Liu Jie nodded repeatedly in her heart.
She had known Gu Lina Zha for so many years.
She had watched her grow from a fledgling girl, step by step, to her current position of widespread admiration.
She knew too well the glamour and complexity of that circle.
And she felt too much heartache for the hard work Gu Lina Zha had put in and the pressure she had endured over the years.
She was never short of suitors.
Wealthy, powerful, famous, all kinds.
But Liu Jie always felt that those people were not sincere enough, their eyes filled with too much calculation and desire.
However, the man named Lu Mingyu today was different.
His eyes were clean and pure, like snow on a mountain peak, yet also like a deep pool.
He just stood there quietly, giving off an indescribable sense of security.
It was a kind of reliability and trustworthiness that allowed one to completely hand over their back.
Liu Jie felt that only such a man was worthy of her best sister.
“This girl, she finally got enlightened,” Liu Jie muttered to herself, a smile she couldn't suppress on her face.
No, for dinner tonight, she must give her full attention and personally supervise the cooking.
She must satisfy this soldier brother and also give her own sister face.
Thinking of this, she no longer lingered.
She lifted her feet and walked quickly towards the kitchen in the backyard, her steps much lighter.
In the private room, as Liu Jie left and the door lock clicked softly, the atmosphere suddenly became even quieter.
The only sounds in the air were the faint wind outside the window and the subtle rustling of the incense burning in the corner.
This extreme quietness, on the contrary, made their heartbeats exceptionally clear.
Gu Lina Zha felt her cheeks starting to flush again.
She didn't dare to look into Lu Mingyu's eyes.
She could only lower her head, pretending to intently fiddle with the teacup in front of her.
She gently rubbed the warm texture on the cup wall with her fingers.
But in her heart, it was as if she had a small rabbit, thumping rapidly.
Lu Mingyu didn't speak, just sat there quietly, his gaze fixed on her.
His gaze wasn't burning, but it carried a steady strength that left Gu Lina Zha nowhere to hide.
Silence spread between the two, and time seemed to stretch endlessly.
Finally, Gu Lina Zha seemed to have made some kind of decision.
She took a deep breath, slowly raised her head, and met Lu Mingyu's gaze.
Her eyes were clear and serious, with a hint of nervousness.
“Lu Mingyu,” she softly called his name.
“After meeting me… what do you feel?”
After asking this question, she felt like her heart was about to jump out of her throat.
This question.
She had wanted to ask it ever since she decided to come and meet him.
She wanted to know if her real self had disappointed him.
She wanted to know what he truly thought of her.
Lu Mingyu looked at her knuckles, which were slightly pale from nervousness.
And those beautiful eyes filled with unease, his heart softened.
He answered almost without hesitation, in his usual steady and sincere tone, clearly.
“I am very happy.”
Lu Mingyu's voice wasn't loud.
But it was like a calming pill, instantly smoothing all the ripples in Gu Lina Zha's heart.
Those three words, simple, direct, without any flowery embellishments.
Yet they carried a sincerity worth more than a thousand gold pieces.
Gu Lina Zha's heart, which had been suspended, finally settled firmly back into place.
She felt the warmth spreading from her cheeks to her earlobes.
Not only did it not subside, but it surged even more fiercely.
But this time, it wasn't because of nervousness and unease.
But because of an uncontrollable joy.
It was like someone who had trekked for a long time in the cold winter finally saw a warm fireplace.
Or like a ship lost at sea finally sighted a guiding lighthouse.
Her tightly clenched fingers slowly relaxed.
A thin layer of moisture uncontrollably welled up in her eyes.
The man in front of her was even better than she had imagined.
His answer also moved her more than any answer she had ever hoped for.
Joy fermented in her chest, emboldening her, making her braver.
Since he wasn't disappointed in her, since he was happy to see her.
Then, could she be a little more greedy?
Could she voice the thought she only dared to dream about?
Gu Lina Zha looked into Lu Mingyu's eyes, as deep as a pool.
She felt as if she was being drawn by an invisible force.
She took another deep breath, as if using all her strength.
Then her slightly trembling voice echoed in the quiet private room.
“Then, can we…”
She paused, seemingly giving herself one last push.
“Can we go from being an online CP to a real couple?”
As her words fell, the whole world seemed to stand still.
Gu Lina Zha's heartbeat reached its peak at this moment, pounding against her eardrums like a drum.
She stared at Lu Mingyu without blinking, afraid of missing any subtle expression on his face.
This was the boldest decision she had ever made in her life.
And it was also her first time actively pursuing her own happiness.
She had placed all her hopes and fallback options on his upcoming reaction.
Lu Mingyu didn't answer immediately.
His gaze remained on her face, and many emotions seemed to flash in his eyes.
There was surprise, contemplation, and even a smile he himself hadn't noticed.
He looked at her eyes, filled with anticipation and apprehension, like a little deer awaiting judgment.
His heart, in that instant, softened completely.
Time passed by minute by minute.
For Gu Lina Zha.
This brief silence was longer than a century.
Just when she was almost unable to bear it, thinking she had been too impatient and scared him away.
Lu Mingyu slowly and solemnly nodded.
The movement was small, but it was firm and undeniable.
This nod was like a switch, instantly lighting up Gu Lina Zha's entire world.
Immense joy engulfed her like a tide.
She felt her tears could no longer be controlled, and they rolled down from her eyes with a plop.
But the corners of her mouth curved high, smiling like a child.
She had finally waited.
She had finally waited for the person she wanted, to give her the answer she wanted.
Just then, the door lock of the private room clicked softly.
The door was pushed open from the outside.
Liu Jie didn't come in, just poked her head in.
Seeing the no longer tense atmosphere between the two, her smile became even brighter.
Immediately after, two uniformed waiters entered in single file, carrying exquisite trays.
“Sir, madam, your dishes are here.”
Dish after dish, appealing in color, aroma, and taste, were quickly and quietly placed on the dining table.
Steamed grouper, blanched prawns, matsutake mushroom stewed chicken soup, and several exquisite vegetarian stir-fries.
Every dish was steaming hot, and the aroma filled the air.
Instantly dispelling the last bit of awkwardness in the room.
These were all personally supervised by Liu Jie in the back kitchen.
Only the freshest ingredients were used, and the cooking time was perfectly controlled.
The waiters quickly served all the dishes, then bowed and exited.
As the door was gently closed again, the private room returned to quietness.
But this time, the quietness was completely different from before.
The air was filled with the aroma of food and an atmosphere called “sweetness.”
“Quick, have a taste.”
Gu Lina Zha quickly picked up the serving chopsticks and enthusiastically greeted Lu Mingyu.
Her cheeks still had traces of unshed tears and a blush of joy.
Her eyes were sparkling, as if filled with stars.
“These are all Liu Jie's signature dishes, you definitely don't get to eat these in the military.”
There was a hint of pride and showing off in her tone, as if she had cooked these dishes herself.
Lu Mingyu looked at her lively appearance, his eyes growing softer.
He “hmm-ed” and picked up his chopsticks.
But he didn't pick up the dishes in front of him first.
Instead, he stretched out his arm and picked up the fattest middle section of the steamed grouper.
That piece of fish was white and tender, glistening invitingly.
He placed the fish in the bone dish in front of him.
Then, with his chopsticks, he patiently and carefully removed every tiny fishbone from it.
His movements were steady, his fingers long and strong.
Doing such delicate work, yet there was no sense of awkwardness.
As if he had done it thousands of times before.