CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25: SOMEONE CRUSH?

After hastily eating, Su Chen left home. Following his mother’s instructions, he headed toward Aunt Lin’s residence. She lived in the Imperial Grand Courtyard, a relatively upscale neighborhood. Her courtyard was located in the East District, separated from Su Chen’s home in the West District by a small artificial lake.

As he approached the lake, Su Chen paused, noticing a youthful figure pacing by the water’s edge, occasionally glancing in the direction of his house.

Although Su Chen wasn’t particularly familiar with this girl due to political affiliations within the government, they lived in the same courtyard, so he knew who she was.

The girl was none other than Song Xue, the daughter of Aunt Lin and Secretary Song.

At eighteen, she radiated youthful vitality having inherited her parents’ exceptional genes. This charming girl possessed extraordinary beauty.

Could she be waiting for me? Su Chen thought, a strange feeling stirring within him. But he quickly shook his head. The relationship between their families had never been particularly close, so he dismissed any other interpretations.

Beautiful girls always attract attention even without doing anything.

Although Su Chen preferred more mature women, he wasn’t averse to the charm of a young girl.

As he strolled toward the lake, he sensed Song Xue’s gaze. The girl had noticed him, and for a fleeting moment, he even felt a hint of genuine delight in her eyes. Slightly puzzled, Su Chen maintained his composure and approached her.

Just as he suspected, Song Xue had been waiting by the lake for him for quite some time.

Girls often mature emotionally before boys. What others didn’t know was that Song Xue, at eighteen, harbored a secret crush on Su Chen. She wasn’t sure when she became captivated by his handsome, sunlit aura but she found herself thinking of him often.

However, her father and Su Chen’s aunt, Luo Ning, belonged to rival factions, and the two families rarely interacted. This forced Song Xue to suppress her feelings deeply.

Perhaps the pent-up emotions, suppressed for so long, finally burst forth like fireworks when she learned of her father’s change of heart. Ever since learning at noon that Su Chen was coming to their home as a guest, Song Xue had been in a daze all afternoon. She had rushed out early to wait by the small lake, her heart aching with anticipation.

When Su Chen finally appeared, Song Xue was both overjoyed and flustered. This was the first time she’d faced the boy she liked and she had no idea what to do.

"Song Xue, what are you doing here?" Su Chen asked as he approached her.

Looking at Song Xue’s lovely face, Su Chen couldn’t help but think of his younger sister. Both were equally beautiful, equally charming and tempting. His troubled thoughts softened at that moment.

"Brother Chen," Song Xue called out in a clear voice. She was a few months younger than Su Chen and currently in her first year of high school at the same school.

The young girl exuded a fresh aura reminding Su Chen of the minty taste of mint candy he’d once enjoyed. Unlike his younger sister’s delicate charm, Song Xue possessed a refreshing softness. Her dewy appearance made him think of tender napa cabbage just ripe for picking.

Only time would tell who would be the one to overturn this maiden.

Song Xue inherited all ofher mother virtues: fair skin with the gentle grace unique to women of Jiangnan. Her features echoed her mother’s charm, especially those large hazel eyes.

Su Chen was drawn to girls like this knowing they naturally stirred both male protectiveness and a primal desire for possession.

At that moment, standing beside Song Xue, Su Chen felt the pearl in his dantian stir again. Pink mist drifted continuously from it, merging into his body. He had a peculiar sensation, as if absorbing enough of this crimson mist would lead to unforeseen consequences.

Yet what exactly would happen remained a mystery, leaving Su Chen both eager and apprehensive—anticipating a surprise, yet fearing he might transform into something dangerous.

After all, the pearl’s behavior was utterly baffling: it only reacted to exceptionally beautiful women, as if these women possessed some innate spiritual essence!

Su Chen couldn’t imagine whether reaching the critical point and undergoing this transformation would turn him into an unadulterated pervert. Of course, being a pervert was a fantasy many men would entertain, but Su Chen was terrified of developing desires to possess his own sisters, or worse to defile his own mother. Such thoughts were truly terrifying!

Sensing those arousing thoughts surfacing again, Su Chen quickly suppressed his mind. He took a deep breath and asked Song Xue, "Were you waiting for me?"

Song Xue heart was pounding wildly. She had suppressed her feelings for this handsome boy for far too long, and now that she finally had the chance to express them, her anticipation, excitement and nervousness were overwhelming.

Feeling that every action might be wrong, she gently bit her lower lip, clutched the hem of her dress, and nodded shyly.

Though silent, it felt as if she had used all her strength. Song Xue felt her mind go blank, her body going weak.

"I..I heard Mom say that Brother Chen was coming to visit our family, so I came here to wait for you!"

Song Xue’s unusual reaction stirred something in Su Chen’s heart, a strange feeling emerging.

Could this girl actually have feelings for me? Why else would she react like this?

Feeling unsettled, Su Chen couldn’t help but scrutinize the girl before him.

Her scent was fresh, her figure slender and her skin soft. Long chestnut hair, tied with a green ribbon, swayed lightly behind her. At 165 centimeters, she carried a graceful frame, her delicate features and rosy lips enhancing her beauty. A white knee-length dress revealed slender legs sheathed in translucent stockings, their shimmer outlining smooth curves. Her rounded hips and perky breasts rose with each breath, while pale flats on her feet lent her a youthful charm that made Su Chen’s heart stir.

Song Xue wasn’t Su Chen’s younger sister, so he felt no reservations, and his gaze became almost audacious.

Such a look might have annoyed other girls, but Song Xue couldn’t bring herself to dislike it. Instead, Su Chen’s gaze made her feel weak and pliant all over.

It was as if invisible hands were caressing her body with every flicker of his eyes, sending tingles through her.

"Brother Chen, d-don’t look at me like that. I... I..."

After stammering for a moment, Song Xue closed her eyes and turned her face away, too embarrassed to meet Su Chen’s gaze. This reaction only confirmed Su Chen’s suspicions.

With a subtle smile, he said, "I just never imagined that little girl from years ago would grow into such a lovely young woman!"

His words carried a flirtatious undertone, making Song Xue’s heart race and her cheeks flush crimson. Yet, inexplicably, a warm happiness blossomed in her heart.

"Let’s go. I was just about to visit your place. We’ll go together!" Su Chen said casually, reaching out to take Song Xue’s hand.

The smooth sensation of her skin made Su Chen marvel at the exquisite softness unique to young women. For a moment, he found himself harboring impure thoughts toward Song Xue. He even considered whether he should "uproot this tender napa cabbage"—not just because this charming girl’s softness was so alluring, but also because he could use her to further study himself.

Song Xue had no idea that her first close encounter with her crush was accompanied by such indecent thoughts, nor did she realize she had become the subject of his research.

Overwhelmed by the intimacy of being led home by her crush, she was so flustered she barely remembered the walk home, dazed and docile as Su Chen guided her forward like a mommy duck.