After knocking on the door for a long time with no response, Lu Xue began to suspect that she might have gone to the wrong place.
Mu Yuze parked the car, got out, and joined Lu Xue in knocking on the door. The two waited at the door for another ten minutes or so. Finally, they heard footsteps approaching slowly in the distance.
Lu Xue pricked up her ears and could sense that someone was coming to open the door.
When the door opened, an old gentleman with a slightly surprised look appeared inside.
The old gentleman sized up the two of them from head to toe and asked, "Who are you two? What's the matter with you coming to find me so late at night?"
Seeing Mr. Chen, Lu Xue was a bit eager. But due to her over - eagerness, she couldn't even speak clearly. It was Mu Yuze who calmly spoke up beside her.
"Mr. Chen, my friend here has come to visit you out of admiration. She wants to learn some painting skills from you. We've come to visit you several times before, but unfortunately, we just missed each other. This time, in order to see you when you're at home, we came in a hurry without calculating the time well. That's why we arrived in the middle of the night. We're really sorry if we've disturbed you."
After hearing their purpose, the wariness in Mr. Chen's eyes faded, and his smile became softer.
He stepped aside to let the young man and woman in, then said apologetically, "Sorry. If I had more time, maybe I could sit down and chat with you. But I just came back here to pick up something on my way. I have to leave early tomorrow morning. I'm afraid..."
Hearing this, Lu Xue's expression immediately drooped, and a look of frustration appeared on her face. It was so hard to find a time when Mr. Chen was at home, but there were always so many twists and turns.
She exchanged a look with Mu Yuze, and neither of them said a word.
After all, they had gone through so much trouble to get here, and hearing such an answer, they were both very disappointed.
Mr. Chen probably also felt a bit bad about it. He had heard from his neighbors that a young girl had come to find him several times, showing great sincerity.
Mr. Chen thought for a while and said, "How about this? You two can stay here for the night and then leave. I still have to go out as soon as it gets light because I've made an appointment with my old friends and I can't break it. But I can meet you at another time. You can come here again then, and I'll set aside some time specifically to talk with you. What do you think?"
Lu Xue was a bit surprised. "Mr. Chen, do you mean you're willing to set aside some time to meet me next time?"
Mr. Chen nodded. "Yes. Since you're so sincere, I feel bad making you come here in vain again and again."
With Mr. Chen's words, Lu Xue had something to look forward to.
She glanced at Mu Yuze. Mu Yuze silently nodded at her, a warm smile curving his lips.
Obviously, both of them thought this was the best answer they could get.
Seeing that the two young people agreed, Mr. Chen warmly invited them into the house.
"It's a bit late tonight. You two can just make do in an empty room in my yard."
As he said this, Mr. Chen enthusiastically led them into an empty room. The room was rather simple, with only a bed, two pillows, and a simple quilt.
"Miss, you can sleep in this room with your boyfriend. The room next to it is a wood - storage room. This is the only empty room in the yard. You two can just make do for one night. Early tomorrow morning, I'll call my old friends right away to confirm the time, and then I'll set a specific time and place for our next meeting with you."
Looking at the bed, Lu Xue looked a bit hesitant. The two of them stood in the room, feeling a bit awkward with each other.
Lu Xue coughed lightly, wanting to explain to Mr. Chen that they were not a couple. But then she remembered that Mr. Chen had just said this was the only empty room in the yard.
They had come unannounced from afar and were already troubling Mr. Chen so much. It really seemed unreasonable.
The words Lu Xue wanted to say were swallowed back on her lips. Looking at Mu Yuze's expression, it seemed that he was also afraid of troubling Mr. Chen.
Moreover, the conditions here were very limited. Even if they said they were not a couple, there was no better solution. It would only add to the awkwardness between them.
The two politely thanked Mr. Chen and tacitly chose to remain silent.
After Mr. Chen left, only Mu Yuze and Lu Xue were left in the room. The two stood there awkwardly, both feeling a bit helpless.
Only Lu Xue and Mu Yuze were left in the room.
The two faced each other awkwardly.
Lu Xue coughed lightly.
"Um... sorry. Maybe Mr. Chen mistook us for a couple..."
Mu Yuze shifted his gaze slightly at this moment.
Actually, he was just as embarrassed as Lu Xue, but as a man, he managed to keep calm and said in a low voice, "It doesn't matter. It's late. Let's go to sleep."