Chapter 9 Campus Goddess Bai Yueguang 9 Take Her Home
Hearing Ji Hanlin's question, Wen Qianning was stunned and subconsciously hugged the cake box in her hand tightly.
"There's no party... I know it's your birthday." She said a little frustratedly, "I'm sorry, I wanted to give you a surprise."
Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear enough to be heard.
"Originally, I wanted to wait for you to come home in the evening, then sneak over to your door and give you a surprise cake. But it seems... I messed it up."
Ji Hanlin did not respond immediately, but just stood there, his eyes fixed on the cake box in her arms.
"Don't be angry," Wen Qianning carefully wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest, and said softly, "It's not that I don't care about you."
"I'm not angry." He looked deeply at the girl in his arms, his heart beating like a drum. "It's just that I confirmed something."
She didn't treat him lightly.
"Confirm what?" The girl in front of him didn't understand and asked in confusion.
Ji Hanlin curled the corners of his lips meaningfully, without answering, but took the cake from Wen Qianning's hand, took her hand and left.
It wasn't until he stuffed her into a taxi that Wen Qianning realized, "Where are you taking me?"
"Don't you want to come to my house and surprise me?" He glanced at her.
? !
It was not completely dark yet, and there was still some moisture in the air.
Through the car window, Wen Qianning saw that the ground outside the car was wet, and there were puddles everywhere on the street where the car was parked. In the distance, there was still accumulated water flowing down the drain.
After the car stopped, Ji Hanlin took her hand and got out of the car: "Come with me."
The two walked side by side across the street, going further and further away until they stepped into an old town area that was completely out of tune with the bustling city center.
The roads here are no longer smooth and tidy, with undulating tiles and mottled walls. Grocery stores line the roadside, and the smell of cooking fumes wafts from small restaurants.
The electric car whizzed past, splashing the water on the ground. Wen Qianning subconsciously shrugged and took a step closer to Ji Hanlin, feeling a little uncomfortable.
It was too noisy, too messy, and too unfamiliar here. It didn't have the clean smell and orderly order she was used to. Instead, it was filled with the noise and bustle of the city.
The eldest daughter of the Wen family grew up in a quiet and respectable environment and had never really been close to such a neighborhood.
Ji Hanlin turned around and saw a puddle of water at her feet. He frowned slightly and said, "Be careful."
He held her hand tightly and pulled her to his side.
Wen Qianning lowered her head and hummed softly.
Going further, Ji Hanlin led her through the alley and turned into the side door at the back. A dilapidated staircase led to the second floor.
The light bulbs in the hallway were dim, and she was a little stunned: "You live here?"
"Yeah." He said in a light tone, "The rent is cheap and it's close to school."
Wen Qianning didn't say anything else. She watched him walk ahead with swift steps, as if he had long been accustomed to life here. However, it was her first time standing on such a staircase, and she didn't know where to put her feet.
When they reached the second floor, Ji Hanlin took out the key, opened the door, and let her go in first.
The house wasn't big, consisting of just one bedroom and one living room. The living room consisted of a sofa and a desk. Textbooks were neatly arranged on the desk against the wall, their edges slightly curled, clearly having been read many times.
Although the environment outside was terrible, the room where Ji Hanlin lived was much cleaner and tidier than she had imagined, and everything was neatly arranged.
After he led her in, he took off his coat and threw it on the sofa, then poured her a glass of water and placed it on the table.
"Sit down." Ji Hanlin said, "But it may not be as comfortable as your home."
She didn't move, just stood at the door and looked around with a complicated expression.
This is where he lives. It's so simple and plain, but she knows that he shouldn't live here.
As the brilliant hero of the novel, Ji Hanlin was originally a young master of a wealthy family who had been missing for over a decade. He should have lived a life of luxury, enjoying a life in the most prestigious circles.
Rather than suffering in a place like this.
Her eyelashes trembled vigorously, but she said nothing.
"Why are you standing so far away?" His eyes fell on her feet, and his tone was a little teasing, "Do you think I will eat you?"
"..." Wen Qianning looked at him speechlessly, then took off her schoolbag, picked up the water cup, and gulped down a sip.
The cold water slid down her throat, moistening her somewhat dry throat and slightly easing the uneasiness in her heart. She lowered her eyelashes, drank the water, and gently placed the cup back on the table. Her fingertips stroked the rim of the cup, not knowing what to say.
Ji Han walked to the entrance and took the cake box. He then placed the cake box on the coffee table and unpacked it neatly.
The air suddenly filled with a light milky aroma and the sweet scent of strawberries. A small metal birthday card sat on top of the cake, revealing a few plump, rosy strawberries, and soft cream spread underneath.
Wen Qianning sat on the edge of the sofa, her eyes fixed on his hands.
He took two small plates and forks from the box carefully, then cut the cake in half and pushed the piece with the birthday card in front of her.
Wen Qianning was stunned: "You eat cake on your birthday without putting candles on it and making a wish?"
"No...I'm not used to it." Ji Hanlin said casually.
He never believed in making wishes. Putting one's hopes on fate seemed too passive. If he wanted something, he would just do his best to get it.
"It's okay if you don't light the candles, but you still have to make a wish." She said seriously, "Today is your birthday, you are not allowed to skip it."
Ji Hanlin was silent for a few seconds, as if he was seriously considering her words.
She pulled the card off the cake and handed it to him: "Use it as a candle. Close your eyes and make a wish."
Although he felt that this action was a bit childish, he still took it obediently and then closed his eyes.
The room was strangely quiet, with only the rustle of wind blowing the curtains and the light breathing of the two people.
Wen Qianning secretly watched him while he closed his eyes.
Ji Hanlin sat in a relaxed posture, his eyelashes casting a small shadow, his nose bridge straight, and his lips tightly drawn.
As if he noticed that the girl was secretly looking at him, he quickly opened his eyes.
"Have you made your promise?" Wen Qianning asked with a smile.
He nodded.
Hearing this, she picked up her fork and took a small bite of the cake. The cake was dense and soft, the cream was not greasy, and the strawberries were slightly sour and just the right amount of sweetness. She squinted her eyes in satisfaction.
Soon, raindrops outside the window hit the glass window densely, and it started to rain heavily outside.
Ji Han walked to the window and lifted a corner of the curtain. Seeing the scene outside, his eyes narrowed slightly: "It's raining."
Wen Qianning was curled up on the sofa, hugging a cushion. She held a fork in one hand and ate slowly. When she heard his words, she looked up and asked, "Is it raining heavily?"
"Yeah. The typhoon warning just popped up." He looked down at his phone and said calmly, "Call the driver later. I'll take you down."
She curled her lips: "I don't want to go back."
Ji Hanlin was speechless: "...Don't want to go back?"
"There's no one at home anyway." Wen Qianning lowered her head and continued eating the cake, her voice soft.
This didn't sound like a spoiled child, but more like a... calm statement. Even so, he still frowned slightly: "No."
"Why?" She looked at him pitifully. "My parents went abroad for business a few days ago. I'm the only one in such a big family. I don't want to go home. I might as well be with you."
Ji Hanlin's eyes moved and he said nothing more, but his silence still showed that he refused to let her stay overnight.
Seeing that he refused to give in, Wen Qianning stood up from the sofa and walked to the window. Immediately, she touched his arm with her shoulder and said coquettishly, "Please."
His Adam's apple rolled slightly, and after a while, he said in a low voice: "Are you sure?"
"Sure." She looked up at him, her eyes full of sincerity.
Ji Hanlin frowned at her, as if trying to read something from her face. But Wen Qianning's eyes were so open and natural, as if she really just didn't want to be alone at home.
Because her eyelashes were so close, I could see them clearly, each one distinct.
He looked away, his voice hoarse, "But, it's me who can't stay with you."
"What are you talking about?" she whispered defensively, "It's not the first time we've been together."
"It's not the same thing." He looked at her, his eyes sinking a little bit, as if he was suppressing something, "Ningning, you can't do this in the future."
"What can't I do?" She was stunned.
"You can't stay alone in a man's house at night." Ji Hanlin's tone was low, but with rare restraint. "No matter how much you trust me, no matter whether you feel it's okay or not, you can't do this."
She understood what he meant, and for a moment she remained silent, looking at him with a red face.
Ji Hanlin lowered his eyes, smiling wryly: "Do you think I'm a saint?"
He moved closer, his voice low and hoarse, "If you really stay, I don't know if I can... hold it in."
At that moment, Wen Qianning's face turned completely red.
She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
"You shouldn't be so naive." He stared at her, his eyes as dark as spilled ink, "You know I like you."
"I...I just thought you wouldn't do anything rash." She whispered.
"Of course I won't." He smiled faintly and pulled the corners of his lips. "I cherish you very much and won't force you to do anything you don't want to do."
He reached out and touched the girl's smooth hair, his fingertips warm, "But you don't know how cute you are. If you continue like this, I'm afraid that one day I won't be able to hold back... and you won't even have time to cry."
Wen Qianning's heart was pounding.
Is this still the male lead?
The original male protagonist had no intention of crossing the line when dating Bai Yueguang, as the author wanted him to remain a virgin for the female protagonist. Even when Bai Yueguang took the initiative to get close to him, he would only say with a cold face, "Please respect yourself."
This pure, calm and self-possessed male protagonist was praised to the skies by the comment section. In the plot, the low point after the breakup was more about the disgust of being toyed with, rather than the male protagonist's reluctance to part with Bai Yueguang.
But what about now?
Wen Qianning looked at Ji Hanlin, and her mind seemed to have to admit a fact...
The original male protagonist's character has completely collapsed.
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