Lin An couldn’t quite understand it.

Why was Luo Shuishui so good to him?

When Lin An first met her, she’d seemed like nothing more than a gentle, sensible girl.

Yet after they broke up, he began to see more sides of her.

Two things stood out.

First was her curiosity toward him.

It wasn’t possessiveness. It was pure curiosity.

Or rather, was she curious about him—or about love itself?

Second was her indifference.

Luo Shuishui was strange.

She clearly had no desire for him. Once they broke up, that was it. Once the love was gone, it was gone.

So why was she so determined to remain friends with him?

Her indifference showed in how little she cared about Su Yuejin.

She even knew he’d slept with a different girl last night, yet she didn’t care at all.

That proved Luo Shuishui wasn’t in love with him.

In all fairness, she treated him well.

But Luo Shuishui wasn’t some indiscriminately kind saint. Lin An knew that much, and he especially hated people like that.

That was why she made him slightly wary.

He’d never felt this caution around Su Yuejin or Xiao Chacha.

Su Yuejin was too inexperienced to pose any threat.

Xiao Chacha wasn’t particularly skilled either. Her behavior came from a lack of love.

She desperately sought affection and merely knew a few tricks.

Neither of them posed much of a threat.

Their lack of love was their greatest weakness.

But Luo Shuishui clearly didn’t lack love.

Everyone had flaws, though.

Lin An habitually searched for them. He liked praising people’s strengths, yet paid particular attention to their weaknesses.

Of course, he never mentioned those weaknesses aloud.

So far, Luo Shuishui had remained rational and gentle.

Only once had she grown slightly impatient and allowed Lin An to notice.

That left him confused.

But he didn’t like thinking about such complicated things, so he focused on the shredded pork with green peppers before him.

The cafeteria auntie was a good cook. The dish tasted pretty great.

Lin An finished his meal with complete satisfaction, then thanked Luo Shuishui.

“It’s fine. All I had to do was say a few words.”

They stood up together.

Luo Shuishui opened her umbrella, but Lin An took it from her hand.

“I’ll hold it.”

She obediently stepped beneath the umbrella.

She seemed to let out a soft sigh, then gazed at Lin An’s profile.

Her eyes shimmered with emotions he couldn’t decipher.

“Lin An.”

“Mm?”

“Looks like you’ve figured it out, so I don’t need to say much.”

“I’ll admit I don’t know you that well. Still, there’s something I want to remind you about.”

“What?”

“Our personalities are different, but I can vaguely sense something.”

“You have a flaw.”

“A flaw? Like... being too much of a scumbag?”

Lin An asked half-jokingly, half-testing her.

“Being a scumbag isn’t really a flaw to me.”

“My intuition says your real flaw is your desire to be loved.”

“That’s why you’re always mocking yourself for being a scumbag.”

“My desire?”

“You’re a very contradictory person.”

“You want to be someone kind who does the right thing.”

“But your desires keep interfering, making you do strange things.”

“Sometimes, you want to run from those desires.”

“You just refuse to admit it.”

“Whether you believe it or not... you’re starved for love too.”

Lin An fell silent.

“You’re probably capable of loving someone.”

“What you lack is the ability to be loved.”

“When someone loves you, you panic. You don’t know what to do.”

“That pushes your heart toward loving others instead.”

“So you test things, searching for an answer, until you’re dragged into the whirlpool.”

Luo Shuishui’s words felt a little convoluted.

Lin An was beginning to lose track.

He tried hard to analyze them, only to find he couldn’t grasp anything.

“Of course, I’m not your savior.”

“I can’t save you. I have my own confusing problems too.”

“But as for my advice...”

Luo Shuishui smiled gently.

Lin An waited expectantly for her answer.

After a moment, she gave it.

“You don’t need to be so conflicted.”

“Love is love, and not loving is not loving.”

“Do what you want, and don’t regret it afterward.”

“People can only keep looking forward.”

“You once told me selfish people can find happiness.”

“But that isn’t the whole truth.”

“No one can be completely selfish.”

“When you start trying to care for someone, you can find a little comfort in that process too.”

“You’re always muttering about what a scumbag you are.”

“But a real scumbag uses someone and throws them away.”

“Can you do that?”

“You can’t.”

“So what if you’re a scumbag?”

“You deny that side of yourself while still craving love.”

“You might as well be honest about it.”

“Why keep denying who you are?”

In Lin An’s eyes, Luo Shuishui seemed to glow from head to toe.

She looked like an angel who had descended into the mortal world.

It left him dazed.

He stared blankly and asked, “Then what’s your flaw, Luo Shuishui?”

“Me?”

Luo Shuishui raised her head and glanced at the gray sky.

A trace of wistfulness seemed to cross her face.

But she soon lowered her head and turned toward Lin An’s profile.

Her smile was gentle and beautiful.

“Me... Do you want to learn my flaws so you can conquer me?”

“I probably couldn’t do that.”

Lin An answered with a bitter smile.

“You never know.”

“I’m still a girl, after all.”

“Girls can get sentimental very easily.”

“Just like before. Didn’t you manage to win me over?”

Luo Shuishui winked at him playfully.

“But if you want to know my secrets and flaws, you’ll have to wait.”

“Wait until you’re truly interested in me, and I happen to be interested in you too.”

“I’ll be waiting for you to explore and step into my life.”

Her steps were light as she spoke.

They reached the classroom entrance, and Lin An returned the umbrella to her.

Luo Shuishui took it, turned around, and entered the classroom.

...

Lin An knew Luo Shuishui’s words had been impressive.

She’d inferred his situation from limited information.

That was already... far beyond most people their age.

Since he was born, Lin An had met very few truly intelligent peers.

So far, only Xu Qinghuan and his ex-ex-girlfriend had genuinely impressed him.

Now, Luo Shuishui could barely count as half of one.

Lin An was rather curious.

If Xu Qinghuan went up against Luo Shuishui, by how much would Xu Qinghuan beat her?

Of course, Lin An knew Luo Shuishui couldn’t save him.

He didn’t need anyone to save him.

He could handle it himself.

Lin An stared at the curtain of rain before him, lost in thought.

Then someone approached from behind and gently patted his shoulder.

He turned around and met Su Yuejin’s bright eyes.

“You look like you haven’t fully woken up.”

Su Yuejin spoke softly.

Her classroom was right next door, and her seat was in the back row.

When she turned her head, she happened to see Lin An from behind.

So she came outside.

Her appearance somehow made Lin An feel much more relaxed.

He didn’t know why.

Lately, he always felt at ease around Su Yuejin.

Her thoughts were easy to read, and neither of them felt burdened around the other.

“Perfect timing. Do me a favor.”

Lin An looked at her as he spoke.

“What?”

Su Yuejin froze for a moment, then looked especially expectant.

She was more than happy to help him with something.

“Smell me and see if I have a girl’s scent on me.”

“...?”

Su Yuejin tilted her head and stared at his face for about two seconds.

“Are you joking?”

“I’m really not.”

Su Yuejin frowned slightly.

Confused, she grabbed Lin An’s collar and leaned closer.

Then she actually bent down a little and gently sniffed his neck and shoulders.

“I only smell laundry detergent.”

“But the brand smells really familiar. I used this one a lot before.”

As she spoke, suspicion immediately appeared in her eyes.

“Which girl did you meet last night?”

“Is that why you smell like this?”

“Well...”

Lin An wasn’t worried about Su Yuejin getting suspicious.

She could suspect whatever she wanted. It wasn’t a big deal.

“Who did you meet?”

Su Yuejin stared straight at him.

“Not telling you.”

Lin An answered without hesitation.

They were standing in the hallway.

For some reason, a sour ache suddenly filled Su Yuejin’s heart.

She knew she wasn’t Lin An’s girlfriend.

Their current relationship was more like two shameless lovers having an affair.

Even so, her heart suddenly felt as though a needle had pricked it.

It hurt.

“Are you afraid I’ll get angry if you tell me?”

“Not really.”

“I just don’t think... I need to report my whereabouts to you.”

Lin An looked helplessly into her eyes.

Flames seemed to flicker in Su Yuejin’s gaze.

Yet those flames were cold, as though frost might form over them.

“Are you deliberately trying to torment me, Lin An?”

“I was only teasing you a little, Su Yuejin.”

Lin An didn’t want to see her cry.

So he put on a helpless yet relaxed expression and looked at her face.

The hallway was slightly crowded.

Some things could only be said close to her ear.

“Besides... I told you long ago, didn’t I?”

“I’m not angry.”

Su Yuejin shook her head.

“Of course I know.”

“But I still get jealous. I still feel hurt...”

“So don’t make jokes like that again, okay, Lin An?”

Her eyes were slightly red.

She looked pitiful, like a rabbit opening its eyes.

Lin An stared blankly into them.

He could sense that Su Yuejin had suddenly become fragile and emotional.

“You can do whatever you want.”

“I know you don’t love me.”

“I know there’s someone you like.”

“I don’t want to beg you to love me.”

“But right now, I really like you...”

“So unless you reject me completely and make me give up, please don’t tell me about your affairs with other women, okay?”

“As long as I don’t know, I won’t feel hurt.”

“How’s that any different from an ostrich burying its head in the sand?”

Lin An almost wanted to laugh, but he couldn’t.

Su Yuejin’s reddened eyes made his heart clench slightly.

He knew he’d been wrong.

“But that’s what I want.”

Her voice trembled with sobs, as though she might cry at any moment.

She was usually so good at controlling her emotions.

She never wanted to embarrass herself before strangers.

Yet now, for some inexplicable reason, her eyes had turned red.

Lin An could only continue.

“It was my fault. I’m sorry.”

He was genuinely apologizing.

“There aren’t any girls I’m fooling around with.”

“There’s only someone I like.”

“She’s especially indulgent toward me right now.”

“She thinks I can do whatever I want.”

“So I can still spend a little more time with you, Su Yuejin.”

“There won’t be anyone else besides her.”

By then, only a few people remained in the hallway.

No one was looking their way.

Even so, Lin An struggled to raise his hand.

But he did it anyway.

He gently wiped the tear from the corner of her eye.

“I’m apologizing to you.”

“I’m sorry, Su Yuejin.”

His voice was sincere.

Like a deeply aggrieved little girl, Su Yuejin stepped in front of him.

Her voice quivered as she called out plaintively.

“I want a hug.”

“Come on, we’re at school... Huh?”

Su Yuejin stared mournfully at him.

It seemed she’d really cry if he refused to hug her.

In the end, Lin An decided to do it.

Sometimes, everyone needed to go a little crazy.

But Su Yuejin grabbed his hand first.

She dragged him downstairs, through the drizzle, and into the school’s back garden.

Lin An stared blankly into her eyes.

Then Su Yuejin wrapped her arms tightly around him.

Lin An gently patted her back until she turned her head and loosened her arms.

Then, she leaned toward his cheek.

…So, an embrace wasn’t all she wanted.