Yu Shuchang stood still. His eyes stared at Sheng Yin like he didn't understand what he just heard.
"You… like me?" he asked, his voice low and unsure.
Sheng Yin smiled and took a small step closer. "Yes," she said softly, "I think I do."
Yu Shuchang looked at her for a long time. His heart was beating super fast. He never expected to hear this from her—not like this.
"You're not joking, right?" he asked carefully. "You really mean it?"
Sheng Yin nodded and looked down, pretending to be shy.
"I'm not joking. I've been thinking about you a lot lately, and I feel safe when I'm with you."
Yu Shuchang's expression changed. The coldness in his eyes slowly faded. His lips parted, but he didn't know what to say.
"I… I've always liked you," he admitted after a while. "But I didn't want to scare you away."
Sheng Yin smiled again and reached out to hold his hand. Her fingers were soft and warm.
"I'm not scared," she whispered. "I want to be with you. But… only if you trust me."
