Lu Zhe doesn't like cigarettes or alcohol, but there are still some differences between the two.
For him, aside from the unavoidable secondhand smoke in the air, he had never touched a cigarette. But alcohol was a different story. He used to drink a little at classmate reunions, and tonight he drank a little too much with two old friends, but it was still okay.
After drinking, he likes to take a walk, letting the night breeze carry away the effects of the alcohol and gradually sober up. Of course, it's even better if he has a drink in his hand while he walks—like yogurt.
As for having a beautiful girl in a JK skirt by his side, that was a path he had never imagined.
Lu Zhe took a sip of yogurt, tightened the cap, and suddenly turned to ask, "Would you like something to drink, or maybe some late-night snack?"
Xue Xiaodie shook her head decisively: "No, I'm afraid of getting fat."
Lu Zhe patted his stomach: "I just ate greasy food and drank beer..."
Xue Xiaodie: "I'm not like you. You're a guy who exercises regularly, while I'm a homebody. I can't compare to you in terms of exercise, so I'm more prone to gaining weight."
Lu Zhe: "Aren't you thirsty?"
Xue Xiaodie shook her head again: "I'm not thirsty now. If I get thirsty later, we can talk about it then."
Lu Zhe: "But it seems like there's nowhere to buy water up ahead."
The two were strolling south along Rongdu's main road. Along the way, there were many tall buildings, office buildings, and wide parks and greenbelts. However, looking around, there seemed to be very few convenience stores.
Xue Xiaodie smiled and said, "By the time I get thirsty, I probably won't be able to walk anymore. At that point, can we just take a taxi back?"
"Actually, we can take a taxi back now."
As Lu Zhe said this, he touched his face. His cheeks, which had been flushed and hot from drinking, had now returned to their normal temperature, and presumably, they didn't look so red anymore.
Xue Xiaodie seemed to have guessed what he was thinking and said softly, "Your face isn't very red anymore, the alcohol is wearing off pretty quickly."
Lu Zhe then asked, "Yeah, so why don't we take a taxi back now?"
However, Xue Xiaodie shook her head: "No, I want to walk a little longer."
Lu Zhe: "Why?"
Xue Xiaodie: "I want to go with you."
Lu Zhe: "..."
Xue Xiaodie chuckled softly and continued walking. Her little leather shoes made a crisp sound on the hard pavement, seemingly reflecting the girl's equally lighthearted mood.
Lu Zhe's feelings were rather complex and subtle.
On one hand, he was enjoying this peaceful and beautiful time. On the other hand, guilt was like a shadow at his feet, sometimes shrinking, sometimes growing large and long, as he walked past each streetlamp…
But just then, his phone rang.
Lu Zhe took out his phone and saw a WeChat message from Xia Xiaobing. The content of the message sent a chill down his spine:
Remember what I told you before? My mom is coming tomorrow afternoon. I'll pick her up first. After you get off work, just wait for me at the intersection. I'll drive you there, and we'll have dinner together.
Lu Zhe remembered that just a few days ago, Xia Xiaobing had taken him out for lunch and asked him to act as a shield to appease the elders.
When he agreed to act as a shield, Xia Xiaobing hadn't yet succeeded. Now, their relationship had deepened considerably, to a level he'd never dared to imagine before. So, was he still just a shield now?
This raises serious suspicions.
And at this moment, what troubled Lu Zhe the most was... the girl beside him.
He silently looked at Xue Xiaodie.
Xue Xiaodie looked over, blinked, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Lu Zhe: "..."
I really don't know how to say it.
No, he actually knew that a seasoned player would definitely make up an excuse, saying he had something to do the following night. The problem was that he felt incredibly guilty even before he opened his mouth, and if he actually told that lie, the guilt would crush him.
However, Xue Xiaodie smiled sweetly and asked softly, "Does Sister Xia want you to work overtime again?"
Lu Zhe paused for a second, then nodded subconsciously.
Xue Xiaodie sighed, tapped the side of her head with her small fist, and said with a troubled expression, "There's nothing I can do, then you'll have to work overtime tomorrow night. Sigh, although I don't need to work overtime, my current work tasks are also a headache... What kind of image should we design for that AI Xiao Qiu?"
Lu Zhe was completely dumbfounded.
What on earth is going on?!
He hadn't even decided whether to make an excuse yet, but Xue Xiaodie had already come up with one for him.
Moreover, after giving the excuse of "having to work overtime tomorrow night," she immediately changed the subject to work, without giving him any chance to feel guilty or embarrassed.
Lu Zhe said blankly, "The leader's request wasn't clear enough, so let's ask her again. I'll ask her for you when I work overtime tomorrow night."
Xue Xiaodie smiled and said, "That's good, thank you!"
Lu Zhe nodded, his expression remaining unchanged, but his breathing became much heavier.
The more nonchalant Xue Xiaodie appeared, the more guilty he felt. Looking at the girl's gentle smile, for a moment, he suddenly had a strong urge to hold her in his arms... but the night breeze made him suppress the thought.
Then Lu Zhe noticed another detail.
Whether it's the intelligent and domineering Xia Xiaobing, or the occasionally naive but actually quite adorable Tang Qi, they always have a lot of physical contact when they're alone with him now. Holding hands, hugging, and anything more intimate goes without saying. But Xue Xiaodie doesn't.
Those bright and affectionate eyes, and her almost never-overstepping gestures, reminded him of an old saying—"Feelings arise, but restraints are kept within the bounds of propriety."
And the more you can't have it, the more it feels like a little hand is reaching into your heart, gently scratching, and the more it scratches, the itchier it gets.
Lu Zhe let out a long breath.
Xue Xiaodie asked, "What are you thinking about now?"
Lu Zhe sighed, "I'm thinking, you're really good at this."
Xue Xiaodie was taken aback: "What do you mean by 'too good at'?"
Lu Zhe laughed: "You're such a good artist. You've shown me your drawings, and honestly, they're fantastic. If you can't even do a task like creating a character design for AI Xiao Qiu, then I don't think many people can."
Xue Xiaodie: "I am confident in my drawing skills, but what you're saying is way too exaggerated..."
Lu Zhe shook his head and said seriously, "I don't care what others think, but in my opinion, you are the best artist."
Xue Xiaodie couldn't help but laugh: "That's good!"
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