Determined to Break a Leg

Time returned to the present.

After hanging up the call, Gu Luo slowly raised his head, his gaze drifting through the window to the raindrops cascading from the sky, his expression as complicated as a spilled jar of mixed flavors.

A light, almost airy "I believe you" had acted like a tender key, plucking at the strings of the young man's heart.

He liked Shu He.

He really liked Shu He.

And this affection, like spring vines, had grown wildly, spreading uncontrollably in his heart.

Yet, for now, this emotion could only remain like a seed crushed beneath a boulder—buried deep within.

In the world of love, there were always rules of precedence.

Perhaps, in the end, the two of them were simply fated to cross paths briefly before diverging, like parallel lines destined to go their separate ways. Or perhaps, he would truly become an irredeemable scumbag, drowning in the whirlpool of emotions.

Some thoughts, once they took root, spread like wildfire, impossible to suppress.

Gu Luo took a slow breath and stretched his hand out the window, feeling the cool touch of the rain.

Once, he had believed that as long as he confirmed his romantic relationship with Luo Shuning, he could steel his heart and give up on Luo Shuhe, bound by rules and family expectations.

But now, it was clear that had been nothing more than self-deception.

Luo Shuhe had once said something that rang painfully true—half-hearted refusal was no refusal at all.

Yet, choosing Shu He would mean hurting Shu Ning. Aunt Luo and Dad would never agree, and their family might very well fall apart.

Aunt Luo and Dad had even postponed their own marriage just to support his relationship with Shu Ning. If he chose Shu He as well... the consequences were too terrible to imagine.

Shu Ning...

Shu He...

The tangled emotions between the three of them...

Lost in thought, Gu Luo suddenly slapped his rain-dampened hand against his cheek.

No more hesitation.

First, fulfill his promise to confess to Shu Ning.

And if he truly ended up becoming a scumbag afterward, he would throw all shame to the wind and beg for Shu Ning’s forgiveness and acceptance.

If she agreed, all would be well.

If she didn’t, he’d keep begging until she did.

No matter what, Gu Luo wouldn’t give up on Shu Ning.

Even if Aunt Luo and Dad objected, as long as he could convince Shu Ning, they could force the matter to a point of no return.

At worst, he’d lose a leg.

"Yeah, just a leg. So what if it’s broken?"

Gu Luo murmured to himself, feeling as though a beam of light had suddenly pierced the chaos in his heart, bringing clarity.

The hardest part was getting past Shu Ning.

But as long as she consented—and it wasn’t like they were living in the olden days—three people together wasn’t stealing, cheating, or breaking any laws. There was nothing to fear.

Except... he would still end up hurting Shu Ning.

Then he’d spend a lifetime making it up to her.

Having thought it through, Gu Luo couldn’t help but feel disgusted with himself.

Back when Shu He had been fiery, forward, seductive, and throwing herself at him, he had dodged and evaded, only reluctantly giving in when he couldn’t resist, terrified of crossing the line with her.

He had buried his feelings for her deep in his heart, drowning in self-deception, aware yet helpless.

But now? Now that Shu He had stepped back, yielding to him and Shu Ning, not fighting, not demanding, acting like nothing more than an ordinary little sister—suddenly, he was the one panicking, restless and uneasy.

He had even confessed his feelings outright.

Did he only realize what he had when he was about to lose it?

This indecisiveness was a flaw he really needed to fix.

Gu Luo sighed softly.

Fine. Decision made.

He would be an out-and-out scumbag.

With full acceptance of the risk of a broken leg.

And spend a lifetime repaying Shu Ning and Shu He.

Later, he’d discuss it properly with Shu He, figure out how to persuade Shu Ning.

Shu Ning was gentle, yes, but stubborn to the core.

This would be a long battle.

He just hoped... he wouldn’t end up with a knife in his back.

Stretching slightly, Gu Luo sent a message to Luo Shuhe.

[Gu Luo: Shu He, I have something to tell you on Monday.]

Relief.

Finally, relief.

Sure, confirming a relationship with her sister one day and then with her the next was scummy, downright shameless.

But.

Gu Luo was done hesitating.

Before, it had been Schrödinger’s cat—alive or dead.

Now, it was his leg—broken or intact.

The reply came almost instantly.

[Luo Shuhe: ?]

[Gu Luo: It’s important.]

[Luo Shuhe: ?]

[Gu Luo: I’ve made up my mind.]

[Luo Shuhe: ?]

[Gu Luo: Why just question marks? Use words or voice.]

[Luo Shuhe: Question mark.]

Gu Luo couldn’t help but laugh as he typed again:

[Gu Luo: I’ll lend you my shoulder to cry on then.]

He knew Shu He needed a good, unrestrained cry to release all the emotions she’d been bottling up.

She’d be a mess.

Too bad he didn’t have much time left to hand-make a gift for her.

But he’d still give her a surprise.

Meanwhile.

A sleek black limousine sped down the highway.

Luo Shuhe curled up in the back seat, staring blankly at her phone.

[Gu Luo: I’ll lend you my shoulder to cry on then.]

Lend her his shoulder to cry on?

The day after getting together with her sister?

Did he really think he could just relegate her to the role of little sister and end things cleanly?

Dream on.

In your dreams.

Her lethargy vanishing, Shu He abruptly sat up, crossing her left leg over her right knee—a habit—and coldly exited the messaging app. Her phone’s wallpaper was a photo of Gu Luo. She jabbed her finger at his face on the screen.

Had this scumbag forgotten what it meant to deal with a little demon?

Give him an inch, and he’d take a mile.

The only reason Shu He had been stepping back lately, even playing wingman for her sister, was to crush Luo Shuling’s wild fantasies before they could take root.

Two people—that was her limit.

And likely the furthest Mom would ever tolerate.

If he dared make a deal with the devil, he’d better be ready to be haunted for life.

Run away?

Not a chance.

Give up?

Those words didn’t exist in Luo Shuhe’s dictionary.

This was just a tactical retreat—letting Gu Luo and Shu Ning get together smoothly first.

Once their relationship was out in the open, Shuling would have no choice but to abandon her delusions.

And as for her and Gu Luo? They had history. With a little more persistence, she’d wear down this scumbag’s resistance.

It was only a matter of time.

After poking at Gu Luo’s photo for a while, Shu He rested her chin on her hand and gazed out the window.

The rain had stopped.

Or rather, they had driven far enough from Caizhou that the storm was behind them.

Their destination was Caixin County—Gu Luo’s hometown.

A place she held dear in her heart.

Big sister, I’ve gone this far for you. Don’t mess this up.

Shu He closed her eyes, intending to nap.

But her mind kept conjuring images of Gu Luo and Shu Ning’s romantic confession scene.

She suddenly craved yogurt.

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