Su Ze lay on the sofa, listening to Situ Jiajia tirelessly telling Uesugi Akizuki long-winded and amusing stories.
Uesugi Akizuki, who hadn’t experienced much in life, was easily captivated by the lively and eloquent girl’s tales.
Su Ze thought this was a good thing. The reason Uesugi Akizuki seemed naive was that she lacked common knowledge, much like a girl from a remote village arriving in a technologically advanced city. Without the necessary understanding of urban life, she appeared somewhat clueless.
But Uesugi Akizuki wasn’t actually foolish. Recently, she had stopped staring blankly at the ceiling after meals, unsure of what to do. Instead, she would take Su Ze’s hand and stubbornly drag him downstairs for a walk.
Su Ze, on the other hand, had experienced so much in life that he wasn’t particularly interested in these stories. He got up and went to the balcony to smoke.
Out of the corner of her eye, Situ Jiajia noticed Su Ze leaving and smiled faintly. Her tone shifted naturally. “Su Ze doesn’t really like you.”
Uesugi Akizuki, who had been listening attentively, suddenly looked flustered. She shook her head stubbornly. “He does!”
Situ Jiajia was surprised. She… spoke?
Facing Situ Jiajia’s nonsense, Uesugi Akizuki felt that only by speaking could she assert herself and refute Situ Jiajia’s claims!
“Then how can you prove he likes you?” Situ Jiajia raised the corner of her mouth, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I’ve said it before—many boys take the girls they like to ride the Ferris wheel, visit the aquarium, or go to the movies. Has he taken you anywhere like that?”
“How can you prove he likes you?” Situ Jiajia’s smile was mocking.
Uesugi Akizuki opened her mouth as if to say something, but since she rarely spoke, she couldn’t form a sentence to counter the other girl. A wave of sadness washed over her, and her eyes quickly reddened as she gazed at Su Ze’s back while he smoked.
She started crying! Situ Jiajia was momentarily stunned and quickly tried to comfort her. “Don’t cry, don’t cry! I have a way to prove whether he really loves you!”
After Situ Jiajia’s earlier brainwashing, Uesugi Akizuki had quickly developed a great deal of trust in her. Now, with Situ Jiajia’s words, she began to doubt whether Su Ze truly liked her.
She was desperate to prove that Su Ze liked her!
When Su Ze returned after finishing his cigarette, he saw Uesugi Akizuki nodding firmly, her expression serious.
Seeing Su Ze return, Situ Jiajia sighed deeply. “I’ve enjoyed talking with you. I’ll come back next time. I won’t disturb you anymore. Bye!”
“It’s almost dinner time. Stay and eat before you go.”
“No, thank you. Just seeing you two makes me full.”
Situ Jiajia left, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
Su Ze, puzzled, turned to Uesugi Akizuki. “What do you want to eat today?”
Uesugi Akizuki’s gaze seemed conflicted, unsure whether she was struggling to decide what to eat or something else.
“Meat,” Uesugi Akizuki said firmly. Her pronunciation wasn’t perfect, but it was understandable.
Su Ze felt relieved. These days, Uesugi Akizuki had spoken very little, but she was finally starting to say something. Su Ze understood that she was trying her best to adapt to speaking.
Soon, the sky darkened.
Listening to the sound of running water in the bathroom, Su Ze leaned his chair against the wall, reading a calming mantra.
Outside the window, the moon hid behind thick clouds, while raindrops danced and sang in harmony with the night.
The bathroom door opened.
“After you dry your hair, it’s time to sleep. No more snacking tonight, or you’ll get cavities.”
Just as Su Ze was about to get up and leave, a pair of soft, warm arms wrapped around his neck from behind.
“What’s wrong?” Su Ze turned around. Uesugi Akizuki had extended her arms, interlocking her fingers around his neck but not pressing against him. Su Ze thought it was just her playful side showing.
Her long hair still dripping with water, Uesugi Akizuki, now dressed in a beautiful red and white shrine maiden outfit, spoke very seriously. “Hug.”
Su Ze was momentarily stunned. This was the first time she had asked him to hug her. Before, she had only liked holding hands.
Su Ze didn’t think much of it. The girl with wine-red hair still dripping water clung to his neck as he stood up, bent slightly, and lifted her in a princess carry.
Su Ze chuckled as he adjusted her weight. “How do you eat so much and not gain weight?”
What Su Ze didn’t notice was the flicker of joy on Uesugi Akizuki’s face as he lifted her.
Outside, the rain tapped gently against the window, and the shadows of the trees swayed on the glass.
Inside, illuminated by the warm orange light, Su Ze helped the little shrine maiden, who clung to him like a koala, sitting on his lap with her arms around his neck, gently and carefully drying her wine-red hair.
Today, Uesugi Akizuki was unusually clingy. Su Ze didn’t know why, but he didn’t bother to think about it. At some point, tolerating her playfulness and stubbornness had become a habit.
But most of the time, Uesugi Akizuki was still more adorable and obedient.
Her wine-red hair spread out like seaweed in water. Su Ze gently pressed Uesugi Akizuki’s back as she leaned slightly against him, her arms still wrapped around him.
Su Ze reached over her shoulder, gently drying the hair at her waist.
Uesugi Akizuki buried her face in his neck, looking very relaxed. The scene was soft and quiet, the two of them resembling a couple in an embrace.
Soon, Su Ze put the hairdryer away and carried Uesugi Akizuki back to the room. He turned off the lights, leaving only a small lamp illuminating the dim hotel room. Most of the space, apart from the bed, was shrouded in darkness.
Lying in bed, Uesugi Akizuki, as usual, held Su Ze’s hand. She stared silently at the ceiling for a while, seemingly deep in thought.
She lay on her side, gazing at Su Ze’s handsome profile, lost in thought for a moment. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
After some time.
“Your nails are a bit long. Wait a moment.” Su Ze spoke first, getting up to fetch a nail clipper.
On the soft white bed bathed in the warm orange light, Su Ze held her hand, carefully trimming her nails.
It had been half a month since they first met, and he had never trimmed Uesugi Akizuki’s nails before. The little shrine maiden’s fingers were beautiful—slender, fair, and softly defined.
“What did Situ Jiajia talk to you about today? Do you want to be friends with her?” Su Ze made small talk. He was actually quite grateful to Situ Jiajia for teaching Uesugi Akizuki about common knowledge.
Uesugi Akizuki nodded.
“You need to learn to speak from now on. You can’t stay silent forever, okay?”
Su Ze wasn’t very good at teaching her common knowledge, but he was willing to share the truths he had learned with Uesugi Akizuki.
“The world won’t be kind to you just because you stay silent.”
Su Ze paused for a moment. “If one day I…” He hesitated. “Anyway, whether you’re tired or for any other reason, you need to answer my questions by speaking from now on, okay?”
Uesugi Akizuki nodded, then suddenly remembered something and said in her naive way, “Okay.”
Su Ze patted her head. “Good girl.”