Lu Shizhen spent most of his life in the hospital ward and did not have much experience in interpersonal relationships.
She didn't understand if this was just the way people get along with each other, but this feeling would arise when the distance between them was too close. It was absurd and unbalanced. The whole person was like a program that had been executed incorrectly, and she had many bad thoughts.
Lu Shizhen really didn't know what was wrong with him.
Why do these things arise for no reason, and why do such absurd ideas pop up.
The light sprinkled from top to bottom in Lu Shizhen's sight, but was gradually eroded by Xu Shiyue's gradually approaching figure.
The default was like a stuck program, or like she made a subconscious choice about Xu Shiyue's behavior, not choosing to stop it at any second.
The night covered the snow outside the floor-to-ceiling windows with a thick black, and the whole world fell silent.
The last time Lu Shizhen had such a thought when looking at Xu Shiyue was because he was afraid of accidentally falling into her arms, but this time it was this person who came towards him on her own initiative as a punishment.
The light and shadows were imprinted in Lu Shizhen's pupils frame by frame, and Xu Shiyue's pupils reflected in her eyes were still cold and calm.
But unlike the usual confusion she brought to Lu Shizhen, Lu Shizhen knew the purpose of her behavior very clearly.
The alcohol, which was not very strong, evaporated slowly, and the smell on Xu Shiyue's body became the most cunning invader.
Lu Shizhen knew what this person was going to do and what he was facing, so getting close to him became particularly annoying.
Lu Shizhen felt that his body was not very capable. He got drunk just by smelling the alcohol.
Her heart was beating wildly in her mind, and many petals of expectation were surging in the vast grass, fluttering and confusing her brain.
Xu Shiyue's breath slowly and increasingly covered and poured in. Under Lu Shizhen's gaze, the warm breath from her lips lingered on Lu Shizhen's lips and nose...
Finally, in full view of everyone, it was imprinted on Lu Shizhen's forehead.
This is a kiss.
But it wasn't a kiss.
The cards restricted the scope of the kiss, but Xu Shiyue's lips still cunningly took advantage of the loopholes in the rules.
Lu Shizhen's expectations were dashed, but in an instant more flowers exploded in her heart.
Xu Shiyue's lips were slightly cool and soft, and the moment they touched Lu Shizhen's forehead, her heart beat completely out of rhythm.
The place where Xu Shiyue kissed seemed to be on fire, burning and boiling all the way. Blood as hot as lava suddenly rushed to her brain, burning her ears and neck red.
Lu Shizhen had never felt that the temperature in winter could be so hot.
The lip print on the forehead is more deadly than the wet and soft feeling on the lips.
She suddenly remembered a sentence she had read a long time ago.
Camus' words.
—In the dead of winter, I finally learned that there was an invincible summer in me.
Xu Shiyue seemed to be her summer.
“Click, snap—”
Lu Shizhen's body was undergoing a grand change when he heard the sound of a camera taking pictures.
She suddenly turned her head and saw that Cheng Meiyan had produced a camera from somewhere and was sitting next to her watching the fun and taking pictures without hesitation.
Cheng Meiyan was very satisfied with the picture she had just captured. She held her face with one hand and admired her masterpiece intoxicatedly: "Oh, it's really a beautiful photo."
The burning temperature on Lu Shizhen's ear tip instantly spread to her face, and she shouted: "Mom..."
"What's wrong? It's really beautiful~" Cheng Meiyan was still admiring it, and Lu Shize interrupted her: "Mom, you are drunk."
Cheng Meiyan hadn't noticed the change on Lu Shize's face yet, and held up the camera: "No way, I'm sober!"
Lu Shize didn't listen to her explanation. He said to the bodyguard beside him with a sullen face: "Wu, help Madam get in the car and go home."
"Yes, sir." Wu nodded slightly and walked to Cheng Meiyan.
Cheng Meiyan protested: "Why, I won't leave! My game isn't over yet! I haven't taken pictures of our Zhenzhen and Shiyue yet..."
When Lu Shize heard the two names appear side by side from Cheng Meiyan's mouth, his brows frowned again.
He put down the cards in his hand and stood up, his tone gentle but unyielding: "Mom, it's getting late. You have to go abroad to attend a fashion exchange tomorrow, and Xiaoen also has to prepare for the final exam on Friday. You should go home early and rest."
"Brother, why did you also..."
Lu Shien was innocently implicated and was about to protest, but was glared at by Lu Shize and shut up.
Compared to the moody Lu Shizhen, she was more afraid of her elder brother who was like a father to her.
Lu Shien was more perceptive than Cheng Meiyan. She knew that Xu Shiyue's kiss on Lu Shizhen's forehead just now had hurt Lu Shize's heart.
Although Lu Shien had to admit that at that moment, she did truly realize Xu Shiyue's elegance and beauty.
The enchantment emanating from her drooping eyelashes made her almost forget to breathe, and the word "well-matched" seemed a little monotonous.
Lu Shien admitted that he had compromised once again for this scene.
But her brother was not as easy to compromise as she was.
After Lu Shize gave these instructions, he set his sights on Xu Shiyue: "The company's affairs have not been dealt with yet. I hope to see you at the company on time tomorrow."
His voice was not loud, but because of the warmth of the home, the oppressive warning in his voice was particularly obvious.
But Xu Shiyue was still not overwhelmed by his voice. "Don't worry, Mr. Lu."
The eyes that were just drunk were now clear and calm, and the voice was also unusually steady.
Like a fox deliberately challenging authority.
.
Lu Shize didn't want Xu Shiyue to have the same intimate thing with Lu Shizhen as before, so he personally sent Cheng Meiyan away who wanted to stay.
Lu Shizhen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as she watched the two cars leave the villa. The winter wind was chilly, so she didn't stay at the door for long. She went back to the villa with Xu Shiyue and prepared to go back to their respective rooms.
The shadows of the two people standing side by side were reflected on the wall, and the corridor was quiet with no one talking.
Lu Shizhen didn’t know what to say, but she didn’t want to separate from Xu Shiyue too quickly.
The cold wind from outside lingered on her forehead, and the interrupted kiss felt faintly warm on it.
Lu Shizhen was not uncomfortable with this matter, but was a little confused.
She thought that everything would be fine once she figured out what was wrong with her.
Walking in silence, the two arrived at their respective doors.
Just as Lu Shizhen was about to push the door and enter the room, Xu Shiyue called her from behind: "Lu Shizhen."
The lights were flickering, and just as Lu Shizhen fixed her eyes on Xu Shiyue, she saw a beautifully packaged orange cube box being handed to her.
"Happy birthday." Xu Shiyue said softly.
Lu Shizhen was slightly stunned, somewhat unexpected.
Xu Shiyue seemed to have noticed her surprise and said, "You don't think that my preparation of a birthday party for you is a gift from me to you, do you?"
Lu Shizhen really believed so and felt that it was the best birthday gift she had ever received in her life.
But I didn't expect that behind this best, there was another better one.
Lu Shizhen was very surprised. He took the gift from Xu Shiyue and said habitually: "Thank you."
Xu Shiyue was a little dissatisfied: "Why do you say thank you to me but not to Lu Shien and the others? It seems like we are very distant."
Lu Shizhen didn't expect Xu Shiyue to say that, but after she said that, it really seemed strange and distant.
But she didn't think so.
Her relationship with Xu Shiyue is much closer than that with Lu Shien and the others...
Not sure if he was worried that Xu Shiyue would misunderstand him more, or if he was worried that the task he had just completed would be deducted points and lead to a greater failure, Lu Shizhen quickly said: "No, I didn't, I just didn't know what to say..."
"Then say good night." Xu Shiyue interrupted.
Her voice was not as cold as before, but gentle in her calmness, and she repeated: "Good night, Xu Shiyue."
Lu Shizhen was stunned for a moment.
The light from above the corridor fell into Xu Shiyue's eyes, and her face was reflected in the dark spot.
I can’t explain it, the atmosphere suddenly seems a little ambiguous.
Xu Shiyue seemed to be teaching himself how to please her.
Lu Shizhen blinked and somehow accepted Xu Shiyue's teachings.
She was like a good student, imitating Xu Shiyue and saying, "Good night, Xu Shiyue."
Xu Shiyue slightly curved her eyes, seeming to be very satisfied with Lu Shizhen's reaction.
Just when she was about to say good night to Lu Shizhen, her student went one step further and added a sentence after the one she taught her: "Sweet dreams."
thump.
It's the sound of a heart skipping a beat.
Xu Shiyue's slightly curved eyes paused for a moment, and her voice was even gentler than before: "Good night, Lu Shizhen."
"Sweet dreams to you too."
Two "good nights" blended together in the dark night, and darkness became the best time to hide the ambiguity.
Lu Shizhen returned to her room holding the gift Xu Shiyue gave her, and untied the bow tied on the gift with unprecedented care.
She rarely looked so dignified.
I was even afraid that any action might cause something to go wrong with the gift, so I held my breath.
The tightly sealed package was opened, and a cluster of bright yellow light gently appeared in Lu Shizhen's eyes.
The round glass decomposes the light and then reassembles it, illuminating the small world contained in the crystal ball.
The ground is covered with bright red roses, full of vitality.
Lu Shizhen saw the little prince smiling at him, and the fox that accompanied him was sitting next to him.
There are some things that only the two of them know, but they are secret and known to each other.
This feeling made Lu Shizhen's heart pound. It was as if the wilderness in winter was planted with roses. The sky-high red color made her smell the scent of roses.
The girl's eyes were curved like two crescent moons. She was so happy that she couldn't wait to show off to others. So she pulled Qiuqiu, who was supposed to be resting, out and said, "Qiuqiu, do you think it looks good?"
"What—Wow, is this a crystal ball? It's so beautiful... but the host." Qiuqiu paused in exclamation, and the round body pressed against the crystal ball. "Why doesn't this fox look like a fox... but looks a bit like a dog?"
"ah?"
Lu Shizhen didn't notice it, but after being reminded by Qiuqiu, he couldn't help but notice it.
The fox's mouth, which was supposed to be pointed, became blunt and round, and its slanted eyes were like two beautiful apricots.
"Huh? I don't know, it's so strange..." Lu Shizhen was a little confused about what Xu Shiyue meant. After all, in her opinion, Xu Shiyue was not such a careless person.
"What's going on... Ouch."
Lu Shizhen was wondering when he suddenly felt a sharp pain coming from his teeth.
But before she recovered from the toothache, she heard the voice of the system.
"-10"
Lu Shizhen hadn't heard of a deduction notice for a long time, and was immediately terrified: "Qiuqiu!"
Qiuqiu immediately opened the system interface upon hearing this voice and said steadily: "Host, don't panic! Our mission is still completed."
Lu Shizhen covered her face, not knowing for a moment whether the toothache was worse or the heartache was worse: "Then what happened?"
"Host, do you still remember what I told you at the beginning? The points are composed of Xu Shiyue's favorability index towards the host and the host's safety index in the world." Qiuqiu explained, "Although Xu Shiyue will no longer deduct points from the host, according to the development of the story, your future safety index will become lower and lower, and eventually lead to the predetermined ending of death."
"The closer you get to the end, the more unstable your world safety index becomes. If you don't stop the loss in time, your points will be deducted and count as mission failure, and you will actually die in this world."
When Lu Shizhen heard Qiuqiu's words, he felt depressed.
The darkness outside the window penetrated through the gaps in the window and gradually enveloped her. It was no longer simply cold.
Qiuqiu was still looking at the data and analyzed another piece of very bad news: "And host, your current toothache is not caused by eating too much sweets, but because after completing the mission, your temporary body began to gradually break away from the control of the main system and rejected your soul that resided inside."
Lu Shizhen's heart skipped a beat, and his thoughts seemed to stop: "Then what should I do?"
"Leave." Qiuqiu replied.
As if he realized something, or as if he didn't want to face it, Lu Shizhen's thoughts seemed to stagnate, and he repeatedly asked: "What do you mean?"
"It means that we should leave now." Qiuqiu said, "Host."
(End of this chapter)