Chapter 74: Liking Someone Is Both Sweet and Sour

The bedroom was shrouded in utter darkness, and an indistinct, ambiguous emotion was rapidly taking root, silently filling every corner of the room.

On the soft, wide bed, Qin Yichi’s eyes snapped open. His gaze was as deep and black as an abyss, utterly devoid of any trace of drunkenness.

He raised his hand and lightly touched his lips, stunned for a long, long time.

Outside, the heavy rain had finally slowed to a gentle drizzle, the pattering drops tapping softly against the windowpane, falling into his heart and sending out ripple after ripple that seemed never to subside.

Qin Yichi’s Adam’s apple bobbed; a flicker of light danced in his eyes. The corners of his lips curled up ever so slightly as he whispered to himself in a low murmur, “Good night, Zhenzhen.”

Yet tonight, Qiao Zhen was anything but at ease. She left the heater on, curling herself up beneath the covers, her fingertips clutching the white cotton quilt tightly.

She wasn’t sure if it was the warmth from the heater or the accidental kiss on her cheek, but her face was still tinged with a faint blush that refused to fade, no matter how much cold water she splashed on it.

After having her sincere feelings betrayed once, she’d begun to build high walls around her heart—unwilling to venture out, unwilling to let any boy come in. She simply huddled quietly in a corner behind those walls.

She didn’t want to be deceived again, didn’t want to be so heartbreakingly sad again.

All she wished for now was to love herself, just once, with all her heart.

But Qin Yichi had climbed over her walls, again and again showering her with kindness, tossing sweet little candies at her fragile, sensitive heart, day after day, year after year.

At last, those high and thick walls had silently, imperceptibly, opened up for Qin Yichi.

To like someone is uncontrollable, impossible to suppress. It’s as relentless as raindrops, as sweet and tart as an orange, as wild and unrestrained as tangled vines.

When had she started liking Qin Yichi?

Qiao Zhen quietly pulled the quilt higher, covering her whole head, her mood stuffy and unsettled.

When exactly did it begin…

Her mind played back memories in slow motion, frame by frame, a flood of vivid images pouring in and unfolding before her eyes:

It was the first snowfall, when Qin Yichi took her hand and they skied together through the whistling winter wind, across a romantic snowy landscape.

It was at the singing contest, when Qin Yichi gave her a bouquet of Black Knight roses, the card reading, “Let me protect you.”

It was Christmas Eve, when Qin Yichi joined her in catching claw machine toys and drawing lots, watching a meteor shower glitter in the night as she fell into the deep affection in his eyes.

It was that night at the hot springs, when, drunk, Qin Yichi dashed over like a madman to embrace her, sitting by her bed all night, mumbling indistinctly, “I want you.”

It was his birthday, when Qin Yichi took her to the mountain top to watch the sunset, cupped her face in the KTV, and drank down that bitter gourd juice for her.

It was in the haunted house at the amusement park, when she tripped and Qin Yichi caught her in a princess carry, pinning her down on the bed.

There were too many moments, too many to count.

Every tiny detail, every inadvertent touch, left her flustered and helpless, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

Qiao Zhen felt like a child sneaking sweets, picking out the sweetest bits from these beautiful memories, tasting them quietly and carefully until she was utterly content.

So sweet, unbelievably sweet…

The nightlight cast a gentle, hazy amber glow, softly illuminating Qiao Zhen’s fair, delicate skin.

Stars seemed to twinkle in her eyes. The more she thought, the more she couldn’t help but smile, dimples appearing at the corners of her lips. A small flower bloomed in her heart, as if she’d tasted the sweetest, most exquisite honey in the world.

But soon, a faint ache crept up to her nose, her gaze falling in disappointment, a subtle bitterness spreading in her chest.

She didn’t dare confess.

Qin Yichi was different from Ji Xian.

She’d only plucked up the courage to approach Ji Xian and confess because she wasn’t close to him, but Qin Yichi was different.

What if…

What if Qin Yichi only saw her as a little sister, didn’t like her, and after learning of her feelings, gradually distanced himself, avoided her, ignored her—what then?

She didn’t want to lose Qin Yichi. She wanted to stay by his side, always…

Fear of loss made her timid.

Huddled under the covers, Qiao Zhen felt as if a hand had gripped her heart, sending sharp, stinging pain through her chest, making it hard to breathe.

What should she do?

But unrequited affection is both sweet and sour.

Her thoughts drifted to her previous life.

Those memories were hazy and indistinct; she still didn’t know how it had happened that she and Qin Yichi had married.

It was all a blur, and so even now, she couldn’t be sure…

The girls in her dorm group were all night owls, rarely sleeping before 2 a.m. during winter break.

In a daze, Qiao Zhen sat up and started a video call.

The three answered in an instant.

At the mention that Qiao Zhen liked someone, Yun Yue immediately spoke up, “Don’t play dumb with me, your crush is Qin Yichi, isn’t it?”

Chen Meixiang giggled. “Wow, the couple I ship is finally about to become canon! I already have a couple name for you—‘True Affection’—get it? Qin, Zhen, Yi, all in one!”

Qiao Zhen: “…”

Wait, she hadn’t even said anything yet—how did they all guess? And what kind of couple name was that? She wasn’t even with Qin Yichi yet!

Qiao Zhen shrank back under the covers, her tone weak, “So… strategists, what should I do now?”

Sheng Lulu, a typical passionate radical, practically blazed with excitement. “What do you mean, what should you do? Go for it, girl!”

“Zhenzhen, just throw yourself at him, kiss him! I refuse to believe he’d say no—go, go, go!”

Qiao Zhen clutched the quilt, her cheeks flushing a soft pink, a small flame of courage kindling in her heart.

In fact, she’d already pounced on him just now, and… and he’d kissed her cheek.

But conservative Yun Yue shook her head decisively, pausing to consider. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. First, the three of us have never interacted with Qin Yichi directly—we only know him through your stories, Zhenzhen. We can’t just act blindly.”

Yun Yue’s tone grew worried. “Second, I think you should hold back a little, or you’ll end up like with Ji Xian—left hanging by someone cold and indifferent. If we’re too forward and he doesn’t value you, what then?”

Though every fortune-telling had pointed to Qin Yichi being Qiao Zhen’s fated one, she still worried—what if they were wrong, what if Zhenzhen wasted her whole life?

Sheng Lulu, after listening, began to waver too.

Hearing these words, the little flame in Qiao Zhen’s heart was instantly doused with a bucket of cold water.

She hung her head in defeat, rolling back and forth on the bed, stifling her sobs.

Suddenly, Chen Meixiang asked, “Zhenzhen, when’s the second round of your music competition?”

Qiao Zhen looked up and replied obediently, “February 14th—”

Valentine’s Day, no less.

A spark lit in Chen Meixiang’s eyes; her lips curled up as she said, “I have a great idea. Not only can you test his feelings, you’ll have a graceful exit if you need one—and it might even spice things up between you two.”

The others leaned in, ears pricked.

Chen Meixiang chuckled softly, “Here’s what you do—after the competition, at the group dinner, pretend to be drunk—seduce him!”