“Rou Rou, come wash your hands and eat~”
An Luxi’s voice drifted over.
Liang Rou glanced at her phone again, massaging her temples with a headache.
[Liang Rou: Sorry, Xia Rui, I have other things to take care of tomorrow… I was in such a rush this morning that I forgot to mention it and just agreed without thinking. I’m really sorry, I let you down this time. Next time, dinner’s on me.]
That should be fine, right?
Liang Rou felt she’d handled it pretty well.
After all, she and Xia Rui were just ordinary friends for now.
If she broke a promise… just make it up with a meal.
That girl probably wouldn’t mind.
However, after Xia Rui saw that message, her face darkened instantly, as if the sky had collapsed.
She hesitated for a long time, but still decided to ask Liang Rou.
[Xia Rui: Senior, can I ask what you have to do tomorrow? If it’s something difficult, maybe I can help you.]
She was actually afraid of being seen as a bother, but she just couldn’t relax without asking, so she added that last line, showing she was only concerned.
This way, she could find out what was going on, and make the other person feel cared for and touched.
At that moment, Liang Rou had already put down her phone and sat beside An Luxi, cracking open a can of beer.
She sipped her drink and ate the meal her girlfriend had made.
It was pure bliss~ She sighed, wishing every day could be like this—clothes handed to her, food ready at the table~
Meanwhile, Xia Rui propped her chin up, tapping her nails restlessly on the glass table, sighing over and over.
“Sigh… Tomorrow is Senior’s birthday. I really wanted to spend her birthday with her… Now it’s ruined, no chance for a surprise… Really, how did something come up so suddenly? Sigh!”
On the other side, Liang Rou had finished eating.
She gave her girlfriend a soft kiss on the cheek, making the girl blush furiously, bashful beyond words.
An Luxi gently nudged Liang Rou’s shoulder, then bounced off to tidy up the dishes.
Liang Rou sank back onto the sofa, fiddling with her phone, thinking about An Luxi’s shy reaction.
Before she met An Luxi, she’d never seen such an easily flustered, pure-hearted girl.
Her personality was a bit timid, sure… but she was incredibly gentle, and always so obedient.
Liang Rou loved girls like this; she absolutely didn’t want another ex-girlfriend who’d try to control her whole life.
Liang Rou saw Xia Rui’s reply—a message so enthusiastic and caring that she felt a bit embarrassed.
She thought it over.
If she said she was spending time with her girlfriend tomorrow… it would sound like she was putting romance above friendship.
If she claimed she had to work overtime… with how enthusiastic Xia Rui was, she might offer to work overtime with her, and then the lie would fall apart.
What if she said it was her birthday tomorrow, and she was going out with friends?
Liang Rou thought about it, but shook her head.
“No, no, suddenly mentioning my own birthday… that just sounds like fishing for a gift. Forget it, I don’t want to owe anyone. And with all those car keys in Xia Rui’s house, any gift she gives would be expensive, and I’d never be able to repay her…”
Liang Rou let out a sigh.
Forget it, I’ll just say my parents are coming to visit.
Even though… she’d actually fallen out with her family years ago, and they’d never contacted her since.
[Liang Rou: Ah, my parents are coming in from the countryside to see me. I have to be with them tomorrow. Let’s meet next week, okay? You’ll officially become a regular staff member next week anyway, so I’ll treat you to a big meal and we can celebrate properly!]
Hearing that special tone of concern, Xia Rui immediately grabbed her phone.
After reading the new message, her eyes dimmed a little.
“Mm…”
“Sigh…”
She let out a heavy sigh.
But she didn’t dare say anything more, and could only comfort herself: Since Senior said we’ll meet next week, then I’ll just wait. I’ll say “happy birthday” at midnight, and as for the gift… I’ll give it to her on Monday.
[Xia Rui: Alright, then you should enjoy time with your parents~ Let’s meet next Monday~]
With the matter of Xia Rui settled, Liang Rou clearly relaxed.
She smiled as she watched An Luxi busying herself in the kitchen, her mood improving.
When An Luxi finally came out and walked over, Liang Rou grabbed her wrist and, with a tug, pulled her into her arms.
“Alright~ No more chores for now. We haven’t seen each other in so long, Little Deer… tell me, shouldn’t we get a bit more intimate?”
An Luxi sat on Liang Rou’s lap, her cheeks tinged pink.
“Ah, I, I… What should we do~?”
Liang Rou grinned wickedly, pinching her girlfriend’s cheek.
“Aiya~ Little Deer, you’re making me feel guilty~ Like I’m always bullying you. But we’re a couple, right? Doing some weird things together shouldn’t be a problem?”
“Gulp~”
An Luxi swallowed hard, lowered her head, and snuggled softly into Liang Rou’s arms.
She hooked her arms around Liang Rou’s neck and whispered: “Ah, Rou Rou, I really don’t know… You know, you’re my first love. I’ve never dated anyone before, so I really don’t know how to act with a lover… But, but whatever Rou Rou wants to do is fine! As long as Rou Rou is happy~! If you’re happy, I’m happy~!”
The moment she finished, Liang Rou’s eyes lit up.
Was she really this lucky?
She immediately turned An Luxi’s face toward her, cupping her girlfriend’s soft cheeks in both hands, closing her eyes, and kissing her.
The two girls quickly lost themselves in a lingering kiss.
Liang Rou still found it a bit odd—An Luxi’s lung capacity was amazing.
Every time, it was always Liang Rou who had to break away first for air, while An Luxi, aside from her lips getting a bit swollen and shiny and breathing a little faster, showed no other signs at all.
Liang Rou and An Luxi separated, Liang Rou panting, but she didn’t make any further moves.
She always wanted to respect her girlfriend—she couldn’t just move on to the next step without a word.
That’s right, she was still a gentleman~
And An Luxi was just as innocent as always, never taking the initiative, just bashfully lying in Liang Rou’s arms.
But Liang Rou didn’t notice the strange look in An Luxi’s eyes as she nestled in her embrace, nor did she see An Luxi’s phone lighting up in the kitchen, group chat messages popping up one after another—all of them trying to soothe An Luxi’s emotions.
And what An Luxi said in the group chat was completely different from the shy, reserved words she spoke in front of Liang Rou, as if she’d become a totally different person.