Chapter 452 - 322: Lin Ruoxi’s Independence (Part 2)

’The fruit at the very top, the one you can’t reach... do you always think it’s the most delicious?’

’Is that really how it works?’

’Gu Muxue had said so much to her yesterday. She needed to increase her own value. A bond of mutual interest is often much stronger than an emotional one...’

’But how was she supposed to do that?’

Just then, Xue Rui squirmed in her arms. She frantically loosened her embrace; she must have been holding him too tightly.

"HAH, HUFF..." Xue Rui gasped for fresh air.

He had been smothered awake.

"Xixi, what are you doing?" Xue Rui asked, his eyes narrowed. ’Was the little lass trying to suffocate me?’

’That’s terrifying!’

"I... I’ll go make breakfast," Lin Ruoxi said, hastily throwing on her clothes and running to the kitchen.

Xue Rui glanced at the time. It was already past nine in the morning. He subconsciously opened WeChat, groggily intending to send a "good morning" to that girl.

But when he opened his contact list, he found the pinned contact was gone.

He had forgotten that she’d already cut ties with him...

A sudden wave of loneliness washed over him. He had really screwed up.

Last night, he had planned on rushing back to Gu Muxue’s house to intercept her, but the little lass wouldn’t let him leave...

Now he was in deep trouble. If that girl told Gu Qingshan what he’d been up to...

’Wouldn’t his old man have already gotten a beating?’

’Pressure only trickles down, and it gets amplified infinitely at the bottom. Just how bad of a beating would he get?’

’He didn’t even dare to think about it!’

The fragrant aroma of sizzling scallions drifted in from the kitchen, and Xue Rui couldn’t help but take a few deep breaths. It was the comforting scent of home. Lin Ruoxi would always be the little lass who clung to his side, and that was what put him most at ease.

’But why didn’t she help me get dressed today?’

’Usually, the little lass would get up, give me a kiss on the forehead, and then tell me to lift my arms so she could dress me...’

’Oh well,’ Xue Rui thought, ’I always refuse anyway. The little lass must have finally gotten the hint that I don’t need her help with something like getting dressed.’

Lin Ruoxi kept stealing glances back toward Xue Rui’s room. ’How am I supposed to change?’

’If I just do a little less than usual, will he pay more attention to me?’

She didn’t know. But a great man once said: Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.

So, Lin Ruoxi made a silent resolution: today, she wouldn’t place any food on Xue Rui’s plate for him.

When the food was ready, Lin Ruoxi called out instinctively, "Come and eat!"

Xue Rui ambled to the dining table and sat in his spot. Lin Ruoxi had already set out his bowl and chopsticks as usual.

Xue Rui picked at his food distractedly. He’d just been checking high-speed rail tickets back to Hedong and discovered that because of the weekend overlapping with the Mid-Autumn Festival, even the standing-room-only tickets were fucking sold out.

If they wanted to go back, their only option was to drive. But both his and Lin Ruoxi’s licenses were still in the probationary period, so they couldn’t take the expressway.

’Take the national roads?’

’That could work. The festival isn’t until Monday, anyway.’

Lin Ruoxi stared blankly at Xue Rui. "Rui, have... have you not noticed anything different about me today?"

’The meal is almost over, and I haven’t put a single bite on his plate. Hasn’t he noticed?’

Xue Rui gave Lin Ruoxi a surprised look. ’What kind of question is that?’

’Is that really something you should be asking?’

’What’s different from usual? Is this a game of spot-the-difference?’

’Hmm, usually in these situations, it means a girl has done something to her appearance that he’s failed to notice.’

So, Xue Rui smiled, patted Lin Ruoxi’s head, and recited the all-purpose formula: "Xixi, you’re even prettier today than you were yesterday."

Lin Ruoxi’s mind went blank, her face blushing despite herself. ’Xue Rui complimented me.’

After a moment, Lin Ruoxi realized something was wrong. She hadn’t wanted him to praise her for being pretty; she wanted him to notice that she had *changed*.

So, she put a piece of food into Xue Rui’s bowl, fully intending to take it back out and eat it herself.

"I’m full, you don’t have to give me any," Xue Rui said, patting his stomach. He pushed his bowl over to Lin Ruoxi; the little lass always liked finishing his leftovers.

"Oh." Lin Ruoxi was a little disappointed, but she still obediently scraped Xue Rui’s leftovers into her own bowl.

’I’m so pathetic,’ she thought. ’I just can’t say no to Xue Rui...’

Xue Rui propped his chin on one hand, idly spinning his phone with the other. Lin Ruoxi’s phone was currently in Gu Muxue’s possession. The first thing he’d done after waking up was to make a call; unsurprisingly, it went unanswered.

’I’ll just have to wait until I get home to find her...’

But for now, the little lass had him pinned down. He had to behave himself on her turf; she was the one who held the car keys, after all.

He had to report his movements to the little lass, or she would get upset.

It was strange, though. He felt that something was off about Lin Ruoxi today. It was like something was different, but he just couldn’t put his finger on it.

He walked over to the table beside the refrigerator. Lin Ruoxi was like a little hamster, always hoarding food, including all sorts of snacks.

Xue Rui tore open a package, holding up a chocolate pie. "Xixi, want some dessert?"

Lin Ruoxi gulped. She desperately wanted to run over and snatch it from him with her mouth, but she resisted. "I don’t like chocolate pies anymore. I’m sick of them."

Xue Rui froze. ’Lin Ruoxi actually refused me?’

’The sun must be rising in the west...’

"Sick of them?" Xue Rui asked, puzzled. He tore open another package. "How about a wafer bar?"

Lin Ruoxi pressed her lips together tightly. ’I have to control myself,’ she thought. ’I can’t let Xue Rui tease me like this anymore.’