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As Deng Yi's kiss landed again, the sunset had completely faded away.

Zhou Ji'an suddenly realized what was happening.

Deng Yi's actions today were all within the scope of their agreement. She had no intention of speculating on his motives, nor did she have any reason to link his actions to love or affection.

Deng Yi was simply doing what they had agreed upon beforehand.

According to the agreement, she was required to cooperate with him.

The evening breeze stirs the lights on the river and also stirs the hearts of those living along the riverbank.

Zhou Ji'an closed his eyes, shutting himself out of everything around him.

Deng Yi pressed her face tightly against his chest, chuckling with pleasure as he rested his forehead against hers: "We didn't get to see the sunset today, how about we come back another time?"

"The future" is a rather distant concept, full of uncertainty.

Moreover, Zhou Ji'an couldn't guarantee that she would still be looking forward to going out with Deng Yi after today.

She couldn't even guarantee that she would still be willing to go out with Deng Yi from now on.

When Zhou Ji'an agreed to Deng Yi's terms, he never imagined that he would be unwilling to act as if he loved and liked Deng Yi.

She thought that liking and loving him didn't require acting, but she forgot that when Deng Yi acted out his love or affection, she had to love and like him knowing that he was acting, which was both twisted and cruel to her.

Therefore, Zhou Ji'an could not understand those actors who developed feelings for each other while filming.

How could they fall in love with each other knowing that the other was acting?

"What time is it? Is the stand-up comedy about to start?" Zhou Ji'an was a little short of breath, and after asking such a short question, he felt exhausted.

She will probably never be an actress or act in her life.

Deng Yi switched his right arm to hers, then raised his left wrist to check the time. "It's still early."

These two words were equivalent to telling Zhou Ji'an that the director hadn't called "cut" yet, and the play had to continue.

Zhou Ji'an really wanted to ask him what to do next, but his own name suddenly floated into his ears.

"It sounds like someone is calling me." Zhou Ji'an pushed Deng Yi's waist, finally managing to free himself a little from him.

"Really?" Deng Yi loosened his grip a little and turned to look at the people passing by.

Zhou Ji'an thought that she was probably hallucinating because she was overwhelmed by the current situation and was hoping for a third person to break the illusion.

People around him would call him by his given name, Deng Yi.

The river wind grew stronger with each gust, and Zhou Ji'an's hair, which had been cut short but was still slightly long, was blown about wildly.

It's so annoying. I should have cut it even shorter.

Zhou Ji'an: "How about we go back? We don't want to watch anymore."

Deng Yi was somewhat surprised. He smoothed the hair that had fallen onto him and was about to say something when he heard someone actually calling "Zhou Ji'an".

"Ji'an, Zhou Ji'an!" Zhao Xingran ran to Zhou Ji'an and Deng Yijin by the railing and shouted again.

Before Zhou Ji'an could respond, she added, "I've been calling you for ages, you're really too engrossed in it."

Zhou Ji'an received a questioning look from Deng Yi and was about to introduce the girl when he couldn't remember her name.

She clearly saw him just yesterday, but she just can't remember him.

Zhao Xingran clearly realized that she didn't remember her, and introduced herself: "My name is Zhao Xingran, we just met yesterday."

Zhou Ji'an gave an awkward laugh and replied, "I don't really remember people."

As Zhao Xingran openly sized up Deng Yi, and Zhou Ji'an was still considering whether to unnecessarily report Deng Yi's name, someone else approached them and politely asked, "Director Deng Yi, may we take a picture with you?"

Deng Yi looked at Zhou Ji'an and said, "Wait for me."

Zhou Ji'an nodded.

“I feel your husband is taller in real life,” Zhao Xingran said, raising an eyebrow.

Zhou Ji'an was still smiling, unsure how to deal with Zhao Xingran's sudden appearance.

Zhao Xingran was much more generous than her, and took the initiative to explain: "My boyfriend and I came here to buy rings. We were just about to go in when we saw you and your husband coming out. We were about to call you back when your husband pulled you away very quickly."

Perhaps noticing Zhou Ji'an's eyes darting around looking for someone, Zhao Xingran continued, "My boyfriend had some work to do and went back to school."

Is her boyfriend the mature lover she mentioned yesterday? Or did she mean that she herself is a mature lover?

The fact that she talks about her boyfriend leaving early so casually now is probably an attempt to prove that she is in a mature and intimate relationship.

Zhou Ji'an turned his head slightly and glanced at Deng Yi, who was taking photos with new people.

"Are you planning to wander around a bit longer?" Zhou Ji'an was reluctant to reveal his itinerary to a stranger.

"No, I just came to say hello," Zhao Xingran said with a smile.

The wisps of hair on her forehead, like newly sprouted wild grass in spring, were short, light, and tender, swaying in the river breeze.

Zhou Ji'an's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "Will you still go to Lu Jianni's house in the future?"

“Yes, of course I’ll go. I think the seminar will be very interesting.” Zhao Xingran nodded strongly in affirmation, then said goodbye: “I’m leaving now. I still need to finish reading the book I didn’t finish before when I get home.”

"Okay." Zhou Ji'an watched her leave.

Zhao Xingran was at least five centimeters shorter than Zhou Ji'an, and his figure appeared very thin under the lamplight.

Zhou Ji'an recalled the slightly curled wisps of hair on her forehead, and a word she had only recently come to know popped into her mind.

Baby hair bangs.

At that moment, Zhou Ji'an recalled Lu Jianni saying that Zhao Xingran was not yet twenty years old.

She continued to gaze in the direction where Zhao Xingran had disappeared, and murmured, "Big kid."

"Let's go, we're going back." Deng Yi took Zhou Ji'an's hand and hurried away, heading towards the subway station.

"Aren't you going to watch stand-up comedy anymore?" Zhou Ji'an asked as he ran, then remembered that he had just said he wasn't going to watch it anymore, so he just focused on keeping up with his pace.

Entering the subway station and stepping onto the escalator, Deng Yifang asked, "Who was that just now?"

The draft in the subway was just as strong as the river breeze. Zhou Ji'an turned to the side to avoid his hair being blown around again. "A stranger I just met yesterday."

Deng Yi reached out and gathered her hair into a ponytail, smiling as he said, "Why would a complete stranger come all the way to greet you?"

Deng Yi then turned to the side, holding her hand with one hand and fixing her hair with the other, as if the two were embracing.

Fearing that it would offend other passengers, Zhou Ji'an caught the bunch of hair in his hand and tucked it behind his neck, saying thoughtfully, "He's a rather special stranger."

Or rather, he's a rather special big kid.

"How is it special?" Deng Yi asked.

Zhou Ji'an looked up at him and replied, "I'm a sophomore, not even twenty yet, so I'm not interested in you."

Deng Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, then chuckled and asked, "Which of these three points do you find particularly special?"

These three points, taken individually, are not particularly special, but when put together, they are quite special.

In addition, Zhao Xingran also said yesterday that she would date a mature person.

Zhou Ji'an found it strange that he hadn't remembered Zhao Xingran's name, but he had remembered everything she said.

"I'm not interested in you," Zhou Ji'an said dismissively.

It wasn't really a sham.

Zhou Ji'an didn't think Deng Yi was a heartthrob, but rather felt that a college student under twenty, even if he wasn't interested in celebrities, wouldn't stare at someone so openly and uninterestedly, as if he were looking at an ordinary person.

"Aren't you also uninterested in me?" Deng Yi led her onto the platform without looking down to see her reaction.

Zhou Ji'an didn't know how Deng Yi came to this conclusion, but she felt that it was a good thing that Deng Yi insisted she wasn't interested in him.

Oh, no, that's not right.

They establish this relationship because they "acknowledge" or "believe" that they are not interested in each other.

The carriage they entered was surprisingly empty. Zhou Ji'an was about to sit down when Deng Yi pulled him up.

Zhou Ji'an inevitably bumped into his arms.

“Leave the seat for someone else.” Deng Yi casually gripped the handrail with one hand and tightened his arm around her waist with the other. “Why do you think it’s strange that she’s not interested in me?”

Zhou Ji'an could already imagine how many photos of her and Deng Yi would be posted by passersby or paparazzi when she got home and opened her social media.

She could even picture the titles those people would come up with, the punctuation marks they would use, and the emojis they would use.

“She likes mature lovers,” Zhou Ji’an replied.

"What type do you like?" Deng Yi was slightly taken aback, but pressed on, "Or the sporty type?"

Zhou Ji'an thought Deng Yi would ask him why he was immature, so she glanced at the other passengers around her and reminded them, "Keep your voice down."

Who would pretend to be a loving couple while discussing issues that a loving couple would never discuss?

Deng Yi clearly didn't heed her advice.

His hand pressed down on her like a fan, and he asked persistently, "Do you still prefer someone who can play all kinds of sports with ease?"

"Aren't you good at a lot of sports?" Zhou Ji'an said somewhat flusteredly, afraid that Deng Yi would understand her tone, she grabbed his clothes and made up a lie, "I heard Wei Jinglin say that you actually have a very good athletic ability."

Wei Jinglin certainly did not say such a thing.

Zhou Ji'an discovered Deng Yi through his variety shows, interviews, behind-the-scenes videos, film set clips, other celebrities' vlogs, and his company's team-building videos.

She saw a side of Deng Yi she had never seen before in these materials: Deng Yi skiing and rock climbing, Deng Yi swimming and surfing, Deng Yi who was not so artistic and not so quiet.

Deng Yi's eyes were as calm as the moon's reflection in water. "You mean you just don't like me, and it has nothing to do with whether I like any sports?"

He actually thought that was what she meant.

Zhou Ji'an found it unbelievable how little they understood each other, yet he couldn't help but feel relieved, saying, "Liking someone and disliking someone are actually the same; neither needs a specific reason."

Deng Yi's lips twitched, and he nodded: "That's true."

It was almost 8 p.m. when I got home.

The villa appears serene and quiet during the day, but at night it exudes a somewhat eerie and sinister atmosphere.

Zhou Ji'an leaned close to Deng Yi, his fingers gripping the back of his hand tightly. "I feel like I can't adapt to this house of yours."

"You haven't even started to adapt yet, and you're already saying you can't adapt? Of course you can't adapt." Deng Yi glanced at her and turned on the living room light.

Zhou Ji'an was too preoccupied with fear and worry to argue with him. He clung to him tightly and asked, "Is the bathroom in your bedroom very big?"

Hearing her ask that question, Deng Yi truly felt her fear and dread.

She didn't use the bathroom in this building today; she held it in until she got to the subway station.