After Bringing Joy to the Short-Lived Mad Young Lady - Chapter 19

Side Quest · He Shuanghua’s Request: Wanting the other party to announce their relationship. Completed.

 

Rewards being distributed: 50 points.

 

Current point balance: -503.

 

The life-or-death mission was finally over, but Fang Yi felt no joy.

 

Watching the smile on Lin Shuxing’s lips, the unease in her heart grew heavier.

 

It was too quiet—was this how a normal person would react upon suddenly learning the truth?

 

She would have preferred her to cry or lose her temper, but Lin Shuxing did nothing. She just stood tall and proud at the center of the rumors, her eyes hollow.

 

Li Sinian was still chattering away, the noise grinding relentlessly against Fang Yi’s frayed nerves.

 

The darkness in her pitch-black eyes deepened as she turned around, shielding the girl behind her.

 

“Li Sinian.” Fang Yi’s first words came out hoarse and low.

 

She raised a hand to tie her disheveled hair into a high ponytail, the diamond cufflinks flashing sharply under the light. In an instant, her entire demeanor turned razor-edged.

 

Rolling up her sleeves, she stepped forward, forcing Li Sinian to meet her gaze. The overwhelming pressure made even Li Sinian’s venomous mouth falter, her grip tightening nervously around He Shuanghua as she stammered,

 

“What do you want?!”

 

Fang Yi grabbed Li Sinian’s collar, forcing her down. Her cold, predatory gaze bore into her, silent and assessing.

 

A deathly silence fell.

 

The bodyguards exchanged uneasy glances, watching Fang Yi’s every move, unsure whether to intervene. The butler, having just finished reporting to Lin Lan, frowned slightly, his left hand subtly raised behind his back.

 

The killing intent radiating from Fang Yi was too strong.

 

This wasn’t the rage-fueled aggression of anger—it was pure, calculated lethality, quiet and deadly.

 

The way she looked at Li Sinian held almost no emotion, chillingly composed, her dark eyes heavy with deliberation.

 

Under the butler’s watchful tension, Fang Yi finally moved. Restrained, she lowered her gaze, cracked her knuckles, and yanked Li Sinian off-balance before speaking coldly:

 

“What the hell are you?”

 

“You’re weak and spineless, leeching off your family’s power, too cowardly to own your feelings. Hiding behind your elders as an excuse—what gives you the right to bark like this?”

 

Li Sinian, who prided herself on fitness and skiing, found herself utterly powerless in Fang Yi’s grip. She could only stare in horror as Fang Yi leaned in, flashing a smirk just as vicious:

 

“Angry? Scared? Call your grandma to save you.”

 

“Admit it. Without your family’s protection, you’re nothing.”

 

He Shuanghua froze. Even after years of knowing her, this was the first time she had seen Fang Yi so… unapologetically ruthless.

 

Li Sinian bit her lip hard, humiliation burning in her eyes, her gaze locked onto Fang Yi’s profile with resentment and unwillingness.

 

Knowing full well how vindictive Li Sinian could be, He Shuanghua quickly stepped in, one hand pulling at Fang Yi while the other patted Li Sinian’s shoulder in an attempt to mediate:

 

“Sorry, Miss Li had too much to drink—just drunken nonsense—”

 

She turned to Fang Yi, her tearful eyes pleading as she shook her head slightly.

 

But Fang Yi still didn’t let go. She refused to take the out.

 

Since when was alcohol an excuse for mistakes and disgrace?

 

“Apologize. Do it yourself.” She pressed Li Sinian’s head even lower.

 

Li Sinian refused outright. She shut her eyes, stiffened her neck defiantly, and wore the shameless expression of someone daring you to beat her to death.

 

Fang Yi’s hand tensed, veins bulging on the back as her slender fingers gradually clenched.

 

But before her fury could override reason, He Shuanghua beside her took a deep breath and suddenly raised her hand—without warning—slapping Li Sinian hard across the face.

 

“Apologize to her!”

 

The tear stains at the corners of her eyes were still fresh, yet her strike was merciless. The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the entire hall.

 

“…!”

 

The crowd gasped. The fallout from tonight’s farce was spiraling out of control.

 

If Li Sinian’s remark about “a cuckoo occupying a magpie’s nest” had sparked endless speculation—though without proof, there was still room for maneuvering—He Shuanghua’s slap made it feel as if the whole world had gone mad.

 

Neither Lin Shuxing nor Li Sinian were known for their patience. A mere stomp from either could send tremors through all of Z City.

 

Tonight was like two nuclear warheads colliding—one accused of being an imposter, the other slapped by her lover. It was hard to say just how far their rage would burn.

 

Li Sinian was stunned by the sudden blow, her face burning with pain. She still hadn’t let go of He Shuanghua’s hand. “I—”

 

He Shuanghua didn’t give her a chance to continue. Instead, she silently slid her hand to Li Sinian’s waist and pinched hard.

 

That hand, that spot—too many tactile memories came flooding back.

 

All of Li Sinian’s angry words lodged in her throat, trapped there as she could only watch He Shuanghua burst into tears again, delicate as pear blossoms in the rain:

 

“Li Sinian, please, just act normal for once!”

 

“You bully me all the time, and I endure it. But today, just because she spoke up for me, you lost your mind. Li Sinian, is there no one in Z City allowed to defy you?”

 

Reason slowly returning, Fang Yi realized He Shuanghua was helping cement the narrative that Li Sinian’s outburst was nothing more than “spiteful nonsense.”

 

An heir’s identity meant many things. Lin Shuxing had once taken pride in hers.

 

But Fang Yi knew—perhaps it wasn’t the title itself she was proud of, but rather, Lin Lan.

 

Lin Shuxing cared too much about Lin Lan’s opinion. That kind of expectation could destroy her effortlessly.

 

Whether Li Sinian apologized or not didn’t matter at all.

 

Her pride, worth a thousand pieces of gold, wasn’t even worth a single candy.

 

Fang Yi pulled her hand from her empty suit pocket. Right now, she didn’t even have a single piece of candy on her!

 

“Little Star, let’s go out for a walk, okay?” She softened her voice as much as possible. If Lin Shuxing was willing, she wanted to take her away from here first.

 

The atmosphere was too suffocating. Lin Shuxing was too sharp—once the clues surfaced, how could she not guess the truth?

 

“Go… where?”

 

Lin Shuxing finally reacted. Her glass-clear, almost inorganic eyes fixed on Fang Yi, her voice unusually hoarse.

 

Fang Yi took her hand. “Let’s get something to eat. I’m hungry. Will you come with me?”

 

Lin Shuxing’s throat trembled. After a long pause, she finally spoke. “Okay.”

 

Hand in hand, they walked through the chaos, their pace unhurried. Their black-and-white formalwear cut a striking path through the colorful crowd, as if stepping to the closing dance of a film.

 

Fang Yi kept her gaze straight ahead. Everyone instinctively made way.

 

Though she was born into humble origins and made no overtly threatening moves, the commanding presence she exuded effortlessly overshadowed Li Sinian, making even the seasoned foxes in the room instinctively wary of crossing her.

 

…

 

Wang Quan, waiting in the Ferrari, leaned out to peer around. She wasn’t entirely sure what was happening inside—according to the plan, all she had to do was pick up He Shuanghua and leave.

 

But why were Fang Yi and Lin Shuxing the ones who walked out?

 

Wang Quan counted on her fingers: Fang Yi, Lin Shuxing, and herself.

 

Hah, three people—but this damn car only seats two!

 

Piece of junk!

 

She jumped out of the car and saw Fang Yi’s grave expression, immediately tensing up. “What’s wrong? Did the plan change? Did they give you trouble?”

 

Lin Shuxing stood behind Fang Yi, her face bloodless, paler than the moonlight. Lips pressed tight, she remained silent, an uncharacteristic docility about her.

 

Fang Yi didn’t need to explain. In an instant, Wang Quan’s imagination spun a thirty-thousand-word melodrama.

 

A domineering CEO confronts her scumbag ex-fiancée for love, only to be crushed by the other family’s influence, forced to elope with the young mistress—

 

“Say no more, get in the car!”

 

She gave Fang Yi’s shoulder a hearty slap. “Be happy, Boss!”

 

“If the guards at the gate don’t let you through, just ram it! What kind of flimsy gate stands a chance against our Red Lightning?”

 

“Don’t worry! Go on, I’ll hold them off!”

 

Wang Quan practically vibrated with excitement, rubbing her hands together, already regretting not bringing bodyguards and a camera crew. How often did life offer such thrilling drama?

 

“Thanks. Stay safe—we’ll talk later.” Fang Yi nodded, helping Lin Shuxing into the passenger seat before leaning over to fasten her seatbelt.

 

The Ferrari roared away. The guards, recognizing Lin Shuxing in the passenger seat, smoothly opened the gates.

 

The golden hall’s lights spilled outward, the night still quiet. No one gave chase.

 

Wait… this wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Where was the drama?

 

Standing in the evening breeze, Wang Quan—armed with passion and ready for a grand showdown—found herself sword drawn, yet with no enemy in sight.

 

Inside the car.

 

“Hungry? I know a few good late-night spots. Not sure about your dietary restrictions, though.” Fang Yi tried to distract Lin Shuxing, chatting idly. “That barbecue place you’ve been to before might be packed by now. Or maybe herbal chicken stew? There’s this farmhouse restaurant with free-range birds—I’ve even fed them—”

 

Lin Shuxing simply turned her head, watching Fang Yi in silence.

 

The ambient lighting cast her profile in sharp, icy beauty, all angles and restrained allure.

 

But her sleeves were still rolled up, the lingering danger in her gaze like a streak of vivid color across a glacier.

 

Outside, the scenery blurred past—whether joyful or sorrowful hardly mattered.

 

Lin Shuxing suddenly felt this road was endless, as if they would drive straight to the edge of the world.

 

What lay at the edge of the world?

 

Literature, technology, love—or death?

 

“Fang Yi,” she asked abruptly, her tone light, as if discussing the weather, “what do you think is the meaning of life?”

 

“I’m not Madam Lin’s biological daughter. I think I’ve known for a while—just didn’t want to admit it.”

 

“A faith I held for eighteen years—I gave my all, striving to become the successor Ms. Lin would be proud of.”

 

“Turns out, it was wrong from the very beginning.”

 

She let out a soft, bitter chuckle.

 

“Some signs were just too obvious. It all makes sense now…”

 

Like a soul drifting out of her body, she dissected the past with detached calm. Every whispered word carried the weight of bl00d-soaked memories as she peeled away the painful threads from the flesh of her experiences.

 

No sorrow, no anger—just bewilderment.

 

She had wandered into a thick fog, unsure of where the path lay.

 

“Don’t worry. I’m just curious—really curious. What do people live for?”

 

“…”

 

Fang Yi tightened her grip on the steering wheel, waves of concern surging in her chest.

 

When the pain a person faces becomes too overwhelming, the mind seeks escape, instinctively numbing emotions, turning cold and detached—a psychological phenomenon known as dissociation.

 

Fang Yi didn’t fully understand what Lin Shuxing was going through, but she sensed that her answer mattered.

 

Yet, this philosophical question was profound even for her.

 

In her past life, she never had time to ponder such things. It was all about killing or fleeing. The scientific system had collapsed, and human civilization teetered on the brink of vanishing from the horizon.

 

Back then, survival itself was the meaning.

 

People lived no differently from flowers or grass. But in that poisoned soil, their mere existence was a defiant act of hope.

 

“I don’t know,” Fang Yi decided to be honest. “But if people must seek something, maybe it’s happiness.”

 

“Happiness?”

 

“Yeah.” Fang Yi nodded. “I want to show you something—something fun.”

 

She changed their destination to the company. The office building, mostly empty during the holiday, had only a few lights on each floor. Fang Yi scanned her face to enter, and the fluorescent lights flickered on one by one, finally settling on her office.

 

It was 11 PM on a Saturday, but the lights inside were still on.

 

“This is my workstation.”

 

Fang Yi led Lin Shuxing inside, moving aside a large shark plushie to make space for her.

 

The desk was a bit messy, but with the system’s help, she quickly found a peculiar-looking device.

 

“Here.”

 

“What is this?”

 

“A simple game console.”

 

Fang Yi turned off the lights and pressed the power button. Stars lit up on the screen, then the image burst into life—a galaxy unfurling in Lin Shuxing’s hands, filling the room with shimmering light, coalescing into a radiant Milky Way.

 

She lowered her head, and the scene shifted with her. Beneath the night sky stretched an endless expanse of scorched red earth, the moonlight casting mottled shadows over the barren land. Fang Yi lowered her hand slightly, sifting through the soil until she unearthed a tiny seed.

 

“This seed was just dug up—still a little damp. The plant will grow strong in your hands. Can you feel its faint pulse of life? Every seed is different. Now, it’s sprouting, turning into a green shoot…”

 

Fang Yi’s voice was like a gentle breeze, whispering across the desolate world. The seed hovered in Lin Shuxing’s palm, truly beginning to stretch and grow, its vibrant green stark against the charred earth.

 

“It’s interactive. You can try things—like watering it.”

 

Fang Yi lifted it with one hand, tilting it toward the seed. The tender sprout was slowly nourished, stretching out dark green branches. She shaped an arc with her palm, then pinched a clump of soil to adorn the base, forming a question mark.

 

Lin Shuxing’s eyes curved as she poked at it. “A question mark.”

 

“A question mark,” Fang Yi repeated.

 

She took Lin Shuxing’s hand and tossed it upward. The question-mark plant landed on the ground, blooming into a field of baby’s breath swaying in the wind.

 

The girl let out a soft gasp, looking at Fang Yi, then at the white flowers on the ground, as if she had stumbled into some enchanting dream.

 

Fang Yi released her hand and took a step back, leaving the space to Lin Shuxing.

 

The girl stood amidst the wildflowers, her eyes sparkling as if filled with starlight, adrift in the boundless expanse.

 

She blinked, plucked one of the flowers, and tentatively tossed it toward the sky. The cluster of white blossoms, cradled by an unseen softness, slowly rose, glowing, until they merged into the night, becoming a star.

 

“Stars…”

 

No one spoke further. Together, they gazed up at the slowly flowing galaxy.

 

This had once been the most beautiful scene in Fang Yi’s memory. Just looking up at the stars seemed to quiet all her pain.

 

She didn’t notice that Lin Shuxing’s glistening eyes weren’t fixed on the sky—but on her.

 

The stars twinkled, and the world dimmed, leaving only the glow of the game console’s screen. Delicate fingers slowly curled into Fang Yi’s palm as Lin Shuxing held her hand.

 

“Fang Yi,” the girl called softly.

 

“Don’t worry, it’s just out of power. This is a prototype. To save costs earlier, the materials weren’t the best—the battery doesn’t last long.”

 

“This uses virtual data capture and overlay. Compared to VR, it’s less constrained by equipment. I prefer another name for it—‘Spirit Realm.’ If infrastructure catches up in the future, I hope to achieve full-dive gaming—”

 

When talking about these things, Fang Yi’s voice brimmed with confidence and excitement.

 

“Before, my advisor wanted me to shift directions, to work on something ‘more meaningful.’”

 

“What’s meaningful?”

 

“Living, then seeking warmth and sustenance, bustling through life—really, it’s only those moments of happiness that matter.”

 

Fang Yi crouched to pack the game console back into its box. “You’re still young. When you grow up, you’ll realize nothing really matters—only happiness does.”

 

“Any relationship, whether friendship or family—if it often brings you negativity, it’s better to distance yourself and find something else to fill the void.”

 

Fang Yi said it lightly, as if cutting off a bad relationship was as simple as putting away a game console.

 

“I’m not young. I’m already an adult,” Lin Shuxing said, her voice tinged with a hint of a sniffle.

 

She stepped closer, bending down, her question almost sharp. “Fang Yi, you seem indifferent to all relationships. Is it because you’ve never had any?”

 

Fang Yi chuckled, shrugging carelessly. “Maybe.”

 

Lin Shuxing moved even nearer, the faint fragrance of her hair drifting into Fang Yi’s nostrils along with the tickling strands brushing her cheek.

 

“Then what fills the void in your heart?”

 

The office’s main lights were still off, only the soft glow of the computer screen illuminating a corner, casting a pale blue hue over the girl’s hair—like some cold flame quietly burning.

 

Her flames gradually licked at Fang Yi’s fingertips, the delicate sensation slipping between her fingers, the intense fragrance almost dizzying.

 

She was standing too close, making Fang Yi’s heartbeat skip a beat for no reason, her palms breaking into a sweat.

 

The girl’s actions were undoubtedly an invasion of her personal space, yet so soft, tentatively tightening bit by bit.

 

Fang Yi inexplicably thought of that mutated kitten that had once run toward her—both carried the same kind of anticipation, the same kind of danger, the same ache of impending separation before even making contact.

 

Lin Shuxing’s hands were too soft, like clouds, like freshly bloomed flowers, the kind that would leave red marks with the slightest pressure. Yet they slid downward with such dominance, firmly seizing control from above.

 

Her lips were already dangerously close, brushing against Fang Yi’s ear, her uneven breaths like a kitten’s, mingled with the unique scent of a young girl. “Fang Yi.”

 

Fang Yi didn’t dare move, afraid that even the slightest exertion might hurt the girl.

 

She could hear the hum of the computer running, their rapidly accelerating heartbeats, and—soft footsteps.

 

“Who’s there? Show yourself!” Fang Yi abruptly pulled away, as if seizing a fleeting chance to escape, loudly demanding toward the source of the sound.

 

From the darkness came scattered applause.

 

The intruder showed no guilt for eavesdropping, casually flipping the lights on before walking back to her seat, crossing her arms, and tilting her chin at Fang Yi. “Not bad, little toy.”

 

System: … What a pair of geniuses.

 

System: Here it is—someone even worse at reading the room than the host! A rock with zero sense of romance! And to think there are two of them in this big office!!!

 

Zong Heng had actually been in the office the whole time, only stepping out for a meal. When she returned, she happened to catch Fang Yi demonstrating the game she’d developed to Lin Shuxing.

 

“I saw you two were about to kiss, so I was going to leave,” she glanced at Fang Yi, “but you noticed me.”

 

“…”

 

Fang Yi frowned in shock, as if only now realizing how blunt Zong Heng could be.

 

She shielded Lin Shuxing behind her, asking in confusion, “Are you here working overtime?”

 

Zong Heng raised a brow and fired back without hesitation, “Are you here working overtime?”

 

At her level of seniority and status, showing up occasionally to tackle high-level problems was already going above and beyond.

 

Zong Heng might have come, but she didn’t think anyone here had the right to boss her around.

 

The Wang family’s method of attracting talent was simple—they offered respect, top-tier salaries, ample rest time, and exceptionally expensive equipment.

 

When Zong Heng was still hesitating about joining the project, she had merely mentioned some shortcomings of her previous research institute in passing. Wang Quan’s mother, Wang Hejun, immediately promised to equip her with a world-class lab tailored to her preferences.

 

Even national-level projects would hesitate over the astronomical cost of such equipment, but Wang Hejun didn’t bat an eye—she greenlit the purchase on the spot.

 

Zong Heng, who had rubbed shoulders with top-tier elites and officials in Yanjing, had initially looked down on Z City’s nouveau riche.

 

But after meeting Wang Hejun, she finally understood—this woman hadn’t built her empire from nothing just by riding the wave of the times.

 

Wang Quan had inherited her mother’s best traits—generosity. When it came to worthwhile investments, she was truly generous.

 

Fang Yi hadn’t gotten her first computer until college, saved up from summer jobs. It was fine for basic projects, but nowhere near enough to handle large models.

 

Upon hearing this, Wang Quan pulled out a thick stack of cash and thumped his chest, declaring, “Instead of tutoring some brat, why not coach me instead? I’m begging you—help me get published in a top-tier journal!”

 

To this day, Fang Yi still doesn’t understand why Wang Quan was carrying so much cash on him at the time. The whole way to the bank, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he might get held up at gunpoint.

 

With the company on break, Zong Heng needed to use the servers here, but she couldn’t be bothered to explain much.

 

While the two were talking, Lin Shuxing had already finished touching up her makeup. She looked far more composed than before, peeking out from behind Fang Yi and greeting Zong Heng with effortless grace.

Zong Heng’s gaze drifted over, her eyes—completely indifferent to the heavens and earth—narrowed slightly. “Hmm?”

 

She stared at Lin Shuxing, an inexplicable sense of familiarity rising within her.

 

But thanks to the colorful image Fang Yi had in her mind, she quickly averted her gaze again, her tone turning even more unfriendly. “Kid, it’s very late. You shouldn’t be hanging around people with unclear intentions. You should go home.”

 

Lin Shuxing lifted her face, her tone flat. “But I don’t have a home.”

 

Zong Heng: “…”

 

A rare, complicated expression crossed her face. “I’m sorry.”

 

After a moment of thought, Zong Heng turned warily to Fang Yi. “What’s your relationship with her?”

 

Though Lin Shuxing carried an air of refined elegance in her every gesture, the youthful innocence between her brows couldn’t be concealed.

 

Fang Yi, seeing her strange look, twitched her lips and raised a hand to explain. But before she could, Lin Shuxing had already pulled her arm back and declared, “Fiancée. Fang Yi is my fiancée.”

 

“…”

 

Zong Heng’s expression grew even stranger.

 

Had Fang Yi really sunk so low as to get involved with someone this young? And then there was that woman from a few days ago, who had shown up at her door claiming she wanted to share a wife with her…

 

Zong Heng let out a cold laugh, then wrote down a private number on her business card and handed it to Lin Shuxing.

 

“Call if you need help. Me, or the police.”

 

Fang Yi: “…”

 

The warning couldn’t have been more obvious.

 

But Fang Yi also vaguely realized that this icy Zong Heng was a bit more warm-hearted than she’d imagined.

 

The clock had already passed midnight. Lin Shuxing’s curled lashes flickered with exhaustion. Before leaving the building, Fang Yi draped her coat over her. “Let me take you home.”

 

Lin Shuxing’s grip on Fang Yi’s sleeve tightened. Her face lowered, her expression unreadable as she emphasized, “I don’t have a home.”

 

“You will,” Fang Yi patted her shoulder. “Do you want to meet your birth mother?”

 

After catching He Zhuang last time, tracing their family address had been simple.

 

Lin Shuxing didn’t move. After a long pause, she finally lifted her damp, dark eyes. “You knew all along?”

 

Fang Yi nodded. “Yeah.”

 

“Is it that woman? The one outside APU that day?”

 

“Yeah…” Lin Shuxing really was sharp.

 

“Liar,” Lin Shuxing curled her lips into a self-deprecating smile. “Everyone knew except me.”

 

“I don’t want to see her. I don’t want to see anyone but you.”

 

She looked even more slender under the oversized suit jacket, her heavy-lidded lashes like snow-laden pine branches. “I need to rest.”

 

Fang Yi asked softly, “What if she wants to see you?”

 

The snow was melting, drop by drop, falling on the girl’s wounded pride. Lin Shuxing clenched the cuffs of the coat. “But she never came to see me. Yet, just like Lin Lan, she went to APU to see Lin Qingwan.”

 

Fang Yi ruffled her hair gently, interrupting her. “Buckle up.”

 

Overthinking wouldn’t help. Some things were too complicated for outsiders to mediate.

 

This time, she drove fast, kicking up dust on the empty streets, leaves swirling in their wake.

 

In the early hours, only a few lights were on in the residential complex. Lin Xinyou’s home was on the third floor, the balcony filled with greenery. Warm light seeped through the thin curtains, casting a gentle glow in the night.

 

Fang Yi was just about to back into a parking spot when she suddenly heard Lin Shuxing say, “Go, no need to stop.”

 

Her voice was icy, devoid of any fluctuation, as if she had reverted to the state she was in when they first left the banquet.

 

Not good.

 

Seems like this move was a misstep.

 

Fang Yi secretly leaned over to check if Lin Shuxing was crying. Only after confirming she wasn’t did she let out a sigh of relief, then followed Lin Shuxing’s gaze to see a silver-gray sedan parked near the building not far away.

 

Was it Lin Lan?

 

The system peeked out: System intuition! No, no. This car might be expensive, but Lin Lan wouldn’t park it right at the stairwell.

 

The person left in the car seemed to have noticed the flashy red Ferrari as well. The door opened, and a black-clad figure wearing sunglasses and an earpiece stepped out, walking to the middle of the road and raising a hand.

 

The roar of the engine overlapped with the rush of air. Before the outstretched palm could reach a 45-degree angle, the red lightning had already executed a stylish U-turn drift, leaving behind nothing but a trail of exhaust.

 

Whoever it was, if Lin Shuxing didn’t want to see them, then so be it.

 

The sudden acceleration startled the girl in the passenger seat, her eyes widening slightly as she pressed a hand to her chest and let out a small gasp.

 

She turned to look at Fang Yi, whose expression remained as calm as ever. Outside the window, the scenery rushed past in reverse, as if such speed and thrill meant nothing special to her.

 

Lin Shuxing was surprised. In her mind, Fang Yi should have been a steady driver.

 

But now, with the world flying by outside the window, Fang Yi indifferently glanced at the rearview mirror to confirm no one was following before relaxing slightly. Her slender fingers tapped rhythmically against the steering wheel.

 

“Did I scare you? Sorry.”

 

She turned her head. “Just making sure no one tails us. This car accelerates fast—let me know if you feel uncomfortable.”

 

Lin Shuxing’s gaze fixed on Fang Yi’s slightly reddened fingertips, her heartbeat racing along with the speed.

 

She had seen Fang Yi’s patience, her gentleness, her brilliance and clumsiness. But it was only in this moment—the dangerous indifference cutting through the night—that she felt she had glimpsed something closer to the quiet depths of Fang Yi’s soul.

 

“I don’t usually speed,” Fang Yi added after a pause. “Wang Quan doesn’t either. It’s dangerous—don’t learn from this.”

 

Even now, she couldn’t forget to lecture about safety.

 

Lin Shuxing, cradling her battered heart, suddenly felt an urge to laugh.

 

And so she did—uncontrollably, her laughter ringing like silver bells, cascading like a song until tears welled in the corners of her eyes.

 

Lin Shuxing asked, “Where are you taking me?”

 

“Did you bring your ID?”

 

Lin Shuxing froze, her face blanking for a moment before hesitation flickered across it. “No… is that a problem?”

 

Fang Yi coughed, feeling slightly stumped. “Then we can’t stay at a hotel. My place is a bit messy. If you don’t mind, do you want to come home with me first?”

 

Home.

 

Home!

 

The shadows in Lin Shuxing’s eyes brightened. She turned her head slightly and gave a soft, “Mm.”

 

Fang Yi rented an old apartment in the city center. The hallway was cluttered with residents’ belongings, and some of the steps were uneven, like hidden traps.

 

The girl’s obviously expensive high heels tread cautiously over the dusty stairs, looking almost pitiful.

 

Worried she might trip, Fang Yi reached out a hand. “Want me to carry you up?”

 

Lin Shuxing stared at her hand for a few seconds before answering without hesitation, “Okay.”

 

Fang Yi’s embrace was steady. Beneath her seemingly slender frame, the faint outline of muscle could be felt.

 

Lifted into the air, especially on such narrow steps, Lin Shuxing felt no trace of worry. Instead, she instinctively wrapped her arms around Fang Yi’s neck.

 

The perspective from Fang Yi’s embrace was novel. Lin Shuxing gazed at her sharp jawline and couldn’t resist the urge to reach out and touch it.

 

And so she did.

 

The soft sensation brushed against Fang Yi’s neck, like a feather lightly gliding. Fang Yi tightened her grip slightly and murmured in a low voice, “Stop moving.”

 

“Hmm?” The girl blinked innocently, only to grow bolder, tracing a heart behind Fang Yi’s earlobe.

 

She distinctly felt the woman’s arms stiffen, her upper body trembling almost imperceptibly.

 

So sensitive, Lin Shuxing noted silently, committing this spot to memory as one of Fang Yi’s weak points.

 

Some mischievous impulses seemed innate, ingrained in her bones. She adored Fang Yi’s patience and gentleness, yet at the same time, she longed to provoke or even make her cry—just to catch a glimpse of those hidden, unseen expressions.

 

The motion-sensor light in the stairwell flickered off, obscuring Fang Yi’s face. In a hushed, threatening tone, she warned, “If you keep moving, I’m going to sneeze.”

 

“…”

 

Is the host even human?

 

Amid the system’s silent disbelief, Fang Yi’s clumsy tactic somehow worked.

 

Lin Shuxing stayed perfectly still until they reached their destination. Fang Yi cleared her throat, reactivating the voice-controlled light, then set her down and fished out the keys to unlock the door.

 

The light inside spilled into the hallway as Fang Yi retrieved a brand-new pair of fluffy bear slippers from the bottom of the shoe cabinet and placed them in front of Lin Shuxing.

 

They were a freebie from some expensive plush toy purchase.

 

But the girl didn’t move. She just stood there until, moments later, a teardrop splashed onto the dusty floor.

 

Fang Yi’s initial thought—Do I need to invite her in?—instantly morphed into shock. She looked up to see the girl stubbornly biting her lip, eyes brimming with unshed tears.

 

Panic set in. Fang Yi hesitated, unsure whether to wipe the tears first or usher her inside. “Hey, don’t cry…! What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

 

In the few seconds it took for Lin Shuxing’s tears to fall, Fang Yi’s mind raced through countless possibilities—even absurd ones like, Can kids see ghosts? Did something in the hallway scare her?

 

Through her tear-filled eyes, the girl glared at her. “You yelled at me!”

 

“Me? I didn’t—”

 

“You did!”

 

Did I? Fang Yi racked her brain before belatedly realizing her earlier tone might have been a bit stern—no wonder the girl had gone quiet so fast.

 

“You’re not allowed to yell at me. If you’re annoyed, I’ll leave right now.”

 

Lin Shuxing clutched the hem of her skirt, tears welling up uncontrollably.

 

Tonight had piled too much onto her fragile emotions. That tiny spark was all it took for the dam to burst.

 

The car parked downstairs at Lin Xinyou’s place—it was clearly there for Lin Qingwan. Lin Lan disliked that color and would never allow a car to be parked in such a spot.

 

With only a driver and a bodyguard inside, it didn’t match Lin Lan’s usual entourage for outings.

 

What was Lin Qingwan doing at Lin Xinyou’s place so late at night?

 

She already had Lin Lan’s love—wasn’t that enough?

 

Lin Shuxing recalled the tender look in that woman’s eyes outside APU’s gates that day, and her sobs grew louder, unstoppable.

 

Even if Lin Qingwan mentioned her to Mom, so what? Would they even care?

 

Behind the sheer curtains, faint silhouettes were visible—two figures, one tall, one short, matching their heights perfectly.

 

No one came looking for her. Not even a phone call.

 

Mom didn’t want to see her at all.

 

Or was it that she preferred Lin Qingwan too?

 

How embarrassing… Crying over something like this, how pathetic!

 

But the tears had already burst forth, unstoppable even when she dug her nails into her palms. The dull ache in her chest grew deeper. Lin Shuxing curled in on herself, feeling the warm tears more like bl00d, gushing out endlessly.

 

Fang Yi panicked, feeling the weight of her own wrongdoing. She quickly helped Lin Shuxing inside, using a warm towel to wipe her tears.

 

Dried, only to flow again. Dried, only to flow again. Her grievances and sorrows ran deep, churning in her stomach like a storm, almost making her want to retch.

 

Fang Yi raised three fingers and solemnly declared, “I was wrong. I swear I’ll never scold you again.”

 

The girl glanced at her, her lashes trembling like butterflies caught in the rain—nowhere to hide, pitiful enough to break one’s heart.

 

Fang Yi didn’t truly understand the reason behind the girl’s tears. Anxious, she paced back and forth, helpless and unsure how to make amends. In the end, she steeled herself and offered her neck:

 

“Go ahead, play with it. However you like. I won’t say a word.”