Chapter 12 Pretending to be a Girlfriend
Finally made it to the weekend.
Although the appointment with Lin Feier was in the afternoon, Su Nian ran out of the house after breakfast.
Staying at home for one more second was torture. Every concerned look from her mother was like a needle piercing her heart, and she suffered from the condemnation of her conscience all the time.
Su Nian walked aimlessly, moving among the crowd like a wandering soul.
Staying home and forcing myself to smile felt more like a relief.
Tired of shopping, Su Nian walked into a coffee shop on the corner.
Su Nian curled up in a booth in the corner of the coffee shop, holding a cup of warm milk in both hands.
The warmth of the milk passed through the wall of the cup to her palm. Su Nian took small sips. She stared at the swaying white liquid in the cup in a trance and did not notice that the door of the coffee shop was pushed open and the wind chimes made a crisp sound.
"Su Nian?"
A familiar voice made her look up suddenly, nearly spilling her milk. Si Yan was standing in front of her desk, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his well-defined forearms.
His expression was unusually awkward and anxious, like a piece of fine silk that had been crumpled and lost its usual smoothness.
"Professor Si?" Su Nian hurriedly put down the cup, and the milk formed a circle of white foam on the rim of the cup.
Si Yan's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then he suddenly leaned over and whispered, "Do me a favor."
His breath carried a faint scent of cedar, like a breeze brushing past her ears. "I'll tell you you're my girlfriend in a minute."
Su Nian's eyes instantly widened like a frightened deer. Before she could open her mouth, Si Yan had already sat down opposite her.
Only then did she catch a glimpse of the door - a middle-aged lady in an off-white suit was looking over here, her pearl earrings gleaming warmly in the sunlight, and there was a curious smile on the corner of her mouth.
"My aunt." Si Yan explained in a voice that only the two of them could hear, his fingertips tapping the table unconsciously, "She tricked me into a blind date. I told her I had a girlfriend, but she refused to believe me." The corners of his mouth curled up in a helpless arc.
The sound of high heels hitting the marble floor came from far away, as if hitting Su Nian's tense nerves.
The moment the lady reached the table, Si Yan suddenly reached out and covered her hand, which was resting on the table. His palm was dry and warm, like a piece of jade bathed in sunlight.
Su Nian's heartbeat suddenly went out of control, and he could clearly feel the blood pounding in his veins.
"Who is this?" The lady stood beside the table, her eyes fixed on Su Nian's face, with the scrutiny unique to an elder, but not offensive.
"My girlfriend, Su Nian." Si Yan's voice was so steady that no flaws could be heard. Only his thumb gently stroked the back of her hand, as if to soothe the frightened cub.
The touch was light, but it ran up Su Nian's spine like an electric current, making her almost jump up from her chair.
"Girlfriend?" The lady's voice suddenly rose half a degree, and the surprise in her eyes was like a stone thrown into the lake.
"You kid, you said last month that you weren't interested in a relationship, but now you're hiding such a beautiful girl? Are you lying to me?"
Su Nian finally realized that Si Yan was being pressured into getting married by his family and was using her as a shield.
Fortunately, there was no anger in the lady's tone, but instead a hint of unconcealable joy, which made Su Nian's heart settle down a little. She didn't want to be inexplicably bullied.
She stole a glance at the man across from her and noticed that the line of his jaw was tense, like a fully drawn bow. It turns out that even the calmest and most composed people can have such moments of uncertainty.
"Aunt, Su Nian and I have just been together for a short time and haven't had time to tell our family yet." Si Yan lied calmly, his other hand resting naturally on the back of the chair behind Su Nian. This possessive gesture was done so smoothly that even Su Nian herself almost believed it.
"Really? How long has it been?" The lady's joy was beyond words.
"Three months." Si Yan blurted out, causing Su Nian's heart to skip a beat. He turned to look at her, his eyes suddenly softening.
"Girl, is what A Yan said true? You can't lie to your aunt. This guy has been the only son in our family for five generations. He's almost thirty and still hasn't had a girlfriend. Our family is worried."
Si Yan's fingers gently pressed on the back of Su Nian's hand, like a silent reminder.
"Well, we've known each other for a short time." Su Nian said in a low voice, his voice as thin as a silk thread about to break.
The lady noticed the hot milk in front of Su Nian and said, "There are fewer girls drinking milk nowadays. That's good!"
"She has a bad stomach, and I'm treating her." His tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority. "Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes warming the middle before nourishing the stomach."
The lady was very satisfied with this professional explanation and pulled up a chair next to her. "Then you have to tell me in detail. How did you meet? Who pursued who?"
Her gaze towards Su Nian became increasingly gentle, as if she were sizing up her own junior. "The girl looks kind, and so young. Is she still in college? It's better if she's a little younger!"
"Auntie!" Si Yan interrupted her with a light cough, "Are you checking the household registration?"
When he turned to look at Su Nian, his eyes suddenly softened, like ice brushed by a spring breeze. "Su Nian is a top student in the Fashion Design Department of Jiangcheng University. She won the gold medal in the National College Student Design Competition last year." He paused, his voice carrying a subtle seriousness. "I'm pursuing her, and more importantly, I like her."
These words were like a stone thrown into a deep pool, stirring up ripples in Su Nian's heart.
She turned her head sharply to look at him, only to be met by a pair of deep eyes. The panic she had felt earlier was gone, but instead, they held something she couldn't decipher, like the surface of a misty lake—unclear yet still causing a shiver in her heart.
It turns out that if you tell so many lies, even your eyes can sound so realistic.
The lady was obviously pleased by this, and the smile on her face deepened: "Okay, okay, auntie won't ask anymore."
She patted the back of Si Yan's hand and said, "You have been stubborn since you were young. Once you make up your mind, no one can change it. Since you like her, treat her well."
She looked at Su Nian again, her tone as gentle as the sunshine on a spring afternoon, "Our Ah Yan may look cold, but he's actually very thoughtful, just not very good at talking."
Su Nian forced a stiff smile, her fingertips curled up under the tablecloth. The sweat from her palms soaked the fabric, making it sticky and uncomfortable.
It turns out that playing someone else's life is more awkward than wearing ill-fitting clothes - every movement is deliberate, and every word is full of guilt.
"You guys chat, I have something to do, so I'll be leaving first." The lady picked up her bag and stood up. When she reached the door, she turned back and reminded, "Ayan, bring Su Nian home for dinner this weekend. Your grandparents are looking forward to it."
Si Yan responded vaguely, and only let go of Su Nian's hand when the sound of high heels completely disappeared around the corner.
The coffee shop returned to silence, with only soothing jazz music flowing in the air.
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