“Hmm?” Shu Nian’s reaction came a beat late, not quite understanding the meaning behind his words. She simply followed along, “Y-yes, that’s fine…”

With those words, both of them fell silent.

Yet it didn’t feel awkward.

In the narrow stairwell.

Xie Ruhe stood less than half a meter away from her. He was standing on a lower step, yet still appeared taller than her. Warm light cast upon him, creating a soft halo, with shallow shadows beneath his eyes.

His expression wasn’t as cold as when he was with others, showing a touch of gentleness.

Noticing Shu Nian’s blank stare, Xie Ruhe lowered his gaze and grasped her wrist.

His fingertips were slightly cool like ice suddenly pressed against the skin. Shu Nian instinctively shrank back. Xie Ruhe’s movement paused, but he didn’t increase the pressure. The pad of his finger lightly brushed against her hand.

Like a casual small gesture, yet also like a deliberate touch.

Then, Xie Ruhe placed the key he had just taken from her back into her hand.

“You open the door.”

Shu Nian didn’t know how things had developed this way.

She went to the kitchen to wash two cups, her thoughts in disarray. Her gaze drifted to her wrist, which seemed to radiate heat where Xie Ruhe had touched it, burning hot, continuously emanating warmth.

Shu Nian felt a bit uncomfortable and foolishly ran cold water over her wrist.

The living room was quiet, from which she could faintly hear the sound of the kettle boiling. Besides that, there was no other noise. Yet somehow she felt his presence extraordinarily distinct, as if he was nearby watching her.

A presence that made one feel both secure and so nervous that they didn’t know where to put their hands and feet.

Shu Nian composed herself and returned to the living room with the washed cups.

Xie Ruhe sat on the sofa, currently flipping through a novel she had left on the coffee table. Seeing her return, he put down what he was holding and took the cups from her hands.

Shu Nian hesitantly sat down beside him.

She watched as he picked up the kettle, poured hot water into the cups, and then added some cold water.

Xie Ruhe placed one of the cups in front of Shu Nian.

He glanced around and casually asked, “Do you live alone?”

“Yes,” Shu Nian said softly. “My mother remarried, and coincidentally I… I was sick during that period, so I moved here. I don’t live with them.”

Xie Ruhe made a sound of acknowledgment but didn’t ask further.

Shu Nian also didn’t know what to say and silently waited for his answer.

The silence stretched for quite a while.

As if he was considering very seriously, Xie Ruhe hadn’t spoken.

This delayed answer made Shu Nian inexplicably anxious. She lowered her head, playing with her fingers, and couldn’t help asking, “Have you made up your mind?”

Xie Ruhe’s voice was lazy and casual: “Still thinking.”

“…” Although she knew he had his considerations, and it was she who had brought it up in the first place. But the fact that he had been thinking for so long without coming to an answer meant he was probably genuinely conflicted.

Shu Nian said glumly, “Okay, take your time.”

In the next second, Xie Ruhe suddenly blurted out: “Why don’t you consider instead.”

“Huh?” Shu Nian froze with her mouth open, “Consider what…”

Xie Ruhe looked away with an expressionless face, his gaze somewhat unnatural: “Consider whether I should confess to you now, or continue pursuing you until you agree.”

His tone was exceptionally serious as if he was genuinely seeking her opinion.

Without any hint of joking.

Shu Nian swallowed, her expression timid: “You mean, you don’t mind?”

“What would I mind about?”

Hearing this, Shu Nian was silent for a moment, then suddenly stood up. Barefoot, she pattered over to the bookshelf, pulling out several books. She returned and stuffed the books into Xie Ruhe’s arms like giving a gift.

Confused by her sudden action, Xie Ruhe asked blankly, “What’s this?”

Shu Nian opened one of them: “These are books about PTSD, they describe the symptoms.” She turned to a certain page and read to him quietly: “There can be depressive psychological reactions, often manifested as despair, helplessness, guilt, loss of confidence and self-esteem, lack of security, etc. In severe cases, there may even be suicidal attempts or behaviors…”

Her speaking pace quickened as if she was becoming anxious.

Xie Ruhe suddenly interrupted her, saying earnestly, “Shu Nian, I will learn about it.”

Shu Nian lowered her eyes and said softly, “I’ve been seeing a psychologist. Before, I took medication for over a year, then gradually stopped on the doctor’s advice. I’m not taking medication now.”

“…”

Shu Nian emphasized with little confidence: “The doctor also says my condition is quite good now…”

Xie Ruhe said, “I know.”

“It’s just that,” hearing his words, Shu Nian’s eyes stung, and she suddenly felt like crying, “I’m much better now, not so serious, not as scary as what it says here…”

She wanted him to understand clearly.

Yet she worried that after learning more, he might back out.

There are always things we desperately want, so desperately that we exhaust all efforts to explain, trying to minimize our flaws in his eyes, yet lacking confidence, afraid to make promises too grand.

Xie Ruhe pressed his lips together and said directly, “I don’t mind.”

Shu Nian’s voice paused for a few seconds, then quickly resumed, her final note trembling: “I feel that after saying this, you might not have so many concerns…”

“Even if you hadn’t said this,” Xie Ruhe said calmly, “I wouldn’t have concerns.”

In that moment.

All worry and fear completely dissipated, leaving only gratitude like surviving after death. Shu Nian’s eyes reddened, and she immediately lowered her head, sobbing: “I wanted to wait until I was completely better before saying anything…”

But she might not necessarily be able to wait until the day she was completely better.

Psychological illnesses are difficult to cure completely; Shu Nian knew this.

“Do you want to wait?” Xie Ruhe moved closer, using his fingertips to wipe away her tears, looking down at her. “I was like you before, also wanting to wait until my leg was completely healed before considering this matter.”

“…”

“But now I feel,” Xie Ruhe’s lips curved into a smile, “it’s unnecessary.”

Liking someone, and wanting to be with them, shouldn’t have prerequisites. This is anyone’s right—where do all these conditions come from, where does all this unnecessary waiting come from?

Those desires to become better, to become more perfect, are the driving force for feelings of heat, not restrictive barriers. Because all these things can be done together with that person, completed with that person’s companionship.

Love is not just taking; it’s also giving without expecting returns.

Shu Nian’s voice still carried a nasal tone: “It’s not the same.”

Xie Ruhe was very patient: “How is it different?”

“You’re almost better,” Shu Nian said with self-deprecation. “But I might not be.”

Xie Ruhe tilted his head and asked softly, “Then isn’t it good if I accompany you?”

Shu Nian said, “Isn’t that unfair to you?”

If she had known she would come to like him so much one day.

Shu Nian wished she could go back to half a year ago, back to the day when she met Xie Ruhe again, to tell him then that she liked him, and then accompany him as he gradually got better.

She also wanted to accompany him, to get through that difficult time together.

“Then be a little unfair to me.”

“…” Because of his calm, unconcerned demeanor, Shu Nian’s inner unease grew stronger. She couldn’t help showing a bit of temper, “You shouldn’t be like this, you need to think seriously.”

Xie Ruhe was taken aback: “What?”

Shu Nian felt depressed, feeling that something she had been nervous about for so long seemed like just a trivial matter in his eyes: “You need to consider carefully, this is a major life decision.”

“…” Because of her last four words, Xie Ruhe paused for several seconds, then suddenly laughed.

Shu Nian’s eyes were still red as she abruptly looked up, saying angrily, “Why are you laughing at me?”

Like a fluffy bunny with its fur standing on end.

Xie Ruhe didn’t speak, his lips still curved upward without any sign of restraint.

Shu Nian didn’t want to pay attention to him anymore: “I didn’t say anything wrong.”

“Mm. I’m sorry.” Xie Ruhe’s words still carried laughter. “I shouldn’t have laughed.”

He admitted his mistake quickly, yet without a hint of remorse.

Shu Nian was still angry and didn’t make a sound.

Xie Ruhe didn’t speak either, quietly staring at her, his crow-feather-like eyelashes making his eyes appear deep and passionate. His gaze seemed to carry warmth, focused and burning.

She instantly lost her temper and uncomfortably looked away: “Don’t look at me.”

Xie Ruhe raised an eyebrow: “I can’t look?”

“It’s not that you can’t look…” Shu Nian was so nervous her breathing became uneven, her voice soft and sweet, “Just don’t keep looking, it makes me feel…”

“Feel what?”

Shu Nian didn’t know how to describe this feeling.

She carefully raised her head and glanced in Xie Ruhe’s direction. Seeing his electrifying phoenix eyes, and those excessively alluring lips, she couldn’t help blurting out what was in her heart: “You seem like you’re seducing me.”

She said the two words “seducing” extremely quietly.

But Xie Ruhe heard it crystal clear. His expression froze, becoming extremely unnatural as if she had exposed his thoughts.

He suddenly didn’t know how to respond.

The topic had abruptly shifted.

Shu Nian felt that what she had just said wasn’t quite appropriate; her mind became chaotic and blank. Afraid he might be angry, she stammered to change the subject: “It seems quite late…”

“…”

Shu Nian touched the water cup and said, “The water’s cold, I’ll go boil some more.”

She picked up the kettle and walked to the water dispenser to fill it.

In the small room, only the sound of flowing water could be heard.

This sudden silence made the atmosphere seem to have turned awkward.

Shu Nian was struggling with what to say to him next.

Almost at the same moment, she released the water dispenser button, Xie Ruhe’s voice suddenly sounded from behind.

“Shu Nian. I don’t know if you know, but the second time I saw you at the hospital, I dropped my phone on purpose, because I saw you with another man.”

Shu Nian paused and turned to look at him.

“I told you I was waiting for Fang Wencheng to drive over, that it would take some time, but he was already in the nearby parking lot. My hand wasn’t uncomfortable either; I just wanted to find a reason to continue staying with you.”

“Later, at the audition, I deliberately found Li Hong and asked him to bring new actors for the audition. Because I wanted to see you.”

“When I called you on your birthday, it was because I went to find you and saw you talking with Xu Zeyuan.”

He spoke slowly, as if reminiscing, or perhaps because he felt a bit embarrassed by his behavior. But throughout the entire time he was speaking, Xie Ruhe’s gaze remained on her, without the slightest evasion.

Shu Nian met his gaze, falling into those deep eyes.

“You said we’ve known each other for ten years, time passes quickly.” Xie Ruhe licked the corner of his lips and said hoarsely, “But I didn’t tell you, I’ve liked you for ten years too.”

“…”

“From when we met, to when we parted, to when we met again during all this time. I haven’t liked anyone else, nor thought about forgetting you to like someone else.”

“It’s not as you think, that I grew to like you because we spent a long time together. It’s because I liked you that I tried every possible way to stay with you.”

“It’s not that I haven’t taken your concerns seriously; I just don’t think it’s necessary. Other things don’t matter much to me, because I only want to be with you.”

“I want to be with you forever, always.”

He wasn’t someone skilled at expressing himself.

When saying these things, he seemed particularly nervous, his face also turning red. He had become a teenage boy who understood nothing, only wanting to give his entire heart to the girl he liked.

He no longer wants to hide himself.

Only wanted to tell her how much he liked her.

To let her completely put her mind at ease.

Shu Nian stood frozen in place, her lips moving slightly, but no words came out.

After saying all this, Xie Ruhe’s expression became extremely uncomfortable. He stood up: “I like you. You can consider whether you want to be with me.”

“…”

He softly added: “I will treat you very well.”

Seeing that Shu Nian still hadn’t spoken, Xie Ruhe didn’t rush for an answer, only saying: “You can tell me after you’ve thought it through. It’s late; I’ll go back first.”

Shu Nian stared at him, looking somewhat bewildered.

Xie Ruhe touched the back of his neck: “Get some sleep early.”

He stepped toward the entrance, just about to open the door.

From behind came the sound of the kettle being placed on the table, along with the crisp sound of bare feet hitting the floor. Accompanying these was Shu Nian’s voice: “Xie Ruhe.”

Xie Ruhe turned around.

Shu Nian’s eyes were bright as if she was extremely nervous. Her cheeks were flushed, and her breathing seemed rapid. She walked up to him, slipped her hand into his palm, and with lowered eyes solemnly said: “Alright.”

“…”

“I will treat you very well too,” she said softly.