Chapter 22: A Sudden Confession

Chen Lin had anticipated that after he took the initiative to say goodbye, he and Shihan would part ways and each head home.

Of course, if Shihan asked him to escort her home, Chen Lin wouldn’t refuse—but he would never offer first.

Suddenly, Shihan asked him such an inexplicable question. Chen Lin was a bit baffled. Why would she ask him this out of the blue?

His mind raced, trying to guess what answer she wanted from him.

Shihan watched him think, her eyes slanted toward the ground, her index fingers twirling around each other. She was truly anxious now.

She wondered if Chen Lin had any idea why she was asking this.

A girl inviting a guy out alone wouldn’t just be about visiting an amusement park, would it?

Chen Lin had completely missed her intention—perhaps because it had never crossed his mind.

After pondering for a long while, Chen Lin asked, “Can I ask why you were willing to share the tickets with me?” He really had no other questions for Shihan.

Of course, he was eager to know more about Senior Meiyue, but casually prying into that would make him look like a creep.

“Guess for yourself. The, the answer… should be obvious…” Shihan’s nervousness was evident in her voice.

Now Chen Lin was even more confused. She had told him to ask a question. Why had she turned it back on him?

If he knew the answer, he wouldn’t have needed to ask in the first place.

He racked his brain, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t figure out how to respond.

“Because everyone else is busy on weekends, and you didn’t want to waste the park tickets?” Chen Lin ventured an answer to the question he had asked but was now bounced back to him.

Shihan still stared at the ground. She didn’t look at him, didn’t speak—just shook her head in denial.

“Because Senior Meiyue asked you to do this?” Since the first answer was wrong, Chen Lin offered a bolder guess.

Though this possibility had crossed his mind, he had dismissed it as wishful thinking, unwilling to delve deeper.

Now, he wanted to hear the truth from Shihan.

Maybe Senior Meiyue liked him too, and had sent Shihan to get close to him.

Chen Lin felt a rush of heat. The mere thought of Meiyue made his blood boil.

He knew the odds were slim, but what if it were true?

What if, while he pined for her, Meiyue had been secretly liking him back? What if their feelings were mutual?

Chen Lin’s gaze sharpened, waiting for Shihan to nod and confirm his theory.

But then came the scene that dashed his hopes. Shihan shook her head without hesitation. So he had been too optimistic. There was no way Meiyue had a crush on him.

Mutual feelings were just his fantasy.

Deep down, he had known the answer, but hearing it from Shihan shattered his tiny hope. He felt a pang of disappointment.

If it wasn’t about Meiyue, then what was Shihan’s reason for inviting him out? It suddenly seemed less important.

After waiting several minutes without Chen Lin offering another answer, Shihan stomped her foot in frustration.

She wasn’t sure if she was angry at Chen Lin for not guessing her true feelings, or at herself for not being more straightforward.

“Can you really not guess the answer?” Shihan lifted her gaze from the floor and looked at Chen Lin.

“Sorry, I’m a bit slow. Can you tell me?” Chen Lin said apologetically.

Shihan’s face showed hesitation, but then it flushed crimson—from her cheeks to her ears, and from her ears to her neck.

Taking a deep breath, she seemed to make up her mind. She stepped closer to Chen Lin.

Chen Lin was intimidated by her determination. He felt a sense of impending doom and instinctively wanted to flee.

But running away would be rude. His reason overpowered his instinct.

He didn’t even take a step back. He forced himself to stand straight as Shihan approached until she was almost pressed against him.

“Because… I like you.” In a matter of seconds, she blurted out those four words at lightning speed.

Chen Lin almost didn’t catch them because she spoke so fast.

He tapped his head. Had he just imagined it?

Shihan now lowered her head, her feelings complicated. She had finally confessed her true feelings to the person she liked. It had been so nerve-wracking!

But now that she said it, she felt much lighter. The love that had been bottled up inside was no longer suffocating her.

It was really good to have said it here.

Now, all she had to do was wait for Chen Lin’s response.

She was cute enough, and she had swallowed her pride to make the first move. She had done everything she could. From any angle, Chen Lin should be overjoyed. There was no way he would reject her, right?

“I think I misheard. Can you say that again?” Chen Lin stared blankly for a long time before finally speaking.

He didn’t dare reply casually. He was sure he must have heard wrong.

How could Shihan possibly like him? There was no reason for it.

“I like you!” Maybe the second time was easier. Shihan declared loudly, pouring out her feelings.

This time, she spoke each word clearly. Even the deafest person would have heard and understood.

Confirming he hadn’t misheard, Chen Lin was at a loss.

Seeing that he didn’t respond immediately, Shihan yelled even louder than before, almost shouting.

“I like you!” Maybe she yelled too hard. After shouting those words, she started panting, even coughing a little.

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