinlan arrived, she saw him standing alone on the mountaintop, surrounded by jagged rocks. He was soaked to the bone, his face wet with a mixture of tears and rain, and he was murmuring her name.

Lu Jinlan sighed. "What do you want to say?"

Song Lincheng wiped the rain off his face, then suddenly took off the white jade hairpin from his hair and pressed its sharp point against his neck. "If you don't forgive me, I'll die."

Lu Jinlan shook her head helplessly. "Have I ever told you that besides hating being lied to, I also hate being threatened?"

Song Lincheng was stunned. Taking advantage of his momentary daze, Lu Jinlan quickly snatched the hairpin and turned to leave.

Suddenly, the person behind him choked out, "Fine, I won't threaten you. You don't have to forgive me, but losing you is too painful, I can't bear it, I'd rather die."

Out of the corner of her eye, Lu Jinlan caught a glimpse of a white figure leaping off the cliff. Her heart tightened, and without thinking, she threw down her umbrella and rushed over.

Song Lincheng almost thought he was dead, but when he opened his eyes, he saw Lu Jinlan with half of her body hanging on the edge of the cliff, only her feet hooked on the tree trunk, and her hands tightly gripping his wrist.

Lu Jinlan asked in anguish, "Song Lincheng, have you gone mad?"

Overwhelmed with sorrow, a thousand grievances and ten thousand frustrations welled up in Song Lincheng's heart. With tears in his eyes, he said, "Do you think I only went crazy today?"

“I’ve been crazy for a long time, ever since the day I met you. For you, I’ve given up everything I could and couldn’t give up. I’ve done everything I could and couldn’t do. I can give up everything, I just want to be with you. If you can’t forgive me, then let go. Let me die. If I lose you, death would be a relief for me.”

Lu Jinlan retorted angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about? You only have one child. Do you want your mother to bury her child? How am I supposed to explain this to them?"

Song Lincheng said blankly, "I won't cause you any trouble. Just tell them that I accidentally fell off the cliff and it has nothing to do with you."

Lu Jinlan gritted her teeth, hesitated for a long time, and finally said helplessly, "Madman, if you still want to be with me, don't do anything rash."

Song Lincheng quickly replied, "Okay."

Lu Jinlan carefully adjusted her posture. The rocks and trees were extremely slippery from the torrential rain. She threw her cloak onto a tree trunk and pulled herself up with great effort.

The rocks were sharp, and Song Lincheng's arm was covered in cuts. Lu Jinlan pulled him up and frowned, saying, "Let me see your wounds."

Song Lincheng ignored her and hugged her tightly, kissing her lips urgently as if to confirm something.

Lu Jinlan paused for a moment, then sighed helplessly, offering a warm response to soothe his anxious heart.

Washed by the cold rain, only the warmth of each other's bodies could soothe their wounded hearts.

The two kissed passionately for a long time, until they were both soaked. The rain poured down harder and harder.

Lu Jinlan touched his face. "Let's go into the cave to take shelter for a while, and go home when the rain stops."

"Okay." Song Lincheng was very happy to hear the word "home".

Lu Jinlan lit a pile of dry branches, and the flames dispelled the chill around her.

She stared intently at the fire, the flickering flames reflecting on her serene face, and Song Lincheng began to feel uneasy again.

In truth, whenever she was thinking, Song Lincheng felt a great distance from her. Even when she was right next to him, he often couldn't guess what she was thinking.

He used to have no worries, but now he fears that she is thinking about how to distance herself from him.

Song Lincheng felt a surge of desire and quietly moved closer, nuzzling her shoulder with the tip of his firm nose to attract her attention.

Lu Jinlan chuckled and reached out to pinch his ear. "Why are you behaving like a dog?"

Song Lincheng's eyes were full of earnestness: "Please hug me."

Lu Jinlan reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, but heard him whisper in her ear, his breath hot, "It's not like that. I want... I want to be yours."

Lu Jinlan's face flushed, and she said in a low voice, "Let's talk about it when we get home."

Song Lincheng thought for a moment and then temporarily compromised, "Then kiss me first."

Lu Jinlan smiled helplessly, "What's wrong with you? I said I'd take you home, would I lie to you? Do you think I'm like you?"

Song Lincheng lowered his eyes guiltily and whispered, "I won't lie to you anymore."

"Okay, I understand." Lu Jinlan touched his wet hair, but couldn't bear it in the end, so she leaned forward and kissed his face.

Song Lincheng immediately pressed himself against her with unprecedented passion, and the two became entangled in a passionate kiss.

It wasn't until Lu Jinlan realized something was wrong, and upon opening her eyes, she saw dozens of pairs of eyes at the cave entrance, that she quickly pushed the person away.

"Ahem." Lu Jinlan looked awkwardly at the group of men, women, and children at the cave entrance. "Uh, what's the matter?"