June, the graduation season for senior year in high school.
In City A, major restaurants and hotels have rolling screens on their entrance doors, displaying letters congratulating class XX on their graduation.
Being students of the top-class in Experimental High School of City A, everyone managed to get into at least second-tier universities in this round of College Entrance Examinations. Under the initiative of the class monitor, the entire class invited teachers of all subjects and school leaders to a banquet in the grand hotel.
After a few glasses of wine, the students let themselves loose; some emotional girls even started crying.
The boys didn't hold back either - those who had been secretly in love with Lin Ruochu got up one by one to confess their feelings.
"Lin Ruochu, I like you."
"I'm sorry, I'm not planning on having a boyfriend."
Watching Lin Ruochu coldly rejecting one after another, Xiang Wei and He Lu whispered to each other at the side.
"I told you, there would definitely be a lot of classmates confessing to our school beauty, Lin," Xiang Wei chuckled.
He Lu stroked her chin and sighed, "Can't help it. Ruochu is not only gorgeous but also a top student. She has received admission offers from many international universities months ago, and even the top domestic university wants to recruit her directly. As a stunning beauty with such talent, if I were a boy, I'd also confess to her, just in case she might like me back."
"Heh, keep dreaming. I think our beautiful and intelligent Ruochu is out of everyone's league here; besides, both her parents are professors about to further their studies in Country E. She will most likely choose to study there too. So, the person she would take an interest in has to be as outstanding as she is."
"That is absolutely true."
Lin Ruochu rejected those boys very thoroughly, and afterwards everyone gave up the idea.
Then, they took turns to toast each other, and by the end, most of them were drunk.
When it came time to depart, many hugged each other in tears, saying words of reluctance to part and making promises to keep in touch in the future.
Lin Ruochu and the few teachers who hadn't drunk too much helped everyone onto the vehicle one by one, took down the license plate numbers, and then phoned their parents.
Only in the end did she assist He Lu, who was so drunk she could barely stand, into the car waiting to pick her up.
He family.
At this point, Yang Yue'e was already waiting outside the gate. Upon seeing the arriving car, she quickly approached.
As the car door opened, she warmly said to Lin Ruochu: "Dear Ruochu, I'm so relieved you brought this naughty girl from my family back. Thank you.”
"It was no trouble." Lin Ruochu smiled at her while moving aside to let He Lu out.
Seeing the drunken state He Lu was in, Yang Yue'e began a tirade: "Little brat, I told you to drink less. Look at what a mess you've become. Just wait till I deal with you."
After finishing her sentence, she made a move to twist her ear.
He Lu quickly hid behind Lin Ruochu, slurring loudly: "Dear Ruochu, save... save me."
Lin Ruochu quickly interjected: "Aunt Yang, everybody had too much to drink tonight, so don't blame Lu Lu."
Yang Yue’e was only scaring her daughter. Having the sensible Lin Ruochu speak up for her appeased her some. Yet.
"Ruochu, would you be able to stay tonight? Auntie needs to go out later. He Lu's cousin is going into labor. She should be giving birth tonight. My nephew has gone out with He Lu’s father, and I, being the maternal aunt, have to go and oversee things. But this girl He Lu drank too much and I am not comfortable leaving her alone at home.”
Lin Ruochu nodded, after all, her parents were also out of the country, and she would only be returning home to the maid: "Alright, Aunt Yang. You go and take care of He Lu's cousin. I will look after He Lu tonight."
Yang Yue'e laughed and waved her off, "You don't actually have to take care of her. Just make sure she doesn't wander off. I worry that she might get up in the middle of the night to get water and thoughtlessly wander outside." It was evident that such a situation had occurred before.
Yang Yue-E spoke again, "Her older brother should be home tonight, but probably not until the wee hours. I've already asked him to look after you guys when he gets here. I feel apologetic for letting you stay over at our house tonight without both her father and I present."
The He family's security company has established something of a reputation in Country Z, so He's dad is often away.
However, He Lu's brother, Lin Ruochu, is someone she has mentioned a few times. He is said to be ten years older than them, already 28 years old. An impressive special forces soldier who retired this year. But she's never met him in person.
Lin Ruochu has a bit of an admiration for soldiers and quickly nodded, "Alright Auntie Yang, feel free to take care of cousin Lu Lu."
"Eh!" Yang Yue-E sighed in admiration, "Ruochu is so sensible, why aren't you my daughter?"
He Lu retorted, "Because her parents are educated intellectuals, unlike you...ouch!"
Seeing He Lu leaning against her after being tapped on the head, Lin Ruochu grinned.
However, her frame was smaller than He Lu's, and He Lu had been practicing martial arts since she was small. So this sudden lean almost made her buckle.
The next moment, Yang Yue-E picked up He Lu.
"Naughty girl, don't lean on Ruochu like that."
After saying that, she helped her walk into the house, and didn't forget to call for Lin Ruochu.
With a response, Lin Ruochu turned to the driver and said, "Uncle Li, you go home first. I will be spending the night at Lu Lu's house."
The driver, Mr. Li, nodded, "Miss Lin, if you need a ride tomorrow, please give me a call in advance."
"Alright."
After Mr. Li drove off, Lin Ruochu followed Auntie Yang into the house.
After settling He Lu down, Yang Yue'e found a new nightgown that she had just bought for He Lu, and handed it to Lin Ruochu. She also showed Lin Ruochu where the water, fruits, and snacks were kept in the house.
"You can help yourself to them if you are hungry or thirsty, and don't feel shy about doing so. I truly owe you an apology. Once we've managed to take care of Lu's cousin these few days, I will cook a feast for you."
Yang Yue'e only left for the hospital after Lin Ruochu assured her multiple times that she wouldn't feel uncomfortable.
After Yang Yue'e left, Lin Ruochu took a bath and laid down next to He Lu.
He Lu's bed was in an old-fashioned style and was only one and a half meters wide. It was more than enough for two young girls, provided both knew how to share a bed.
Half-asleep, Lin Ruochu was startled awake once again by He Lu's leg pressing down on her stomach, and after that, she couldn't fall asleep anymore.
Deciding to get up, she saw that it was two-thirty in the morning. She was somewhat thirsty and decided to go downstairs for some water, planning to bring some back up for He Lu.
The He family lived in a two-story old-fashioned house. The house was not large, but it was styled warmly. According to He Lu, her parents bought this house with their first earned money. Even though the He family was now wealthy, they did not want to move to a bigger house.
Wearing a bunny-themed sleep dress, Lin Ruochu descended the stairs. Her feet were smaller than He Lu's, and the sound of her walking in He Lu's slippers was particularly audible in the quiet house.
Arriving at the thermal flask prepared by Auntie Yang, she poured half a cup of warm water and took a sip.
Suddenly, there was a noise at the front door.
Lin Ruochu gripped her water cup tightly, her eyes wide and her heart jumping into her throat. Her first thought was that a thief had broken in, but the next second she remembered that the He family had a martial arts background, and a thief would not be foolish enough to rob them. Auntie had also mentioned that her eldest son would be returning tonight, hence, it was plausible that the figure at the door was her elder son.
While she processed this information, the door was opened from outside.
A tall and upright figure stepping in with a suitcase appeared there.