Lin An wanted to say more, but after a pause, he kept the words locked inside.

It was meaningless.

Right now, he ached to tell Su Yuejin: *Aren’t you giving yourself away too recklessly? You’re Su Yuejin. Countless people chase you. You should be proud, aloof—not like this.*

But Lin An clung to his belief: Su Yuejin was only filling a quiet void in his heart. Temporary. Soon—very soon—she’d feel the boredom, the hollow emptiness. That’s when she’d walk away.

So he wouldn’t let himself fall. Love always worked this way: the one who cared more suffered more. The one who cared least walked away clean.

Fine. He’d give her the care she wanted now. Call it making up for old regrets.

“Tell me—who do you like?”

“I won’t say.”

“How many times have you been in love?”

“Twice.”

“Once was Luo Shuishui. Sweet, gentle—so gentle people feared hurting her. The other… middle school. It ended badly. We broke up. Everyone mocked me. It hurt.” Lin An spoke softly. A trace of nostalgia flickered in his eyes.

“Why the mockery? Why’d you split?”

“Family gap, I guess. Back then, my adoptive father ran a thriving company. Then he passed. His team picked it apart. She stayed with me through it.”

“Her family was well-off too. But after a month or two… she left. Parents found out. Things got messy.”

“A love even parents fear? Is that love at all?” Su Yuejin muttered.

“You…” Lin An stroked her hair. “Your love is pure. Impulsive. Heat-of-the-moment. Willing to give everything without thinking. But real love isn’t empty fantasy. It’s not fireworks. It needs tending.”

“Ugh, adult voice again! I’m not listening!” Su Yuejin covered her ears, shaking her head—a strangely cute sight.

“After that, I never saw her. High school came. This school. Chased Luo Shuishui in sophomore year. Lucky. Unlucky. We broke up.”

“You skipped the third.”

“Third?”

Su Yuejin’s eyes glinted playfully. She pointed to her own face. “Me.”

“It’s not dating.” Lin An pouted.

Unbothered, she cupped his cheek. “What’s wrong with dating me? Embarrassing? Catching me’s bragging rights.”

“What’s the point of bragging? My path is clear. I don’t need validation. And I won’t be the one dumped again. Twice was enough.”

“Promise me: as long as *I* don’t say ‘break up,’ you won’t either. Okay?”

Lin An shook his head. “No.”

“Why?!”

“You’d only be chaining yourself.”

“Why are you so stubborn, Lin An?” She leaned in, nibbling his ear.

“Your heart’s too easy to read. You love fantasies. Most things you do? Three-minute passions.”

Su Yuejin’s eyes widened—but she couldn’t deny it.

“But dating me means… *you know*.” Her voice turned sly, fox-like.

“I wonder—after that night left you in tears, did some strange trait awaken? Yeah, love’s ‘ultimate purpose’ might be biology. But like you, I believe in the intangible. I just want the person I love to love me wholly. Until then? Solitude’s fine.”

“I love you wholly *now*.” She wouldn’t sleep until she won this debate.

“Time answers everything.” Lin An refused to argue further. Debating a lovesick heart was foolish.

“Tell me a story to sleep.”

“Sorry—I can’t.”

“Sing?”

“Sorry—tone-deaf.”

“What *can* you do?”

“Regretfully, zero points in the ‘charming girls’ skill tree. All my points went… elsewhere.”

“Like?”

“Gaming. Writing. Studying. Cooking. Note-taking. Light labor.”

“…” Su Yuejin was speechless.

“I don’t care! You *will* lull me to sleep. I want to sleep… but I can’t.”

Lin An froze. How to soothe someone who refused sleep? But the real question wasn’t *what* she asked—it was *why*.

She didn’t want to sleep.

Because she didn’t want to leave.

Logic laid bare. Useless. She clung to him like an octopus—inescapable.

Time for a nasty trick.

“Su Yuejin. Think carefully.”

“Hmm?”

“One all-nighter’s fine. But days of drinking? Smoking? No serum fixes that. Skip sleep now—you wake with bags. Three full nights to fade them.”

“Hehe. I’m not scared.”

Lin An went still.

“I want to be beautiful—to smile at my reflection. Now? I want *you* to think I’m beautiful. But you’re not shallow. If my looks don’t move you… they don’t matter. Bags or not—I’m still beautiful.”

Infuriatingly true.

“Then… quit smoking? Your kisses taste of smoke.” He stroked her hair, voice low.

“Okay. I’ll listen.”

Surprise flickered across his face. Her eyes held rare softness. “Since *you* said it… I’ll quit. Promise.”

He froze—a micro-expression Su Yuejin caught. Warmth bloomed in her chest.

“Moved? Heart racing?”

“Nope.” He turned away.

Only then did he notice: her cheeks pale, voice hoarse. Tonsillitis. She was tired. Why talk so much?

“Hey.”

“Mm?” A soft hum from her nose.

“Rest your throat. I’ll hold you. Tell you who I am… until you sleep.”

“Yes! Yes!”

“I… actually hate girls the most.”

She opened her mouth to reply—but his finger gently pressed her lips.

“Just listen.”

“I was abandoned. Left at an orphanage over ten years ago. Who knows my parents? A discarded pregnancy? Some strange reason. I grew up there.”

“The orphanage was kind. Donations poured in. My childhood wasn’t dark. I loved books. At ten, my adoptive father took me in. Brought me here.”

“He and Mom treated me well. I called them Mom and Dad. Life was smooth. Then… they passed. Finances vanished. I kept studying—stubbornly believing education was my path.”

“Now? Study. Part-time gigs: gaming companion, writing articles, web novels, drawing—anything effort can earn.”

“I tell myself I have talent. Discipline. A tight schedule. Goals. A plan.”

“But I know it’s a lie. I dislike this life. I crave simplicity. Freedom. Even if I ace exams… will I ever feel free?”

“Such thoughts are naive. Life *is* boring on this track. So we need sparks. Like love.”

“Luckily… I have someone I like. She disrupts my life—but I know she loves me. So I’m okay. This is me. Simple. Uncomplicated. Honestly? A little boring.”

Lin An murmured on, soft and steady. Su Yuejin listened quietly in his arms, throat sore. Then—his finger teasingly brushed her tongue.

Her cheeks flushed crimson. She nipped his fingertip, buried her face against his chest, and finally—truly—closed her eyes.

Sleep pulled her under.