Even as a "normie," I'm completely oblivious to it.

"Oh, I see... Oh."

Yu Zhe had never seen Qin Ruoke say so much at once, especially shouting it out at the top of her lungs.

This actually... well, made him feel like he was the bad guy, and he felt a little guilty.

But we can't break the spell yet.

Yu Zhe pressed down on her shoulders, making her sit up on the bed again.

"Alright, since that's the case, I can't pretend I didn't hear you. As you wish, let's talk again. This time, let's speak properly, understand?"

"Hmm...hmm, as long as you don't just leave, I'll tell you everything."

Yu Zhe was still sitting in the chair opposite her, while Qin Ruoke sat on the edge of the bed wiping away tears with the back of her hand.

She didn't know what was wrong with her. Was it because she was scared, or something else? She couldn't stop crying. She had been holding it in for so long, and when she finally spoke out, even though she was crying, she felt much better than before.

She was in a better mood, but this scene was heartbreaking for Yu Zhe.

Oh dear... I made the girl cry again.

Fortunately, she had already promised to "answer everything she knew," so Yu Zhe could confidently ask her question again, and he was sure he would get a different answer than before.

The answer came from her heart.

Yu Zhe first went to the living room to find her tissues so she could wipe her tears, and then softened his voice to ask her what was wrong.

"Xiao Ruoke, I'm asking you the same question now: do you really want to study abroad?"

This time, Qin Ruoke's answer was clearly less hesitant: "I want to... but if I can stay in China, I... I still don't want to go abroad."

Could you elaborate on the reasons?

"..."

Qin Ruoke put down the tissue in her hand, and looked at Yu Zhe with the stubbornness that is unique to girls her age.

"What...you're asking me this? You know the reason perfectly well, you knew from the beginning. Wasn't this all a test you set for me...?"

"Yes."

Yu Zhe admitted it readily and decisively.

This made Qin Ruoke even more resentful: "Then why should I say it..."

"Yes, I want you to speak, or do you want me to say you're unwilling?"

Everyone has their own unique characteristics.

Qin Ruoke is a very outstanding girl, but her problem is that she keeps everything buried deep in her heart and never expresses anything.

Yu Zhe had always felt that he had a good impression of her efforts... no, perhaps he had a good impression of her as a person, but he couldn't be sure.

Now Yu Zhe understands that the root cause is that Qin Ruoke herself doesn't know how to express herself. Even though her actions have subtly touched the soft spot in Yu Zhe's heart, she just doesn't intend to say anything deeper.

Therefore, Yu Zhe wanted to hear the thoughts buried in her heart spoken aloud by her own ears.

Qin Ruoke sighed softly. Even though she had decided to say these words, she couldn't help but look at her thighs when she actually had to say them.

Because I'm really embarrassed...

“I don’t want to go abroad… because you’re in China.” Qin Ruoke’s face flushed slightly, and her eyes welled up with tears again as she spoke. “Ever since the day you saved me… and saved my father, I’ve felt that I might have fallen for you. Until recently, I’m even more certain that I definitely have romantic feelings for you.”

"What proof do you have? You should know that love is often just an illusion." Yu Zhe's gaze was sharp, as if he wanted to see through Qin Ruoke's heart.

“Proof…?” Qin Ruoke stared blankly at Yu Zhe’s face, an expression rarely seen on her face.

She stared at him for no more than three seconds before her lips trembled, her face flushed, and she lowered her head again.

"..."

Okay, you don't need to prove it anymore. That detail you just mentioned is strong enough proof.

"If you want to prove it... every time I get close to you or talk to you, this part of my body beats really fast and I can't control it at all... the feeling in my body is also very strange, look, it's right here, it's still like this now, Yu Zhe, if you really want to prove it... why don't you... touch it and see?"

Qin Ruoke pointed to her chest, not knowing how much she had used.

It takes great courage to say those words.

"You can't touch that, Ruoke!"

I accidentally blurted out a complaint!

"I...I know!" Qin Ruoke quickly lowered her hand from her chest. "But I just feel that if it were you, it wouldn't be a problem to touch me. I shouldn't think like this, but that's just how I feel...Haha, it's weird, right?"

"Well...it's not strange at all. Okay, I think I understand now. I'm sure you like me..."

"Huh? No proof needed? I haven't even said anything yet..."

“This isn’t a math problem; proof doesn’t necessarily have to be written down on paper. I appreciate your sincerity.”

"Is that so...?"

Although I don't know how it was proven, it's good that Yuzhe understands.

Having confirmed this most important and fundamental question, Yu Zhe was finally able to ask the topic he wanted to discuss.

"In that case, Xiao Ruoke, if I were to give you two choices now, one, I would send you abroad to study, reimburse all your expenses, and help you realize your dreams, at the cost of us never seeing each other again. Two, reject the first option and take the college entrance examination on your own merit, but it is uncertain whether you can get into a good school, and it is also uncertain whether you can end up with me. However, both of these options have opportunities and possibilities."

"If I were to offer you both options now, which one would you choose?"

That's right.

This was precisely the problem that Qin Ruoke had been struggling with.

My original dream, which I have been striving for for many years.

The pursuit now may lead to unrequited love and cause the original dream to fall through.

Choosing between these two outcomes was truly agonizing and chaotic for Qin Ruoke, whose mind was already in a state of utter confusion.

but...

It's different now.

It's really amazing.

Now, looking directly at Yu Zhe's face, I see his faint, unintentional smile.

Qin Ruoke suddenly felt as if the chaos in her mind had never existed.

There is only one answer left.

then.

In Yu Zhe's view, he saw a very beautiful scene.

Qin Ruoke gently turned her head, her long pink hair cascading down her side, highlighting the tenderness in her cherry-colored eyes.

She smiled softly, a smile of relief, and her words were more relaxed and gentle than ever before.

"Hmm, I choose the second option."

"You've made a decision? Even if there's a high chance of problems, isn't the first option as safe as it is?"

"It's decided, Yuzhe. Didn't you just say that feelings aren't a math problem, or something that can be summarized by logic on paper? What does it matter if it's safe or not? For you... no, for myself, I don't want to go abroad."

A glint of light flashed in Yu Zhe's eyes.

Just like when I first met her.

At first glance, Yu Zhe seemed to see a world of falling cherry blossoms in her eyes.

Now, in every corner of those three thousand worlds, there is Yu Zhe's shadow, just like the reflection in Qin Ruoke's eyes now.

To make it more exciting and emotional.

26. Accepted?

Most importantly, after Qin Ruoke said these words to his face, Yu Zhe felt that a certain knot in his heart had been untied.

When I looked at the girl in front of me, I felt differently than before.

Whether it's romantic feelings or not, Yu Zhe can't be so easily certain yet, but he has already made up his mind.

Give Qin Ruoke a chance.

"Little Ruoke, now that you've made your choice, show me your college entrance exam results. Maybe if you get a high score, I'll fall in love with you~"

Yu Zhe teased, making an obviously joking remark.

Qin Ruoke actually took it seriously: "Really? If I do well on the test, then... then I can?"

"I was just kidding! Why are you so honest, kid!"

Yu Zhe shook his head helplessly, but when he looked up, he saw Qin Ruoke's eyes filled with a hint of complaint and resentment.

"Don't joke like that... After hearing what you just said, I'm really racking my brains trying to figure out how to make you like me. Hmm... This is actually quite difficult. Maybe I should start with my appearance and clothing..."

Yu Zhe watched with great interest as Qin Ruoke twirled her hair with her fingers, looking genuinely worried as she pondered the problem. He found it quite amusing.

This was the first time he had ever seen Xiao Ruoke worrying about things other than life and studies.

To be honest, I might already have some feelings for you, you know?

While pondering the matter, Qin Ruoke suddenly remembered something very important.

Out of sheer curiosity, she couldn't help but ask, "Yu Zhe, Luo Xiaomeng confessed to you today too, right?"

"Huh?! How did you know that?"

"Didn't she say she had something to say? I can't think of anything else besides confessing to you. Putting that aside for now, how did you... respond to her?"

For Yu Zhe, Xiao Meng and Qin Ruoke are in similar situations now, and he doesn't intend to hide the current situation from them.

“Same as you.” Yu Zhe sighed softly. “What I told her was that before graduation, if I could confirm that I had feelings for her, I would date her. That’s about it…”

"Really..." Qin Ruoke clenched her fist. "So, she and I are competitors in this area. Not only her, but also Zi Xiaolingyun and the others. It's really difficult... But I will do my best."

"Wait, wait a minute, Xiao Ruoke, there's a crucial point you've got wrong."

"Ok?"

"Oh...it's my fault. It's not that you made a mistake, I just forgot to say it. Anyway, listen to me."

Yu Zhe forgot again

Now, Xiao Ruoke and Xiao Meng are both children from ordinary families, so it's natural and reasonable for them to assume that Yu Zhe will only choose one person in the end. Yu Zhe must explain this to Xiao Meng, just like he did with her before.