A tear rolled down Han Yuxi's cheek as she pleaded, "Lu Mochuan, stop running away. You're only making me more upset."

Lu Mochuan felt a sharp pain in his heart. He could no longer pretend and his eyes reddened.

He stepped forward and gently pulled the girl into his arms. "Han Yuxi, if this continues, I'm really going to waver. I'll start to think I'm a toad trying to eat swan meat."

"You called me a toad again," Han Yuxi said angrily.

Lu Mochuan was both amused and exasperated. "I'm talking about myself. Can't you just be the Swan Princess?"

Han Yuxi couldn't help but smile, "That's more like it."

After she finished expressing her joy, she added, "No matter who you are, you are still the Lu Mochuan I love. If you dare to abandon me again, I will never forgive you in this lifetime."

Lu Mochuan had mixed feelings. "But Han Yuxi, I really don't dare. I can't guarantee your future."

Han Yuxi peeked out from Lu Mochuan's arms, somewhat annoyed, "Who needs you to guarantee my future? I can guarantee my own future, and I can also guarantee yours."

"Does that mean I'll have to become a gigolo?"

"Your face is naturally fair."

Han Yuxi: "Let's go, I'm really hungry."

"good."

...

After dinner, Han Yuxi asked Lu Mochuan, "So what is our relationship now?"

Lu Mochuan stiffened. He had imagined the answer to this question countless times in his mind.

But so much happened to him in that short moment that he was no longer sure of the answer he once had.

"Let's think about it again, and you should also consider it."

Han Yuxi said, "I don't need to consider it. I... never mind, I'll give you time, but you have to give me an answer anyway."

"Um."

Lu Mochuan stood up and said, "Let's go, I'll take you back."

He paused for a moment, then asked somewhat awkwardly, "Did you drive?"

"No."

"Let's take a taxi then," Lu Mochuan said.

Han Yuxi had no objections and gave Lu Mochuan her address.

Lu Mochuan didn't think much of it and immediately hailed a taxi.

It wasn't until the scenery outside the car window turned into dilapidated houses that Lu Mochuan realized something was wrong.

He looked at Han Yuxi with a puzzled expression.

Han Yuxi knew what he wanted to ask, and said directly, "I've been away from home for too long, and my parents have cut off my allowance in an attempt to force me to go back."

She was two grades below Lu Mochuan, so she was still in school.

Lu Mochuan laughed in exasperation, "Then why don't you go back and stay in a place like this? Han Yuxi, you're supposed to be a young lady from a wealthy family, how can you settle for something like this?"

"That's all because of you. I'm unwilling to compromise, so I'd rather give up anything than give up you."

Lu Mochuan was struck in the heart by those words, and his anger vanished instantly.

Although they both have feelings for each other, they usually interact like a bickering couple, always complaining but never expressing their true feelings.

Lu Mochuan originally planned to finish dealing with things at home before going back to confess his feelings to her, but things didn't go as he expected.

So when such confession-like words are uttered, both of them feel a little awkward.

Just as the two were at an impasse, the car stopped and the driver said, "We've arrived."

Lu Mochuan got out of the car and saw that there was only one hotel here, without even a sign, and the walls were dilapidated.

He simply couldn't imagine how the pampered Han Yuxi could tolerate living in such a place.

How many days have you stayed here?

Han Yuxi said, "I arrived a few days later than you, but I haven't been living here all this time. My dad only stopped my card last week, and I only have a few thousand yuan in cash left."

Lu Mochuan's eyes reddened with heartache.

He grabbed Han Yuxi's wrist. "Go upstairs and pack your things."

Han Yuxi asked, puzzled, "Where are we going?"

“I rented an apartment, come stay at my place.” Lu Mochuan’s tone left no room for refusal, and Han Yuxi showed no intention of refusing.

She secretly curled her lips into a smile. Being in such a convenient position, she believed that her goal would soon be achieved.

When Lu Mochuan was helping Han Yuxi pack her things, he saw the dilapidated door, the yellowed bed sheets that had been changed, and even spider webs hanging in the corner of the wall. The toilet was so rotten that it was almost impossible to step into it.

His self-blame and heartache reached their peak.

Han Yuxi was still basking in the joy of living together and didn't notice Lu Mochuan's emotions.

Until she heard a voice say, "I'm sorry."

Han Yuxi paused, turned around, and saw Lu Mochuan sitting on the edge of the bed, his face buried in his hands, his shoulders trembling, unable to hold back his sobs.

"What's wrong?" Han Yuxi hurriedly sat down next to him, her face showing concern.

Tears welled up in Lu Mochuan's eyes, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Han Yuxi grew increasingly anxious, "What's wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Lu Mochuan said haltingly.

Han Yuxi had never seen him like this before and was a little at a loss.

Lu Mochuan was too embarrassed to voice his thoughts, so he wiped away his tears and said, "Let's pack our things and go to my place first."

Han Yuxi didn't know what to do, so she could only listen to him.

...

Lu Mochuan rented a small one-bedroom apartment. It wasn't big, but the environment was much better than the hotel that Han Yuxi rented.

Han Yuxi didn't have much stuff; she only had one suitcase.

Lu Mochuan carried it directly into the room and said, "It's getting late. You can tidy up and take a shower. I'll go buy some groceries and cook for you."

The hotel environment was so bad, I bet Han Yuxi would feel disgusted even after taking a shower.

Han Yuxi's eyes lit up. "You can cook?"

"I've only been learning for a short time, could you help me test the poison?"

Han Yuxi pouted, "If you're so capable, then poison me."

Lu Mochuan chuckled.

Han Yuxi said, "To prevent you from poisoning the food, I'm going with you."

She just wants to be with him all the time, and she's terrified that he'll run away again if she's not careful.

Lu Mochuan also wanted to be with her, so he did not refuse.

The two of them went grocery shopping amidst bickering and laughter, but after finishing their meal, an awkward situation arose.

There was only one room in the apartment, and Han Yuxi had been looking forward to it ever since she took a shower.

Are they going to sleep together?

Should she follow her heart and accept it, or should she be more reserved and feign refusal?

While Lu Mochuan went in to take a shower, Han Yuxi sat on the sofa lost in thought, unable to concentrate on anything that was playing on TV.

Lu Mochuan finally came out and said, "You should go to bed early. I'll sleep on the sofa."

Han Yuxi heard the sound of her own heart breaking.

Aren't you cold sleeping on the sofa?

Lu Mochuan said, "The outside temperature is 26°C now, I'll just need a blanket."

Han Yuxi felt a little embarrassed. If that was the case, then what about all those dirty thoughts that had just crossed her mind?