Raise Love-94-"I chase after you, ancestor"

"Airy." Whoever said Ryder couldn't coax people? Aria had always known that he was gentle, gentlemanly, and patient. He could coax people, and when he wanted to, he could do it better than anyone.

Just like now.

He was very close to her, looking down at her with such serious eyes and a cute kind of stubbornness.

Even the way he called her name was so pleasant.

"Why don't you give me a try?" His voice was low, deliberately drawling, a bit clingy, almost like he was acting coquettishly. "Maybe you'll find that I'm better than him."

"Perhaps I can also be gentle, gentlemanly, and patient."

His hand gently pressed on Aria's head, wanting to ruffle it, but because of the baseball cap, he had to move his hand down and instead pinched her small, soft earlobe with his fingertips.

Then he was surprised to find that the little girl's ears had turned completely red.

...He had forgotten that the little girl was easily shy.

His heart softened. He lowered his eyes, hiding the amazing and gorgeous colors in his eyes, chuckled softly, and continued to coax her.

"Aria."

"I can do what you want."

"Give it a try, okay?"

"Don't think about that person for now. Try with me. I can be just as good. I can give you whatever you want..."

Aria couldn't take it.

Listening to him say these things, she suddenly felt like a heart - patient. Her ears were buzzing, and she couldn't hear anything.

He was breaking the rules.

He was actually trying to seduce her with his good looks.

In the past six years, Aria had never thought, nor dared to think, that one day she would hear such words from Ryder.

And these words were said to her.

He might say these to any beautiful girl, but not to her.

She couldn't tell whether it was joy or something else. Aria's nose suddenly felt sour. She tightly pursed her lips to hold back her tears.

Her eyes were wide open, and she didn't even dare to blink.

What if the tears fell? Would he be able to guess that the person she liked was him?

That was not allowed.

She believed that he liked her a little, but how much was that little? And why? Did he want to try a different type? Or was it because he had spent a long time with her and had an illusion?

Or was it just a sense of novelty?

But how long could this novelty last?

She clearly knew that Ryder was not the type to play with others' feelings, but even so, when it came to herself, she still didn't dare to try easily.

She had liked him for so long.

Just being close to him was enough to make her sink so deeply that she was almost drowning. If she were to be with him.

If they were to separate one day, could she still move on as calmly as before?

His words made her so tempted.

Just last night, she had been tempted by his words for a long time. Even in her dreams, there was his sudden confession. She had walked such a long way, watching his back fade away.

But suddenly, he turned around.

As if crossing several years of time, he smiled at her casually, his unrestrained eyes gentle, and softly called her name.

"Aria."

Ryder was actually not very clear - headed about feelings. He didn't know which word or sentence he said was wrong, but the little girl's clear eyes turned red.

The little girl's eyes were wide open. She had been fine just now, but as he talked, she seemed about to cry.

Ryder panicked for a moment. He frowned solemnly and wiped the corner of her eyes with his fingertips. It seemed that he couldn't wipe away the tears, and his hand was wet.

He sighed in a low voice, "Don't cry. I was wrong. I apologize, okay? You crybaby. What's there to cry about?"

"If you don't want to, it's okay. I'll try harder?" Ryder's mouth felt dry. "If you don't want to forget immediately, maybe you'll suddenly notice my goodness, right?"

"..."

Aria sniffed and wanted to laugh again.

Idiot!

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Big idiot!!

She wiped her tears, looked at Ryder, and suddenly broke into a smile through her tears. With a nasal voice, she said, "Ryder, I lied to you."

Ryder raised his brow. "Hm?"

Aria lowered her eyelashes and said, "Actually, I don't like him that much anymore. I didn't come to Harvard University for him either. It's just because this place is good, and I want a good future."

Oh.

Ryder thought the little girl was lying.

She was crying so hard.

Who would believe it?

But he didn't expose her and just went along with what she said. He smiled lazily and said, "Oh, you lied to me? You're quite brave."

"Then, will you consider what I said?"

Aria's eyelashes fluttered as she looked at him.

She had lied to him.

She couldn't let him know that she had liked him very, very much when he only liked her a little.

The start of a relationship should be equal.

She shook her head, her nasal voice much lighter, and her voice soft and gentle. "I won't consider it."

Ryder looked at her: "..."

He fell silent. Those bastards were really right. If you do too many wrong things, you'll have to pay it back one day.

Now that he met a little girl he liked, he didn't even care about being the one to pursue. But he was still rejected by her.

Ryder felt a bit ashamed.

But he gritted his teeth. Looking at the little girl's delicate appearance, the redness at the corner of her eyes hadn't faded yet, and his heart softened.

Damn.

He was really bewitched.

He frowned and was silent for a long time. He had put all his dignity on the line in this life. He lowered his voice and asked in a somewhat harsh tone, "Then what do I have to do for you to consider it?"

Aria looked at him seriously.

Was he not angry with her like this?

Did he like her more than she thought?

Ryder's hand hanging by his side slightly clenched. Under the little girl's gaze, he felt a strange sense of nervousness.

"Ryder."

Aria smiled, her almond - shaped eyes curving. The small mole under her eye became vivid. She said softly, "You said I was still young and told me to study hard."

Ryder: "..."

Tsk, so he was the idiot.

The stone he threw hit his own foot. It really hurt.

"I've only had a secret crush on someone and never been in a relationship." Aria continued. "But I know that a relationship can't be just talked about casually, and it can't be like this from you."

"Hm?"

Ryder looked down at her.

Aria, a little girl like this, just by smiling could make people want to give her the whole world.

The little girl said to him softly, "Ryder, can you chase me? Then I'll consider being with you."

Ryder was stunned for a moment. A light flashed in his dark eyes, and joy slowly spread in his eyes. At this moment, he was full of youthful charm and an indescribable allure.

He slowly bent down and gently, restrainedly hugged the little girl. Imitating her tone, he said in a low voice, "Okay."

He chuckled softly.

"I'll chase you, little ancestor."

She was so delicate. Wasn't she just like a little ancestor?

Aria smelled the faint bitter - orange fragrance, let it surround her, and slowly relaxed in his embrace, feeling both happy and sour.

She counted five numbers in her heart and gently pushed him away.

"Ryder, you can't hug me now." Aria told him.

Ryder obediently let go of her, took half a step back, and leaned lazily against the wall behind him. He asked in a casual tone, "Then when can I?"