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"Lin Xiao," he said candidly, but Li Hao had never imagined that Lin Xiao would feel so insecure. A pang of sympathy stirred within him. "Don't think about those external factors. From a woman's perspective, just see me as an ordinary man."
Lin Xiao fell silent, contemplating. A person as exceptional as he was, surely a woman would feel something for him after spending so much time together. But did she truly deserve him? If she hadn't sought help from Hua Jie, Hua Jie wouldn't have introduced them. Given his personality, he would likely never reach out to her on his own.
Having rejected him this time, what chance would they have to meet again? Perhaps she should pursue a relationship with him; after all, she felt something for him too, didn't she? What if—what if it could work out? Wouldn't that be a leap toward happiness? Yet, Lin Xiao felt that such thoughts were beneath her.
What did she really have to lose? If they were to date, could he promise her loyalty? Maybe the dim, warm light of the evening had clouded her judgment, as Lin Xiao blurted out her thoughts.
"I don't mean to pressure you," Li Hao said, noticing her prolonged silence. The flutter of excitement in his heart began to fade.
He thought that if she rejected him this time, he would never see her again. Why had he become so indecisive? "During our time together, if you happen to fall for someone else, please let me know," Lin Xiao suggested after a moment's reflection. This was important.
Li Hao was at a loss for words regarding her request. What exactly did she think of him? When Lin Xiao saw that he was silent, she assumed he was no longer interested. Her fragile hopes began to settle back into calmness.
"Promise me loyalty, right? That’s not too much to ask," Li Hao thought as he considered her two requests. They didn’t seem unreasonable.
In truth, Lin Xiao had never envisioned a long-lasting relationship with Li Hao. After spending over five years in the political arena, she had learned enough to see through such illusions. Love was simply something to experience.
The greatest advantage of living in the provincial capital was its openness and acceptance; it allowed a single woman the right not to marry. Their separate lives meant the chances of being discovered by others were slim.
"Then this meal counts as our official date," Li Hao concluded. "Let me take you home." He stood up and reached for Lin Xiao's hand.
Lin Xiao remained still, unwilling? No, she just hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly. She placed her hand in his, her heart racing wildly.
The two of them walked out hand in hand, and Lin Xiao felt her face burning, hot and flushed.
Li Hao noticed her discomfort. "Nervous?"
Lin Xiao sighed internally, wishing he wouldn’t say it out loud and leave her some dignity.
Li Hao found Lin Xiao’s hand soft and warm, a comforting sensation.
As he drove toward the city, Lin Xiao gazed at the road ahead, illuminated by the car's headlights, feeling a strange sense of unreality wash over her.
Li Hao intended to park right under her apartment building, but she refused; his license plate was too conspicuous.
When the car stopped at the small gate, Li Hao asked, "Is it still dark out?"
"No, I won’t be anymore," Lin Xiao assured him, momentarily forgetting that he was now her boyfriend and worrying about being judged.
"Should I take you out for fun?" Li Hao suggested, still stuck in the dating mindset from his university days after not having dated for years.
"Aren't you going back to Yu Rao?" Lin Xiao recalled that every year on the seventh day of the new year, Yu Rao held a meeting.
"I’m free this afternoon; I have time in the morning," he replied.
"No, I need to take my mom to the train station; she’s going back home." Lin Xiao finally found a reason to avoid the date.
"Then let’s go out next time when I come back," Li Hao said without pressing her further. "You can head back now."
With that command given, Lin Xiao felt a wave of relief wash over her. "See you later, Li Shu."
She almost called him Li Shuji again but stopped herself. However, she still didn’t have the courage to call him Li Hao.
Li Hao had wanted to ask her if they wouldn’t share a kiss goodbye but decided against it when he saw her expression; he didn’t want to scare her.
Early the next morning, Lin Xiao received a text from Li Hao saying that a black Jetta was parked at the entrance of their community and would take them to the train station.
After thinking for a while, she replied, "Thank you, Li Hao."
When Li Hao saw the message, he smiled; she was quick-witted and adapting well to her new role.
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