When Su Ci heard what Su Mother said, she blinked and said, “Mom, you know He Ermeng has been pursuing me, but I know I don’t like him. When He Ermeng is in front of me, I don’t feel anything at all, I don’t even want to pay attention to him, but Lu Zhe is different.”

She told Su Mother, “When I see Lu Zhe, I feel happy, my heart even beats faster. I might not know what liking someone is.”

Su Ci pointed at her own chest. “But this place won’t lie.”

Su Mother was completely stunned by her daughter’s words.

Even though she and her husband had truly loved each other when they were young, they had also gone through many misunderstandings, awkwardness, and helplessness, and only in the end did they finally get their happy ending.

She hadn’t expected that the daughter she always thought was emotionally clueless and a bit proud would, in matters of the heart, be more honest and passionate than anyone.

While shocked, Su Mother’s heart sank lower and lower. “Cici, are you and Lu Zhe together?”

Su Mother’s question left Su Ci frozen. She and Lu Zhe hadn’t even confirmed their relationship!

In Su Ci’s mind, she had already regarded Lu Zhe as her own possession, and Lu Zhe definitely thought the same… right?

But the moment she remembered that person’s cold, icy expression, she suddenly wasn’t so sure anymore.

Seeing her daughter’s dazed expression, Su Mother realized that she and that young man Lu Zhe likely weren’t together yet. She quietly let out a breath. “Cici, does Lu Zhe also like you?”

In Su Mother’s eyes, her daughter was so outstanding no one could possibly dislike her. Since her daughter liked Lu Zhe, that young man couldn’t not like her back. But still, she couldn’t help asking.

Su Ci pursed her lips and couldn’t answer. She had never asked Lu Zhe this question.

A loss! A huge loss!

Seeing that her daughter couldn’t answer, Su Mother grew even more shocked. “Lu Zhe doesn’t like you?”

In her eyes, her daughter was good in every possible way. Although she didn’t want her daughter to be with that young man Lu Zhe, knowing her daughter liked him while he didn’t like her made Su Mother knot up with conflicted emotions.

How could anyone not like her daughter?

“I don’t know.” Su Ci no longer dwelled on it. “Whether he likes me now or not, he’ll definitely like me in the future. Anyway, we’re definitely going to be together.”

She was Lu Zhe’s tool person, and Lu Zhe was her tool person. She was so good-looking, and Lu Zhe was handsome too—everything fit her aesthetic. In her eyes, she and Lu Zhe were a perfect match, a pair destined by heaven!

Thinking this, Su Ci smiled and hugged Su Mother. “Mom, don’t worry, Lu Zhe will like me.”

Su Mother fell into difficulty.

She wasn’t someone who cared much about family background. Even though the young man Lu Zhe came from a poor background and was an orphan, he had good character, and his looks matched her daughter’s. But unfortunately, the other party had a terminal illness.

This was something her daughter surely also knew.

Su Mother understood her daughter’s personality—raised delicately, yet not the least bit soft, instead very strong-willed. This was her first time liking someone. If she and her husband tried to forcibly intervene, it might backfire.

Su Mother steadied herself. From the looks of it now, Lu Zhe not liking her daughter was a good thing. At least the two hadn’t gotten together yet, and there was still time to stop it.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

All the stock in the computer shop had already been transferred out, and the shop itself had been sold. This time, Boss Fang was truly determined to start a new business. Even though entrepreneurship carried great risk and he might end up losing everything, when he looked at the cold-faced boy beside him, he inexplicably felt at ease.

He felt he couldn’t have misjudged him. Lu Zhe was someone with real ability. Even if his gamble failed, at worst he could return to setting up a street stall; he and his son Little Kuaile would still survive somehow.

“Are all these your belongings?” Boss Fang looked in surprise at Lu Zhe, who had a backpack on his back and was pulling two large suitcases in his hands.

He and his son Little Kuaile only had one large suitcase between them, yet Lu Zhe actually had so much luggage?

From what he remembered, Lu Zhe didn’t have many clothes—just the same few sets he wore over and over, and two of those were school uniforms. But thinking about how they would soon be settling down in B City, Boss Fang figured Lu Zhe was probably preparing to move all his belongings there.

“My son heard we were moving and thought we were going on a trip. The smile on his face hasn’t stopped since last night, and when he heard that Xiao Ci is also in B City, this kid became even more impatient to go.” Boss Fang looked at Little Kuaile playing nearby. His face was filled with a father’s deep affection for his child.

“This silly kid doesn’t know that his Sister Cici isn’t someone he can see just because he wants to.” Boss Fang glanced at Lu Zhe, sighed, and went back inside to continue packing. They would be flying to B City that afternoon.

Lu Zhe and Boss Fang arrived in B City that evening. They had booked rooms at a hotel beforehand—two rooms right next to each other.

It was Little Kuaile’s first time flying. The little guy was very excited at first, but later fell asleep.

“Xiao Zhe, get some rest early. Tomorrow morning we’ll go sign the contract for the venue and start getting the company set up as soon as possible.” Boss Fang carried his sleeping son, exhaustion on his face, but his eyes filled with hope for the future.

“Mm. Uncle Fang, you should rest early too.”

After putting away his luggage, Lu Zhe’s phone began ringing. He didn’t even need to think—he already knew who it was.

Lu Zhe answered the video call, and the overly beautiful face of a girl appeared instantly on the screen.

On screen, the girl blinked and teased him on purpose: “Lu Zhe, you answered so fast this time. Were you already waiting for my call?”

“Mm.” Lu Zhe responded lightly. The girl’s eyes grew even brighter, her gaze smug, as if saying she had guessed right.

“You’ve already arrived in B City?” Su Ci knew Lu Zhe’s flight was in the afternoon; she had timed her call exactly.

Looking at the girl on the screen, under the light, his cold and quiet features softened a little. “Mm, I’m here.”

“My mom and dad want to visit and thank you. When are you free?” Su Father would be discharged tomorrow, and she also wanted to see Lu Zhe.

Lu Zhe had already heard from Su Ci before that her parents were grateful for his life-saving help and wanted to meet him.

He thought for a moment. “I’m not free tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, will that work?”

Tomorrow he and Boss Fang were meeting the venue manager to sign the contract.

“Okay, then I’ll tell them.” Su Ci said with a smile.

Every time she video-called, Su Ci would choose her most perfect angle and turn on the warm yellow bedside lamp beside her. She knew the soft-toned light would make her fair, snow-like skin look even prettier.

Other people might need to put on a light makeup look when video-calling their boyfriends, but she was genuinely bare-faced—and she held the phone very close to her face.

She was hiding her little intentions, making sure Lu Zhe couldn’t ignore her overwhelming beauty.

However, the boy on the other end always seemed to have chronically bad eyesight, completely unaware of her beauty.

Su Ci lifted the corner of her eyes slightly, a hint of mischief hidden in them. She said, “Today my mom asked me if I like you.”

Her words made Lu Zhe tighten his grip on the phone. His dark eyes focused intently on her.

At that moment, Su Ci, who had been sitting, suddenly lay down on the bed. After her shower, she was wearing a round-neck, sleeveless white nightdress. The collar was a little loose, and when she lay down, a large expanse of pale skin showed through the neckline.

Lu Zhe accidentally glanced once, his eyes darkening slightly before he immediately turned away. “Su Ci, sit properly.”

“I’ve been holding my phone for so long. My hand is tired. This is more comfortable.” Su Ci tried every method to hook the boy’s attention. She had chosen this nightdress on purpose—loose enough at the neckline, but not overly revealing.

Lu Zhe’s voice was cool. “Sit up, or I’m ending the video call.”

Su Ci: “……”

She felt like she was about to die of anger. Was this person made of stone? His brain was so stiff, completely clueless about romance!

Su Ci knew Lu Zhe meant what he said. She gritted her teeth and sat up angrily, glaring at him with a resentful expression. “I’m sitting up.”

Only then did Lu Zhe lift his gaze toward her. The girl’s face was puffed up in annoyance as she looked at him.

His thin lips curved slightly, and Lu Zhe let out a soft laugh. “Be good.”

Stop thinking about all those crooked ideas every day.

Su Ci was unhappy. How was she not good?

“What did you answer?” Lu Zhe asked then.

Su Ci was still a little mad and didn’t want to tell him. But when she met the boy’s dark eyes on the screen, her resolve instantly collapsed. “Do you want to know?”

“Mm.” He wanted to know.

Su Ci’s defeated heart revived on the spot, a little smugness surfacing between her brows. “Say something nice to coax me, then I’ll tell you.” She had never heard Lu Zhe praise her before.

The warm yellow light fell on the girl’s face—her small face was porcelain-white like jade. Her black eyes reflected the glow, as if filled with scattered stars. Lu Zhe’s Adam’s apple moved up and down as he said in a low voice, “Tuan Tuan, I want to know.”

Su Ci felt like she was done for.

He didn’t even compliment her, just one look from him made her heart tremble.

Forget dignity—she felt like she could abandon even her bones. She said, “I told my mom that I like you.”

The girl was honest and straightforward. Lu Zhe looked directly at her and softly called, “Tuan Tuan.”

Normally, the girl liked to cling to him, constantly asking him for kisses, always teasing him, enjoying seeing him lose control because of her. He had always treated it as her playful mischief.

But now, hearing her indirect confession, Lu Zhe couldn’t control himself—he felt his heart clench hard, almost painfully.

Su Ci had thick skin. After saying it, she looked at Lu Zhe with bright, liquid eyes. “Mom asked what our relationship is, and I couldn’t even answer. I can’t tell her we currently have a saliva-sharing relationship.”

She continued, “Lu Zhe, I said I like you. Now it’s your turn.”

One time each—that was fair.

Thinking about what he might say next, she felt a bit nervous. Instinctively, she straightened her back, her ears practically standing up.

Hurry. Hurry and confess. She was already prepared.

Su Ci even thought that if Lu Zhe were by her side now, she could kiss him right after he confessed.

The girl’s eyes shone brightly. Lu Zhe pressed his lips together and said in a low voice, “Tuan Tuan, you know I have ALS.”

Su Ci nodded. “I know, but that’s not the problem. That’s not what I want to hear.”

“My illness is the biggest problem.” Lu Zhe looked at her. “For ALS patients, the limbs and body gradually atrophy, go numb, weaken, and become paralyzed. And I only have 3–5 years of life expectancy.”

The boy’s deep voice grew hoarse. “Tuan Tuan, someone like me… are you sure you still want to like me?”

He had always known he didn’t have much time left. So he could accompany her in playing around, in doing the things she liked. She liked having him by her side, so he could stay in B City.

Anything beyond that… Lu Zhe didn’t dare to think about.

He couldn’t think about it.

The smile on Su Ci’s lips faded, her eyes filled with complete seriousness. “I like you.”

She told Lu Zhe, “Your illness isn’t a problem. Lu Zhe, you can live for a long time.”

Hearing the girl’s attempt to comfort him, Lu Zhe let out a soft laugh. “Tuan Tuan, I’m serious.”

“I’m also serious.” Su Ci explained, “As long as I kiss you, you…”

The words she wanted to say next wouldn’t come out no matter what. Su Ci knew she wasn’t allowed to say them.

She gritted her teeth angrily. “Anyway, you won’t die. You just have to be with me.”

Lu Zhe’s dark eyes looked at her, a hidden gentleness within them. “Mm.”

As long as she wanted it, as long as he could still move, he would stay by her side.