Pure and Immaculate Chinese Cabbage

"..."

"Um..."

"I..."

Lin Yu was momentarily stumped by Xia Yueshan's question and didn’t know how to respond.

When it came to Xia Muzhu, Lin Yu didn’t want to get too involved with her.

There were many reasons for this.

The most critical ones boiled down to three points.

First, Lin Yu felt that he and Xia Muzhu weren’t really compatible—mainly due to two issues: their age difference and their life plans for the near future.

If it were just about finding a girlfriend for fun, casually dating, then it wouldn’t matter.

But if it were about finding someone to spend the rest of his life with, the five-year age gap between him and Xia Muzhu was indeed a minor but not insignificant problem.

Though, to be fair, five years wasn’t completely unacceptable.

The bigger issue was the next four years.

Lin Yu was definitely going to college soon.

There was no way Xia Muzhu would leave behind Xia Yueshan’s schooling here, their home, or their social connections just to follow him to whatever city his university was in, right?

And that would lead to the next problem: a long-distance relationship.

Lin Yu really didn’t want to deal with that.

It was too unstable.

Long-distance relationships were both a grueling test and a form of torture for both parties.

If two people were already in love, they could tough it out.

But if nothing had even started between them yet?

There was no reason to willingly subject themselves to that misery.

Second point.

When they last parted ways, Lin Yu wasn’t blind—he could tell how Xia Muzhu felt about him.

So unless he was serious about dating her, marrying her, and starting a family, it was better to cut ties cleanly and stop bothering her.

As for the third point...

Lin Yu exhaled softly, watching his breath turn into a wisp of white mist before dissolving into the cold air. His mood grew heavier.

When it came to Xia Muzhu...

He was genuinely afraid.

The sheer devastation he’d felt after learning the truth last time still haunted him, leaving an indelible shadow in his heart.

Even now, just hearing Xia Muzhu’s name made his chest tighten with an oppressive weight.

With all three of these obstacles in the way, Lin Yu felt that whatever fondness he had for Xia Muzhu just wasn’t enough to outweigh them.

Turning to Xia Yueshan beside him, Lin Yu patted his shoulder and said helplessly,

"Yueshan, it’s better if I keep my distance from your sister."

"It’s the best choice for both of us."

"Why?"

Xia Yueshan furrowed his thick, faint brows in confusion.

"Didn’t the danger you predicted already pass?"

"Why are you still avoiding her?"

"I—"

Before Lin Yu could even come up with an excuse, Xia Yueshan cut him off.

"Don’t tell me you’re gonna claim that seeing my sister will put her in danger again."

"Give me a break."

"Your predictions aren’t even accurate."

"Instead of making up nonsense, why not just visit her more often and make her happy?"

???

Lin Yu’s mind went blank for a second.

Had he just trapped himself with his own excuse?

Did that mean he couldn’t use this all-purpose justification anymore?

Ignoring Lin Yu’s bewildered expression, Xia Yueshan sighed dramatically, shaking his head in mock regret.

"You’re really lucky, you know. This kind of ‘first dibs’ opportunity—most guys would kill for it."

Then, leaning closer, he nudged Lin Yu and said with a suggestive smirk,

"Here’s a little secret: my sister has never been in a relationship, as far back as I can remember."

"You know what that means, right?"

"That prized cabbage of hers has never been nibbled by any pig!"

"Don’t let this chance slip away!"