Chapter 1282: UNEXPECTED ANSWER

"ARE you sure I can't come in with you?"

Luo Yan turned to look at Shen Ji Yun when he asked the question. Shen Ji Yun had just parked the car. He was giving Luo Yan a hopeful, pleading look, like a puppy wanting to follow its owner. It was clear he just wanted to go inside the cafe with him. He probably didn't even know he made that face. Seeing that honest, wanting expression made Luo Yan find him even more endearing.

He smiled, a little apologetic. "Sorry, Brother Ji Yun, but I need to talk to Sister Yuqi alone. Don't worry about it, though. I promise after we're done talking, the two of us can go on a proper date."

Shen Ji Yun gave a reluctant nod, though his expression remained a little troubled. Luo Yan chuckled softly at the sight. He leaned over the console quickly and gave Shen Ji Yun a light, reassuring peck on the lips. Then he stepped out of the car and closed the door.

He walked towards the cafe in front of him. It was the weekend, the very last one before the new semester officially began. His military training had finally ended. While he had gotten more or less used to the routine by the end, he sincerely hoped it would be the last time he ever had to do something like that.

A few days ago, he had sent a message to Su Yuqi asking if they could meet and talk. She had replied and suggested they meet this Saturday, which was today. They had settled on a time and place, deciding on this specific cafe for after lunch.

He pushed the door open and went inside the cafe. The air was cool and smelled of coffee. He stopped just past the entrance and let his eyes scan the room. It took him a moment to find the person he's meeting. Then he saw Su Yuqi. She was sitting alone at a small table tucked into the far corner, away from the other customers and the main bustle of the shop.

He walked through the cafe, weaving between the other tables until he reached her corner.

"Hello, Sister Yuqi," he said, stopping beside her table.

She looked up from her phone, her face softening with a small smile when she saw him. "Hey."

He nodded and pulled out the wooden chair opposite her, sitting down. "Thanks for agreeing to meet me on such short notice."

"It's fine," Su Yuqi said, placing her phone down on the table. "I already had a feeling you would want to talk to me, so I'm not really surprised by it."

Luo Yan raised his brow slightly. So, she was expecting him to ask for this talk. Considering how sharp and perceptive she always was, she must have known he contacted her specifically because he wanted to discuss Luo Jin. That could only mean one thing. Something significant really did happen between her and his brother.

He glanced towards the cafe counter, then back at her. "Since this might be a long talk, do you want to order some drinks first?"

"Yeah, that would be good," Su Yuqi said with a slow nod. She seemed to welcome the slight delay. "Let's do that."

Luo Yan raised his hand to call a waiter over. He ordered a matcha latte and a slice of blueberry cheesecake. Su Yuqi looked at the menu for a moment before asking for a single espresso. The waiter wrote it down and left. They sat in a brief, quiet silence while they waited for the drinks to arrive.

Su Yuqi broke the quiet between them first. "So," she began, "how was the military training?"

"Honestly? Pretty tiring," Luo Yan said, letting out a small sigh. He leaned back slightly in his chair. "I'm just glad it's finally over and my first semester as a university student is about to start."

Su Yuqi nodded in understanding. "Military training is one thing I would never want to do again in my life."

"You and me both," Luo Yan responded. The statement was even more true in his case, since this had actually been his second time going through it all.

A few minutes later, the waiter returned with their order. He carefully placed the matcha latte and the slice of blueberry cheesecake in front of Luo Yan. Then he set down a small cup of espresso in front of Su Yuqi.

Luo Yan picked up his matcha latte and took a slow sip. The drink was sweet from the milk but had the earthy, bitter taste of the matcha. He put the cup down and looked at Su Yuqi directly. "Sister Yuqi, can you tell me what exactly happened between you and Ah Jin?"

He had decided to go straight to the point. There's no actual use in beating around the bush. He's also sure that Su Yuqi would prefer this direct approach over wasting time with unnecessary small talk.

Su Yuqi was silent for a moment, then let out a long, tired sigh. She took a slow sip of her espresso, her expression serious. "I told him that his feelings, as strong as they are now, might not be permanent. I explained that he's very young. When he goes to university next year, his entire world is going to change. He'll meet so many new people and have new experiences. It's possible... it's likely that his perspective will change with all of that. What feels very important to him right now might not feel the same in a year or two. I told him I was afraid he would just... outgrow what he feels for me."

Luo Yan blinked, caught off guard. That was not what he had expected to hear. He had thought maybe they'd had a simple argument, a misunderstanding that could be fixed with a quick talk. He figured it was about something small, like a jealous remark or a canceled plan. He hadn't prepared himself for, well, this.

And now he didn't know how to respond.

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