After exiting, Cheng Buxi quickly went to the bathroom to change out of the cheerleader miniskirt. She splashed cold water on her face several times to barely suppress the panic inside.
In the public restroom mirror, her cheeks were flushed. Her delicate, small oval face was full of collagen, her features beautiful and expressive. A drop of water clung to the tip of her upturned nose, and there was a very faint tear mole at the corner of her eye, barely visible unless you looked closely.
Her long black hair was tied up high, revealing her slender, porcelain-white neck.
Lu Siyu had once commented that it would be a waste if she didn't enter the entertainment industry with a face like that. But her parents and elder brother forbade it, so she gave up.
Cheng Buxi's mind was filled with the young man's spirited brows and dashing figure from earlier.
Was she seeing things? It was actually him... She never expected he was from S University and a member of the school basketball team. Was he a sports student?
Oh my god! Why had he never mentioned it?
Ning Ci: You never asked me (sweat ll)
Would he win today's game? What should she wear tonight? A skirt or pants? Hair up or down? What perfume should she use? Chance Eau Tendre! Her favorite.
...
In short, she couldn't be careless.
Before she knew it, her mind was full of him.
Feeling so nervous and anxious, she couldn't help but think of the scene in Twilight where the heroine Bella goes on her honeymoon with her beloved Edward for the first time. At first, she couldn't understand why Bella would frantically adorn herself, brushing her teeth and washing her face a thousand times. Now she understood.
Because the first feeling when you like someone is always inferiority.
Inferiority...? Her body and mind trembled, and fine sweat broke out on her forehead.
Just as she was lost in thought, a figure with an overwhelming presence suddenly appeared in the mirror.
A black coat, a dark red polka dot tie, gray suit trousers.
His face was not as gentle and spring-like as his mature and steady outfit; instead, it showed anger. His sharp features heralded an approaching storm.
He spoke vaguely, unhurriedly: "Having fun?"
Once she recognized who it was, her body stiffened.
"Brother?"
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In Cheng Buxi's dictionary, people with a background like her brother's were mostly delicate, thoughtful, and knew when to advance or retreat. Even if they had a wild and brilliant youth, they would restrain it by a certain age. And indeed, that was the case.
He was gentle and polite. He would never be like this now—his expression gloomy, full of aggression, trapping her at the sink so she had no way to advance or retreat. The murderous aura around him was so thick it was palpable, making her heart pound.
Only then did she realize he had also been invited to watch the game. He must have seen her in that cheerleader outfit, muddling through on stage... Thinking of this, Cheng Buxi's face turned pale in an instant. "Brother, brother, let me explain."
"Explain?"
"Tonight, go to Huadong. I'll hear your explanation there."
Meeting his stern, cold gaze, her tongue began to tie. "Brother... I was, was helping a friend..."
So it was to help a friend.
Lu Tingzhou's expression eased slightly, but it still wasn't pleasant.
Maybe it was because Shen Xiushi's words from earlier had worked: "She's already an adult. How long are you going to keep controlling her?" "It's just a dance? Apart from the movements not being quite in sync, her overall performance was very good." "Tingzhou, this isn't like you."
Or maybe it was her pale little face, her frightened pupils, her bloodless lips... In any case, she looked exceptionally pitiful, stirring the deep compassion in his heart.
He was no longer as angry as when he arrived; his expression softened.
"I have plans with a friend tonight to watch a movie..." Cheng Buxi said.
Her tone and manner were urgent, as if she feared being taken away and missing her appointment. And she had even learned to lie, right in front of her perspicacious elder brother, face to face.
"I, I can't go to Huadong..."
She was pleading. Her eyes were like a clear winter sky, wet and misty. The line of her chin was delicate, looking almost too refined and fragile in the dim light.
Lu Tingzhou didn't answer directly. Instead, he reached out and, under her terrified gaze, straightened her collar that was turned inward. The back of his broad, solid hand rested on her chin.
After a pause, he grabbed her chin and slowly lifted it.
Cheng Buxi's chin was raised, forcing her to meet his downward gaze. That sharp, penetrating look seemed to see right through her.
At such a close distance, her skin was fine, snow-white, without a single blemish.
Lu Tingzhou rubbed his thumb over her lips, pressing gently. It was a bit of smeared nude lip gloss.
"What did you put on?" he frowned.
"Something someone backstage gave me. They said it looks good on camera," she stammered, being truthful.
"Really?" Lu Tingzhou thought that person's taste must be terrible. It looked worse than without it, but he didn't say it directly. He just narrowed his eyes. "It's too cheap. Don't wear it anymore."
Cheng Buxi answered softly, "Okay..."
Xin Ji checked the time. It was getting late. He lightly knocked on the door outside. "President Lu, it's almost time. The board members are waiting."
"What time does the movie end?" he asked.
Cheng Buxi's face turned ashen. She made up a number: "Nine o'clock."
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