Chapter 98: "You clearly still like me, so why won't you admit it?"

“Of course we should start from within. That post included not only screenshots of Cloud’s social circle, but even records of class absences. That means someone from our class is involved—whether coerced or for their own benefit, our class is the breakthrough point.”

“So?” Gu Shiyan crossed the zebra crossing, turning the steering wheel, his expression cold and austere.

Luo Xing watched as the scenery outside shifted from brightly lit office buildings to dimly shadowed greenery.

“I’ve already sent all the screenshots to the advisor. If someone from our class leaked them, it’s best to let someone with authority handle it.”

Gu Shiyan drove into a side road and backed into the parking spot. Only when the car finally came to a halt did he turn to Luo Xing. “Do you have any suspects?”

Gu Shiyan's features were deep and striking; in the dim glow of the ambient lights, he seemed steeped in an air of intensity.

Luo Xing was momentarily dazed, pushing the wooden bag resting on her lap toward his face. “Who could I suspect? I think you’ve stirred up trouble and dragged me into it.”

Gu Shiyan was pushed away, but instead of being angry, a smirk curled his lips—carefree, tinged with affection. “My fault.”

Luo Xing was unused to this. She quickly opened the car door and stepped out first, closing it with a loud bang.

The two took the elevator upstairs.

Luo Xing couldn’t remember how many times she’d been to Gu Shiyan’s home. Each time the place was different, but it was always apparent that the space belonged to Gu Shiyan—his style unmistakable.

Gu Shiyan walked ahead and opened the door.

Just before stepping inside, Luo Xing realized something. Was Gu Shiyan deliberately bringing her to his home again?

Last time, she’d learned about his grandmother’s situation. After the old lady left, Assistant Song messaged her, asking about the two bodyguards she’d arranged. Luo Xing had been confused at the time, only later realizing that Grandfather Gu had originally arranged bodyguards for her, but Gu Shiyan insisted on taking her home, claiming it was for her protection.

“You’re not tricking me into coming to your place again, are you?”

She frowned at Gu Shiyan, who had already changed his shoes.

He took a pair of women’s slippers from the shoe cabinet. “What do you mean, again?”

He half-squatted in front of Luo Xing, the slippers brushing against her toes.

Luo Xing stepped back. “I refuse to wear shoes that someone else has worn.”

Her tone was tinged with disgust as she eyed the slippers in his hand.

Her first instinct was to assume these were meant for other women Gu Shiyan had brought here before. Otherwise, why would there be women’s slippers in his private apartment?

Her retreat baffled Gu Shiyan, and the disdain in her words left him momentarily at a loss.

“When did I ever say someone else wore them?” He placed the slippers by her feet and stood up. “I had them bought and delivered when I picked you up at the hotel, along with pajamas and clothes for you.”

He worried about another situation like last time, forcing Luo Xing to wear his clothes and earning her complaints.

Luo Xing watched him stand to the side, tall and straight.

Even if Gu Shiyan rarely spoke kindly, Luo Xing had to admit that his physique and looks were unmatched among everyone she’d ever met—he was undoubtedly number one.

Considering this, she realized she was hardly losing out in this relationship.

Gu Shiyan took a seat on the sofa and answered a phone call.

Luo Xing slowly crouched down to change her shoes.

A soft rumble sounded from her stomach.

Her cheeks flushed. Her stomach had chosen this moment to growl.

She stealthily glanced at Gu Shiyan, who was focused on his call, seemingly unaware of the sound she’d just made.

Luo Xing pretended nothing had happened.

Gu Shiyan glanced at her, raising his wrist to point in a direction.

Luo Xing paused and looked back—there was nothing on the table.

Gu Shiyan, still on the phone, got up and brushed past Luo Xing's shoulder.

She watched him cross the living room to the refrigerator.

He opened it with one hand.

The warm light from within illuminated his features, softening their usual cold sharpness.

Luo Xing stood nearby, with no other thoughts in her mind—she simply admired Gu Shiyan’s looks.

“It wasn’t Qi Zhi’s fans stirring things up. Someone hired internet trolls.” He spoke into the phone, his eyes on Luo Xing. He gestured for her to come over.

Luo Xing saw the refrigerator packed with food and snacks, surprised by how full it was. He hardly ever stayed here, yet the fridge was so well stocked.

Gu Shiyan clearly meant for her to pick something.

Luo Xing took a cheese bun from the fridge, closed it herself, and whispered a thank you.

A moment ago, she’d been relieved Gu Shiyan hadn’t heard her stomach growl.

But in the next instant, he had her choosing food.

Luo Xing unwrapped the cheese bun, ready to eat, when Gu Shiyan took it from her.

He pulled out a chair from under the table. “Let’s warm it up.”

He carried the bun to the kitchen.

Through the glass partition, Luo Xing watched as Gu Shiyan unwrapped the bun, placed it on a baking tray, and put it into the oven.

He paused before closing the oven, then brought the phone to his ear. “Send me the list. I’ll look at it later.”

Gu Shiyan carefully examined the oven timer.

He then searched on his phone for the proper heating time for a cheese bun.

He set the oven to preheat at around 150° to 180°, and the timer for five minutes.

Luo Xing sat in the chair he’d pulled out, watching his actions.

After a while, she forced herself to look away.

At this hour, only Cloud wasn’t asleep.

Cloud was still sending Luo Xing screenshots of her arguments with those who slandered Luo Xing.

Luo Xing told her to get some rest.

In the class group chat, the advisor listed the seriousness of the situation and asked whoever leaked the attendance records to come forward.

This was aiding the rumor-mongering.

Luo Xing didn’t get along especially well with her classmates, but she’d never offended anyone.

Yet this time, she’d been stabbed in the back. The advisor sent her a message to reassure her, telling her not to worry and to rest so she’d have energy for the competition.

Luo Xing thanked him.

Gu Shiyan emerged carrying a porcelain plate, the cheese bun cut in half, with a fork beside it.

He set it in front of Luo Xing, somewhat stiffly saying, “It’s hot.”

Luo Xing almost laughed.

On his phone, he could send her anything, but now even a simple warning seemed hard to utter.

“Will you have some?” Luo Xing looked at the cheese bun split into two pieces.

She assumed Gu Shiyan wanted some too.

“No,” he replied.

She looked at him, and he added, “It cools faster this way.”

The freshly baked cheese bun was soft, the cheese inside gently melting.

Luo Xing took a bite, wondering where Gu Shiyan had bought it. It was delicious, not greasy at all.

Perhaps she was just too hungry.

Her mind was entirely on the bun in her hand, so much so that she didn’t notice when Gu Shiyan suddenly leaned closer.

They faced each other, their breaths mingling, warm and intense.

Luo Xing’s gaze flickered, sliding from the glimmer in his eyes to his straight nose, then down to his soft lips.

She swallowed her mouthful of cheese.

The bun’s flavor suddenly faded.

“Could you not stare at me?” Luo Xing turned her head.

Gu Shiyan glanced at her reddened ear, the restraint in his eyes starting to break through.

“You still like me. Why won’t you admit it?” His voice was hoarse, tinged with affectionate grievance, his lips pressed tight.

Luo Xing’s grip on the fork tightened. First her ears burned, now even her cheeks were ablaze.

She lowered her gaze, originally to avoid his dangerously seductive face, but her eyes were drawn to his damp collar.

He stood before her, hunched slightly to meet her gaze.

From this angle...

His physique was even more striking.

The intense image made Luo Xing’s nerves tingle; she didn’t know where to look.

When she glanced up, Gu Shiyan’s eyes were fixed on her, deep-set and illuminated, his features even more defined.

He drooped his eyelids and pressed his lips together, the damp strands of hair over his forehead half-dry.

In his eyes, there was nothing but her.

Suddenly, Luo Xing thought of a floppy-eared bunny, soaked by the rain.

She turned away, suppressing the stirring in her heart.

When she looked back at him, her gaze was calm and cool. “Gu Shiyan, I admit it.”