Chapter 12: The Adorable Chen Siqi

"Siqi, did you meet Mr. Chen? Tell us quickly!"

"It better not be something bad! No way, right? No way!"

"Please don't ruin my fantasy of Mr. Chen!"

"Why isn't Siqi saying anything, NanNan?!"

The chat group was in chaos, with everyone eagerly waiting for Chen Siqi to report back after her meet-up with Mr. Chen. Chen Siqi glanced up at Chen Yuchen, who was standing right in front of her, then quickly looked down and typed: "I met Mr. Chen."

She paused for a moment, then added, "Mr. Chen is really handsome."

After sending the message, Chen Siqi immediately closed the group chat, following behind Chen Yuchen quietly. The lively and noisy chat was instantly left behind as she focused on the real-life situation.

The two of them boarded the subway together. Chen Yuchen, tall and dressed simply in athletic wear with white sneakers, stood out in the subway car. Meanwhile, Chen Siqi trailed behind him, wearing shorts and cartoon socks, her long legs attracting more than a few glances, though she didn't seem to notice.

At first, the subway car wasn't too crowded, and they maintained a polite distance from each other, neither one speaking. Chen Siqi occasionally snuck glances at Chen Yuchen but quickly looked away whenever she feared being caught. She was curious about the young author standing before her—his writing was so mature, yet he looked even younger than she had imagined.

As the subway passed through several stops, the car began to fill up, becoming more and more crowded. The cramped space made Chen Siqi feel uneasy, especially as she stood near the door, getting jostled from both sides. Her body swayed unsteadily, and she seemed unsure of how to handle the situation.

Chen Yuchen noticed her discomfort. He frowned slightly and gently grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward a corner beside him.

"Stand here," he said in a low, calm voice. His tone didn't invite any argument, and it carried a quiet authority.

Chen Siqi was startled by his sudden action, her cheeks flushing slightly. She obediently followed him to the corner, feeling as though she were now shielded between the wall and his body. His tall frame stood before her, like a barrier, protecting her from the surrounding crowd and noise.

As the subway car swayed slightly with its movement, Chen Siqi's heartbeat quickened. She glanced up at Chen Yuchen's profile—his sharp jawline, his Adam's apple moving subtly with each breath.

That Adam's apple… It's just like in the novels, so masculine, Chen Siqi thought to herself, fighting the sudden urge to reach out and touch it. She quickly restrained herself, feeling her face grow even redder. What am I thinking?! It's all those novels messing with my head! she scolded herself silently.

But still, the thought lingered. How could he be this young? The "Mr. Chen" she had imagined was a mature man in his thirties, full of life experience. The man standing beside her seemed far too young for that image.

Just as her thoughts were spinning, Chen Yuchen suddenly glanced down at her, their eyes meeting for a brief moment. Chen Siqi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

Seeing her reaction, Chen Yuchen couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. This girl is pretty cute.

"Did you come here by yourself to check in?" he broke the silence, casually asking.

"Mm-hmm…" Chen Siqi nodded quickly, her voice soft.

The subway car was crowded and the air stuffy, but Chen Yuchen could still catch a faint scent of shampoo from her hair. Raising an eyebrow, he asked again, "Your parents didn't come with you?"

"They're busy with work. I figured I could handle it myself…" Chen Siqi's voice grew smaller as she admitted her lack of confidence.

"How's that working out for you so far?" Chen Yuchen teased, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"I…" Chen Siqi gave an embarrassed laugh, knowing she hadn't managed her situation very well at all.

Suddenly, Chen Yuchen turned to her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And you just followed me without question? Aren't you afraid I might be a bad guy? You know, big cities like this are full of con artists who target innocent girls like you."

Chen Siqi's face turned pale, and she instinctively stepped back, her heart skipping a beat at the thought.

Seeing her reaction, Chen Yuchen burst out laughing. "Did you actually believe me? Do I look like a bad guy to you?"

"You!" Chen Siqi pouted, glaring at him in frustration, feeling a little wronged.

After a moment, she hesitated, then asked seriously, "Are you really the author of Glorious Years?"

Chen Yuchen responded with a question of his own: "Do I seem like I'm not?"

Shaking her head, Chen Siqi smiled sweetly. "You look much younger than I imagined."

"Well, if you prefer, you can just pretend I'm not," Chen Yuchen shrugged, clearly unbothered by her perception.

"You—" Chen Siqi puffed up her cheeks in mock anger. "If you keep teasing me like this, I'm not going to talk to you anymore!"

"Oh? Then I'll be off." Chen Yuchen smirked as he jokingly pretended to walk away.

"Wait, don't go!" Panicking, Chen Siqi quickly grabbed his arm, her face turning pale as anxiety filled her eyes. Alone in this unfamiliar city, she had finally found someone who made her feel safe. She wasn't about to let him leave.

Chen Yuchen stopped, an amused smile playing on his lips as he looked at her. "What are you doing? You know, men and women shouldn't touch each other, right?"

"Hmph! After all the 'racy' stuff you write in your novels, you're really going to lecture me about propriety?" Chen Siqi retorted, pouting in defiance.

"Oh?" Chen Yuchen raised an eyebrow, his tone full of interest. "Well then, tell me, what exactly is 'racy' in my novels?"

Chen Siqi's face flushed even deeper, completely tongue-tied. She couldn't think of a proper response, so she glared at him, feeling thoroughly embarrassed.

Watching her reaction, Chen Yuchen couldn't help but laugh out loud. Teasing her was turning out to be quite fun.

This girl is really something else.

Despite the crowded subway and the noisy atmosphere, the tension between the two had eased. In that moment, Chen Siqi felt a rare sense of calm and comfort, as if the overwhelming chaos of the city had melted away.