Lan Hui’s pupils trembled when she heard this, her heart skipping half a beat. Did Peng Kai even know what he was saying?
Or did he really just see her as a little sister, which was why he let her rely on him more?
Lan Hui’s mind was—complete mush.
Peng Kai noticed the girl seemed frightened by his words, and for a moment, he regretted it.
He hadn’t been able to hold it in just now, blurting it out without thinking.
The car restarted and merged onto the main road.
It was already past one in the morning by now. There were hardly any cars on the road, so Peng Kai drove quickly. In just over twenty minutes, the two of them arrived at the apartment complex.
They went upstairs and opened the door. Peng Kai and Lan Hui stood at the entrance, changing their shoes.
Peng Kai said, “If you’re scared tonight, don’t close your door. I’ll stay in the living room and keep watch.”
She was just a young girl, and after being harassed by that scumbag, she must be terrified. She might not even be able to sleep tonight.
Even if that scum only hugged her and didn’t do anything truly outrageous, he was still afraid it might have left a psychological impact.
But Lan Hui had lived two lifetimes by now, her mind already strong. What happened tonight wasn’t enough to scare her.
“Kai-ge, I’m not scared. You’ve been busy all day and you have work tomorrow. Hurry and go to bed.”
Peng Kai stared at her, trying to read something from her eyes. “Are you really not scared?”
Lan Hui smiled. “I’m really not scared.”
“That’s good.” Seeing that there was no fear or panic in her eyes, Peng Kai finally walked her to her room door and then turned back to his own room.
Lan Hui had just changed out of her clothes and snuggled under the covers, planning to check her phone for a bit before sleeping, when suddenly the door was knocked on. Dong dong dong……………
Dong dong dong………………
“Kai-ge, is there something wrong?” Lan Hui asked.
Peng Kai’s deep voice came from outside the door. “Are you asleep?”
“I just lay down, what’s up?” Lan Hui quickly sat up, put on a cotton jacket, and went to open the door.
Peng Kai’s tall figure stood at the doorway, his expression more serious and solemn than she’d ever seen.
Lan Hui’s heart skipped a beat, startled by his expression. “Kai-ge, how about we sit on the living room sofa to talk?”
Peng Kai didn’t move, just asked directly, “Yue Fu, what did you think about what I said in the car just now?”
He hadn’t intended to be so direct so soon, afraid he’d scare her. But after returning to his room, he couldn’t rest easy.
Yue Fu was beautiful and outstanding, with plenty of admirers. Tonight there was harassment, tomorrow there’d be confessions. If he kept hesitating, he might miss his chance with her.
After breaking up with Gu Shinan, he’d been disillusioned with love. But after meeting Yue Fu, he’d found courage again—he wanted to fight for his future one more time.
If he tried, perhaps he’d find lifelong happiness.
If he didn’t, life would remain dull and gray.
Lan Hui was stumped by his question. She thought for a while before finally speaking: “Kai-ge, do you let me rely on you more because you see me as a little sister?”
Peng Kai replied directly, “No. I’ve never seen you as a little sister.” As he finished, Peng Kai fixed his gaze on her, his tone more earnest than ever: “Yue Fu, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?”
Lan Hui felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck out of nowhere, leaving her mind blank. She stared at Peng Kai in disbelief. “Kai-ge, what did you just say?”
If it had been another man confessing, Lan Hui wouldn’t have felt so shocked, nor would she have doubted her ears.
But this was Peng Kai—the same Peng Kai who, in her last life, after being acknowledged by his family, faced countless temptations and yet remained single all his life!
Peng Kai patiently repeated himself.
“Yue Fu, I know my confession is abrupt and not the least bit romantic or surprising. But after these past two months together, my feelings for you have grown deeper day by day.”
“When I said you could rely on me more in the car, it was just a man’s true feelings for the woman he loves—I couldn’t help myself.
I know, given my current circumstances, asking you to be my girlfriend is a bit sudden. I also know I’m just a poor guy and not worthy of you.
But fate is a strange thing, and there’s nothing wrong with liking someone. I want to take a chance and be brave for myself!
I can’t promise we’ll be rich and live in luxury, but I can promise that as long as I’m alive, I’ll do my best to make sure you have no worries about food or clothing, and never have to fret over daily necessities.
So Yue Fu, can you let me cut in line among all your suitors, and let me be your boyfriend?”
Lan Hui felt like she was dreaming, completely dazed.
Peng Kai patiently waited for the girl’s answer. As the seconds ticked by, his heart gradually sank.
He should have expected it—he shouldn’t have hoped for more.
Meeting Peng Kai’s disappointed gaze, Lan Hui took a deep breath. “Kai-ge, just as you said, your confession was too sudden.”
“I’m still trying to process it. Can you give me some time to think it over? It’s almost two in the morning now. Let’s get some sleep first—we both have work tomorrow.”
Peng Kai hurriedly apologized: “Go get some sleep, I’ll give you time to think.”
“Okay.” Lan Hui nodded, walked back into her room, and was about to close the door when Peng Kai spoke up again:
“Yue Fu, it doesn’t matter if you say yes or not, just follow your heart. I confessed tonight because I wanted to take a chance. If you say no, it’s fine—I won’t pester you. We can just stay the same as before, no need to feel awkward.”
“Alright.” Lan Hui waved at him. “Kai-ge, good night.”
“Good night.” Peng Kai waited until the girl closed her door, then let out a long sigh before turning back to his room.
Lan Hui tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, her mind replaying Peng Kai’s confession at her door over and over.
Should she say yes or not?
To be honest, Peng Kai was the best man she’d met in both her lifetimes.
Whether it was looks, character, values, or temperament, there was nothing to criticize. He just seemed a bit cold on the surface, but that was easy to overlook.
She couldn’t deny that when Peng Kai confessed, she was first shocked, then happy. After all, what girl wouldn’t be pleased to be liked by such an outstanding man?
But the problem that followed was—if she really did get together with Peng Kai, once her mission was complete, she’d have to leave. She didn’t know how much time she could spend with Peng Kai.
The system hadn’t made things clear before bringing her here. She didn’t know if she’d stay in this world for a whole lifetime, or leave once the mission was done.
She could sense that the system didn’t want to keep her in the dark, but it seemed to be in a very weak state. After sending her the mission target information upon her arrival, it hadn’t shown up again.
So frustrating.
***
After struggling for more than two hours, Lan Hui finally made up her mind.
Liking someone was just that—liking them. She didn’t want to lie to herself.
Over these three months with Peng Kai, her fondness for him had grown day by day. She hadn’t realized it was love before, even helping him get closer to Cao Xuan.
But when Peng Kai broke the ice tonight, her joy was impossible to hide. Only then did she realize her own feelings.
She didn’t want to keep worrying about how long she’d stay in this world. She knew that love wasn’t some disaster, but something beautiful.
Since love had come, she’d accept it with open arms.
No regrets. Live bravely and freely—that’s what makes life colorful and exciting.
She picked up her phone and sent Peng Kai a message: “Kai-ge, are you awake?”
Peng Kai had also been tossing and turning for over two hours, unable to sleep.
He knew the girl would most likely reject him, but since she said she’d consider it, he still held onto a sliver of hope, waiting for her final answer.
Just then, his phone vibrated. He picked it up and his pupils widened in shock—it was a message from her!
So late and she still wasn’t asleep!
He was about to open the message, but his hand hesitated above the phone.
There was some hope, but more nervousness.
He was eager to see her reply, but anxious that she might refuse him.
After a minute of inner struggle, he took a deep breath and opened the message.
“Kai-ge, are you awake?”
“Kai-ge, I’ve thought about it carefully for a long time. I accept your confession. I’m willing to give it a try and date you.”
Peng Kai’s pupils trembled. A surge of joy rose from the bottom of his heart. At that moment, it felt like his heart was about to leap out of his chest—thumping wildly, overflowing with happiness.
After sending the message, Lan Hui put her phone on the nightstand, ready to sleep.
She had just closed her eyes when she heard a knock at the door.
Dong dong dong……………
She sat up in bed at once, exclaiming, “Kai-ge… you’re still awake?”
It was already past five in the morning, and he hadn’t slept either!
A man’s deep voice came from the door: “No need to open up.” Then: “I got your message. I just wanted to tell you—I’m really happy. I’ll take you to work tomorrow morning.”
Lan Hui’s heart was beating a bit fast. He could’ve just replied to her message, but he came over to knock on her door in person……………
Was this that so-called sense of ceremony?
Eh?!
But she was pretty happy about it.
She cleared her throat. “Got it, Kai-ge. Go get some sleep, or you’ll be too tired tomorrow.”
“I’ll be fine.” Peng Kai’s voice carried a hint of laughter. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
Lan Hui patted her flushed cheeks. They hadn’t even seen each other face-to-face, just exchanged a few words at the door, and she was already this nervous.
Feeling a bit thirsty, Lan Hui casually threw on a jacket and opened the door to get some water in the living room.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw Peng Kai sitting on the sofa drinking coffee. Her beautiful eyes widened. “Kai-ge, why aren’t you sleeping? Drinking coffee this late?”
Peng Kai was a little surprised to see her too. “Why are you up?” His gaze never left her.
Meeting Peng Kai’s eyes, Lan Hui’s face turned even redder. Maybe it was because their relationship had changed, but she felt like Peng Kai’s gaze was sticky—ambiguous and suggestive……………
“I… was thirsty, so I came out to get some water.”
As soon as she finished, Peng Kai said, “Come sit on the sofa, I’ll pour you some water.”
“No need, Kai-ge, I can do it myself.”
Lan Hui quickly waved her hand.
Peng Kai had already pulled out a disposable cup from under the coffee table. “I’m your boyfriend now. You need to get used to me taking care of you.”
Lan Hui’s already flushed face grew even redder, adding a touch of intoxicating allure. Peng Kai’s eyes darkened as he looked at her.
He quickly looked away and took the cup to the water dispenser.
Lan Hui followed him. “Kai-ge, you still haven’t told me—why are you drinking coffee so late instead of sleeping?”
After filling the cup, Peng Kai handed it to her and reminded, “Careful, it’s hot.” Then he added, “I’m just too happy tonight. I don’t want to sleep.” Coffee helps keep you awake.
Lan Hui took the cup from his hand. Their fingers brushed again—his knuckles were strong and hard as steel. Lan Hui couldn’t help but recall seeing his thick leg hair last time…………
Back then, she’d thought he was strong and robust, not your average man. He was probably especially impressive in certain ways.
She’d even wondered what kind of girl could handle him.
Now she was his girlfriend, and the thought made her a little nervous. She’d definitely have to work on her fitness!