Chapter 43

Jin Qishan’s eyes shimmered faintly in the dim light.
He would never forget the time when everyone doubted him, and Su Xiaoxiao had stood up and said he was a good person.
That moment, she’d seemed to step out of the light itself, reaching into his dark, muddy world to pull him free.
Too bad he wasn’t the grateful, gentle kind of man. Since she’d stepped into his world, she shouldn’t think of leaving it.
He leaned down slightly, gaze burning.
Every hair on Su Xiaoxiao’s body stood on end.
Her eyes widened, half anticipation, half fear.
Holding her hand, his palm hot, his voice low and rough, Jin Qishan said, “You know, I like Xiaoxiao Su Xiaoxiao cookies.”
Su Xiaoxiao nodded, face blazing. “Mm-hm.”
“Then you should also know, I like Su Xiaoxiao.”
He said it so plainly, so calm, like saying, Then you should know, I like plain water.
For a second, Su Xiaoxiao didn’t even process it. She nodded again, cheeks aflame. “Mm-hm.”
Wait.
What?
Two seconds later, realization hit. “No, no, I didn’t know that!”
Jin Qishan’s lips curved slightly. “Now you do?”
So it was true, he really did like her.
The moment that sank in, joy bubbled up inside her, but she couldn’t resist teasing him a little. Puffing her cheeks, she said, “Still don’t know.”
It was Jin Qishan’s first confession. He hadn’t expected such a response and instantly panicked.
Awkward yet stubborn, he repeated, “I like Su Xiaoxiao. I like Su Xiaoxiao. I like Su Xiaoxiao. I like Su Xiao-”
“Okay, okay!” Su Xiaoxiao blurted, mortified, standing on tiptoe to cover his mouth with both hands.
His mouth pressed under her palms, his eyes wide and earnest as he looked at her, full of wounded frustration.
She quickly pulled her hands away, discreetly wiping the sweat on her clothes. Red-faced, she muttered, “Now I know.”
And with that, she turned and headed upstairs.
Jin Qishan stood frozen, anxious. What does that even mean?
Su Xiaoxiao walked ahead, small hands swinging lightly at her sides.
He reached out and brushed her fingers with his.
She shook him off.
He tried again.
She shook him off again.
He tried once more,
She lost count of how many times he tried, by the time they were near the top of the stairwell, she finally stopped pulling away.
Seeing their apartment doors so close, she gave up resisting.
Truth be told, she wanted to hold his hand too, but after his confession, embarrassment kept her from showing it.
When she didn’t pull away this time, Jin Qishan took it as permission and boldly stepped up two stairs at once, pressing her gently against the wall.
“Then, does Su Xiaoxiao like Jin Qishan?”
How could someone be this dense? She’d already let him hold her hand, did he really need her to say it out loud?
Flustered, she turned her head away. “No.”
Jin Qishan pressed his lips together. He didn’t believe her for a second.
“Su Xiaoxiao likes Jin Qishan,” he said firmly.
Just then, from an upstairs apartment, came the low, raspy cough of an elderly person.
Faint but clear in the silence, it startled Su Xiaoxiao so badly her shoulders jumped.
Jin Qishan’s arms were braced on either side of her, trapping her between him and the wall.
The stairwell was dark and still, thick with tension.
If someone saw them like this,
Panic flared. She turned her head sharply. “Li-”
What she wanted to say was, Like you, my foot! Someone’s here, let go already!
But before the word “like” could even leave her mouth, Jin Qishan’s lips pressed against hers.
Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes flew wide open, the rest of her sentence swallowed whole,
Soft lips brushed hers once, retreated, then came back again.
Her heart gave a tremor. Slowly, her eyes fluttered shut.

The night breeze was gentle, filled with the faint sound of crickets.
Later, Su Xiaoxiao demanded an explanation. “Why did you kiss me just now?”
“You said you liked”
“I did not!” she blurted, cheeks blazing as she covered her face and ran home.
Jin Qishan’s chest was pounding. His emotions surged like waves, impossible to calm.
When he reached the bottom of the building, he ended up running two laps around the neighborhood, breathless and grinning like a fool. Finally, he stopped right beneath Su Xiaoxiao’s window and shouted at the top of his lungs:
“I like you! I like you!”
Su Xiaoxiao, I like you, I really, really like you!
Upstairs, Su Xiaoxiao was bent over her desk, trying to work through a few problems, but her mind kept wandering.
Her fingers brushed her lips. Sometimes she smiled like an idiot, sometimes she frowned, dazed and flustered.
Then, from outside, came a loud voice shouting, “I like you! I like you!”
She froze. Which lunatic is yelling in the middle of the night? You didn’t even say who you like, how’s anyone supposed to know who you’re talking about?
Then, a thought struck her.
She rushed to the window. Down below, the dark figure looked awfully familiar,
So it was her own fool!
Su Xiaoxiao quickly dialed his number and hissed into the phone, “What are you doing?”
Jin Qishan’s voice was light and cheerful. “Running.”
“You’re insane! Go home and sleep already!”
“Mm,” he said softly, still smiling. “I’m heading back now.”
Her heart melted a little. “Don’t let anyone see you.”
“I’m wearing a hat,” he replied, in that silly, earnest tone of his.
Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help laughing. “Good night.”
“Good night,” he murmured back.

The next day, Su Xiaoxiao told Shen Hua what had happened, that someone had impersonated Jin Qishan to text her, and also pretended to be her to text Jin Qishan, nearly getting them caught by Director Xu on the track.
“Who would do something so awful?” Shen fumed.
Su Xiaoxiao shrugged helplessly. “No idea.”
“That’s too much! You think it’s the same person who messed with your bike?”
Su Xiaoxiao tapped her chin with her pen cap. “Probably.”
Just then, Jin Qishan walked in through the front door.
“Jin Qishan!” Shen Hua called out.
He’d been wondering how to find an excuse to talk to Su Xiaoxiao, and when he heard Shen’s voice, he practically trotted over.
The moment Su Xiaoxiao saw him coming, she panicked and jumped up. “I, uh, I need to use the restroom!”
And with that, she bolted out the back door.
Shen Hua blinked. What’s up with her?
When Jin Qishan arrived, Shen Hua asked, “Did you two fight again?”
Watching Su Xiaoxiao flee, Jin Qishan smiled faintly. “No. We’re great.”
“Huh?” Shen gawked at him.
Seeing Su Xiaoxiao gone, Jin Qishan lost interest in staying. “Anything else?” he asked lazily.
“Yeah, about those fake messages! Someone’s messing with you two. Shouldn’t we find out who it is? Maybe rough them up a little?”
Jin Qishan’s tongue brushed his lips as a smile tugged at them. “No need. That person’s a good guy. When I find them, I’ll thank them properly.”
Shen Hua’s jaw dropped. “Huh?!”
Jin Qishan gave her a knowing glance, hands in his pockets, and sauntered off, light on his feet and humming under his breath.
A moment later, Zhang Dongshan nudged Shen’s shoulder. “What were you and Brother Shan talking about? Got some good news? He looks so happy his grin’s about to split his face.”
Shen Hua just stared blankly. “Huh?”