Chapter 45

Lin Shu had successfully persuaded several elderly couples not to buy too many jade items. Just as she was about to find Xu Shijia, she noticed the tour guide approaching her.

Was she coming to confront her about advising people to shop rationally?

As Lin Shu was contemplating how to excuse herself, the tour guide brightly spoke up, “Sister! Your taste is really good!”

“The man you found is quite tall! Just look at how beautiful you are; there’s no way you could choose the wrong one! It’s me who has poor judgment! Your man really knows how to pick! He noticed you looking at that jade bracelet and bought it for you without a second thought!”

“I was wrong to accuse him earlier! It’s not that he’s poor or stingy, nor that he doesn’t want to spend money on you; he just felt that those other jade items were too ordinary and didn’t match your beauty! So he picked the most expensive one! Even though he can only use a consumer loan right now, you need to see a man’s potential for the future. If he’s willing to take on debt for you when he has no money, once he gets rich, he’ll surely bring everything to you!”

Lin Shu felt a bit dazed. Fortunately, the tour guide was chatting away, and while she had just passionately criticized Xu Shijia, now she was praising him smoothly. After a moment, Lin Shu finally pieced together the truth of the situation.

Xu Shijia had bought the jade bracelet she had looked at because its price was outrageous!

“He may not say it, but his actions are very honest. A man like this is what you need—he doesn’t just talk nonsense but shows his love through actions!”

“You didn’t see it; that middle-aged man wanted to buy it for you just now. Your man heard that and couldn’t sit still! Oh, that possessiveness made my heart race at my age!”

The tour guide winked, “Sister, a man like that is worth marrying!”

She was truly someone who could talk her way through anything.

Lin Shu expressionlessly looked at the tour guide and said, “Didn’t you just say that a man without money and no future would quickly become unattractive?”

“Ah! To be honest, sister, all men get like that when they grow old, but your man is a bit different! He’s so handsome and tall right now; those genes are worth a lot! Even though he’ll become an ugly old man, you’ll have beautiful children!”

Lin Shu: “…”

You’ve said everything, both straightforward and indirect.

In any case, Xu Shijia single-handedly boosted the shopping quota for the group, and the tour guide was smiling again.

The tour guide walked away with a grin, but Lin Shu couldn’t smile; her mood was somewhat unsettled, and her heart was beating unusually loud.

Xu Shijia was no longer in a position to spend money lavishly as he used to.

Yet, for her sake, just because she looked at that bracelet for a moment, he had taken out a consumer loan to buy it…

She recalled that night when Xu Shijia had been drunk, how he looked at her with an eager, determined gaze, focused only on her.

Even though she had just drunk a lot of water, Lin Shu felt a bit thirsty again.

She tried hard not to think about Xu Shijia, but his shadow seemed to be everywhere.

Lin Shu remembered the occasional ambiguous look he gave her, those awkward glances, and his subtly odd attitude…

For the first time in her life, Lin Shu experienced a feeling of anxious tension mixed with complex anticipation.

At that moment, the instigator approached Lin Shu, holding the wrapped jade bracelet.

Lin Shu tried hard to suppress her face, which felt like it was burning up, and pretended to be casual as she said, “I only looked at it a couple of times, and you bought it?”

Xu Shijia looked down, avoiding her gaze, and appeared indifferent as he replied, “Oh, yes.”

Before Lin Shu could say anything more, Xu Shijia spoke first—

“It’s not for you.”

He coughed, glancing around, avoiding Lin Shu’s eyes, and looking into the distance as if casually saying, “I bought it for my first love.”

…

As if afraid Lin Shu would ask why he bought it after she had looked at it, Xu Shijia explained to himself, “I’m just a guy who doesn’t understand jade bracelets. Since you looked at it a few times, I figured you girls would all like it.”

There was no problem with that reasoning.

It actually made sense, after all, Xu Shijia was infatuated with his first love, to the point of drunkenly confessing to a wall and even changing his name for her. Now, he was still unable to move on from that failed first love, constantly thinking about her. It was quite passionate, devoted, and admirable.

As a man who had good conditions and plenty of opportunities to meet women, Xu Shijia deserved some praise.

Unfortunately, Lin Shu found that she wasn’t happy at all.

She couldn’t pinpoint her feelings but sensed that the bright sunshine had suddenly turned scorching. The excitement and nervousness she felt just moments ago rapidly cooled, as if she were falling from a great height.

“Who cares about you? A hundred-thousand-dollar bracelet, and you buy it just like that? With such a large loan, don’t let it turn into a naked loan; if you can’t pay it back, your photos will be sent to the group and end up on my phone!”

Lin Shu threw down that remark, pursed her lips, and walked away.

—

After finishing the shopping stop, the tour guide seemed to be in high spirits as they finally began the day’s itinerary, taking the group to the famous national park in Rong City.

The scenery here was delightful, known for being a filming location. The most famous spot was the Sticky Pond, formed by limestone formations that were a bit sticky to the touch, complemented by the flowing water from upstream. It had become a great place for people to play, climb, and explore.

“There are three hiking routes: Route A is the shortest, Route B is moderate, and Route C passes by the Sticky Pond. For those with difficulty walking, I recommend Route A. Each route is separate, so once you choose one, you can’t change it. So choose according to your own abilities; don’t pick something too exhausting! I’ll be taking Route C; anyone who wants to go this way can follow me!”

As a natural oxygen bar backed by a primeval forest, the area was lush with greenery and had pleasant air. After a brief overview of the routes, the guide quickly let everyone disperse to explore.

Without thinking much, Lin Shu chose Route C.

Although she grew up in Rong City, her impoverished youth left her without the money or leisure time to explore, so this was actually her first time visiting the Sticky Pond.

Xu Shijia didn’t say anything, but Lin Shu noticed him in the group for Route C.

After their earlier awkward interaction, neither had spoken to the other.

At that moment, following her gaze, Lin Shu realized Xu Shijia was also secretly watching her.

What was he looking at?

After she had glanced at that outrageously priced bracelet, Xu Shijia decided to buy it for his first love.

Did that mean if she looked at any plants or flowers now, Xu Shijia would notice and pull them up to send to his first love?

Thinking about this made Lin Shu unhappy, and she turned her head away.

Whether it was fatigue or her mood, Lin Shu, despite it being her first visit to the Sticky Pond, felt a bit disinterested.

However, the scenery of the Sticky Pond lived up to its reputation. Many who had chosen this route jumped right into the water, climbing and posing for photos on the limestone.

After making the effort to come here, Lin Shu didn’t want to waste the opportunity, so she jumped onto the limestone at the Sticky Pond. Initially feeling a bit down, nature always had a way of healing the heart. Lin Shu took a few landscape photos, and her mood gradually brightened. However, perhaps too focused on the scenery in her lens, she didn’t pay attention to her feet. The limestone was slippery, and Lin Shu lost her balance, falling into the shallow water.

The nearest person to her was an elderly man who moved slowly but tried to reach out to pull Lin Shu up.

Just before Lin Shu could grasp his hand, another pair of bony hands reached out, grabbing her hand.

Then she heard Xu Shijia’s deep voice—

“Can you get up?”

Despite having just split up from Lin Shu for their free time, Xu Shijia had rushed to her side the moment she fell.

The stones were slippery, and even with Xu Shijia’s help, Lin Shu found it difficult to regain her balance. Xu Shijia didn’t speak further; his other hand wrapped around her waist, half lifting and half supporting her up.

Although her clothes were a bit wet, at least they were dark, and with the sun overhead, they wouldn’t take long to dry. The only issue was that Lin Shu had twisted her ankle in the fall. It wasn’t too serious, but it would be challenging to trek along the long mountain path again, especially since she had chosen the farthest Route C.

The tour guide rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Seeing Lin Shu’s twisted ankle, he sighed heavily, clearly disappointed. “The essence of Route C is all in the later part; you’re really unlucky!”

Not just the tour guide, Lin Shu felt bad inside too. She had indeed looked forward to the scenery ahead, but now she might have to wait for a while to rest and then head back the way she came.

Before she could speak, Xu Shijia silently squatted down in front of her.

He glanced back at Lin Shu. “Get on.”

Lin Shu was a bit taken aback.

“I’ll carry you.”

“This isn’t right.” The tour guide stepped forward to persuade him, “The path ahead is still quite long; it would be too tiring for you to carry her. If you exhaust your energy, neither of you will be able to reach the end. It’s better for you to stay here with her to rest.”

Lin Shu felt the same way, but Xu Shijia was very insistent. He looked at the tour guide, his voice calm but his attitude firm: “You said the scenery gets better ahead; she wants to see it, so I’ll carry her.”

Xu Shijia didn’t say anything extravagant; on the contrary, he appeared very casual and natural.

However, for some reason, Lin Shu felt her heart racing again at his words. The quickening heartbeat returned.

When she finally succumbed to Xu Shijia and ended up lying on his shoulder as he carried her, her feelings became even more complicated and subtle.

As they moved forward, the scenery indeed improved, but Lin Shu had no mind to appreciate it.

She secretly glanced at Xu Shijia’s profile.

Even while carrying Lin Shu, he walked steadily, appearing effortless. Yet the exertion brought a slight flush to his cheeks, and his long eyelashes cast ambiguous shadows in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.

Xu Shijia was indeed very handsome, not inferior to the scenery along the way.

Had he looked like this in high school?

When Lin Shu thought of high school, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. She had been so busy making a living and running around, coupled with her severe nearsightedness and mismatched prescription glasses over the years, that now when she recalled her high school classmates, every face was blurred.

She didn’t even remember what Xu Shijia specifically looked like.

From high school until now, a person’s appearance wouldn’t change too much. Only now did Lin Shu suddenly realize why Xu Shijia had been so popular back then.

With a face like that, it must have been hard for him to keep a low profile.

So if she hadn’t had such severe nearsightedness back then, and had been more aware of the appearances of those around her, would she still have been so merciless in catching Xu Shijia for being late? Would she have disliked him so much that she targeted him silently?

Lin Shu couldn’t say.

She had thought she was righteous and fair-minded, but now, stealing glances at Xu Shijia’s face, she genuinely started to doubt herself.

However, upon further thought, she lost the mood to overthink.

While she was lost in thought, Xu Shijia might secretly be cursing her for being heavy or troublesome.

After all, in his heart, there was only that first love. For Lin Shu, perhaps she was just a subordinate doing her part.

Lin Shu felt a complex and subtle discomfort.

Thinking about how Xu Shijia had crazily spent so much money on a jade bracelet that was basically worthless made her even angrier.

When was he going to pay back the money he owed her?

Unfortunately, Xu Shijia didn’t know when to stop while he was ahead. He clearly had a knack for saying the most inappropriate things—

“I took out a loan to buy a bracelet for my first love; are you unhappy?”

Lin Shu was utterly speechless.

Shouldn’t she be happy about that?

“Xu Shijia, you may not have encountered consumer loans before, but this thing is a bottomless pit. Ordinary people really shouldn’t touch it; it’s a kind of predatory lending, essentially disguised as high-interest loans.”

As Lin Shu spoke, Xu Shijia appeared unfazed: “Oh, when the tour guide recommended the loan app, they said it wasn’t a high-interest loan. The interest rate is 0.1% per month, and as long as I pay it off within a year, it seems fair to me.”

Lin Shu was almost laughing in anger. “You believe their verbal promises about the interest rate? Have you even looked at the terms of the electronic contract? There’s probably a line of small print in an inconspicuous place. Open the app and check those terms. These consumer loans work this way, saying all the good things before you take out the loan; the terms seem favorable, but the actual written electronic terms can be quite predatory.”

“Hmm.” Xu Shijia surprisingly sounded relaxed, holding Lin Shu with one hand while casually pulling out his phone to take a look. “Wow, there is indeed small print in the electronic contract. It says, ‘The monthly interest rate for the first month is 0.1%, and from the second month onward, the monthly interest rate is 2%.’ Those with poor eyesight or who aren’t careful really wouldn’t see it.”

That’s exactly it!

A monthly interest rate of 2% is undoubtedly high interest, but it still falls within the lending rate allowed by banks, so even if you go to court, the lender would still be supported.

Xu Shijia tilted his head: “But the tour guide said it would stay at 0.1% per month.”

Lin Shu was utterly exasperated. “You believe the tour guide too? You’re a lawyer; don’t you understand that everything should be based on written terms? When you can’t make the installments, the collections will start, calling your contacts and harassing you. If you don’t repay, you’ll end up socially ostracized.”

As Lin Shu said this, Xu Shijia nodded: “That’s right; when I registered for the app, they forced me to grant access to my contact list. So this is how they operate.”

It was like the emperor was not worried, but the eunuchs were anxious; Xu Shijia had completely fallen into their trap, yet he still seemed so laid-back as if he were an outsider.

“So how are you going to repay it?” Lin Shu felt a surge of anger. “Are you going to ask me for money again? Before you obsess over your first love, can you be a bit more rational? Where are you going to get the money? Are you planning to make me pay for your first love?”

If it were a worthwhile purchase, she could understand, but buying something overpriced and expecting her to foot the bill for his love made Lin Shu feel like she was going to explode.

Unfortunately, Xu Shijia seemed oblivious to her frustration. After Lin Shu finished explaining the situation, instead of looking serious, he seemed even more amused.

He said confidently, “Lin Shu, you’re angry.”

After a pause, he continued awkwardly, “If I were buying it for you, would you not be angry?”

Of course, she would still be angry! Was this about who it was for?

However, if Xu Shijia had bought it for himself, Lin Shu might have felt a bit less angry. After all…

After all, he did show this thoughtfulness towards his superior, which she had to acknowledge to some extent.

Of course, spending beyond one’s budget and ability on consumer loans was wrong no matter what.

Under such feelings of guilt, Lin Shu lost her chance to respond.

Before she could retort, Xu Shijia pressed on, “Lin Shu, I’ve noticed you care about me a lot.”

“If I can’t repay my consumer loan and you won’t lend me money, that’s fine. I’m the one being harassed by collectors, I’m the one facing social death, I’m the one who bought a worthless bracelet, and I’m the one who cares more about my first love than I should. So, Lin Shu, why are you so anxious? Why do you care about me so much?”

Lin Shu almost instinctively wanted to deny it in a fit of anger, but before she could speak, Xu Shijia continued—

“Even though you care about me so much, I’m not unhappy; in fact, I’m quite happy. But can you trust me just once?”

Xu Shijia’s voice carried a hint of melancholy. “Do you think I’m that foolish in your eyes?”

“The tour guide made false promises about low monthly interest rates; I recorded the entire conversation. I also carefully examined the electronic contract of the app. I noticed that small print long ago and took screenshots. With this evidence, it’s enough to prove I was misled into making a consumption loan, and it’s enough for a complaint.”

“It’s obvious that this tour guide has done this before. If I’m not fooled, there will be plenty of old people who get scammed in the future. It’s better for me to make a big fuss and shut her down so she can’t harm anyone else.”

“I also plan to report this app for infringing on user privacy. The ‘Personal Information Protection Law’ clearly states, ‘The consent for processing personal information must be made voluntarily and clearly by the individual under the premise of being fully informed.’ This app’s ‘Privacy Policy’ only allows users to check ‘Agree’ by default, which is clearly illegal.”

Xu Shijia’s voice was calm, and his narrative was organized and fluid, indicating that he had thought these things through beforehand.

Lin Shu felt her heart racing a bit.

She knew Xu Shijia was right; he was more mature and rational than she had thought. In her haste, Lin Shu misjudged the situation and overstepped, going beyond the level of concern a boss should have.

She could trust Liu Xuhui and Wang Tie Niu immensely and could let them act freely without worry, but for some reason, she always felt hesitant around Xu Shijia.

“As for that jade bracelet, yes, I admit I acted impulsively; I just wanted to buy it. People fight for their dignity,” Xu Shijia said, clearing his throat and glancing at Lin Shu awkwardly. “But wanting to buy something for someone I like isn’t wrong, is it? If I had the money, I wouldn’t just stop at a hundred thousand; I’d buy it for a million. If the person I like likes it, then it’s worth it. Why should I care about anything else?”

Alright, alright, so you still have half your brain in love mode.

Lin Shu felt unhappy again. “How can you consider that rational?”

“I buy what I want, and I’ve thought of a way to handle it.” Xu Shijia snorted coldly. “While I was wandering around earlier, I took note of the business license there. The scope of business includes exhibitions, but there’s no mention of selling jewelry. When I asked, I learned that the shopping point is just a jade carving exhibition hall that charges an entrance fee and sells some water, drinks, and snacks to tourists. They probably realized that selling those things wasn’t profitable, so they started selling jade to make more money, but they didn’t update their business license.”

With that explanation, Lin Shu understood everything.

Once they engage in business activities beyond their licensed scope, it’s illegal. In addition to possible warnings, confiscation of illegal earnings, and fines, in severe cases, they could even be ordered to cease operations and have their business license revoked.

Xu Shijia was clearly thinking along these lines: “I asked the tour guide, and she kept insisting it was a ten-year-old shop that had been selling jade for ten years. Do you think this illegal income and the severity of the situation are enough for them to be shut down and have their license revoked?”

Xu Shijia continued, looking aggrieved. “I recorded the entire thing. And you just scolded me without any good reason, not even a kind word.”

Lin Shu pressed her lips together. This time, she had indeed overreacted. She awkwardly admitted, “Criticizing you without distinguishing right from wrong is indeed my fault.”

But after thinking for a moment, she found Xu Shijia a bit strange. “But you didn’t have to buy it yourself. You could report them for operating beyond their license. Buying a hundred-thousand-yuan bracelet and then returning it—don’t you find that troublesome? You really don’t need to risk yourself to make a complaint, do you?”

It turned out that not saying anything was better; once she mentioned it, Xu Shijia became a bit awkward and fidgety. “If I don’t buy it, she’ll scold me. If I buy it, she’ll praise me. So what’s wrong with me putting in a little effort to get her to praise me?”

“What good does the tour guide’s praise do for you?”

“I just like hearing people praise me. Is that a problem?” Xu Shijia said, sounding quite confident. “You don’t praise me; if you won’t, can’t I find someone else to praise me?”

Alright, alright.

“Can praise fill your stomach?”

Xu Shijia puffed out his chest. “I’m fine with just this; is that a problem?”

“Then don’t ask others next time.” Lin Shu frowned. Her face felt slightly flushed, a rare moment of feeling less composed. “Next time, I’ll praise you myself.”

“Xu Shijia, I misjudged you this time. You really did well; you’re very responsible and even more rational and excellent than I thought.”

As Lin Shu spoke, her voice grew softer and less natural. “Praising you like this, is that okay?”

“Just a few lines? That doesn’t sound like a compliment; it feels like I’m begging for scraps, lacking any sincerity.”

Although she said this, her tone remained calm. Lin Shu could see Xu Shijia’s mouth twitching, unable to contain his smile.

For some reason, Lin Shu felt her emotions becoming a bit strange, a mix of nervousness and uncertainty, as if she were about to miss a step.

Just as she tried to calm herself down, the tour guide suddenly appeared next to her, winking and nudging her—

“Sister, you’re so lucky!”

Lin Shu shot the tour guide an expressionless look.

Unfortunately, her coldness did not deter the tour guide’s enthusiasm. The tour guide exclaimed, “I really misjudged you! This man not only looks outstanding but also isn’t just a pretty face! Look at how effortlessly he carries you along the mountain path!”

“Listen, sister, from my experience, it’s not about what a man looks like; what matters is his physical strength. If he has good stamina, you can be happy! Just look at your man; his stamina is fantastic! Being young makes all the difference! Just look at those abs visible through his shirt, and those calf muscles! Ah! Once he takes off that shirt, he must have those sexy V-lines too!”

“I take back what I said earlier; with such a good foundation, your man can go far! He won’t suffer from any male health issues! He’s really capable! While others are falling apart, your man is thriving!”

“…”

She was complimenting him, but wasn’t the direction of these compliments a bit inappropriate?

Due to her leg injury, Lin Shu was being carried by Xu Shijia and couldn’t just turn around and leave. But surely Xu Shijia would hastily distance himself from this awkward topic.

However, to Lin Shu’s surprise, Xu Shijia’s pace not only didn’t quicken, but it even seemed to slow down a bit, matching the tour guide’s shorter strides. As a result, the tour guide kept following closely behind, babbling about Xu Shijia’s prowess, spouting exaggerated and vulgar remarks, all centered around the topic of stamina in bed. There was no sense of boundaries or shame; Lin Shu really wondered where this tour guide was from, with such a bold demeanor.

Lin Shu couldn’t take it anymore; she leaned closer to Xu Shijia’s ear and whispered, “Can’t you walk faster and shake her off?”

“No,” Xu Shijia replied, a bit awkwardly, but he quickly added, “I can’t go too fast.” He mumbled, “What if I fall? It’s not safe.”

That made sense. He had been carrying Lin Shu for quite a while. Although it looked easy, he must have been quite tired, just putting on a front of not exerting himself.

Xu Shijia’s reaction further deepened Lin Shu’s suspicions—just after she leaned in to speak with him, his ears started turning red, and the flush gradually crept up his face, which had previously been calm and steady. His breathing also became a bit heavier.

Indeed, no matter how fit someone is, carrying someone while walking on a mountain path would be tiring.

So, it was understandable that he couldn’t walk fast to shake off the tour guide.

For this reason, Lin Shu had to endure the tour guide’s incessant praise of Xu Shijia for over half an hour, complimenting his masculinity and how lucky she was to find such a man.

Fortunately, after about half an hour, they reached a rest stop on Route C. Lin Shu finally got down from Xu Shijia’s back to drink water and rest. The tour guide finally left Lin Shu alone, rushing to check on the other older members of the group.

Once the tour guide was gone, Lin Shu couldn’t hold back any longer. “I forwarded you that video of her cursing you out! You should immediately report her! It would be best to replace her with a more professional guide in this group.”

However, unexpectedly, Xu Shijia, who had originally agreed to report the tour guide, now had a subtly changed attitude.

“Forget it,” Xu Shijia said, fidgeting. “Since the other old folks in the group haven’t bought anything particularly expensive after our persuasion, let’s just wait until I get back to report her. There’s no need to rush to change guides right now.”

Isn’t that the truth?

The old folks hadn’t spent any money, but the one who spent the most was you!

You were the biggest victim!

Lin Shu was puzzled. “But she was so harsh on you earlier!”

“She corrected herself,” Xu Shijia said defensively. “I plan to observe her a bit more. While I will definitely report her, I want to give her a chance to see how she performs in the future before deciding how far to take my complaint. You saw it; she has a conscience, recognized her mistake, and immediately corrected it. Didn’t you hear her praise me just now?”

Xu Shijia’s face was slightly unnatural. “She said I’m impressive or something.”

Lin Shu: “…”

Is it true that men can’t find their bearings when they’re praised?

Especially when it’s about that sort of thing…

Lin Shu initially didn’t want to speak up but couldn’t hold back.

Compelled by some strange impulse, she glanced at Xu Shijia and said, “It’s common knowledge that when it comes to such things, it’s useless for others to praise you. Only those who have truly experienced it can give genuine feedback. Did anyone really give you a good review?”

However, this didn’t make Xu Shijia retract his statement. He merely looked a bit odd, then stared at Lin Shu for a few moments before lowering his gaze. “How do you know they didn’t give me a good review? Maybe in their hearts, they think highly of me.”

“And what do you mean by ‘everyone’? Are you implying I’m just any random man? That many people can evaluate me? Don’t slander me; only one woman in my life has the right to judge whether I’m good or not.”

That woman would be Xu Shijia’s first love.

It was a topic that crossed a safety boundary, but now the two of them were in a dense, forested national park, with the other group members gradually getting back on the trail. Besides the chirping of birds, there were hardly any signs of human presence, making it feel like a secluded island, with only survivors Lin Shu and Xu Shijia remaining.

The atmosphere here was completely different from the steel-and-concrete office buildings. Lin Shu didn’t know what was happening to her; she looked into Xu Shijia’s beautiful eyes and felt an uncontrollable urge to provoke him.

“If your first love really thought highly of you, she wouldn’t have lost contact with you for so many years.”

As soon as Lin Shu said that, she regretted it. Xu Shijia’s first night and his failed first love were indeed quite tragic and elicited sympathy, especially since he still harbored feelings for the other person. Beyond that experience, he had remained chaste to this day. Her comment felt quite harsh.

“I’m sorry,” Lin Shu almost immediately apologized. “I didn’t mean to bring up that topic.”

However, this time, Xu Shijia seemed not to care much. He averted his gaze, his tone a bit awkward. “What’s the big deal? Not having experience the first time is normal. Are there really people who are great at it on their first try?”

As he said this, he finally raised his head and looked into Lin Shu’s eyes. “Have you experienced it?”

Lin Shu felt a bit unhappy. “Why do you assume I must have had experience?”

This implied that she was no longer a virgin.

Although Lin Shu indeed was not, she wasn’t sure why she felt a bit upset by Xu Shijia’s assumption.

Xu Shijia quickly realized this and added, “In modern society, there aren’t that many virgins or non-virgins. It’s not like we’re in elementary school; it’s quite normal.”

He glanced at Lin Shu. “Besides, with your looks, you must have had people pursuing you. Although you’re single now, who knows, maybe you’ve had a few ex-boyfriends before. Adults in relationships don’t just hold hands in a platonic way. Having experience is normal; there’s no need for women to feel ashamed about it. It doesn’t matter to me when I look for a partner.”

Once the topic reached this point, Lin Shu didn’t know what had gotten into her. She felt compelled to continue, almost on a whim—

“I’ve never had a boyfriend.” She stared at the ground. “But I do have some experience.”

If she thought about it, her experiences were quite similar to Xu Shijia’s; she had never had a first love, but her first time was no longer virgin-like, and she had only one experience in her life regarding this aspect.

Of course, although it was just once, Lin Shu felt that the significance of that experience could match that of several for others.

At this moment, she was forced to recall the chaotic and lawless nature of that night, feeling that it could be described as excessively indulgent.

That night, she suffered great humiliation from Lin Shiyao and learned that Tao Lei had turned around and gotten together with Lin Shiyao. They looked like a perfect couple, while Lin Shu felt like a dark, crawling rat at Lin Shiyao’s birthday party, an outcast at a gathering where everyone else seemed to belong. She wore shabby clothes and thick, worn-out glasses, squinting, feeling that her life was as blurred and distorted as the world through her eyes.

Lin Shiyao even deliberately humiliated Lin Shu by dragging her onto the stage for everyone to witness her embarrassment and then “accidentally” knocked her glasses off and broke them.

At that moment, Lin Shu, without her glasses, felt almost blind. She couldn’t clearly see the steps going down, needing to carefully hold the railing like a little old lady. The glaring lights at the birthday party, the malicious eyes watching for a spectacle, and the ridicule coming from all directions filled her with panic and unease, making her feel aggrieved and struggling.

But when one has no money, one lacks confidence.

The reason she attended Lin Shiyao’s birthday party was to catch her father for child support.

“Who would look at her? How could Tao Lei possibly be with her? With her looks, what man could have an appetite for her? Tao Lei probably just felt sorry for her…”

Lin Shiyao’s words were like a sharp blade tearing open Lin Shu’s wounds of insecurity.

Amidst a mix of emotions, Lin Shu allowed herself to drink at Lin Shiyao’s birthday banquet for the first time. Alcohol could erase all worries and provide a fleeting joy, but the one thing Lin Shu didn’t anticipate was that the drink handed to her seemed to have something else mixed in.

Her body felt like it was on fire; she became dizzy. Sensing something was off, Lin Shu tried to leave, but without her glasses, she stumbled. A man steadied her; the alcohol, her nearsightedness, and the heat in her body made it hard for her to focus and see his face clearly, but he didn’t seem tall, and his presence made Lin Shu feel repulsed. She remembered wanting to break free from him, but he clung to her like a stubborn adhesive.

Lin Shiyao’s birthday party was held in a five-star hotel, but Lin Shu didn’t know how she ended up being pushed toward the hotel room.

Strangely enough, when they reached the room’s door, Lin Shu tried to look at his face again and found that, contrary to her earlier impression, he was indeed very tall, and his scent was pleasant, one that Lin Shu liked.

What happened next spiraled completely out of control.

Perhaps to prove she had charm with the opposite sex, Lin Shu leaned in to kiss him.

She thought he would push her away, but unexpectedly, he kissed her back passionately. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and Lin Shu felt as if she was a tree entangled by a wild vine full of life.

Then they entered the room together.

After that, Lin Shu didn’t want to recall anything else.

All she vaguely remembered was that the man pressing against her must have been very tall, young, and strong.

When she woke up, he was lying next to her, his defined shoulder blades visible beneath the loosely draped sheets, his lower body haphazardly covered, one leg recklessly stretched out from under the blanket, revealing a long and fit proportion. His face was turned outward, draped with a blanket, buried in the soft pillow. The blackout curtains blocked all light, but from the contours of his body, she could tell that his physique was even better than her chaotic memories from the night before.

She didn’t even dare to turn on the light to get a closer look at his face; she felt as if she had walked on a rain-soaked, trampled path—muddy and messy.

Lin Shu got up, unsteadily walking past the trash can. Glancing at it casually, she was shocked to see what was inside and its quantity, her face turning pale. She didn’t know if it was due to her anxiety or what, but one item that should have been properly thrown into the trash was carelessly discarded just a step away from the can, like an egg meant to be stored, broken and leaking its contents onto the carpet.

Clearly, its owner had been too impatient or had acted too forcefully, so that poor egg had been shattered long before, unable to withstand the storm.

Lin Shu’s face turned pale; she didn’t bother to clean up or even know what she was thinking. In a state of panic and nervousness, she left all her spare change on the bedside table for the room fee, her mind in a whirl as she hurriedly got dressed and ran away.

Afterwards, Lin Shu used emergency medication and underwent a checkup. Fortunately, she confirmed that she was healthy, and it turned out to be a false alarm.

However, Lin Shu completely did not want to recall the most rebellious night of her life. It was the greatest and only mistake she made in her life—going to bed with a man whose face she hadn’t even clearly seen and losing her virginity.

If it weren’t for Xu Shijia bringing it up at this moment, she might have even tried to brainwash herself into believing that it had all never happened, that it was merely a boring and vulgar spring dream.

But if she had to recall it, if she had to give that night an evaluation, Lin Shu couldn’t lie and say it was a terrible first experience.

The truth was that not only was it not bad, it could be rated as far beyond normal levels with strong service awareness. Aside from having remarkable stamina and leaving a few minor aftereffects, it could be considered perfect. After all, those aftereffects were manageable; medications could eliminate any subsequent risks.

Lin Shu actually didn’t want to discuss this. Although modern society has long since eliminated the shame associated with losing one’s virginity, and there’s nothing wrong with talking about it openly, she still felt a bit resistant. She wasn’t someone who was particularly brave or proactive in private matters, but Xu Shijia looked at her as if he was sure she wouldn’t dare share or lacked the courage.

Clearly, Lin Shu wasn’t the kind of person easily provoked, but at that moment, she didn’t know what was wrong with her. It felt almost like she was acting out of spite.

Could she really not handle it?

Not likely.

“My experience, though it was just once, was still quite good,” Lin Shu averted her gaze and tried to maintain a calm tone as she explained. “But the other person was definitely not a first-timer.”

At the same time, she recalled the overly harsh comments she had made about Xu Shijia earlier and subconsciously tried to soothe him. “So you’re not wrong; most people do lack experience for their first time. I just happened to encounter someone experienced.”

Lin Shu was kindly giving Xu Shijia an out, but to her surprise, rather than accepting it, Xu Shijia’s emotions suddenly escalated. He immediately refuted her seriously, “How do you know he was experienced?! He might also be a first-timer! You’re slandering him! That guy could have been saving himself for over twenty years, and his purity might have been ruined by you!”

He looked as if he had suffered a terrible humiliation.

Lin Shu was utterly speechless.

What benefit would it be for that guy to be a first-timer? Wouldn’t it only highlight Xu Shijia’s inadequacies? It led to her first love leaving after that night, and they never contacted each other again.

She was specifically considering his male pride, trying to give Xu Shijia a reason, and he reacted like this.

Lin Shu felt a bit angry.

“Fine, if you say he’s a first-timer, then he’s a first-timer. But there’s a huge difference between first-timers; my experience was very good—exceptionally good. I don’t know about his financial situation, but the hardware was excellent, at least meeting the standard of two 180s. I found it quite memorable, and I might not find someone who clicks like that again.”

Although she intended to provoke Xu Shijia, the “two 180s” weren’t entirely made up. The guy was definitely over 180 centimeters tall, and as for that part… it was obviously over 180 millimeters as well.

After all, when she first saw it, even with her severe nearsightedness, Lin Shu’s first reaction was to think about whether she might die. The only thought in her mind was to escape.

Of course, she couldn’t escape. Lin Shu was dizzy from the alcohol; when he gently tugged at her ankle, she was pulled back. After that, she couldn’t escape again, forced to spend the entire night drifting like they were on a turbulent sea.

Sure enough, the mention of “180s” caught Xu Shijia off guard.

Men are very sensitive about such things, but just as Lin Shu thought Xu Shijia might feel inferior or angry, he suddenly nervously bit his finger, then looked at Lin Shu with a complicated expression.

Lin Shu genuinely found it hard to understand Xu Shijia. This was clearly a cutting attack, yet after staring at her for a moment, Xu Shijia’s ears began to turn red. Not only was he not angry, but his eyes also became bright, as if a shadow had suddenly lifted. His expression when he looked at Lin Shu even held a strange smile—

“Oh—” he elongated the sound, “Are you that satisfied?”

Seeing that expression made Lin Shu inexplicably annoyed.

What did it have to do with him? She was mocking him! Mocking him for his first love being incompatible and having no future!

He was so absurd.

Xu Shijia had that teasing expression.

What? Lin Shu being satisfied with someone else was related to him? Why did it feel as if she was praising him? And why did he look so pleased? He should really consider where his first love had gone.