The Weight of a Forgotten Apology

Su Yan was taken aback to find Lu Lin standing before him, his eyes betraying a profound confusion. It seemed his recent string of troubles was relentless, arriving one after another without pause.

The relentless downpour continued, its insistent drumming a vexing backdrop to his frayed nerves.

Su Yan had wept until his eyes were nearly dry, a sensitive soul at the best of times. Lu Lin, extending the umbrella a little further over him, broke the silence first.

“It’s raining.”

Su Yan wasn’t crouched on a busy street or perched precariously on a rooftop; he was hidden deep within a dimly lit alley, far from any streetlights.

How had Lu Lin managed to find him here? It was a question that felt as if the answer was already implicitly given.

Was it through his earring? His ring? Or perhaps his necklace?

Su Yan had always believed Lu Lin’s possessive tendencies were confined to the locator, but today’s revelation was stark: Lu Lin yearned for complete ownership, desiring to keep him tethered, perhaps even metaphorically clipped to his belt.

“Spare me your platitudes,” Su Yan snapped, his voice unusually sharp. “I’m not blind.”

Yet, Lu Lin’s gaze, devoid of anger, held a fleeting flicker of infatuation before swiftly morphing into an expression of pitiful remorse and deep grievance.

“I’m sorry,” Lu Lin uttered, standing rigidly, his hand clenching the umbrella handle, his throat suddenly parched. “I will change.”

This was a lesson Lu Lin had gleaned from the internet, a guide on how lovers ought to apologize. Yet, he still seemed utterly oblivious to the depth of his transgression, believing it could be absolved by a simple, weightless “I was wrong.”

Lu Lin made a move to help Su Yan to his feet, but then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he abruptly pulled his hand back.

Had a third party been present, they might well have been moved to tears by this seemingly “beautiful love story.”

Su Yan, leaning against the cold wall, quietly observed Lu Lin, his gaze unwavering. He harbored no intention of believing Lu Lin’s claims, nor did he feel any inclination to forgive him, not yet.

From Lu Lin’s vantage point, Su Yan’s gaze lacked any true menace, yet the words he uttered were chillingly effective.

That stark declaration, “I hate you,” had struck Lu Lin with considerable force, and even now, the memory of it left a bitter, aching sensation.

Unbeknownst to Su Yan, Lu Lin had been lurking in the shadows just moments before, his gaze fixed icily upon him and Shen Yichen, his hands clenched so tightly they ached. It was a mercy that Shen Yichen had refrained from any overly intimate gestures.

Otherwise, Lu Lin would not have hesitated to intervene…

“I didn’t foresee things escalating to this point…” Lu Lin added, a short while later.

Su Yan was left speechless, a lump forming in his throat. While he couldn’t claim to harbor deep hatred for Lu Lin, the day’s events had undeniably eroded a significant portion of his trust.

“I can go and apologize to him,” Lu Lin offered, a hint of desperation in his voice. “Would tomorrow be acceptable?”

The very concept of “apology” seemed alien to Lu Lin’s lexicon, and his delivery of the offer was so condescending it only served to churn Su Yan’s stomach.

“Do not appear before me for the remainder of this week,” Su Yan declared, rising to his feet and meeting Lu Lin’s gaze squarely.

“I need to verify something.”

From what he knew of Lu Lin over the past while, Lu Lin wasn’t one to lie; he certainly wouldn’t confess to something he hadn’t done.

He harbored no inclination to be a scapegoat.

At present, Lu Lin remained the sole suspect. After all, his initial reaction wasn’t to clarify but to admit culpability, only to inexplicably follow it with a declaration of “I didn’t do it.”

Lu Lin offered no verbal response, yet his body language spoke volumes, his grip on the umbrella nearly faltering. Seeing his silence, Su Yan took it as a sign of agreement.

“And next week?” Su Yan asked. He then noticed the tremor in Lu Lin’s voice, and saw his eyes instantly well up, rimmed with red.

His nose stung, and his voice held an almost imperceptible rasp. This was the first time Su Yan had ever witnessed him weep.

In Su Yan’s estimation, Lu Lin was the kind of man who, no matter the severity of his wounds, would simply brush his sleeve and calmly declare, “It’s nothing.” The rain intensified, as if striving to wash away the turbulent emotions between them.

Su Yan had become the solitary figure capable of unsettling his composure.

Su Yan hesitated, then found himself uttering, “Mmm, alright…”

After all, by then, he would already be head-over-heels for the protagonist.

He dared not refuse, for he couldn’t bear the thought of someone close to him suffering a random broken bone as a consequence.

“Could you hug me, then?” Lu Lin asked, his heart aching with bitterness, his words growing bolder. “Aren’t we supposed to be a couple?”

“Why such estrangement?” He knew the answer to this question intimately, yet he deliberately posed it aloud.

At best, they possessed the mere title of a couple. Su Yan had never, not even once, truly regarded him as a boyfriend. What kind of romance was this, built on coercion?

Yet, in that moment, Su Yan’s sole desire was to flee, and he offered a noncommittal “Mm.”

“Okay.”

Lu Lin’s hand loosened its grip on the umbrella handle, and the instant it clattered to the ground, he pulled Su Yan into an embrace.

However, it was merely a tentative, loose embrace.

He sensed Su Yan’s reluctance and had no desire to push him further in this regard, despite the irony that his earlier coercion in their relationship rendered such a statement largely unconvincing.

Believing Lu Lin was still weeping, Su Yan reasoned that a comforting embrace wouldn’t be amiss, viewing it as a gesture of gratitude for everything Lu Lin had provided him during their time together.

Lu Lin’s earlier aggrieved expression had entirely dissipated. The corners of his lips curled into a subtle smirk, and his eyes, now shadowed and malevolent, fixed on a distant figure.

‘Shen Yichen, it’s you again.’

****

Following that encounter, Lu Lin made no request to accompany Su Yan back, opting instead to return to his own residence.

Su Yan, in turn, felt a pang of embarrassment; the person he had personally invited had been reduced to a solitary, somewhat dishevelled retreat home in the dead of night.

He still clutched the two plum rice balls, the milk long since consumed and discarded. After the tumultuous sequence of events, his appetite had utterly vanished.

Su Yan quickly made his way home. After his brief sojourn outside, a shower was imperative, yet the profound weariness that permeated his body refused to be cleansed away.

As he changed into his pajamas and lay listlessly on the bed, a realization struck him: he was once again, for the umpteenth time, battling insomnia, a condition invariably triggered by Lu Lin.

Staring blankly at the stark white ceiling, he suddenly recalled that he had seemingly forgotten to inquire about Qi Zhiyao.

It was widely known that Qi Zhiyao hailed from Taishi, possessing no relatives or friends on the mainland. He frequently relied on himself, yet consistently maintained a considerable distance from Su Yan.

All the previously murky details were now laid bare, yet Qi Zhiyao himself had never caused him harm—though, of course, it was entirely possible he had acted under Lu Lin’s command.

Lost in thought, he eventually drifted off to sleep. The moment dawn broke the next day, he made preparations to visit Qi Nian.

Qi Nian was recuperating in a VIP room at a private hospital affiliated with the Shen Group, having arrived there on the night of the incident, having spent all his savings.

To explain why he hadn’t informed his parents would surely shave years off his own life.

Qi Nian’s parents were notoriously strict, and if they were to discover he’d been street racing in the dead of night, the consequences would extend far beyond a mere broken leg.

The pervasive scent of hospital disinfectant made him involuntarily wrinkle his nose. Though he couldn’t recall many hospital stays, this particular aroma felt deeply ingrained, as if etched into his very bones.

It had reached a point where the mere mention of the word “hospital” evoked a profound sense of discomfort.

The moment his hand touched the ward door, a sharp, uncontrolled stab of pain shot through his head, but it subsided just as swiftly, and he dismissed it without a second thought.

The instant he pushed open the door, Qi Nian’s gaze snapped towards him. His expression was initially blank, then, after a moment of stunned silence, he burst out, “Yanyan! Do you know what happened to me?”

Su Yan, dressed in a dark hoodie haphazardly pulled from his closet, appeared even paler, his fair skin contrasting sharply with his muted lip color.

Qi Nian, seizing the opportune moment, quipped, “Stop posing. What are you even doing?”

Su Yan merely offered an ellipsis. ‘He was probably just shielding his eyes from the sun, nothing more,’ he thought.

“It seems your problem isn’t too severe,” Su Yan remarked, pulling up a stool and settling down. “Would you like some fruit? I can peel it for you.”

“Ha? My problem isn’t severe?!” Qi Nian scoffed, then dramatically moved to clutch his right leg and burst into mock tears. “No one has a smaller problem than mine, believe me.”

Seeing that Qi Nian’s spirits were remarkably high, Su Yan felt a wave of relief. He reached for the apple and fruit knife he had just purchased.

“You’re clutching the wrong leg,” Su Yan stated mildly, a gentle reminder.

“Oh, right,” Qi Nian muttered, then silently switched legs to resume his lament. “You simply can’t imagine the scene. And aren’t I an excellent driver?”

Upon hearing this, Su Yan’s knife nearly slipped, threatening to cut him. He kept his gaze fixed intently on the apple, his long lashes casting soft shadows that lent his features a gentle appearance.

“Why do you always interject self-congratulatory remarks and praises into every story you tell?” he asked, almost exasperated into laughter.

“That’s not the critical part!” Qi Nian exclaimed. “Allow me to reconstruct the scene for you.” Had his leg not been injured, he would likely have leaped to his feet.

The handsome and charismatic Qi Nian, encountering his good friend Su Yan’s boyfriend for the very first time, was naturally brimming with a certain excitement. After dinner, he magnanimously decided to grant the young couple some private time, a period for “intimate” activities.

Thus, with unwavering resolve, he drove off.

Su Yan’s mouth twitched, and he couldn’t resist interjecting, “Your way of speaking is so ‘oily.’ Can’t you just tell the story normally?”

Qi Nian clapped a hand over Su Yan’s mouth, cutting off his opportunity to further quip, and stated earnestly, “Allow me to continue.”

‘He’s quite the experienced driver, with exceptionally good skills, he said. In fact, no one in Haishi could surpass his driving abilities…’

Su Yan merely offered an ellipsis. ‘He’s gone off topic,’ he thought.

‘On a dark and stormy night!’ Qi Nian continued, ‘I was driving my beloved car, heading back to the hotel, when suddenly, after I rubbed my eyes for a moment, a mysterious black vehicle appeared right beside me!’

‘Murder, this was nothing short of murder!’ Qi Nian exclaimed. ‘I frantically turned the steering wheel, and thankfully, my life was spared.’

Su Yan let out an awkward laugh, and the apple peel he was carving snapped and fell. “Thankfully, you’re alright.”

Seeing Qi Nian in such spirits considerably brightened Su Yan’s mood. He handed the peeled apple to Qi Nian. “Here, eat. You must be starving.”

Qi Nian disdainfully pushed the apple away. “I don’t want it.”

“What are you being so picky about?” Su Yan asked. “Do you expect me to carve it into a little rabbit, or a tiny tiger, or even a miniature Qi Nian for you?”

At this, Qi Nian’s expression drastically changed. He clutched his lower body with one hand and accepted the apple, which was almost entirely pared down to its core, with the other.

“Haha, fine, I’ll eat it. Why do you always talk about cutting off people’s lifelines?”

“You’re so naughty.”

Su Yan merely offered an ellipsis. ‘I wonder how his brain is wired,’ he mused.

“But I really suspect it’s one of my dad’s enemies. He always talks such trash; I’m genuinely afraid he’ll talk away our entire family, leaving us separated and scattered.”

Su Yan hesitated, then asked, “Do you really think it’s your dad’s enemy?”

“Yeah,” Qi Nian replied, finishing the apple in two bites and tossing the core into the trash. “I almost died when I was a kid, too.”

Qi Nian lay back on the bed, reminiscing seriously. “Before my dad settled down and started a family, he was involved with gangs.”

“Back then, many people praised his intelligence, saying he shouldn’t be confined to that life,” Qi Nian sighed. “Alas, my dad was so foolish. People only say they want the best for you; once you actually do well, their attitude changes entirely.”

Su Yan tilted his head, his mind filled with questions. Frankly, he had never heard any of this from Qi Nian before.

“When he stopped associating with those people, he even got beaten up pretty badly,” Qi Nian recounted. “At the time, he thought that would be the end of it, but years later, after his company had taken off and he had a happy family…”

“Those old associates tried to extort him, but he refused.”

“Oh, well, I was kidnapped many times as a child, and my dad was hit by a car and broke his bones a few times too. And what’s more, we couldn’t do anything about them.”

Su Yan cast him a sympathetic glance. ‘This kid has had it rough,’ he thought.

“I bought you the latest game console and several pairs of your favorite shoes.”

These were originally meant as comfort items for his injuries, and also as an apology gift on behalf of Lu Lin. But now, Su Yan felt he might have been mistaken.

It seemed these incidents truly weren’t Lu Lin’s doing, and he might have genuinely misunderstood him. What about those harsh words he’d uttered last night?

Qi Nian didn’t notice Su Yan’s distracted gaze; instead, he exclaimed joyfully, “An early birthday present!”

“How did you know I’d like these? Best friends for life! No, no, you and your boyfriend for life!” Qi Nian clapped his hands together, devoutly pondering how to welcome his game console back.

Su Yan hadn’t paid close attention to his words, nodding absently. “Let me know if you find out who the hit-and-run driver was.”

Qi Nian turned to look at him, asking with a puzzled expression, “You want to avenge me? There’s really no need; with your physique, you probably wouldn’t win.”

Su Yan merely offered an ellipsis. “Just remember to tell me who instigated it, okay?”

Upon learning that Su Yan wasn’t planning to avenge him, Qi Nian appeared slightly disappointed.

****

After lingering at the hospital for a while, it was already noon. Su Yan still didn’t know how to face Lu Lin back in the dorm, but avoiding the issue wasn’t a solution.

After bidding farewell to Qi Nian, he hailed a taxi by the roadside. It was only after settling into the car that the reality of the situation truly sank in.

The road was heavily congested, and the car moved slowly, which ironically offered him a moment to breathe.

He checked the delivery interface: the gift he had bought for Lu Lin had arrived.

The driver attempted to strike up a conversation, but seeing Su Yan’s visibly low spirits, he gave up, merely muttering, “If your girlfriend gets pregnant, you have to take responsibility.”

Su Yan merely offered a question mark. ‘This is slander,’ he thought.

Su Yan’s gaze drifted downwards, only then noticing the backpack beside him. A glaring advertisement was plastered on it.

‘Abortion surgery,’ it read. Not only that, but the language used was particularly explicit.

Su Yan merely offered an ellipsis. ‘Why does fate always pick on me?’ he wondered.

‘Seriously, who’s so unethical as to stick this directly on someone’s backpack? If I find out who did it…’

Su Yan chuckled dryly, replying, “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

The driver’s eyes were filled with disbelief, but he said nothing more, simply driving Su Yan responsibly to his destination.

On his way back to the dorm, Su Yan mentally prepared himself, wondering what to say, how to say it, when he saw Lu Lin.

Yet, the moment he pushed open the door, he realized he had overthought everything; the dorm room was empty.

He placed his backpack on the chair, and his eyes immediately fell upon a pink letter on his desk.

His name was written on it, but there was no sender’s name. The pink letter was covered in numerous hand-drawn hearts.

The hearts were a startling, eerie red, as if painted with blood. The thought sent a chill down Su Yan’s spine, causing cold sweat to break out.

He unconsciously clutched the corner of the letter, bringing it closer to his nose. He wrinkled his nose, realizing he might have been overthinking things.

There was no metallic scent of blood.

He pulled out his chair and sat down, still filled with curiosity about this love letter. Su Yan had already assumed Lu Lin had secretly placed it on his desk.

*Tear*–

The sound of the letter being torn open.

Su Yan spread the letter out on the desk; it comprised five or six pages. The first page was densely covered with his name, written in deep red ink.

The second page meticulously detailed his childhood, recalling events both big and small with more clarity than his own parents, a clear sign of diligent inquiry.

The third page was filled with explicit declarations…

Su Yan’s face flushed crimson as he read, and he indignantly covered the letter, then decided to toss it into his drawer. He gripped his phone, debating whether to say something to Lu Lin.

‘At least don’t write such explicit things!’

But as he prepared to send the message, he immediately recalled the awkward scene from the previous night and decided against it.

Just as he tucked the letter into the drawer, another roommate returned. Chen Xubai, always boisterous, his eyes lit up upon seeing Su Yan as he pushed open the door.

Before Chen Xubai could speak, Su Yan immediately stopped him, stating, “Your mother isn’t here.”

Last time, Lu Lin played the role of his father; this time, it was his turn.

He then realized what he was thinking. ‘Am I playing house? How embarrassing.’

Chen Xubai carried several boxes of fried rice and wontons, bought from the snack street to the left outside the school. As he sat down, he said, “This wonton place is really good. I bought two servings; do you want one?”

Before Su Yan could answer, Chen Xubai walked over and placed the bowl of wontons on his desk. “I stood in line for ages.”

Su Yan remembered that particular shop. A University’s food street boasted a variety of delicacies, but the wonton place and the fried rice Chen Xubai held were the most popular among students.

Both establishments were incredibly popular; even through torrential rain or scorching sun, students would queue up for a taste.

“Thanks,” Su Yan said, without excessive politeness. He snapped apart his disposable chopsticks and looked down at the bowl of wontons before him.

It looked spicy, fragrant, and delicious. Each wonton was twice the size of a regular dumpling, and the red oil soup was dotted with fresh green scallions.

The aroma wafted gently, devoid of any greasy or choking sensation; instead, it stimulated his appetite, making him eager to take a bite.

Chen Xubai opened his laptop and placed it in front of him, finding a random variety show to watch while eating. “Where’s Brother Lu? Aren’t you two coming back together?”

Su Yan was somewhat surprised; he had assumed Lu Lin was already back. Was it because of his words yesterday, saying he didn’t want to see him for a week?

He didn’t rush to eat. Pulling out his phone from his pocket, he casually replied, “No, is he gone all day?”

Chen Xubai swallowed a mouthful of rice, then turned his head. “Only Song Xingyu was in the dorm today. I just got back myself not long ago.”

Su Yan nodded in acknowledgment. His phone chimed with a new message. He thought it was Lu Lin and quickly picked it up, only to see it was Chen Xing.

[Chen Xing: Do you like the gift I sent?]

[Chen Xing: I prepared it meticulously.]

Su Yan thought Chen Xing was referring to the fresh vegetables sent to him. His fingertip touched the screen, typing “Like.” When he clicked send, he was met with a red exclamation mark.

This left him utterly bewildered.

“And Song Xingyu is dropping out,” Chen Xubai’s next words made Su Yan abruptly look up.

Chen Xubai’s relationship with Song Xingyu was generally neutral, but upon learning of his decision to drop out, he had tried to dissuade him for a while. He had heard about Song Xingyu from others before, specifically from Xie Yi.

Xie Yi was the eldest son of the Xie family, the very Xie family whose mother Song Xingyu’s mother had entangled herself with. It was understandable, then, why Xie Yi harbored such animosity towards Song Xingyu and his mother.

His own mother had not long passed away when that mistress was brought home. She had the audacity to be complacent, always calling herself “your mother” in front of Xie Yi.

The Xie family was not doing poorly in Haishi, and Xie Yi and Chen Xubai were practically childhood friends. When Chen Xubai first heard about this, his face flushed with anger, and he righteously declared, “I’ll help you get rid of that illegitimate child.”

He was truly loyal in that regard.

It wasn’t until he met Song Xingyu at the start of the semester that he realized the person wasn’t as repulsive as Xie Yi had described, at least he seemed like a normal person.

“His grades aren’t that good, are they?” Su Yan put down his phone, not dwelling on why he had been blocked. Now, there was something more pressing to be curious about.

“He told me this morning. Didn’t you see his bed was empty?”

Su Yan recalled Song Xingyu’s enthusiastic help with his luggage on registration day, and a wave of discomfort washed over him. People truly were emotional creatures.

Chen Xubai wasn’t trying to gossip; he merely mentioned it, then turned back to his fried rice, chuckling several times at the variety show.

Su Yan was distracted, feeling as though many things had happened recently. He gently lifted the lid of the wonton box, almost getting splashed by oil.

But as he popped a wonton into his mouth, his mood significantly improved. These wontons were freshly wrapped, with generous meat fillings that contained little fat, making them both chewy and savory.

Before long, he had finished the bowl. Chen Xubai ate even faster, his feet already on the bed ladder. He looked down, his expression serious.

“If you two argue, you can always consult me, you know.”

“I’ll take anyone.”

With that, he flopped onto the bed, not insisting that Su Yan answer his question.

“Song Xingyu is actually quite a terrible person,” he mumbled, leaving Su Yan with that cryptic remark before drifting off to sleep.

Su Yan was left utterly bewildered.

Su Yan’s mind was crammed with too many things, tangled together like a messy ball of yarn.

But the immediate priority was to message Lu Lin.

He spent over half an hour drafting a message, writing at least five hundred words, and then took some time to steel himself. Mustering his courage, he clicked send, squeezing his eyes shut.

Until he saw the familiar red exclamation mark.

He checked the contact name several times, confirming he hadn’t sent it to the wrong person.

Indeed, today, at 12:25 PM, he confirmed that Lu Lin had blocked him.

His emotions were a tangled mess, and he began to imagine various scenarios: Lu Lin had fallen in love with the protagonist, and they were ganging up to bully him…

‘Forget it, I can’t think about these things right now,’ he decided. He glanced at his wardrobe, then at the date marked on his phone calendar.

The play performance was drawing closer.

He didn’t overthink it. These past few days, aside from classes, he had been rehearsing the play. His lines were slightly fewer than others’, so he was allowed to rehearse one hour less.

He hadn’t seen Lu Lin these past few days.

Perhaps Lu Lin only came to rehearsals after he had left, and the dorm only contained him and Chen Xubai.

Even unwillingly, the day of the freshman welcoming gala finally arrived.

The judges’ panel consisted of teachers from various departments, and the auditorium was packed with thousands of students. Some students, of course, preferred not to attend.

However, most students were eager to join the fun, having just transitioned from monotonous high school life and still carrying a sense of novelty towards university activities.

Su Yan sat in the lounge. Their performance was scheduled for later, after the preceding acts had finished their makeup.

Several males were actually getting makeup done, and all of them were wearing princess dresses.

It was bizarre, truly bizarre.

Only Su Yan and Lu Lin’s makeup and styling were presentable. Su Yan, with his pretty and docile features, wearing a dress and makeup, might easily be mistaken by the audience for a beautiful young girl.

Su Yan pursed his lips, sitting restlessly in the lounge, the phone clutched in his hand merely a prop. This was the first time he had seen Lu Lin in days.

Though he hadn’t actually seen him yet.

As he stared blankly at the back of someone else’s head, someone approached him, their voice as familiar as ever.

“Yanyan, you know everything now,” Qi Zhiyao said, lowering his gaze, a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

“Mm,” Su Yan replied, his nervous mood interrupted.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what else to say,” Qi Zhiyao stood before Su Yan, pulling a card from his pocket and handing it to him.

Su Yan didn’t understand his meaning, nor did he want to take the card. “What would I do with your card?”

“This is all the money Lu Lin has given me over the years. I think I should return it to you.”

“After the welcoming gala, I have some things I want to tell you about Lu Lin.”

“He’s not what you think. There’s a lot you don’t know, and I believe you’d want to know,” Qi Zhiyao finished, smiling at him, completely devoid of his usual roguish demeanor.

Su Yan curved his lips into an innocent smile, feigning confusion, then leaned close to Qi Zhiyao’s ear and whispered, “I’m not angry.”

“We’re still good friends, right?” Qi Zhiyao’s guilty expression was reflected in Su Yan’s beautiful eyes.

“Take the card back. You can use it if you have an urgent need. It’s meaningless to give it to me, especially since it’s Lu Lin’s money.”

“Do you want me to return it to him for you?” Su Yan’s voice held a playful tone, and he sweetly chuckled, watching Qi Zhiyao repeatedly wave his hands in refusal.

“Then wait for me after it’s over; I really want to hear what you have to say.”

Su Yan pushed Qi Zhiyao out, gesturing for him to find a seat in the auditorium, and indicating that he needed to do his makeup and change.

Lu Lin pushed the door open and entered, drawing numerous gazes. These past few days, he had been visibly agitated, even his aura seemed diminished, but upon seeing Su Yan, he offered a nonchalant smile.

Su Yan felt a mix of embarrassment and guilt. He had to admit, he cared deeply for Lu Lin, and the fluctuating emotions of the past few days had left him breathless.

Whenever an inappropriate emotion arose, a name would flash through his mind.

‘Shen Yichen.’

He had to suppress these feelings, automatically stepping back. Now, this emotional turmoil was overshadowed by the impending kiss scene.

Aside from the fleeting smile when he entered, Lu Lin showed no further reaction. Su Yan, meanwhile, was trying to figure out how to break the awkward silence between them.

He also wanted to ask why Lu Lin had blocked him, if he had fallen for Shen Yichen, or if he was finally willing to break up.

A University’s auditorium had several lounges. Their play had a large cast, so they were given a dedicated lounge. Now, the room was full of familiar faces.

Su Yan mustered his courage and stood up. At the same moment, a knock sounded at the door.

Three light taps came from the other side, and when no one opened the door, a voice, deliberately high-pitched and laced with amusement, slowly spoke.

“Brother Lu Lin, it’s… me.”