Escape Is Shameful

In the small room, the two of them, experiencing this for the first time, were a bit clumsy in their movements, having to explore and adjust bit by bit.

Xia Muzhu wasn't foolish. Under Lin Yu's guidance and through her own sensations, she quickly figured out what to do.

A spring-like atmosphere, like steam, filled the room. The method was indeed good, making almost no sound, let alone being discovered by Xia Yueshan.

However, their heavy, rapid breathing still filled the small room, even drowning out the faint vibration of the phone on the bed.

SugarLump: Are you there?

....

....

SugarLump: I heard your school let out for holiday today?

....

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SugarLump: My school still needs a few more days.

SugarLump: You...

SugarLump: When are you planning to return to H City?

....

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SugarLump: Can we meet up then?

....

....

SugarLump: I miss you... (Message recalled)

...

....

In the middle of the night, Xia Yueshan groggily got up. He reached into his pajamas to scratch his stomach, intending to get some water from the kitchen.

Just as he stepped out of the bedroom, Xia Yueshan was drawn by the sound of pattering water. Following the noise, he found it was coming from the bathroom—clearly someone was showering.

A question mark surfaced in his still half-asleep mind.

Are they crazy?

Who showers in the middle of the night?

But he didn't dwell on it. He picked up a glass, filled it with water, drank it, and went back to his room to sleep.

About a few minutes after he left, the bathroom door opened. White steam rushed out, and within the mist, two figures emerged in a supporting posture, leaving the area in a somewhat disheveled state...

...

Life at Xia Muzhu's house for Lin Yu could be summed up in two words.

Blissful!

Every morning upon waking, there was a delicious breakfast ready. After eating, his time was completely free—he could play games with Xia Yueshan for a while, or if he didn't feel like it, he could just lie down and scroll through his phone.

Fruits, snacks, and sweet drinks were always within reach.

After idling around until noon, a table full of delectable, aromatic dishes would appear before him in the blink of an eye.

With his belly stuffed full, Lin Yu would either play on the computer with Xia Yueshan or send Xia Yueshan out to play with her sister...

Ahem!

Send Xia Yueshan out to bond with her sister!

When evening came.

Oh wow.

Another table full of delicious food.

After devouring another hearty meal, he'd play on his phone after dinner, sneakily causing a bit of trouble while Xia Muzhu did her yoga, occasionally working some overtime at night. And just like that, another super fulfilling day would pass.

After more than a week of this, Lin Yu decided to go to the hospital to check on the recovery of his foot injury. According to the doctor in S City, it was about time to remove the cast.

Lin Yu and Xia Muzhu went to the hospital together. After paying and registering, they entered the doctor's office.

A CT scan was taken. Since the results would take some time, Lin Yu and Xia Muzhu went to stroll around the market, returning in the afternoon when the CT films were ready.

The injury had healed well. Although it still required a period of rest, the cast could now be removed.

After the cast on his ankle was taken off, Lin Yu immediately felt a wave of relief. He left the hospital in his wheelchair, chatting and laughing with Xia Muzhu.

Arriving at the parking spot, just as he was holding the car door and about to get in, Lin Yu caught a glimpse of a figure from the corner of his eye that felt intensely familiar.

For a moment,

Lin Yu felt as if half the blood in his body had turned cold.

But quickly, Lin Yu realized the person getting off the bus wasn't Tang Manman.

Although there was some resemblance in their eyes and brows, their actual appearances had noticeable differences. Moreover, this person looked too young, not like an adult at all.

It was Tang Manman's younger sister, Tang Qinqin!

Beside her, Tang Manman's mother was also there. They had gotten off at the hospital bus stop, likely here for Tang Qinqin's follow-up medical check-up.

Knowing it wasn't Tang Manman, Lin Yu sighed in relief, but his heart still felt uneasy. He quickly bent down and got into the car.

Sitting in the passenger seat and closing the door, Lin Yu instinctively glanced at the rearview mirror, and his heart immediately began to race.

In the mirror, Tang Qinqin had, at some point, stopped walking. Her eyes held a look of confusion as she gazed in their direction, and it seemed she very much wanted to come over and investigate.

Lin Yu was panicking inside but didn't dare show it, afraid Xia Muzhu would notice something off.

Fortunately, after putting the wheelchair away, Xia Muzhu had already gotten into the driver's seat and soon started the engine.

The car slowly moved forward. Only then did Lin Yu dare to glance sideways at the rearview mirror again. This look made his heart jump violently once more.

Tang Qinqin had indeed come over. She had walked about ten steps in their direction before probably stopping because the car had left.

Having narrowly escaped, Lin Yu let out a long breath.

He didn't quite know why. Even though he had done Tang Qinqin a favor, seeing her now made him feel so guilty...

Sighing, Lin Yu naturally knew why he felt guilty.

He couldn't help but re-examine that decision now.

Using this evasive method to end a relationship that hadn't even been formally defined...

...

Was it really the right thing?

Thinking of this, Lin Yu rubbed his temples in frustration.

To be honest, it wasn't just about him and Tang Manman, who had never officially defined their relationship.

Even for couples who had confirmed their relationship, dated, kissed, and slept together, if one party didn't reply to the other's messages for ten days or half a month, the smarter ones would get the hint.

But...

Sigh.

Lin Yu sighed again.

Now he could only hope she would catch on sooner and understand these unspoken words.

Speaking of which, what had Tang Manman even said to him recently?

Had she maybe already let him go?

Lin Yu felt a bit curious. During this time, whenever he saw a red notification number on Tang Manman's message box, he had simply deleted the chat without reading what she'd sent.

He only knew the messages had become fewer over time, though they had increased slightly recently...

Hmmm...

Perhaps looking on the bright side, maybe she had already moved on.

After all, she wasn't a fool. She should understand his meaning, right?

Lin Yu stroked his chin, thinking it wasn't impossible.

Once again, almost imperceptibly, Lin Yu used a subtle method to suppress that intention to come clean about everything.

Avoidance is shameful.

But it's comfortable.