34: Chapter 34 How to Pursue

Lin Chuyan was tidying up his room.

Calling it tidying up was a stretch; it was really just opening the windows that had been shut for two months to let in some fresh air, then shaking out his quilt to air it out.

He glanced at his phone. The WeChat message he had sent to Ruan Xingyu before boarding the plane still hadn't received a reply.

So, he added another one.

Lin: "I'm home, Xingxing."

He lay on the bed and waited a while longer until his phone started vibrating.

Xingxing: "Are you there?"

Lin: "I'm here."

The call connected.

Ruan Xingyu's voice was soft, as if it could soothe one's soul: "Are you tired?"

Lin Chuyan didn't know why, but he suddenly felt like saying something cheesy, like saying he was tired, but hearing her voice made him feel energized.

Unfortunately, the words reached his lips, but he couldn't bring himself to say them.

"A little. I want to lie down for a while, but I keep feeling like there's a weird smell in the house."

"It's been too long since anyone lived there!"

"I feel like I've lost out big time. I haven't even stayed in this rented place for a few days, and I've already paid two months' rent."

"Hahahaha, how about... let's buy a house?"

"Hehe, I'm still saving up. It's a bit of a stretch for me to even pay the down payment right now, so, let's talk about it later."

"I have it."

"?"

Lin Chuyan was stunned. We haven't even met in person yet; are we playing this big?

He couldn't help but confirm again: "You have what?"

"I have money, I'll lend it to you."

"Ruan Xingyu, you want to lend me money to buy a house? Did I hear that right?"

"Yeah, how much do you need?"

Ruan Xingyu's tone was as if she were talking about something completely ordinary.

Lin Chuyan couldn't help but laugh: "Aren't you afraid I'll scam you out of your money, Sis? What if I'm a con artist?"

Ruan Xingyu laughed out loud: "Are you a con artist?"

"Doesn't seem like it."

"Hee hee, then that's that."

Lin Chuyan couldn't argue with that: "Your logic is invincible... Why are you so good to me?"

"Hmph, of course it's because you called me Sis. So, do you want it or not? I'm not joking, you know. Housing prices in Beijing keep rising, so buying early is definitely the right move."

"Hey, I don't want to be a kept man."

After saying this, Lin Chuyan felt like he might have misspoken.

Don't you have to be in an intimate relationship to say things about being a kept man?

He quickly backtracked: "I mean, I'm a man, I have hands and feet, how could I be shameless enough to take your money."

Ruan Xingyu pretended not to hear his previous sentence: "It's not like you're taking it for free. Just buy the house first, and pay me back whenever you have the money. I'm not in a rush to use the money anyway."

"Thanks, but my rent is fine, it's not expensive. Besides, if I really wanted to buy a place, it's easy to solve. At worst, I'll just write you another song, and the down payment will be covered, hahaha."

"Tsk tsk tsk, is this the legendary male pride?"

Ruan Xingyu teased him.

"Emmm... maybe a little. Why, is that not okay?"

"I'm just feeling bad for your money. How about you move into my place?"

"???"

Ruan Xingyu realized her words were ambiguous and quickly added: "I mean, I have another apartment that hasn't been rented out yet. You can stay there. It's a waste to leave an empty house empty anyway."

Lin Chuyan took a deep breath: "Xingxing, I feel like you're already living the life I dream of."

"What kind of life?"

"Retiring early, and then spending every day with nothing to do but go out and collect rent. Collecting from one unit a day, never repeating."

"Hahahaha, you're overthinking it. I don't have that many houses. Beijing is too expensive; I only have this one extra unit."

Does that mean she has houses in other cities?

Awesome, she really is a landlady.

"I knew you were a rich woman, but I didn't know you were this rich. But I don't want to take advantage of you, so, I'll politely decline." He paused, then continued, "It's only because it's me; you must never lend money to others so casually. Of course, I know you're being good to me."

When Ruan Xingyu heard that last sentence, she squinted her eyes happily, and her two pretty calves started to sway gently.

"Alright, I know... So will you take a break after you finish filming this time?"

"I do need to slow down, but I suddenly remembered there's one thing I haven't done yet."

"What?"

"That... uh..." Lin Chuyan suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, "Should we... meet up...?"

Ruan Xingyu's voice also suddenly became softer: "Mm..."

Lin Chuyan's heart inexplicably started beating faster: "Then... when are you free recently?"

"I should be free whenever."

"Hm? Is a big star this free?"

"I can clear my schedule in advance for the day we meet..."

Lin Chuyan teased: "I'm a little flattered."

"So?"

"So now it's my turn to worry."

"What? You wouldn't be afraid, would you?"

Ruan Xingyu was a bit smug, not missing any opportunity to "assert authority" to highlight her status as his big sister.

She just didn't know that in Lin Chuyan's eyes, this behavior only seemed cute.

"I'm just thinking about what we should eat. I don't have any dietary restrictions, what about you?"

"Emmm... let's eat meat. You lost so much weight filming! You need to build yourself back up."

"How thoughtful. By the way, don't female stars need to lose weight?"

"I don't have to, anyway. I'm a Singer; being too thin would affect my Singing Ability."

"Alright. Then you see where we should go to eat."

Ruan Xingyu pondered for a moment: "How about we go to a restaurant owned by a friend of mine? It's more private. Otherwise, I'm afraid of being photographed by the paparazzi."

"Then let's meet the night after tomorrow? I just got back, I have to go to my teacher's place tomorrow first."

"Sounds good. Also, it's settled that I'm treating for the first meal, okay?"

And so, it was decided.

It's just that some people weren't as calm as they appeared.

She immediately made a phone call.

"Yiyi!"

"What?"

"I'm going to meet him, the night after tomorrow. What do I do?"

"Holy crap! Is such a good cabbage about to be rooted up by a pig so easily?"

"...He's not a pig."

"Fine, fine. A best friend of many years can't compare to a stinky man; you've already started taking his side."

"I'm really afraid that when we meet, we'll just sit there with nothing to say. Just thinking about that scene makes me feel so awkward."

"Don't you two talk on the phone every day? Still afraid you'll have nothing to say? Are you overthinking it?"

Ruan Xingyu was genuinely worried: "That's still very different. Right now, whenever I think about the scene of meeting up, I feel a bit suffocated..."

Sun Yiyi laughed: "Scene? Suffocated? Is it that serious? Isn't it just a meal? Besides, if anyone should be nervous, it's him. You're Ruan Xingyu."

"Do you think it's okay if I tell him now that something came up and we should reschedule?"

"You're such a coward... Back when that what's-his-name, that rich second-generation guy, was pursuing you, I saw how cold and aloof you were! Can you act a bit more like a goddess?"

"...Fine."

"Since you already confirmed last time that he's not gay, then things are simple. Looking at how lovey-dovey you two are, it's more intense than when I was dating. I don't believe he doesn't like you."

"Then what if he doesn't like me?"

Sun Yiyi suddenly whispered: "Ahem, to be honest, I've never pursued a man either. You know, they've always been the ones pursuing me."

"??????"

"Got it!" Sun Yiyi suddenly had an idea, "You know about the suspension bridge effect, right? I heard that when people's heart rates are elevated, they are more likely to fall for the person in front of them. How about... you have some wine with him? Just a little, okay? Don't get yourself drunk; I don't want you to give yourself away on the first meeting."

"..."

Ruan Xingyu now felt that Sun Yiyi was very unreliable. She used to think she was a dating expert, what a waste.

Pfft.

As expected, is it really just a case of taking it one step at a time?

The two chatted a bit more. Sun Yiyi wanted to keep offering advice, but Ruan Xingyu had already hung up.

She logged into her secondary Weibo account and went to check Lin Chuyan's Weibo super topic for a while, only then realizing that fans had actually gone to the airport to pick him up today.

She clicked on the airport pickup videos and watched them one by one, then saved one of them that was filmed in full.

Damn it, he wowed her with his handsomeness again.

Thinking about the date the night after tomorrow, Ruan Xingyu pondered for a long time, and finally opened the browser search bar and typed:

How to pursue a guy?

...