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

She sat up. Si Yu was in charge of making dinner tonight. As usual, the three of them ate dinner, played on their phones and computers for a while, and then went to bed.

Si Yu was asleep, but Bai Yu and Lin Ying, who had made a promise, couldn't fall asleep at all, and their sleep was anything but drowsy.

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Sunflowers and the Sun

In the dead of night, as midnight approached, Bai Yu glanced at the time on her phone, then quietly got dressed and got out of bed.

Normally, Si Yu sleeps in the next room at night, while Lin Ying goes back to her own home to sleep. There's no situation like last night, since last night was a special case.

Barefoot, Bai Yu approached the door, twisted the doorknob, and cautiously peeked in, looking just like a sleazy thief.

He pushed open the door a crack, tiptoed out, and approached Si Yu's room, pressing his ear against the door to listen for any sounds coming from inside.

After standing at the door and listening for a long time, and finding no other sounds coming from inside the room, Bai Yu, just in case, took the initiative to open Si Yu's room door.

After opening the door, she peeked inside, but the room was not very bright. This was mainly because Si Yu was sleeping with the curtains drawn, so it was completely dark at first glance. She could only vaguely see the outline of someone on the bed.

It was only when Bai Yu peeked into the room and realized that Si Yu still hadn't noticed him that he dared to be 100% certain that Si Yu was truly asleep.

Actually, it's not fair to blame Bai Yu for being overly cautious and needing to confirm things repeatedly. The main reason is that what he's about to do has a flavor of not stealing feelings from his wife, but it's even worse than stealing feelings.

To put it bluntly, Bai Yu felt guilty. Although making it up to Lin Ying was necessary, she absolutely couldn't let Si Yu find out. What would happen if that girl found out now?

Barefoot, I went to the door to change my shoes, tiptoed to open the door, and then tiptoed to close it again.

Everything Bai Yu did was so calm and quiet; he could even move without making a sound. There was absolutely no sound coming from him.

As soon as he stepped out the door, the first thing he saw when he turned around was Lin Ying, who had pushed open the door and was peeking out at him.

It's almost midnight, and this girl clearly hasn't slept at all, not even lying down. Her hair is still perfectly styled.

For Bai Yu, this might be a way to make amends by standing on the shoulders of responsibility, but for Lin Ying, every time she gets close to Bai Yu, it's a gift that needs to be carefully prepared.

Under Bai Yu's watchful gaze, Lin Ying stepped out of the room. The summer night breeze stirred her fluffy golden hair, making it dance lightly. Tonight, there was only the moon and no stars, as if all the stars had been contained in her pair of azure eyes, shimmering with light.

Her white dress fluttered gently in the breeze, and a pair of transparent crystal sandals perfectly showcased her small, delicate feet.

This was the first time Lin Ying had ever dressed herself up so beautifully, from head to toe. Her beauty was like the blue sky and the stars and moon, out of reach, and as distant as a high mountain, insurmountable.

"Boss lady, the moonlight is beautiful tonight, and you are beautiful too."

With a slight blush, she reached up and tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear. At that moment, Bai Yu noticed that Lin Ying, who rarely wore earrings, was wearing a pair of cherry blossom-colored earrings today. They swayed gently under the touch of her hands as she tucked the hair behind her ear, creating a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

"Th...thank you..."

She lowered her head slightly and whispered a soft "thank you." The "thank you" spoken in the language of the small island nation sounded especially tender and gentle in Lin Ying's mouth, and every time I heard it, it stirred my heart and made me feel uneasy.

"Boss lady, shall we leave now?"

"It will be all right."

With her head down, Lin Ying handed over the decision of whether Bai Yu was willing to take her away to him.

Bai Yu isn't stupid, and besides, wasn't her promise to Lin Ying meant to make it up to her?

Although this kind of compensation seems like Bai Yu is taking advantage of others by insisting that she did the wrong thing and then trying to make up for it.

But the problem is that Lin Ying really falls for this approach. If he doesn't do it, then Si Yu has already crossed that line. If she doesn't, wouldn't it be blatant favoritism on the surface?

"Then take my hand and let's stroll along the streets under the moonlight. It seems like we've never walked like this before, have we?"

I glanced up at the bright moon hanging high in the sky. At this moment, there was no other sound around me except for the chirping of insects and birds.

Hearing Bai Yu's words, Lin Ying hesitated slightly. It wasn't that she was unwilling to lend a hand, but this scene reminded her of the time in her previous life when Bai Yu pulled her out of her lonely corner.

Turning around, Bai Yu realized that Lin Ying hadn't responded to her outstretched hand, so she could only take the initiative to reach out and grasp that hesitant but soft little hand.

"What's wrong, boss lady? You don't want to?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Ying quickly shook her head, and the hand that Bai Yu was holding tightly gripped his in return, as she cautiously replied.

"No..."

"Alright, let's go."

After saying that, Bai Yu pulled Lin Ying and walked towards the hotel they had booked earlier.

The area where they usually stayed was already quite remote and quiet, and now that it was late at night, it was even quieter.

However, this tranquility allowed Bai Yu and Lin Ying to more fully appreciate the moonlit scenery, watch each other's shadows, and feel the warmth of the moon.

As Bai Yu walked, a question suddenly came to mind that she wanted to ask Lin Ying. So she turned her head to look at her profile, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly asked.

"Boss lady, can I ask you a small question?"

"please say."

Lin Ying readily agreed to let Bai Yu ask her question, knowing that she would answer anything Bai Yu knew and could explain.

Seeing that Lin Ying agreed, Bai Yu asked casually.

"Actually, I've always wanted to know why you like me so much. I've never thought I have any outstanding qualities that make you like me so much."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ying did not give an immediate reply. Instead, she stopped walking forward, turned around, and looked up into Bai Yu's eyes.

They stared into each other's eyes for a full ten seconds. Neither of them looked away, nor did they show any signs of confusion or panic, as if neither of them had any secrets that would be exposed.

But that ten-second gaze was Lin Ying's answer, a response that conveyed a thousand words without uttering a single one.

Bai Yu looked at her and smiled, a smile like that of a child who had received recognition.

"Bai Yujun, did you used to think that I didn't actually like you, but just met you when I was lonely?"

Looking into Lin Ying's captivating eyes, Bai Yu nodded frankly. He had indeed thought so before, after all, Lin Ying did seem very lonely at that time, and he himself was pretending to be so hypocritical.

Upon seeing Bai Yu nod, Lin Ying reached out and pinched his cheek for the first time, looking at him with a gentle and doting gaze, and said softly and gracefully.

"A sunflower has only one sun, but the sun has countless sunflowers. I am a sunflower, and you are the sun."

Chapter Seventy Atmosphere

Looking into Lin Ying's gentle, watery eyes, Bai Yu suddenly realized that she shouldn't have asked the question she had asked earlier.

Love arises without knowing its origin, and deepens with time; affection, however deep, vanishes in an instant.

In reality, nothing happens logically, nor does it explain the causes and consequences. It is sudden, yet inevitable.

Therefore, the question Bai Yu asked Lin Ying in the first place—why she liked him—should never have existed.

There is no logic to liking someone; every word, action, frown, and smile can be a reason to like them.

"I'm sorry, boss lady, I may have asked some very stupid questions. I hope... you don't mind."

Bai Yu lowered his head slightly and apologized to Lin Ying. Although he knew very well that he didn't need to apologize and there was nothing wrong with it, and it was perfectly reasonable, he still wanted to because the question he asked was indeed very stupid.

If Lin Ying hadn't fallen for him at that time, perhaps their story wouldn't have unfolded further, and it's even possible that her story wouldn't have continued at all.

To put it bluntly, he was indeed the turning point that suddenly appeared in Lin Ying's life. He was the flash of light that made her, who was lonely and in darkness, willing to accept the illumination from his light little by little.

Seeing Bai Yu bowing his head and apologizing to her earnestly, Lin Ying was somewhat surprised, because she didn't think there was anything to apologize for in this kind of thing, but she felt more touched that Bai Yu valued and cherished her.

"I've never minded anything you've done or any questions you've asked. You're not stupid, so why are you apologizing?"

Lin Ying's virtuous and gentle nature is the most genuine portrayal of Bai Yu, and it is also her most irresistible quality.

Stepping forward, Bai Yu lowered his head and kissed Lin Ying's alluring red lips. His movements were very skillful, yet so gentle.

The soft lips always feel so warm and real, no matter when you kiss them; the faint floral scent lingers on your lips and flows around your nose.

The streets were deserted under the cover of night, with the chirping of insects and birds all around. In the distance, there were tall buildings, and below, two people were embracing each other, inseparable.

A deep kiss made them both more and more engrossed, and gradually, the kiss became more open, more passionate, and more daring.

"Bai Yujun, this...don't go here..."

Perhaps it was because he was too deeply in love, or perhaps it was because his reckless behavior had become increasingly boundless.

Lin Ying gently pushed Bai Yu's chest and said softly, still feeling a bit scared, "This place won't work."

As for why it didn't work, it's because Bai Yu gets too into it and starts to get serious, so his hands naturally start to wander.

"Ahem, excuse me, ma'am, um... actually, I'm feeling inexplicably nervous right now, a little embarrassed..."

After saying that, Bai Yu scratched his head sheepishly.

Logically speaking, Bai Yu shouldn't be in a situation where he feels awkward even after getting a girl, but at first glance, he does seem to be feeling awkward.

Ultimately, it's because Bai Yu has learned what it means to cherish.

His first rebirth led him to repeatedly avoid and endlessly postpone his troubles, which ultimately resulted in a tragedy caused by the accumulation of everything.

But his second rebirth taught him what it means to cherish, what it means to regain what was lost, and what it means to see each other again.

So, regarding Lin Ying, he did indeed want to make amends and repay her, but he also felt a slight fear in his heart as he cherished her.

This emotion is very contradictory; you want to get it, but you are also afraid of being excessively hurt after getting it.

Did he have such concerns in his previous life? Obviously not.

Lin Ying was also quite nervous. Although it wasn't the first time she had been close to Bai Yu, this was the first time in this life, so she was still very nervous and uneasy.

But now, seeing Bai Yu standing in front of her with her hands clasped tightly together, as straight as a pine tree, she wanted to laugh.

The Bai Yu of the past wouldn't have been like this. Although she had heard Bai Yu tell the story of his previous life and knew that he came to the island country in April to fulfill their promise, she was also very sad about his experience. However, she could only understand but not truly empathize with him.

You can never truly empathize with someone else's feelings because you haven't actually experienced it yourself.

If Bai Yu's current nervousness and timidity were not directed at Lin Ying, but at a girl he liked without ever considering the possibility of a future relationship, then he would be destined for a tragic, one-sided end.

Fortunately, Bai Yu wanted to give Lin Ying happiness, and Lin Ying also wanted to give him a future.

This is a rare occurrence, and Bai Yu only realized how precious it was after missing it once.

"Bai Yujun, would you...would you like to hold hands and walk together?"

Sensing Bai Yu's nervousness and embarrassment, Lin Ying took the initiative for the first time to extend her hand and place her palm in front of him.

The fair, slender hand was only ten centimeters away from Bai Yu, yet Bai Yu seemed to feel the same way she had reached out to Lin Ying in her previous life.

So this is what redemption feels like—the feeling of being needed, cared for, and valued.

Bai Yu's redemption was once hypocritical, and in this life, he also needs redemption, just as he hypocritically redeemed Lin Ying in the past.

However, Lin Ying's redemption of him was never hypocritical, because as long as he dared to tell Lin Ying about any difficulties he faced, Lin Ying would definitely help him.

Bai Yu slowly placed her hand on Lin Ying's palm. Bai Yu's hand was much larger than Lin Ying's, but both had long, slender fingers. When they slowly interlocked, Bai Yu's grip was exceptionally strong.