Trending topic alert: The mysterious fan site administrator of a top celebrity has been exposed.

Zhou Ai opened the passenger door, shielding the roof so that Chu Yi could get in first, before going around to the driver's seat herself.

The interior lights automatically turned on, casting a soft glow. After fastening her seatbelt, she turned to the side and carefully took the huge bouquet of hibiscus roses from Chu Yi's arms, gently placing it on the back seat to ensure it wouldn't tip over or be crushed.

Chu Yi followed his movement and looked over, her gaze falling on the gentle, gradually changing pink and white petals. In the dim light and shadow of the back seat, they appeared even more tranquil and beautiful.

He suddenly spoke, his voice exceptionally clear in the enclosed carriage, carrying his characteristic calm quality: "Do you know the meaning of this flower?"

Zhou Ai had just sat up straight when she heard this and paused for a moment, then subconsciously replied, "Huh? The language of flowers? The little girl selling flowers just told me about it."

He touched his nose somewhat embarrassedly, trying hard to recall, "But I was so happy that I only seem to remember things like waiting...hoping and stuff, I don't remember much else."

Chu Yi didn't speak immediately. He simply turned his head slightly, the soft light in the carriage casting a faint shadow on his well-defined profile. His long eyelashes drooped, as if he were considering something.

After a few seconds of silence, he slowly sat up straight and turned completely towards Zhou Ai.

Zhou Ai couldn't help but meet his gaze. Chu Yi's eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the car's interior light, calm yet possessing a captivating power.

Chu Yi looked at him, his deep and clear voice ringing out, each word striking Zhou Ai's heart in the quiet carriage:

"Restraint, faith, waiting..."

He spoke slowly, enunciating each word clearly and earnestly, as if he were not repeating the language of flowers, but making some kind of solemn confirmation.

He paused slightly after saying those three words.

The air inside the carriage seemed to freeze at that moment.

Zhou Ai held his breath, his heart pounding uncontrollably, sensing that something even more important was about to be said.

He saw Chu Yi's gaze fixed on his eyes, the usual aloofness and calmness in her eyes had faded considerably.

And in a daze, he heard Chu Yi's deep voice slowly add the last sentence:

"I had no intention of attracting your attention, but you have somehow captured my heart."

The ancient and romantic verse, when recited by him, was devoid of any affectation; instead, it carried a chilling yet sincere power.

It is no longer just cold words in a book, but has been given a concrete and vivid meaning—it is the flower language of the Rose of the Rose, and it seems... it is also Chu Yi's indescribable state of mind.

"I had no intention of attracting your attention" - I had no intention of provoking Zhou Ai, I only wanted to keep the beautiful and heart-stirring first encounter in Florence forever in my heart.

"How could a fleeting glimpse of her figure have captured my heart?"

Zhou Ai was completely stunned.

He stared blankly at Chu Yi, his brain seemingly frozen, unable to process the sudden and unexpectedly massive amount of information.

Blood rushed to my head, my ears and cheeks instantly became burning hot, and my heartbeat was so loud it almost drowned out all the sounds of the world outside the car window.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single syllable; all his eloquence failed him at that moment.

He just stared blankly at Chu Yi, incredulous, at the other's eyes, which remained calm yet seemed to contain endless meaning.

Is Chu Yi... responding to him in this way?

How can I respond to his previous anxiety, his passionate approach, and all his cautious affection?

The meaning of these flowers, spoken by Chu Yi, moved Zhou Ai more than any straightforward "I like you too."

The two remained silent for a long time, maintaining this perfectly balanced ambiguous atmosphere.

After what seemed like an eternity, Chu Yi slowly turned around, looking straight ahead. "Weren't you going to take me home? If you don't drive soon, you might be late for tomorrow's schedule."

These words acted like a switch, instantly waking Zhou Ai from her petrified state.

"Huh? Oh! Right! Drive! Drive now!" Zhou Ai suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly tried to start the car. Her movements were clumsy due to her excitement, and she almost pressed the wrong button.

The engine started smoothly, and the vehicle slowly drove into the night.

Zhou Ai gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands, staring straight ahead, trying his best to appear focused on driving. However, his slightly trembling fingertips, still-reddened earlobes, and the uncontrollable upward curve of his lips completely betrayed the raging storm within him.

Zhou Ai relied almost entirely on muscle memory and strong willpower to drive the car smoothly to the destination Chu Yi had mentioned.

Throughout the journey, he deliberately kept his speed to the minimum limit, just to prolong this brief time together in the car.

Inside the car, the two chatted casually, about trivial things like the night view outside or a dish they had just eaten. But the subtle and exciting atmosphere in the air made every ordinary sentence seem to be coated with a special meaning.

However, even at the slowest speed, the road eventually comes to an end.

The car finally came to a slow stop at the entrance to its destination, and Zhou Ai's heart sank as a strong sense of reluctance welled up inside her.

After this separation, he couldn't even find a suitable reason to contact Chu Yi.

Meanwhile, Chu Yi on the other side had already unbuckled her seatbelt, the metal buckle making a crisp "click" sound that was particularly clear in the suddenly quiet, cramped space.

He turned his head to look at Zhou Ai, who still seemed somewhat dazed and lost in thought, and asked in a calm tone, "Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

"Huh? Tomorrow?" Zhou Ai suddenly snapped out of her daze, like a primary school student who had been daydreaming in class and was suddenly called on. She subconsciously sat up straight. "No, I don't have any new plans recently."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yi nodded, glanced calmly at the dim streetlights outside the car window, then turned back to Zhou Ai, issuing an invitation in a natural tone that almost made Zhou Ai's heart stop:

"Then, let's go to my house for a while."

This statement was made so calmly and matter-of-factly, as if it were as simple as inviting a neighbor over.

But to Zhou Ai's ears, it was no less than a thunderclap!

Go...go to Chu Yi's house? Now?!

A tremendous, unbelievable ecstasy swept over him like a tsunami, making his scalp tingle. He felt his blood boiling, a surge of heat rushing to his cheeks and ears.

He almost held his breath, his eyes wide open, staring intently at Chu Yi, trying to find any trace of joking or reluctance on his face.

But no. Chu Yi's expression remained calm and composed, her eyes even carrying a hint of questioning, as if waiting for his answer.

"W-Is it okay?" Zhou Ai's voice trembled noticeably with excitement and nervousness; he even stammered, "Wouldn't that...be too much of a bother for you?"

He tried hard to appear reserved and mature, but his bright, sparkling eyes betrayed his inner elation.

Chu Yi looked at his expression, which was trying hard to hide but couldn't conceal his joy at all, and there seemed to be a smile in his eyes.

He nodded slightly, his tone remaining calm: "It won't bother you. Just a cup of tea, or... you can have something else if you'd like."

Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Zhou Ai felt her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to jump out of her chest.

He almost frantically unbuckled his seatbelt, his voice rising slightly with excitement before he quickly lowered it, trying to remain calm: "Okay! Okay! Well then... excuse me!"

He immediately restarted the car and, following Chu Yi's instructions, drove it into the underground parking lot of the residential area.

Throughout the entire process, Zhou Ai's movements were light and cheerful, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn upwards, which she couldn't suppress.

After parking the car, Zhou Ai carefully picked up the huge bouquet of roses from the back seat, as if holding some priceless pass, and obediently followed Chu Yi towards the elevator.

The elevator slowly ascended, the numbers constantly changing. Zhou Ai felt her heartbeat was exceptionally clear in the quiet elevator car.

He secretly glanced at Chu Yi beside him in the mirror. The other person seemed to sense his gaze and looked up at him as well.

Their gazes met in the mirror.

Zhou Ai, like a child caught red-handed, immediately looked away in embarrassment, her ears turning even redder, yet she couldn't help but secretly curl the corners of her mouth into a smile.

The love that has been waiting... seems to have finally received a response.

Moreover, the response came faster and was more exciting than he had imagined.

---

The elevator smoothly arrived at the floor, emitting a crisp "ding". Chu Yi stepped out first, followed closely by Zhou Ai, who was holding the huge bouquet of roses. Their heartbeats seemed to be amplified many times over in the quiet corridor.

Chu Yi stopped in front of a dark gray front door, unlocked it with her fingerprint, and the door opened with a click.

A warm, dry air, carrying a faint, refreshing fragrance, wafted in, a stark contrast to the cold outside. Zhou Ai subconsciously took a deep breath and followed Chu Yi inside.

Chu Yi's apartment interior is highly consistent with the feeling he gives off—extremely clean, simple, and calm, even a bit too orderly, lacking any sense of everyday life.

The entrance features a simple foyer with warm white lighting that is soft yet not dim. At first glance, the living room is spacious and open with an excellent view. The overall color scheme is sophisticated gray and white, with light gray artistic paint on the walls and matte dark gray flooring.

The furniture is minimal, but each piece is highly designed, with clean lines and a high-end feel. There's a large, dark gray modular sofa, a uniquely shaped black metal coffee table, and an open bookshelf built into the wall, neatly categorized with numerous books and documents.

There were no superfluous decorations, only a minimalist black aroma diffuser placed in the corner of the bookshelf, silently releasing a faint fragrance of white tea.

Chu Yi bent down and took out a pair of brand-new gray slippers from the entryway cabinet, placed them beside Zhou Ai's feet, and said in a natural voice, "Change into these."

"Oh, okay, thank you." Zhou Ai quickly replied, carefully leaning the bouquet against the wall for the time being, and awkwardly bending down to change her shoes. In between her movements, she couldn't help but quickly glance at the overly tidy environment, secretly clicking her tongue in amazement.

Chu Yi naturally accepted the bouquet of roses, carried the flowers to the living room, thought for a moment, and finally placed them temporarily on the small cabinet next to the sofa.

"Please have a seat," Chu Yi said to Zhou Ai, then turned and walked towards the open kitchen. The kitchen was also minimalist in style, with the utensils shining like new, showing almost no signs of use.

Zhou Ai obediently walked to the sofa, chose the seat closest to the edge, straightened her back, and placed her hands properly on her knees, like a primary school student being called to the teacher's office for the first time. She didn't dare to look around too obviously, and could only secretly observe with the corner of her eye.

He heard the faint sound of water washing cups coming from the kitchen, as well as the sound of the refrigerator being opened and closed.

A moment later, Chu Yi came over with a clear glass containing a few slices of fresh lemon and lime. He bent down and placed the glass on the coffee table in front of Zhou Ai. "Don't drink tea tonight, it will affect your sleep."

"Thank you." Zhou Ai accepted the warm lemon water with both hands, the warmth of his palms making him feel much more relaxed.

Chu Yi turned around and casually took off his crisp, dark overcoat, revealing a thin cashmere sweater in the same color underneath, which made his shoulders appear even straighter and his figure slimmer. He draped the overcoat casually over the other corner of the sofa.

Then, turning around, he saw Zhou Ai sitting upright on the sofa, wearing a coat, her cheeks even slightly flushed from the heat. He chuckled and shook his head, but couldn't help but remind her.

"Aren't you going to take off your coat? The heating's on full blast, aren't you hot?"

Zhou Ai then suddenly realized what was happening.

Yes! From the moment he entered, he was enveloped in the warmth of the room, and after sitting for just a few minutes, his back was already starting to sweat.

But all his attention was focused on tension, smugness, and secretly observing his surroundings. His body seemed to have become dulled in its perception of temperature, and he was completely unaware that he was still wrapped in a coat.

Reminded by Chu Yi, he immediately felt the heat become more pronounced, and his cheeks flushed even redder. He almost frantically put down his water glass, quickly took off his coat, and awkwardly held it in his arms, unsure of what to do with it.

Seeing his embarrassed yet adorable appearance, Chu Yi's smile deepened. He reached out his hand and said naturally, "Give it to me, I'll hang it up for you."

Zhou Ai felt like she'd been granted a pardon and quickly handed over her coat, muttering softly, "...Thank you, I...I didn't notice..."

Chu Yi took the coat, turned around and walked to the wardrobe in the entryway to hang it up.

Looking at his tall and straight back, and feeling the comfortable warmth of the sweater on her body, Zhou Ai finally relaxed a little and secretly let out a breath.

He picked up the glass of lemonade, took a small sip, and the slightly sour taste spread across his tongue, yet strangely sweetened his heart.

"Make yourself at home, don't be so formal," Chu Yi casually reminded Zhou Ai, who was still sitting upright, as she walked towards the balcony connected to the living room.

The sky outside the window grew increasingly dark, with distant rumbles of thunder and the dampness of rain seeping in with the wind. He reached out and carefully closed the open window, shutting out the approaching storm.

Zhou Ai's gaze unconsciously followed Chu Yi's moving figure, sliding from the living room to the balcony. His eyes were drawn to a black grand piano placed in the empty space connecting the balcony and the living room.

"You can also play the piano?" Zhou Ai blurted out.

Hearing Zhou Ai's question, Chu Yi closed the window and turned around, her gaze falling on the rarely played piano. A slightly self-deprecating smile appeared on her lips: "To me, it's probably just a rather space-consuming decoration." Her tone was flat, revealing little emotion.

"Can I take a look?" Zhou Ai's interest was piqued, and she stood up from the sofa.

"Do as you please." Chu Yi nodded, not minding. He remembered that his bedroom window seemed to be open as well, and the wind outside was getting stronger, so he turned and walked towards the bedroom. "I'll go in and close the window."

With permission, Zhou Ai curiously approached the piano. It was in excellent condition, but it did lack signs of frequent use. He casually lifted the keyboard cover, revealing the distinct black and white keys.

Almost out of a musician's instinct, he stretched out his long fingers and casually pressed a white key in the center.

However, the expected clear and melodious zither music did not sound; instead, a dull, stuck, and strange sound was heard.

"Hmm?" Zhou Ai frowned slightly, instinctively reaching out to open the top cover of the piano to check the inside.

Just as his fingers touched the latch on the top cover, before he could even apply force—

"Don't open it!"

Chu Yi's urgent voice rang out from behind.

Zhou Ai was startled by the sudden sound and paused. But out of habit, his fingers, which were touching the lock, had already unconsciously exerted force.

A soft "click" sounded.

He pried open the top cover a crack.

At that very moment, because the lid opened, the stack of items that had been steadily pressed down by the lid and strings and neatly stacked inside the piano lost the pressure from above. The top few pieces slid out with a "whoosh" and scattered on the shiny floor.

Zhou Ai subconsciously looked down.

Scattered on the ground were several music albums that were extremely well preserved.

The cover of the top album features a face he knows all too well, a face that is both youthful and flamboyant—it was the cover of his first solo album released when he first debuted.

On the cover is his handwritten signature, slightly messy but full of his spirit at the time, left with a marker.

Zhou Ai's mind went blank, and his blood seemed to freeze instantly. Almost mechanically, he slowly bent down, reached out and picked up the album from the ground, his fingertips even trembling slightly uncontrollably.

The album was well protected, without a single crease or dust, clearly indicating that it had been carefully preserved by its owner.

He turned his head sharply to look at the source of the sound.

Chu Yi was barefoot, running hurriedly out of the bedroom, her face still showing traces of panic that she hadn't had time to hide.

He clearly hadn't expected Zhou Ai to act so quickly, actually managing to open the top cover.

Eyes facing each other.

The air seemed to freeze completely at that moment.

The sound of rain outside the window gradually became clearer, pattering against the glass, which only highlighted the deathly silence inside.

Zhou Ai held the album up, her fingertips pressing down slightly, almost embedding themselves into the hard cover.

His gaze, however, was fixed on Chu Yi, who was standing barefoot not far away, his face drained of color and looking somewhat lost.

Neither of them spoke, and at that moment, the album in Zhou Ai's hand seemed to hold Chu Yi's lifeline.

His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out. His usually calm and composed eyes were now filled with an unprecedented sense of helplessness.

Chu Yi gripped the hem of her sweater tightly with both hands, instinctively trying to avoid Zhou Ai's burning gaze. Her eyelashes trembled violently, but she didn't move an inch, as if she were nailed to the spot.

Looking at him like this, Zhou Ai felt as if her heart was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, both sore and swollen.

He took a small step forward, holding the album in his hand, his voice even deeper than before, each word striking Chu Yi's tense nerves.

"Chu Yi, aren't you going to explain?"

Chu Yi, upon hearing Zhou Ai's question, still couldn't utter a single word.

Zhou Ai's burning gaze did not waver for a moment, staring intently at every change in Chu Yi's expression.

As Zhou Ai's footsteps drew closer, Chu Yi's body involuntarily trembled more and more violently.

The more Chu Yi remained unusually silent and the more stiffly she retreated, the clearer the vague answer in Zhou Ai's mind became.

The album in his hands was no longer just a record, but had become a dazzling trophy for the victor, an irrefutable proof.

"This album had a small print run, and signed copies are even rarer. How did it end up here?"

Zhou Ai pressed on, her tone inquisitive yet tinged with an almost certainty, "Hidden inside the piano... Chu Yi, isn't this ornament of yours a little too well hidden?"

Chu Yi took a half step back from his question, her heel hitting the cold wooden floor, which sent a slight shiver down her spine.

He lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the other scattered albums, all works by Zhou Ai from different periods, which he carefully treasured in this unknown corner like collecting specimens.

He never imagined that one day the person involved would bring it up himself.

Explanation? What could he possibly explain?

Does this mean he actually knew him long before the dressing change?

The explanation for this piano is less about decoration and more about a clumsy, unexplained sentiment that even he himself was unwilling to delve into.

The phrase "a fleeting beauty enters my heart" is not a momentary feeling, but a seed that has taken root and sprouted over a long period of time.

These words churned in his throat, but he couldn't utter a single one.

He was used to hiding, used to protecting himself with aloofness and composure, but now that he was suddenly stripped bare, all that was left was naked panic.

He looked up and met Zhou Ai's incredibly bright eyes, but his throat seemed to have lost the ability to speak at that moment.

Zhou Ai's lips curled into a confident smile. His gaze was extremely aggressive as he slowly swept over Chu Yi's bare feet, which were slightly curled up due to nervousness, before finally locking onto her panicked and helpless eyes.

The next second, he moved with astonishing speed, still holding the album in one hand, while his other hand suddenly reached out and precisely wrapped its arm around Chu Yi's waist.

Before Chu Yi could react, Zhou Ai easily lifted him up by the waist with one hand and threw him directly into the large, soft, dark gray sofa behind him.

Chu Yi was completely stunned by this sudden action. In a dizzying moment, he subconsciously used his elbow to support his body, lying back on the sofa. His pupils were dilated with shock, his breathing was rapid, and his chest heaved violently.

He had never experienced such an oppressive and aggressive scene. All his usual calmness, self-control, and aloofness were shattered at this moment, leaving only the most primal panic.

Zhou Ai then leaned in and pressed down on him, her knees against the edge of the sofa, trapping him in a small space.

He looked down at the person beneath him, the album in his other hand almost touching Chu Yi's nose, his voice low and dangerously seductive: "Not going to explain?"

Chu Yi was completely speechless.

He was like a fish out of water, his lips slightly parted, only able to utter broken, breathy sounds.

Those usually cool eyes were now misty, the corners of them red, and their long eyelashes trembled violently.

He tried to avoid Zhou Aizhuoren's gaze, but was firmly locked in place, with nowhere to escape.

Seeing that Chu Yi was still biting her lower lip and stubbornly refusing to speak, Zhou Ai's patience seemed to have run out, or perhaps he never intended to use words to force her to speak.

He lowered his head, and the first kiss landed on his lips.

It was gently pressed onto Chu Yi's tightly pursed lips.

Instantly separate.

Chu Yi's body trembled violently, her eyes widened even more, as if she had stopped breathing.

"Not going to tell?"

Zhou Ai's voice was right next to him, and his hot breath sprayed onto Chu Yi's sensitive earlobe.

The second kiss followed, slightly heavier than the first, lingering for a moment longer, with just the right amount of grinding force.

Chu Yi's hand, pressed against Zhou Ai's chest, pushed in vain, but her fingertips curled slightly due to her weakness, as if she were trying to resist.

He shook his head frantically, but couldn't utter a complete syllable.

Zhou Ai narrowed her eyes, her gaze deepening.

The third time, he used a little force and bit Chu Yi's soft lower lip lightly.

"Hiss—" Chu Yi gasped in pain, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

The slight stinging sensation felt like an electric current, coursing through his entire body.

"Still not going to tell?"

Zhou Ai gently stroked the corner of his lip that he had bitten, but his tone remained relentlessly aggressive.

Seeing Chu Yi's teary-eyed and completely vulnerable appearance, he made a move to kiss him for the fourth time, this time seemingly targeting his neck.

A strong sense of crisis finally broke through Chu Yi's tense nerve defenses.

He suddenly reached out and pressed his hand even harder against Zhou Ai's chest, his voice breaking with sobs and extreme panic: "I'm sorry—I..."

However, any remaining explanations or confessions were completely drowned out by Zhou Ai's even fiercer and deeper kiss.

This kiss was no longer a tentative exploration or punishment; Zhou Ai pried open his slightly parted teeth in panic and wantonly plundered his breath and reason.

Chu Yi felt like a drowning person, her oxygen being slowly deprived, her mind blank, and she could only passively endure the surging waves, her fingertips weakly clutching Zhou Ai's sweater at her waist.

After an unknown amount of time, just when Chu Yi thought he was about to suffocate, Zhou Ai stepped back slightly, giving him a chance to catch his breath.

Their breathing was erratic, and it was especially clear in the quiet living room.

"I don't want to hear sorry." Zhou Ai straightened up, giving Chu Yi enough room to catch her breath, but her thumb was still rubbing Chu Yi's burning cheek. "If you don't tell the truth, I don't mind continuing."

After saying that, he made a gesture as if he was about to lower his head and kiss him again.

The intense pressure and the near-oxygen deprivation he had just experienced completely threw Chu Yi into a panic. He futilely turned his head to dodge, his voice trembling with despair: "I...I..."

"What?"

Driven to the brink, Chu Yi's composure and pretense crumbled. Almost in despair, he blurted out, choked with sobs, "I...I have nothing to say..."

This statement is less a denial and more a tacit admission that he cannot explain or refute it.

A dangerous glint flashed in Zhou Ai's eyes. He stared at Chu Yi for a few seconds, his gaze seeming as if he wanted to devour him whole.

In the end, he simply lowered his head and rubbed his nose against Chu Yi's.

"Chu Yi, you're being naughty."

---

The two remained in this awkward position on the sofa for several minutes, one on top of the other.

Chu Yi lay on her back, her eyes reddening, physiological tears welling up in her eyes, about to fall, like glass covered with a layer of mist.

Zhou Ai looked down at him, and seeing his completely disheveled appearance, the strong sense of aggression in her heart instantly softened.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the still restless impulse within him, and reached out to gently wipe away the moisture from the corner of Chu Yi's eyes with the pad of his thumb.

His movements were cautious, a stark contrast to his earlier assertiveness.

Then, his gaze fell on Chu Yi's sweater collar, which had become slightly loose due to her struggle, unintentionally exposing one of her fair shoulders and delicate collarbones to the air.

Zhou Ai's eyes darkened. She reached out and gently straightened the loose collar, pulling it back to its original position to neatly cover the alluring skin.

This protective gesture caused Chu Yi's trembling eyelashes to flutter slightly.

Zhou Ai looked at him, her voice softening slightly, "Speak calmly, I'll give you another chance. I won't force you, let's try a different approach. I'll ask, you answer. Is that okay?"

Chu Yi's confused mind was almost unable to think, and he could only nod very slightly on instinct.

Zhou Ai finally got up from him and sat on the other side of the sofa, giving Chu Yi space to catch his breath and tidy up.

As the weight on his body suddenly disappeared, Chu Yi, feeling somewhat weak, used his arms to support himself and slowly sat up.

He felt as if his head was stuffed into a tangled mess, more chaotic than he had ever been in his life. All his composure and logic had vanished, leaving only the immense shock brought on by Zhou Ai and the secrets stirred up in his heart.

He was like a puppet whose strings were being pulled, bewildered and helpless.

Zhou Ai gently placed the crucial album on the coffee table, knelt down on one knee, and looked up at Chu Yi sitting on the sofa.

Then he reached out and grasped Chu Yi's cold foot. The warm touch made Chu Yi instinctively flinch, but Zhou Ai easily and firmly held it in his hand.

He watched as Zhou Ai lowered his head, took off his slippers, and put them on Zhou Ai's feet.

One, then another.

After doing all this, Zhou Ai remained in a half-squatting position, looking up at Chu Yi.

Then she reached out and gently cupped Chu Yi's still slightly flushed cheeks, forcing him to meet her gaze.

"The first question..." Zhou Ai's voice was soft, yet it struck Chu Yi's heart clearly. His gaze went straight into Chu Yi's eyes, not missing a single emotion, "Have we known each other for a long time?"

Chu Yi's pupils trembled slightly, her face unable to escape the cup of Zhou Ai's hands.

He closed his eyes briefly, his long eyelashes brushing against Zhou Ai's fingertips. Finally, as if he had exhausted all his strength, he nodded very lightly.

This is a tacit acceptance, acknowledging that unknown time that predates all other encounters.

Zhou Ai's lips curled into an uncontrollable, knowing smile, brimming with immense satisfaction.

He moved even closer, their noses almost touching, their breaths mingling.

"The second question..."

Zhou Ai pressed on, "Pi, that fan site that's been supporting me since my debut, the one that's as mysterious as a little ghost... is that you?"

Upon hearing the words "pi," Chu Yi could no longer conceal her surprise and her eyes widened suddenly.

He never expected that Zhou Ai would be able to guess this far!

"Yes, or no?" Zhou Ai didn't give him time to think, nuzzling his nose against his, her tone intimately pressuring.

Looking at the handsome face so close to Chu Yi, filled with confidence, all of Chu Yi's defenses crumbled completely.

He nodded resignedly again, his ears turning so red they almost bled.

Zhou Ai's smile widened instantly, dazzlingly bright. He didn't immediately ask the third question, but suddenly released his hands from Chu Yi's face, leaned forward, and gently pressed his burning cheeks against Chu Yi's chest.

Chu Yi was so startled by his sudden action that she froze, too afraid to move.

Zhou Ai pressed her ear against his left chest, where the heart was pounding wildly out of control, each beat clearly audible, telling of its owner's extreme turmoil.

Listening to the heart pounding wildly for him, Zhou Ai closed his eyes and asked the question he most wanted to know the answer to, the question that made him most uneasy.

His voice, muffled by Chu Yi's sweater, carried a hint of barely perceptible tension:

"The third question... is also the most crucial one."

He paused, then looked up at Chu Yi again, his eyes filled with utmost seriousness, even a hint of desperate pleading.

"Chu Yi, what kind of feelings do you have for me...?"

"It's about the answer I wanted back in the mountains of Guizhou. It's about the album you hid in your piano, about your silent attention as 'pi,' about some kind of connection we might have had long ago that I don't know about... that complex and profound affection?"

"Or perhaps..." Zhou Ai's voice lowered, tinged with a hint of uncertain vulnerability, "it's merely... a distant appreciation and liking of an idol?"

After asking the question, Zhou Ai felt his heart leap into his throat. He didn't even dare to breathe deeply, but just held his breath and stared intently into Chu Yi's eyes, waiting for his judgment.

This answer will determine everything.

After the third question was asked, the air seemed to freeze again.

Zhou Ai half-squatted in front of Chu Yi, her hands still cupping his face, her gaze fixed on his eyes, waiting for that crucial answer.

He could clearly feel his heart pounding heavily and rapidly in his chest, each beat like a tense drumbeat.

However, Chu Yi just stared at him blankly. His lips were slightly parted, as if all his strength had been drained away, or as if he was undergoing an extremely difficult introspection. He remained silent for a long, long time.

Time passed by, and all that remained was the patter of rain outside the window and the mingling of breaths.

Zhou Ai maintained his half-squatting posture, and his legs began to feel a slight tingling and numbness, but he dared not move, for fear that even the slightest movement would disturb Chu Yi and make him shrink back into that hard shell.

Hope and anxiety, like two intertwined vines, tightened their grip on his heart.

Just when Zhou Ai was almost thinking he would never get an answer and his heart was sinking, he heard Chu Yi speak.

The voice was very soft, carrying a rare, tender, and aggrieved quality, gently echoing in the quiet living room:

"I don't let just anyone kiss me."

Zhou Ai was startled, almost thinking she was hallucinating.

He instinctively pressed for an answer, his voice dry with nervousness: "...What?"

Chu Yi seemed to have mustered even more courage, raising her eyes to look directly at Zhou Ai with her wet eyes. Her tone was a little clearer than before, but the grievance and seriousness remained undiminished, even carrying a hint of stubbornness:

"I said, I don't let just anyone kiss me."

I don't treat people like this casually, but you are an exception.

I didn't push you away just now; I accepted your kiss, and even... responded.

Isn't this the most straightforward and irrefutable answer?

He wasn't answering the complex question of "what kind of liking," but rather declaring the simplest fact in the most clumsy and meaningful way: You, Zhou Ai, are special, unique, and the one who can break all my principles and boundaries.

An overwhelming surge of joy and emotion instantly engulfed Zhou Ai.

He couldn't help but chuckle softly. He couldn't hold back any longer and stretched out his arms, tightly embracing the seemingly aloof but actually adorably clumsy person in front of him.

Chu Yi was suddenly embraced by him, but he didn't struggle. As soon as his cheek touched Zhou Ai's warm and firm chest, he felt a wet drop.

He paused slightly, then subconsciously raised his hand and gently touched his cheek with his fingers, his fingertips touching the cool liquid.

Chu Yi looked up at Zhou Ai with some confusion.

Zhou Ai was still smiling, but her beautiful peach blossom eyes were glistening with tears. A tear was uncontrollably sliding down her cheek and landing on Chu Yi's upturned face.

Zhou Ai...cried?

Chu Yi was completely stunned. Her heart felt like it had been hit hard by something, and a dense, aching pain surged through her.

He had seen Zhou Ai in all sorts of ways: radiant on stage, lively and playful in private, and even assertive and dangerous just now, but he had never seen him shed a tear.

Looking at Chu Yi's bewildered yet heartbroken eyes, Zhou Ai smiled, but her tears flowed even more fiercely.

He lowered his head and pressed his forehead against Chu Yi's, his voice choked with emotion and thick with nasal tone.

"Chu Yi... Chu Yi... you're really... you're going to kill me..."

He was incoherent, only repeating the name over and over, his arms tightening as if he wanted to meld the person in front of him into his very bones.

Chu Yi felt his scalding tears and the cool wetness on her face, and listened to his choked voice. The frozen lake in her heart seemed to melt completely at this moment, overflowing with spring water and unable to maintain its original shape.

He slowly raised his hand and, somewhat clumsily, gently embraced Zhou Ai's trembling back.