Chapter 105: Taking the Initiative Can Be Exhausting

P.S.: Thanks to Scorpion, an avid reader, for the generous 120-unit reward. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such support—truly touching.

The notification sound for a successfully sent message chimed, and Lin Chuan set his phone aside, leaning back on the sofa as he gazed up at the ceiling.

For some reason, at that moment, his heart suddenly calmed. An unusual peace settled over him, without a trace of turbulence or the unbearable tension he’d felt moments before.

After all, it was just sending a message. Just asking if she had time tomorrow—it didn’t mean anything more than that.

Time seemed to slow down at that instant.

The ticking clock sounded like a small hammer, tapping steadily on Lin Chuan’s ‘peaceful’ heart.

Glancing at the wall clock, less than five minutes had passed since he sent the message.

Yet five minutes was enough time for Wang Yue to reply. Had she not seen the message? Or… did she have no intention of responding?

No, she wouldn’t ignore him. Although Wang Yue always gave off that chilly vibe—perpetually wearing a stern expression, never one to joke around—replying to messages was a matter of basic courtesy.

Besides, the last time they met, she seemed different—much more lively and cheerful. She was talking more and smiling more, no longer the icy woman who made everyone feel as if they owed her something.

Still, if she hadn’t seen the message, that was understandable. But if she had seen it and chose not to reply, that would be a matter of manners. Don’t forget, she was an educator. Even as a preschool teacher, she was still a teacher.

Yes, she must not have seen it yet. Just wait a little longer—maybe she’d reply any moment now.

Lin Chuan comforted himself, closing his eyes to rest on the sofa.

Time passed slowly, though he couldn’t say why it felt so drawn out. Every time he closed his eyes for a moment, he couldn’t help but pick up his phone to check again—always the same calm screen, and with it, renewed disappointment.

He lost count of how long it had been when, just as sleepiness began to take hold, his phone finally buzzed.

He grabbed it quickly—sure enough, Wang Yue had replied.

Of course, an educator like her wouldn’t forget basic courtesy. Opening the message, he found only three simple characters: “What’s up?”

Lin Chuan frowned. Honestly, he wasn’t satisfied with that answer. At least she could have said yes or no—what kind of reply was that?

Should he ask if she was asleep? No, that would be silly—it was only nine o’clock. Aside from Lin Yiyang, which young person would sleep so early?

Thank her for dinner? But why? What was there to thank her for? He had just eaten her meal. If anyone deserved thanks, it was her.

Moving those few boxes had left Lin Chuan exhausted.

What exactly was going on? He was torn. The one thing he wasn’t good at was matters of the heart. In his past life, even talking to a girl would make him blush, no matter how well he knew her. His friends teased him endlessly about it.

Besides, Lin Chuan’s emotional intelligence was low. He didn’t know many sweet words or how to win over girls.

“Should I call Yuan Ye and ask for some tips?” Lin Chuan held the phone, muttering softly.

He found his close friend’s number in his recent calls and was about to dial when he hesitated.

In that instant, the image of Yuan Ye’s mischievous smirk and teasing expressions flashed through his mind.

No way. If he asked Yuan Ye for help now, he’d be mocked forever. Lin Chuan shook his head hard, tossing the idea aside.

There’s a saying: better to rely on yourself than others—especially for this kind of thing.

Finally, Lin Chuan bit his lip and began typing swiftly on the screen. But after typing a line, he erased it.

No, that was too formal—too distant.

He started again, but before finishing, deleted it once more.

Again and again, type, delete; type, delete.

Frustrated, he slumped on the sofa, feeling emotionally drained. He never imagined that inviting a girl out could be this difficult.

At that moment, he envied Yuan Ye’s ‘talent’—how did that guy manage to woo girls? Besides a handsome face, what tricks did he have to get dates?

Watching a movie? Shopping? Dining out?

Wait… watching a movie? That sounded promising. Girls liked that kind of date, right? Yes, that’s it.

Lin Chuan sat up quickly, grabbed his phone again, and just as he was about to type “Let’s watch a movie tomorrow,” he stopped.

“That’s too direct. What if Wang Yue thinks I’m pursuing her? What if she says no—how would we get along afterwards?” He shook his head.

Hey! Didn’t Yiyang say yesterday in Spring City that he wanted to see an animated film at the cinema?

With a loud slap on his thigh, Lin Chuan winced but ignored the pain, immediately sending the message:

“Tomorrow I’m taking Yiyang to the movies. Want to come?”

When the sent notification chimed again, Lin Chuan collapsed onto the sofa, utterly drained. At that moment, he felt as if all his strength had been drained away.

So this is how exhausting taking initiative can be.

He waited a while longer, but there was no reply yet. Lin Chuan wasn’t anxious—not even a little.

In fact, he was afraid—afraid to see Wang Yue’s response.

At the same time, he was eager, craving a swift answer. His emotions were tangled in contradiction.

“Was that message too blunt?” Lin Chuan reread it nervously.

Knowing Wang Yue as he did, if it were before, she would have simply replied with three blunt characters: “No time.”

At the thought, his heart tightened, and his fingers hovered over the screen again.

“Don’t misunderstand, Yiyang asked me to invite you…”

That thought finally eased his mind somewhat. He looked toward his son’s bedroom and said with a twinge of guilt, “Son, for your old man’s happiness, you’re just going to have to be my shield…”

Time slowed once more. The clock’s hands stopped at 9:40.

Lin Chuan yawned, his eyes growing heavy.

No wonder—waiting for a text for over ten or twenty minutes without a reply would try anyone’s patience. Especially after a full day of travel and helping with the move, his energy was nearly spent.

Without that faint glimmer of hope, he might have already been snoring.

Just as he was about to give in, the phone buzzed again.

Startled, he grabbed it and opened the message—his face froze instantly.

Wang Yue had replied with a single character, one that made his heart pound wildly.

“Hmm!”

Damn it—she agreed? She really agreed to go to the movies tomorrow?

Was he dreaming? Wang Yue, the aloof woman, had accepted his invitation?

Well, part of it was under the guise of his son, but still—this was a good start.

If he just kept trying, boosted his emotional intelligence a bit…

Lin Chuan lay back on the sofa, clutching his phone, a steady rhythm of soft snores filling the cool, quiet room.

Yes, he had fallen asleep, overwhelmed with excitement.