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43

Xu Yu stood at the hospital gate.

The distance between them was a bit far, so she couldn't see Xu Yu's expression clearly.

Ji Shengsheng quickly tossed the gift bag to Xing Xing, took the contents out and put them in her bag, saying, "Keep this with you for now, or you can throw it away for me. I'm leaving now."

After saying that, he quickly walked towards Xu Yu's direction.

Xu Yu hadn't moved until he felt Ji Shengsheng snuggle into his arms, at which point everything felt real again.

Ji Shengsheng's neck was bare; she wasn't wearing the necklace he had given her.

Her wrist was bare; she wasn't wearing the bracelet he had given her.

...And what about her heart?

Is it also empty, with nothing that can be put in?

"Did you miss me?" Xu Yu heard his own voice and realized that he had really spoken.

“…I miss you.” Ji Shengsheng didn’t notice Xu Yu’s low voice. “I stayed up all night last night to submit the manuscript. I can spend the afternoon and evening with you.”

Xu Yu remained silent.

His arms hung down; he didn't hug her.

Ji Shengsheng tightened her arms around Xu Yu, trying to hold her close: "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"

"happy."

Xu Yu repeated, "I'm so happy that you finally have time to spend with me."

"As long as you're happy." Ji Shengsheng remembered what Cheng Yu had told him. "By the way, Cheng Yu told me yesterday that we were having a team-building event. I should be able to find some time these next few days if I try hard enough..."

She said a lot, but Xu Yu didn't say anything more.

Ji Shengsheng released her grip and looked into Xu Yu's eyes: "What's wrong?"

Xu Yu just stared at her, lost in thought.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Ji Shengsheng raised her hand to touch Xu Yu's forehead, but Xu Yu turned her head away.

The atmosphere was a bit off.

Even if she didn't want to think about it, she could still feel Xu Yu's resistance.

Just as she was hesitating whether to give Xu Yu some space and find a place where only the two of them could talk properly, Cheng Yu suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"You guys are so slow! We've already bought everything, and you still haven't finished packing."

Cheng Yu was the first to discover that Xu Yu's condition was incorrect.

But given the current situation, it's not possible to simply not go.

"Du Meiyan and the others are in the car. There are nine of us, and the villa has eleven rooms. Should we stay here tonight?" Cheng Yu asked Xu Yu for his opinion before explaining the situation to Ji Shengsheng.

Knowing it was team building in the afternoon, Ji Shengsheng happened to have time.

However, she didn't know how to present her relationship with Xu Yu in front of others.

Since no one else knew they were a couple, and they weren't public figures, there seemed to be no need for them to "officially announce" it.

"Sheng Sheng, what do you think? Let's reach an agreement here before we set off."

Cheng Yu took charge of the overall situation.

“Actually…” Ji Shengsheng looked at Xu Yu, “I don’t want to go anymore.”

She didn't know what had happened to Xu Yu. Xu Yu was inexplicably resisting her approach, and she felt very helpless.

Besides, these people are all Xu Yu's friends after all. If she has a problem with Xu Yu, being with these people will make her feel uncomfortable.

"You guys go ahead with the team building activities," Ji Shengsheng said, glancing at the time. "I'll go home first."

"Aren't you going?" Seeing her about to hail a taxi, Xu Yu almost immediately grabbed her wrist. "What about me?"

"After your team building activity, let's find some time to talk again, okay?" Ji Shengsheng reassured Xu Yu.

"not good."

Cheng Yu sighed, rubbing her forehead. "...Good heavens."

When Xu Yu meets Ji Shengsheng, he's like a clueless teenage boy in love... stubborn and foolish.

This is a heart-wrenching love story...

How could he possibly bear it?

“If we talk now, it might take up everyone’s time.” Ji Shengsheng looked at Cheng Yu. “Besides, I don’t know if we can even make things clear…”

...She really didn't know what had happened.

Xu Yu still wouldn't let go of her.

"Chengyu, why don't you set off first? We'll leave in ten minutes, is that alright?"

Cheng Yu readily nodded: "Then you two talk, I'll be going now."

"Is the car in the parking lot?" Ji Shengsheng tried to pry Xu Yu's hand off hers, but couldn't. "Don't be nervous, I won't leave."

Only after confirming that she was willing to hold his hand did Xu Yu release her wrist.

Upon arriving at the parking lot, although she hadn't gotten into the car yet, she found a relatively quiet environment. Ji Shengsheng tried hard to recall what she hadn't done well enough in the past two days.

I didn't expect anything.

She worked hard on her sketches to meet Xu Yu sooner, even bought him a gift, and now she's set aside half a day...

...How could I have upset Xu Yu?

"Are you feeling any better?" Ji Shengsheng tentatively raised her hand, and this time Xu Yu did not dodge.

"Thank goodness, it's not a fever." Ji Shengsheng breathed a sigh of relief.

Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?

"Here." Xu Yu took her hand and placed it over her heart.

Ji Shengsheng: "What kind of discomfort is it? Describe it and I'll check it out? Or we can go directly to the hospital and get an electrocardiogram..."

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy. She sensed Xu Yu's pain and stopped talking.

Xu Yu felt uncomfortable because of her, not because she was actually physically unwell.

"Xu Yu, you can tell me anything, you can confide in me. I will change the things that are wrong with me." Ji Shengsheng could only try to get closer to Xu Yu again.

Xu Yu stared at Ji Shengsheng, her eyes so clean and clear, so she wouldn't understand these things.

Can he confide in someone?

In other words, can she change?

"Tell me, okay?" Ji Shengsheng awkwardly rubbed Xu Yu's palm. "I really don't want you to be unhappy."

"If... I mean if, being with me makes you unhappy..."

"You haven't contacted me from afternoon to evening."

Xu Yu tightened his grip on her hand, preventing her from continuing.

"Sigh—" Whatever the reason, what Xu Yu said was true.

"I'm sorry, I'll be more careful next time," Ji Shengsheng said softly.

"He disappeared for a whole morning and didn't even tell me about going to the hospital."

"sorry……"

"Didn't you say you missed me a lot?" Xu Yu's voice was gentle, not like a reproach, but like an apology. "How many times have you thought of me during this long interval?"

After saying that, Xu Yu reached out and hugged her, as if afraid that she would get angry and leave.

“Xu Yu…”

"several times?"

“I’ve been thinking about you a lot,” Ji Shengsheng said, feeling a bit depressed and her chest tight. “But I also have things to do, and when I have free time, I worry that you’re busy.”

"I don't know what happened, I didn't even send you a message."

She really has a hard time managing her time. Especially when she's drawing, once she starts, it's hard for her to be distracted and she has to keep drawing until she reaches her ideal point before she can stop.

"sorry……"

Before Ji Shengsheng could think of what to say, Xu Yu suddenly apologized to her.

Then, she placed her palm on Xu Yu's cheek, and Xu Yu stroked his fingers: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have looked away just now."

“Xu Yu…” Ji Shengsheng didn’t know what to say.

She didn't know where Xu Yu's traumatic points were. She didn't know how to avoid triggering them.

If that's the case, during the months she'll be abroad, she'll be so busy and jet-lagged, she'll be completely at a loss.

"Sheng Sheng, if you miss me, tell me, let me know, okay?"

"good……"

"Xu Yu, I want to stay with you tonight. I have something to tell you."

Although there is still a curfew at home, my mother shouldn't have too much of an opinion since it's just for team building.

She and Xu Yu definitely need to talk.

Before she goes abroad, Xu Yu must feel safe enough, at least enough to cope with jet lag and occasional disconnections.

"Are you willing to let others know about our relationship?"

"I'm willing," Ji Shengsheng said firmly. "I'm willing to do anything you don't mind."

"I don't mind."

Although I readily agreed, I still felt shy and embarrassed imagining myself holding hands with Xu Yu in front of Xu Yu's colleagues.

Before they set off, Chengyu called and said, "There's an indoor swimming pool here, it's huge. If you want to swim, you can buy a swimsuit on the way."

Cheng Yu wasn't that considerate; he just called to test the waters and remind the two of the time.

After hanging up the phone, Xu Yu relayed Cheng Yu's words.

Ji Shengsheng hesitated: "I can't swim, I'm a little afraid of water..."

She nearly drowned when she was little, and has been afraid of water ever since. When she goes to the beach, she only dares to wade in the water and doesn't dare to lift her feet off the ground.

"I'll teach you."

They stopped at a nearby shopping mall. Ji Shengsheng had never bought a swimsuit before and was unsure what style would suit her.

Xu Yu had never had any objections to her clothing. Whether she dressed conservatively or flamboyantly, he thought it was fine. It seemed he had complete trust in her aesthetic sense.

Considering it was a team-building event and everyone present was Xu Yu's colleague, Ji Shengsheng still chose a style that resembled an elementary school student's aerobics uniform.

After buying the clothes, they set off for the villa.

It seemed Cheng Yu had given prior notice, as no one seemed surprised by her appearance with Xu Yu. Everyone exchanged smiles upon seeing them and then went back to their own tasks.

Seeing Du Meiyan cutting fruit, Ji Shengsheng wanted to let go of Xu Yu's hand: "I'll go help..."

Xu Yu wouldn't let her let go.

He seemed to be enjoying her shyness.

"Oh dear—please let me go, okay?"

"Hmm." Xu Yu released her, and a smile finally appeared on his face.

Seeing the two of them like this, Cheng Yu breathed a sigh of relief, but still couldn't help but complain: "I will never fall in love again. Once you fall in love, you lose your mind, your IQ..."

Their intelligence, however, has no lower limit.

When Ji Shengsheng returned last year, they were developing a mobile game version. Recently, they finally succeeded in achieving cross-platform compatibility between the PC and mobile versions. Xu Yu was responsible for most of this work, and he also led the solution of the problems.

Although Xu Yu was a bit crazy when he was in love, he didn't neglect his work. Thinking about that, he had nothing to complain about.

Du Meiyan saw Ji Shengsheng walking towards her. Although she shouldn't pry into her boss's gossip, she couldn't help but sigh, "No wonder the boss asked me to deliver clothes to you last time and told me to stay at your place a little longer..."

Xu Yu gave her many instructions, which she found strange at the time, but now she understands that there was a reason for everything.

"I'm sorry for the kind words, I didn't mean to hide it from you."

Ji Shengsheng believed that Du Meiyan was her friend, and she should tell her friend about her situation.

"I understand. You two haven't been together for very long. Usually, people wait until things are more stable before talking about these things. I completely understand."

"Thank you for your kind words."

"Oh, Shengsheng, why are you being so formal? We Taoyuan people are just shy and not good at expressing ourselves. I understand you."

As they were finishing dinner, Cheng Yu was assigning rooms when she walked up to Xu Yu and asked, "Which rooms are you two staying in?"

“Two rooms, any location is fine.” Xu Yu looked at Ji Shengsheng.

She always manages to naturally draw people to her.

Even though I didn't do anything proactively.

Are you worried about what others will think?

After all, they hadn't been together long, and Cheng Yu was worried about the impact on Ji Shengsheng. Cheng Yu guessed that was the reason.

"Hmm." Xu Yu didn't say anything more.

After dinner, everyone went upstairs to rest. Xu Yu took a shower and waited in his room.

He was waiting for Ji Shengsheng to come and "talk" to him.

As a result, Ji Shengsheng never came.

He had no choice but to go and find it.

She even regretted letting Chengyu arrange two rooms.

Xu Yu ran into Du Meiyan in the hallway on the second floor; clearly, she had just come out of Ji Shengsheng's room.

Xu Yu sensed something was wrong from Du Meiyan's flustered gaze. He suspected she had misunderstood something, so Du Meiyan quickly explained the situation.

"Xiao Chu mixed me a drink, and I didn't know it contained alcohol. I gave it to Sheng Sheng, and she thought it was a drink too..."

Actually, Ji Shengsheng was fine, but Du Meiyan was a little nervous after learning that she never drank alcohol, so she quickly told her to go back and rest.

"It's alright, I'll take care of her."

When Xu Yu knocked on the door, Ji Shengsheng was taking a shower.

Xu Yu had to wait at the door for a long time before he opened it while wearing a bathrobe.

"Take a shower after drinking?"

Xu Yu's complexion was not good.

Ji Shengsheng quickly pulled him inside.

"Maybe I'm just naturally big-capacity, but I didn't really feel anything, not even dizziness," Ji Shengsheng reassured him, afraid he would worry.

Ji Shengsheng blushes easily.

I do it when I'm shy, when I eat spicy food, and after I take a shower.

"What happened to my neck?" Xu Yu rubbed the area near his collarbone, where there were several red marks.

"Your neck?" Ji Shengsheng scratched it again. "It's a little itchy."

She just scratched it a few times, nothing special.

While she was lost in thought, Xu Yu had already picked her up with one hand. She wrapped her arms around Xu Yu's neck and was carried all the way to the bench on the terrace.

Xu Yu sat down with her in his arms, letting her lie comfortably in his embrace: "You broke your promise."

"That's true..." She and Xu Yu agreed to go upstairs to find him right away.

But Xing Xing suddenly called to ask if she was home, so she went downstairs to get a drink of water while answering the phone, which resulted in a misunderstanding.

"But Xu Yu... I have a feeling."

"What?"

Xu Yu lowered his eyes.

This is good; he can kiss her by simply lowering his head.

"That's right, no matter what I do, you forgive me very easily."

What else does she want to do?

...This is a dangerous idea that needs to be nipped in the bud.

With a vibration, Ji Shengsheng's phone on the table lit up, and Xu Yu saw the call log interface.

Two minutes ago, during the five minutes they hadn't met, Ji Shengsheng had received a call from Xing Xing.

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