Reborn in the 80s: Everyone Falls For Me
Chapter 350 - 349: Keep Your Distance (4 more updates)

Chapter 350: Chapter 349: Keep Your Distance (4 more updates)

If she hadn’t known him so well, how could she have analyzed the ambiguous nature of his feelings even before confessing her love?

Just as Zuo Qing understood Jin Ruiyang, Jin Ruiyang also understood Zuo Qing.

But Zuo Qing’s affection for him was buried too deep.

The first time Jin Ruiyang realized Zuo Qing’s feelings was the day before she left to go abroad.

It was then that he recognized her feelings for him were different.

The two of them had grown up together from childhood.

In the past, Yu Feifei and Zuo Qing were the little tagalongs to him and Jin Yu.

However, Zuo Qing’s relationship with him was different from that of Jin Yu and Yu Feifei.

Jin Yu disliked having Yu Feifei following him around since they were young.

But he and Zuo Qing were very good friends.

Zuo Qing understood him very well, could discuss many topics with him, and she was also very kind to him.

He always considered Zuo Qing a confidant, and before he knew about her feelings, he would share almost anything that was on his mind with her.

At that time, Zuo Qing would listen by his side with a gentle tenderness.

After listening, she would give him reasonable advice, allowing him to make his own decisions and not forcefully telling him what to do.

When he was confused, she would also help him analyze the pros and cons of a situation.

Perhaps it was because they were too familiar with each other that he had always seen Zuo Qing as a sister, a confidant, and had never conceived of any other feelings.

It was only before Zuo Qing left to go abroad, through her reluctance and the feelings she almost expressed, that he suddenly realized her feelings for him were different from his feelings toward her.

But since Zuo Qing went abroad, Jin Ruiyang had pushed the matter aside.

He thought that with the passage of time, maybe Zuo Qing could forget him on her own without him having to say anything.

It was only yesterday when he returned and Elder Master Jin told him that Grandpa Xu had suggested that he and Zuo Qing might consider marriage, and that Zuo Qing had started inquiring about whether he was seeing someone even before she returned to the country, did Jin Ruiyang realize that Zuo Qing had not forgotten him.

The reason he had arranged to meet Zuo Qing today was to make things clear to her.

He hadn’t expected her to reveal her feelings first.

Jin Ruiyang saw Zuo Qing as a sister, as a confidant, and seeing her distressed expression, he thought she probably guessed that he was going to reject her.

At this moment, he wanted to give his seemingly fragile sister a hug.

But he knew he couldn’t.

Because a hug might elicit hope from deep within her heart.

He had actually considered it – since he didn’t have a woman he loved, why not just marry Zuo Qing.

But upon closer thought, it wasn’t just irresponsible towards him, it was irresponsible to Zuo Qing’s life.

He didn’t want that.

It was rare for Jin Ruiyang to take off his glasses in front of a woman, and today he had taken them off twice.

He looked at Zuo Qing earnestly, replying to her calmly and rationally, "I’m sorry, I can’t accept your feelings."

The expected answer still caused Zuo Qing’s heart to leap when he spoke, and upon hearing his confirmed response, her heart uncontrollable clenched.

"Is it because of that girl just now?" Her eyelashes, curled like butterfly wings, quivered lightly as Zuo Qing softly asked.

Jin Ruiyang pondered, which girl?

There were two just now...

One appeared to be his type, the other definitely not.

But neither was the reason he was rejecting Zuo Qing.

He shook his head, "It’s not because of anyone, it’s because I don’t love you."

His gentle voice was still warm, but Zuo Qing felt no warmth at all.

He continued, "Do you understand? Qingqing?"

"To this day, I don’t dare to ask if we can continue being good friends; that would be too cruel to you, unless one day you no longer love me," Jin Ruiyang said seriously.

Then he looked at Zuo Qing, whose tears were already silently falling.

Jin Ruiyang offered her a tissue, "After today, let’s not meet privately anymore."

Zuo Qing’s tears fell, her heart ached to the point of numbness, yet she smiled as she took the tissue he had handed her.

He had given that woman his handkerchief, which he had kept on him.

"Ruiyang, can you not be so cruel?"

She gently wiped the tears from her face, "If we can’t be lovers, then let’s continue being friends, isn’t it? Just because you don’t like me, do you not even want to give me the status of a friend?"

"In my heart, you will always be my confidant, my friend, and my sister, but until you let go of your feelings for me, I think I’m not suited to maintain the kind of closeness a confidant can have, sorry."

Zuo Qing held back tears as she curved her lips into a bitter smile, understanding Jin Ruiyang’s intention; she softly said, "Gentleman Jin Ruiyang would never do something to make a girl cry, right?"

Jin Ruiyang smiled too, "But you know that’s not me."

With those words, Jin Ruiyang drove off, taking Zuo Qing back to the Xu Family.

It so happened that Elder Master Jin was also planning to return home, so he took the opportunity to give him a ride.

Zuo Qing’s forced smile finally collapsed into discomfort after Jin Ruiyang left.

He was still the same...

Never giving any chances.

From the past to the present, to women who were simply infatuated with his looks, he was exceptionally gentle and would follow them around.

To those who gave him their true hearts, he would make it clear to maintain a distance.

Perhaps for this reason, her confession had been so delayed; because she didn’t want to be distant from him, not even a little bit.