After being attacked by the rich young ladies with hatchets, I chose to enter "sage mode".

One of the luckiest things in the world is that you happen to love me, and I happen to love you too.

Because it was just due to low blood sugar, Lin Ying went back with Bai Yu after finishing an IV drip of glucose.

Walking down the street, Lin Ying wanted to tell Bai Yu that she had the day off and asked if they could go somewhere together afterwards. Bai Yu also thought that Lin Ying wasn't feeling well today, so why not take a day off and ask her out?

The two shared the same idea, but neither spoke first as they walked side by side.

The atmosphere was awkward when they walked together without exchanging any words. In the end, when both of them wanted to express their inner thoughts, Lin Ying still suffered from not being able to speak, which allowed Bai Yu to speak first.

"Boss lady, it's just the two of us in the shop. And you're not feeling well today, why don't you take a day off? If it's okay, I'll take you out for something nice to eat to replenish your energy?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Ying immediately stopped in her tracks. She opened her mouth as if to agree, but then she thought that she and Bai Yu had only just met and had always communicated through writing. Would suddenly speaking to him make him feel deceived and dislike her?

In the end, she obediently took out her notebook and pen and chose to write.

"Today is actually supposed to be a day off. Where do you want to take me?"

Holding up her notebook to cover her slightly blushing face, Lin Ying wasn't sure if her answer was appropriate, but she really wanted to be with Bai Yu. She didn't care where they went or what they did; she just wanted him to do whatever he wanted.

Bai Yu was unaware of Lin Ying's thoughts. Instead, seeing Lin Ying shyly covering her face with her notebook, he assumed it was a test and quickly replied in a proper and formal manner.

"The doctor said you have low blood sugar, which is definitely caused by malnutrition and insufficient sugar intake. We'll have a seafood lunch to replenish your blood sugar, then go to the shrine to pray for you, and then go shopping, have some desserts and afternoon tea. In the evening, we'll have Shijin barbecue to replenish your protein, and finally, go home and rest early to adjust your sleep schedule."

Lin Ying was not too bothered by Bai Yu's arrangement, but she was not very satisfied with the part about going home and getting some rest earlier.

However, she wouldn't say anything even if she was dissatisfied, because she preferred to listen to Bai Yu. Whatever Bai Yu said went, and she was fine with whatever arrangements Bai Yu made for her, as long as they could be together.

Lin Ying picked up her pen and notebook, quickly wrote a sentence, and then held it up again for Bai Yu to see.

"I'll do as you say, but may I ask a question?"

Looking at the three familiar words "I'll listen to you" on the notebook, Bai Yu was reminded of Lin Ying's appearance in her previous life. It seemed that she really was willing to listen to her in everything and often wrote these three words for her to see.

Taking a deep breath to suppress the bitterness in her heart, Bai Yu smiled and nodded before speaking.

"What's the problem?"

Do you really like me?

Lin Ying's next words made Bai Yu's expression freeze, mainly because the question was asked rather suddenly.

Reaching out to scratch his head, Bai Yu gave a shy smile, nodded apologetically, and replied.

"I like you, but don't mind it. I just want to like you. If you don't like me, you can ignore what I said. Just don't send me away. There's nothing wrong with liking someone, right?"

Bai Yu's humble demeanor surprised Lin Ying, but this humility also made Lin Ying feel as if his heart was aching.

Although she didn't know why Bai Yu seemed different from the one in her previous life, she didn't dislike him at all. She still liked and loved him, and was willing to give everything for him, not wanting him to be sad.

Lin Ying lowered her head and wrote a sentence in her notebook. She slowly raised it to cover her entire pretty face. The words on it were short, but the meaning was exceptionally clear.

I think I like you too.

Chapter Fifteen Empathy

Staring blankly at the line of words written by Lin Ying in black and white, Bai Yu used his knowledge of Japanese to translate it countless times in his mind. No matter how he translated it, the meaning seemed to be the same as what he had translated at first glance. But he still couldn't believe it. Lin Ying was clearly wary and guarded towards him yesterday. How could she suddenly say that she liked him now?

At this moment, he was actually a little slow to react, and his face showed a hint of confusion.

"Wh...what do you mean?"

Her voice was slightly hoarse as she asked the question in disbelief, but the next moment Bai Yu realized she was asking a pointless question, so she quickly smiled and waved her hand.

He didn't know whether he should smile or what expression he should make at this moment. He was both nervous and excited, and for the first time, he didn't know what to do with his hands.

Gently putting down the notebook she was holding, Lin Ying revealed a pair of eyes full of autumn's melancholy as she looked at Bai Yu, who stood in front of her looking somewhat at a loss. In fact, Lin Ying was also unsure of herself. Even though Bai Yu had said that she liked her, she was still nervous and flustered.

The more she liked him before, the more uneasy she felt now. She was uneasy because the reality felt somewhat surreal and unreal. It wasn't her who confessed to Bai Yu, but Bai Yu who confessed to her.

Their eyes met. The two were standing under a cherry blossom tree by the roadside when Bai Yu finally stood up straight and spoke first.

"I...can I confirm that you haven't misspelled anything?"

After saying that, Bai Yu pointed to the notebook Lin Ying was holding and smiled awkwardly.

It wasn't that he didn't want to believe Lin Ying, but Lin Ying's change in attitude was something he couldn't accept. After all, someone who was wary of him the day before suddenly fell in love with him overnight. It was no different from a joke or a dream, right?

Upon hearing his question tinged with doubt, Lin Ying pursed her pink lips slightly and carefully raised the notebook in her hand, pointing out each word on it to Bai Yu with her fair and beautiful right index finger, as white as mutton fat jade.

Just as Bai Yu was wondering what Lin Ying was trying to say, the slight, silent movement of her lips revealed everything.

Bai Yu wasn't very good at lip reading, but she could clearly see the word "like" in the rise and fall of Lin Ying's rosy lips; she really was saying she liked her.

Staring intently into Lin Ying's eyes, Bai Yu was completely stunned, a mixture of joy and surprise swirling in her eyes.

But his actions caused Lin Ying's already shy face, which was already flushed with affection for Bai Yu, to turn bright red instantly. Her eyes were also shimmering with tears. If there were an angel's gaze, it would surely be Lin Ying's lowered brows, filled with shyness and love at this moment.

Taking a deep breath, Bai Yu's surprise and joy quickly turned into bitterness, and he couldn't help but have tears welling up in his eyes on the street.

Bai Yu reached out to Lin Ying, wanting to grab her hand, but her outstretched hand stopped just before reaching its destination.

He might have been a real jerk before, with his feelings for girls displayed like a progress bar, showing him exactly what he could and could do at any time. But now, he seems to have lost that ability; every action he takes is carefully considered, and every behavior seems futile.

The more I want to love, the more afraid I am that my love will be too obvious, so obvious that it seems like I have ulterior motives.

Just as Bai Yu felt that holding hands after they had just said they liked each other might be a bit too hasty, Lin Ying took the initiative to reach out and touch his palm with her fingertips.

As for her, she didn't know if Bai Yu suddenly reached out to hold her hand. After all, she had never been in a relationship before. Even though she loved Bai Yu very much in her previous life, she hadn't held hands much. Moreover, Bai Yu would be very proactive if she wanted to hold hands, and wouldn't be shy and hesitant like this.

Even so, she subconsciously reached out and touched Bai Yu's hand, thinking, what if he wanted to hold hands?

Feeling the warmth of Lin Ying's right fingertips gently touching his palm, Bai Yu confirmed the other's intention. He quickly reached out and tightly grasped that warm and delicate little hand. The grip wasn't strong, but he was afraid that if he didn't hold on tight, the hand might slip away unnoticed.

Feeling Bai Yu's hand trembling slightly as she held it tightly, Lin Ying gently moved her fingers and slipped them out of Bai Yu's palm.

It wasn't that she didn't want Bai Yu to hold her hand, but rather that she seemed to sense Bai Yu's nervousness and excitement.

Just as Bai Yu felt a pang of bitterness rising in his heart after seeing Lin Ying let go of his hand, thinking that he had misunderstood Lin Ying and that holding hands had been a bit too hasty, he saw Lin Ying gently insert her five slender fingers into his, their ten fingers intertwined.

Making this move really used up all of Lin Ying's courage. She was never good at taking the initiative. Even with the memories of her rebirth, she was still herself. The biggest change was probably that she thought Bai Yu didn't know her or understand her in this life, so she had to muster up the courage to express her love.

In this harsh world, he is all the gentleness and warmth I have. How could I not want to warm his seasons?

Looking down at Lin Ying, whose eyes were lowered, cheeks flushed, and who dared not meet her gaze but whose fingers were tightly intertwined with hers, Bai Yu couldn't hold back and burst into tears.

It's strange for a grown man to suddenly cry, but for him, even if he could see Lin Ying again every day, he would have to endure her wariness and inability to get close. He was no longer anyone in her world, and the relationship between a familiar stranger and a familiar person was such a heartbreaking one.

But now, Lin Ying's action of holding his hand tightly and refusing to let go struck the most vulnerable part of his heart.

If there's one place in the world where Bai Yu can freely enjoy tenderness, it must be Lin Ying's embrace.

Lin Ying, who was still feeling shy and uneasy with her head down, saw a drop of water fall in front of her and hit the ground, splashing up water droplets.

Looking up in confusion, she saw Bai Yu clenching his teeth to hold back his tears, but they still couldn't stop falling. She didn't know what was wrong with him, but she still reached out and gently wiped away his tears.

However, she underestimated her own empathy for Bai Yu. As she wiped her eyes, they reddened, and she ended up crying even harder than Bai Yu.

This completely baffled Bai Yu. He had finally gained Lin Ying's approval, which was why he couldn't hold back his tears. But why was Lin Ying crying?

Seeing the girl who had just been wiping away his tears but was now sobbing uncontrollably, Bai Yu had no time to consider his own emotions and was too busy hugging her to comfort her.

Chapter Sixteen: You are my sunshine, I will warm you through all four seasons

"Boss lady, why are you crying? What's wrong?"

Holding Lin Ying's tear-streaked face in his hands, Bai Yu's eyes were still a little red, but they were full of worry and doubt.

Hearing Bai Yu's words, Lin Ying didn't know how to talk to him. Should she say that seeing him cry made her want to cry too?

She gently covered her face, which was burning hot as she thought about why she was crying. Her bright blue eyes blinked rapidly, wanting to see Bai Yu's worried expression but not daring to look. This timid and hesitant manner only made Bai Yu more worried.

Bai Yu gently wiped away the tears from Lin Ying's eyes with her fingers and asked her again with concern.

"Did I... make you unhappy?"

Bai Yu adopted a very humble attitude, just like Lin Ying treated him in his previous life, always preferring to lower his stance.

However, Lin Ying was somewhat unaccustomed to Bai Yu's attitude. It wasn't that she disliked it, but rather that she felt overwhelmed by the attention. Bai Yu would be content if Jianjian, Kangkang, and Kangkang were to like her a little, but his current show of concern made her feel a bit uncomfortable.

Shaking her head, Lin Ying looked at Bai Yu to indicate that she was fine, and then wrote a sentence in her notebook before covering her tear-streaked face, which might not be so pretty.

Why are you crying?

Seeing Lin Ying's question, Bai Yu pursed her lips, rubbed her eyes haphazardly, and replied with a smile.

"I didn't cry, it's just that the wind was too strong and there was too much sand, and my eyes were very dry and I needed tears to moisten them."

No one would believe this excuse, but Lin Ying didn't ask any further. She wouldn't ask if Bai Yu didn't tell her. She wasn't a very curious person to begin with, but she did feel a little different about Bai Yu after her rebirth.

In his previous life, Bai Yu was much more aloof and never cried. But in this life, Bai Yu doesn't seem to be so aloof.

Of course, Lin Ying had considered that perhaps she had not been reborn, but that heaven knew she loved Bai Yu too much and thus allowed her to live in a dream, a dream in which Bai Yu loved her and she loved Bai Yu in return.

If this really is a dream, then I hope this dream will never end. Everything I felt in the dream was so real—his scent, his body temperature, his voice, his smile—everything about him still makes me love him so deeply and so irrevocably.

"Bai Yujun, the store is closed today, what are you planning to do?"

Lin Ying didn't linger on the previous topic. Mainly, she was indeed a pessimist, but she didn't want Bai Yu to be pessimistic as well. He was her sunshine, and sunshine doesn't need sadness; sadness is something she can keep to herself.

Bai Yu certainly didn't know what Lin Ying was thinking, nor did he know the extent of her love for him. However, after seeing that she had taken the initiative to change the subject, he immediately thought of the plan he had made before taking a day off.

"How's that plan we talked about before? I think you really need to replenish your nutrition right now, and you also need to pay attention to adjusting your sleep schedule."

Seeing Bai Yu's earnest concern for her health, Lin Ying simply wrote three words and handed them to him.

"I'll listen to you."

She was so familiar with these three words that she really liked writing them. It's just that it seems she wrote these three words for herself in both her past and present lives, but she has let her down.

"Then I'll book a restaurant online right now. You can go back and rest for a bit, and we'll leave around noon, okay?"

Nodding, Lin Ying didn't object to Bai Yu in the slightest. Instead, she silently reached out and touched his fingers, indicating that the intention to hold hands shouldn't be too obvious.

In her previous life, Lin Ying would never have dared to lightly touch Bai Yu's fingers to indicate holding hands. Even if she really wanted to, she would have simply waited for fate or for Bai Yu to take advantage of her.

In this life, she understands that she must take the initiative. She and Bai Yu have only known each other for a short time. Even if she doesn't know why Bai Yu suddenly fell in love with her, and now they seem to be dating inexplicably, she has to solidify their relationship. Otherwise, what if Bai Yu suddenly stops liking her?

Bai Yu, after being subtly hinted at by Lin Ying's actions, was naturally quick to understand. He had been cautious and timid when pursuing her, but now that they had already held hands, it would be a waste to remain cautious and timid if he continued to do so.

And so, Bai Yu and Lin Ying walked side by side on their way home, but their hands had unknowingly become clasped tightly once again.

The road home wasn't actually far, but the two walked for a very long time. Bai Yu wanted to hold Lin Ying's hand a little longer, and Lin Ying also wanted him to hold her hand a little longer.

So what should have been a ten-minute walk took them more than half an hour, and even though they barely spoke to each other along the way, they still enjoyed it.

Of course, no matter how slowly the two walked, or how much they wanted to stay together, when they got home, Lin Ying couldn't possibly not take out her key to open the door, and she couldn't possibly hold hands with someone the whole time, could she?

But after Lin Ying opened her door, she turned around and handed the key to Bai Yu, and shyly wrote seven words on it.