Right after Shen Qinghan sent the message, he sat there feeling completely lost and dazed. After a while, he suddenly jolted back to his senses.
There were so many ways to apologize and make amends—why had he told Si Yiheng where Shuyu lived?
For all he knew, Shuyu herself didn’t want anyone to know her address.
If he revealed where she lived, who knew—maybe Si Yiheng really was as straightforward as he acted, and just didn’t care for pretty faces.
Later, if Shuyu and Si Yiheng broke up, and she came crying to him, would he be able to bear it?
And if he couldn’t bear it, what would he ever be able to give her to make up for it?
He couldn’t exactly offer himself as compensation, could he?
That would just make it look like he was trying to steal his best friend’s girl—and no matter how you looked at it, that was completely unethical.
Shen Qinghan searched through his contacts until he found Shuyu’s name.
Originally, he’d wanted to apologize to her face-to-face, but the moment she saw him, she’d slammed the door shut.
So he decided to apologize online first. Once she forgave him, he’d go see her and apologize in person properly.
Shen Qinghan: Shuyu, do you still remember me?
Shuyu had just gotten a fright from the new neighbor who’d suddenly moved in across the hall, and was now trying to calm her rattled nerves by scrolling through videos on her phone while eating fruit salad.
Then a message popped up—giving her another scare.
Iron Egg: What does Male Lead No. 2 want with you?
Shuyu felt so tempted to just block Shen Qinghan right then and there. “I have no idea.”
When she saw the message from Shen Qinghan himself, suddenly the fruit salad on the table didn’t taste so good anymore, and she felt like she’d rather just cease to exist.
She looked at Iron Egg with big, pitiful eyes. “Can I just block him?”
Iron Egg ran a quick analysis. “I’d advise against it. Shen Qinghan is your only link to Si Yiheng. If you block him out of the blue, it could very well mess up your relationship with Si Yiheng.”
Shuyu sighed. “How so?”
“Shen Qinghan might start badmouthing you to Si Yiheng.”
Iron Egg kept whispering its devilish little warnings: “He could even make you two break up ahead of schedule—and then we’ll never complete the mission.”
Shuyu’s face fell: W(Д)W
She picked up her phone and replied to Shen Qinghan with all the willpower of someone facing certain doom.
Little Fish Swimming Along: Of course I remember you.
Shen Qinghan was a little surprised—he hadn’t expected her to remember him at all.
But then again, he was the one who’d introduced Si Yiheng and Shuyu in the first place, so it wasn’t that strange that she knew who he was.
Shen Qinghan: I’m messaging you because I want to apologize. Before, I misunderstood you and thought you were just some gold digger. I never realized you were actually struggling so much in life.
Shuyu blinked slowly, then exchanged a look with Iron Egg.
Both human and system felt equally awkward. The truth was—she was a gold digger.
In fact, she’d already siphoned nearly ten million from Si Yiheng.
Little Fish Swimming Along: It’s fine, it’s fine. I know you were wrong.
Shen Qinghan: ?
Little Fish Swimming Along: I mean, I accept your apology.
Shen Qinghan was struck again by how kind and easygoing Shuyu was. It only made his earlier cruel assumptions seem even more petty and despicable—and his guilt grew deeper.
Shen Qinghan: Sent: 100,000
Shuyu’s eyes went wide: “!!!”
Oh my goodness.
She turned to Iron Egg. “What is Shen Qinghan doing? He’s not even on our target list, right?”
Iron Egg examined the conversation carefully, its tone serious. “He’s just Male Lead No. 2! There’s no point taking money from him. Your storyline is supposed to revolve around the main male lead, not him.”
Shuyu immediately hit “Refund.”
Shen Qinghan: Sent: 500,000
Shuyu felt numb with despair—and hit “Refund” again.
Shen Qinghan: Sent: 1,000,000
Shuyu was starting to panic. Stop it, please! Shen Qinghan was definitely not her assigned target. If she took money from him, she’d probably end up behind bars!
She hit “Refund” yet again.
Little Fish Swimming Along: I accept your apology, but I can’t take your money.
Seeing Shuyu keep sending his money back, Shen Qinghan suddenly felt a pang of hurt and frustration. Did she think his money wasn’t good enough?
Whenever Si Yiheng sent her money, she accepted it instantly.
So was Si Yiheng’s money real money, and his money just worthless trash?
Ha! So his money was useless, then—something no one wanted!
If Shuyu could have read his thoughts, she would have been stunned. You really did see everything in this life—someone actually looking down on money itself!
Shen Qinghan: Why won’t you take my money? But when Si Yiheng sends you money, you accept it right away.
Shuyu stared at the screen: “……”
Because Si Yiheng is my mission target! Taking his money made her progress bar go up!
But of course, she couldn’t say that to Shen Qinghan.
She thought quickly and came up with an argument he couldn’t possibly refute.
Little Fish Swimming Along: Because Si Yiheng is my boyfriend. It’s only right that he spends money on me.
Shen Qinghan felt his chest tighten again. Right—they were boyfriend and girlfriend. Of course it was normal for her to spend Si Yiheng’s money.
But what was he to her?
Nothing at all. He had no right or standing to give her anything.
Shen Qinghan: So you’re saying it would be wrong for you to take money from me?
Little Fish Swimming Along: What else would it be?
Shen Qinghan: But I’m Si Yiheng’s best friend!
Little Fish Swimming Along: I know that.
If Shen Qinghan wasn’t Si Yiheng’s friend, Shuyu wouldn’t waste a single word on him.
Shen Qinghan: Which means my best friend’s girlfriend is also my friend.
Shen Qinghan: What I mean is—we’re all friends here. My money is basically Si Yiheng’s money anyway, so there’s nothing wrong with me sending you some to spend.
Shuyu and Iron Egg fell into a heavy, stunned silence.
Oh come on, man… big brother… do you even hear yourself?
Shuyu turned to Iron Egg. “This Male Lead No. 2 seems like he’s lost his marbles.”
Iron Egg agreed. “He does sound a little off. Why don’t you suggest he go see a doctor?”
Little Fish Swimming Along: I’m not saying you’re sick, or that there’s something wrong with your head, or that you’ve gone mad or anything—but I do think you might want to consider seeing a counselor or therapist, just to be safe.
Shen Qinghan stared at the screen: “……”
She said all that, but at the end of the day, she was still calling him crazy.
Oddly enough, though, he didn’t feel angry.
Fine—if she didn’t want his money, so be it. He had something far more important to ask her anyway.
Shen Qinghan: Did you know Si Yiheng lives right on the floor below you?
Shuyu’s world seemed to crumble all over again: W(Д)W
He lived that close?
It would be so easy to run into him! What if one day they stepped into the same elevator and came face-to-face?
She grabbed the edge of the tablecloth. “Egg, why didn’t you tell me Si Yiheng lived here?”
Iron Egg actually sounded a little guilty. “The main male lead’s personal information is classified. I’m still a newly activated system, and I don’t have clearance to access it.”
Shuyu sighed. “Well, it’s done now.”
There was no use crying over spilled milk. She decided right then and there: she would never leave the house unless absolutely necessary.
As long as she stayed inside, there was zero chance of bumping into Si Yiheng.
He couldn’t possibly just walk into her apartment to “run into” her, right? This wasn’t some romance novel where the guy broke into the girl’s place just to start a love story!
Shen Qinghan: And I live directly across from you.
Shuyu: “……”
After hearing Si Yiheng lived downstairs, this news barely fazed her anymore.
Little Fish Swimming Along: QAQ
Little Fish Swimming Along: Does Si Yiheng know I live here?
For the first time, Shuyu was glad she hadn’t blocked Shen Qinghan right away—now she could use him to get information about Si Yiheng.
Shen Qinghan: No, he doesn’t.
Shuyu let out a quiet breath of relief.
Shen Qinghan: Do you want me to tell him you live right above him?
Little Fish Swimming Along: NO!
Shen Qinghan read the reply and fell silent for a moment.
Shen Qinghan: I’d assumed you moved here on purpose just to be closer to him, so you could see each other more easily. Are you two never going to meet? Don’t tell me you plan to stay in an online relationship forever?
Shen Qinghan: Or is there something about Si Yiheng you don’t like?
Shen Qinghan: If you’re unhappy with him, you can just break up—and I’ll introduce you to someone way better.
Shuyu stared at that wall of text, her eyes glazing over.
Especially the parts about meeting, breaking up, and finding someone new.
Ha! Yeah, right—find someone new, and then end up in prison or feeding the fish at the bottom of the ocean?
That sounded like a wonderful fate, didn’t it?
Her mind raced, and she typed back quickly.
Little Fish Swimming Along: I can’t meet him. I’m not pretty enough. I really do love Si Yiheng, but I’m terrified he won’t be able to accept what I actually look like.
Little Fish Swimming Along: Shen Qinghan, could you please, please do me a favor and not tell Si Yiheng where I live? Cute little kitten begging.jpg
Reading her message, Shen Qinghan gritted his back teeth.
Love really did make people feel insecure and blind.
If Shuyu wasn’t beautiful enough, then what on earth was? She was more than good enough for Si Yiheng—by a mile.
Shen Qinghan: Fine, I promise I won’t say anything.
Before he even closed the chat window, a new message popped up from Si Yiheng.
Si Yiheng: Where does Shuyu live?