The man's brother, speaking openly and without restraint, suggested, "Little brother, you're not getting any younger. It's about time you found a girlfriend. Being alone isn't doing you any favors. I think Tiantian's friend is quite nice. Why don't you give it a try?"
Qiao Shifeng, who had the phone on speaker, hurriedly picked it up, switching to handset mode.
"What are you talking about, brother? She's just a young girl, same age as Tiantian. Besides, she calls me 'Uncle'..."
Lin Ruirui, seemingly indifferent to the man's panic, kept her eyes glued to her phone.
Tiantian had sent several messages, which she hadn't yet noticed.
Now, she had to patiently soothe the other party.
While driving, the man glanced at the girl beside him. She appeared oblivious to the earlier conversation, casually scrolling through her phone, which left him feeling somewhat hollow inside.
He feared she might misunderstand his intentions—or perhaps he hoped for such a misunderstanding, eager to know if she harbored any feelings for him.
He soon scoffed at his own wishful thinking. She was in the prime of her youth; why would she fancy someone like him—old, unattractive, and inept at bringing joy to others?
Moreover, with her delicate and petite figure, they looked mismatched together, like beauty and the beast. How could he harbor such fantasies?
The man closed his eyes briefly, then focused on driving, the weight of his unspoken thoughts heavy on his heart.
They quickly arrived at Lin Ruirui's building. As usual, he walked her to her door, but this time, as they reached her apartment, she clutched his hand, her voice soft and pleading.
"Uncle, I'm scared. Can you stay with me for a bit? I'm terrified something might come out from under the bed, and I keep hearing dripping sounds in the bathroom. Please, Uncle."
Moved by her vulnerable appearance, the man agreed and followed her inside.
He had only glimpsed her apartment in passing before and hadn't taken a good look around. This time, his nerves were even more frayed as he wondered where he would sleep—on the sofa in the living room or somewhere near her bed.
Lin Ruirui took a shower and then emerged in a cute nightgown.
Seeing her in such a fresh and delicate state, he didn't know where to rest his eyes. Blushing, Lin Ruirui pointed to the large bed in her bedroom. "Uncle, you can sleep here tonight," she said, indicating a makeshift bed she had set up beside hers.
After saying this, she quickly scampered into her bed, peeking out with just her eyes visible.
Qiao Shifeng's heart raced even faster; he tried to calm himself, "Alright then, let's get some sleep."
As he lay down, the room seemed to fill with the scent of Lin Ruirui. He closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep, but his mind wouldn't quiet.
After a while, he heard soft sobbing. Opening his eyes, he saw Lin Ruirui hidden under the covers, crying.
"What's wrong?" Qiao Shifeng asked with concern.
Through her tears, Lin Ruirui said, "I keep thinking about the movie we saw. There aren't really such things in the world, right?"
Qiao Shifeng tenderly reassured her, "Don't cry, Ruirui. Uncle is right here with you."
Lin Ruirui looked up at him, her eyes filled with dependency and gratitude. "Thank you, Uncle," she whispered.
Qiao Shifeng smiled and gently patted her head. Instinctively, she affectionately nuzzled his palm. For a moment, both were stunned by the intimate gesture.