A skin-thirsty episode occurred, in her brother's arms.

The veins on Qin Ge's arms bulged, and his slender fingers gripped the sofa armrests tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Her eyes were bloodshot and she stared intently at Xu Xingchen.

He suddenly moved, almost kneeling on the sofa, his tall figure instantly cornering Xu Xingchen, leaving him nowhere to escape.

"What did I do wrong, Xingxing? Tell me, and I can change."

His forehead rested against the back of the sofa next to Xu Xingchen, his posture so humble it seemed as if he were confessing.

"You said I'm too clingy, but I'm already changing. I'm not following you around 24/7 anymore."

His voice was choked with emotion, and his breath warmed Xu Xingchen's neck.

"I'm trying my best to control myself, please, give me some time, I can change anything."

He practically knelt before Xu Xingchen, pleading. His eyes, which usually shone with an air of certainty, were now wet and filled with panic and helplessness, like those of a large dog about to be abandoned.

Xu Xingchen felt as if he had been pricked by a needle, but he quickly suppressed it.

"Qin Ge, don't do this."

"It's not what you think. It's just a normal exchange and learning session. It's not like I'm not coming back. We just see each other for a shorter period of time than before. Nothing else is different."

A few stray hairs fell down Qin Ge's forehead, partially obscuring his scarlet eyes.

He almost sneered, "Am I an idiot in your eyes? Half a year, Xu Xingchen, you make half a year sound like half a day."

"Withdraw the application, Star, withdraw the application."

He returned to this core request, a humble plea hidden deep in his eyes, "I'm begging you."

"I can pretend nothing happened, and everything can go back to how it was before. I'll learn to be more sensible and less clingy, as long as you stay."

Xu Xingchen shook his head, his voice lowering: "It's already been submitted. My advisor and Professor Weinberg have discussed it, and I need this opportunity."

"Does he really need to go abroad, or is he just using this as an excuse to leave me?"

Qin Ge suddenly moved closer, their breaths almost mingling, and he forced Xu Xingchen to look at him.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me, is everything you've done really not just to get away from me?"

He didn't want to continue pretending to be deaf and dumb.

His attempts to downplay the situation were useless.

Pretending to be magnanimous is even more useless.

Nothing can be changed.

The realization that the stars were leaving him gnawed at his reason like a leech.

"Was it because of the night I pushed you away?"

Qin Ge seemed to have grasped at the last straw, a glimmer of desperate hope igniting in his eyes.

"I really wasn't prepared. I promise I won't let this happen again if we do it once more! Xingxing, you have to believe me!"

He pressed down on Xu Xingchen's shoulders, leaning in urgently, wanting to use a kiss to prove his regret and desire.

He panicked and wanted to do everything he could to salvage the situation.

He didn't even know which node had the problem, so he could only check it one by one, even if it was done in the most clumsy way.

Xu Xingchen raised her hand to block him, turned her face away, and avoided his lips that were so close.

His eyelashes trembled violently. "Qin Ge, calm down."

"You don't want me anymore, how can I stay calm?"

Qin Ge lost all his dignity and composure; his mind was completely incapable of thinking, leaving only instinctive fear and possessiveness.

"Everything you did was to prove this! Pushing me away, making me adapt to life without you, and finally leaving me completely."

His tears finally rolled down and landed on Xu Xingchen's hand, burning hot.

"Star, please don't be so cruel to me, I'm going crazy."

Xu Xingchen felt his heart was about to go numb. He stiffly repeated his previous words like a wooden doll.

"It was just a simple exchange and learning session; six months passed very quickly."

"Six months! A full six months!"

Qin Ge's voice was broken and shattered, "How can you expect me to accept this? Without you by my side, I can't even sleep well. You know I'll overthink things, you know I'll go crazy!"

He curled up, resting his forehead against Xu Xingchen's shoulder, like a helpless child.

"Please have pity on me, okay? Withdraw that application form, and I won't push my luck anymore. I'll change everything, and I'll listen to you."

A tear rolled down Qin Ge's cheek and soaked Xu Xingchen's collar.

Xu Xingchen lowered his head in a disheveled manner, avoiding Qin Ge's gaze that seemed to devour him.

He pursed his lips tightly, biting down hard on the soft flesh inside his mouth until he tasted the rust.

He was afraid that if he opened his mouth, he would soften his heart and give Qin Ge unwarranted hope.

He used the gentlest method, but Qin Ge's reaction was still too intense and completely beyond his control.

He had no other choice.

That's it, that's it.

"The application cannot be withdrawn; I have already made up my mind."

Xu Xingchen's voice was as soft as a sigh, yet it carried an undeniable resolve.

Qin Ge's expression gradually faded after the tear dried.

The original pleas, pain, and madness receded like the tide, replaced by a bottomless darkness.

The light in his eyes was covered by something thicker and darker.

Useless.

That's how it is.

Playing the victim won't work.

Swearing is useless.

Even begging and lowering one's dignity is useless.

It still couldn't win Xingxing back.

The living room was deathly silent, save for the heavy, alternating breathing of the two people.

The shadows materialized, condensing into a heavy net in the air.

He couldn't accept the possibility that Xu Xingchen might leave him, not even for a second.

The other Qin Ge, the one he had hidden deep within, the one with a twisted and dark side, began to emerge.

He whispered excitedly in his mind, offering one extreme and direct suggestion after another.

They were restless and almost ready to break free of their cage.

Qin Ge slowly straightened up, no longer pleading.

He raised his hand and slowly wiped away the remaining moisture from the corner of his eyes with his fingertips.

His gaze was fixed on Xu Xingchen's evasive profile, his voice low and terrifyingly steady: "Does it have to be this way?"

Xu Xingchen fell silent again.

He didn't know when it started, but he became silent most of the time when facing Qin Ge.

Xu Xingchen didn't want to lie to Qin Ge, so he could only remain silent.

Qin Ge stared at him quietly for a long time, so long that Xu Xingchen thought he was about to explode again, but he suddenly chuckled softly.

The laughter was soft, yet it sent chills down your spine.

He reached out, not to grab Xu Xingchen, but to pick up the two cell phones that had fallen on the carpet.

He simply placed the phone gently on Xu Xingchen's lap, and then, in an almost whispered tone, said, word by word, "Fine. You won't take it back."

He leaned down, his icy lips almost touching Xu Xingchen's earlobe, yet his breath was surprisingly hot.

"But stars, not all outcomes are as we wish."

Xu Xingchen could only stay by his side, forever. Qin Ge sat there, his eyes filled with gloom and obsession.

He made a phone call to someone at the school.

The Yun and Qin families have very large businesses, and they invested in and built many things at the school. They also have a complex relationship with each other.

Xu Xingchen was not afraid that Qin Ge would do something underhanded.

Lin Shu is still over there.

Lin Shu couldn't possibly watch Qin Ge ruin everything.

Soon, the registration form was delivered to Qin Ge.

The registration form bears Xu Xingchen's signature, a result of Qin Ge's meticulous instruction.

It's somewhat similar to his signature, and their little habits are exactly the same.

From childhood to adulthood, he has devoted countless efforts to nurturing the flowers into their own shape. They are like intertwined vines, how could they be separated?

In front of Xu Xingchen, Qin Ge tore the registration form into pieces.

He looked at Xu Xingchen with a defiant gaze, his hands never stopping, until the entire registration form was so shredded that not a single word could be read.

He threw everything into the trash can, as if that would stop Xu Xingchen.

Xu Xingchen said, "There are still many application forms available, and I can sign more at any time."

Qin Ge coldly stated a fact: "Without my permission, no one in the school would dare to approve your application."

He had spoiled Xingxing too much before; it was his fault.

Xu Xingchen called Lin Shu in front of Qin Ge.

He showed Qin Ge Lin Shu's call screen.

Qin Ge's face changed instantly.

Lin Shu has a special status and wields considerable influence at the school; often, even the school leaders cannot do anything about her.

Qin Ge's voice was hoarse, "Xingxing, do you have to force me like this?"

He gave Xingxing too much freedom, leading him to mistakenly believe that he could escape the cage he had woven.

Xu Xingchen said with some helplessness, "Qin Ge."

"You forced me into this."

Xu Xingchen said, "Give me six months, and I will handle everything."

"Six months? Six months after that, another six months, and then another six months, and then it's time to pursue a master's or doctoral degree. You always find an excuse to push me away."

Do you think I'll still believe you?

Liar, liar, liar, liar, liar.

Use all sorts of methods to push away his swindler.

He would never believe a single word from Xu Xingchen again.

He'd endured it for so long, he couldn't take it anymore. Nothing worked, nothing could change Xingxing's mind, so...

He will then handle the situation using his own methods.

He won't give Xu Xingchen any chance.