Qiao Chuchu finally managed to clean the cream off her face, changed into new clothes, and hastily put on a natural makeup look. She gracefully walked down the stairs, trying to salvage her image.

Lin Shen heard the sound and looked up, his eyes meeting hers.

Her heart started racing, but she forced herself to stay calm as she descended the stairs.

[Stay calm, Qiao Chuchu! Although he’s your first love, you haven’t told him, so he doesn’t know you like him. It’s fine. You can walk up to him confidently and greet him. He won’t notice anything. It’s fine.]

Lin Shen’s eyes sparkled slightly, and the corners of his mouth subtly lifted. Without thinking, he stood up and walked towards Qiao Chuchu.

Pei Bu Xian narrowed his eyes dangerously, and even his dark circles became more pronounced. He sarcastically said, “If someone were a dog, their tail would already be wagging.”

Lin Shen ignored him, still holding the flowers, his heartbeat growing more erratic.

Three years ago, he had left Qiao Chuchu because he had witnessed her feelings for his older brother.

And just earlier, he had learned that Qiao Chuchu had been forced into the tasks by the system.

Now, he was hearing Qiao Chuchu’s real inner thoughts.

There was mutual affection between them.

He walked step by step towards her, his eyes glimmering with faint starlight. “It’s been a while, Chuchu.”

Qiao Chuchu looked more closely and realized that Lin Shen and Lin Qing looked very, very similar.

Lin Qing’s brows were sharper, her beauty stunning.

But Lin Shen’s brows were softer, deep and profound, with the light casting upon his face in a way that gave him a classical Western beauty, almost like a painting.

He hadn’t changed.

He was still the same as the senior in her memories.

Qiao Chuchu’s nervousness suddenly vanished. She casually took the bouquet from him. “Thank you.”

[Though I was nervous earlier, when it came time to face him, I wasn’t nervous anymore.]

[After all, he was the guy I once liked, but looking at him now, I’m not moved.]

Lin Shen’s smile froze on his lips at her words.

Pei Bu Xian was surprised, his eyes widening before he burst out laughing.

The atmosphere became strangely awkward.

Qiao Chuchu was confused. “Why are you laughing, Seventh Brother?”

It wasn’t just Pei Bu Xian laughing. The other brothers’ faces were flushed, their shoulders shaking with laughter.

But Pei Bu Xian was the happiest. Sitting cross-legged on the sofa with the dog in his arms, he laughed meaningfully. “I just thought of something amusing.”

Chuchu was puzzled and looked at Lin Shen. “Sit down, Senior Lin Shen.”

Lin Shen stiffly sat beside her, casting a puzzled look her way.

Lin Qing noticed her brother’s odd mood and, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, draped an arm around Qiao Chuchu’s shoulder to probe, “I didn’t know you knew my brother. Why didn’t you ever mention it?”

Qiao Chuchu, holding the flowers, felt a bit shy. “I didn’t realize at first that he was Lin Qing’s older brother. I met him at an art exhibition. Lin Shen helped me a lot. My skills with light and shadow in painting were always poor, but after he taught me, my techniques improved a lot. I’m like his little apprentice.”

[Back then, I wasn’t interested in minor characters. Except for the main characters and those who appeared often, I never remembered the names of the supporting roles.]

Pei Bu Xian snorted with laughter. “Pfft!!”

Qiao Chuchu looked at him in confusion. “What are you laughing about again?”

Lin Qing laughed with a hint of sarcasm. “Don’t mind him. Seventh Brother has switched his mouth with his rear end; now he’s farting with his mouth.”

Pei Bu Xian: “?”

Lin Qing continued with a suggestive tone, “Seems like you two have known each other for a while. Are you...?”

“No,” Qiao Chuchu quickly denied. “Senior Lin Shen and I only have a senior-junior relationship. There’s nothing more to it.”

She awkwardly glanced at Lin Shen before quickly looking away.

[I liked him, and he liked me back. What a great thing, but he saw me doing tasks, and after he saw it, he went abroad the next day. It’s already a favor that he didn’t block me.]

Lin Qing hesitated for a moment, then cheerfully said, “By the way, my brother still hasn’t had a girlfriend. You two should give it a try!”

Qiao Chuchu was stunned. “What?”

Lin Qing excitedly said, “You don’t know what my brother is like. He’s been a blockhead since he was little, only interested in painting. Boys and girls have chased him, but he never reacted. But I think you two are perfect for each other! Don’t you agree, bro?”

Qiao Chuchu froze and nervously looked at Lin Shen.

Lin Shen’s ink-like gaze was fixed on her, seemingly wanting to say a thousand words but remaining silent in response to Lin Qing’s comment.

Qiao Chuchu: “...”

*[Oh no, he probably remembers that time when I liked my brother! I can’t let him think more about it, I’ll be so embarrassed!]

She waved her hand dismissively. “No need, no need. Senior Lin Shen is so handsome, he could have any girlfriend he wants. I’m not thinking about dating right now.”

She awkwardly rubbed her knee, trying to hide her panic.

[After all, I was hurt so thoroughly. When Lin Shen saw that, I didn’t even get a chance to explain before the system forced me into the hospital.]

[I’ve always wanted to explain to him, whether by writing or typing, or even hinting. I just wanted to tell him, because I really, really liked him.]

[But he left for abroad without a second glance.]

[That period was the hardest time in my life. I wanted to jump off a building, but the system controlled my body to stop me. I refused to eat, and the system forced me to stay alive. My hair fell out in handfuls, and I couldn’t sleep for nights. I was desperate to live but couldn’t die. And all the while, I was forced to complete tasks, pretending to be a fox spirit with a fake smile.]

The atmosphere gradually became more solemn.

A life controlled by the system... was it really this painful?

Pei Bu Xian leaned close to Pei Yuan, whispering, “I remember there was a time when Qiao Chuchu’s mental state was really bad. I thought she was on the brink of a mental breakdown. Was it really because of this?”

Pei Yuan: “...”

For some reason, his heart tightened painfully.

He had never known that Qiao Chuchu had gone through such a painful time.

He also remembered clearly, and had even had people watch over her secretly, fearing she’d really end up in trouble.

But he never expected that she had been enduring such torment behind the scenes.

Qiao Chuchu became more distracted as she thought: [Not only did I ruin my brother’s life, but I also ruined my own. It took me a year to forget Lin Shen. The excitement I felt back then is all gone now, but I still remember the pain. I don’t want anything now, I just want to protect myself.]

Lin Shen suddenly stood up from the sofa, his expression intense. “Chuchu!”

Qiao Chuchu: “?”

Lin Shen frowned deeply. “Actually, I’ve always—”

“Qiao Chuchu!” Qi Xiao Jia stormed over to Qiao Chuchu. “You knocked out my sister, I’m going to call the police on you!!”

Lin Shen’s face darkened.

Lin Qing and the Pei brothers all glared at Qi Xiao Jia, their gazes sharp as knives.

Who did she think she was going to arrest?