Chapter 21

A long while later, Zhao Ge finally calmed the storm raging inside her.

Then, in the clumsiest way possible, she tried to keep the poise a senior sister ought to have.

Eyes lowered as if scolding herself, she said, “You’re right—if I’m going to confess, I should do it properly.”

So she still felt guilty for forgetting.

Watching her fumble through the apology, Lin Zhe’s feelings were a knot of contradictions.

If she could have shrugged off his lost memories without a trace of remorse, his life would’ve been simpler.

Yet if she’d accepted it that casually, he might have been a little hurt—because guilt meant she cared.

University life had only just begun; they had time enough for real honesty someday.

While he was lost in thought, Zhao Ge speared the largest chunk of braised pork from the dish and held it to his lips.

“Open,” she ordered, voice flat.

He obeyed, biting it clean off the chopsticks.

For the rest of the meal she fed him non-stop, as if taking revenge, only stopping when he raised both hands in surrender.

Typical—she’d always been competitive.

Now composed again, she rested her chin on her hand, tilted her head, and gave him a gentle smile.

After dinner Lin Zhe tied on the apron and cleared the table, then disappeared into the kitchen.

When Zhao Ge tried to follow, he blocked the doorway.

“Don’t you have a deadline? Go write. I’ve got this.”

The apartment’s owner accepted the offer without protest and left her guest to the dishes.

He finished in record time, hung up the apron, and checked the clock—past ten.

The evening had evaporated.

Lihai University’s gates would close soon, and the dormitory doors locked at eleven-thirty.

He wouldn’t make it back.

Lin Zhe exhaled, surrendered, and slumped onto the sofa, head against the cushion.

Right—he still had to text Counselor Zhou Yu.

He’d come this afternoon to confirm Zhao Ge was all right; now he sent a quick “I’m fine” and asked for leave.

During military-training month, the dorm took nightly roll call.

Zhou Yu, half-asleep, drawled over the phone, “Fine, but try not to create any... irreversible consequences, okay?”

What kind of consequences...?

He gave up correcting her, muttered thanks, and hung up.

Next he rang Dormitory Head Yang Zhen: “Not coming back tonight. Message me if anything’s up.”

At that moment his roommates were about to call and ask for take-out.

The news sent them shuffling downstairs themselves.

Yang Zhen wondered where Lin Zhe could be at this hour, but politeness stopped him from asking.

The call ended; Lin Zhe turned—and nearly jumped.

Zhao Ge stood behind him in a white house-dress, black hair cascading.

She smiled, hands tucked behind her back.

“If you can’t reach campus, stay here. My bed’s big enough for two.”

Her cheeks suddenly flushed; she lowered her gaze, biting her lip—she’d pictured something she shouldn’t.

Lin Zhe weighed the options: too late for the dorm, no need for a hotel.

“All right,” he said.

She hadn’t expected instant consent; now she was the flustered one.

Seeing how cute she looked, he chuckled.

“I’ll take the couch.”

“Huh?”

And so he spent the night in her apartment.

Leaning on the balcony railing, he asked, “How long were you eavesdropping?”

She considered. “From the moment that idiot Zhou Yu warned us not to make a baby?”

Lin Zhe: “......”

Zhao Ge clasped her hands, tilted her head, and gazed up through her lashes.

“If it’s Xiao Lin... I wouldn’t mind making one.”

“And if you don’t want responsibility, you could abandon us. I’d raise the child alone.”

Her expression shifted to the tragic dignity of a single mother left behind.

I haven’t even done anything, yet in Zhao Ge’s imagination I’ve already turned into a heartless bastard who’d abandon his wife and kids?

Lin Zhe stepped forward without hesitation and flicked her smooth forehead.

“No one’s getting pregnant, Silly Senior Sister.”

Zhao Ge yelped like a startled kitten. “Oww~”

Then the drama queen took over: she wilted, nibbled delicately on her fingertip, and batted her huge eyes at him.

In a tiny voice she asked, “So Xiao Lin’s absolutely sure he won’t score an own goal?”

She sighed, soft and resigned. “If you really hate protection... I suppose I could take the pill instead.”

With that, Senior Sister Zhao Ge put on a show of shy surrender.

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