Chapter 4

Shi Ye leaned against the door, tears inexplicably streaming down her face; she couldn't explain why. Her phone screen was still lit, with messages from Qi Jin and Lin Xiaoyu lying side-by-side in the notification bar, like two options waiting for her to choose.

She wiped her face and first opened Lin Xiaoyu's chat window. The picture book had been sent; it was an antique-style botanical encyclopedia with a gold-stamped cover and yellowed pages—definitely the type she would like.

“It’s really beautiful,” Shi Ye typed. “Where did you find it?”

Lin Xiaoyu replied instantly: "In a super-hidden secondhand bookstore! The owner was an old man who said this book was passed down from his grandfather's generation. I knew as soon as I saw it that Sister Shiye would like it, so I bought it immediately!"

This was followed by a series of excited emojis.

Shi Ye couldn't help but laugh. Lin Xiaoyu's undisguised enthusiasm was hard to dislike.

"Thank you. Please take me to that bookstore next time."

"Great! Shall we go after the exhibition on Wednesday? I know there's a really good pancake shop nearby, their signature dish is matcha red bean pancakes, it's amazing!"

Shi Ye replied with an "OK" gesture, then switched to Qi Jin's chat window. Qi Jin's message was still "Let me know when you get home" and her reply "Arrived".

She wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say. "Thank you?" seemed too formal. "Good evening?" was too ordinary.

My finger hovered over the screen for ages before I finally sent a cat yawning emoji.

Qi Jin instantly replied with a nodding cat emoji from the same series.

Shi Ye stared at the emoji, his eyes wide. Qi Jin? Sending a cat emoji? This was more unbelievable than seeing an alien.

"System," she asked in her mind, "has Qi Jin's character been ruined?"

"Data shows that Qi Jin's recent emoji usage frequency has increased by 300%, with 80% of them being cat-themed. Possible reasons include: influence from the host; the character's inner personality being revealed; or system data errors."

Shi Ye looked at the round cat head and suddenly felt a pang of tenderness. She replied with a cat hug emoji.

Qi Jin did not reply.

Shi Ye put away her phone and prepared to go upstairs to take a shower. Just as she stepped onto the first step, the landline in the living room suddenly rang.

She paused. Almost no one in the house, except her parents, ever called the landline, and it was so late…

The landline rang five times. Shi Ye walked over and answered, "Hello?"

There was only static on the other end of the phone; no one spoke.

"Hello? Who is this?"

Silence remained. Just as Shi Ye was about to hang up, a mechanical voice, altered by a voice changer, spoke: "Miss Shi, do you like the flowers?"

Shi Ye's heart stopped for a second.

"Who are you?" She gripped the microphone tightly, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Someone who cares about you," the mechanical voice said flatly, "is also someone who's warning you. Staying away from Qi Jin won't do you any good."

"What's the meaning?"

"The literal meaning," the mechanical voice said, "The Qi family is too complicated for you to handle. While you can still extricate yourself, quickly call off the engagement."

Shi Ye took a deep breath: "What if I say no?"

A low laugh came from the other end of the phone, sounding like rusty gears grinding after being processed by a voice changer: "Then don't blame me for not warning you. Next time, it might not be flowers."

The call ended, leaving only a busy tone.

Shi Ye slowly put down the receiver, her palms sweaty. She glanced at the caller ID—an unknown number.

"System, can you track it?"

"The call duration was too short to locate the user. Voiceprint analysis: The voice changer is a common civilian model with no value for feature identification."

Shi Ye slumped onto the sofa, his mind a jumbled mess. Threatening phone calls, tracking devices, anonymous bouquets of flowers… this was no longer simple business competition; it was blatant threat.

Her first instinct was to tell Qi Jin, but her finger froze on the phone screen. What would Qi Jin do? Increase security? Investigate the mastermind? Or… propose breaking off the engagement to protect her?

Shi Ye recalled Qi Jin's words in the car: "No matter what happens, I will protect you." She believed Qi Jin meant it sincerely, but precisely because of that sincerity, she couldn't drag Qi Jin into deeper danger.

The landline rang again.

Shi Ye stared at the black telephone as if it were a wild beast ready to pounce. After seven rings, she finally answered.

"Hello?"

"Sis! Why did it take you so long to answer the phone!" It was Shi Feng, Shi Ye's younger brother, who was studying abroad. His voice was full of youthful energy. "I tried calling your cell phone but no one answered, so I had to call the landline."

Shi Ye breathed a sigh of relief and slumped onto the sofa: "Xiao Feng... my phone is on silent. Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"It's only afternoon here!" Shi Feng said. "I heard you're getting engaged? Is it true? Who's the other person? What do they look like? Are they good to you? I have to buy a plane ticket and go back to see them..."

"Stop, stop, stop," Shi Ye interrupted his barrage of questions, "How did you know?"

"Mom emailed me about it, and even sent me photos." Shi Feng's voice suddenly lowered. "Sis, that Qi Jin... I looked him up, his reputation isn't good. Are you really going to marry him?"

Shi Ye rubbed his temples: "Things are complicated, and it's hard to explain over the phone. Just focus on your studies over there and don't worry about these things."

"How can I not worry!" Shi Feng exclaimed anxiously. "You're my only sister! If that Qi Jin bullies you, I'll fly back and beat him up right away!"

“She is a woman,” Shi Ye said.

There was a five-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"……What?"

"Qi Jin is a woman," Shi Ye repeated. "Didn't Mom tell you?"

"The email said 'Young Master Qi'!" Shi Feng's voice changed. "The photo also shows him in a suit... Wait, let me take another look..."

Shi Ye could imagine her younger brother frantically flipping through the photos. She waited a moment, and then Shi Feng's voice rang out again, tinged with confusion: "It really is... long hair, wearing a suit, but it's definitely a woman. Mom, what kind of description is that..."

“So you see, your sister isn’t so easily bullied,” Shi Ye said. “But what about you? How did you do on your final exams?”

"Don't change the subject!" Shi Feng became agitated again. "What's wrong with women? Women can be scumbags too... no, women can bully people too! Sis, what are you thinking? A business marriage? Our family hasn't gone so far as to sell our daughter, has it?"

Shi Ye felt a warmth in her heart. Although this younger brother was four years younger than her, he had always protected her since childhood. In the original story, after the Shi family went bankrupt, Shi Feng dropped out of school to work and try to help pay off the family's debts, but eventually his health collapsed from exhaustion.

“It wasn’t selling my daughter,” she said softly. “It was my own choice. Qi Jin… she’s been very good to me.”

"Really?" Shi Feng was skeptical. "Don't lie to me. If you've been wronged, you must tell me. Although I can't beat them, I can hire someone..."

"Shi Feng!"

"Alright, alright, I won't say anything more." Shi Feng sighed. "Then promise me you'll come back for the engagement party. I need to see Qi Jin with my own eyes. If she treats you badly, I'll..."

"What will you do?"

"I'll give her company bad reviews every day!" Shi Feng said confidently.

Shi Ye couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, I'll buy you a plane ticket later. Now go study, don't stay up late playing games."

After hanging up with her brother, Shi Ye felt a little better. She glanced at the time; it was almost ten o'clock.

Before going upstairs to take a shower, she checked the doors and windows again. When she reached the study on the second floor, she stopped—the door was ajar, and a faint light was coming from inside.

She remembered clearly that the study was locked when her father left after dinner.

Shi Ye held her breath and gently pushed the door open a crack. The study was empty, but the desk lamp was on. She went in and found a photo album spread out on the table.

It was the Shi family's old photo album, thick and with a worn leather cover. The open page contained photos of her and Shi Feng when they were little—she was about seven or eight years old, wearing a white dress and holding a doll; Shi Feng was still a baby, drooling on her lap.

Next to the photo, written in pen: Ye Ye is seven years old, Xiao Feng is three years old. Taken in the courtyard of the old house.

Shi Ye's fingers traced the smiling face of the little girl in the photo. It was the original owner of the body, but for some reason, a strong sense of familiarity welled up in her heart, as if those memories were also her own.

She turned a page. More childhood photos: her first time learning to ride a bicycle, falling and bleeding from her knee but still smiling; giving a speech as a representative at her elementary school graduation ceremony; frowning at a plaster statue in the art studio in middle school…

She stopped in her tracks when she reached the middle of the album.

It was a photo she had absolutely no recollection of. In the photo, she was about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a school uniform, standing on a street corner in the rain. She was holding a tattered umbrella with a noticeable hole in it, through which rainwater leaked and soaked her shoulders. In front of her was a thin stray cat eating the cat food she had left on the ground.

The photo was taken from across the street, and it was a bit blurry, but you could still see her profile—focused, gentle, and completely oblivious to the fact that she was soaking wet.

On the back of the photo is a line of small print: May 7, 200X, rain. A chance encounter.

The handwriting is slender and strong, not the handwriting of the Shi family.

Shi Ye's heart pounded. Was this the chance encounter Qi Jin had mentioned? But why were there photos? Who took them?

She continued flipping through the album and found several more similar "chance" photos at the back: she was looking at paintings at an art exhibition, looking for books in the library, doing homework in a coffee shop... They were all taken from candid angles, but they were very clear.

The last photo was taken on her eighteenth birthday, outside a dessert shop, holding a small cake and making a wish over candles. The candlelight illuminated her face, her eyes were closed, and her eyelashes cast soft shadows beneath them.

The back of the photo reads: Happy Adulthood.

There was no signature, no date, only those three words.

Shi Ye slumped into a chair in the study, the photo album lying open on her lap. Who put these photos there? Qi Jin? If it was her, why would she put the photos in the Shi family album? If it wasn't her, then who was it?

“System,” her voice trembled slightly, “these photos…”

"Analyzing... Photo paper: Kodak photographic paper, a common type from the 2000s to 2000s. The shooting device is presumed to be an early digital camera, with approximately 5 megapixels. Photographer: Unknown."

Is it possible for Qi Jin?

"Based on the time and location of the photos: the photos span three years and involve multiple cities. Qi Jin was between 18 and 21 years old at the time, and had financial means and freedom of movement. Probability: 67%"

Shi Ye stared at the photo of feeding cats in the rain. If it really was taken by Qi Jin, what did that mean? Had she been watching the original owner of this body since then? For three years?

Her phone vibrated, pulling her back to reality. It was a message from Qi Jin: "The security system will be installed at nine tomorrow morning, it might be a bit noisy. Do you need me to arrange somewhere else for you to stay temporarily?"

Shi Ye looked at the message, then at the photo on his lap, tapped his fingers on the keyboard, and finally sent it: "No need, I can go to the library. I can look up some information there."

Qi Jin: "Do you need a ride?"

Shi Ye: "I can go by myself. By the way, I have a question for you."

Qi Jin: "Speak."

Shi Ye carefully considered his words: "Have you ever taken any photos before? Like street photography or something?"

After sending the message, Shi Ye stared at the screen, her heart pounding. She watched the "typing..." indicator flash and disappear three times before Qi Jin finally replied, "Why did you ask that?"

It's neither a denial nor an admission.

Shi Ye gritted his teeth, took a picture of the cat being fed in the rain, and sent it over: "Did you take this?"

This time, Qi Jin remained silent for even longer. So long that Shi Ye thought she wouldn't reply, his phone finally vibrated: "Where did you find it?"

Shi Ye's hands began to tremble: "There are many more photos in my family's photo album, from middle school to high school."

Qi Jin's reply was concise to the point of being cold: "We'll talk when we meet tomorrow."

"Can't I say now?" Shi Ye pressed.

"It's hard to explain over the phone. I'll pick you up at nine tomorrow."

Shi Ye looked at the message and suddenly felt an impulse. She dialed Qi Jin's number.

The phone rang three times before being answered. Qi Jin's voice came through, lower than usual: "Shi Ye."

"Did you take those photos?" Shi Ye asked directly.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone: "Yes."

"Why?"

"...Because I wanted to film it."

"Want to film?" Shi Ye raised his voice. "Stalking a strange girl for three years and secretly filming her life, is that what you call 'wanting to film'?"

“I wasn’t following you,” Qi Jin’s voice remained calm. “I just happened to run into you and took a picture.”

"Occasionally? Spanning three years, six cities, and seventeen 'occasional' occurrences?"

A soft sigh came from the other end of the phone: "Shi Ye, there are some things I can't explain right now. But please believe me, I never meant any harm."

"Then why are these photos in my family photo album?"

“You’ll have to ask your father,” Qi Jin said. “Three years ago, I bound the photos into an album and gave it to him as a birthday present. He said he wanted to wait until you came of age to show it to you.”

Shi Ye was stunned: "My father? He knows?"

“I know.” Qi Jin paused. “He knows I like you, he’s liked you for a long time.”

Shi Ye's mind went blank. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

"Did I scare you?" Qi Jin's voice softened. "I'm sorry, I wanted to take it slow. But things happened too fast, and I didn't have time..."

“Wait a minute,” Shi Ye interrupted her, “You said you like me? Since when?”

“From the first time I saw you feeding a cat in the rain,” Qi Jin said candidly, “I was in a bad mood then, I had a big fight with my family, and I was driving around aimlessly. Then I saw you, soaking wet, still taking care of a cat. That scene… I can’t forget it.”

Shi Ye didn't know what to say. It was all too sudden, too far beyond her comprehension.

“So it’s a marriage alliance…” she murmured.

"It was my idea," Qi Jin admitted. "I knew the Shi family was facing difficulties, and I knew you probably wouldn't agree. So I used the worst possible method—a business marriage. I'm sorry."

Shi Ye closed her eyes. So that's how it is. No wonder Qi Jin was so tolerant of her, no wonder he was willing to teach her business knowledge, no wonder he said "I owe you".

"Is this all you owe me?" she asked.

“More than that,” Qi Jin said. “I also owe you a formal pursuit, a real romance, a relationship that isn’t based on transactions. But I was too hasty; I was afraid of missing out on you.”

Shi Ye's nose stung again. This time it wasn't because of fear or feeling wronged, but because... she couldn't explain it.

“Qi Jin,” she said softly, “do you know who I am now?”

"What's the meaning?"

“I mean,” Shi Ye gripped his phone tightly, “people change. The person I am now may not be the one you like anymore.”

“I know you’ve changed.” Qi Jin’s voice was soft. “You’ve become stronger, more clear-headed, more… like yourself. That’s the kind of you I like, whether it was three years ago or now.”

Shi Ye's tears fell, dripping onto the photos in the album. She quickly wiped them away, but new tears kept welling up.

“Tomorrow,” she sniffed, “let’s talk about it when we meet tomorrow. I need time to think about it.”

“Okay,” Qi Jin said. “Whatever decision you make, I will respect it. But please let me continue to protect you, at least until you are safe.”

After hanging up the phone, Shi Ye sat in her study, staring at the photos in the album. Her younger self (or rather, the original owner of this body) was smiling, frowning, and focused in the photos, completely unaware that someone was watching her from a distance.

“System,” she asked, “what is this? Has the plot deteriorated to this extent?”

"Data shows that the current world line deviates from the original work by 89%. However, the characters' behavior logic is consistent, and the world's stability has actually increased to 72%. It is speculated that the original work may only be the 'surface setting' of this world, and there is actually a deeper storyline."

"A deeper storyline?" Shi Ye frowned. "For example?"

"For example, Qi Jin's long-term unrequited love for the original owner; Shi's father's tacit approval of this relationship; and the stories behind those photos. These are not mentioned in the original work, but they constitute the reasonable background of the current world."

Shi Ye closed the photo album and hugged it to her chest. She suddenly wondered, if the original owner of this body were still here, what would she have chosen? Would she have accepted this deep affection that had lasted for so many years, or would she have been afraid of being followed?

She didn't know.

But one thing she was very clear about—her feelings for Qi Jin were changing at an uncontrollable pace. From initial wariness, to appreciation during their collaboration, and now… a flutter of the heart?

My phone vibrated again. This time it was Lin Xiaoyu: "Sister Shi Ye! I found old photos of that pancake shop! Look, look!"

The photos I received showed a small, Japanese-style shop with a wooden sign that read "Maple Syrup Shop." The second photo was of the shop's signature pancakes, thick and topped with matcha sauce and red beans; they certainly looked tempting.

“It looks delicious,” Shi Ye replied.

"Right, right! We definitely have to go on Wednesday! Oh, by the way, does Senior want to come along? I want to spend some time alone with Shi Ye, but she seems a little jealous, so let's bring her along~"

Shi Ye stared at the words "jealousy," and his mind went blank.

"Jealous? What do you mean?"

“It was at the party today,” Lin Xiaoyu sent a voice message, her voice playful. “My senior kept looking at you, and she frowned when you looked at me. It was so obvious! I was thinking of teasing her, but then I thought better of it. My senior is scary when she’s angry.”

Shi Ye recalled that during the gathering earlier that day, Qi Jin had indeed been rather quiet, spending most of the time listening to her and Lin Xiaoyu chat. She had initially thought it was just Qi Jin's personality, but now, thinking back…

"System, is Qi Jin jealous today?"

"Micro-expression analysis review: During the gathering, Qi Jin's mouth drooped more frequently by 23%, his eyebrows furrowed more frequently by 41%, and the length of time his gaze lingered on the host's interaction with Lin Xiaoyu increased by 67%. This is consistent with the characteristics of 'displeasure'."

Shi Ye sighed, rubbing his forehead. What on earth is all this?

She replied to Lin Xiaoyu: "Stop teasing her, she's been very busy and stressed lately."

"Okay~ I'll ask Sister Shi Ye out on Wednesday, and I'll bring Senior Sister along next time! By the way, does Sister Shi Ye like Senior Sister?"

The question was so direct that Shi Ye almost threw his phone away.

Why are you suddenly asking this?

"Just curious~ I think you two are a good match. That iceberg-like senior needs a sun like Sister Shi Ye to melt her!"

Shi Ye looked at this sentence and something inside him was touched.

“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “It all happened so suddenly.”

"Feelings are always sudden!" Lin Xiaoyu sent another voice message. "The first time I saw Sister Shi Ye, I thought, wow, this person is so special! I want to be friends with her! My senior must have felt the same way; she was attracted to Sister Shi Ye at first sight, which is why she has secretly liked her for so many years!"

Shi Ye was stunned: "How did you know..."

"My senior told me!" Lin Xiaoyu said matter-of-factly. "Just before the gathering today, I asked her why she suddenly got engaged, and she said, 'Because I've liked her for many years and I don't want to wait any longer.' Wow, I was stunned! I never expected my senior to be so romantic!"

Shi Ye's fingertips felt cold. Qi Jin even told Lin Xiaoyu this? Just how close are they?

"Does she often talk to you about these things?"

"No, I just had a little to drink today and that's when I let it slip." Lin Xiaoyu sent a smirking emoji. "She's usually so aloof and never says anything. So, Sister Shi, you have to treat her well, she really likes you."

Shi Ye didn't reply. She put down her phone, picked up the photo album, and walked out of the study. The hallway light cast a long, lonely shadow of hers on the wall.

Back in her room, she placed the photo album on the bedside table and then went to take a shower. As the hot water washed over her, she closed her eyes, and countless images flashed through her mind: Qi Jin's profile as he heated milk in the kitchen, Qi Jin's focused expression as he taught her business knowledge, and Qi Jin's calm yet firm tone when he said, "I like you."

And those photos. In the rain, at art exhibitions, in cafes. It turns out that in the unseen years, someone was always watching her, remembering so many of her moments.

After taking a shower, Shi Ye dried her hair and walked to the window. It was late at night, and only a few ground lamps were lit in the courtyard. In the dim yellow light, she saw a figure standing outside the gate.

She squinted to look closely—it was Qi Jin. She was leaning against a black car, holding her phone, the screen's light reflecting off her face. She looked up at Shi Ye's window, their eyes meeting through the glass and the night.

Shi Ye's heart skipped a beat.

Qi Jin held up his phone to signal. A few seconds later, Shi Ye's phone vibrated: "Couldn't sleep, came to check. Your room light is still on."

Shi Ye typed: "You haven't left?"

“They left, then came back,” Qi Jin replied. “I was worried.”

Shi Ye looked at the figure downstairs and suddenly made a decision. She quickly changed her clothes, grabbed her keys, and ran downstairs.

When the door opened, Qi Jin had already stood up straight, a fleeting look of surprise on his face.

"How could you..." Qi Jin began.

"What are you doing?" Shi Ye retorted, "standing at my door in the middle of the night, acting as a door god?"

Qi Jin's lips curved into a smile: "I was worried about you."

"Because of that phone call?"

“Part of it,” Qi Jin said, “and another part…I want to see you.”

A night breeze blew, ruffling Shi Ye's hair. She was wearing thin loungewear and felt a little cold, but she didn't want to show it.

"Get in the car," Qi Jin opened the passenger door, "It's cold outside."

The car was warm and comfortable with the heater on. Shi Ye fastened his seatbelt. Qi Jin didn't start the car, but simply lowered the seat so the two of them could sit side by side, looking at the quiet street outside the windshield.

“Those photos,” Shi Ye began, “you really took them for three years?”

"Um."

Why give it to my father?

“Because he is the most important person to you.” Qi Jin’s voice was exceptionally clear in the enclosed car. “I want him to know that someone is genuinely in love with his daughter. Even if the way is clumsy.”

“It was very clumsy,” Shi Ye said. “Stalking and secretly filming—you could call the police now.”

Qi Jin chuckled softly, "That's why I've never dared to tell you. I was afraid you'd hate me."

Shi Ye turned to look at her. Qi Jin's profile appeared softer in the dim light of the dashboard, less sharp than during the day.

“What was my father’s reaction?” she asked.

"He accepted it and said thank you," Qi Jin recalled. "Then he asked me if I was serious. I said yes. He said, 'Then good luck, my daughter is very hard to win over.'"

Shi Ye imagined the scene and couldn't help but laugh: "That sounds like something he would say."

“He also said,” Qi Jin paused, “that you seem cheerful, but you are actually very insecure. If someone wants to get close to you, they must be very patient and sincere.”

Shi Ye's smile faded. Her father was right; both the original owner of this body and she were people who lacked a sense of security.

“Qi Jin,” she said softly, “what if I told you that I might not be the Shi Ye you know?”

Qi Jin turned to look at her, his eyes unfathomable in the dim light: "What do you mean?"

“What I mean is…” Shi Ye carefully chose his words, “People change after experiencing certain things. They might become so different that they don’t even recognize themselves anymore.”

Qi Jin stared at her for a long time, so long that Shi Ye thought she had seen through his secret. But in the end, Qi Jin simply reached out and gently touched her cheek.

“I know you’ve changed,” Qi Jin said, “but your eyes haven’t changed. They’re still so bright, so clear, so… easily startled, yet so brave.”

Shi Ye's breath hitched. Qi Jin's fingers were cool, but they felt like a branding iron on her face.

"Can I ask you a question?" Qi Jin withdrew his hand.

"ask."

"If... I mean if, there were no business marriage, no crisis for the Shi family, and it was just me pursuing you, would you consider it?"

Shi Ye's heart pounded in her chest. She looked into Qi Jin's eyes, and there was a rare hint of tension in those usually calm and composed eyes.

“I don’t know,” she said honestly, “but maybe….”

Qi Jin's eyes lit up, like stars suddenly illuminating the night sky.

“That’s enough,” she said. “I can wait. Until you’re ready, until you’re willing, until you… fall in love with me.”

Shi Ye's nose stung again. She turned her head to look out the window, not wanting Qi Jin to see that she was about to cry again.

"Don't be too good to me," she said in a muffled voice, "I'm afraid I won't be able to pay it back."

"You don't need to pay it back." Qi Jin's voice was very soft. "Liking you is my own business, you don't need to feel pressured."

The carriage fell silent again, but this time the atmosphere was completely different. Something had been broken, and something new was growing.

"Regarding that threatening phone call," Qi Jin changed the subject, "I've already had someone investigate it. I'll be increasing security around you these next few days, and you need to be careful yourself. Try not to go out alone, and avoid going to secluded places."

"Yes." Shi Ye nodded. "You too. That person might target you as well."

“I’m not afraid,” Qi Jin said. “I’m used to it. But you can’t. You can’t get hurt.”

Shi Ye turned to look at her: "Why?"

“Because,” Qi Jin looked at her and said, word by word, “you are the person I have waited so many years for. I cannot lose you, not even once.”

Shi Ye's tears finally fell. She lowered her head to wipe them away, but more welled up.

"Don't cry." Qi Jin frantically searched for tissues, finally wiping her tears with his sleeve. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said those things..."

“It’s not your fault.” Shi Ye grabbed her wrist. “It’s me… I don’t know what’s wrong with me either.”

Qi Jin grasped her hand in return, his palm warm and strong: "Then don't think about it. I'll take you back to sleep; we have to get up early tomorrow."

She didn't let go of her hand, and led Shi Ye out of the car, seeing her to the door. Under the light of the porch, the two stood facing each other, still holding hands.

"Good night," Qi Jin said, "sweet dreams."

"Goodnight." Shi Ye looked at her, then suddenly tiptoed and quickly kissed her on the cheek.

Then, like a startled rabbit, she turned around, opened the door, and fled into the house, slamming the door shut behind her.

Leaning against the door, Shi Ye's heart pounded as if it would explode. What had she just done? She kissed Qi Jin? Initiated it?

Outside the door, Qi Jin stood in the same spot, gently touching the spot where she had been kissed, and then smiled. That smile was so gentle, unlike her usual self.

Shi Ye's phone vibrated. He took it out and saw a message from Qi Jin: "Received the goodnight kiss. Next time you can kiss here."

It was followed by a lips emoji.

Shi Ye clutched her phone to her chest, feeling like she was going crazy.

This world, this night, and Qi Jin.

Everything has gone mad.

And her heart went mad too.