Chapter 20: What Should I Do? I Like Him Too

Lin Xi said, “So, I don’t plan to date anyone for the time being.”

Lu Bei stood frozen, staring into Lin Xi’s eyes without uttering a word.

Call it love at first sight or simply desire, he truly liked Lin Xi—it wasn’t a joke.

In fact, that matchmaking dinner hadn’t been the first time he’d met her.

Years ago, as a teenager, he’d visited the Lin family with his parents. That afternoon, Lin Xi returned drenched from outside. When she saw him, her gaze lingered for less than a second before she retreated to her room. That was their first encounter.

Over the following years, he quietly kept track of her.

He had lied. That day, work hadn’t delayed him at all. He’d been tricked into going, and upon realizing it was a matchmaking event, he’d simply left. But on his way home, his mother called, telling him the other party was Lin Xi.

That was why he changed his mind and hurried over.

Lin Xi ignored the desolate look in his eyes. “It’s late, you should head back.”

Having said this much, any other man would have taken the hint and retreated. Unexpectedly, Lu Bei smiled, looking unconcerned. “It’s alright. Can we be friends, then?”

Worried she’d refuse, he quickly shoved the items into her hands. “This is from my mother, please accept it. I’ll be off now, see you another day!”

“Hey…” Lin Xi, a bit tipsy and unsteady in her heels, could only watch as Lu Bei drove away.

—

At the entrance of the residential complex, Lu Bei gently pressed the accelerator and sighed heavily.

Just as he was about to turn onto the main road, a black Bentley that had been lurking suddenly blocked his path, startling him into slamming the brakes.

The tires screeched harshly against the pavement.

Heart pounding, Lu Bei looked up, relieved he’d been driving slowly—otherwise, he would have crashed!

The Bentley across from him remained motionless. Lu Bei unfastened his seatbelt and, fuming, pushed open his car door.

“Hey!” He knocked on the driver’s window, but the person inside paid no attention.

“How do you people drive? Are you—” Before he could finish, the rear window lowered a notch, drawing his gaze toward the back seat.

Seeing the figure inside, Lu Bei stammered, “Th-third Brother?”

“So it’s you. I didn’t notice the license plate, ha ha ha.” Lu Bei laughed awkwardly, his anxiety draining the color from his face.

He wasn’t familiar with Qin Yu at all; over the years, they’d met fewer than five times. Yet, from childhood onwards, Qin Yu had always cast a shadow over their generation, especially now.

The capital was roughly divided into three factions: the courtyard scions led by Qin Yu, the ordinary rich second generation and official heirs, and some outside enterprises. When it came to status, Qin Yu, born of a distinguished family, was unrivaled.

His own family had only the older generation who could exchange a few words with Qin Yu. As for Lu Bei, he had no such chance.

Lu Bei bent forward proactively to speak to Qin Yu. “Third Brother, where are you headed so late?”

Inside the car, the man frowned, narrowed his eyes, and finally spared Lu Bei a glance. “I should ask you—what are you doing here this late?”

“Ah, I—I was delivering something to Lin Xi.”

A chill crept over him, and Lu Bei nervously rubbed his hands. “Third Brother, are you here to see Lin Xi too?”

Qin Yu’s voice was icy, shrouded in a frosty undertone. “Didn’t I make myself clear last time?”

“Huh?”

Last time? What did he say last time?

Lu Bei’s mind raced, recalling their previous meeting—it must have been the day of the matchmaking dinner with Lin Xi. Qin Yu had only said one thing to him that day…

The matchmaking doesn’t count!

Realization dawned on Lu Bei.

As Lin Xi’s “brother,” Qin Yu saying that wasn’t unreasonable; he must have misunderstood Lu Bei.

“Third Brother, I’m serious about Lin Xi. You really don’t need to worry. I’ve never dated before, and my private circle is squeaky clean!”

There were few like him among his peers. Otherwise, his parents wouldn’t be so eager to arrange matchmaking.

“Plus, professionally and personally, we have some common interests.”

Although their fields were different, both he and Lin Xi were engineers from elite universities. By a rough calculation, they were colleagues.

Lu Bei remained bent over, stiff with tension, unsure how long had passed before the man inside finally responded.

Qin Yu’s gaze was sharp as a blade, piercing Lu Bei’s face. “You like her?”

Lu Bei had never learned to read people, a flaw that had cost him dearly since childhood. After he graduated, his mother even used her connections to secure him a job.

Anyone else would hesitate to answer truthfully when faced with Qin Yu’s question. But Lu Bei, obliviously, nodded vigorously, thinking Qin Yu had agreed.

At this, a hint of amusement flickered across Qin Yu’s stern face.

He leaned back lazily, fingers drumming rhythmically on his knee. Half his face hidden in darkness, he seemed even more enigmatic.

From Lu Bei’s angle, he saw Qin Yu carelessly suppress his smile. When he spoke again, his tone was forceful, brimming with unyielding intent:

“What should I do? I like her too.”

—

Back at the apartment, Lin Xi casually set the things Lu Bei had brought on the coffee table. She wouldn’t drink the soup, and as for Mrs. Lu’s gift, she planned to ask her aunt to return it another day.

In short, she couldn’t accept them.

Sprawled on the sofa, she drowsily replied to Engineer Chen in the group chat, then tossed her phone aside.

She hadn’t been that drunk—just a few bottles of beer. But someone later, already tipsy, had overstepped and poured spirits into her beer.

Only after drinking did she realize something was wrong.

Luckily, she wasn’t so drunk that she couldn’t find her way home; her mind was clear, just a bit sluggish with an aching head.

But the one advantage was that tonight, she’d finally get a good sleep.

When the doorbell rang, Lin Xi was sinking into a haze of sleep on the sofa. It took her a while to recognize the sound came from the door.

She thought she was dreaming.

She got up, glanced at the clock on the wall. Who could be here at this hour?

Since she’d moved in, no one had visited.

Was Lu Bei back?

Thinking this, Lin Xi grabbed the items from the table and walked to the door.

Before opening it, she checked the monitor.

It was a man, but not Lu Bei.

Judging by his build…

The doorbell cut off automatically, and after waiting a few seconds, the person outside knocked hard on the door.

“Lin Xi.” Hearing the familiar voice, Lin Xi’s shoulders jolted, sleep evaporating instantly. Before she could think, her body moved ahead of her mind and she opened the door.

Half leaning against the door for support, she peered out, staring dumbly at Qin Yu.

“You…” Qin Yu’s words stalled at his lips. He stepped forward, frowned, and leaned in to sniff beside her face. “You’ve been drinking?”