Chapter 16, Chapter 140: If 3: Late-Stage Romantic Brain? ...
Cheng Xiucheng had heard of a syndrome called Stockholm syndrome.
In a more complex sense, it refers to a complex where victims develop feelings for their perpetrators, and may even turn around and help them.
Simply put, it's masochism.
He felt that he probably, maybe... also had a little bit of that feeling.
Jin Chuwan usually treated him coldly and indifferently, but now she spoke softly and gently to him, which made him feel very warm and comforted, and even a little elated.
He couldn't help but reciprocate her caresses, rubbing his hand against her palm.
Cheng Xiucheng only opened his eyes as if waking from a dream when her hand was suddenly pulled away.
He sat up abruptly from the sofa, glancing at Jin Chuwan beside him with a panicked look.
He... he felt like he'd just acted like a freak...
Kim Cho-wan didn't notice Sung Soo-seung's strange behavior; she suddenly remembered a certain popular romance novel.
The male protagonist in these kinds of novels always suffers from some kind of serious illness, such as insomnia, pain, or heart disease. In short, these ailments always accompany the protagonist for a long time in the story, and seeking medical treatment is always fruitless.
However, this stubborn ailment was suddenly relieved and cured after the female protagonist appeared.
In short, it's like some kind of predetermined fate.
So, could Sung Soo-seung's situation also be based on this setting?
Um... it's just that he can only do *that* with his special female lead...
As Jin Chuwan thought about it, she couldn't help but become curious again.
"Um... when did you discover you had a health problem?"
If that's really the case, it must have been a long time ago, but I remember Cheng Xiucheng always having girlfriends around him.
Is it to cover up one's own flaws?
Cheng Xiucheng was both embarrassed and conflicted by the question. He held back for a while before squeezing out a few words through his teeth.
"What's it to you..."
Seeing his flushed face, Jin Chuwan wasn't angry: "I only asked because I care about you. Is it possible that you haven't found true love yet, which is why you're like this? Actually, there's nothing wrong with you; it's just that the people you've met before weren't people you truly liked?"
Cheng Xiucheng was initially impatient, but after hearing Jin Chuwan say that, he seemed to be deep in thought.
Could it be that his inability to commit stems from a lack of interest? But his ex-girlfriends were all so beautiful and had such great figures…
If he doesn't truly like those kinds of people, then what kind of people does he have to like?
Cheng Xiucheng began to despair as he thought about it. If he was really that picky, wouldn't he be destined to be single forever?
Seeing that he was in a daze for a while and then became frustrated, Jin Chuwan simply patted him on the shoulder and went back to work.
This kind of thing is inherently difficult to talk about, and it's not good for her to keep picking at his wounds like this.
Having decided to temporarily move to Cheng Xiucheng's house, Jin Chuwan rushed home after get off work, packed a few clothes and daily necessities, and drove straight to the Cheng family's old house.
She used to come here every year to celebrate Cheng Ya's birthday, so she was familiar with the route.
The housekeeper and servants in the old house all knew Jin Chuwan and greeted her warmly when they saw her arrive.
Perhaps because she knew Cheng Xiucheng's secret, she felt no pressure at all when staying at Jin Chuwan's place, and even had the mood to nitpick about the room's layout.
"It would be even better if there was a balcony..."
Cheng Xiucheng stood by the door, and when he heard Jin Chuwan say that, he laughed: "So you wanted to share a room with me. You should have said so earlier, and I would have arranged it for you."
But as soon as he finished speaking, Jin Chuwan glanced at him with a dismissive look, and she shook her head and sighed.
"Fine, I'll let it go since you're a patient."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiucheng couldn't hold back any longer and followed behind Jin Chuwan, who was packing her luggage.
"Can't you just keep bringing that up instead of forgetting about it? Aren't you being a bit bullying me?"
"Even if it was bullying, you were the one who bullied me first?"
"Well... I was just joking..."
"Me too."
...
The two exchanged glances and offered their opinions, but in the end, neither convinced the other.
A week has passed in the blink of an eye.
Jin Chuwan went from being unaccustomed to it at first to gradually growing to like this life of staying at someone else's place.
It's so much better than my own little apartment.
First of all, she has incredibly lavish meals every day, and she hardly needs to take care of anything in her daily life. Furthermore, Cheng Xiucheng doesn't have the habit of bothering her with Jiang Chen or Li Xingen's work.
Rather, it's more accurate to say that her work efficiency improved after they started living together.
Cheng Xiucheng used to skip work all the time, and whenever there was a signature needed, they couldn't find him. But because of his status, the whole department dared not speak out against him. Now, Jin Chuwan lives next door, and whenever she needs something, she can just go next door and knock on the door.
It's incredibly convenient.
So, a week has passed and Kim Cho-man still hasn't mentioned leaving, but Cheng Xiucheng's side...
Sung Soo-seung has recently felt that something is wrong with him.
He can swear that when he invited Kim Cho-wan, it was out of genuine concern for her safety.
But as they spent more time together, he became more and more accustomed to Jin Chuwan's presence, whether it was waking him up in the morning, urging him to go to work, or going shopping together after get off work.
All of this made him feel happy and enjoyable.
In the past, he would have found it boring and unbearable to spend 24 hours a day with someone. But now, the thought of Jin Chuwan leaving soon makes him restless.
Cheng Xiucheng touched his chest and felt like he had really gone mad.
He clearly knows who's around Jin Chuwan, so why is he still so clueless?
Jiang Chen and Li Xing'en have been openly fighting for a long time, and he can't outmaneuver those two treacherous and troublesome guys. So, should he secretly become a mistress?
How could a man of integrity and unwavering courage do such a thing...?
Cheng Xiucheng tossed and turned, sometimes convincing himself that he could do it, that being happy was the most important thing in life, and other times vehemently denying it, determined not to do anything that would bring shame to the family.
He was so tormented that he couldn't sleep all night, but before midnight the next day, Jin Chuwan knocked on his door again.
She's been barging into his room a lot lately, but only for those boring and annoying documents.
Sung Soo-seung strongly opposed this.
First, he doesn't look handsome when he just woke up. Second, he doesn't look handsome when he just woke up. Finally, he really doesn't look handsome when he just woke up!
"Can't you respect my privacy at all?"
Forced to wake up, Sung Soo-seung sat on the bed, clutching the blanket. He rubbed his already messy hair, wiped his sleepy eyes, and wrapped the blanket around his chest.
Without wasting any words, Kim Cho-wan handed him the documents to sign.
"Don't you want to check what time it is, Mr. Privacy? Also, I knocked before I came in, and you let me in before I came in."
Recently, Kim Cho-wan's opinion of Sung Soo-seung has changed a lot. She used to think that a good-for-nothing second-generation rich kid like him would spend his free time in bars, sports cars, and with beautiful women.
It turns out this guy was a shut-in.
My biggest hobbies are growing flowers and trees and making recipes, or staying up all night to draw, and then sleeping soundly the next day.
To be honest, Kim Cho-wan still finds it hard to believe.
Even though Jiang Chen, a workaholic, would occasionally go to a bar with friends to relax and chat, or take her on a spontaneous trip, Cheng Xiucheng seemed to have no need to go out. For him, it seemed that being undisturbed was the only way to relax, and dating with friends was more of a social activity.
It's hard to imagine that a man who always maintains a charming and carefree persona in public is actually as autistic as a person with autism in private.
Cheng Xiucheng had barely glanced at the documents before collapsing back onto the bed.
He was so sleepy, and the sight of Jin Chuwan made him want to revisit the decision he had made the night before.
The door was open, and the butler walked in carrying a tray. He smiled with relief when he saw Jin Chuwan. The eldest son of the Cheng family had been willful and picky since childhood, and even the elders in the family couldn't handle him, let alone the butler.
But ever since Jin Chuwan arrived, the young master has become much more obedient. No matter how unwilling he is, he will still get up obediently, and he will even eat the food he doesn't like.
Thinking about it, the butler's smile grew even more loving.
"Well... Miss and Young Master, please continue your conversation. I won't disturb you any longer."
In front of the elders, Kim Cho-wan nodded hurriedly and said, "Please take care." But after the housekeeper left, she put the plate on the table and the next second she directly pulled off Sung Soo-seung's blanket.
This guy is too spoiled; you have to be ruthless if you want him to listen to you.
But the moment the blanket was pulled back, Jin Chuwan was stunned.
The chaotic shouts of men filled my ears, and before my eyes lay bare chests and thighs.
Jin Chuwan felt her brain freeze for a moment. Before she could even think about whether to close her eyes or apologize first, she saw Cheng Xiucheng clutching the blanket in a panic and helpless manner, backing away against the wall.
The documents she brought were scattered all over the floor.
Because of the chaos, Cheng Xiucheng's blanket didn't cover his body at all; it only awkwardly covered his private parts.
The two looked at each other, both dumbfounded.
"Are you crazy? I'm a man, you know? You even pulled off my blanket?"
Cheng Xiucheng, trembling, angrily rebuked Jin Chuwan.
At that moment, many thoughts flashed through his mind, such as taking the opportunity to pester her and make her take responsibility, or simply going all out and using this as an excuse to blackmail her into becoming his girlfriend.
In short, ideas were swirling in his mind, but at this moment he was just hugging the blanket, blushing and at a loss.
Who...who isn't a virgin? What kind of situation is this, suddenly being seen naked...?
In fact, Jin Chuwan panicked too. She knew it was her fault, but out of her instinct to avoid the issue, she argued, "You know I'm staying at your house and you still sleep naked? You're the one who's being inconsiderate, aren't you?"
Both of them were blushing, yet they were trying to remain calm and blame each other.
Fortunately, at that moment, Kim Cho-wan's phone rang.
Having found an excuse, she answered the phone and went out without even looking at the screen.
Only after the man who had been seen naked left did he seem to breathe a sigh of relief, and he sat on the bed, hugging his blanket.
After a long while, he covered his face and sighed.
This is fucking...
What kind of rich, handsome guy is like him, making a complete fool of himself before even starting to pursue someone?!
Kim Cho-wan practically fled back to her own room after leaving the room.
She's feeling incredibly guilty and regretful, but death can't change the facts.
She put the phone to her ear, but her mind was still on Cheng Xiucheng.
"Excuse me, who are you?"
She asked the question in a formulaic way without thinking, but as soon as she finished speaking, she heard a mocking chuckle from the other end of the phone.
"Seriously? We were just kissing passionately a few days ago, and you've already forgotten me?"
Jin Chuwan glanced at her phone; the caller ID showed Ran Xian. She frowned and sighed.
"What do you mean by a sweet kiss? Who's kissing you sweetly? Please respect the facts, okay?"
"Alright, since you've brought it up, I'll respect the facts. I'm at your house right now, or to be precise, Jiang Chen, Li Xing'en, and I are all at your house, but it seems like your apartment has been unoccupied for a while..."
The sound from the phone was a bit distorted, but Jin Chuwan heard Ran Xian chuckle: "Tell me, where have you been hiding these past few days?"
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