Chapter 43: Can I Be Your Girlfriend?

Next, Qin Ruhua continued to ride her electric scooter in the lead, while I drove the BMW behind her, and Ling Xuan followed us in her Hyundai.

Before long, we arrived at the narrow entrance of the alley where Qin Ruhua lived. Since cars could not go inside, we parked by the roadside.

As soon as I stepped out of the car, Ling Xuan followed suit.

"Ruhua, let me go up with you to pack! You don't need to pack too much tonight—just some clothes and essential daily necessities. We can come back for the rest tomorrow," I said, walking up to Qin Ruhua.

Before Qin Ruhua could reply, Ling Xuan walked over with a darkened face and said coldly, "Since it's just simple clothing, there's no need for you to go up. It wouldn't be appropriate for you to handle a woman's personal items anyway. Wait here, I have something to say to you."

Qin Ruhua frowned as she glanced at Ling Xuan, her expression turning somewhat dim. Lowering her head slightly, she murmured, "Brother Fan, I hope you'll come upstairs with me."

Ling Xuan sneered. "Does packing clothes require someone to help?"

I knew that both of them were weighed down by thoughts and each desired to spend time alone with me to clear things up. Naturally, neither would allow me to be alone with the other. Pondering for a moment, I suggested, "How about this? The three of us go up together; that way, it will be faster."

Qin Ruhua lowered her head and remained silent.

Ling Xuan, on the other hand, said coldly, "No need. We'll stay right here. You are my boyfriend, so just listen to me."

Qin Ruhua snapped her head up and retorted coldly, "Brother Fan hasn't even agreed to be with you yet, but you have the nerve to cling to him just because you're a chairwoman! Don't think I'm scared of you just because you hold that title! The way you yelled and cursed at Brother Fan just now... dating someone like you would mean suffering endless bullying every day."

I was slightly taken aback, never expecting that the usually gentle and generous Qin Ruhua could be so sharp-tongued when provoked.

"Who—who are you saying is clinging to him?!" Ling Xuan flew into a rage. She took a step forward and glared fiercely at Qin Ruhua.

I quickly reached out to block her, persuading, "Let's not worry about these trivial matters right now, shall we? We'll have plenty of time later, but Xixi is still waiting in the office. Every minute we linger makes it worse. Let's all three go upstairs, pack, and come back down!"

Upon hearing the first half of my sentence, Ling Xuan glared at me as if demanding to know whether I had agreed to her terms. But when she heard the name Xixi, she was instantly left speechless. She grabbed my arm, pulled me toward the alley, and snapped, "For Xixi's sake, let's go!"

Qin Ruhua stamped her foot in frustration, calling out with a grievance mixed with a hint of spoiled petulance, "Brother Fan!"

Damn it, I had a massive headache too.

I finally realized why those wealthy tycoons I used to hear about could surround themselves with beauties: it was because they had no genuine affection for those women, maintaining relationships purely through money and power while treating women merely as playthings.

Only, I couldn't do that. I could never treat women as mere playthings; I had real feelings for each of them.

Yet, precisely because of this, I had plunged myself into my current predicament.

I let out a silent sigh and gently withdrew my arm from Ling Xuan's grasp. Soothingly, I advised, "Let's not bring up any personal matters right now, and let's not provoke each other. Let's just get the moving done first!"

Sensing Ling Xuan's expression darken—as if she blamed me for pulling my hand away—I quickly added, "Xixi is still waiting in the office!"

Ling Xuan was cornered. She glared daggers at me and said coldly, "I'll deal with you later!"

My heart skipped a beat. What did that mean?!

After that, Ling Xuan and I walked side by side while Qin Ruhua rode her scooter in front to lead the way.

Soon, we arrived downstairs at Qin Ruhua's rented apartment. Qin Ruhua unlocked the front gate, drove her scooter inside, and parked it to the side.

The three of us walked up the stairs abreast—I in the middle, with Ling Xuan and Qin Ruhua on either side—all of us silent.

Reaching the third floor, Qin Ruhua unlocked her door. The lights inside were off, indicating that Xixi, her roommate, had not yet returned. When the lights were turned on, a simple one-bedroom, one-living-room suite was revealed. The living room was cluttered with various pieces of furniture, and the air was filled with a faint mixture of cooking fumes and a subtle fragrance.

Ling Xuan immediately furrowed her brows.

"I'll go pack in my room. It won't take long," Qin Ruhua said hurriedly as she retreated into her bedroom.

Ling Xuan and I stood in the living room, where she glared at me with a mixture of annoyance and lingering resentment.

The dim fluorescent light of the living room cast a dreamlike, flawless glow over Ling Xuan's skin, making her look as smooth as milk. Remembering the affection she had shown me earlier, my thoughts began to race, and I felt a sudden impulse to pull her into my arms and kiss her.

Yet I knew I couldn't do that right now; I couldn't provoke Qin Ruhua, or else moving tonight would be out of the question.

Besides, what was the rush? Once we were living together, opportunities would be abundant. We could even...

Perhaps enlightened by Sister Yuan, some rather unwholesome imagery instantly flashed through my mind.

Noticing my absent-minded gaze, Ling Xuan gritted her teeth and scolded in a low voice, "What on earth are you thinking about?"

I snapped out of it, smiled faintly, and murmured, "Ling Xuan, you are truly beautiful."

Ling Xuan's eyes lit up, a pleased smile curved the corners of her lips, and she whispered, "Then will you be my boyfriend?"

Though Ling Xuan had never been in a relationship and rarely interacted with men outside of work, she didn't seem particularly shy. Perhaps her years of experience as the chairwoman of a large corporation had forged a strong mental resilience!

Before I could answer, Qin Ruhua seemed to have heard our voices. She suddenly popped her head out and said with a sweet smile, "Brother Fan, could you come help me for a moment?"

"Coming!" I replied and walked over.

Ling Xuan let out a huff and followed right behind me.

The bedroom was tiny, furnished with just a bed. It seemed Qin Ruhua and Xixi shared it, and the air was thick with a faint, delicate scent.

I rarely entered women's private chambers, but after stepping into a few, I had to admit that women were far cleaner and more organized than men.

Qin Ruhua didn't actually need our help; she simply wanted to keep an eye on us.

It wasn't appropriate for me to handle a woman's undergarments, and Ling Xuan certainly wasn't willing to touch them either, so the two of us simply stood off to the side, watching silently as Qin Ruhua packed.

To my secret fascination, I caught glimpses of Qin Ruhua's lingerie from time to time—some cute, some mature, but mostly modest. It was also the first time I learned that she favored light green and baby pink.

Before long, Qin Ruhua had packed two large bags of clothes, shoes, and socks, along with a smaller bag containing toiletries and cosmetics.

"All set," Qin Ruhua said, looking up and smiling at me. "Let's get through tonight, and I'll come back tomorrow to move the rest!"

"Let's go then," I said, stepping forward to lift all three bags.

On the way down the stairs, Qin Ruhua called Xixi to inform her about the move.

At the mouth of the alley, I placed the three bags into the BMW's trunk. Qin Ruhua went straight to the passenger side, opened the door, and got in.

Ling Xuan stood nearby with an expression of intense annoyance, watching helplessly as Qin Ruhua claimed the front passenger seat.

I got into the driver's seat, rolled down the window, and smiled at Ling Xuan. "Get in too! We can talk when we get home."

This was a subtle hint to her: once we got home, it would be just the two of us. Surely there would be plenty of time to talk then!

Ling Xuan cast a venomous glare at Qin Ruhua in the passenger seat, stamped her foot, and warned me, "Let me tell you, from now on you are my boyfriend. No one else is allowed to have any ideas about you!" With that, she glared at Qin Ruhua one last time before turning on her heel and getting into the Hyundai.

In truth, both of them knew that opportunities for solitude would arise in the future. The reason they were competing so fiercely right now was because this was a critical moment to gain the upper hand.

As for me, I actually felt a somewhat eager anticipation to be alone with them and hear what was truly on their minds.

Once the cars were on the road, Qin Ruhua kept her head down without uttering a word.

I smiled softly. "Ruhua, what are you thinking about?"

Qin Ruhua sighed, raised her head, and cast a slightly aggrieved glance at me. "Brother Fan... I—I regret it. The last time you asked me to stay by your side, why didn't I agree? Actually, in my heart, I had already said yes back then."

Well, if she put it that way, Ling Xuan was probably regretting things too!

By now, I understood that Ling Xuan's yelling and scolding over the past few days were her way of saying I hadn't grasped her feelings.

Yet, things having reached this point, I didn't dare to casually commit to anyone.

There was only one strategy left: stall! Take it one step at a time; I had no idea what the future held.

I remained silent.

Qin Ruhua gazed at me, a flicker of gentleness shining in her eyes. Then she lowered her head, her voice carrying a trace of shyness as she murmured, "Brother Fan, the last time you walked me home... I—I was deeply moved. Ever since my brother left, it was the first time I felt like someone was standing behind me, guarding me. It gave me a strong sense of security."

I was slightly stunned, realizing she was referring to the time I escorted her home after she scratched that Maserati. Back then, her driving skills were poor, and she had just been bullied by a super-rich second-generation heir. In comparison, she must have felt vulnerable and her psychological defenses were at rock bottom. Still, I hadn't expected that helping her deal with Liu Xiaofeng and walking her home would leave such a lasting impression.

Escorting her home was such a simple act, yet it had become the thing that moved her the most.

I let out a gentle sigh, at a loss for words.

Qin Ruhua dropped her head, letting a curtain of glossy hair fall forward to conceal her face. Her voice grew soft and saturated with bashfulness. "Brother Fan, can... can I be your girlfriend?"