Brave Ke Yujia

Su Bai suddenly lowered his voice, leaned close to Ke Yujia's ear, and asked softly.

"Ah? Good... it's good..."

Ke Yujia was startled and answered stammeringly. In fact, she hadn't paid attention to a single second of the plot just now.

"Liar."

Su Bai chuckled lightly. "This kind of terrible movie can only fool children. You haven't even eaten a single bite of popcorn, how is it good?"

"I..." Ke Yujia, having been exposed, lowered her head in embarrassment.

Right at this moment, the big screen happened to show a romantic scene of the male and female leads running hand-in-hand down the street. Accompanied by lyrical music, the atmosphere in the screening room suddenly became somewhat ambiguous.

Su Bai didn't speak again.

He simply and extremely naturally reached out his right hand, crossed the armrest between their seats, and gently covered Ke Yujia's small hands, which were slightly cool from nervousness.

"Boom—"

Ke Yujia felt as if a bomb had exploded in her brain.

All of her thoughts ground to a halt at this moment.

Her whole body stiffened, as if she had been hit by an immobilizing spell, and she even forgot to breathe.

The man's hand was large, very warm, with a dry and powerful palm. That sensation of skin touching skin carried an undeniable dominance, yet it also revealed an intoxicating gentleness.

She subconsciously wanted to struggle a little, but Su Bai's fingers slid extremely nimbly between hers, and then, firmly and securely, interlocked with them.

"It's a bit cold here."

Su Bai's voice sounded in the darkness, deep, husky, and carrying a bewitching magic.

"I'll help you warm up."

How was this because of the cold?

This was clearly declaring a kind of ownership.

Ke Yujia didn't struggle anymore.

Her slender calves, clad in white silk stockings, no longer rubbed together nervously, but obediently closed. Her whole person was like a small boat that had finally found a safe harbor, slowly and tentatively leaning the center of gravity of her body toward Su Bai's direction.

Finally.

Her head rested gently on Su Bai's broad shoulder.

"Mhm..."

She let out a barely audible soft hum from her nasal cavity, allowing that warm, large hand to tightly wrap around hers.

The cliché comedy on the big screen continued to be noisy.

But in this corner, time seemed to stand still.

Su Bai smelled the faint scent of shampoo coming from the young girl's hair beside him, feeling the unreserved trust and attachment she showed by leaning on his shoulder.

This was probably what it felt like when things naturally fell into place.

No worldly entanglements, no exchange of fame and fortune.

Just because in this winter, that little boy who had fought for her and wiped away her tears many years ago, had returned to her world once again, and once again, taken her hand.

When the movie ended, it was almost ten o'clock at night.

When the cinema lights came on, Ke Yujia, like a frightened fawn, quickly pulled her hand out of Su Bai's palm. Her face was as red as a boiled shrimp, and she didn't even dare to look at Su Bai. Holding the bucket of popcorn she had barely eaten, she ran outside.

Su Bai smiled, shook his head, got up, and followed her out.

Walking out of the dilapidated doors of the Dongfanghong Cinema.

The night wind outside blew on their faces, bringing a hint of coolness and also clearing Ke Yujia's feverish brain slightly.

"Are you cold?"

Su Bai walked up beside her, naturally took the popcorn from her hands and threw it into the trash can, then unzipped his large cashmere coat and wrapped her entire person inside it.

Ke Yujia's petite body was almost completely covered by his tall frame, leaving only a fluffy head exposed.

"Not... not cold anymore."

She looked up at Su Bai's features, which looked exceptionally gentle under the streetlights, and the emotion called "like" in her heart could no longer be restrained, like a bursting flood.

"Brother Su Bai..."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you... for watching the movie with me."

"Just thank you?" Su Bai raised an eyebrow.

"And..."

Ke Yujia bit her lip, summoned the greatest courage of her life, stood on her tiptoes, and quickly planted a kiss as light as a butterfly's wing on Su Bai's chin (because she couldn't reach his lips).

"And... I'm so happy that you could still recognize me."

After speaking, the little girl blushed, broke free from Su Bai's coat, and ran toward the passenger seat of the Land Rover Defender like a gust of wind, leaving Su Bai standing there, touching his chin, savoring that kiss carrying the sweet fragrance of a young girl.

"This little rabbit..."

Su Bai chuckled aloud. "It seems someone is going to suffer from insomnia tonight."

He stepped forward and opened the car door.

The winter night in Ancheng didn't seem so cold anymore.

...

The night deepened, and the black Land Rover Defender drove steadily into Yun County, finally stopping outside the somewhat rusty iron gates of the textile factory family compound.

Inside the carriage, soft music flowed slowly.

Ever since at the entrance of the Dongfanghong Cinema, when Ke Yujia had gathered a hundred and twenty thousand percent of her courage, stood on her tiptoes, and stolen that butterfly-light kiss on Su Bai's chin, she had completely turned into a boiled little shrimp all the way back.

She shrank into the wide leather seat of the passenger side, her hands tightly clasped on her knees, her slender calves clad in white silk stockings pressed together uneasily. Her gaze kept looking at the retreating street scene outside the window, completely afraid to turn her head to look at the man driving beside her.

Too shameful!

Ke Yujia, how on earth did you dare?!

That was Su Bai! The aloof and wealthy boss, and also the "little hero" you had always looked up to when you were young. You, a little nobody who hadn't even held a boy's hand, actually dared to take the initiative to kiss him?

At this moment, Ke Yujia's heartbeat was still like a beating drum, vibrating so much that her eardrums were buzzing.

However, compared to her chaotic and deer-in-headlights state, Su Bai in the driver's seat appeared exceptionally relaxed.

He held the steering wheel with one hand, a faint, unfathomable smile playing on his lips. After coming out of the cinema, he hadn't made any comments about that sudden stolen kiss, nor had he taken the opportunity to make any excessive moves.

He simply and naturally took her hand again, brought her back to the car, and then steadily drove her home.

"We're here."

Su Bai stepped on the brakes, shifted into park, and turned his head to look at the girl who was still shrinking there like an ostrich.

"Ah? Oh... we're here..."

Ke Yujia woke up as if from a dream, flusteredly unfastened her seatbelt, and clumsily tried to push the car door open, but because of her nervousness, she failed to grab the door handle at once.

"Are you clumsy?"

Su Bai chuckled lightly and leaned over.

As he approached, that clean and pleasant masculine scent once again enveloped Ke Yujia.

She subconsciously closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling violently, thinking he was going to... kiss her.

After all, that was how it was always acted out in movies. After the girl took the initiative to kiss the boy, the boy would take the girl home, and in the dim car, there would definitely be a passionate kiss in return.

However, the expected kiss did not fall.

Su Bai simply reached across her to push the car door open, then naturally extended his arms and gently gathered her petite frame into his embrace.

It was an incredibly gentle hug, completely devoid of any lust, yet brimming with a profound sense of security.

Su Bai's broad hand patted her back gently twice.

"Go back and get some rest early, Little Sniveler," Su Bai said, his voice deep and gentle, laced with a hint of fondness. "You must be tired after walking around all afternoon."

"Mhm..."

Ke Yujia buried her face in Su Bai's overcoat, greedily breathing in his scent before reluctantly pulling away from his embrace.

"Brother Su Bai, good night."

"Good night."

She watched the Land Rover Defender turn around and drive off, its red taillights disappearing around the street corner. Ke Yujia stood in the chilly wind for a long time before finally turning and bounding up the stairs with light, brisk steps.

...

Click.

Ke Yujia used her key to open the front door.

The lights in the living room were on, and a boring variety show was playing on the TV. Father Ke and Mother Ke were sitting on the sofa, eating sunflower seeds and chatting casually.

Hearing the door open, the old couple turned their heads in unison.

Upon seeing their daughter standing in the entryway, Mother Ke's eyes instantly lit up, and she completely forgot about the sunflower seeds in her hand.

At this moment, despite having stood in the cold wind outside, Ke Yujia's cheeks still bore an unusual, rosy flush. Her eyes were sparkling as if hiding stars, and she couldn't suppress the sweet smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She looked just like a freshly ripened peach, exuding an irresistible charm.

That unmistakable aura of being in love radiating from her from the inside out was so obvious that even a blind person could see it, let alone someone experienced.

"Oh my, is our family's little princess back?"

Mother Ke quickly hurried over to take the lamb's wool coat Ke Yujia had just taken off. Her gaze swept over her daughter's legs, which were clad in white stockings, and she instantly understood everything.

Dressing up like this to go out in the dead of winter? She wouldn't believe it for a second if she said she was just shopping with normal classmates.

"Mom, I'm back." Ke Yujia changed into slippers and lowered her head, wanting to slip straight into her room.

"Stop right there."

Father Ke coughed from the sofa, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. "Where did you go? You stayed out until now? You didn't even eat dinner at home."

"I just went... went to the ancient street for a casual stroll..." Ke Yujia answered guiltily.

"A casual stroll made you look this lovestruck?"

Mother Ke pulled her daughter to sit down on the sofa, leaning in with a gossipy expression. "Tell Mom honestly, did you go out with Boss Su today?"

"No... I didn't..." Ke Yujia was still being stubborn.

"Alright, stop hiding it. I heard Aunt Li downstairs say this afternoon that she saw you get into a black luxury car. If it's not Boss Su's, whose else could it be?"

Mother Ke grinned from ear to ear. "Hurry up and tell Mom, what did you two do today? How far have things progressed? Did he buy you any expensive gifts?"

In Mother Ke's view, Boss Su was so rich and her daughter was so beautiful; if there was really something going on between them, wouldn't he easily be gifting her gold, silver jewelry, and designer bags?

"Oh Mom! Why do you always ask these things!"

Ke Yujia felt a bit annoyed by her mother's materialistic attitude, while also feeling unbearably shy because her secret had been exposed.

"We just went to eat a wild mushroom hot pot, and then... then we went to the Dongfanghong Cinema to watch a movie. He didn't buy any gifts!"

"Watch a movie?!"

Father Ke and Mother Ke looked at each other, the surprise in their eyes deepening.

A single man and a single woman going out to watch a movie late at night, wasn't that the most standard dating routine?

"Then... then in the cinema, didn't anything happen?"

Mother Ke winked playfully and teased, "Didn't Boss Su hold your little hand? Didn't he confess to you?"

"Mom!!!"

Ke Yujia's face instantly turned red down to the roots of her ears. The image of Su Bai forcefully yet gently squeezing his fingers between hers and interlocking their hands in the dim screening room uncontrollably surfaced in her mind. And later, her stolen kiss on her tiptoes at the cinema entrance...

Those scenes were simply like adding fuel to the fire, causing her body temperature to rise sharply.

"I'm ignoring you! I'm going to take a shower!"

Ke Yujia stood up suddenly, and like a frightened little rabbit, fled into the bathroom and locked the door with a bang.

Leaving only Father Ke and Mother Ke looking at each other and laughing loudly in the living room.

"Looks like this is really going somewhere!" Father Ke said happily, picking up his teacup.

"Of course! Our Yujia is so lovable, I think Boss Su has really taken a fancy to our daughter!" Mother Ke smiled radiantly, as if she could already see her beautiful future life as a wealthy mother-in-law.

...

In the cramped bathroom, hot water rushed from the showerhead.

Soon, the dense water vapor filled the entire space, and the mirror was covered with a thick layer of mist.

Ke Yujia took off her clothes, stood under the shower, and let the warm water wash over her petite yet perfectly curved body.

This body, honed by years of practicing dance, didn't have a trace of excess fat. Her skin was so fair and delicate it looked as though water could be squeezed from it. Her slender waist and long, straight legs possessed a charm that no man could ignore. This was also one of the main reasons why the system had rated her as an S-class goddess.

However, at this moment, Ke Yujia was in no mood to appreciate her own beauty.

She stretched out a slender finger and unconsciously drew circles on the mist-covered mirror.

Her mind was a complete mess.

Although she had tried her best to hide it in front of her parents just now, now that she was alone, a deep sense of doubt and anxiety over her feelings overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

"Does he... really like me or not?"

Ke Yujia leaned against the cold tiles and muttered to herself.

She recalled everything that had happened today.

On the ancient street, he had held her hand and led her through the crowd, protecting her just like when they were kids.

In the alley selling fried radish cakes, he had recognized that she was the Little Sniveler from back then, and happily picked her up and spun her around. The surprise and doting affection in his eyes were definitely not faked.

At the hot pot restaurant, he had gently helped her serve soup and cook meat, without putting on any airs of a big boss.

In the cinema, he had taken the initiative to interlock his fingers with hers, using the warmth of his palm to dispel her nervousness and the cold.

All of this felt like a perfect fairy tale, telling her that he cared about her and had feelings for her.

But...

Ke Yujia bit her lower lip and reached up to touch her moist lips.

But, when she had mustered the greatest courage of her life to steal a kiss from him at the cinema entrance...

His reaction had been far too plain.

There was no surprise, no astonishment, and certainly no immediate turning of the tables to give her a passionate and domineering deep kiss like in the novels.

He had just smiled, and then led her back to the car like he was leading a child.

When they parted, he had merely given her a gentle hug, like a brother hugging his sister. He patted her back and told her goodnight.

What was that supposed to mean?

Ke Yujia had never been in a relationship; her romantic life was as clean as a blank sheet of paper. She completely failed to understand the intense push-and-pull dynamics or the games of playing hard to get that existed in the adult world.

In her understanding, if you liked someone, there should be a passionate response.

If a guy was kissed by a girl but did nothing in return except give her a brief hug...

"Could it be that he really just sees me as that little girl next door from our childhood?"

"Could it be that him holding my hand and hugging me were all just out of a sense of looking after an old classmate, or doting on a child?"

"After all... he has such a mature and sexy girlfriend like Sister Zhou by his side."