That evening, Li Yuanru went home by bus. After arriving, she took a shower, then climbed onto her bed and played with her phone.
She messaged Chen Jiansheng.
“Mister!”
About 5 minutes later, a reply came from the other side.
“What is it?”
Yuanru frowned. *Is he really talking like an uncle talking to his niece?*
“Are you still single, Mister?” Yuanru asked directly.
“No.” Chen Jiansheng replied.
“No way, Mei Jin said you were single.”
“I don’t want to date, so whether I’m single or not fundamentally doesn’t matter.”
“Please consider it, Mister.”
“Consider what?”
“Dating. You could consider me.”
After sending that message, Li Yuanru practically threw her phone aside and screamed wildly.
She was aware that this was just a world in a book. As long as she didn’t become a villain, she was sure to have a good ending. Plus, she could still return to the real world.
Why not live life to the fullest here, just once?
“I won’t consider it.”
Chen Jiansheng replied coldly.
“Why not?” Li Yuanru’s eyes crinkled with a smile.
She loved imagining this Mister getting flustered because of her words.
But in reality, Chen Jiansheng merely saw her as a child joking around and didn’t pay much attention.
“Too young.”
He was also an adult man; he wouldn’t be easily teased by a young girl like that.
“Don’t older Misters usually like younger girls?” Li Yuanru was getting addicted to teasing him.
Chen Jiansheng, who had been reviewing documents, put them down upon encountering such a sharp-tongued kid. He felt he had to teach this little one a lesson.
“I wasn’t talking about *your* age being small.”
Li Yuanru’s mouth fell open in surprise. So this Mister also knew how to tease! A slightly mischievous thought crossed her mind as she blushed and said,
“If you don’t try, how will you know if I’m small?”
“…”
Chen Jiansheng fell silent. He admitted defeat.
After all, he had only just met her through his niece Mei Jin; he couldn’t just casually tease her like that.
“Children should focus on their studies, don’t joke around.”
“I’m grown up.”
Li Yuanru replied instantly.
“But you’re not older than me.”
This Mister seemed to really enjoy bringing up age to assert his seniority.
Li Yuanru couldn’t just lose like that. She wasn’t some shy, budding teenager.
“You’re the oldest, it’s obvious to the naked eye that you’re older, alright?”
“Stop joking, go to sleep.”
Chen Jiansheng had completely lost his patience with her.
“Alright, I hope you’ll consider it a little, then sleep well.”
Li Yuanru didn’t joke anymore. Chen Jiansheng replying to her so much today was already considered a success.
In the following days, Li Yuanru messaged Chen Jiansheng every evening without fail, and he truly did reply to her.
The two didn’t tease each other much; Li Yuanru merely talked about her daily life.
Li Yuanru had devised a perfect plan: messaging at the same time every evening would create a habit for the other person.
She knew Chen Jiansheng was a busy man, so she kept her messages concise and didn’t prolong their conversations.
“Mei Jin, is Mister Chen really single?” Li Yuanru asked Chen Mei Jin.
“Yeah, it’s true. Grandpa has been urging him to get married for years now. He doesn’t even mention any women.”
Mei Jin took a sip of the bubble tea in her hand and vaguely asked back,
“Why are you so interested in Mister Chen, Yuanru? Something’s going on, isn’t it?”
Yuanru just smiled and didn’t reply.
Mei Jin seemed to understand perfectly and burst out laughing.
“Don’t joke around, Mister Cheng is a whole 16 years older than you, Ru!”
“But he doesn’t look 36 at all, does he? He looks so young!”
Li Yuan Ru retorted.
“But he’s fundamentally much older than Ru. I don’t think it would work out.”
“Do you feel he’s not a good match for you, Jin, or that you’re not worthy of him?” Yuan Ru pondered, looking at Mei Jin.
Mei Jin thought for a moment before replying.
“You’re a good person, Ru. It’s not that you’re not a match or not worthy. The age gap between you two is too big. If you like Uncle Cheng, it will be difficult for you. But I also can’t imagine Uncle Cheng truly and sincerely loving someone, so I still advise you to let it go.”
Mei Jin spoke her mind honestly.
Li Yuan Ru listened silently to Mei Jin’s advice.
In the story, their age difference was indeed 16 years, but considering her actual age, it was only 9 years. That wasn’t an issue that could stop her.
After all, this was an unreal world. In her real life, she had been tied down by many financial burdens, unable to freely do what she wanted. Now, she really wanted to pursue what she desired, to live freely without worries.
“Mei Jin, I feel like I really like Uncle Cheng. I want to pursue him. Whether I succeed or not, I still want to try once.”
Mei Jin looked at Yuan Ru’s determined expression, smiled gently, and said kindly.
“Alright, if that’s what you want, Ru, I’ll help you.”
Li Yuan Ru offered a grateful smile. It was truly wonderful to have a friend like this. In the real world, she didn’t even have a single friend.