I really don't want to date a girl addicted to the internet!

The boy hugged her slender body tightly, "Wait, I haven't finished yet."

"What other nonsense is there?" The girl felt the restraint, and her delicate body became soft.

"I also asked Ye Shuang about the Lin family." The young man paused. "Was the Lin family really murdered by Madam Lin?"

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.

The girl raised her head, her eyes narrowed, revealing a chilling aura, and said softly, "Cheng Fei, she even told you all this, is there something important between you and her that you're hiding from me?"

"Shen Xi, don't overthink it. I just used some clever words to gain her trust. You know she's a bit simple-minded; she told me everything as soon as I asked." The boy and girl stared at each other in the darkness.

"As expected of despicable and shameless aquatic mammals, they feel no guilt whatsoever in deceiving others' feelings, but rather take pride in it." The girl lowered her eyes, her expression full of disdain.

"Not at all, I'd feel guilty if I lied to you." The young man brushed aside her cool, smooth hair.

"I hope it's not because he'll be found out if he does something even slightly in front of me, and because he can't lie due to the safety word, so he has no choice but to do so." The girl ignored his little gestures and sneered.

“That’s right.” The boy looked at her and nodded, then suddenly smiled.

The girl met his gaze and paused for a moment, then turned away and sneered, "So you really regret the agreement to use safe words? Foolish Cheng Feiyu went to great lengths to manipulate me with his words, and in the end, he shot himself in the foot. He deserves what he got."

"I don't regret it. The reason I made the agreement with you about the safe word was to give you this right, Shen Xi. In this world, only you have the right to ask me to tell the truth at any time, because you are my little darling, understand? But I really didn't expect you to become so adept at it, making it impossible for me to hide anything from you." The boy sighed.

"Ha, even at a time like this, Cheng Feiyu can't forget to use his tricks? He's so persistent, it's laughable." The girl didn't look at him.

"Shen Xi, I want to make a new promise with you," the boy said suddenly, looking at her.

"What agreement?" The girl looked up.

"When I'm telling you the truth, you're not allowed to say I'm using manipulative tactics." The boy's tone was firm.

"Why should I?" The girl narrowed her eyes slightly.

"I've finally managed to speak the truth a few times, and you can't deliberately misinterpret my meaning just because you're embarrassed or arrogant." The boy said earnestly.

“I didn’t misinterpret you. You called my name, so of course I know you’re telling the truth,” the girl said, raising her voice.

"Then don't say I'm playing tricks on you. If you're really shy, you can stay silent. I won't take this opportunity to embarrass you, okay?" The boy brushed aside her hair and admired her sparkling face.

The girl glanced at him. "Heh, first of all, I'm not ashamed. Secondly, to be honest, it's despicable that Cheng Feiyu, who lies all day long, occasionally tells a few truths. To be ignored and still feel resentful is just the act of a self-centered little man."

"So what if I'm a petty person? You won't even let me say you're jealous, will you? Putting these two agreements together makes it fair."

"I've never been jealous!" The girl gritted her teeth, clearly displeased.

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, how could you possibly have such childish emotions? So when I speak the truth, please accept and respond properly, and don't say that I'm just playing tricks on you. Is it a deal?" The boy looked into the girl's eyes.

The girl frowned slightly and remained silent for a second before looking up to meet his gaze. "I understand. It's a deal."

"Shen Xi, you're really cute." The boy breathed a sigh of relief and pulled her into his arms.

"Trash." The girl didn't resist and buried her face back.

"So, back to the main point, was the accident that happened to the Lin family back then orchestrated by Madam Lin?" the young man suddenly changed the subject.

The room was quiet for a moment.

"I don't know." The girl's tone was unreadable.

"You don't know? Ye Shuang said that's why you severed ties with the Lin family."

"It's just suspicion, there's no evidence."

"Not a single piece of evidence?"

"..."

"Shen Xi?"

“Back then, she took the initiative to take over the Lin family business, but my maternal grandparents preferred my mother and refused. I heard her arguing with my maternal grandparents about this.” The girl said in a low voice.

"So you think Mrs. Lin had a motive for the crime?"

"Everyone died, and she was the only beneficiary."

"Alright, how did your mother die? Actually, I'm very curious about your mother's background. Why didn't she want to inherit the Lin family business?"

"Cheng Fei, I don't want to talk about these things, why are you asking?" The girl lowered her head, took a deep breath, and gripped his shoulder tightly with her small hand.

"Firstly, I want to understand you better. Secondly, if Madam Lin really is the murderer, I can help you get revenge and let you inherit the Lin family business. What do you think?" The young man stroked the back of her head, his tone casual.

"Cheng Fei, are you crazy?" The girl froze.

"I'm serious. The only troublesome one right now is Ye Shuang. She's too loyal to Lin Xuanqi. If something happens, she'll definitely side with Lin Xuanqi. It's a pity I couldn't bring myself to do anything to her on the cruise ship."

"Cheng Fei, you are really insidious." The girl trembled slightly for no apparent reason.

"Don't mention it. I was just thinking of you. If you want revenge, I won't hold back."

"That sounds nice, but don't think I can't guess you're eyeing the Lin family."

"Anyway, if it really happens, you'll inherit it, Shen Xi. Then you'll be a real heiress. I can't even imagine how good you'll be to me." The young man sighed comfortably, as if his plan had already been accomplished.

511. Shen Xi's mother

"Don't dream. I'm ordering you to refrain from doing this until you have real evidence," the girl said coldly.

"As rational as ever, but since they're not treating you well anyway, why not just go all the way?"

"Please understand, I'm not a greedy madman like you. I wouldn't deceive myself into killing someone for money."

"I'm not doing this for the money, I just want revenge myself."

"Revenge will be difficult if it targets someone with the surname Lin."

"Even if I only kill Lin Xuanqi, will Madam Lin let me go?"

"Anyway, I don't need you to avenge me for some inexplicable grudge, and besides, do you really want to kill her?"

"Well," the boy said, inhaling the faint fragrance emanating from the girl's hair, "I do miss her, Shen Xi."

"madman."

"Then what do you think I should do for her?"

"I don't know. Think about it yourself. Just don't do anything to disappoint me."

"You really are something else." The young man gently stroked her smooth back, softening his tone. "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Anyway, I won't disappoint Her Highness the Princess. So, I still want to know your mother's identity and the cause of her death. You really can't tell me?"

The girl remained motionless and fell silent.

"Shen Xi, you can always believe in me." The boy hugged the girl tightly, pressing her slender and soft body against his.

The girl trembled slightly and whispered, "My mother... was named Lin Wanqing. She was a geologist who loved her work and often traveled all over the world, so she had no interest in inheriting the Lin family business. In my memory, she was a very cheerful person who would never give up easily no matter what problems she encountered, but in the end... she committed suicide."

"Suicide? How did he commit suicide?"

"She took poison. She took cyanide that she brought back from the lab at home." The girl swallowed.

"Was it really suicide? Uncle Shen, did you investigate this thoroughly?"

"Based on the investigation results, it can only be suicide. She recorded the suicide process on video and left a suicide note."

The boy thought for a moment, "Could it be a forgery? It just so happens that Madam Lin can imitate her handwriting or something."

The girl buried her face and shook her head, "The forensic results of the video and the suicide note are all genuine."

"Okay, but you still think there's another killer? Why?"

The girl paused for a second, her trembling voice carrying a faint sob, "She promised me before she committed suicide that she would take me on a trip after I came back from the hospital. I don't believe she would commit suicide for no reason."

"Hospital?"

"Psychiatry."

"Understood." The young man felt the delicate body in his arms trembling and gently stroked the back of her head. "Shen Xi, don't be afraid. I'm here with you. We have plenty of ways to investigate this matter now."

The girl buried her face in her hands and sniffed, "Cheng Fei."

"what?"

"You really want to help me?"

“Of course, Shen Xi, you and I are one.” The boy whispered close to her ear, which was covered by her thick, long hair.

"Thank you."

"If you really want to express your gratitude, how about an unconditional kiss?" the boy said seriously.

"Don't say disgusting things at a time like this." The girl twisted slightly.

"Okay, sorry."

"Lie down," the girl suddenly said.

"What do you mean?"

"I'll reluctantly allow you to sleep like this, holding me all night," the girl said in a muffled voice.

Feeling the delicate body curled up like a koala in his arms, clinging tightly to him with its arms and legs, the boy stared at the ceiling, blinking in surprise, "This works too?"

"So you're refusing? You brought it up yourself last time, and now it just so happens you need it." The girl said.

"Not at all, it's an honor." The young man patted her head, a sense of relief in his voice.

"You're not allowed to do anything unnecessary while I'm asleep at night." The girl tightened her grip on his neck slightly.

"No, Your Highness, please rest assured."

"Then lie down."

"Ok."

The boy straightened the pillow behind him and slid into the blankets as if he were embracing a girl.

The dark room was silent. The girl placed all her weight on the boy, and a feeling of dependence spread with their bodies pressed together, creating a reassuring warmth.

"So my little darling is a very insecure child. Don't worry, from now on I will always protect you. You must be a good boy and trust me." The boy felt the warm breath on his neck.

"Shut up, don't try to brainwash me." The girl's tone was soft and weak, lacking any force.

"Ok."

Then there was a moment of silence.

"Don't betray my trust, don't disappoint me." The tone was like a command, but completely different from usual, hiding an indescribable emotion.

"Ok."

I'm sleepy.

"Shen Xi, goodnight."

"Good night."

The girl finally moved, adjusting herself to a comfortable position, and then stopped moving.

The two were so engrossed in their close embrace that they fell into a deep sleep.

……

In the dead of night in Academy City, all was quiet.

A girl with striking features stood in front of a mirror shrouded in mist. Her long, black hair gave her a more gentle and graceful air than when she usually wore pigtails.

She stared silently at herself in the mirror, her brows furrowed slightly, and the image of a boy biting into a pineapple bun kept flashing through her mind.

The pineapple buns, their shape and size really do seem similar, and they fit perfectly in the boy's hand on the life raft. Compared to Lin Xuanqi, they probably seem quite small...

The girl suddenly shivered, snapped out of her daze, and shook her head vigorously to banish the strange thought from her mind.

That frivolous person seemed to think it had nothing to do with her.

She put on her pajamas and went back to the bedroom. She turned off the light, lay face down on the bed with a pillow in her arms, opened her eyes, and stared unblinkingly into the darkness before her.

Memories of the life raft resurfaced in her mind. The boy's seemingly endless greed made her feel disoriented, and his merciless and even somewhat brutal control made her tremble inexplicably.

The girl rolled over and lay flat, trying to close her eyes and banish the recurring sensations from her mind, forcing herself to fall asleep.

Before long, the excruciating phantom pain appeared. The girl, with her eyes tightly closed, frowned, broke out in a cold sweat, and gripped the bed sheet tightly with her small hands.

"Ye Shuang—"