Huo Rou heard his words and roughly understood what he wanted to ask.
Just as she was about to tease him, asking if he was just going to ask directly like this, the door was suddenly slammed shut.
Bang—
It felt like it landed on her heart. The quiet atmosphere was broken, and Qin Ningyi shot an annoyed glance at the door.
Seeing his vexation, Huo Rou dropped the question she was about to ask and burst out laughing.
Qin Ningyi, seeing her laugh heartily, uncontrollably tapped her on the tip of her nose. "Still laughing."
Huo Rou's laughter suddenly stopped due to the intimate gesture.
After a moment of reaction, she brushed away Qin Ningyi's finger and lowered her head, a smile playing on her lips.
He didn't recognize her from when she was a child, but the ignorant him still remembered the little Youyou from back then. Her candy company was failing and about to go bankrupt; he had left her with the few memories she had.
Huo Rou knew that the knot in her heart had untied the moment he uttered the name "Youyou."
She clearly watched her own bottom line dropping lower and lower.
That was her light.
Although she had been frustrated that the person she regarded as her light didn't recognize her, leaving her to guard their meager memories alone, working so hard because of his every word.
She had done everything to overcome all her personality flaws and physical disadvantages, gaining the motivation and strength to move forward.
It was also because of him that this motivation disappeared.
Someone who had been frozen for too long didn't need light, but he could still see her through the thick ice and shine his light upon her.
Huo Rou thought a lot, but when she looked up, she had returned to her usual gentle demeanor. "Let's go, it's time to eat."
After eating, Qin Ningyi escorted her upstairs and coaxed An An to sleep.
An An sensed the wrong atmosphere and obediently returned to his room.
With An An gone, the two of them and the dog felt a bit awkward. Qin Ningyi looked at Shen Feng, who was standing by Huo Rou's feet, and a sudden idea struck him.
"Aren't you going to walk him?"
Huo Rou followed his gaze to Shen Feng. Indeed, she realized she hadn't walked him yesterday, and Shen Feng must really want to go out.
"Let's go," Huo Rou said as she walked toward the door.
Qin Ningyi's lips almost stretched to his ears.
The night sky was covered in layers of dark clouds, and the wind that blew carried a hint of sultriness.
Shen Feng happily ran and jumped on the grass. It was late, and there were very few people in the neighborhood, so Shen Feng could run freely.
Huo Rou and Qin Ningyi walked slowly under the streetlights. She watched Shen Feng frolic, and during a stretch of darkness, her eyes secretly turned red again.
"Shen Feng is very happy."
Qin Ningyi didn't see the look in her eyes but followed her words, "You should be happy too."
"Thank you." Huo Rou didn't know how to respond. Happy? In this long life, there were always moments of happiness.
But for her, something always felt missing.
"Alright, don't overthink it," Qin Ningyi stopped the conversation. They had just reached a streetlight, and he stopped.
"I'm going to continue asking you questions," Qin Ningyi said in a deep voice, searching for the light in her eyes under the dim yellow streetlight.
"Can you be my girlfriend?" he asked sincerely, his eyes full of her reflection.
Huo Rou didn't answer immediately. A mischievous thought suddenly struck her, and she just stared blankly at Qin Ningyi.
If it had been before, Qin Ningyi would have quickly noticed the hint of mischief in her eyes, but when he asked the question, his heart became surprisingly nervous, causing him to miss Huo Rou's slyness.
In Huo Rou's silence, he began to panic.
"Even though we already have An An, I feel like we should start with dating and make up for all the processes you missed," he said, his voice speeding up, making him seem flustered.
"From the day An An appeared, I've been considering how to handle our relationship, until you came along."
"I finally don't have to agonize over it anymore; there's only one path left to choose."
"If you feel there's still a barrier, I can start by pursuing you..."
Even if billions of yuan were placed before him, he could remain composed. The last time he was flustered was that morning when he saw Huo Rou beside him. This time, it was still because of her.
Amidst Qin Ningyi's panic, Huo Rou suddenly let out a chuckle. Qin Ningyi then realized that her silence might have had another reason.
For example, to tease him...
He suddenly broke into a smile, poking her forehead with his finger, his tone full of helplessness and doting affection. "You..."
Before he could finish speaking, thunder suddenly rumbled in the sky, and before anyone could react, a downpour began. They were instantly drenched.
The weather was hot, and they were both wearing short sleeves. At this moment, they didn't even have anything to shield themselves from the rain.
Qin Ningyi looked at the closed entrance of the nearby building and had no choice but to lead Huo Rou back.
He clasped his hands together over Huo Rou's head. Fortunately, Huo Rou had a small face, and it could barely cover her somewhat.
The wind raged, and in an instant, the air became exceptionally cold.
"Running is useless; we're soaked. Let's just walk back slowly," Huo Rou suggested. If they ran any faster, she couldn't see the path ahead, and the rainwater poured directly into her eyes.
And so, this scene unfolded.
Amidst the wind and rain, Qin Ningyi stood in the wind's path, shielding Huo Rou from the gusts. They walked awkwardly on the road, facing each other.
Shen Feng frolicked in the rain, and seeing them enter the building, he had no choice but to follow.
The two of them were already drenched and disheveled. As soon as Shen Feng entered, he hadn't shaken off his excitement and shook himself by Huo Rou's leg, sending a spray of water everywhere.
Now, they were even more disheveled.
Huo Rou looked at Shen Feng with a hint of helplessness, then at Qin Ningyi, and couldn't help but laugh.
"I need to keep track of time," Qin Ningyi said, reaching out to gather her hair in his hand and gently wringing out the water.
"I accept." Almost as soon as he finished speaking, Huo Rou continued, "It's rare for you to ask me so formally." Remembering Qin Ningyi's earlier panic, Huo Rou's lips curved upward again.
Qin Ningyi's actions didn't stop, but he leaned his face forward and gently kissed Huo Rou's cheek.
The elevator arrived, and Qin Ningyi naturally took Huo Rou's hand as they stepped inside.
As the elevator ascended, Huo Rou looked down at their clasped hands. Just like in her memory, they were warm.
An An, hearing the rain, got up, put on his clothes, and was about to go out with an umbrella when he saw Huo Rou coming out of the elevator.
"Mom, come in quickly!"
Qin Ningyi looked at his now empty hand and suddenly felt a pang of sadness. This child's heart only had his mother in it. Two drowned rats, and they only cared about one?
Fortunately, An An hadn't completely forgotten him. After entering the house and fetching a towel for Huo Rou, he went to the door to greet his dear daddy.
"Dad?"
"Why are you still here?" An An asked, not feeling anything wrong with his question, after all, Huo Rou rarely allowed Qin Ningyi into the house before.
Qin Ningyi's eyelids twitched, and he raised an eyebrow, looking at his eldest son.