In matters of love, none of us were experienced.
At this moment, beneath Lu Qiming’s usually cold and calm brows, there was a faint trace of something unusual.
Qian Duoduo looked at him seriously, and in a single instant, suddenly understood.
Noticing her oddness today, the man felt confused but also uneasy.
He did not remain calm to cover it up, nor did he put on a composed, in-control demeanor.
He had chased her from the Mess Hall to the Supermarket, and straightforwardly told her, “Besides apologizing, I don’t know what else I can do.”
With this realization, Qian Duoduo couldn’t help but curve her lips into a light smile.
This time, Lu Qiming’s brow furrowed slightly.
He stared at her and asked, “What are you laughing at?”
“I’m laughing because you’re too nervous, too sensitive,” Qian Duoduo replied with a smile. “I’m not angry, and it’s not the bad mood you guessed.”
Seeing him at the Mess Hall earlier today, combined with Zhao Jingxi’s prediction that “there will definitely be a kiss tonight,” she inexplicably felt nervous and embarrassed.
Afraid that others might notice, she deliberately avoided Lu Qiming both consciously and unconsciously.
But seeing the usually expressionless Team Leader showing signs of abnormality, Qian Duoduo’s own anxious and embarrassed mood strangely settled down.
Turns out, they were in similar states.
Over there.
After hearing Qian Duoduo’s answer, Lu Qiming paused briefly, then said, “Why were you avoiding me today?”
Qian Duoduo hesitated for half a second before replying, “You just asked that question, and I already answered.”
Lu Qiming’s thin lips twitched, as if wanting to say something but stopped, his gaze adding layers of helplessness.
Qian Duoduo lowered her eyes and glanced at her wrist gripped tightly by Lu Qiming’s large hand. Her cheeks warmed. She softly said, “Let go of my hand first.”
Lu Qiming looked straight at her as if he hadn’t heard her request, the pressure from his fingers remaining unchanged.
Seeing he wouldn’t move, Qian Duoduo tried to pull her hand back herself.
However, his strong fingers felt as if they had sunk roots into her skin; no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break free.
Seeing this, Qian Duoduo truly felt a little panicked.
She frowned slightly, blushing as she urged, “This is the Military Camp Supermarket. Someone could come in at any time. You promised me we wouldn’t expose our relationship.”
Lu Qiming’s tone was calm: “There’s no one here now.”
“No one now doesn’t mean there won’t be later.”
Qian Duoduo was used to his upright and serious side; suddenly hearing such an offhand comment left her completely dumbfounded. “Besides, even if no one’s here, this unmanned supermarket has surveillance cameras. If we’re seen like this, it won’t look good.”
“The cameras are broken.”
“Ah…” Qian Duoduo was surprised and instinctively glanced up at the black camera in the corner. “When did it break?”
“Last night.”
“……”
Qian Duoduo was speechless, still wanting to say something when the tall man before her moved again.
Lu Qiming lowered his gaze, eyes never leaving her, taking a step closer — just an inch, but enough.
His gaze was piercing. Usually, this man hid his sharp aura when around her, but now he seemed to reveal his true nature, radiating aggression from head to toe.
Qian Duoduo sensed this immediately and almost reflexively stepped back, her desire to escape completely obvious.
One advanced, one retreated.
Suddenly, her heel hit the leg of a shelf; the cool sensation at her back reminded her that there was no way out.
“You…”
Qian Duoduo’s eyes showed a rare trace of wariness as she cleared her throat, still trying to maintain a calm appearance. “What exactly do you want?”
Lu Qiming looked at her silently, then suddenly raised his right hand toward her.
Though they were already in a relationship, Qian Duoduo had never had intimate contact with any male before.
His sudden closeness left her at a loss.
She thought he was going to touch her face and instinctively tilted her head to avoid it.
But unexpectedly, Lu Qiming’s fingers only lightly brushed a strand of hair resting on her right shoulder before withdrawing.
At the same time, the grip on her wrist disappeared.
Qian Duoduo was confused and wanted to ask what he was doing. Glancing sideways, she saw a tiny white grain, like a rice kernel, pinched between his long fingers.
That was…
Taken from her hair?
She blinked, belatedly realizing, and felt a flush of embarrassment. Her face warmed as she quietly explained, “It must’ve gotten stuck there accidentally when we had lunch…”
There happened to be a pack of public tissue on the supermarket cashier’s counter.
Lu Qiming tore off a sheet and wiped the grain off his finger. His eyelids lowered slightly, his tone calm and gentle: “You were so nervous just now.”
His words came out of nowhere, and Qian Duoduo was puzzled: “Hmm?”
After wiping his finger, Lu Qiming raised his eyes to look at her and continued: “Were you thinking I was going to do something to you?”
“…”
Do what?
Her gaze drifted absentmindedly to the lips beneath his prominent nose.
Their first meeting at the dessert shop had left a deep impression on her.
His overall features were thin and sharp, lips pale, and the contours flowing across his face.
Very handsome.
They looked soft…
She couldn’t be blamed for having unwholesome thoughts.
His gaze had been so direct and intense just now, so for those few seconds, she truly thought he was going to do something…
Her mind raced.
After a moment, she awkwardly raised her hand to tidy her hair and cleared her throat. “Nothing.”
Having said that, she felt the heat rising sharply on her cheeks, and her heart beating faster. She had no intention of staying alone with him any longer.
“I’m a little tired; I’m going to take a nap,” she said, yawning to cover her nervousness. “Do you usually take a break in the dormitory?”
Then, recalling the earlier debate about what to call each other, she paused, took a deep breath, and in her most casual and natural tone ever, softly added: “Baby?”
Lu Qiming: “……”
At that moment, Lu Qiming was twisting the cap off her grape juice bottle. Hearing her, his eyes darkened, his hand froze as if paused by an invisible button.
One second later.
Click — the cap popped open.
He handed the bottle back to her and replied in a low voice: “I have a lot of work today; I need to work overtime during lunch. That way I can leave on time tonight.”
Qian Duoduo responded with an “Oh,” nodding in understanding.
She thought: Luckily, my freshly minted boyfriend isn’t having lunch with me in the dormitory.
Otherwise, after walking together and exchanging a few words plus some ambiguous physical contact, I’d probably get nervous again.
“So…” Qian Duoduo raised a finger and pointed toward the supermarket door, testing, “Should I go first?”
“What’s the name of the movie you want to watch?” Lu Qiming asked, looking at her.
“It’s Alejandro’s new film,” Qian Duoduo answered truthfully. “The original Spanish title is ‘El Tiempo Entre Las Rosas’.”
She pronounced the original title fluently and clearly in Spanish, her gentle and melodious voice lending it an air of elegance.
Lu Qiming thought her Spanish sounded nice but didn’t understand the meaning. He asked casually, “Is there a Chinese title?”
“The Chinese title is ‘The Time Forgotten by Roses’” , Qian Duoduo smiled lightly and said casually, “But personally, I think the translation doesn’t quite fit Alejandro’s usual style.”
The topic lingered there, and Lu Qiming fell silent.
He lowered his gaze, trying to find something in his mental library to say about the topic, hoping to have at least a few words to share.
But after several seconds, he came up empty.
He realized he hadn’t even heard of this Spanish director.
Over there.
Qian Duoduo noticed his silence and, sensing something, cautiously asked, “You… don’t really know Alejandro as a director, do you?”
A barely perceptible nervousness crept into Lu Qiming’s heart like a fine spiderweb.
His face remained calm as he shook his head, “No.”
“Alejandro is a Spanish art film director, quite niche,” Qian Duoduo quickly explained. “Not many people know him. It’s normal that you don’t know him. It’s nothing.”
Lu Qiming: “Mm.”
Qian Duoduo studied his expression, unable to help frowning slightly.
This was bad.
She was a fan of Alejandro, loving his deeply artistic romance films. But she neglected the fact that she and Lu Qiming had completely different personalities. What she liked, he might not.
Thinking it over, she then heard Lu Qiming say quietly, “I’ll book the tickets this afternoon. Do you have any requirements for the theater’s equipment?”
“No,” Qian Duoduo quickly waved her hand. “Any theater is fine, preferably close by for convenience.”
“Okay.” Lu Qiming gave her a faint smile and said, “Go take your nap first. I’ll come find you after work.”
“Mm…” Qian Duoduo nodded slowly and turned toward the supermarket exit.
Just after a few steps, her slender figure stopped again.
She stood in front of the automatic sliding door, head slightly lowered, biting her lip, as if struggling with some inner conflict.
Lu Qiming noticed her unease and asked gently, “What’s wrong?”
“How about we switch to a different movie?” Qian Duoduo looked up at Lu Qiming and suggested.
He asked, “You had everything planned before, why suddenly want to change?”
Qian Duoduo honestly said, “Alejandro’s films are all art films; I’m afraid you won’t be interested.”
Upon hearing this, the neatly dressed Unmarried Lieutenant Colonel was slightly stunned, then suddenly smiled.
“I’m glad you’re considering me,” Lu Qiming said, his clear and gentle dark eyes fixed on her. “No need to change.”
Qian Duoduo hesitated. “But…”
He continued lightly, “As long as it’s something you like, I’m happy to take it as a new course to learn, try, and experience.”
*
Back at the dormitory, Qian Duoduo took a nap.
At 3:10 PM, her alarm went off on time.
She got up, brewed herself a cup of coffee, finished it, then slowly changed into her chef’s uniform and went to the Mess Hall.
Many hands make light work.
After over a week of coordination, Qian Duoduo and Cui Yurong had formed a tacit understanding. From prepping ingredients to the various fragrant dishes being served, it took only about three hours.
At dinner, Qian Duoduo picked up her tray, swiped her card, and scanned the sea of green uniforms for Lu Qiming but didn’t spot him.
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