Jiang Xiaoci could only go along with what he said.
“Okay.”
She had originally thought it was getting late and that she should head home. After all, it was only their first date—staying out too late didn’t seem appropriate.
But now that she’d already agreed, it was too late to take it back.
Lu Zhoushan led her to a nearby state-owned restaurant.
The place was bustling with customers, lively and full of chatter.
They found a quiet corner and ordered a serving of braised pork along with several side dishes.
Before long, all the food was served.
The braised pork, presented in an aluminum lunchbox, glistened with a rich red glaze, its aroma mouthwatering.
Picking up his chopsticks, Lu Zhoushan selected a piece of pork. With practiced ease, he carefully separated the fatty portion using the tip of his chopsticks before placing the lean meat into Jiang Xiaoci’s bowl.
The gesture came so naturally that, seeing her surprised expression, he simply said,
“You’re too skinny, little girl. Eat more meat.”
Perhaps it was because of that accidental embrace earlier. Having crossed the barrier of physical contact, the distance between them had quietly shrunk.
You’re even thinner than I am, Jiang Xiaoci thought.
Then she realized—
He had called her “little girl” again.
His smiling voice and indulgent tone felt like a feather lightly brushing against her heart, making it itch in the sweetest way.
She couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but she could clearly sense the affection and pampering in the way he treated her.
Feeling mischievous, she suddenly grew bolder.
Blinking playfully at him, the lively young woman teased,
“Got it… little… uncle…”
Lu Zhoushan: “…”
Jiang Xiaoci simply looked at him, grinning mischievously.
He gazed at her playful expression, his eyes darkening slightly as his voice turned low and husky with amusement.
“Wrong generation. Why don’t you call me ‘Brother Lu’ instead?”
Jiang Xiaoci: “…”
The rest of the meal passed with Jiang Xiaoci blushing furiously, keeping her head lowered as she buried herself in eating.
Across from her, the handsome man ate with refined elegance.
After finishing, he watched her with obvious amusement.
“You’ve been staring at your bowl for half the meal. Doesn’t your neck hurt?”
Embarrassed and annoyed, Jiang Xiaoci raised her head and shot him a glare.
A beautiful woman looked lovely whether angry or smiling.
Watching her lively expression, Lu Zhoushan couldn’t help finding her irresistibly adorable.
After dinner, Jiang Xiaoci planned to head home.
But Lu Zhoushan found himself reluctant to part with her, so he instinctively searched for an excuse.
“No rush. We just finished eating—it’d be good to take a walk and digest our food.”
He paused before asking,
“By the way… do you know how to dance?”
Perhaps it had simply been too long since she’d relaxed.
After everything she’d gone through recently, life had been nothing short of terrifying.
The moment he asked, her eyes lit up.
“I do.”
Standing beside her, he stepped aside and gestured ahead.
“Then let’s go. I noticed a dance hall nearby when we came for dinner. Why don’t we check it out?”
He wasn’t completely sure it was there, but Jiang Xiaoci knew exactly which dance hall he meant.
It was a respectable ballroom.
There usually weren’t many patrons, but that only made it quieter and more comfortable.
She had visited it occasionally with her female classmates back when she was in school.
Still…
She hesitated.
Looking at Lu Zhoushan with concern, she asked softly,
“Aren’t… you tired? Maybe you should head back and rest early. We can always come another day. I’m free whenever.”
He already knew she wasn’t working and had plenty of free time.
She had deliberately phrased it tactfully.
After all, men cared about their pride.
Rather than bluntly asking if his health could handle it, she chose a gentler approach.
Dating was important.
But they had plenty of time ahead of them.
How could Lu Zhoushan not be moved by her thoughtfulness?
Looking steadily into her eyes, he suddenly stepped closer.
Instinctively, she retreated, only for him to gently catch her hand.
Her face instantly turned scarlet.
She wanted to pull away, but then remembered…
They were on a date.
It somehow didn’t feel right to reject him.
Just as she stood there awkwardly, unsure what to do, he leaned close to her ear and chuckled softly.
“My health isn’t as poor as you imagine.”
Then he released her and stepped back several paces.
Like a perfect gentleman, he extended one hand toward her in invitation.
“My girl…”
“…would you give me the honor of this dance?”
His voice carried both laughter and unmistakable tenderness.
Only then did Jiang Xiaoci come back to her senses.
Shy but pretending to remain composed, she placed her hand into his.
His palm was warm.
Her eyelashes trembled as she instinctively lowered her gaze to hide her flustered expression.
Yet…
She wasn’t the only one affected.
Lu Zhoushan looked into her eyes with an intensity unlike anything he had ever shown before.
The warmth in his gaze was almost enough to melt her.
He no longer resembled the cold, distant man he usually appeared to be.
Nor did he seem like someone frail and sickly.
At that moment, he was simply a man trying his hardest to restrain the overwhelming emotions he felt for the woman who had captured his heart.
Soon, they stepped onto the dance floor.
As the music began, they moved gracefully together, their steps light and elegant, perfectly matching the melody.
Only then did they realize—
Both of them knew how to dance the waltz.
In this era, that was exceedingly rare.
As they spun, Jiang Xiaoci’s soft hair brushed gently across Lu Zhoushan’s cheek.
The faint fragrance it carried made his heart tremble.
Without realizing it, he tightened his hold on her hand.
The warmth of his palm made Jiang Xiaoci’s heartbeat race.
Their eyes met.
For a fleeting moment, time itself seemed to stand still.
A trace of panic flickered across Jiang Xiaoci’s eyes.
Lu Zhoushan answered only with a gentle smile, silently reassuring her.
Everything around them gradually blurred away.
She simply followed his lead—
Turning…
Gliding…
Dancing…
Until the music finally came to an end.
That night…
They both enjoyed themselves immensely.
Since it had grown so late, Lu Zhoushan escorted Jiang Xiaoci home.
The spring night carried a lingering chill.
Yet her heart felt as warm as spring in full bloom.
Looking at the tall, slender, handsome man before her, she said softly,
“You should head home early too. I’ll go in now.”
He nodded.
Naturally, he reached out to straighten her scarf before gently reminding her,
“Go to bed early.”
“Mmm.”
His habitual concern made Jiang Xiaoci feel a little shy.
Across both her lifetimes…
This was the first time anyone besides her parents had cared for her so attentively.
She had to admit—
It felt…
really nice.
She had just reached the courtyard gate when something occurred to her.
Turning around, she saw him still standing there, tall and graceful beneath the night sky, quietly watching her enter.
She smiled brightly at him.
Like a flower suddenly blooming in the stillness of the night, her smile instantly lit up his eyes.
“You should get some sleep too.”
“Good night!”
After waving cheerfully, she hurried into the courtyard.
He remained standing where he was, watching her smiling figure disappear.
Only after she skipped through the doorway with the light, lively steps of a little rabbit, completely vanishing from sight, did he finally smile to himself before turning away.
The smile lingering on his lips refused to fade for a long time.
Quiet as a maiden when still, lively as a rabbit in motion…
That description suited her perfectly.