Chapter 20
Zhuohua stood quietly under the streetlight, her back to him. Her figure appeared exceptionally slender yet towering in the light and shadow.
silence.
A deathly silence spread between the two.
Lu Xiao's heart sank deeper and deeper into silence. A wave of immense disappointment and humiliation washed over him like an icy tide. He had indeed… overestimated himself. He lowered his head, tears silently falling onto the cold ground.
Just then.
Zhuohua slowly, very slowly, turned around.
The dim light outlined the delicate contours of her face. Her face remained expressionless, but her calm, deep eyes clearly reflected Lu Xiao's disheveled and humble figure.
She looked at his lowered head, at the tears that silently streamed down his face, and at his shoulders that trembled slightly with tension and despair.
Having lived for hundreds of thousands of years, witnessing the changing times and the transformation of the world, she had seen countless passionate declarations of love, some for her power, some for her beauty, and some for her status. Those vows were like willow catkins in the wind, fleeting and ephemeral.
But this ordinary young man before her... he was so weak and so ordinary, yet after witnessing her inhuman power and even being terrified by it, he still offered her a burning, unreserved heart.
He said he was not good enough for her, yet he desperately wanted to catch up; he said he didn't need her to help him with her power, he just wanted to cherish her like an ordinary person; he knew that the road ahead might be an endless abyss, yet he still jumped in without hesitation.
trouble.
This is a huge problem.
Zhuohua sighed inwardly.
But looking at his humble, pleading expression, at the tear tracks on his cheeks, at the burning flame in his eyes, a flame named "Lu Xiao," burning recklessly...
Deep within her heart, which had been dormant for millennia and as still as ice, it seemed to be scorched by this flame, emitting a barely audible sound, like ice shattering.
She raised her hand.
Lu Xiao subconsciously closed his eyes, waiting for the verdict of rejection, or worse, a silent disappearance.
However, the expected coldness did not arrive.
A cool yet exceptionally soft hand, carrying a faint scent of herbs and trees, gently and tenderly brushed across his cheek, wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes.
That gesture carried a tenderness he had never felt before, almost like pity?
Lu Xiao suddenly opened his eyes, staring incredulously at Zhuo Hua who was so close to him.
Zhuohua withdrew her hand, her fingertips still seemingly damp. She looked at his suddenly widened eyes, filled with shock and ecstasy, and almost imperceptibly twitched the corner of her mouth before finally speaking. Her voice was as calm as ever, yet it seemed to carry a barely audible, almost helpless indulgence:
"knew."
"What a hassle."
Under the glow of the streetlights, Zhuohua's calm tone, tinged with a hint of helplessness and indulgence, struck Lu Xiao's heart like heavenly music!
It wasn't a rejection! It wasn't a disappearance! She...she agreed?! Although it was just "I know," and although she complained that he was "troublesome," this was a response that Lu Xiao never dared to dream of!
An overwhelming ecstasy, like a devastating tsunami, instantly engulfed him! He abruptly raised his head, his glassy eyes wide open, all the fear, humility, and tears within them replaced by unbelievable ecstasy!
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but could only let out a silly "heh heh" laugh. He was completely stunned by the overwhelming happiness, not knowing where to put his hands and feet. He could only stare blankly at Zhuo Hua, who was so close to him, his cheeks as red as ripe tomatoes.
Zhuohua subtly pursed her lips at his silly expression, the helplessness in her eyes seeming to deepen. She didn't say anything more, but turned around and continued walking out of the alley, her steps still leisurely and unhurried.
Lu Xiao snapped out of his daze and hurriedly wiped away the tears on his face. Like a puppy that had finally received its owner's approval, he followed closely behind Zhuo Hua, step by step.
His heart pounded like a drum, thumping against his chest and making his eardrums tingle. Under the streetlights, he looked at Zhuohua's slender back and felt as if her figure was coated with a soft halo, even her casually swaying arms were full of unparalleled charm.
"Zhuohua..." he called softly and tentatively, his voice still hoarse from crying and filled with immense joy.
"Hmm." Zhuohua didn't even turn her head.
"Um... noodles... do you still want some?" Lu Xiao cautiously pointed to Old Zhang's noodle shop not far away, still a little scared from the terrifying scene just now.
"Let's go back," Zhuohua said succinctly. Having just cleaned away the filth, she had lost her appetite for noodles.
"Okay! Okay! Let's go home!" Lu Xiao nodded vigorously, a dazzling smile spreading across his face. Going home! The word sounded incredibly sweet at that moment!
That night, Lu Xiao barely slept a wink. Lying on his small single bed in his rented room, he tossed and turned, his mind filled with Zhuo Hua's "I know" under the streetlight and the cool touch of her fingertips as she wiped away his tears.
A surge of immense joy intertwined with a sense of unreality, making him feel like a child receiving candy for the first time, overwhelmed with excitement.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lu Xiao, sporting faint dark circles under his eyes and clutching the heavy wrap-up bonus, rushed out of his house. His destination was clear—the largest electronics mall in the city center!
He was going to use his first big sum of money to buy Zhuohua a new phone! The best one ever! He never wanted to see her using that old phone with its screen cracked like a spider web again! A master (though Zhuohua wouldn't admit it) deserves the best!
Under the enthusiastic introduction of the sales assistant, Lu Xiao did not hesitate to choose the latest model, the highest configuration, and the largest memory of the top-of-the-line mobile phone.
When the brand-new, shiny phone with its streamlined body gleaming with metallic luster was handed to him, Lu Xiao felt even more excited than if he had landed the role of the third male lead! He held it carefully, as if it were a rare treasure, and ran all the way to the equally simple rented room where Zhuo Hua lived.
He knocked on the door and saw Zhuohua, just woken up, dressed in simple pajamas, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders, looking languidly sleepy, her eyes still a little dazed. This unguarded, relaxed state at home made Lu Xiao's heart skip a beat, and his cheeks began to flush.
"Zhuohua!" Lu Xiao handed over the exquisite phone box like a treasure, his eyes sparkling. "I bought this for you! A new phone! The latest model! It works really well!" His voice trembled slightly with nervousness and excitement.
Zhuohua's gaze fell on the box with the cool logo, then she looked at Lu Xiao's face, slightly flushed from running and filled with anticipation. She didn't take it, but just tilted her head slightly, her eyes questioning.
“Your… screen is cracked…” Lu Xiao quickly explained, a little embarrassed. “Use this new one! Quick! Big screen! Great for taking pictures!” He awkwardly promoted it, like a child eager to please.
Zhuohua looked at him and remained silent for a few seconds. Just as Lu Xiao thought she didn't like it and his heart began to pound with anxiety, she finally reached out and took the box.
Her movements remained casual, but as she opened the box, picked up the brand-new phone, and weighed it in her hand, her fingertips unconsciously rubbed against the smooth, cool metal frame.
"Mm," she responded, accepting the offer. Then, before Lu Xiao could break into a wider smile, she looked up at him calmly and dropped a bombshell in a casual tone:
"Move in here."
boom--!
Lu Xiao's smile froze instantly! His mind went completely blank!
Moving...moving in here?!
Living together... living together? !
These four words struck him like a thunderbolt, shattering all his thoughts into pieces! He had just been overjoyed at giving away a new phone, and the next second he was stunned by this sudden declaration of "cohabitation"!
"Huh? Wh...what?"
Lu Xiao suspected he was hallucinating, his voice was distorted, and his cheeks flushed red rapidly, all the way to the roots of his neck! Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he stood frozen in place, his glassy eyes filled with immense shock, bewilderment, and... a hint of helpless embarrassment.
Zhuohua frowned almost imperceptibly as she watched him freeze instantly, his face turning as red as a boiled shrimp. Trouble. She muttered to herself again.
She just felt that this guy had a special constitution (he was prone to getting into trouble) and always liked to go to dangerous places (like the noodle shop last night), so it was easier to keep him under her nose. Besides... those "junk" items in the corner of the space also needed a safer place to be stored; his little rented room was even more dilapidated than this place.
“Your place is too small,” Zhuohua added, as if to explain, her gaze sweeping over Lu Xiao’s equally simple room. “Move over here.”
Lu Xiao: "..." He felt like he was about to burst into flames! His heart was pounding wildly in his chest, almost bursting out of his throat! Moving in...to live with Zhuo Hua...?! Under the same...roof?! Living together day and night?!
After the initial shock, an indescribable emotion, a mixture of elation, shyness, and immense responsibility, erupted like a volcano! He abruptly lowered his head, avoiding Zhuohua's eyes, his voice barely audible, trembling noticeably: "Okay...okay! I...I'll go get ready right away!"
He practically stumbled back to his rented room, frantically packing his meager belongings like a headless chicken—a few faded clothes, a few well-worn acting books, and some odds and ends. Throughout the process, his cheeks burned, and his mind was a jumbled mess, endlessly repeating the word "cohabitation."
When he reappeared at Zhuohua's doorstep, his face flushed and carrying a slightly worn travel bag, Zhuohua had already changed her clothes and was leaning against the doorframe, fiddling with her new phone, seemingly exploring its functions. Seeing him return, she casually stepped aside.
Lu Xiao took a deep breath and walked in nervously and devoutly, like a pilgrim about to enter a sacred temple.
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