Chapter 11 Testing the Waters
After the hospital, Lin Qi started showing up everywhere I looked.
At first, he was just picking up and dropping off Lin Yan for work.
Whenever we crossed paths downstairs, he’d give me a small nod—his eyes much softer than before.
I teased, “You two really are close. Makes me jealous.”
Lin Qi didn’t reply, but the corner of his mouth lifted, like he agreed.
Then he started asking me out himself.
Message: Got plans tonight?
Me: [Yeah, what’s up?]
Him: [Dinner.]
I stared at the screen for three seconds to make sure it was really Lin Qi, then typed: Sure.
When I got to the restaurant, Lin Yan was there too.
“President Huo!” She waved brightly. “Lin Qi said he was meeting a friend. Didn’t expect it to be you.”
I glanced at Lin Qi.
He pulled out a chair like nothing was weird. “Sit.”
Dinner was surprisingly fun.
Lin Yan was chatty as ever, full of office gossip. Lin Qi didn’t say much, but his eyes carried a faint smile the whole time.
Every so often, his gaze landed on me, then flicked away fast, like he was afraid I’d notice.
Afterward, Lin Qi suggested a movie.
“There’s a new one out. Supposed to be good,” he said.
Lin Yan said, “Movie’s fine, but no horror!”
Lin Qi nodded. “I know.”
Except he bought tickets for a horror film.
Lin Yan shot him a look but said nothing.
I checked the seats: I was next to Lin Yan, Lin Qi on the far end.
Halfway through, a ghost jumped out on screen.
Lin Yan shrieked and grabbed Lin Qi’s arm, practically burrowing into him.
I heard Lin Qi say, “Lin Yan, you’re blocking my view. Go hide over there.”
Lin Yan and I both went silent.
After the movie, I leaned in and murmured, “You did that on purpose.”
Lin Qi didn’t answer. He just walked ahead.
Later, while Lin Yan was in the restroom, Lin Qi and I waited outside the cinema.
“You were acting strange today,” I said.
He kicked at a pebble. “Was I?”
“You put me next to Lin Yan on purpose and picked the one genre she hates most.” I watched him. “Trying to set us up?”
His breathing hitched for a split second, then smoothed out. “You’re overthinking it.”
I didn’t push, but a guess started forming.
The second time he asked me out, he picked a quiet bar.
No Lin Yan this time—just us.
“Lin Yan not joining?” I asked.
Lin Qi stared at his drink. “Just us.”
The air felt different.
We talked about everything: work, life, even childhood stuff.
“I used to be scared of the dark,” he said suddenly.
“Yeah?” I was surprised. “Not anymore?”
“Still am.” He looked up, eyes dark. “But some things are scarier than darkness.”
I didn’t ask what. He didn’t offer.
After a few drinks, his gaze turned hazy. He propped his chin on his hand and stared straight at me, like he was trying to see inside.
“Huo Chichen.” His voice was low and rough.
“Yeah?”
“What do you feel… about Lin Yan?”
I blinked, then laughed softly. “So you really are trying to set us up?”
He didn’t smile. His eyes got heavier. “Answer me.”
I sighed. “Lin Yan is great, but I don’t feel that way about her. And she doesn’t feel that way about me.”