Chapter 3 | He Walked Towards Her

The next morning, Shen Zhiyi woke up very early.The sky outside was greyish-white; the rain from the previous night had stopped, leaving only damp air.She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, lost in thought.Last night's conversation felt like a dream."Then I'll pursue you."He said it so naturally.So naturally, as if it were a given.Her phone suddenly vibrated.She grabbed it almost reflexively.—Lu Chenzhou.【Good morning.】Just one word.She stared at the screen.After hesitating for two seconds, she replied:【Good morning.】The other party replied almost instantly.【Have you had breakfast?】She frowned subconsciously.【Mr. Lu, are you that free?】There was a pause on the other end.【Waiting for the elevator.】The next message popped up immediately—【Downstairs at your building.】She sat up abruptly.What?She rushed to the window and pulled back the curtains.Sure enough, a familiar black car was parked at the entrance of the residential complex.He stood beside the car, holding a paper bag.Sunlight shone through the clouds, falling on his shoulders.Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.Her phone vibrated again.[Don't rush, take your time coming down.]She took a deep breath.Ten minutes later.She stepped out of the building.He looked up and saw her, a slight smile playing on his lips.That smile wasn't as restrained as last night; it was clean and genuine.“Don't you have to go to work?”She asked, standing on the steps.“On the way.”He handed her the paper bag.“Your favorite soy milk shop is still there.”She froze.That was the little shop they used to frequent in high school.She thought he had long forgotten.“You still remember?”“Not much.”He looked at her.“But everything about you is still here.”The air suddenly fell silent.She took the breakfast, her fingertips accidentally brushing against his hand.The warm touch made her heart skip a beat.“Lu Chenzhou.”“Hmm?”“You're putting me in a difficult position.”“Difficult for what?”“Difficult to refuse.”He chuckled softly.“Then don’t refuse.”He spoke calmly, yet with a gentle strength.—The following days.He didn’t pursue her relentlessly.No roses, no grand gestures.Just his perfectly timed appearance.She worked late into the night, and there was always a car waiting downstairs.He didn’t rush her, just sent a message—【I’m here.】During project discussions, he was professional.After get off work, however, he would ask—【Want some late-night snacks?】She realized he knew his limits.Never crossing the line, yet drawing ever closer.Friday night.Project team dinner.After a few rounds of drinks, someone started teasing."Mr. Lu, you and Designer Shen are old classmates, right?"She paused.His expression was calm."Yes.""So, back then, weren't you the school heartthrob and the school beauty?"Laughter erupted.She felt a little uncomfortable.But he spoke calmly—"It was unrequited love."The air fell silent instantly.Everyone froze.She looked sharply at him.His expression was composed, without a trace of jest."And still now."These words fell.A gasp erupted from the entire private room.Her ears instantly burned."Lu Chenzhou!"She called his name softly.He turned to look at her.His gaze was gentle."I'm pursuing you, there's nothing I can't say."At that moment, she suddenly panicked.Not because of what others were saying.It was because he was so serious.So serious that she could no longer use "the past" as an excuse.—The dinner party ended.The night breeze was cool.She stood by the roadside waiting for a car.He walked up to her."Are you angry?""You shouldn't have said those things in public.""What kind?""Unrequited love."He looked at her."Isn't it?"She opened her mouth, but couldn't find the words to refute him.Seventeen-year-old Shen Zhiyi thought she was the only one who liked him.Thirty-year-old Shen Zhiyi discovered—That love was never one-sided."I don't want you to be talked about because of me."She whispered.He smiled softly."I don't care.""I do care."She looked up.Their eyes met. The wind ruffled her hair.He reached out and gently brushed it aside.The movement was so natural, as if he'd done it countless times before.Her breath hitched.“Shen Zhiyi.”He called her softly.“Hmm?”“Have you noticed?”“What?”“You’re not avoiding me anymore.”She froze.Yes.She no longer deliberately kept her distance.She no longer addressed him with the distant “President Lu.”She began to get used to his presence.Used to him saying “I’m here.”Her heart suddenly pounded wildly.“Don’t be so confident.”She feigned composure.He chuckled softly.“Okay.”“Then I’ll try a little harder.”He took a step closer.The distance suddenly became ambiguous.“Until you admit it.”Her heart raced uncontrollably."Admit what?"He looked at her.His gaze was gentle yet firm."You're also walking towards me."The air froze.She suddenly realized—She wasn't being pursued.She was slowly approaching.She opened her mouth, but was interrupted by a sudden phone call.The phone screen lit up.An unknown number.She answered.Two seconds of silence on the other end."Excuse me, is this Shen Zhiyi?""Yes.""About Lu Chenzhou… there are some things you'd better know."Her heart sank.The night wind suddenly turned cold.She looked up at the man beside her.He was looking down at her, his eyes filled with undisguised tenderness.But the voice on the other end of the phone was like a thorn.piercing her heart that had just begun to soften.