Chapter Twelve: The Thoughtful Su Rouxue

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Before meeting Su Rouxue, Xia Shu had never imagined he would find himself with a single woman a full twelve years his senior. When he had just graduated, he still pictured himself finding a girlfriend his own age at university, or perhaps dating a senior two or three years above him. Yet reality always arrives unannounced.

And so far, this relationship still glowed with enthusiasm and hope. At her age, Su Rouxue had already experienced much, met all kinds of people; being in a relationship with her was nothing like dating a young girl. Her intellect had been refined by the passage of years, yet her beauty remained as pure and unspoiled as ever.

Though she ultimately entrusted her final line of defense to Xia Shu, she never pressured him with it. Instead, she cherished the relationship with the same sincerity as at the start, nurturing it together with him.

With only two days left before Xia Shu’s university orientation, Su Rouxue reminded him to keep himself in good shape. She emphasized, “At most, once a day!” And so, over these two days, Xia Shu took her words very seriously.

The rest of the time, they didn’t go anywhere special, simply spending peaceful hours at home watching dramas and sharing their thoughts. In many ways, they were already living a harmonious married life.

“Xia Shu, will you still love me this much next year at this time?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll only love you more.”

“Men always say that. But I choose to believe you. Still, I want to remind you, at my age, I’m truly afraid of losing.”

“I’ll take responsibility!”

“The answer you gave me during that test on the phone satisfied me. I hope that in four years, you and I will be listed on the same household register.”

“No problem—so long as you don’t mind that I’ll just be graduating then, possibly poor and having nothing.”

“Do you think I care about money? As long as you keep striving and keep me in your heart, nothing else matters. Besides, four years from now I’ll already be well into my thirties. Sigh…”

“Let’s not talk about age anymore. I really don’t care, and neither will my parents. I believe that as long as we truly love one another, they’ll be happy to support us.”

“All right, I believe every word you say.”

…

“Xia Shu, after orientation, you’ll be starting military training. You can’t just show up unprepared.”

“Huh? What should I prepare?”

“Sunscreen, insoles… sigh. Forget it. I guessed you wouldn’t think of these things. I’ve already packed them for you in your suitcase.”

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“Rouxue, you really are too thoughtful!”

She chuckled, “Of course! How could I not be, dating a younger guy? Isn’t it only natural for an older sister to take care of her little brother? But at school, we should keep things discreet.”

“Should we even keep things low-key when we eat together?”

“At least for now, yes. If too many people find out, there might be unnecessary gossip.”

“Fair enough. We can stay in touch by phone during the week, and on weekends I’ll find you for other plans.”

“There’s a long road ahead. For now, the most important thing for you is to study hard and enjoy university life!”

“And what about you?”

“Aren’t I a part of your life?”

…

Su Rouxue was truly attentive. Over these days together, Xia Shu had come to realize how easily his older girlfriend felt insecure. Yet, in comparison to many long-distance couples, they were lucky—their proximity and the way they spent time together would inspire envy in many.

He didn’t dare think too far ahead, only striving to do his best now, hoping he would never forget his original intentions.

On their final night, after their time together, Xia Shu simply held Su Rouxue close and slept quietly.

The next morning was bright and sunny.

He dressed in crisp, trendy summer clothes, tidied up his appearance, and after eating the breakfast Su Rouxue had made, planned to take a ride-hailing car to the university.

“I’ll come with you,” Su Rouxue said with a smile.

“Don’t you worry about being seen by others so early?” Xia Shu raised his brows. He knew she also had to go to the university today; the School of Arts had invited her, a respected alumna, to speak with the new students.

“There’ll be so many students registering today—no one’s going to notice a single car, much less see who’s inside. Besides, I’ve thought it through: sooner or later, we’ll be found out. There’s no need to be so hung up about it. Our relationship is our own business—no one else’s.”

Su Rouxue wasn’t overly concerned. She knew they needed to be discreet, but after thinking it over, she felt there was no need to be so restrained.

Today, she wore a vermillion dress, her makeup flawless, lips a vibrant red—beautiful and alluring. Her aura was elegant and refined, the very picture of a lady of good breeding. After all, she’d been through this before; she knew exactly what orientation day would be like.

“All right.”

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Xia Shu had slept well the night before, and woke up feeling refreshed. Seeing Su Rouxue today, exuding a confident, mature charm, he felt a surge of pride. Having seen her wardrobe, he knew his older girlfriend could pull off countless styles. In the future, whatever he wished to see, Su Rouxue would be happy to wear for him.

“Have you got your driver’s license yet?” Su Rouxue appeared before him, carrying a stylish red leather handbag.

“Yeah, I got it the first month after the college entrance exam,” Xia Shu replied.

“Good. Then you can be my personal chauffeur in the future.” Su Rouxue smiled, clearly pleased.

“If you need me, I’ll always be there for you,” Xia Shu scratched his head and grinned, feeling as if he’d somehow gotten the better end of the deal.

But who could blame him—his girlfriend was a wealthy woman.

Every kindness Su Rouxue showed him, Xia Shu kept close to his heart. Love is a journey made together; even if he was just a fresh-faced university student now, he was determined to work hard and become a better man.

With suitcase in hand, Xia Shu followed Su Rouxue out the door. There was a small building set off to one side of the villa: her family’s garage.

She pressed the remote, and the garage door automatically opened. When the gleaming, sanded red Panamera appeared before him, Xia Shu couldn’t help but raise his brows.

Su Rouxue unlocked the car and, as the horn sounded, got in and waved at him.

Xia Shu nodded, placed his suitcase in the trunk, and took the passenger seat beside her.

He felt a twinge of nervousness—a kind of nervousness he couldn’t quite describe. The deeper their relationship grew, the more he felt almost like a kept man.

But when he got in, Su Rouxue took his hand and smiled—a smile as sweet as it was alluring. “Let’s set off!”

…