CM - 62

Zhou Shu-rong came out and couldn’t find Shen Ting-wen, making her feel even worse. She blamed her own presumptuousness for the current backlash.

She hadn’t tried to steal the spotlight at Zhou Xi-you’s dinner, nor had she made herself the center of attention. This was both her courtesy to Zhou Xi-you and a reflection of her lack of interest.

Ever since Shen Ting-wen sat down, he had radiated a sense of distance. He had never ignored her like this before...

Zhou Shu-rong realized she had been spoiled by him, taking his attentiveness for granted.

She walked slowly towards the exit. At the intersection, cars were coming and going, but she stood there strangely. She couldn’t cry, but her face was filled with sadness.

She stood at the crossroad, watching the traffic light change over and over, yet she didn’t move. She stood there until she saw a familiar figure approaching her from across the street, walking at a steady pace.

Suddenly, she clenched her fists.

The figure was Shen Ting-wen. He stopped in front of her and asked, “Did you miss me?”

Before Zhou Shu-rong could reply, he added, “I’m only going to ask you this once. Think carefully before you answer.”

He had originally left, but when he saw Zhou Shu-rong following him out, he went crazy. All his pretense was burned away. He no longer cared if she was avoiding him; he’d love her whether she avoided him or not.

Zhou Shu-rong pursed her lips.

Shen Ting-wen took a step back, “If you don’t say anything by the time I get to the end of the crosswalk, you never have to again.”

Zhou Shu-rong frowned.

The light turned green. Shen Ting-wen took another step back.

Zhou Shu-rong took a step forward but didn’t call out to him.

Shen Ting-wen took another step back.

Zhou Shu-rong grew anxious, “Don’t do this.”

Shen Ting-wen acted as if he hadn’t heard her and took yet another step back.

Zhou Shu-rong gave up. She reached out and grabbed him, but couldn’t pull him back. She had thought she was strong enough to pull a man with ease, but the force made her fall into his arms instead.

Shen Ting-wen stopped but didn’t hug her back, “Did you miss me?”

Zhou Shu-rong was stubborn. She didn’t like his coercive approach and wanted to say no, but the words wouldn’t come out, “Can you tell me what kind of ‘miss’ you’re talking about? Give me some options.”

Shen Ting-wen told her, “Do you want to see me? Did you dream of me? Do you regret avoiding me? Does it hurt to see me walk away?”

Zhou Shu-rong wanted to see him, had dreamed of him, regretted avoiding him, and it did hurt. But her mind was a mess. Thinking about his words, she mumbled, “What does ‘it hurts’ mean?”

Hearing this, Shen Ting-wen started to move backward again. The traffic was heavy, and he was acting like a lunatic. Zhou Shu-rong grew even more anxious and hugged him, “It hurts! Don’t mess with me! I don’t want to take you to the hospital!”

Shen Ting-wen stopped, waiting for her next words.

Zhou Shu-rong hugged his waist tightly, her voice very soft, audible only to the two of them, “I missed you. I’m only saying this once.”

Shen Ting-wen had waited for this! He went crazy. Ignoring the onlookers, he scooped up Zhou Shu-rong and gave her a forceful kiss on the lips.

Zhou Shu-rong nearly fell and held onto his neck tightly.

Shen Ting-wen asked her, “Still being stubborn?”

“I was never stubborn!” Zhou Shu-rong denied.

“Still being difficult?”

“I was not.”

“Still being a know-it-all?”

Zhou Shu-rong fell silent. She knew she was wrong.

Shen Ting-wen had so many questions, “Do you want to admit you like me now? This is your only chance.”

Zhou Shu-rong didn’t want to answer anymore, “I said I missed you and that it hurt. Doesn’t that prove whether I like you or not? Why are you still asking me?”

“Because you’re too stubborn. You say one thing and mean another. Who knows if you’ll change your mind again?” Shen Ting-wen said.

Zhou Shu-rong felt there were too many people and they were blocking the way, “Let’s go somewhere else to talk.”

Shen Ting-wen carried her to the side of the road, “Speak.”

Zhou Shu-rong huddled in his arms, “Speak about what...”

“Tell me when you first took a liking to me.”

“I didn’t take a liking to you...”

“Not admitting it again?”

“No... Don’t keep asking me these questions...”

Shen Ting-wen insisted on asking, “Just tell me when you started liking me. I’ll only ask this one.”

Zhou Shu-rong didn’t know. Things had felt off ever since she started hating him so much, “I don’t know! Now, put me down!”

“I won’t.”

“Are you going to put me down or not?”

Shen Ting-wen didn’t, “Isn’t it only natural for me to hold my girlfriend?”

“Who said I’m your girlfriend?”

“You said you like me.”

“I just said I like you, not that I want to be with you!” Zhou Shu-rong refused to look at him.

Shen Ting-wen leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.

Zhou Shu-rong struggled to get down from him, covering her forehead, “What are you doing!”

Shen Ting-wen, scolded by her, sounded wronged, “Fu Lin-ying, an outsider, can touch your forehead, but I, your boyfriend, can’t even give you a kiss?”

“When did I ever let him touch my forehead? Don’t spread rumors!” Zhou Shu-rong was confused.

Shen Ting-wen lowered his head, “Not admitting it? Or are you defending him? I guess so, you two have common ground, and he teaches you how to write essays. Unlike me, who shamelessly pesters you every day, and you’re probably sick of me.”

Zhou Shu-rong was now truly sick of him, “Stop with the sarcasm! You’re the only one who’s handsy with me every day, who else would dare?”

“Which time did I get handsy with you and you didn’t hit me? You didn’t even hit him when he touched you!” Shen Ting-wen sounded utterly wronged.

Zhou Shu-rong was going crazy. Was there something wrong with him!? He was so annoying! She didn’t want to talk to him anymore and turned to leave.

Shen Ting-wen looked even more wronged and didn’t move.

Zhou Shu-rong walked about two meters, then turned around and walked back. She didn’t even have time to be mad at herself for being weak. She took his hand and used her arm to cover her eyes as she walked—she felt a bit silly for coming back and didn’t want to be seen.

Shen Ting-wen had a smile playing on his lips and asked her, “Why are you covering your face?”

Zhou Shu-rong huffed, “You’re so ugly, I’m embarrassed to be seen holding your hand.”

“Then let go of me.”

Zhou Shu-rong immediately let go.

Shen Ting-wen backed down, grabbing both of her hands, “I’m sorry.”

Zhou Shu-rong warned him, “Don’t provoke me.”

“If I provoke you, you’ll hit me. I know.”

Zhou Shu-rong said, “If you provoke me, I’ll let go of your hand.”

Shen Ting-wen fell silent, gripping Zhou Shu-rong’s hand tightly. Now that he finally held her hand, he couldn’t let go. Never.

Zhou Shu-rong winced, “My hand! Don’t squeeze so hard!”

Shen Ting-wen relaxed his grip a little and moved closer to her, softly saying, “Rong-rong, do you like me?”

Zhou Shu-rong didn’t want to answer anymore, avoiding his face, “Haven’t you already asked that question?”

“Then can we be together?” Shen Ting-wen whispered into her ear, intentionally lowering his voice.

Zhou Shu-rong’s ears went numb, her chest went numb, her butt went numb. He was so annoying! He kept trying to seduce her! She didn’t want to, “No! Who says liking someone means you have to be together?”

Shen Ting-wen stopped walking, “Am I not good enough? Then tell me what I need to do. Just say the word, and I’ll do it.”

Here he went again, with the sarcasm. Zhou Shu-rong felt he was wasting his talent in high school; he should be at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, “Can you just be normal? I’ve seen through your act, why are you still performing?”

“But you like me and you still won’t be with me. What am I supposed to do?”

Zhou Shu-rong was still holding his hand, but the way she talked to him made it seem like she wanted to eat him alive, “Can’t you just ask me again in a couple of days? Do you have to get to the bottom of everything today? Has no one ever told you that being so persistent is a bad habit?”

Shen Ting-wen understood, “Oh.”

Zhou Shu-rong got angry just looking at him and tugged on his hand, “Let’s go!”

Zhou Xi-you’s get-together had ended, and everyone had left, except for Li Gun.

Li Gun wiped Zhou Xi-you’s mouth, “You’ve got sauce all over your face, you’re a little cat.”

Zhou Xi-you was still thinking about how Li Gun had swapped Zhao Gu-qing’s wine for water earlier. Being a direct person, she pulled Li Gun’s hand away, held it, and asked, “I want to know why you like Zhao Gu-qing.”

Li Gun’s expression stiffened slightly.

Zhou Xi-you smiled, “Don’t be nervous, I’m just asking. In exchange, I’ll tell you why I used to like Shen Ting-wen.”

Li Gun looked into her eyes.