...

Rain streamed down the windows like two winding tear tracks.

It had rained today, making the sky particularly dark. Shi Sui looked outside the window as Zhou Xuyan's voice drifted elegantly by her ear: "At first, Uncle Yan and Aunt Song had an arranged marriage between families with no feelings."

The second year after Yan Zecheng and Song Jie's marriage was also the first year when the Yan and Song families joined forces to create the subsidiary company Qisheng Technology. When the families arranged the marriage, Song Jie was forced to break up with her first love, her heart dead as ash, carrying resentment throughout her body.

This marriage began as a transaction. Having an heir would make it more stable. So at the end of the second year, Yan Tingli was born and raised from childhood as an elite heir.

Yan Zecheng and Song Jie were each busy with their careers, hardly returning home. Yan Zecheng led the technical team, Song Jie handled marketing. Their division of labor was clear, each achieving their accomplishments.

In the fifth year after marriage, Qisheng Technology's profits surpassed all the parent and subsidiary companies, topping both family groups. It was also in this year that Yan Zecheng and Song Jie developed feelings over time, understanding each other and reaching the peak of their relationship.

The incident happened when Yan Congjin was five years old.

Ten-year-old Yan Tingli brought home a stray cat, personally bathing and feeding it.

Yan Congjin followed behind his brother, carefully asking if he could pet the kitten.

Children raised in love tend to be loved by everyone, and no one would deliberately refuse them.

"It sounds quite melodramatic, but that's exactly how it happened." Zhou Xuyan sighed.

That weekend, Yan Congjin happened to have ice hockey class. Usually the driver and nanny would pick him up, but that day Yan Zecheng returned from a business trip and particularly missed his younger son, so he called to say he would personally pick him up.

Everything was perfectly normal.

But the accident still happened. Yan Zecheng was a few minutes late, and it was just those few minutes when Yan Congjin crossed the street and got into a car accident.

"How could this happen?" Shi Sui raised her voice, somewhat incoherent, "But what does this have to do with Yan Tingli?"

She didn't know how to dissolve this enormous grief and could only point the blade at everyone. Whether it was Yan Zecheng or Yan Tingli, in her eyes, they were all murderers who caused her younger son's death.

From then on, the surface harmony of the family was completely torn apart, and Yan Congjin became an unspeakable taboo.

Song Jie and Yan Zecheng played the role of a respectable couple in public while each had new lovers privately, rotting from within.

And Yan Tingli continued as a programmed robot, running along his predetermined track.

...

After a long silence, Shi Sui asked: "What about you? Why are you so at odds with him?"

"Because I secretly picked up that cat Aunt Song threw away." Zhou Xuyan said with an innocent expression, "Before, he wouldn't even let me touch it once."

Shi Sui paused, her eyes widening: "You're not talking about Little Round, are you?!"

"Yes, yes."

Little Round was a long-haired calico cat that Shi Sui had seen many times when visiting Zhou Xuyan's house. Little Round was well cared for by Zhou Xuyan. The old lady cat was over ten years old now, but could still eat, sleep, and run around energetically.

Shi Sui didn't understand the logic: "Just because of this?"

"Oh right, have I mentioned that you also have very big eyes, just like Little Round, so I liked you from the first time I saw you." Zhou Xuyan said jokingly.

Shi Sui was about to speak when suddenly her phone rang, showing an incoming call notification.

She pressed answer.

"Where are you?" There seemed to be rustling rain sounds on the other end, the voice not very clear.

"I'm still at the mall, want to hang out with Yanyan a bit more." She instinctively held her breath, "Is that okay?"

The other end suddenly said, "Talk to me."

Shi Sui was confused: "Huh? Say what?"

"Anything."

"Just say anything."

Shi Sui was baffled: "Is there something that must be said over the phone?"

"Mm."

Shi Sui's expression was strange. Zhou Xuyan, who had specifically perked up her ears to catch most of the conversation, leaned in and clicked her tongue, whispering: "He's like he's about to die any second and needs you to续命 him."

Shi Sui glanced at her but had no idea what to say, so she could only ramble like keeping a diary, saying whatever came to mind:

"Tonight we ate Thai food, sour and salty, I'm not used to it. The passion fruit juice we drank this afternoon was a price trap, a tiny cup cost sixty-eight yuan, not as good as the eight-yuan chain store cups at the school gate."

"Mm."

"We also tried new spring clothes and bought a sweater."

"Browsed the accessory store and bought a hat."

After Shi Sui said a few sentences, she felt it was dry.

"Very boring."

"Indeed." He gave an affirmative response.

Shi Sui pouted: "Then I won't talk anymore."

"Continue."

The rain sound was getting louder on the other end.

She could only search for something to say: "Where are you? The rain sounds so loud."

"In the rain."

She was shocked: "No umbrella?"

"Forgot."

Yan Tingli only realized he hadn't taken an umbrella when he walked out the door, so he simply didn't bother.

"Don't you know how to take shelter when it's raining? Are you an idiot?"

His tone was flat: "Didn't you always say I have problems?"

Shi Sui was simply irritated: "Then drench yourself in your rain, don't tell me about it."

Yan Tingli said casually, "If I don't tell you, how can I make you feel sorry for me?"

"You asked for it; only a dog would feel sorry."

Although Shi Sui was angry, she still couldn't ignore it. She sighed: "Where are you? I'll come pick you up."

He suddenly laughed for a long time. Shi Sui was confused and heard him say: "Bark once for me to hear."

...So cheap.

Shi Sui took a deep breath: "Stop talking nonsense. Where exactly are you?"

After he finished laughing, "Phone's dead, hanging up."

That night was Sunday, and she had early classes the next day. As usual, Shi Sui would return to school.

She called Yan Tingli several more times. Zhou Xuyan couldn't stand watching and grabbed her hand: "Aiya, let's go, let's go. He's a grown man. What could happen? Quick, I'll drive you back."

Shi Sui looked at her phone and softly hummed in agreement.

The red Porsche was parked quite stylishly at the entrance of A University. Before Shi Sui got out, Zhou Xuyan gave her repeated warnings: "You absolutely must not reveal that I told you these things!"

"Mm, mm, I know." Shi Sui nodded very loyally.

Just as she was about to leave, Zhou Xuyan couldn't help reaching out her arms: "Give me a hug."

Shi Sui smiled warmly and hugged her back, immediately being pressed into her embrace and having her face rubbed.

Shi Sui was the sweetest, softest little cake she had ever seen, Zhou Xuyan thought to herself.

"See you next time."

The two reluctantly said goodbye.

On the way back, Shi Sui was still digesting what Zhou Xuyan had told her that afternoon.

During the two years staying at the Yan house, it wasn't that she hadn't felt various discordances.

But she was an outsider, and always had to, and must, behave properly.

Shi Sui recalled some past events again.

When she first arrived and dirtied the car, although Yan Tingli smoothly handled it without showing emotion, for a teenage girl it was still an earth-shattering embarrassment. In the days that followed, she couldn't help being even more careful.

When she got to know Yan Tingli, he was already a campus celebrity.

Girls often talked about him, admired him, said how wonderful he was, but few dared to confess to him because he was simply too unreachable.

Occasionally, when Yan Zecheng and the others returned, they would ask about Yan Tingli's studies and competitions at the dinner table.

There were always various competitions and professional terms she couldn't understand, so she could only show a polite smile.

Not only that, the incident that left the deepest impression on Shi Sui was when Song Jie mentioned a former child star who debuted young, a rumored little princess of Beijing's elite circles.

Such a female celebrity that Shi Sui thought was high and mighty was dismissed by Song Jie with just a cold sneer: "A daughter raised by a third-rate family, doesn't know her place."

What Song Jie was referring to was how this starlet had used paparazzi to stage photos with her and Yan Tingli.

In the end, the photos were blocked by Song Jie's order, and after that, the starlet's popularity declined significantly.

Shi Sui watched various films and TV shows, and it seemed that rich people didn't like being taken advantage of.

So Shi Sui tried to minimize her presence in the vast Yan residence.

At school, it went without saying – usually half a street away, Shi Sui would find an excuse to have the driver stop the car and walk over to her.

Shi Sui couldn't remember many professional terms and competition names.

But she could remember that deafening phrase, "doesn't know her place."

Yet now she was doing bad things that appeared well-behaved and sensible on the surface, but were secretly underhanded.

The rain on the road grew denser, blowing past the umbrella's edge onto Shi Sui's cheek.

She stood in place for a long time, then finally lowered her head to delete the words she had typed in Yan Tingli's chat box.

Looking down, she turned off her phone and continued walking forward.

A new week began.

The school's lights-out was at eleven-thirty. When Shi Sui returned, she went to sleep after washing up.

Early the next morning, she opened the chat box and saw that Yan Tingli had replied to her message in the early hours.

A single number [1], meaningless, probably just indicating he was alive.

Shi Sui thought about the several calls she had wanted to make last night, and pressed the screen off without expression.

Between them, it had always been him controlling all her movements.

She was always hiding and avoiding, seemingly ignoring the fact that when Yan Tingli didn't want to be found, she actually couldn't find him at all.

She had full classes in the morning. When Shi Sui and her roommates came out of the teaching building at noon, she received an unexpected call from Song Jie.

Her fingers tightened, her expression momentarily stunned.

"What's wrong, Suisui?" asked Xue Jing, who was linking arms with her.

Shi Sui looked down at her phone: "You and Anran go to the cafeteria first, I have something to handle."

"Okay, should we save you a seat?"

Shi Sui waved her hand: "No need, it's fine."

She quickly walked away from the crowd to a quiet place and answered the call.

She said formally, "Auntie."

"Suisui," Song Jie called her, "are you busy?"

Shi Sui: "Just finished class, not busy."

Song Jie made an acknowledging sound and casually chatted with her for a few sentences, her voice carrying faint weariness.

Shi Sui didn't meet Song Jie often, and speaking alone with her could be counted on one hand. Guessing that Song Jie likely had something to say, she proactively asked: "Auntie, are you...?"

"It's like this, I can't get through to Tingli's phone, and my legs aren't convenient right now. Since you're at the same school as him, if it's convenient, could you help me see him and ask him to call me back?"

Shi Sui was stunned: "Auntie, what happened to your leg?"

"Twisted it a bit, nothing serious." Song Jie seemed unwilling to elaborate, "Is it convenient for you?"

Shi Sui had no reason to refuse: "...Convenient."

They didn't have much to chat about. After exchanging pleasantries, they hung up.

Shi Sui looked at her phone, still processing the information from the call.

Yan Tingli wasn't answering Song Jie's calls.

Had they fought yesterday?

Shi Sui's hand paused over Yan Tingli's chat box.

Suddenly, she had a headache.

Could it be that from Song Jie's perspective, she and Yan Tingli were close? If Song Jie couldn't do something, how could she possibly manage it...

Shi Sui sighed, deleting and editing for a long time before finally sending Yan Tingli: [When are you free today?]

He didn't reply immediately.

That was normal – he was habitually busy and rarely chatted online.

Shi Sui wasn't free today either; on the contrary, she had classes all day. Just as she was hesitating whether to call directly, thinking about where her afternoon class was, she changed her mind.

They had several professional courses that required computer labs. The School of Cross-Disciplinary Information had top-tier domestic equipment. The Academy of Fine Arts had applied many times before the School of Cross-Disciplinary Information reluctantly approved it.

This semester, Shi Sui's major was fortunate to experience it here. Although they had already attended classes here several times, she was still inevitably shocked by this golden, gleaming, and extremely futuristic academic building.

As a top domestic science and engineering university, A University naturally allocated increasing funds to these flagship schools, not to mention the huge donations from industry leaders each year.

Although the Academy of Fine Arts was also impressive, compared to this place, it was like the difference between a legitimate son and a concubine's daughter.

In the evening, Shi Sui finished her last class and came out of the computer room.

The Cross-Disciplinary School building was over twenty stories high, and Shi Sui's group was on the eleventh floor.

Students coming and going all looked hurried, some still wearing lab coats, others drinking coffee while studying – everyone busy with their own affairs.

The academic atmosphere was so intense that Xue Jing and the other girl didn't dare make a sound, quietly arriving at the elevator.

Entering the elevator, Shi Sui habitually stood toward the back, taking her phone from her bag. She guessed Yan Tingli should be attending classes here and estimated she could call him out for a meeting.

The elevator descended about two floors.

Suddenly, there was a "ding" sound. The elevator stopped, the doors opened, and a crowd of people stood outside, surging into the elevator.

Shi Sui glanced and stepped back.

Just as she saw Yan Tingli's reply message, her sleeve was suddenly tugged excitedly by someone.

Turning her head, she saw Xue Jing silently screaming, pointing quietly toward the door with her finger.

Shi Sui followed her gaze.

Her pupils contracted in shock.

Quite coincidentally, Yan Tingli was walking in leisurely, wearing a black jacket with a backpack casually slung over his shoulder, his expression calm and indifferent.

Several male students clustered around him, talking to him.

The moment their eyes met, Shi Sui looked away.

Looking down at her phone, she happened to see his recent reply: [Missing me?]

She pressed her lips together, pretending not to see it, quickly turning off the screen.

The several people who entered were all tall male students, making the space cramped and the air thin.

Yan Tingli was not far from her.

People around him were conversing with him, asking professional questions. He responded briefly while looking at his phone.

Lin Anran sent a message to the group chat: [Every time I see him, I have to sigh about how handsome he is]

Xue Jing: [Asked for his WeChat last week, wonder if he still remembers me]

Lin Anran: [Such a handsome face, but he doesn't plan to date, what a waste ahhh]

It was peak after-class time, people kept getting on, and the elevator became increasingly cramped.

Shi Sui simply retreated to the corner at the back, minimizing her presence.

Just as she positioned herself, someone in front backed up – it was the male student talking to Yan Tingli.

Squeezed until his footing was unstable, he was heading straight toward her.

Shi Sui had nowhere to avoid, standing there staring at him.

Just as they were about to collide, the male student's arm was grabbed, and Yan Tingli cast a cold glance over.

The male student reacted, looking toward Shi Sui: "Sorry, too crowded."

"It's fine."

Zhuo Haoyu was momentarily dazzled upon seeing Shi Sui, his eyes not moving away for a while. Just as he wanted to say something more, he was pulled by a force toward another side, his original position occupied.

He looked toward Yan Tingli.

Somewhat puzzled.

"Brother Yan?"

"Stand properly." His tone was cold.

"...Oh."

Yan Tingli was very close.

Shi Sui knew without looking up.

Each other's breath was always familiar, even in an elevator full of people.

She lowered her eyes and held her breath, almost curling into a ball.

When the last person entered, she couldn't move an inch, her entire body pressed against the wall.

But the person in front of her pushed his luck.

He was too tall, standing in front like a wall, his breath domineeringly invading everything around her.

Xue Jing and Lin Anran were squeezed to the other side, their gazes frequently glancing over.

Yan Tingli's hand was braced against the wall, just blocking their view.

Shi Sui couldn't help but send a message: [Don't stand so close to me]

"Close?" he said.

His sudden voice drew several glances.

Shi Sui's heart jumped violently, but she had to appear calm while messaging: [Why did you speak out loud?]

Yan Tingli calmly raised his hand to his earphone, appearing to be on a phone call.

Others then looked away again.

"Too lazy to type."

Shi Sui's scalp tingled: [Use your phone to talk to me]

"I won't."

Yan Tingli lowered his voice, "Why didn't you answer my question just now?"

The question just now?

Shi Sui thought for a moment and finally remembered the message on the screen – "Missing me?"

She blinked, trying to pretend she hadn't heard.

Suddenly, her other hand, hidden under her sleeve, was hooked.

The cool, jade-like touch traced up and down along the lines of her palm.

Shi Sui's face burned. She tried to withdraw her hand, but he wouldn't let go.

"Mm?" he said again, his fingers entwining like a snake.

Shi Sui was going crazy, finally giving up resistance.

Her fingers were completely wrapped in his palm.

"Answer me." He tickled her palm.

He was always like this, using every means to get the answer he wanted.

Shi Sui was forced into a corner, even forgetting to use her phone, squeezing out a sound from her nose: "...Mm."

"Suisui?" Lin Anran was puzzled. "What did you say?"

Shi Sui was covered in cold sweat: "Nothing."

Yan Tingli let out a laugh, pinching her fingertip flirtatiously.

Fortunately, the elevator finally reached the first floor, and Shi Sui took the opportunity to pull her hand away.

She ran toward the elevator entrance as if escaping.

At that moment, her phone buzzed.

Yan Tingli: [Wait for me at the back door]

Shi Sui hastily glanced at it and walked quickly forward.

Zhuo Haoyu instinctively took a step to follow, but He Nan behind him grabbed his bag: "Haozi, where are you going?"

"I..." his ears were somewhat red.

He Nan: "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

"I don't believe you," He Nan keenly glanced in the direction of Shi Sui's group and whispered, "Tell me, which girl caught your eye?"

While talking, Yan Tingli was the last to exit the elevator.

He Nan looked at Zhuo Haoyu's expression and laughed, pushing him: "No way, you fell for someone? Then why don't you hurry up and get her WeChat before it's too late?"

Zhuo Haoyu was encouraged, and his feet were already eager to move: "Then I'll go right now-"

Before he finished speaking, his shoulder was pressed down by someone.

"Brother Yan?" Zhuo Haoyu was surprised.

"She has a boyfriend."

"What?" he was shocked.

Somehow, Zhuo Haoyu sensed Yan Tingli's coldness.

Different from his usual coldness.

"How do you know?"

"On her neck," Yan Tingli glanced at him, smiled without reaching his eyes, "there's a hickey."

Zhuo Haoyu stood frozen: "Brother Yan, are you sure you saw clearly?"

Yan Tingli pointed to his side neck, saying casually: "In this position."

Zhuo Haoyu was speechless, his expression dejected.

"Tsk tsk," He Nan laughingly put his arm around Zhuo Haoyu's shoulder, enjoying the drama, "Heartbroken in one second."

Zhuo Haoyu frowned and pushed his hand away: "Get lost."

Yan Tingli withdrew his gaze and raised his hand: "I have something to do, I'm leaving."

"Sure, bye Brother Yan." He Nan waved while putting his arm around Zhuo Haoyu's shoulder, "Come on, stop looking, the girl has a boyfriend."

"God, Suisui, you were so close to Yan Tingli just now ahhh!" As soon as they walked away, Xue Jing burst out exclaiming, "How was it? Does he smell nice?"

Lin Anran chimed in: "Did you have trouble breathing?"

Shi Sui's fingers still had the sticky sweat from his caressing: "...Yes."

It was suffocating indeed.

"Ah, what a pity."

"What's wrong?"

"I feel like Yan Tingli has a girlfriend." Xue Jing said regretfully.

Shi Sui's steps faltered slightly.

Lin Anran adjusted her glasses: "How can you tell?"

"Sixth sense!" Xue Jing said, "Didn't you hear his tone when he was on the phone just now? So doting and ambiguous."

"?"

Shi Sui was horrified: "Doting?"

Xue Jing: "Just now, was that a tone you'd use with guy friends?"

Lin Anran: "But didn't Weiwei say that Yan Tingli told her he doesn't plan to date in college?"

"You believe that, too!" Xue Jing pouted, "Maybe it was just an excuse to reject her." She raised a finger and lowered her voice: "My intuition tells me Yan Tingli has a girlfriend he's secretly dating. What type do you think he likes?"

Lin Anran: "I feel like it's high-IQ, long-legged, mature women."

"You're right." Xue Jing agreed.

Shi Sui: "......"

"Suisui, why are you looking at me like that?"

"..." Shi Sui was silent for two seconds. "I also think you're right."

...

When they came out of the academic building, it was already evening.

Shi Sui walked slowly down the steps.

Normally, she might try every means to escape, but not today – the task Song Jie had assigned her wasn't completed yet.

Shi Sui sighed silently to herself, found an excuse to let her roommates leave first, and circled back to the back door alone.

The after-class rush hour had passed, and only occasional figures could be seen at the back door.

Shi Sui walked through the gate, standing behind tall plants, looking around.

Until someone wrapped an arm around her waist from behind, the forearm with distinct joints and visible tendons, firmly controlling her.

He bent his neck, his light breath spraying behind her ear.

Shi Sui's eyelashes trembled.

She lowered her voice: "We're still outside, let go."

"No one can see." He said indifferently.

Shi Sui avoided his breathing, her eyes still looking around, her whole body highly tense.

"But there are surveillance cameras."

"Don't you like it?"

"..." Shi Sui tried to pry his fingers apart, "Who would like this?!"

"Really?"

"I thought," Yan Tingli laughed in her ear, "you liked this sneaky feeling."

"..."

At this moment, footsteps came from the spiral staircase not far away. Just one more turn and they would see them.

She didn't dare to bet that they didn't know Yan Tingli.

"Someone's coming!" Shi Sui anxiously pushed him, "Let go of me quickly."

Yan Tingli frowned with impatience. As soon as his hand loosened, Shi Sui took the opportunity to run to the side, smoothing the hair by her ear, looking natural like a random passerby.

The person indeed knew Yan Tingli well and specifically greeted him.

Shi Sui's legs moved quickly, walking farther and farther away.

Yan Tingli narrowed his eyes.

The gaze from behind pierced like needles, making her somewhat afraid. She paused, grinding her toes on the spot, appearing restless.

"Senior?" The junior felt Yan Tingli's absent-mindedness and hesitated. He originally just wanted to get closer, hoping to curry favor for future benefits.

"Anything else?"

"No, nothing."

Yan Tingli stopped talking, the languid meaning in his expression already obvious.

No one wanted to invite more snubs: "...Then I'll go first, goodbye senior."

Yan Tingli's footsteps approached again.

Shi Sui's heart was suspended, afraid he would do something inappropriate again.

"I don't have the interest in kissing you in public places yet."

When Yan Tingli passed by, brushing her shoulder, he left behind a sarcastic remark.

He entered the elevator.

Shi Sui was left with his sarcasm, too angry to let it go, following a meter behind: "Then you better never kiss me again if you have the guts."

"Ding" – they reached the basement parking garage.

As soon as Shi Sui stood steady, she was pulled by the wrist and dragged into the back seat of a car. The parking garage was almost empty – few students had cars, and even fewer could drive into the academic building.

"I don't have the guts."

"?" Shi Sui hadn't reacted yet.

Yan Tingli pressed the back of her head, his lips and teeth grinding against a piece of flesh on her side neck.

Shi Sui hissed in pain.

If she remembered correctly, he had bitten the same spot the night before last, and the mark hadn't faded yet.

"Yan Tingli, stop biting! Are you a dog?!"

"Good."

"Good what?" Shi Sui pinched his arm. Why won't he let go!

"Being a dog." Yan Tingli sucked and licked, creating a tingling sensation. Shi Sui's whole body felt electrified. Hearing what he said, she was stunned for a moment.

She could hardly believe he could be this shameless.

"You're sick, you're perverted." She scolded.

The skin on her neck was being caressed by him. Even as she scolded him, he laughed with pleasure.

He was impervious to reason, so Shi Sui simply closed her eyes and played dead.

In an instant, he straightened up with his hand around her waist, and suddenly, close to her ear, asked: "Did my roommate with glasses touch you?"

"No." Shi Sui thought he was being baselessly jealous again, "Wasn't he pulled back by you?"

"I know."

He kissed her cheek once, like a reward.

Shi Sui was completely confused until she heard Yan Tingli say casually, "I remembered wrong – he wasn't wearing glasses today."

Several seconds passed.

She finally slowly understood Yan Tingli's meaning, and fine goosebumps suddenly rose on her back.

-He was testing her, whether she had seen other men's faces.

As for why he asked about this roommate, she wasn't sure.

"I'm very happy today."

Shi Sui: "...Huh?"

She often couldn't understand Yan Tingli's thought processes.

"Coming here, were you looking for me?" He played with a strand of hair by her ear.

"I came here for class." Shi Sui originally wanted to explain she hadn't come specifically to find him, but remembering Song Jie's request, she changed her tone, "But I did want to find you too."

Yan Tingli's response was to lean his profile against hers from behind, nuzzling her.

Every moment of intimacy with him at school made Shi Sui feel at a loss, even in the car.

She slightly moved her face away and finally spoke the lines she had rehearsed for a long time: "Where did you go yesterday anyway? Why didn't you answer my calls?"

Shi Sui never proactively asked about his whereabouts.

Yan Tingli was silent for a moment.

Suddenly, he said, "Who told you to ask?"

Shi Sui's heart jumped violently, almost thinking he could read minds.

"Zhou Xuyan?" Yan Tingli's tone was cold. "What does she want to find out?"

"No, she didn't ask!"

Yan Tingli looked at her with lowered eyelids.

Seeing he was just routinely inquiring, Shi Sui regained confidence and raised her voice: "Can't I ask what you're doing?"

Yan Tingli was silent longer this time than before.

Just as Shi Sui's heart was jumping up and down, suddenly, another gentle kiss fell on her cheek.

Like a lingering feather.

Shi Sui's eyelashes fluttered: "...Why are you kissing me again?"

"Commemoration."

"Commemorating what?"

"The first time you've controlled me."

Shi Sui lowered her head and muttered, "Do you like being controlled?"

He laughed slowly: "That depends on who's doing the controlling."

Shi Sui felt something wasn't quite right.

After a long while, she suppressed this strange feeling and changed the subject: "So what did you go do?"

He seemed particularly patient today, willing to participate in this boring conversation.

"I went back to the Yan house." He said, "Had dinner with them."

"Oh," Shi Sui said, "I know about that."

"Professor Su's family was also at the table, including Su Han," Yan Tingli paused, "You know about that too?"

Shi Sui wanted to pretend she didn't know, but unfortunately, people who aren't good at lying can't even pretend. She could only say hesitantly: "I heard you mention it on the phone."

"You eavesdropped on my phone call?" Yan Tingli's voice slightly rose, carrying indescribable meaning.

"I wasn't eavesdropping." Shi Sui cleared her name, "I accidentally overheard."

"Mm, accidentally."

"It was accidental," Shi Sui's face grew hotter, "Stop kissing me." He was kissing while talking, like petting a cat, pressing against her cheek to kiss.

"I won't have any relationship with Su Han." Yan Tingli suddenly said in her ear.

Each word is clear, more intimate than pillow talk.

The temperature in the car kept rising.

What she asked wasn't about Su Han, but the situation still developed uncontrollably this way.

Shi Sui pinched her palm, barely calming down: "Actually, that's not what I was asking about."

After speaking, she felt Yan Tingli's gaze fixed on her face, and the temperature cooled somewhat.

That ambiguous atmosphere seemed to be burst by an invisible needle.

"After dinner, where exactly did you go? You even got caught in the rain." Shi Sui jumped away from the previous topic, guiding further, "Did something happen?"

Shi Sui's heartbeat accelerated.

And Yan Tingli's pause was longer than any before.

"Ran away from home."

Shi Sui: "Did you...fight with Uncle Yan and them?"

Yan Tingli lowered his brows: "Mm, they want to kick me out of the house."

Shi Sui's eyes widened: "That can't be possible."

"It's true." He said seriously, "I can only elope with you."

Shi Sui couldn't come back to her senses for a long time, her expression tangled.

Song Jie hadn't told her any of this!

"Then," she stammered, going with the flow, "then you should call Aunt Song back and apologize."

Yan Tingli lifted his eyelids, glancing at her.

This glance made Shi Sui evasively look away, her fingers unconsciously circling.

Of course, she didn't dare say it was Song Jie's assigned task, instinctively feeling Yan Tingli wouldn't comply.

"Why should I apologize?"

Shi Sui was stunned.

Yan Tingli's voice sounded cold: "You don't know the inside story, yet you want me to apologize?"

Realizing her mistake, Shi Sui said hesitantly: "...Sorry."

Yan Tingli: "I didn't ask you to apologize."

Shi Sui suddenly didn't know what else to say.

She regretted not trying harder to find excuses to refuse Song Jie.

After a few seconds of silence, "Then let's not talk about this anymore."

Suddenly, Yan Tingli's phone rang.

Shi Sui saw – it was Song Jie.

He did not react, as if he didn't see it, and didn't answer.

With the previous experience, Shi Sui didn't speak up to ask.

But unexpectedly, as soon as Yan Tingli's ringtone stopped, her phone in her bag started ringing continuously.

Shi Sui's expression changed.

Her eyes couldn't hide things. Almost as soon as the ringtone started, she began to nervously and uncontrollably panic.

"Might be a spam call." She hurriedly went to hang up her bag.

Before she could touch it, her phone was pulled out first by Yan Tingli. He held it high, glancing at it.

A short snort came from his throat.

Yan Tingli slid his finger and answered. There was no expression on his face.

Shi Sui's heart almost jumped out, frantically trying to snatch it.

Yan Tingli held her arm with one hand while speaking to the other end: "There's only one reason I don't answer calls – because I don't want to. Finding anyone else is useless."

"As for what you're worried about, I can give you an accurate answer, too. I heard it, heard it very clearly."

"If you miss Yan Congjin, North Suburb Cemetery number 089, you can visit him anytime."

After speaking, he hung up the phone and casually threw it on the seat cushion.

Only silence remained in the car.

Knowing Yan Tingli dared to say anything, she hadn't expected him to be this audacious.

...What an unfilial son.

His gaze turned to her. She would be next, and Shi Sui didn't know what expression to put on.

Yan Tingli was too smart. Such small tricks couldn't fool him – he could see through them at a glance.

Yan Tingli also didn't speak.

His long eyelashes dropped, and the warm light in his eyes also disappeared.

Suddenly he laughed: "No wonder." The mockery in his tone almost overflowed: "Usually can't wait to run away."

Shi Sui's voice was very low: "...I just didn't know how to refuse Aunt Song."

"Not curious?"

"About what?" Shi Sui didn't understand.

Yan Tingli slightly tilted his head, his brows cool as water: "Like asking me who Yan Congjin is. You don't look surprised."

Shi Sui's expression stiffened almost imperceptibly, then quickly covered it up.

Yan Tingli let out a cold laugh: "Zhou Xuyan has quite some nerve."

"No, it wasn't her, she didn't say anything." Shi Sui hurriedly cleared her friend of responsibility.

His eyebrow arched with more sarcasm: "Seems you do know."

"..."

Yan Tingli was cunning and scheming. She too easily fell into his traps.

The more she said, the more mistakes she made. Shi Sui simply shut her mouth.

For quite a while.

Yan Tingli didn't make another sound.

Thinking he was brewing some big move, Shi Sui held her breath and secretly glanced at him, slightly stunned.

Yan Tingli only showed him her profile.

His eyelashes pressed low, his expression unclear.

She couldn't fathom anything, yet Shi Sui felt a kind of cold, lonely fragility.

But it was only momentary, so fast it seemed like an illusion.

Yan Tingli turned his face toward her, back to his usual indifferent attitude: "What's that expression?"

Shi Sui was stunned.

"Pitying me?"

"No, I-"

"Do I need it?"

Shi Sui paused for two seconds, understanding the meaning of his words.

...Just now was indeed an illusion.

Right.

With his top-tier life, getting whatever he wanted, where would he need her pity?

Though Shi Sui was indignant, her heart strangely relaxed somewhat. She muttered quietly: "Then I'll take it back."

"Who gave you permission to take it back?"

Shi Sui:?

Yan Tingli expressionlessly pulled her back onto his lap, moving up, spreading her legs apart.

Shi Sui was wearing a pleated skirt today, with only a thin layer of stockings underneath.

"Pitying it would also work," Yan Tingli leaned close to her ear, saying in a low voice, "Haven't tried it in a car yet."

The hair on Shi Sui's neck stood up as she cursed: "You pervert, this is school!"

Yan Tingli glanced out the window: "Should I drive the car home then?"

"That's not okay either!"

Yan Tingli was noncommittal, playing with a strand of her hair.

Not mentioning this matter again, he asked methodically: "Let me guess, Zhou Xuyan told you yesterday?"

Shi Sui: "..."

He used a casual conversational tone: "Randomly telling my business, did she think about the consequences?"

"No..." Shi Sui had to cover for her best friend to the end: "I was the one who insisted on asking."

Yan Tingli leaned close, his hand resting on her leg, his breath very light:

"Knowing so much is very dangerous."

Shi Sui stopped his hand from going further, "Just pretend I don't know. I won't talk randomly."

Yan Tingli laughed.

"No good." He said, "Knowing is knowing."

Regarding deliberately inquiring about Yan Tingli's privacy, Shi Sui also felt somewhat guilty.

"What exactly do you want?"

He slowly traced circles on her knee: "What's our relationship?"

"What else could it be," Shi Sui said petulantly, "an improper relationship!"

"Then let's change it to proper."

Shi Sui's pupils slightly dilated, her eardrums vibrating: "What kind of proper...relationship?"

Yan Tingli's tone seemed casual, "If you're my girlfriend, I don't mind you knowing so much."