“Brother Ah Jin, I don’t like you like this.” Lin Wanfu reached out to push against Shen Huaijin’s chest, which kept pressing down on her. A hazy mist gradually appeared in her eyes, making her look like a frightened, fragile young animal.
If it were just playful banter, she wouldn’t mind having some fun with Shen Huaijin.
But from the tone in Shen Huaijin’s voice just now, she could tell he wasn’t just looking for a verbal thrill.
He was serious.
Shen Huaijin paused for a moment, then gently wiped away the tear at the corner of Lin Wanfu’s eye with his thumb. “Fufu, don’t be afraid. I was just trying to joke with you. It’s my fault—I didn’t expect the joke to scare you.”
It was she who had unleashed the vicious beast locked away in his heart. He should have made her pay a little price for it, to teach her a lesson.
But in the end, he softened.
She was always so good at using fake tears and feigned weakness to manipulate him, and he, without fail, would surrender helplessly every time.
Lin Wanfu gazed into Shen Huaijin’s dark, ink-like eyes and whispered, “Just now, you suddenly seemed like a different person. It felt so unfamiliar.”
Shen Huaijin had always disguised himself well in front of her, and this was the first time she had seen him like that.
Utterly obsessive and unhinged.
She even began to wonder if Shen Huaijin had already prepared a little dark room for her.
To avoid waking up one day and inexplicably finding herself in that dark room, it seemed she needed to placate him.
“Fufu, I am a living person, not your toy. I have my own joys and sorrows too.”
Shen Huaijin only said this softly before picking up the slightly stunned Lin Wanfu and carrying her toward the large bed nearby.
She was always like this—allowing herself to set fires while forbidding others to light lamps.
For instance, she could vent her frustrations on him whenever she was unhappy, but he couldn’t show any personal emotions in front of her. She could treat him as a substitute for someone else, toying with his body and mind as she pleased, but he couldn’t reveal his truest self to her. She could naturally enjoy the feeling of being loved by him, but he couldn’t ask her to love him in return…
Undoubtedly, she was more shrewd and stingy than any merchant he had ever met.
No matter how much he gave her, even if he only wanted to ask for a meager bit of repayment, she would be unwilling.
Utterly wicked.
Lin Wanfu wrapped her arms around Shen Huaijin’s fair, slender neck and kissed him voluntarily. “Brother Ah Jin, I don’t see you as a toy. Please don’t be angry with me…”
“Sleep early. Goodnight.” Shen Huaijin gently placed Lin Wanfu on the soft bed, then pulled the nearby blanket over her, tucking her in carefully.
This is how love is—the one who is loved acts without fear, while the one who gives love hesitates and second-guesses.
Like a tilted umbrella.
Someone always ends up getting wet in the rain, and since he couldn’t bear to let Lin Wanfu get wet, he had no choice but to endure the biting cold of the rain alone.
Lin Wanfu suddenly reached out a hand from under the blanket and grasped Shen Huaijin’s hand. “Brother Ah Jin, does loving me make you feel miserable?”
“No, I’m not miserable.” Shen Huaijin lowered his gaze to look at Lin Wanfu on the bed. His expression was unusually gentle, and even the space between his brows carried a soft warmth.
“You’re lying.”Lin Wanfu only needed to exert a little force to pull Shen Huaijin onto the bed as well. She pressed her entire body against his chest, her ear resting against his heart.
“You’re clearly very upset.”
Shen Huaijin’s heartbeat completely lost its rhythm. “Then will you pity me and spare a little love for me?”
He gazed deeply at Lin Wanfu. Unconsciously, a faint flush spread across the corners of his eyes and brows, and his breathing began to grow erratic, rapid and intense.
“Brother Ah Jin, if it weren’t for Shen Congyan, I would definitely fall for you. Because you’re truly too good, so good that I can’t bear to let you go.”
Lin Wanfu subtly shifted the blame once again to Shen Congyan, her skill in sowing discord reaching perfection.
Shen Huaijin’s hand caressed Lin Wanfu’s back, and he suddenly flipped over, pinning her against the blanket.
“Fu Fu, are you telling the truth?” He stared intently into Lin Wanfu’s eyes, his gaze unusually fervent.
So he too had a chance to be loved. It was Shen Congyan who had stolen his opportunity.
But it didn’t matter. He could still take it back.
As long as Shen Congyan completely disappeared from this world, Fu Fu would fall in love with him.
Lin Wanfu slowly wrapped her arms around Shen Huaijin and whispered, “It’s true. You’re no worse than Shen Congyan. If I had met you first, I would definitely like you.”
“Fu Fu, actually, I was the one who met you first.”
Shen Huaijin lowered his eyes slightly. His thick, long lashes cast a small fan-shaped shadow, obscuring the ambiguous emotions in his gaze.
He had indeed met Lin Wanfu earlier than Shen Congyan.
But back then, he was insecure and sensitive due to his background, lacking even the courage to greet Lin Wanfu, so she had no idea he existed.
Moreover, she wouldn’t have liked the person he was seven years ago.
“What did you say?”
Because Shen Huaijin’s voice had been very soft just now, Lin Wanfu didn’t catch it clearly, so she asked again.
“Nothing. I said Fu Fu should go to sleep now, or else you’ll turn into a little panda tomorrow.” Shen Huaijin gently pinched Lin Wanfu’s cheek. His tone had returned to its previous tenderness and affection, as if coaxing a child.
Perhaps in Shen Huaijin’s heart, Lin Wanfu was no different from a child, because she possessed all the traits of a mischievous kid.
Lin Wanfu said smugly, “No way, I won’t get dark circles.”
And how could she not feel smug?
A powerful figure feared by everyone in the outside world was easily manipulated by her, with all his joys and sorrows under her control. Anyone would feel smug in her place.
Shen Huaijin lowered his head and affectionately touched Lin Wanfu’s nose with his own. “I’m worried that I’ll get dark circles, because then I’ll become ugly.”
“You have appearance anxiety?” Lin Wanfu blinked at Shen Huaijin, her curled lashes like two little fans, as if they could stir up a breeze.
Shen Huaijin pressed his forehead against Lin Wanfu’s.
His eyes held a gentle warmth, and his low, magnetic voice was as captivating as a cello. “Yes, I’m afraid if I become ugly, Fu Fu won’t like me anymore.”
“Even if you get dark circles, you won’t become ugly.”
Lin Wanfu raised her hand, her fingertips lightly brushing over Shen Huaijin’s brow bone, no longer hidden behind glasses.
His bone structure was exceptionally fine, with deep-set eyes and a high nose bridge, as if meticulously carved by the Creator.
“Alright, it’s very late. Let’s get some rest.” As Shen Huaijin spoke, he released Lin Wanfu and prepared to stand up.But Lin Wanfu grabbed his hand again, “Brother Ah Jin, this is my first time sleeping at someone else’s house. I’m scared. Can you stay and keep me company?”
“Can I take that as an invitation?”
Shen Huaijin’s gaze drifted downward, landing on Lin Wanfu’s rose-petal-like red lips. A flicker of darkness surged in his deep eyes, vanishing in an instant.