Shang Xinglu was a very careless person in terms of how she handled things.

She could only say things like “hahaha” or “okay, okay,” and couldn’t bring herself to say anything else.

She had progressed through school, skipping grades, but her time in school was still longer than most.

After graduating, she worked in a relatively simple environment, spending her days happily hanging out with her friends, saying “hahaha” and “okay, okay” to each other.

But reality was harsh, and the pressure from her scientific research was intense.

She knew she had to be kind to herself and not push her nerves too hard.

Otherwise, if she wasn’t careful, she might end up on the rooftop in the middle of the night, slipping from the top to the bottom, unable to ever say “okay, okay” or “hahaha” again.

She really didn’t like the tense atmosphere.

On the mountain, there were no houses, and these people still didn’t want to share a room with her or that person…

She was clearly the most easy-going person, so why did it fall to her to make a choice?

Shang Xinglu felt confused and a bit irritated.

If it were another time, it wouldn’t be so bad, but recently, such things had been happening frequently, making it hard for her to control her growing frustration.

Because, based on their hints, it seemed like no matter whom she chose, it would be wrong.

Then…

Why even choose?

She’d just leave. It wasn’t like there weren’t no rooms.

When she found one, she’d bring a bunch of friends to hang out, just like when they were in Las Vegas.

Wouldn’t it be way more fun than now?

Shang Xinglu was a person who, although indifferent and liked to go with the flow, once she made a decision, it was hard for her to change it.

Once she spoke, Yin Yao couldn’t help but say, “It’s getting really dark outside. Isn’t it unsafe for you to go alone?”

Shen Wang added, “And if you leave now, you won’t get home until the early hours.”

Shang Xinglu replied, “It’s fine, I sleep late anyway. It’s no problem if it’s a little later. Besides, even though I’m afraid of the dark, the car is lit, so it’s not dark, not dark at all.”

She smiled after saying that, and her tone didn’t sound defiant. It was this tone that made it even harder to convince her.

Lin Heng was silent beside them.

But he still didn’t let go of Shang Xinglu’s hand.

Yin Yao and Shen Wang tried to persuade her a few more times, but they didn’t have the power to convince her, so they stopped speaking.

At this moment, Lin Heng said, “Come to my room. I have something to discuss with you.”

Shang Xinglu struggled a bit, “Wait, I think I have a driver coming, and I’m afraid I’ll miss the ride. Maybe I should stay in the lobby.”

Lin Heng’s tone wasn’t soft. He said, “It’ll only take a few minutes. After that, you can leave.”

Shang Xinglu: “…”

Lin Heng: “If you want, I can say it in front of them.”

Shang Xinglu finally gave in, “Alright, let’s go to your room then.”

Lin Heng let go of her hand, and the two walked towards the elevator, one in front and the other behind.

Yin Yao and Shen Wang were left behind.

Since Lin Heng’s suite had a different elevator than the one Yin Yao and Shen Wang were taking, they exchanged glances before heading to their elevator.

By sheer coincidence, it was the same floor.

The elevator contained only Yin Yao and Shen Wang.

The situation had made Shang Xinglu insistent on leaving, and Shen Wang was also feeling a little uneasy about it.

Normally, it was perfectly reasonable for two girls to share a room.

But he knew… or rather, he suspected that Yin Yao’s intentions weren’t entirely pure.

But he wasn’t sure.

So, Shen Wang asked, “Do you like Louise?”

Yin Yao replied lightly, “Yes, I like her.”

Shen Wang coughed lightly, “I mean…”

What should he say?

He didn’t need to explain because Yin Yao, with her sharp mind, had already understood his true intent.

But she deliberately chose to keep things vague.

Shen Wang, with his direct personality, and his temper that could explode at any moment, was really quite amusing when he couldn’t vent his frustration.

Seeing him struggle to get the words out, Yin Yao couldn’t help but laugh, feeling a little amused.

She said, “Let me put it this way. I do like Louise, though it’s not the usual kind of liking. But if you ask if it’s love, it’s not to that extent. I really like Louise’s personality, she meets my criteria for a partner. I have many criteria, and the only one that doesn’t matter is gender. So, if I meet someone suitable, and I like her, and she likes me, why wouldn’t we give it a try?”

“If the person who’s perfect for me is blocked by gender norms, that would be so boring.”

After she finished speaking, she glanced at Shen Wang, “I just have a broader perspective than you guys, that’s all.”

At that moment, the elevator arrived, and the two of them exited.

One went left, the other went right.

Before they parted, Shen Wang couldn’t help but ask, “What if she doesn’t like you?”

Yin Yao was quite frank, “Then we’ll just be friends, if we can still be friends. We’re adults now, and everyone knows when to cut their losses. I won’t keep putting in effort endlessly. When I realize something’s not possible, I’ll stop.”

“But if I think there’s still a chance, why wouldn’t I try?”

Shen Wang: “…”

Yin Yao smiled again, slightly mocking, “Isn’t that how you think, Mr. Shen?”

Shen Wang immediately lost his temper, “What does it matter how I think!”

He turned and walked away.

Behind him, only Yin Yao’s light laugh echoed.

Shang Xinglu went upstairs with Lin Heng.

The whole way, it was very silent… and there was even a bit of low pressure.

Shang Xinglu felt a little uneasy.

It was like when a teacher would say, “XX, come to my office later. I need to talk to you,” back in school. They only said “I need to talk to you,” but they wouldn’t tell you whether it was something good or bad, leaving you to imagine all kinds of possibilities.

The elevator quickly reached the top floor. Lin Heng swiped his card and let Shang Xinglu enter first, before following her in.

With a thud, the door closed behind them.

On the quiet mountaintop, that sound seemed especially noticeable, and Shang Xinglu couldn’t help but shudder a little.

They sat down in the living room. Lin Heng poured himself a glass of whiskey and asked if Shang Xinglu wanted one. She declined, asking only for sparkling water.

Then, silence followed.

Shang Xinglu sipped her water, now completely unsure of what Lin Heng wanted to say to her.

Why wasn’t he speaking yet?!

Finally unable to hold it in, Shang Xinglu looked up and glared at Lin Heng.

Her gaze met his, and she realized he had been staring at her the whole time.

Shang Xinglu: “……”

Lin Heng slowly spoke, asking, “Louise, who was with you yesterday?”

Yesterday…

Just thinking about it made Shang Xinglu’s scalp tingle.

She looked at Lin Heng, who was reclining on the sofa.

His posture was relaxed, but his aura was far from weak—like a sword poised to strike at any moment. It immediately made Shang Xinglu hesitant to speak.

Shang Xinglu opened her mouth.

She found that she had become somewhat mute.

She opened her mouth again and said, “Yin Yao…”

“Then what?”

Shang Xinglu: “…With Xiao Zai.”

“……”

“When we were eating, it was me and Yin Yao. Afterward, when I called you, Xiao Zai was beside me.”

“He came to find you?” Lin Heng asked, his voice light, with no trace of anger in it. But that made Shang Xinglu shiver with unease.

Shang Xinglu: “Mhm… He came to apologize about the cemetery.”

“Just an apology?”

And that was it…

Shang Xinglu originally intended to say that.

But when the words were about to come out, they changed.

Shang Xinglu said, “He… asked me to face his feelings.”

Lin Heng set his glass down.

It gently landed on the coaster, and his pinky finger barely brushed it, making no sound.

The room fell into an oppressive silence.

Lin Heng asked again, “Is that all?”

“Mhm.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing else you want to add?”

“…Mhm.”

At this moment, Lin Heng’s deep gaze was fixed on Shang Xinglu. She felt as if there was a dark mist behind him, pressing in on her like a heavy weight.

He was angry.

Shang Xinglu was certain.

More angry than ever before…

Shang Xinglu knew very well that Lin Heng didn’t have the right to be angry, yet she still couldn’t look away, unable to resist.

Because after the overwhelming anger that seemed ready to explode, there seemed to be other emotions mixed in—emotions that were hard to identify.

He was…

Shang Xinglu couldn’t quite figure it out.

At that moment, Lin Heng said, “Louise, I’ll only say this once.”

“……”

“Don’t lie to me.”

The words echoed through the room.

Shang Xinglu froze in place. As soon as those words left his mouth, she felt his suppressed anger, but alongside it, she also felt… his sadness.

And she felt sad too.

Because of Lin Heng.

When Shang Xinglu realized that she was feeling sad because of Lin Heng, she froze even more.

Her throat tightened, and she could only respond with a simple, “Mhm.”

Lin Heng continued, “It’s getting late. Are you going to leave?”

“…Mhm.”

Lin Heng nodded, no further words were exchanged.

It was the atmosphere of someone being shown out.

Shang Xinglu grabbed her bag and walked towards the door. Lin Heng didn’t stop her.

As soon as she stepped out of the room, she started walking faster, faster down the hallway and to the elevator.

Her throat felt tight, and her eyes were burning. She could barely hold back the tears. If she stayed another second, they would fall.

She had to leave quickly.

When she reached the elevator, she knew pressing the down button wouldn’t make it arrive any faster, but she stubbornly kept pressing it anyway.

Shang Xinglu covered her mouth.

She felt miserable.

She realized that she was happy because of Lin Heng, and she was sad because of him too.

She used to be someone with simple emotions, someone who would easily forgive herself.

But now, she was blaming herself.

All the complicated emotions she was feeling had been brought on by him.

Joy, sadness, frustration, anger, sweetness, and sourness… none of them were love, but together they could be.

In that moment, as she realized she was feeling sad because of Lin Heng, she also realized—

She… liked Lin Heng.

She actually liked Lin Heng…

How could she like Lin Heng?

It wasn’t the kind of “like” you have for ice cream, for soft and fluffy things, or for money. It was a different kind, a more pure but complicated kind of “like”…

One word flashed through Shang Xinglu’s mind.

Just then, the elevator arrived with a ding.

Shang Xinglu quickly stepped inside and hurriedly pressed the close button.

The elevator doors slowly began to close, and for some reason, Shang Xinglu let out a breath of relief.

At that moment, a hand suddenly reached through the gap in the closing doors.

The elevator doors opened again.

Lin Heng was standing outside, holding the door open. He asked, “Are you really leaving? It’s very dark outside.”

Shang Xinglu: “I… I called a car…”

Lin Heng: “It’s raining outside, and we’re in the mountains. It’s very late, I’m afraid something might happen to you.”

The moment he said he was afraid, tears started to fall from Shang Xinglu’s eyes.

She quickly stepped forward, grabbing the front of his clothes. “What should I do? I think I…”

Really like you.

But when it came down to it, the words couldn’t come out. She sniffed, saying, “…I’m really afraid of the dark.”

Lin Heng wrapped his arms around her head and simply murmured a sound.

But in his mind, he thought, Was there any doubt?