The afternoon breeze always carried more warmth, gently sweeping over the boy and girl.
The scene of the two together appeared unusually well-matched, harmonious as a painting—if one ignored the boy’s icy indifference.
Ruan Xing had just lifted her head after snapping back to reality when she unexpectedly met a pair of boundless dark eyes.
Startled badly, she stumbled back several steps before regaining her balance.
Lin Shen remained completely still, his gaze cold as he watched the girl’s movements without any change in expression.
“I… I…” Ruan Xing stammered, her face flushing crimson under the boy’s stare after steadying herself.
She suddenly felt the guilt of a thief caught red-handed. Wanting to explain, she faltered for a long moment without managing to utter a word.
How could she possibly explain this?
Just as Ruan Xing was so annoyed that she wished she could burrow into the ground, a deep, clear voice reached her ears.
“Speak. What’s your purpose in following me?” The boy’s voice was hoarse yet magnetic.
Lin Shen had recognized the girl the moment he saw her—he remembered she was the one who’d saved him last time.
But he didn’t believe this girl could genuinely have any interest in a cripple like him. He leaned toward the assumption that she had some ulterior motive.
“N-no… I… This is just my way home,” Ruan Xing said, her damp eyes betraying inexplicable guilt.
She couldn’t help scolding her own composure internally.
What was wrong with her? She wasn’t lying—why should she feel guilty!
With this thought, she straightened her back almost immediately.
Lin Shen spotted her tell almost instantly, the chill in his eyes deepening.
As anxiety churned within Ruan Xing, the boy wheeled closer in his chair, staring coldly at her while curling his lips into a dangerous smile—both sinister and captivating.
Whether in her past life or current one, this was Ruan Xing’s first time seeing him like this, and she couldn’t suppress a shiver.
Meeting his icy gaze, her heart jolted.
She could detect no trace of living warmth in those pitch-black, bottomless eyes. The boy seemed like a walking corpse—hollow-eyed, emotionless, his cold face devoid of feeling, as if he were a demon emerged from hell.
Noticing her scrutiny, Lin Shen’s Adam’s apple moved. “Heh, no purpose? Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to me.”His tone was enchanting yet cold, laced with undisguised mockery.”
After speaking, he subtly scanned her from head to toe.
Then he let out a self-mocking laugh.
Right. How could someone like him ever be liked?
Facing this version of Lin Shen, claiming she wasn’t afraid would be impossible.
If not for witnessing—in her past life—this very boy in the wheelchair standing before her tombstone, speaking to her with tender affection before avenging her with Lu Wan’s blood on his hands, she might have been trembling with fear now.
But pressed for an answer under his intense interrogation, she truly couldn’t fabricate any plausible reason on the spot. The boy gave off an astute, perceptive aura, and Ruan Xing had a premonition that any random excuse would never convince him.
Ruan Xing scratched her head, her small face contorted with conflict.
Lin Shen kept his cold stare fixed on her, those eyes of his gloomy and frigid.
It was as if he could snap her neck at any moment if she said something that displeased him.
The next second, as if throwing caution to the wind, Ruan Xing suppressed her fear and blurted out, “N-no… that’s right, I… I do like you.” Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she didn’t dare lift her head for a long time.
It wasn’t that she actually liked the young man before her—she simply couldn’t think of any other believable excuse. At the moment, this reason seemed the most plausible.
Moreover, if she wanted to stay close to Lin Shen for an extended period without arousing his suspicion, this seemed to be the only viable excuse. Though risky, she still wanted to give it a try.
“You like me? What do you like about me? My money? My madness? Or the fact that I’m a cripple?” Lin Shen stared at Ruan Xing, pushing his wheelchair step by step closer, his eyes devoid of any warmth.
Even though Ruan Xing was standing, she was forced back several steps by the chilling aura emanating from him.
“Go on, what do you like about me?” The young man sneered, a trace of disgust flickering in his eyes.
Ruan Xing’s heart tightened under his malicious gaze.
“I… I… you’re good-looking, and… and you can protect me.” She propped her chin on one hand, as if she had genuinely thought it through before answering.
Lin Shen was taken aback, clearly not expecting her to say such a thing.
He had encountered plenty of girls in the past who claimed to like him and swarmed around him. He still had some recollection of what they’d said.
Without exception, they all declared their sincere affection, professed to love everything about him, and insisted they didn’t mind his leg injury. Lin Shen found such words utterly ironic.
He could see right through their ulterior motives—they were only interested in his status and his wealth.
Recalling the ridiculous statement she had just made, Lin Shen curled his lips into a mocking smile. “Protect you? Me, a cripple? Are you joking?”
Ruan Xing trembled under his icy stare but managed to hold her ground.
“It’s fine. You’re good-looking, so I… I can protect you.” She mustered her courage and blurted it out in one go.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Ruan Xing’s eyes widened in shock. Only then did she realize the audacity of what she had just said, and she instantly regretted it deeply.
She only wanted to get closer to him, not because she liked him or wanted to be with him.
Damn it, she had gone too far with this lie.
Protect him?
Lin Shen’s fingers tapped rhythmically on his wheelchair, a faint, sarcastic smile slowly spreading across his lips.
He couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing.
Was this fool unaware of who he was? If she knew about his notorious reputation and his misdeeds, she’d probably be scared to death.
Someone like him didn’t need anyone’s protection. No one could harm him—those who dared to try likely had weeds growing several acres high over their graves.
He had heard plenty of pathetic excuses from people trying to get close to him, but never one as “shallow” as hers—merely because he was good-looking. And no one had ever offered to protect him before.
This girl before him was the first.
Interesting.
Lin Shen ultimately said nothing, turning around to wheel himself away in his wheelchair, leaving only a receding figure behind.
Ruan Xing stood in place, watching that solitary silhouette, her heart aching with sorrow.
“I really will protect you.” Thinking he didn’t believe her, she shouted the words louder toward his retreating form.
Upon hearing this, the young man visibly stiffened for a moment, though he concealed it perfectly, never letting the girl behind him notice.