(Author's note: The chapter title is background music; you can search for it and listen to it while reading this chapter.)
"I won't force you to leave Xia Xiaobing, nor will I force you to leave Tang Qi. But I won't leave either. I'll wait for you."
These words left Lu Zhe speechless.
What exactly does 'waiting for you' mean?
Just then, the waiter brought over the dishes: "Your soup and the pre-dinner salad... uh, shall we put them here?"
Xue Xiaodie released her embrace, left his side, stood up, walked back to the other side of the table, and sat down.
The waiter placed the soup and salad on the table and immediately turned away to avoid disturbing the two customers—seeing a young man and woman embracing, a waiter should naturally keep their distance; this is a basic matter of tact.
This corner has become quiet again.
The two ordered classic borscht and cream of mushroom soup, but neither drank them; they were just left there. The salad plate placed between them was also intact.
Suddenly, Xue Xiaodie spoke up, her gentle voice ringing out again: "Why aren't you eating?"
Lu Zhe shook his head and asked in return, "What did you mean by what you just said?"
"It's simple, I can wait. Even if you and President Xia confirm your relationship, that's just the beginning. In fairy tales, the male and female protagonists live happily ever after, but that's not how it is in reality. It's normal for men and women to quarrel and break up. As for me, I will wait for you until no one tries to take you away, until you are willing to be with me."
Xue Xiaodie stared at him without blinking.
Lu Zhe felt that what the girl in front of him was a bit outrageous, but her eyes revealed her determination. This made him realize that the girl was serious.
Another half-minute of silence followed.
Just then, the waiter brought over the main course, the pasta that Xue Xiaodie had ordered. After placing the freshly cooked pasta in front of the girl, the waiter quickly left the scene of trouble.
Lu Zhe suddenly reminded him, "Eat quickly, or it will get cold."
“It’s okay, I can eat it cold,” Xue Xiaodie shook her head, “Besides, I want to wait for you to eat together.”
Soon, the waiter came again. However, this time it was a different waiter who brought the dishes. This waiter didn't think much of it, placed the steak that Lu Zhe had ordered in front of him, and asked, "You two also have two desserts. When would you like them served?"
Lu Zhe said in a deep voice, "Let's wait a while."
"Okay." The waiter turned and left.
Lu Zhe picked up his knife and fork, and saw that the girl opposite him had also picked up a fork. The two began to eat together.
While eating his steak, Lu Zhe pondered for a while before finally asking, "Why did you..."
In the brief moment he paused, Xue Xiaodie continued, "Are you trying to ask me why I went to such lengths? Why didn't I give up?"
Lu Zhe nodded.
Xue Xiaodie put down her fork, picked up her spoon, and took a sip of cream of mushroom soup. Then she pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth and said softly, "Actually, I've thought about it myself, why I'm so unwavering... I can find so many reasons why I don't like you. For example, you're not proactive enough, not enthusiastic enough towards me. Also, you're not tall, rich, and handsome enough to make a girl fall head over heels for you. From university until now, you've only had one short-lived relationship, which says a lot. You're not exactly popular anyway."
Lu Zhe didn't deny the idea at all, but simply agreed, "You're right."
But the next moment, Xue Xiaodie's gaze towards him was still full of tender affection. Her peach blossom eyes, as beautiful as spring water, were still slightly red, with traces of tears that had just flowed.
The girl smiled and said, "It's like a balance scale. On one side, there are many reasons why I don't like you. But on the other side, there are seven years from when we met to when we got married, seven years of memories... those were my happiest days."
Lu Zhe was speechless.
Xue Xiaodie took a few deep breaths and said softly, "I've imagined what it would be like to leave you, avoid you, escape this city and go far away, and never contact you again. I've thought about it, I really have, but I can't do it. If I really leave you, then... every day in the future will probably be spent in regret and longing. Those seven years are too deep a mark, enough for me to remember for a lifetime."
Lu Zhe remained silent for a long while before finally managing to ask, "Isn't there a seven-year itch?"
Xue Xiaodie gently shook her head: "Until before my rebirth, before our wedding, it was still... how should I put it, it's like being with you made the honeymoon period last indefinitely. You wrote your own vows at the wedding, read them to me, and made me cry like a fool."
Lu Zhe also put down his knife and fork, placed his hands on the table, and leaned back weakly against the back of his chair.
He didn't know what to do either.
Xue Xiaodie continued, "So, I will wait for you forever, until you are willing to be with me..."
Lu Zhe gritted his teeth and interrupted, "But what if they never showed up then?"
The girl blinked her peach blossom eyes, which seemed to become even more moist. It was hard to tell whether it was a change in her gaze or tears welling up but not yet falling.
Xue Xiaodie suddenly laughed. Her light and graceful smile contained no trace of sadness, grievance, or resentment; instead, it exuded a carefree and composed air.
She laughed and said, "If you never want to, then I'll keep waiting. Anyway, I can't possibly like anyone else but you. I might as well stay single forever."
Lu Zhe: "..."
He found that ever since Xue Xiaodie said at noon today, "Liking you has nothing to do with you," he had found it difficult to respond.
A confession that seems to ask for nothing is the most irresistible.
Lu Zhe couldn't help but sigh, "What you mean by 'liking you has nothing to do with you' is just cheating."
Xue Xiaodie smiled and said, "It's okay. I already said I won't make any demands on you. Besides, even if I'm single, I'm not unhappy at all, as long as I can see you every day."
Lu Zhe: "..."
Xue Xiaodie: "Being single is really no problem for me. Anyway, I have enough time to spare just by painting every day, and I also have my own career to take care of. These days, who can devote all their attention to dating?"
Lu Zhe: "..."
He discovered a problem.
Tang Qi would forcefully kiss her, and so would Xia Xiaobing, but Xue Xiaodie has never done anything like that so far. The sudden hug just now was also very restrained; they quickly distanced themselves.
Although they maintained their distance, these words today left the deepest impression on Lu Zhe.
Her sobs, hidden behind her face; her tear-filled eyes; her resolve; her helplessness; her nonchalance; and those seemingly absurd yet undeniable words…
Looking at the girl's beautiful smile, Lu Zhe's eyes couldn't help but well up with tears.
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