The Night Our Hearts Finally Spoke

I admired Yi Yi’s shy expression, mentally pressing the shutter dozens of times in my head, storing this precious scene in my hippocampus.

During that time, Yi Yi also calmed her emotions, steadied her breathing, and composed her words before asking me.

“So, Darling, you made up your mind and chose to save me. Is that right?”

“Yeah. This might be the first time I’ve ever wanted to save someone of my own volition… Yi Yi, you’re special to me.”

It was also the first time I’d asked the idiot for help. I’d never asked him for anything before.

It’s mainly because owing someone a favor is a hassle.

A favor must be repaid; a wrong must be righted. That’s my life’s principle.

I thought Yi Yi would be touched again after hearing that, but unexpectedly, her face paled, and she looked worried.

“So, Darling, that’s why you asked Mr. Idiot to help me… I can’t imagine… what kind of price Darling had to pay to get such an important person to agree.”

“Huh?”

Ah, so Yi Yi thought I’d paid a price for asking the idiot for help.

But no, I just asked him.

I knew he’d help Yi Yi for the sake of his brother’s happiness. The specifics of how were his problem.

“Yi Yi, you’re mistaken. We’re friends. There was no shady deal involved.”

“But even if you’re friends, a price like that…”

“You mentioning that makes me curious. What exactly did the idiot give in exchange for your freedom?”

“It was assets… the equivalent of three times the total assets of the original Shen family.”

She didn’t give a specific number, but converting those assets into numbers, it would probably be an astronomical sum for a commoner like me.

But since it wasn’t my money, I could talk big. I dismissed it flippantly.

“They sold you off for a mere three times the assets.”

“No, three times far exceeded their expectations… I wonder if Darling has heard this saying: ‘With adequate profit, capital becomes bold. At 10% profit, capital is guaranteed to be used anywhere; at 20%, it becomes active; at 50%, it risks being reckless; at 100%, it dares to trample all human laws; at 300%, it dares to commit any crime, even at the risk of the gallows.'”

“I see, so the idiot offered three times the assets because of that?”

He definitely knew that saying.

So he directly offered a condition they would never refuse. That was very like the idiot.

But Yi Yi shook her head.

“Three times the total assets of the Shen family. In terms of profit alone, it’s more than three times—probably thirty thousand times… The cost of raising me is negligible compared to the Shen family’s assets. And on top of that, a defective, low-quality product like me sold for such a high price. They’re probably celebrating all night long.”

“You’re not a defective, low-quality product. To me, you’re perfect.”

“I know Darling values me. But to the Shen family, I was a defective product… I doubt they ever imagined such a defective product would fetch the highest price ever.”

Yi Yi smiled bitterly.

“I just feel bad for Mr. Idiot. He didn’t need to spend so much…”

“Oh, it’s understandable you’d think that. But you don’t know him. Do I look like I feel bad for him?”

“True… Darling, why don’t you feel outraged for Mr. Idiot? He got completely ripped off…”

“Who got ripped off is debatable.”

“Huh?”

“I know him too well. Yi Yi, you’re underestimating him.”

I call him an idiot, but he’s sharp.

That guy is a super-elite. His mind is clearer than anyone’s. He’s a prodigy recognized even by his own father.

He’s a cheat-like existence, like the protagonist of a business light novel.

“Do you really think he just bought you by giving your parents a benefit?”

“Didn’t he?”

“Of course not. To him, it was just an ‘acquisition’ or an ‘investment.’ No, more like… ‘gobbling up.'”

“Gobbling up…?”

Yes. That “three times the assets” was just bait. A lure bigger than the fish itself.

The fish can’t possibly swallow such a large lure, but seeing such a big meal, it’ll still bite. It’ll keep eating until it bursts and floats to the surface.

At that point, the fisherman doesn’t even need to reel it in. He just scoops up the dead fish.

He’s the shrewdest of businessmen.

If the business world is a battlefield, then Li Enhe is undoubtedly the general who would conquer the world.

“So don’t worry about him. I’ve never seen the idiot lose out.”

“Darling trusts Mr. Idiot a lot.”

“Of course. We’re friends—more than that, we’re brothers.”

“Brothers…”

Yi Yi murmured the word “brothers” and fell into thought. She looked sad, as if remembering something.

Ah, a sad Yi Yi is also incredibly beautiful… Actually, white hair suits sad expressions and moods perfectly.

No! Now’s not the time to appreciate her!

As her boyfriend, I should figure out why she’s sad and comfort her properly!

I shook my head and asked Yi Yi.

“What’s wrong, Yi Yi? Still worried?”

“No, I trust Darling. So I trust Mr. Idiot, whom Darling trusts. It’s just…”

It’s just what?

I didn’t ask, but I had a rough idea.

I frowned, thought for a moment, and finally, with a heavy heart, spoke first.

“Could it be Yi Yi, you became my girlfriend because you felt indebted to me…?”

Because I asked the idiot for help, and he got her out of her situation, was she being my girlfriend out of gratitude?

Meaning, my confession had nothing to do with it. It was all my wishful thinking.

Even if that were the case, I’d still be happy…

But then, what difference would I be from her previous blind dates?

It’s true I fell for Yi Yi at first sight because of her perfect appearance, but I don’t want to keep her as a living doll.

If I’m going to trap her like that, I’d rather give her true freedom.

Hah…

“Yi Yi, you don’t need to feel indebted to me or the idiot. He never intended to save you. And I don’t want to hold my help over your head. You’re free now. You can live the way you want from now on.”

And that was it.

Exactly twenty-four hours ago, I confessed to her. And now, twenty-four hours later, I’m saying something that sounds like a breakup…

Is this a record for fastest breakup?

Even a one-night stand would last longer than this…

Ahaha, hahaha…

— F —

— Moment of silence —

— Hahahaha! Now that’s a true bro! —

Shut up, you annoying imaginary bullet comments. Don’t pop up now.

Sigh, 2D waifus are better after all…

But still, I’ve had my first love now. Maybe someday I’ll talk about that first love, about how beautiful she was…

My fantasy was forcibly interrupted before it could unfold.

Yi Yi anxiously grabbed my arm and poured her heart out.

“No! That’s not it! That’s not why I came here! I’m not here out of guilt or a sense of debt!”

“You don’t have to comfort me…”

“This isn’t comfort!”

Yi Yi lowered her head deeply and denied it with a resounding voice.

Her voice was three times louder than her normal speaking voice—a cry of extreme agitation.

Then she abruptly lifted her head and looked straight into my eyes.

Her gaze was unwavering.

Perhaps she felt words were no longer enough to express her feelings or convince me.

So she decided to show me with her actions.

She lifted her face, stood on her tiptoes, closed her eyes, and silently drew closer—

A warm breath came towards me, followed by a cool touch and an indescribable fragrance—

Perhaps, that was the taste of a first kiss.