For a moment, the living room fell into silence.
Lin An’s expression was indifferent—tinged with a faint hint of disdain. His hand hadn’t made direct contact with Su Yuejin’s, and his gaze held no accusation, only quiet statement of fact.
Su Yuejin panicked. She hastily reached for his hand, voice trembling: “When I was tossing the cigarettes this morning… I saw one left in the box and lit it. I swear—I’ll never smoke again!”
“You’ve misunderstood me, Su Yuejin.” Lin An subtly withdrew his hand. His tone was calm, devoid of anger, yet a trace of coolness lingered in his eyes.
“You promised you’d quit. But you still lit that last one. That was your desire—just like your past words. I’m not calling you a liar. I’m saying: decisions made in emotional moments are often regretted. People change. No one stays the same.”
“I was wrong,” Su Yuejin whispered pitifully, lips pouting slightly as if coaxing him.
Lin An simply gazed at her. He wasn’t angry about the smoke—he disliked being deceived.
“Hit me, scold me… I know I messed up, Lin An,” she pleaded, voice cracking with tears. She sensed his distance.
Lin An shook his head. “No need.”
Children crave punishment to ease guilt. But Lin An felt only quiet disappointment. *You spoke of love with clarity once. Now you can’t resist one cigarette.*
“I’m leaving. It’s almost eight.”
Su Yuejin clung to his arm, her soft chest pressing against him.
Lin An glanced down. “What else?”
“I truly won’t smoke again… never!”
“What’s it to me?” He shrugged lightly. Yet in that instant, Su Yuejin felt him withdraw completely. Tears spilled down her pale cheeks under the lamplight—regret, sorrow, resignation. Slowly, she loosened her grip. *Holding on won’t keep him.*
She raised her hand—*slap!*—a sharp crack echoed. A red mark bloomed on her cheek. Again she struck herself, sobbing harder, eyes locked on him. “I know I was wrong… Lin An, Lin An…”
Lin An caught her wrist. “What’s the point? You vowed to quit. You smoked. Now you seek forgiveness. Su Yuejin… can’t you just be normal?”
She wept silently.
Lin An sighed inwardly. No one stays truly heartless watching a girl cry. He noted her trembling shoulders, the delicate line of her collarbone.
“Do you understand mistakes deserve correction?”
“I—I know!” she gritted out.
“Turn around. Lie down.”
After a stunned pause, she obeyed. Face down on the sofa, her white sundress tracing her curves. Lin An didn’t lift the hem—he delivered one firm, deliberate slap to her petite bottom.
She gasped in pain.
“When you want me to stop, say my name.” She nodded tightly.
*Thwack. Thwack.* Her face twisted, tears soaking the fabric. Fear? Pride? She never called his name.
Ten sharp slaps. Hard enough to sting—not flirtation, but consequence.
He stopped.
She turned her head slowly, eyes swollen, tears falling. *Can’t sit. Can’t roll over.*
“Don’t hate me?”
“No,” she whispered, catching the tenderness in his gaze.
“Does it hurt?”
“Yes…” Her voice turned pitiful again.
“Then why not say my name?”
“If I did… you’d still be angry.”
“I’m not angry, Su Yuejin.”
“Good… carry me to bed? My butt hurts.”
“Walk yourself.”
“Nooo, Lin An… *carry me*,” she coaxed. This time, he relented. He lifted her; she wrapped her arms around his neck.
He carried her to bed. She lay on her side, bottom throbbing. Yet strange, tangled emotions bloomed inside her.
Lin An dabbed her tears with a tissue. “Does your face hurt?”
“…Yes.”
“Then why do this? If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t hurt like this. I don’t soften easily.”
“But I *do* care,” she murmured sweetly, fingertip tracing his chest.
The evening breeze fluttered the curtains, cool and gentle.
“Rest well. I’ve things to handle,” Lin An said. After a beat, her fingers tugged his sleeve.
“Actually… it doesn’t hurt *that* much. If you want… I can lie on my stomach…” A blush dusted her cheeks. She couldn’t pull off coquettishness—just an innocent girl.
“You’d be bedridden tomorrow. Stop teasing.”
“Then… kiss me.”
He leaned down. She parted her lips obediently. After a minute, he wiped his mouth. She slowly released his sleeve.
At the door, her voice followed: “Lin An… will you come again?”
Before he answered: “Don’t leave me alone, okay?”
He paused. “Probably. What do you want to eat next time?”
“Can you make cola chicken wings?!”
“Yes.”
“Mm-hmm!”
He closed the door softly.
…
Lin An texted Xu Qinghuan: *Home in ten.* No reply. His phone rang.
Caller ID surprised him.
His ex—and former class monitor—Luo Shuishui.
“Lin An, asleep?”
“Who sleeps at eight?” His voice held a gentleness rarely shown to Su Yuejin.
“Free? I want to check out a bar… but I’m scared alone. Come with me?”
“Quiet bar. You treat?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“And cover my cab. I’ll be at your gate soon.”
He walked toward her place.
…
Lin An paused seeing her.
JK uniform: white shirt, light blue tie, pale gray pleated skirt. Hair flowing to her shoulders. Not petite—just perfectly proportioned, a head shorter than him. Her long legs glowed under streetlight. Her face remained serene, yet something unfamiliar flickered in her eyes.
*If Su Yuejin’s charm was her legs, Xu Qinghuan’s her bust… Luo Shuishui’s was her eyes—always gentle, calm.*
He couldn’t name that flicker. “Why drink tonight?”
“Never tried. Saturday free… scared alone. Only thought of you.” She tucked hair behind her ear—a tender gesture.
She’d always been kind to all. Beside her, he caught her soft, unique scent.
Rarely talkative, she now asked lightly: “Does this skirt look good?”
“Nice.”
“From my family’s store—hard to find. Hehe.” Airy voice, walking beside him. Lin An hesitated. “What does your family do?”
“Complicated… but money-wise? More than a lifetime could spend.”
“Figured. Little rich girl.”
“You never opened up either. I liked your distance before… now I’m curious. Lin An—who *are* you?”
“Not a good guy. Flirting yesterday, flirting tomorrow.”
“Today? Try flirting with *me*?” Her voice dipped playfully, a cute hum. No blush.
“…Fever?”
“No. You hid your true self then. So—what am I to you?”
“Gentle. Easygoing. Obedient. Sensible?”
“But I’m mischievous too. Coquettish. Have wild, impulsive thoughts, Lin An.”
“I see.”
“Also… that lipstick mark’s very obvious.” She smiled faintly. “Who kissed you?”
“Su Yuejin.”
Only then did Lin An check his phone screen—reflection clear. *Nothing there.*
He turned his head in astonishment, only to see Luo Shuishui wearing a mischievous smile like that of a little fox.
"Fooled you, dummy!"
