Miss Ye Li's expression changed, her lips trembling, opening and closing, but she couldn't manage to say a word.

Her face seemed to show a trace of pain mixed with confusion. In those beautiful amber eyes, many indescribable emotions were manifesting.

"Didn't hear clearly? I'll say it again."

Xie Ci took a deep breath.

"It's like this, Ye Li. I might have fallen for you long ago… I fell in love with you at first sight!"

This is really my last resort. I really don't want to tie you up and drag you back, Miss Ye Li, Xie Ci thought.

Xie Ci's tone was light, but as Ye Li looked at his refined face, she somehow felt some strength from his expression.

Her hand tremblingly lifted, wanting to reach toward the person in front of her. After hesitating several times, she wanted to lower it again.

Xie Ci was quick-eyed and fast-handed, grabbing it and interlocking their fingers.

Ye Li's hand trembled, and she lowered her head as if not daring to look into Xie Ci's eyes.

Another standoff began.

The sky remained pitch black, only the pouring rain seemed to have lessened a bit.

It's over, Xie Ci thought. I never imagined I'd become a "clown" one day.

What to do, what to do? Should I just carry her back by force? Or just knock her out? No, that wouldn't be right...

Just as Xie Ci was lost in wild thoughts, Miss Ye Li looked up.

She gazed at the young man before her, her expression complex.

"Why? Little Ci, can you tell me a reason?"

Male confessions—Dong Ye Li had experienced far too many in her lifetime.

The reasons boys liked girls were nothing more than figure, appearance, family background, personality, or interests.

Dong Ye Li was confident she had never lacked any of these things. Any single one would be outstanding.

But facing this young man whose status and position differed so greatly from hers, her heart kept pounding uncontrollably, and she couldn't help but ask such a question.

Xie Ci could barely hold it together. Something he'd thought up in the heat of the moment was too imperfect.

The confession just now was only a stopgap measure. He figured this might throw Ye Li off balance, then he could consider persuading her afterward.

But that made sense too. Someone like Miss Ye Li, who had been beautiful since childhood, probably never lacked confessions in her life.

Whether they were real or fake, what purposes they held. She could see through it all at a glance.

So, what was the reason for liking her?

"Liking someone doesn't need a reason, right..."

Xie Ci looked up, meeting those amber eyes.

"Eh?"

Dong Ye Li had never expected Xie Ci to say such words.

"I guess I'm the intuitive type. I feel very comfortable being with Miss Ye Li. Most of our interests are the same, and we're both into anime, we even watch similar series.

"Miss Ye Li is also very skilled at games. I have a fan who keeps asking me to record that game, but unfortunately that game is only entertaining with two players, and I don't have anyone around who can play with me.

"Also, Miss Ye Li, you're a very good person, very interesting. Being with you makes each day feel like it passes quickly, and I naturally look forward to the next day..."

I can't go on. I can't keep making this up.

Even Xie Ci himself felt the reasons he gave were somewhat ridiculous.

"But... I'm several years older than you. You're still in school, while I'm already..."

"Stop!" Xie Ci suddenly reached out and covered Miss Ye Li's mouth.

He leaned close, staring straight into those amber eyes.

"Miss Ye Li, would you give up something you like because of some difficulty?"

Speaking of which, aren’t you only three years older? In other areas, I have no comparison at all!

Miss Ye Li's eyes flickered with a pitiful light, as if she were about to cry.

"We're all human, naturally born with countless common points. Mutual attraction and closeness don't need a long list of reasons.”

Xie Ci released Miss Ye Li's mouth and lifted his hand to wipe away the rainwater from the corner of her eyes.

"You need reasons to dislike someone!

"Miss Ye Li, you say I dislike you, but what reason would I have to dislike you? I can't even like you enough!"

Absurd yet reasonable, contradictory like people themselves.

"Besides, why am I telling you all this? I'm not asking you to give me any response."

Seeing Miss Ye Li standing there dumbfounded without saying a word, Xie Ci began making things up again with trepidation.

"I just wanted to simply explain why I care about you so much, why I ran to find you in this heavy rain. Setting all that aside, you've helped me so much, given me so much money. What's wrong with me worrying about you? Ye Li, have you forgotten about that cold? You lay in my house for three days before getting better. What if you catch a cold again this time?"

Men's mouths, deceitful ghosts.

Ye Li would never think that Xie Ci was just making it all up, hahaha.

"Taking a step back, I like you, but you're rich, you're a professor at such a young age, while I'm just a wet-behind-the-ears brat who hasn't even entered society yet. What could I do to you?"

Miss Ye Li still stood there in place, staring at him blankly without saying a word.

Only, something flickered in those amber eyes.

Without realizing it, the ice-cold seawater was getting higher and higher.

Perhaps the tide is coming in.

Looking at Ye Li, who was still standing there in a daze, Xie Ci was truly out of options.

I'll have to carry her back even if I have to.

Xie Ci extended his hand toward her.

"Miss Ye Li, it's really getting late. How about we go to your place first? This seawater is quite cold."

A gust of sea wind blew over, and he couldn't help but shiver.

He planned to take her back directly.

He simply pulled Ye Li's hand, wanting to walk toward the beach.

Suddenly, a soft force that seemed to carry some kind of determination pulled him over, and he crashed directly into an embrace of fragrant softness.

"Silly child." Ye Li held the young man in her arms tightly, whispering softly.

"I'm truly foolish too."

"Ye Li... you, why did you suddenly..." Xie Ci had never experienced anything like this and instantly turned red in the face.

"Little Ci, didn't you say you were cold? Is it warmer now?"

Ye Li's fair arms wrapped around Xie Ci's neck, warm breath spreading near his ear.

The sensation of warm softness gradually filled Xie Ci's mind, and his previously anxious heart gradually calmed down.

Miss Ye Li just held him quietly like this, returning to her usual charming yet somewhat inscrutable tone, though her words seemed to carry a slight tremor.

Xie Ci hesitated for a moment, then also held her tightly, quietly feeling the person in his arms.

Just like this, her warmth, her softness, her breath, her heartbeat, her gentle movements, her soft murmurs, like a trickling stream gently caressing parched earth, filling the cracks in Xie Ci's heart.

That tenderness penetrated every pore. Time seemed to stop for this moment, and the whole world contained only the two of them embracing at this moment, immersed in this boundless gentleness.

The rain had stopped at some point, and sunlight shone through the clouds onto the earth, warm and cozy.

"Achoo!" Xie Ci sneezed.

"Ah! Sorry! Little Ci, let's hurry back!"

"Alright, let's go to your place. How far is it from here to your place... achoo!"

This hot and cold weather is really unbearable.

The countdown completely disappeared.

This should count as completing the mission, right?

I just don't know what the price will be...

Xie Ci felt dizzy, and the last thing he saw was Miss Ye Li's concerned face.

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