He wanted to give himself and her enough time to get to know each other and nurture their relationship.
Therefore, from the beginning until now, he has never said anything like he likes her or is pursuing her.
Because he doesn't even know her well, isn't it too hasty to say he likes her?
“Ms. Tong, you may think I’m being abrupt, but I must tell you, I’m the kind of person who would rather fail than have regrets. That day at the boxing gym, you captivated me at first sight. I don’t deny that I wanted to get closer to you, I wanted to learn more about you. That’s why I would abruptly bump into you, and why I would abruptly wait for you on your way home. Because I hope we can give each other a chance to get to know each other. Only after we get to know each other can we know if we’re compatible and if we can continue to develop our relationship.”
Tong Xiaohuai stared at him without blinking. "So, you like me?"
In Tong Xiaohuai's memory and experience, the men who pursued her always told her directly, "I like you" or "I want you to be my girlfriend."
Only he, after sending her so many gifts and flowers over the past few days, still called her Miss Tong, and still never directly confessed his feelings to her.
Since that's the case, let her ask. What's the point of her constantly haunting her like this?
Yan Bo was taken aback. He had thought that she invited him to dinner to make things clear to him.
But I never expected her to ask so directly.
“Miss Tong, I admit that I have feelings for you, and I also admit that your appearance is very attractive to me. But to tell you that I like you based on these alone seems too hasty.”
Tong Xiaohuai raised her eyebrows, a hint of anger shimmering in her bright eyes.
"If it's not that I like you, why do you keep coming up to me seeking attention?"
Tong Xiaohuai's anger made Yan Bo slightly flustered. After all, he had never been so resentful or questioned by a girl he liked.
Or rather, he was always the one being liked. Back then, he never put himself in the shoes of those who liked him and always simply rejected them.
Now, as he stood before Tong Xiaohuai, even though he wasn't sure how deep his feelings for her were, seeing her resentment and anger caused his usual composure to crumble before her.
“Miss Tong…” Yan Bo stood up, took a deep breath, and then looked at Tong Xiaohuai very seriously and formally, and said, “For me, liking someone is a very solemn and serious thing. If I were to tell you I like you now, it would be a desecration to you. You are a very good girl, and you deserve my pursuit and cherishing. Therefore, I hope to give you and me enough time to get to know each other well before saying whether I like you or not.”
Tong Xiaohuai hadn't expected him to be so serious. She had only thought that he, like most rich young men, would get furious when rejected, or that he would rush to confess his feelings because of her doubts.
However, he said he just wanted to give each other enough time.
This man was unlike any other man she had ever known.
Seeing that she was pursing her lips and deep in thought, Yan Bo added.
“Miss Tong, I know you've just started university and taken over the responsibilities of the Tong family from Uncle Tong, so you probably don't have much time to think about other things. I'm in the same boat; my company is also newly established, and there are many things I need to handle personally. I don't have much time to chase after a girl, but that doesn't mean I don't value you. So, just treat me as a regular friend. Let's get to know each other slowly, meet occasionally, and give each other time and a process, okay?”
Tong Xiaohuai raised her eyes, stared at his handsome yet unusually serious face, pondered for a moment, and then nodded as if possessed.
"All right……"
After replying, she suddenly remembered that she had invited him to her house for dinner because she wanted to take the opportunity to make things clear and break up with him as soon as possible.
How did things turn out like this? I actually agreed to his request to spend time together slowly and meet occasionally.
Yan Bo held his breath and said such a long thing, feeling very uneasy. He was worried about how he would have the nerve to stay if she refused him so firmly.
Hearing her answer, I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Well... I have another favor to ask!"
At this moment, Tong Xiaohuai was inwardly cursing herself. Hearing that he still had a request, she looked up at him and said impatiently, "Speak..."
Since we've already agreed to treat each other as ordinary friends and get to know each other slowly, let's hear what other unreasonable demands he might have.
"Now that we're friends, can we change how we address each other? Can I call you Xiao Huai?"
Tong Xiaohuai wanted to say no, but thinking about it, it was indeed quite awkward to keep hearing him call her Miss Tong.
"Whatever you want..."
Yan Bo's face lit up with joy. "Xiao Huai, you can call me Lao Yan. That's what my former classmates all called me."
Tong Xiaohuai didn't say anything, thinking to herself, "Your classmate is really incompetent. This 'Lao Yan' is clearly an old man. How can he call such a handsome guy that?"
"Of course, you can call me Brother Yan or Brother Bo if you like. Anyway, I'm two years older than you."
Tong Xiaohuai rolled her eyes at Yan Bo, "Comrade Yan Bo, although I'm not very smart, I still know how to address people properly!"
She still calls him "brother"? Does she think she doesn't know that in the old days, lovers addressed each other as brother and sister?
Seeing her huffy expression, Yan Bo found it amusing. Afraid of angering her further, he quickly smiled and said, "Alright, just call me Yan Bo."
As the two were chatting, Butler Yuan came over and said to Tong Xiaohuai, "Miss, dinner is ready. Shall we wait for Master Ming?"
The "Ming Ye" that Uncle Yuan was referring to was Uncle Ming. He'd been eating dinner here almost every day lately, so Uncle Yuan asked him a question.
"I'm not waiting anymore, Uncle Ming won't be back for dinner tonight."
Yan Bo got up with Tong Xiaohuai and followed her around the kitchen, where he saw a row of antique-style screens.
Beyond the screen is a traditional Chinese dining room, and outside the dining room is a long corridor covered with small purple flowers and green ivy.
Originally, Yan Bo was somewhat skeptical of what Tong Xiaohuai had said that day, but now he believed it completely.
"Xiao Huai, did your mother design this place too?" he asked, pulling out a chair with his long arm in a very gentlemanly manner, gesturing for Tong Xiao Huai to sit down.
Tong Xiaohuai hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't refuse his kindness, so she sat down in the chair.
"Yes, my mom did it all because she thought it was fun."
She didn't mention that her mother was in poor health and rarely went out. So, she felt really bored at home and started thinking about changing the home's decor.
Her father also doted on her mother. He always supported her whenever she wanted to do something new, and after she finished, he always said it was great.
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