Oh no! My yandere school beauty is so clingy!

Are you hungry?

Lin Anran was jolted back to her senses by Shen Yu's question.

She blinked, met Shen Yu's gaze, and blushed even more.

"ah..."

"Would you like something to eat? It's lunchtime."

"Whatever you say, fine! I'll listen to you!"

Shen Yu hummed in agreement, said nothing more, and pulled her along as they continued walking.

Lin Anran followed obediently, her wrist still held by him.

Shen Yu led her upstairs to a clean-looking restaurant and found a seat by the window.

After we sat down, the waiter brought us the menu.

Shen Yu pushed the menu in front of her.

Lin Anran took the menu and flipped through it absentmindedly, but her eyes kept glancing at Shen Yu.

He was looking down at his phone, and his profile looked very handsome under the light.

Shen Yu looked up and asked, "Have you made your choice?"

"Alright, alright!"

Shen Yu took the menu and ordered one for himself as well.

After the waiter left, he put down his phone and looked at Lin Anran.

Lin Anran felt a little embarrassed by his gaze and started fidgeting with the tablecloth.

"Just now..."

"You heard everything... what I said to Zhou Xiaowen..." she asked cautiously, digging her fingers even harder.

Shen Yu looked at Lin Anran for a while, then shook his head, his tone casual:

"No, I didn't hear you. What did you say?"

He picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and looked up at her:

"I only saw you walking that way from a distance, and it looked like someone was following you. I felt something was wrong, so I went over to check. When I opened the door, I saw the two of you standing inside."

He spoke naturally, his expression was flawless, and he looked at Lin Anran with an open and honest gaze, as if he were simply stating a fact.

Lin Anran stared into his eyes, trying to find a trace of a lie.

My heart is beating a little fast; it's from nervousness, and there's also a feeling I can't quite describe.

He said... he didn't hear me?

really?

If he really didn't hear it, then he saw Zhou Xiaowen hiding behind him, looking so pitiful, like a victim.

And he stood on the other side... and didn't ask anything, choosing to unconditionally believe in me?

Lin Anran didn't know whether Shen Yu was telling the truth or lying.

But one thing she was certain of: whether he heard her or not, he was on her side...

This realization gradually calmed the anxiety that Lin Anran had felt due to the uncertainty...

Instead, there is a deeper sense of security, tinged with a subtle, sweetness.

"N-nothing...we just...we chatted for a bit, it was about you, and then there was a little conflict between us..."

"Hmm." Shen Yu responded without asking any further questions, or even what it was about.

After a while, the dishes they ordered arrived. Shen Yu handed chopsticks to Lin Anran, then picked up his own chopsticks and said:

"Eat."

"Um."

The two began eating lunch. Lin Anran glanced at Shen Yu, noticing his calm demeanor, and felt a surge of curiosity...

After all, didn't he go to see his father this morning?

Seeing that person who killed his mother again... didn't he feel anything?

Lin Anran finally couldn't contain her confusion and asked, "How did it go this morning? Did you see your father?"

Shen Yu looked up at her, nodded, and said, "Yes, I saw it. It'll only be half an hour, just a brief chat..."

As they chatted, Shen Yu slowed down her movements as she picked up food.

He recalled what Shen Daoliang had said during his visit that morning.

"You can't understand that kind of...emotion that makes someone disregard everything else."

"You'll follow my old path: find someone you find pleasing to the eye, someone you don't find tiring to be with, someone who poses no threat to you, and live with them for ten or twenty years until you become completely numb."

Those words were like cold needles, constantly piercing a certain place in his heart.

He didn't believe it completely, but he couldn't help but think about it.

He put down his chopsticks, looked up, and his gaze fell on Lin Anran across from him.

She was eating her meal in small bites, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyelashes lowered; she looked very well-behaved...

Shen Yu's gaze unconsciously calmed down, becoming scrutinizing as he stared intently at Lin Anran.

As Lin Anran ate, she noticed that Shen Yu's gaze was fixed on her face, and... it seemed a little different from usual.

His gaze was somewhat deep and intense, making her feel uneasy...

Her face turned even redder, and even the tips of her ears began to burn.

She couldn't help but look up, meeting Shen Yu's gaze, then hurriedly looked away, asking softly:

"W-What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

Her voice carried a hint of unconscious shyness and nervousness.

Shen Yu seemed to snap out of her daze when she was asked that question.

He looked away, picked up his chopsticks again, and said in his usual calm tone, "No, it's nothing."

He paused, as if explaining, or perhaps talking to himself, "I just felt... the way you ate was quite... quiet."

After he finished speaking, he realized that his reason was a bit far-fetched, so he stopped talking and continued eating.

Lin Anran's heart skipped a beat because of his words.

He... said I was quiet?

Do you think I'm well-behaved? Or... do you think I'm boring?

She secretly glanced up and looked at Shen Yu again.

He was eating quietly, without any particular expression.

Lin Anran felt uneasy; she felt as if she were doing reading comprehension with every word Shen Yu said.

I really want to know if what he said was a metaphor, or if there was any important information she missed...

She wanted to understand Shen Yu completely, to know what was on his mind...

Shen Yu was reflecting on his actions inwardly. He recalled what he had done to Lin Anran, and those behaviors and actions seemed to be exactly as Shen Daoliang had said...

It seems like they're weighing the pros and cons, subtly protecting themselves, as if... they're trying to control the other party and ensure their own interests...

Isn't this exactly what that crazy beast who cheated on his wife and then killed his own mother predicted?

He said he was the same as him?

不 ...

Absolutely not...

Shen Yu raised his head, his gaze falling on Lin Anran's slightly pursed lips, flushed with nervousness, and her slender, reddened neck...

I won't be like him. I will change myself. I don't want to... become that kind of abnormal person...

When Lin Anran saw Shen Yu's gaze fall on her again, this time she didn't look away, but met his eyes.

Just then, Shen Yu suddenly smiled faintly and said softly:

"After we finish eating, what do you want to do? Do you want to see a movie? We can go see a movie together."

Lin Anran was stunned.

Shen Yu...is smiling at her?

And the tone was so... gentle?

She looked at the clear smile on his face.

My heart felt like it had been gently bumped by something, and then it started pounding uncontrollably, my cheeks instantly burning hot.

She blurted it out almost without thinking:

"Anything is fine! I'll do whatever you say..."