Chapter 71 - 70: Could He Like Me Too?

Chapter 71: Chapter 70: Could He Like Me Too?

Xiao Ran replied without a second thought, "You just have to test the waters. Let’s take daily life, for example. When you’re with him, pay attention. See if he seems genuinely concerned about you, if he takes good care of you, if he proactively does nice things for you. Aren’t those things easy to notice?"

When it came to this topic, Xiao Ran was truly in his element!

After all, as a romance novelist, he had to understand the fine details of love himself to be able to write about them.

Although people often say that authors who’ve never been in love write the sweetest stories.

But that wasn’t necessarily true!

It all came down to the author’s individual skill and had basically nothing to do with their personal relationship experience.

To be frank, someone with a bit of romantic experience might find it easier to capture that sweet, lovey-dovey feeling. Since they’ve had their own heart flutter, they have a better grasp of the sensation.

Xiao Ran’s approach was, in fact, the safest method when it came to matters of the heart.

It was just like writing a novel: the main couple had to meet, then get to know each other, and finally go through a phase of wild speculation and testing the waters before confirming their feelings for one another.

Just walking up to someone and saying "I like you" without any emotional foundation...

...not only increased the odds of failure, but also carried a high risk of being unable to even remain friends.

He felt he was simply stating a universal truth!

Listening to Xiao Ran speak with such confidence...

The girl across from him listened with a serious expression, her slender, pale hand cupping her little cheek.

Her intelligent eyes sparkled with a fine, earnest light, and her long eyelashes curled up in a beautiful, natural arc.

The sunlight fell on her delicate face, making her already flawless skin seem even more exquisite. It was fair, supple, and dewy, without a single pore in sight.

’Brother Xiao Ran is always so concerned about me and takes such good care of me, too. He’s always doing nice things for me.’

’If what he’s saying is true, then... could he like me?’

At this thought, the girl subconsciously glanced at Xiao Ran. Her heart, already beating, couldn’t help but accelerate a little more.

"I don’t think... I don’t think your theory holds up."

She tilted her head to look at him, her tone laced with a hint of probing as she mumbled softly with her delicate, pink lips.

"But an older brother would do all those things too, wouldn’t he?"

Perhaps because she lacked confidence, the girl’s voice was very quiet.

It sounded soft and sweet.

’He *is* my older brother, after all.’

The girl before him was so well-behaved and adorably clueless. Seeing her like this, Xiao Ran felt a wave of helplessness wash over him.

"That’s different. A brother is a brother, and a crush is a crush. That’s something you have to figure out for yourself over time."

As he spoke, he unconsciously leaned a little closer.

"Let’s say, for example, there’s a guy who’s not related to you by blood. He’s older than you, and he treats you really well. In a case like that, you might see him as a big brother, but it’s highly likely he doesn’t see you as a little sister. He just likes you!"

As a man himself, Xiao Ran was absolutely certain of this.

Men only see women in two ways: they either like them or they don’t. The only exception is their actual, blood-related sister!

Otherwise, it’s extremely rare for a guy to genuinely see a girl as just a sister.

He wasn’t the only one who knew this; every man was keenly aware of it.

Seeing that she still looked completely bewildered, Xiao Ran felt like he was going to have an aneurysm. ’She’s just too naive!’

"Do you get it now?" he asked, his eyes filled with sincerity.

After all, every word of advice he gave lessened the chance of his precious girl being swindled by some guy.

At this distance, the girl could clearly smell his warm breath and the faint scent of shampoo in his hair.

And so, that strange sense of pleasure welled up in her heart once more.

She couldn’t help but think, ’Brother Xiao Ran and I aren’t related by blood... and he’s exceptionally nice to me.’

’So, does that mean he might actually like me?!’

After all, anyone with a secret crush hopes for their feelings to be returned.

The mere thought of it was thrilling.

The girl’s heart couldn’t help but beat faster, and her pale, delicate face began to visibly flush.

’What if... what if he likes me too?’

’Then... then does that mean we could be together?!’

The more she thought about it, the more flustered she became!

In a matter of seconds, her expression and her gaze had turned shy.

Xiao Ran, watching from across the table, was completely baffled.

’Why does she look so shy all of a sudden?’

He subconsciously replayed his own words in his mind.

’I was speaking completely from her perspective, trying to help her analyze the situation!’

But now, looking at it from his own perspective, he immediately realized the problem with his last statement.

’Aren’t I older than her? And a guy with no blood relation?’

’And I’m always nice to her...’

At that thought, he grew tense and hurriedly added, "Of course, that doesn’t apply to me!"

’How did I manage to talk myself into my own trap?!’

’There’s no way I’m revealing my own feelings!’

Seeing his dead-serious expression...

The girl blinked, looking bewildered.

’Is that really true?’

Probably because he felt exposed, Xiao Ran was now a little nervous himself.

The girl looked at him doubtfully. ’Somehow, I don’t think that’s true...’

"Our relationship is different from all that stuff I just said!" Xiao Ran couldn’t help but tack on, likely out of nervousness.

’It’s all my fault for running my mouth. Next time, I’ll definitely make sure to exclude myself completely before I start lecturing her on this stuff!’

The girl shifted in her seat and pursed her lips, looking unconvinced.

’Didn’t he just explain the logic to me himself? Not related by blood, and is nice to me, means he likes me.’

’By his own logic, he clearly likes me. But now he’s saying it doesn’t apply to him without giving a reason. Isn’t that just a classic case of muddying the waters?’

’How is he any different from anyone else?’

Hmph.

...

Time always flew by when they were chatting.

In the blink of an eye, it was time to get off for lunch.

Old Zhang strolled over, hands behind his back. He shot Xiao Ran a meaningful glance before saying with a grin, "Time’s up. Time to clock out. I’m heading off to lunch."

’If Xiao Ran wasn’t the administrator, I’d have gone over to say a thing or two. This is a library, not a place to be all lovey-dovey. Chatting so intensely... it’s really not appropriate. But honestly, those two young’uns really do make a good-looking couple.’

Xiao Ran, oblivious to what Old Zhang was thinking, just gave a faint smile and replied politely, "Alright, Uncle Zhang. We’re heading out now."

With that, he returned to his seat and began to pack up his things.

The two of them headed downstairs and outside.

Xiao Ran expertly handed his helmet to the girl. She took it with practiced ease, put it on her head, and then hopped onto the back of the electric scooter.

One of her hands came to rest gently on Xiao Ran’s waist.

’This was her special privilege!’

Her favorite part of the day was riding on his scooter and holding onto his waist.

Every time she held him like this, it gave her a feeling of intimacy, and a pleasant, comfortable sensation would bloom in her heart.

It left her feeling completely content for the rest of the day.