She turned to leave, but Lu Mingxi grabbed her wrist.
Qin He turned back and saw that Lu Mingxi's expression was more solemn than ever.
"I know you don't believe me. With my reputation in the past, it's normal that you don't."
Lu Mingxi reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box.
It was a very old-fashioned jewelry box.
Lu Mingxi opened it with great seriousness.
A diamond ring lay inside the velvet box.
"This was left to me by my grandmother. It's her only remaining keepsake."
His gaze was firm, and his usually dissolute face showed nervousness and expectation.
"Qin He, after spending so much time together, I've truly fallen in love with you. I hope you can give me a chance to prove my love for you."
After speaking, Lu Mingxi smiled, "Haven't you noticed that I haven't had any scandals since I've been with you?"
A gentle breeze blew, carrying the fragrance of flowers from the garden. Qin He quietly clenched her hands, seeing the vulnerability in Lu Mingxi's eyes.
Though he wore a smile, his gaze was resolute.
Qin He pursed her lips and spoke solemnly.
"Lu Mingxi, to me, you are my brother's best friend and my friend. I don't want to be a person who drags things out, nor do I want to give you false hope. I don't have feelings of love for you."
Lu Mingxi's fingers, gripping the box, turned white. His expression remained unchanged.
"He'er, feelings can be cultivated slowly. If you think I'm not a bad person—"
Qin He frowned and interrupted him.
"We've known each other for so long. If feelings could have developed, they would have by now."
The path was quiet. Lu Mingxi lowered his gaze.
A few seconds later, he let out a wry smile. "So, do you have those romantic feelings for Gu Qichen?"
Qin He trembled slightly, a hint of panic flashing across her face.
Lu Mingxi had his answer.
Before he went to Jiang City, Qin He had been indifferent to Gu Qichen.
It was Gu Qichen who had quietly stolen her heart.
"I won't give up," Lu Mingxi's voice was incredibly firm.
The first time he saw Qin He was at a nightclub, where she was playing the drums like a wild cat.
Her entire being exuded freedom and boldness, which immediately captured his attention.
At first, he didn't know Qin He's identity. Later, he discovered that this little wild cat was Qin Yun's sister.
Lu Mingxi had been a playboy for years, adhering to one ironclad rule: never touch a good brother's woman or sister.
Later, as they spent more time together, he treated it as a game, often teasing Qin He, this lovely little wild cat. But somewhere along the line, this little wild cat had burrowed into his heart.
Whenever he thought of Qin He, it felt as if a paw was gently scratching his heart, a desire shouting to be with her.
Falling in love could be silent.
Lu Mingxi took the ring out of the box and pulled Qin He's hand, attempting to slide it onto her finger.
"Lu Mingxi, don't do this," Qin He tried to pull her hand back.
Lu Mingxi looked up at her. "If you're unwilling to accept me now, just consider it accepting a friend's gift."
His voice was low, tinged with stubbornness.
Qin He sighed. "No friend would give a ring."
She firmly withdrew her hand.
"Lu Mingxi, I think being clear about everything is for the best, for both you and me."
Qin He pursed her lips. Before, Lu Mingxi's affections had been playful, so she had never truly taken his confessions to heart.
But from today onwards, she felt the need to create some distance between herself and Lu Mingxi.
Lu Mingxi saw through Qin He's intentions. It seemed that with his confession, a chasm had suddenly opened between them.
The faint sense of distance emanating from Qin He made Lu Mingxi's heart ache instantly.
"You are indeed direct and decisive," Lu Mingxi's voice was somewhat hollow.
Before he took over the Lu Group, he had indulged in years of pleasure. He had seen many of his brothers fall into women's traps.
Those women were adept at neither accepting nor rejecting, content to enjoy the men's affections.
Lu Mingxi had once disdained such women.
But then, a preposterous thought occurred to him: he would rather Qin He neither accepted nor rejected him.
He just wanted to stay by her side and love her.
Even if she were a bit heartless, it would be acceptable.
Now, he knew Qin He's intentions were good, but she had severed his feelings so cleanly.
It pained him to the point of suffocation.
Qin He looked at Lu Mingxi, standing there inexplicably like a frozen stone.
"I need to go back. It's my brother's engagement banquet today. You've been to the Qin family's house many times; you should be able to find your way back on your own."
"Qin He," Lu Mingxi suddenly called out.
Qin He, about to leave, looked up at him.
Lu Mingxi strode towards her and, before Qin He could resist, pinned her arms.
"Whether you have romantic feelings or not, perhaps you'll know if you try."
Lu Mingxi felt he was almost mad. He lowered his head, looking at Qin He's full lips, his eyes filled with a frantic intensity.
Since the relationship had already been divided by a chasm, and since she was beginning to be indifferent to him, he had to forcefully break through this indifference.
After all, he had no intention of letting go, ever!
Qin He's eyes widened as she saw Lu Mingxi lean in to kiss her.
"Lu Mingxi, let go of me!"
Qin He was quite skilled. She dodged and managed to free one wrist.
However, considering the baby in her womb, Qin He's movements were not as agile as usual.
Lu Mingxi also realized his mistake.
He had acted impulsively. Looking at Qin He's guarded expression, he was filled with regret.
"I'm sorry, I was a bit impulsive—"
Before Lu Mingxi could finish speaking.
A "thud" was heard.
Qin He looked at the fallen stone and then at Lu Mingxi's injured head.
She turned to look in the direction from which the stone had been thrown.
The stone had come so quickly that Lu Mingxi hadn't had time to react.
Beside a large tree by the path, Yan Chen stood by the roadside, holding another stone, a dangerous smile on his face.
He had thrown the previous one as well.
Qin He frowned. "Yan Chen, what are you doing here?"
Yan Chen walked forward, pulled Qin He behind him, and said, "Li Yan and I were supposed to be attending your brother's wedding. Since Qichen isn't around lately, as his brothers, we naturally had to be here on his behalf."
"Then why aren't you at the banquet?" Qin He tugged on Yan Chen's arm and snatched the remaining stone from his hand.
It was a pebble half the size of her palm; hitting someone on the head with it could be serious.
Yan Chen sneered at Lu Mingxi.
"I originally intended to take a look around your garden, but I didn't expect to run into a pervert!"