We can easily fall for someone for many different reasons.
Perhaps it's their dashing look when focused on sports, their cute expression when laughing... Or simply...
Liking them simply because we do.
But accepting it is very difficult.
What foolish heart skips a beat over just a glance, a light touch? Even when knowing we have harbored feelings for so long.
It's just that she needs more time to get used to a new life...
A life with him by her side...
“If you really have a crush, you should confess.”
…—————-…
“Xiao Long” – that was what Wang Aini named her cat.
He was mischievous, with a black-and-gray striped coat.
His graceful gait made him look like the tiny water dragons from myths.
Today was the day his owner, Aini, moved from the suburbs into the city to live with her best friend.
Mainly to make her commute to school easier.
The city center was bustling with traffic.
The screeching sound of car horns melted into the harsh afternoon sun.
On both sides of the sidewalk, houses stood shoulder to shoulder.
Aini, with her tiny frame, carried the cat carrier in one hand while tapping on her phone with the other.
Beside her was a large suitcase packed full of clothes.
“Is this the right address?”
The girl stood by the roadside, carefully checking the information on her phone before looking up at the house number.
What caught her eye was a grand villa, nestled
It wasn't until the clock struck 6:45 AM that she finally dragged herself out of bed, half-asleep.
"Rong Nho..."
The sleepy call echoed through the house.
But after waiting for a long time without any response, she shouted louder.
"Rong Nho!"
Never before had the cat needed to be called a second time.
This made Ai Nhi anxious.
She got out of bed, still wearing her pink heart-printed nightgown.
"Rong Nho! Where are you?"
Searching the entire house but finding no sign of her pet, she worried that the new environment had panicked Rong Nho.
Most worrying of all was the busy street outside, packed with traffic.
If anything happened to Rong Nho, she wouldn't be able to live with herself.
Without a second thought, Ai Nhi immediately knocked on the doors of the neighboring apartments.
Opening the door to find a tiny girl with messy hair, the neighbor asked in surprise:
"Oh dear, where is your mother? Why is she letting you wander around lost so early in the morning?"
She waved her hands in denial.
"No, sir! I'm in high school! I just moved here."
"Ah, my apologies. You go to the school over there, right?"
"But excuse me, have you seen a striped, blackish cat...?"
The neighbor suddenly remembered and nodded.
"Yes, I did."
"It ran over to the villa next door."
Hearing this, Ai Nhi's ears buzzed.
Was she really going to disturb the owners this early in the morning? She hadn't even been here for a full day yet...
The young girl gritted her teeth.
She dragged her short legs over to ring the doorbell.
She prayed the homeowner would take pity on her miserable self and forgive her.
*Click.*
The door opened to reveal a tall boy wearing a school uniform.
A crossbody bag accentuated his well-proportioned build.
Ai Nhi recognized him.
Her eyes widened, and she stammered:
"Tr- Tran Long Vu?"
The boy's face was expressionless, showing only an unreadable look.
Surprised, she asked further:
"Y-you live here?"
Vu gave a slight nod, looking none too friendly.
Since things had already come to this, Ai Nhi pushed her surprise aside.
Rong Nho was what mattered.
"Um... I have a cat."
"Someone said it ran into your house."
"Could you let me go in and call it out?"
Long Vu's expression shifted slightly, but it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
Finally, the young man spoke.
"No..."