Chapter 788
Chapter 788 Lu Shichu’s Side Story Part 3
Lu Shichu nodded in acknowledgment. Seeing that Cheng Qiulu had regained her bnce, he
released his hold on her and took a half step back. He calmly asked, "Is there something you want to
talk to me about?"
Cheng Qiulu noticed that Lu Shichu still remained distant, just as he had been before. It seemed as
though he was deliberately drawing a clear line between them. A hint of disappointment washed over
her clear eyes.
Trying to conceal her emotions, she lowered her gaze and tightened her grip on the takeout in her
hand. It was then that she remembered the true purpose of her visit.
Then, she handed the takeout to Lu Shichu and said, "You haven''t had dinner yet, have you? I came
from the hotel nearby and brought you something."
She didn''t dare to mention that she bought it specifically for Lu Shichu because she was afraid it might
burden him.
At times, she wondered if he secretly found her bothersome. Perhaps, his gentleness andposure
were merely out of consideration for her friendship with Lu Qingyou, so as not to make things awkward
for her.
Lu Shichu''s gaze fell upon Cheng Qiulu''s cautious yet hopeful expression, and a subtle twitch in his
brow gave away that he was moved by her.
Her nose was slightly red, which clearly showed that she had been waiting for quite some time.
Cheng Qiulu and Lu Qingyou were the same age, and both exuded genuine beauty and youthful charm
that was clear and untainted.
He envied their youthfulness and was touched by their passionate sincerity.
Yet, his heart had long sunken into the depths of the past, and no disturbance could stir ripples in his
heart.
As Cheng Qiulu anxiously waited for his response, her facial expression gradually shifted. "Shichu, you
—"
Lu Shichu interjected gently as he maintained his usual soft tone. "Thank you for your kindness, but I''m
not hungry. It''s gettingte now; you should go back."
Cheng Qiulu stubbornly maintained her posture, still holding out the takeout to him. She stood her
ground, but tears shimmered in her eyes. "Shichu, I didn''t mean anything else. I just—"
"I don''t have any other intentions. I''m simply not hungry, and you''re making me feel troubled. My time is
precious, and every moment I stand here talking to you takes away from my sleep."
Lu Shichu''s expression remained indifferent and distant, but his tone was not cold. He had always been
gentle andposed. However, the more he acted this way, the colder Cheng Qiulu perceived him to
be.
For so long, Lu Shichu had treated her like this.
She felt wronged and thought he was being excessive.
She raised her head, and tears immediately overflowed from her eyes. "Do you really want to spend
your whole life in theboratory? No matter what has happened or what you''ve done, you deserve to
experience love and get married!"
Before this, she never dared to speak freely in front of Lu Shichu, fearing she might upset him. These
bold and candid words were something she had never dared to utter before.
Lu Shichu''s expression remained unchanged, as he regarded her with the gentle gaze of an elder
toward a younger one. "Love and marriage are normal aspects of life, but not everyone must go
through them. At your age, perhaps love is the most important thing, but in my world, theboratory is
everything. I won''t develop feelings for you, and you don''t need to waste your time on me."
His words left Cheng Qiulu feeling hopeless.
Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.
Lu Shichu had been straightforward and made his stance clear, and she couldn''t pretend to be
ignorant.
"You won''t know unless you try. How can you be so certain you won''t like me?" She clung to the hope
that he was just using this as a way to reject her and wanted to persist a little longer.
"No need to try. If it won''t happen, it won''t. Go back now."
After saying that, Lu Shichu headed straight into the building.
Reluctantly, Cheng Qiulu caught up with him. "It''s sote now. Are you going to let a girl like me go
back alone? Won''t you walk me home?"
"You''re already an adult, so you''re responsible for your own safety," Lu Shichu replied, not bothering to
look back as he left her with those words and stepped into the elevator.
Cheng Qiulu watched helplessly as the elevator door closed. She squatted down and cried
uncontrobly.
After crying for a while, she sat on the stairs in a daze.
Just then, a call from Lu Qingyou brought her back to her senses.
"Qiulu, where are you? It''s sote now, and you haven''te back yet?" Lu Qingyou''s voice carried a
hint of concern.
With a heavy nasal tone, Cheng Qiulu replied, "Everything''s fine. You go to sleep first."
Then she hung up the phone.
Lu Qingyou, perceptive as ever, sensed something was amiss from Cheng Qiulu''s voice. As she
recalled how hurriedly Cheng Qiulu had left earlier, she understood what was going on.
At thiste hour, Lu Qingyou didn''t dare to venture out alone, so she decided to find Bai Yunan.
Bai Yunan was in a good mood, having enjoyed time with friends. He had just returned to his room,
taken a shower, and was getting ready to sleep when he heard a knock on the door.
Who on earth woulde to me at this hour?
The urgency of the knocking left him with a clue.
Opening the door, he was greeted by none other than Lu Qingyou standing there.
Lu Qingyou wasted no time in stating her purpose. "Yunan, Qiulu went out earlier, and she still hasn''t
returned. I just talked to her on the phone, and her mood doesn''t seem right. I suspect she might have
gone to find Shichu."
As soon as Bai Yunan heard her words, his face darkened, and he hastily grabbed his coat and
prepared to go out.
Lu Qingyou quickly followed him.
Looking back at her, he frowned tightly. "What are you following me for? Go back and sleep."
These two little girls can be quite a handful.
Undeterred, Lu Qingyou persisted and grabbed his clothes. "I want to go with you. You will probably
scold her, but we''re good friends, and we stand together in difficult times."
Amused by her determination, Bai Yunan decided not to argue further.
When they arrived downstairs at Lu Shichu''s ce, they saw Cheng Qiulu curled up into a ball.
Lu Qingyou cautiously nced at Bai Yunan, who wore a chilling expression, and she didn''t dare to say
anything.
"Cheng Qiulu!" Bai Yunan walked over and lifted her up.
The night was exceptionally cold, and Cheng Qiulu was already numb from the cold.
Seeing Bai Yunan, she was momentarily dazed before realizing the situation. Her voice was hoarse as
she called out, "Yunan, why are you here?"
Bai Yunan, being experienced and knowledgeable, didn''t need to ask many questions to understand
what was going on.
Taking on the role of an elder brother, he sternly said, "Cheng Qiulu, do you think you can gain
sympathy from Lu Shichu by staying here all night? I know men better than you do. If he doesn''t have
any feelings for you, no matter how much effort you put in, it''s all futile. You''re my little sister, and I can
find any kind of man you want. There''s no need to lower your worth and relentlessly pursue a half-
disabled man!"
Cheng Qiulu''s eyes turned red. She couldn''t bear to hear Bai Yunan talk about Lu Shichu that way.
"Yunan!"
"Nowe back with me immediately and nevere to find him again!"
Bai Yunan''s severe tone left Cheng Qiulu with no choice but toply, and she reluctantly followed
him back.
On the way back, Lu Qingyou was too scared to say a word.
...
The next day, Lu Shichu headed to theboratory early in the morning.
As he changed his clothes, Bai Yunan appeared to look for him.
Lu Shichu nced at him and calmly said, "I''m sorry, but unrted personnel are not allowed inside.
General Bai, if you have something to discuss, we can step outside."
Bai Yunan noticed the sign on the door that read "Unauthorized personnel not allowed." Before leaving,
he made a quick remark, saying, "Let''s talk outside."