The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

"When you said you...like us...does that include me?"

I finally asked.

All day long, this question felt like a small thorn stuck in An Suxue's heart. She might not have felt it normally, but once she thought about it, it brought a sharp, stabbing pain and panic.

What if... just what if... what if Ye Shu doesn't like me?

She retreated into her own world, constantly dwelling on the thought.

Ye Shu said "I like you all." He said it to Sister Xia Qing, Sister Zhi Qiu, and Xiao Nuan. They are all so good. Sister Xia Qing is so brave, Sister Zhi Qiu is so mature, and Xiao Nuan is so smart. It seems like they can handle everything.

But what about yourself?

She knew nothing, only fear, only trembling, only hiding in a corner where no one could see her, and couldn't even speak to a stranger.

She felt so useless and troublesome... Not to mention others, even An Suxue herself sometimes couldn't help but hate herself for being so useless.

Before meeting Ye Shu, she had already silently accepted this future.

Let it be like this, just stay huddled in the deepest corner of my consciousness. I'll leave the outside world, all the people and things I need to deal with, to Xia Qing, Zhi Qiu, and Xiao Nuan.

All I need is this little corner to exist slowly and silently.

Perhaps one day, when this body no longer needs her, or even this corner hates her, she will fall into a deep sleep and never wake up again, and... no one will notice, and no one will care.

But then Ye Shu arrived.

He just appeared out of nowhere. Unlike what she had expected, he didn't find her troublesome, a burden, or a problem that needed to be dealt with.

Ye Shu saw her, found her, cared about her, and was happy for her every little attempt, applauding her.

This level of concern was unprecedented for An Suxue.

Unlike the love from her parents, this feeling was like walking for a long time in the freezing snow and finally seeing a warm fire. An Suxue instinctively moved closer, and then... she could never leave this warmth.

But while receiving this warmth, she became more afraid than before.

I'm afraid that Ye Shu's current gentleness is just a responsibility he has to fulfill due to reality. I'm afraid that deep down he feels the same way I used to feel that "An Suxue" is a nuisance. I'm afraid that the "you guys" he says he likes don't actually include the part named "An Suxue".

She was afraid of losing this flame and returning to that corner.

Therefore, she wanted to change. Even though she was trembling with fear of the outside world, she was willing to make contact with it little by little for Ye Shu's sake.

Going to the convenience store today might seem like nothing to others, but it was something she had done with all her might.

She wanted to become more useful, to make Ye Shu more satisfied. She thought, if Ye Shu was satisfied, if Ye Shu didn't see her as a complete burden, wouldn't... he not leave her?

As long as Ye Shu doesn't leave, nothing else matters.

It's okay to be afraid, it's okay to tremble, it's okay to not be able to do anything right.

This humble longing became the question she asked with all her might. She asked it, and then came the suffocating wait.

She could feel Ye Shu's heartbeat as she pressed her chest against his, but her own heart seemed to have stopped beating.

However, the expected rejection or hesitation did not occur.

The next second, Ye Shu wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly in his embrace. The hug was so tight that she could hardly breathe, and her arms ached.

But this tight embrace brought her an unprecedented sense of security that she had never experienced before.

The feeling was so overwhelming, so real, that it almost made her cry. It made her want to hold onto him tightly and never let go again.

Let her want to... try again.

"Xiaoxue, lift your head and look at me."

Ye Shu's voice came from above her head.

An Suxue trembled slightly in Ye Shu's arms. She slowly raised her head, her lips trembling uncontrollably, tears welling up in her eyes, making it difficult for her to see Ye Shu's face clearly. The tears were so plentiful; it seemed that hearing even a single word of denial from Ye Shu would unleash a torrent of emotion within her, like a dam bursting open.

Looking at her vulnerable state, Ye Shu saw fear, expectation, and self-doubt in her eyes. Ye Shu didn't flinch or hesitate, and answered with two words:

"include."

An Suxue blinked, seemingly not understanding the meaning of those two words. She just stared at him blankly, but tears were already streaming down her face uncontrollably.

"Of course, that includes you, Xiaoxue. I like you. Not just one of you, but the unique soul of An Suxue, the indispensable Xiaoxue."

An Suxue's tears dripped down her chin onto Ye Shu's chest, wetting his shirt.

"I like you all. I like Xia Qing's energy, Zhi Qiu's gentleness, and Xiao Nuan's straightforwardness."

"I also love your cuteness, your dependence on me, the courage you take to make changes, and how you blush over the smallest things. I love how you secretly look at me, and the determination you have to ask this question..."

"You are not anyone's shadow, nor anyone's accessory, nor a burden. You are you, you are Xiaoxue, the person I love named An Suxue."

Ye Shu continued speaking, repeatedly affirming her uniqueness and the significance of her existence.

An Suxue cried louder and louder in his arms as he spoke. Her hands gripped his shirt tightly. But her eyes never left Ye Shu's mouth. She could no longer hear what Ye Shu was saying, but she didn't want to miss a single word he uttered.

She needed to see clearly, she needed to remember, she needed to confirm that these words really came from Ye Shu's mouth.

"Actually, I knew what you were thinking when you promised to go out last time. Xiaoxue, listen carefully, you don't need to force yourself to do anything you don't want to do just to make me happy. I'm really glad you're trying to go out. But that's because you're willing to try, not to please me."

"Even if you remain shy and need time like you are now, that's okay. I like you just the way you are—you get scared, you become dependent, but you're also much braver than you imagine."

"So don't worry, I won't dislike you just because you're not Xia Qing, not Zhi Qiu, not Xiao Nuan, and I certainly won't leave. I'm here because you're here, because all of you are here. Even Xiao Xue, who's talking to me right now, is a reason I chose this place."

As soon as she uttered the word "reason," An Suxue finally broke down and burst into tears.

She finally abandoned all restraint, shedding the shackles that had bound her heart for so long, and burst into tears. She cried her heart out, completely losing her composure, but the fear and helplessness she had felt before were gone; instead, there was a sense of cathartic joy in her sobs.

An Suxue loosened her grip on Ye Shu's shirt, hugged him back with all her might, buried her face deep in his chest, and cried uncontrollably.

Ye Shu didn't say anything, he just held her like that, letting her vent.

After an unknown amount of time, An Suxue's crying gradually turned into sobs. She seemed to be losing strength, but she still clung tightly to Ye Shu.

An Suxue suddenly raised her head, her face covered in tears and her eyes red.

She looked at Ye Shu, her nose bulging as if she were crying, and spoke in a heavily nasal voice:

"Ye Shu, I like you. I really, really, really like you!"

Ye Shu smiled as she looked at her earnest little face, and reached out to wipe away her tears:

"Yes, I know..."

The last word was never uttered.

Because An Suxue suddenly reached out and hugged his neck, lowering Ye Shu's head.

The next second, a warm, moist, and slightly salty sensation, tinged with tears, gently touched Ye Shu's lips.

Awkward, trembling, and utterly lacking in skill.

Yet they carried with them unwavering courage and a heart full of sincerity.