36: Chapter 36 Getting a Little Closer

...

Ruan Xingyu's long hair was slightly curled, and her large eyes were captivating.

She wore a brown leather jacket today over a white dress, revealing her beautiful calves and half of her thighs, paired with long white socks and Dr. Martens, making her look both beautiful and cool.

Lin Chuyan's mind was buzzing, and at this moment, he had only one thought in his heart.

This was definitely the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in both of his lives combined, bar none.

After exchanging greetings, the two fell into silence, but it wasn't as awkward as Ruan Xingyu had imagined; after all, they had been chatting every day for the past few months.

They looked at each other and smiled, both seeing a strange sense of familiarity in the other's eyes.

Lin Chuyan welcomed her inside and broke the silence first: "Are you cold? The wind outside is a bit chilly."

"Not cold, actually a little hot."

A fragrant breeze passed by as Ruan Xingyu walked past him with her hands behind her back, her steps very composed.

"Then, shall I help you hang up your jacket?"

"Okay, thank you."

For some reason, Lin Chuyan felt that Ruan Xingyu's voice sounded a bit feigned in its cheerfulness.

She must be nervous too, right?

The two sat down one after another.

Greetings exchanged, they suddenly didn't know what else to say.

Their eyes met; they looked at each other.

Slowly, a strange atmosphere began to circulate between them.

Ruan Xingyu couldn't hold it for more than a few seconds before looking away: "Are you nervous?"

"A little, mainly because you are too good-looking."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Lin Chuyan wanted to slap himself.

But he also felt he was quite bold.

Lin Chuyan, oh Lin Chuyan, you can even say such a direct thing; is there anything in the world you can't do?

That said, Ruan Xingyu, who chatted with him daily, was very cute in his heart, but in reality, her appearance belonged to the glamorous type, very aggressive.

This contrast...

Lin Chuyan admitted that he couldn't get enough of looking at her.

Ruan Xingyu lowered her head, not letting him see the expression on her face.

She had thought she was immune to these kinds of words, but for some reason, hearing him say it still made her very happy.

Her eyes caught the flowers on the table: "Oh, are these for me?"

"Yeah, I happened to see them on the side of the road when I was coming here, so... I just bought them."

How strange, some words were hard to say now.

Even though he had set off long in advance specifically to pick them out.

He despised himself.

"Thank you, I like them very much."

There was uncontrollable joy in Ruan Xingyu's voice.

"Do you receive flowers often?"

"Well..." Ruan Xingyu gathered her courage, "But this one is different; this one is from you."

[First trick to pursuing a boy: Let him know that in your heart, he is different from others.]

"And this!" Lin Chuyan handed her the wrap-up photo album.

"Ah!"

Ruan Xingyu hadn't expected him to remember.

She flipped through it.

She couldn't get enough of it, flipped through it quite a bit more before closing it, and couldn't help but make a request: "I haven't finished looking at it yet! Can I borrow it and take it back to look at slowly..."

Her eyes were watery.

Her tone sounded very much like she was acting coquettishly.

Who could handle this?

Lin Chuyan could only nod.

Ruan Xingyu blinked: "You're hungry, right?"

"A little."

"Let's eat!"

This restaurant was fusion creative cuisine, and the owner was also a Singer friend of Ruan Xingyu's, named Li Zhe, who sang folk songs. He wasn't very famous, and to be honest, Lin Chuyan hadn't really listened to his songs, so he didn't expect him to have a pretty good relationship with Ruan Xingyu.

Soon, the waiter brought the dishes up.

Ruan Xingyu smiled brightly: "Eat more, you really have lost weight."

"But you've never seen me when I wasn't thin."

"You post photos on Weibo often yourself, okay!"

"Ah, well, as an idol, I have to work, no choice."

For some reason, the word "idol" always hit her funny bone.

Ruan Xingyu laughed out loud without any restraint.

Miraculously, it didn't look inappropriate; instead, it had the charm of a mature older sister.

"Then do you want to work today?"

"It's not impossible." Lin Chuyan picked up some food with his chopsticks, "Help me take a photo, make it look good, thanks."

"I'll try my best not to make you look ugly."

"It might be a bit hard to make me look ugly, though."

Ruan Xingyu complained while taking the photo: "Lin Chuyan, you're being vain again."

The image froze.

"How about... you let me take one for you too?"

Ruan Xingyu handed the phone to him, following his example, and picked up another piece.

The image froze.

"How about... we take a picture together?"

Lin Chuyan made a bold suggestion!

It was really bold.

But Ruan Xingyu didn't hesitate for a second.

"Okay."

So Lin Chuyan stood up and sat down next to Ruan Xingyu.

It smelled so good.

It wasn't the smell of cheap perfume.

Magnolia? Jasmine? Or sandalwood?

He couldn't describe it... anyway, it smelled really good.

The front camera reflected the two of them.

Ruan Xingyu had been a bit nervous initially, but after seeing Lin Chuyan's reserved appearance, she relaxed and laughed out loud:

"Lin Chuyan, you're sitting so far away. Come closer, a little bit closer, don't be afraid, it's okay."

Lin Chuyan felt like he was being teased.

Finally.

His left arm and her right arm were almost touching.

He could almost hear each other's breathing in his ears.

Lin Chuyan retorted: "Do you want to get closer? Any closer and you'll just have to crawl into my arms."

"Hahaha, hahaha."

Ruan Xingyu didn't feel offended; she was amused by him again.

Lin Chuyan quickly pressed the shutter button.

"No! This one doesn't count! I look ugly when I laugh."

"Do you have some misunderstanding about what 'ugly' is... fine, let's take another one."

Ruan Xingyu's skin in the phone lens was smooth and delicate, her lips red and glossy.

Lin Chuyan didn't have the nerve to look too much, so he just stared at her long eyelashes.

Then he saw her head secretly lean toward his shoulder.

The image froze.

...

Sitting back down to eat, Ruan Xingyu sent all the photos to him.

"Are you going to post on Weibo?"

"Posting now. It's rare to come out for a big meal, so I'll post on Weibo to annoy the Haters. Yeah, don't worry, I'm posting individual photos."

Ruan Xingyu started laughing again: "Then I'll post on Weibo too."

"Huh?"

"Don't worry, also individual photos, posting on my side account."

"By the way, are you in Beijing these few days?"

"Why?"

"Nothing, just already planning how to ask you out next time, can't I?"

Ruan Xingyu wrinkled her nose, saying fierce words: "I really want to hit you, Lin Chuyan, you're not telling the truth."

"Okay, truthfully, I want to go to your company to find your producer, Zheng Hai, to chat about my song recording. But I'm not familiar with him, and I was thinking it might be better if you were there."

"No problem, I'll help you book it."

"Thanks, Xingxing~"

"I've already started looking forward to your new album~"

"The problem now is that I don't have that many songs."

"Actually, it's fine. The music market is changing now; many newly debuted Singers no longer save up a dozen songs before releasing an album like before. Releasing an EP with 3-6 songs is fine too; this can be considered the current industry trend. Whether it's in cost control, flexibility of expression, or the habits of streaming listeners, EPs have more advantages..."

Speaking of her professional field, Ruan Xingyu seemed like a different person, talking eloquently, serious and confident.

Lin Chuyan listened while staring at her, a bit mesmerized; at this moment, she really did seem like an older sister.

He nodded: "Got it, in this regard, I'll listen to Teacher Ruan; it definitely won't go wrong."

Hearing the words "Teacher Ruan," Ruan Xingyu finally realized what was happening and immediately switched back to the Xingxing he was familiar with.

"Then, Teacher Lin, what about the tuition you promised me earlier?"

Ruan Xingyu reached out her right hand, her fingers slender and delicate, with exquisite nail art faintly visible.

"Eh? I thought I could get away with it after so long."

"In your dreams, I've been remembering it all along."

"Actually, I've thought about it many times, but I always feel like you don't lack anything, and it seems the only thing I can give you is songs?"

"Ah, actually, these aren't important."

"What?" Lin Chuyan didn't quite understand.

"Who said I don't lack anything?" Ruan Xingyu picked up the flowers he had just given her and held them in her arms, "I didn't have this; when I get home later, I'll put them in a vase and then place them in the most conspicuous spot in the house~"

As long as it's from you, I'm fine with anything.

Lin Chuyan understood this time.