She cried so hard, sobbing so badly she couldn't even speak clearly, held carefully in his arms.
Half her face was pressed tightly against his chest, while the other half exposed was fragile and pale, pitifully charming.
Since childhood, she had never fought or competed; she had a good personality and was well-behaved. Apart from being picky about food, she had almost no flaws. The only time she stepped out of line was three years ago on New Year's Eve, when she recklessly confessed her feelings, and the consequences were predictable.
For the past three years, she had lived in terror, regretting it every single day. All her emotions erupted at this moment. Anyone who saw her like this would be moved, let alone this brother who had doted on her since childhood? He was also the object of her ill-fated confession.
That day, Lu Tingzhou went to her school to watch the game, his intention to see her, but he ended up seeing her dressed inappropriately doing cheerleading. He stood up in anger, and before leaving, Shen Xiushi said something vague, but he understood: "The punishment was a bit harsh," meaning he had ignored her for three years and now was getting anxious. At that time, he was in a hurry to see her, didn't say anything, but still paused his steps.
But who said he had completely ignored her all these three years? Just saying whatever came to mind, right?
Now, with her crying so hard, wasn't she also blaming him for neglecting her all these years? He couldn't explain; there were too many factors, but it was definitely not total neglect.
The difference in height, build, and strength made Cheng Buxi feel like a rabbit in his arms, light and soft.
It was still that familiar scent of ebony and red maple, faint, cool, and frosty, just like him—rational, sober, restrained, like a wisp of green smoke in an ancient temple, impossible to grasp or hold, but one could still make a wish, and it had somehow stolen her soul.
His embrace was tender to the bone, and she wanted to drown in it forever.
Whatever, let it be. She had spoken without regret. It wasn't some unforgivable sin; she could still change.
At worst, she would slowly start to dislike him a little less from now on, right?
Thinking of this, she cried even harder.
A brother was a brother; how could she overstep? She had eaten bear heart and leopard gall, but now it was time to let go. She had been given a chance once and must not make the same mistake.
Admitting mistakes and correcting them had always been her strong suit. Why was she crying? How spineless!
Perhaps knowing the outcome, the bitterness in her nose intensified, and tears quickly soaked a corner of his tie, with a dependence like a dying animal.
The more he comforted her, the harder she cried. Lu Tingzhou, as her brother, felt even more reluctant to let go. His warm palm gently patted her back, continuously soothing her, providing her with infinite reassurance.
"Don't cry."
One after another.
"Koukou, what do you want?"
She didn't answer, just kept crying.
—What she wanted, she would probably never get in this lifetime.
Koukou.
When Cheng Buxi heard the name 'Koukou,' her heart still twitched violently. Usually, he called her Xiaoxi, or directly her full name. When she was younger, he had even subtly called her Xixi—so long ago. The only time he called her 'Buxi' was on New Year's Eve three years ago, leaning against the doorframe, their heights mismatched, his pupils dark, his words cold and decisive, heartbreaking to an extreme.
Lu Tingzhou indeed didn't call her that often; to be precise, he didn't like it. Koukou. Instinctively, he really disliked this nickname, but it also contained some secret expectation, a selfishness not to be shared with outsiders.
Why did he expect it? Because 'kou' meant button; once buttoned up, she couldn't run away, couldn't be lost. Then he wouldn't have to worry anymore.
But wasn't that cruel? No one wanted to be buttoned up forever.
A bird raised in a cage, no matter how carefully tended, with gleaming feathers, would never be as free-spirited and lively as a lark outside.
He wanted her to be obedient, yet also hoped she would be rebellious; he was a contradiction.
"Want to go back to school?"
After coaxing her for a long time, she still cried, crying endlessly. In desperation, Big Brother had to soothe her this way, having no other choice but to follow her wishes.
Cheng Buxi, with a heavy nasal tone, gave a firm "mm," burying her head deeper into his arms, as if the one she leaned on was her whole world.
Above her head came a deep, helpless sigh. "Alright, then go back."
"Stop crying."
-
It was already very late. When they came out of Rong Garden, the manager and waiters had lined up in two rows at the door. Although they had been called in for overtime, the pay was triple, and they were serving the top boss himself, so everyone's nerves were tightly wound, afraid of making a mistake.
But the person being served was so pleasing to the eye. Although in a high position and powerful, he was humble, gentle, dignified, and polite, looking like he had stepped out of a poster—for some people, just existing was a grace, enough to lift one's spirits. All those talks about feeling like a spring breeze and elegant to the bone found their most direct confirmation here.
They bowed at a ninety-degree angle and watched them get into the car, soon their figures blurring into dark spots in the distance.
Once no one was around, a bold waiter went up to the manager and asked, "Sister Yang, Sister Yang, is that person President Lu's..."
The new assistant manager had also encountered such a situation for the first time, her heart full of curiosity. Just during the reception earlier, even though she seemed composed and eloquent on the surface, she was secretly sweating profusely, and her palms were still wet.
Logically, someone at her level should be the cream of the crop. She had worked in places like Marriott and Hilton before, surviving many challenges, and had served many heiresses and ladies. Apart from tastes and dietary restrictions, just a single glance from them required hundreds of precautions. Each one was noble and hard to please, and she was always afraid of making a mistake. She never expected someone so gentle and composed. And this was Lu Tingzhou of the Lu family! With such backing, even if she had to recite a menu or perform a two-person act, it would be a piece of cake.
Still shaken, someone nearby whispered, "I heard early on that President Lu has a beloved little sister, very precious, rarely seen."
"Really?" Someone's eyes lit up. "I think I heard her call him Big Brother just now. And looking at how attentive and doting the big boss was, it must be."
"Truly beautiful. I went to pour water and got close. Her eyelashes were thick and long, her skin super white, and she wasn't wearing any foundation at all! Completely bare-faced, and she smelled wonderful. We have so many people coming and going in the restaurant every day, plenty of beautiful and rich people, but none could compare."
"Exactly. I thought President Lu was already stunningly handsome, but his sister is even more of a femme fatale!"
Femme fatale? At this moment, the usually silent assistant manager suddenly frowned, speaking sternly to the few. "Do the employee regulations allow you to privately discuss customers?"
"Or is today's overtime pay too much, making you forget yourselves and lose your manners?"
Everyone shut up.
-
A compromise gained through crying didn't carry much sincerity, like cheating in an exam. Even though Big Brother was a thousand times unwilling inside, he still agreed to take her back to school.