Chương 79: The Promise in the Room

In the dead of night, Su Yuqing lay on her bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

Her fingertips gently touched her still-hot lips. The unexpected yet incredibly sweet kiss she had just received at the doorstep was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples in her heart.

That tenderness that belonged only to her, that phrase "the most important person," and the undisguised love in his eyes, dispelled all the gloom and unease in her heart like sunshine.

The pain and fear from past and present lives seemed to be gently soothed the moment that kiss landed.

She realized that A-Che hadn't changed, and his feelings for her had never changed. It was she who was trapped by the shadows of her past life and blinded by that deep-rooted insecurity that led to those ridiculous suspicions and misunderstandings.

Thinking about her breakdown after seeing that hugging scene that afternoon, and the words that slipped out of her mouth, filled with grievance and accusation... Su Yuqing felt a strong sense of shame and self-reproach.

How could she doubt him like that? How could she not believe him? He had always been proving through his actions how much he cared for and protected this family and her.

A strong urge welled up inside her; she wanted to rush to his room immediately, hug him tightly like she had done at the door, and tell him how much she regretted it and how grateful she was that he was still there.

She even... she wanted to feel that comforting kiss again, to snuggle with him like before, until dawn.

But... her steps felt as heavy as lead, and she couldn't move at all. She got up and sat down on the edge of the bed, resting her chin on her hands and looking at the bright moonlight outside the window.

Although she mustered up the courage to jokingly say "I want one more," it was more of an emotional release after the misunderstanding was cleared up.

Should I really go to his room on my own initiative?

She remembered that they had a special agreement—a promise made in jest to "sleep together every now and then."

But they just had such a fierce argument today, and she just hurt him like that. If she goes to him now, won't that be... too inappropriate? Won't he think she's too clingy and immature?

Moreover, the guilt in her heart still weighed heavily on her. She had wronged him and made him worry. She should have given him space and let him calm down instead of immediately bothering him and demanding more intimacy.

Finally, Su Yuqing sighed, lay back down, buried her face in the soft pillow, and forced herself to forget everything and fall asleep.

But not long after, she turned over again, hugged the pillow to her chest, and lay on her side looking towards the door.

She longed to see him... she longed to be with him... she longed to feel his warmth... These thoughts swirled in her mind like a stubborn kitten, tickling her heart.

Just as she was struggling with whether or not to take the initiative to find the other person, there was a soft knocking sound coming from the direction of the door.

"Knock knock".

The voice was very soft, yet it exploded in her ears like thunder. Su Yuqing sat up abruptly in bed, her heart pounding instantly.

Is it A-Che?! He... why is he here? She almost held her breath, listening to the sounds outside the door.

"Yuqing?" Lin Che's voice came through the door, sounding very gentle.

"Are you asleep?"

Su Yuqing's eyes widened instantly, her face filled with disbelief. She never expected that while she was still hesitating about whether to go to him, he would actually... come to her on his own initiative!

This realization made her cheeks flush instantly, and an indescribable sweetness and surprise welled up in her heart.

"No, I'm not asleep!" she hurriedly replied, her voice trembling slightly with excitement. She quickly jumped out of bed, ran to the door, took a deep breath, and gently opened the door.

Outside the door, Lin Che was indeed standing there holding a soft quilt. He had changed into comfortable pajamas, and his hair was still slightly damp, obviously having just taken a shower.

When he saw her open the door, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

Su Yuqing's face flushed red instantly. Looking at the blanket in his arms and then at the expression on his face, she felt both shy and happy.

"You... why are you here..." she stammered.

"Because some silly girl is probably tossing and turning in bed, wondering whether she should come find me." Lin Che chuckled and pinched her nose.

"Besides... didn't we make a promise? We'll sleep together every now and then."

Su Yuqing's heart felt completely filled with honey, so sweet it was almost cloying. She looked at him, her eyes sparkling, and stepped aside to let him pass through the doorway.

Lin Che carried the blanket into her room, spread his blanket on her bed, and then lay down naturally, patting the empty space next to him.

Su Yuqing blushed and lay down next to him. The two lay side by side on the bed, with a fist's distance between them. The room was very quiet, and only their heartbeats and breathing could be clearly heard in the darkness.

After a while, Su Yuqing couldn't help but break the silence. She turned to look at Lin Che's profile, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity and coquettishness: "A-Che..."

"Um?"

"Since... since you were willing to come and sleep with me, and even kissed me..." Her voice trailed off, and her cheeks grew hotter and hotter.

"Then why... why did you always avoid me when I approached before? And why did you always chop me in the hand and say that we were... something like that?"

This question had been weighing on her mind for a long time. She couldn't understand why he had deliberately kept his distance from her before, since his feelings for her weren't just those of a brother and sister.

Lin Che stiffened slightly, knowing he couldn't avoid the question. He paused for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts, before finally speaking somewhat awkwardly, "Um... could we not say?"

"Hmm?" Su Yuqing immediately narrowed her eyes, leaned closer, and said in a sweet but threatening tone, "If you don't tell me... you're not leaving this room~" Lin Che's face flushed red again uncontrollably. He coughed lightly and explained somewhat awkwardly, "Because... when I met you in my past life, you were already a college student. That version of you is the one I truly know."

He paused, his voice lower, "And now... looking at you, not fully grown up yet... although you're cute, you're still just a high school student."

"I'm a man nearing thirty in terms of mental age... I always feel like I'm... eating young grass..."

"Pfft, hahahaha!" Su Yuqing couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter, her whole body shaking with mirth.

"So that's why! You idiot! You were overthinking it!"

Lin Che was both embarrassed and annoyed by her laughter. His face burned, and he reached out to chop the girl with his hand, but she dodged him with a laugh and rolled into his arms.

Su Yuqing wrapped her arms around his neck, looking at his flushed ears, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She leaned closer to him, her voice both serious and teasing: "Then you'll have to wait for me to grow up, okay, brother~" Lin Che looked at her face, which was so close to his, and her face was full of a mischievous smile. His heart stirred, and in the end, he couldn't help but reach out and gently flick her forehead.

"Your face is all red, and you're still saying things like that," he said softly, his tone full of affection.

Su Yuqing covered her forehead, but laughed even more happily. She snuggled closer to him, found a comfortable position, and closed her eyes like a contented cat.

Lin Che relaxed as well, naturally wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his embrace. The room returned to silence, with only the sound of their steady breathing and the gentle moonlight outside the window.

After a while, Lin Che's voice broke the silence again, his tone tinged with apology: "Yuqing, about this afternoon..."

Su Yuqing stirred in his arms, opened her eyes, and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"I... I did lie to you." Lin Che's voice lowered.

"After breaking up with Xiao Li, I didn't go to see any friends."

Su Yuqing's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected him to bring this up. She looked at him quietly, waiting for his explanation.

Lin Che hesitated for a moment. He knew he couldn't tell her about the magical girl and the Bureau of Extraordinary Events; it was a secret he had to protect. But he also didn't want to deceive her with lies anymore.

"I took care of some... rather personal matters." He ultimately chose a relatively vague but truthful explanation: "Some things... that I can't tell you yet."

He looked into her eyes, his gaze incredibly earnest: "I'm sorry, Yuqing, I know it's wrong to hide it, but right now... I really have reasons I can't tell you."

Su Yuqing looked at him quietly, seeing the sincerity and apology in his eyes, as well as the hidden protectiveness he felt for her, not wanting her to worry.

Remembering his habit of silently bearing everything, and the unchanging affection he showed when he looked at her, she knew that he must have his own reasons and difficulties that he had to face alone.

So she reached out and gently stroked Lin Che's cheek, her voice soft yet firm: "It's okay, Che."

She looked into his eyes and gave him a relieved smile, one that was full of understanding: "Everyone should have their own secrets. I don't intend to ask, nor will I be tempted to test you again."

She paused, then rested her head against his chest, listening to his steady, strong heartbeat, and said to him, and to herself, "Because I know... you're here, and you'll never leave me... that's enough."

Lin Che's heart felt like it had been struck hard, and a warm current instantly flowed through his body. He hadn't expected her to say that, to choose such a gentle way to tolerate his concealment and lies.

He tightened his arms, pulling her closer into his embrace, his chin resting on the top of her head, his voice unwavering: "One day, I will tell you everything... I promise."

"Okay." Su Yuqing snuggled against him, her voice filled with laughter, "Then I'll wait for that day."

On this quiet night, two hearts that had been estranged by misunderstandings and traumas finally came together in honesty and understanding.

They nestled together, feeling each other's body temperature and heartbeat, as if they wanted to forever etch this regained warmth into the depths of their souls.

The gentle moonlight streaming through the window cast a hazy and beautiful glow over this loving night.