180: How can I resist getting close?

That night, Shen Qian and the others went to the restaurant they had visited for the first time. The moment Chang Heng and the girl locked eyes, the atmosphere shifted slightly.

As for the girl wanting to get back together, Shen Qian truly had no idea. Although he had expected it, he had been busy with his own affairs lately and hadn't paid any attention to what was happening in the dorm.

But just as Tan Xinxin said, both the boy and the girl needed to save face. Moreover, their feelings weren't deep enough to form a bitter grudge. With glasses clinking, the atmosphere naturally grew lively.

Lively as it was, this time everyone held back a bit and didn't get as drunk as before.

But even with restraint, Xu Ling still passed out after just one drink.

"Chang Heng, I'd like to talk to you alone, is that okay?"

The girl extended an invitation to Chang Heng. He instinctively glanced at Shen Qian and, seeing no reaction, nodded.

"Xinxin, leave Xu Ling to me. I'll take her back to the dorm."

"She's sleeping too soundly. You might not be able to handle her alone. Let her stay with me outside for the night."

The girl didn't doubt this and instead looked at the other two from Shen Qian's dorm.

"Let's head back together."

Gao Haitao and the other person said their goodbyes and left.

Shen Qian glanced at Chang Heng again, watching as the man and woman walked farther and farther away. After all, they were both adults and neither was drunk, so they probably wouldn't do anything too extreme.

After booking two rooms, Tan Xinxin laid Xu Ling down and left the room. Almost the moment the door closed, Xu Ling opened her eyes and slowly sat up.

"I knew it. Passing out after one drink? How could that be?"

Tan Xinxin's sudden appearance startled Xu Ling, her chest heaving violently.

"What are you doing? You scared me to death!"

Tan Xinxin thought back to her first night with Shen Qian, remembering how frightened she had been too, and smiled.

"Why pretend to be drunk? Was it so that man could carry you like a princess, right?"

"No, Xinxin, that's not what I meant. I'm just not used to these kinds of situations."

"Do you remember what I said?"

"You..."

"You remember, don't you? Actually, that night we first had dinner with Shen Qian, you weren't drunk either.

You like him. Otherwise, you wouldn't have let him touch you while sober, let alone carry you like a princess.

It's just that I acted faster, so I became his Girlfriend."

Tan Xinxin turned on the light in the room and sat on the sofa nearby.

"Last time, because you lacked courage, I moved faster. This time, he's in the room next door. Are you going to knock on his door?"

"I don't understand what you mean."

"Is it that you truly don't understand, or are you pretending not to? Xu Ling, when you get close to Shen Qian, you'll find that this man has a unique charm. He'll keep drawing you in, even though you know he has me as his Girlfriend, yet you haven't given up on getting closer to him.

Maybe you don't have those kinds of thoughts in your heart, but others certainly do.

I don't understand why you avoid socializing, but I believe Shen Qian could be a very good remedy. He won't force you to change, but he'll help you feel at ease.

Opportunities don't come around forever. I've already hinted to him that you're interested. Tonight is the moment of choice. If you don't go, he'll always keep a safe distance from you..."

Xu Ling stared blankly at the girl sitting there. She had thought that avoiding socializing would hide many things, but without realizing it, this girl had already seen right through her.

Though she didn't want to admit it, what the other said was true. Being around Shen Qian gave her a sense of stability, even if this man was a scumbag.

She thought she was an observer, silently watching everyone, but she never expected Tan Xinxin to be watching her too.

"Of course, if you don't go, then I will. Three minutes—that's the biggest concession I'm willing to make."

Time ticked by, Tan Xinxin's words echoing in Xu Ling's mind, but she still didn't move.

"If that's the case, then forget it."

The moment Tan Xinxin stood up, Xu Ling spoke.

"Are you really... not bothered by this?"

"Feelings are only real in their best moments. The rest are just embellishments of life, like when you watch anime—you empathize not with the anime itself, but with the emotions it conveys.

Saying I'm not bothered would be lying to myself, but Shen Qian is good. He makes every moment I spend with him happy, and that's enough."

"I understand."

She slowly stood up and walked toward the door.

Tan Xinxin watched her until the door closed, then finally looked away, her eyes involuntarily reddening.

"Don't be greedy, Tan Xinxin. Don't be greedy at all. If you're greedy, you'll end up with nothing—not even feelings."

In the room, the girl muttered to herself, but despite this, tears still streamed down her face.

The moment the door opened again, Tan Xinxin froze. Shen Qian, who should have been in the next room, now stood before her.

"How did you..."

"I guessed you were hiding here crying." Shen Qian said, quickly approaching and picking Tan Xinxin up, tossing her onto the bed.

"How could I not take care of my Girlfriend first?"

"What about Xu Ling? I finally convinced her."

"We'll deal with it as it comes. The soundproofing in this hotel isn't great. Today, I want to hear you let loose a bit."

Tan Xinxin wasn't resistant to begin with. Hearing Shen Qian say this, her expression shifted from stunned to seductive in an instant.

As for Shen Qian, he activated the Tuna Method, determined to make this day even more unforgettable for Tan Xinxin.

In the next room, Xu Ling finished her shower and lay in bed. Just as Shen Qian had said, the hotel's soundproofing wasn't good. To make matters worse, sounds seemed to be coming from both adjacent rooms.

From Shen Qian's side, it sounded like shouts; from the other side, it was more like cursing.

Listening, Xu Ling's breathing unconsciously quickened, and her face grew redder, especially from Shen Qian's side. Tan Xinxin's voice was loud. She had always thought Tan Xinxin was a calm and clever girl, a quality that stood out even more during their earlier conversation.

But that same girl was now in the next room, shouting, screaming, and gradually falling silent.

When the noise from next door stopped, a knock sounded at her door.

Xu Ling walked to the door, feeling a bit nervous.

"Who is it?"

"Me."

Hearing Shen Qian's voice, the girl hesitated for a moment but finally opened the door.

Shen Qian at the doorway didn't rush inside. Instead, he looked at the face no longer hidden by bangs.

"Beautiful, truly beautiful. I must be the first man to see your real face, right?"

"Mm, come in."

The girl blushed.

"Xu Ling, I learned a Japanese phrase. Do you want to hear it?"

"What is it?"

"Nanako, can I form a contract with you as a divine envoy? This time, I mean it."

The girl looked at Shen Qian. Tan Xinxin was right—how could anyone resist getting closer to someone like him?

"Okay."

The girl grabbed Shen Qian's collar, and the moment they entered the room, their lips met.