Chapter 55 – Overbearing Take by Force
After he finished speaking, he nervously looked at the girl in front of him.
Lin Yuejiu blinked. “Oh, I thought it was something serious. Isn’t it just a math problem?” She suddenly let go of his hand, patted his shoulder, and said, “Don’t worry, it’s normal not to figure out a math question. There’s no need to fuss with math—it’s not worth it.”
Xu Nianshen suddenly let out a sigh of relief, following her words: “Mm, I think so too.”
“So you were upset because of that? I thought it was something else. Now that I think about it, I’m the same way. Sometimes when I can’t solve a math problem, it drives me crazy and puts me in a funk.” She patted his shoulder again, her expression full of understanding. “It’s okay, I get it. I’ve felt that way too.”
Xu Nianshen quietly removed her hand from his shoulder. “Mm, as long as you understand.”
“Since the misunderstanding’s cleared up, then it’s fine. From now on, if you’re ever feeling down, you have to tell me, okay? We’re friends, after all!” She raised her brows at him.
“…Okay.”
Xu Nianshen could almost hear the sound of his own heart shattering.
“Alright, alright, let’s hurry home for dinner.”
“??? You’re still coming over?”
The girl walking ahead stopped, tilted her head at him. “What, I can’t?”
“…You can.” Wasn’t that the excuse you made up?
Before they even reached the gate, they could already see Xu’s mother from afar, waving at them. “Jiujiu!”
Lin Yuejiu ran over in little steps. “Auntie Xu!”
“Oh, when I heard from Nianshen that you were coming, I was so happy. I rushed out to buy the dishes you like.”
“Hehe, thank you, Auntie Xu. You’re seriously the best person in the whole wide world!”
Xu’s mother pinched her nose affectionately. “You little sweet-talker!”
Lin Yuejiu made a funny face.
Only then did Xu’s mother look past her to see her own son slowly approaching. He looked much less gloomy than he had yesterday.
“Come on, let’s go inside.”
“Okay~”
After dinner, Xu Nianshen went upstairs. Lin Yuejiu followed, asking, “Are you going to look at that math problem that’s been making you upset these past couple days?”
Xu Nianshen’s steps paused briefly before he kept going. “Mm, yeah.”
“Hey, don’t. It’s already made you miserable for so long. Why go back to it?”
“Just going to take another look.”
“Then I’ll look with you. Maybe I can help.”
“…Suit yourself.”
Xu Nianshen entered his room, flipped open his book, and found the problem.
Lin Yuejiu leaned over at his side to peek. “What kind of problem is it that’s so hard?”
Lowering her head, she slowly read it out: “Linear algebra…”
She turned her head toward him. “Isn’t that college-level math? Why are you, a high schooler, looking at this?”
Xu Nianshen lifted his eyes, and their gazes locked. Their faces were so close that if they leaned just a little more forward, their noses would touch. Lin Yuejiu could clearly see his eyelashes—she could even count them. Her hair was stirred by a faint breeze, brushing against his cheek and lightly grazing his lips, tickling.
From outside came the chirping of birds, breaking the spell. Both of them snapped back to themselves and took a small step back.
“This problem really does look hard. It’s perfectly normal for you to feel frustrated.”
Lin Yuejiu straightened up, her eyes darting away.
She felt her heartbeat speed up. In her mind, she could still see the way Xu Nianshen had just looked at her—eyes filled only with her, carrying a faint, unspoken depth of feeling.
“Mm.”
He answered softly, lashes lowered. The girl’s eyes had been so clear, so pure—holding only him.
“You don’t need to be doing college-level math so early anyway. We’re only in our second year of high school. There’s no rush.”
“Okay.”
“Um… are you thirsty? Should I get you some water?”
“Sure.”
“Hot or cold?”
“Warm.”
“I’ll go get it for you.”
She hurried downstairs to look for cups.
Xu’s mother noticed her slightly flushed face and asked curiously, “Jiujiu, what’s wrong? Why is your face so red?”
Lin Yuejiu waved her hand like a fan. “Just a bit hot.”
“Then have Nianshen turn on the air conditioner.”
“No need, it’s just for a little while. I’m already fine now.”
“It’s alright, just treat this like your own home, okay?”
“Got it, Auntie.”
She carried two cups of water back upstairs and handed him one. “Here, your water.”
“Mm, thanks.”
The room fell quiet, the only sound was the rustling of pages being turned.
“Um… will you still play a duet with me next time?”
Xu Nianshen turned, holding the cup. “Do you want me to play with you?”
His gaze locked tightly on her, not willing to miss a single flicker of expression on her face.
Lin Yuejiu unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes. “Your piano sounds so good… of course I’d want to.”
Xu Nianshen’s lips curved. “Alright.”
“Don’t just stand there, sit on the bed for a bit.”
“Ah, okay.” She sat on the edge of his bed, gulping water nonstop to hide her flustered emotions.
Why did what he just said sound… a little strange?
Was it just her imagination?
“Could you hand me that fountain pen on my nightstand?”
“Huh?” Lin Yuejiu blinked in confusion. “Oh, sure.”
She set her cup on the nightstand, picked up the pen, her mind still elsewhere. Without paying much attention, she casually handed it over. But the cup on the right side got nudged—tumbling to the floor with a crash, spilling water everywhere. Startled, Lin Yuejiu froze. Xu Nianshen reacted instantly, catching the pen while steadying her wrist to keep her from falling.
“There’s water everywhere. Step back a little, don’t slip.”
Still dazed, Lin Yuejiu obediently shuffled backward—only to accidentally step on the fallen cup. Her heel slipped, and her body tilted backward. Xu Nianshen’s sharp reflexes pulled her toward him.
Bang.
Xu Nianshen hit the floor on his back with a muffled grunt.
“Are you okay?” Lin Yuejiu quickly asked, but when she saw his position, she froze.
The floor of his room was dark, while he was dressed in a white shirt, his skin pale—black and white, sharply contrasting. Just a moment ago, he’d been holding her wrist, but now both her hands were pressing his wrists against the floor, pinning him down. Her knees were on either side of his waist. His hair, spread slightly as he lay on the floor, framed his face softly. Their eyes met.
Downstairs, Xu’s mother and father heard the noise and thought the two were quarreling. They rushed upstairs—only to see Lin Yuejiu in a dominant position, pressing their son to the floor, looking very much like she was about to forcibly take advantage of him.
The two on the floor heard the commotion, turned their heads toward the door—and met the gaze of Father and Mother Xu, who were staring right at them.
Lin Yuejiu’s brain, frozen just a moment ago, suddenly rebooted. Realizing the compromising position, she instantly scrambled off him, cheeks blazing. “S-sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean it!”
Xu Nianshen sat up, rubbing his wrists where she had pinned him. Lin Yuejiu, face burning red, hurriedly helped him up.
She turned quickly toward Father and Mother Xu. “Uncle, Auntie, please don’t misunderstand, this was just an accident!”
Father and Mother Xu exchanged a knowing “Ah, we understand” look.
Lin Yuejiu: “……”
No, Uncle, Auntie—you absolutely do not understand.
