Back of the Hand

"What... what is it...?"

Gu Ximan's voice trembled like a leaf in the autumn wind, her breath nearly catching from nervousness. Her small fists clenched tightly together, and even the arches of her feet, wrapped in white socks, involuntarily tensed.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the railing of the rooftop, casting flickering patches of light and shadow across her trembling shoulders.

Was he going to confess after being dumped by Shu Ning?

Or would it be that cruel line—"I really just see you as a little sister"?

Gu Luo took a quiet breath before speaking softly:

"Actually... your brother is a two-timing scumbag."

Strangely enough, he used to be too afraid to even admit liking someone to Gu Ximan. But once he made up his mind, it didn’t feel like such a big deal anymore.

Dragging things out, hesitating endlessly—it was better to cut straight to the truth.

The more you avoided it, the worse the tension grew.

"Eh... EH?!"

Gu Ximan was utterly stunned, her school uniform skirt crumpling under her unconscious grip.

This answer had completely derailed from all her expectations—she’d imagined countless possibilities, but never something as explosive as this.

That same Gu Luo who’d always protected her since childhood... was actually two-timing?

If one of them was Shu Ning, then who was the other?

Did that mean Shu Ning had rejected his confession because she found out?

No, this was too messy.

She just never expected Gu Luo to be a scumbag.

Guess good-looking people really are all playboys, huh?

After a long pause, Gu Ximan finally pressed a hand to her chest, her expression unbearably complicated. "Then... who’s the other one?"

"Shu He."

"......"

Those two words struck like thunder, leaving Gu Ximan dizzy. She clutched her forehead, struggling to process the revelation.

No way...

Gu Luo, you’ve really gone too far...

Two-timing the Shu sisters?

Are you not afraid of Aunt Luo and Dad beating you to death?

No wonder Shu He had once lifted her skirt and let Gu Luo touch her thigh—they’d already been involved.

Gu Ximan felt her brain itch, as if it was about to grow a whole new lobe.

The situation was so chaotic she didn’t even have time to feel heartbroken.

Just untangling the emotions alone was overwhelming.

After a long silence, she finally looked up, gritting her teeth.

"So... Shu Ning rejected you because she found out about you and Shu He?"

"Gu Luo... you really had it coming..."

As she spoke, she began pounding his shoulder with her "Ximan punches."

But unlike before, this time she put real force into it.

Each strike thudded against his shoulder blade through the fabric of his uniform.

Clearly, she was genuinely angry.

Yet, mid-pummeling, a sudden thought struck her—if Gu Luo was a two-timing scumbag, wasn’t she and Xuexue just enabling him by throwing themselves at him too?

Huh...

Then why was she so mad?

Weren’t they both letting him two-time?

This was too complicated.

Her head itched.

She couldn’t figure it out.

Her brain was definitely about to grow a new lobe.

Gu Ximan stopped punching and instead clutched her head, completely at a loss for how to react.

Gu Luo, having endured the long-missed "Ximan punches," actually felt lighter. He spoke softly:

"Shu Ning rejected me because of Shu He, but the story behind it is too complicated. I haven’t even sorted it out myself."

"The truth is, your brother is an absolute scumbag. I like both Shu Ning and Shu He, and I want to be with them both."

His gaze drifted toward the distant school building, his eyes filled with undisguised guilt.

"Now that you know all this... Ximan, do you still like me?"

"......"

The question burned like a red-hot brand against Gu Ximan’s heart.

The sheer volume of information was overwhelming.

Her brain couldn’t process it.

Did she still like Gu Luo?

The answer was obvious—yes.

But what if Gu Luo was already dating both Shu Ning and Shu He?

Would she still like him?

In other words, adding Xuexue into the mix—could she accept sharing Gu Luo with three sisters?

Searching her heart, Gu Ximan realized... she actually might be okay with it.

Xuexue’s existence had already bridged the gap from zero to one.

Not to mention that time during the sleepover when the Shu sisters had nearly devoured Gu Luo whole.

Or when Sister Ling had asked, during a late-night chat, what they’d do if Xuexue were replaced by the three of them.

After piecing it all together, Gu Ximan fixed her blazing gaze on Gu Luo and declared, word by word:

"I. STILL. LIKE. YOU!"

"SO. WHAT?!"

"......"

Now it was Gu Luo’s turn to fall silent.

He hadn’t expected Gu Ximan to stand her ground even after everything.

Not only that—she’d seized the moment to confess.

But... he still hadn’t resolved things with Shu Ning and Shu He.

How could he even think about accepting another relationship?

Even if he’d figured everything out, his feelings for Ximan needed careful consideration.

He couldn’t just recklessly play the scumbag—he had to genuinely care for her first.

Seeing Gu Luo stay quiet, Gu Ximan steeled herself. She abruptly stood up, then straddled his lap, the lace trim of her pleated skirt brushing against his knees. The position was undeniably intimate—just like that day in the café.

Their faces were inches apart, close enough to feel each other’s warm breath.

The weight of the girl in his lap, the scent of cherry blossoms and sunlight in her hair, the glistening sweat on her lashes—Gu Luo finally panicked, his hands hovering awkwardly in the air.

He wanted to push her off, but suddenly couldn’t bring himself to touch her.

His original plan had been to make Gu Ximan see him for the scumbag he was—someone unworthy of her unconditional affection, someone incapable of loving just her.

He’d thought laying everything out would bring closure.

But things had spiraled far beyond what he’d imagined.

Biting her lower lip, Gu Ximan stared straight into Gu Luo’s eyes, her face flushed.

"Gu Luo, I’ve given my answer. Now what’s yours?"

"I... I’m a morally bankrupt scumbag."

Gu Luo forced the words out.

"I know."

"...I won’t give up Shu Ning or Shu He."

"I know."

"...If Aunt Luo and Dad find out, this family might fall apart."

"I know."

"...We’d have to live in secrecy forever."

"I know."

Gu Luo was at a loss. He shook his head.

"I... what have I done to deserve this...?"

What had he possibly done...

To deserve this kind of devotion from them?

"...Too many reasons... but... I can’t live without you..." Gu Ximan’s long lashes fluttered, her breathing uneven, her cheeks growing redder.

Then she grabbed his uniform collar tightly.

"Now... give me your answer."

Gu Luo gazed at Gu Ximan, who was standing so close—the girl he had raised with his own hands since childhood. He hesitated, wanting to say something but afraid of hurting her.

"Then... I'll ask myself..."

Gu Ximan's face was already flushed crimson, the blush spreading across her neck and earlobes like a blazing wildfire.

Her eyes drifted downward, lingering on Gu Luo's lips.

Then, her cherry-like lips inched closer, bit by bit, her warm breath brushing against his chin.

Closer.

Closer.

Just as their lips were about to meet, Gu Luo suddenly raised his hand and covered Gu Ximan's mouth.

She stared at him in stunned silence, her eyes gradually welling up with tears.

She didn’t understand why he was rejecting her.

She had even been willing to share him with Shu Ning and Shu He.

If he was going to be a scoundrel, then he might as well be one openly.

Yet—

The next second, Gu Ximan’s eyes widened in shock.

Reflected in her pupils—Gu Luo lowered his head and pressed a tender kiss onto the back of his own hand, the very one covering her lips.

............

.............