Is this... acting

Su Hua remained nestled in Lin Xuan's arms, his words leaving her momentarily dazed. She lifted her gaze, her amber eyes reflecting nothing but his image.

Lin Xuan looked down as he spoke to her, his emotions laid bare in his expression—visible to Su Hua.

Her own expression froze in surprise.

She had expected Ah Xuan to regard her with cold disdain, yet his eyes held none of that. Instead, they were filled with nothing but worry and care.

Was Ah Xuan… acting?

Su Hua’s lashes trembled slightly.

If this was an act, she wished he would keep playing the role forever…

Lin Xuan gently placed Su Hua on the bed, tucking a pillow behind her back to make her more comfortable as she leaned against the headboard.

His movements were as tender as ever.

"Su Hua, you must be hungry. Here, eat something. I just went to the kitchen and made you some seafood congee—your favorite," Lin Xuan said as he ladled the steaming porridge into a bowl.

Su Hua clenched her fists.

So, during those thirty-some minutes he had been gone, he hadn’t left the house—he’d been cooking for her?

The congee was still hot.

Lin Xuan scooped up a spoonful, blew on it to cool it down, and only when he was sure it wouldn’t burn her did he bring it to her lips.

"Here, Su Hua, it’s ready to eat."

She continued staring at him, unmoving.

Lin Xuan frowned at her expression. "What’s wrong? Still no appetite?"

Su Hua remained silent.

Assuming she truly wasn’t hungry, Lin Xuan coaxed her gently, "Su Hua, you were injured and unconscious for two days. Your body is still weak. Even if you don’t feel like eating, you need to—it’ll help you recover faster."

"Come on, just a little."

Su Hua could never resist his soft, patient urging. She parted her lips and obediently took the spoonful.

"How is it? Does it taste alright?" Lin Xuan asked.

Her sense of taste hadn’t fully returned yet, so she couldn’t distinguish the flavor. Still, she nodded. "Mm, it’s good."

"Then have some more."

She finished two full bowls under his care.

Lin Xuan then helped her lie back down. "Su Hua, get some rest."

Despite his words, she kept her eyes open, fixed on him.

"Su Hua, what’s the matter?" Lin Xuan asked, his brow furrowing.

She parted her lips slightly but couldn’t bring herself to ask why, even after regaining his memories, he was still treating her so kindly.

She was afraid of the answer.

Instead, she tightened her grip on his hand.

"Ah Xuan," she whispered, "you’ll stay with me, won’t you?"

"Silly," Lin Xuan chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "I’m your boyfriend. Who else would I stay with if not you?"

"Then… lie down with me. Let’s sleep together," Su Hua pressed.

Lin Xuan’s first instinct was to refuse.

If they shared the bed, he might accidentally aggravate her injuries.

"Su Hua, you should sleep alone. I’ll just sit here by the bed," he said gently.

Her left hand clenched slightly.

So it was true—Ah Xuan was just acting. Now he wouldn’t even share a bed with her?

"I see. All that talk about staying with me was just empty words. The moment I fall asleep, you’ll leave again," Su Hua murmured, her voice tinged with sadness.

Lin Xuan sighed inwardly.

She was overthinking again.

But of course—right now, Su Hua was fragile, her insecurities running wild. It was only natural for her mind to wander.

"Alright, I’ll do as you say. I’ll sleep with you," Lin Xuan said helplessly.

He took off his shoes and lay down on the bed with Su Hua.

The moment he settled in, Su Hua immediately clung to him, wrapping her arms tightly around him.

"Hua Bao," Lin Xuan murmured softly, coaxing her. "Be good and lie on your back. Sleeping like this isn’t good for your wound."

"Does A-Xuan not want me to hold you?" Su Hua’s lashes fluttered as she spoke, her expression pitiful.

Coupled with her pale complexion, she looked every bit the fragile beauty.

Lin Xuan: "!!!"

Damn!

Seeing Su Hua like this was absolutely lethal—he couldn’t bring himself to refuse her.

Lin Xuan relented. "Fine, Hua Bao. You lie on your back, and I’ll hold you instead."

Only then did Su Hua turn over, settling onto her back.

She still clung to Lin Xuan’s hand, pulling it around her slender waist. At the same time, she gripped his fingers tightly, as if afraid he might slip away while she slept.

"Hua Bao, I wanted to tell you…" Lin Xuan began, intending to explain the events on the island. But before he could continue, he noticed Su Hua’s eyes were closed, as though she had already drifted off.

Not wanting to disturb her, Lin Xuan fell silent.

These past few days, he had been too worried about Su Hua’s injury to get much rest.

Now, lying beside her, it wasn’t long before he, too, sank into a deep sleep.

But the moment he did, Su Hua—who had seemed asleep—turned toward him again.

Her delicate fingers traced the contours of his face.

"A-Xuan…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You won’t leave me, will you?"

Of course, even if he tried, she would never let him go…

And as for that day—when circumstances forced him to interact with those women—

This time, she would forgive him. She wouldn’t punish him for it.

But from now on, she would never allow A-Xuan to have anything to do with any woman who dared to approach him.

Yet even though she had steeled herself, the thought of him lying with those women, tangled in passion, still sent a sharp pang through her heart.

Su Hua clenched her fists, forcibly suppressing the violent rage simmering in her eyes.

"A-Xuan, you’re mine. Forever."

"I won’t let any woman take you away from me…"

If anyone dared to try, she would make sure they regretted it—worse than death.

Leaning in, she pressed a kiss to Lin Xuan’s cheek, as if marking her claim.

She gazed at him for a long moment before finally closing her eyes in satisfaction.

Lin Xuan slept deeply.

When he awoke, Su Hua was curled against him again, her arms wrapped tightly around him as if trying to merge their bodies.

Rubbing his temples, Lin Xuan frowned.

How had he slept so soundly?

Carefully, he tried to disentangle himself, but Su Hua clung to him stubbornly. The moment he loosened her grip even slightly, she latched back on, as though terrified he might slip away unnoticed.

Lin Xuan sighed in resignation.

He let her keep holding him, his brow furrowing as he studied her face.

He wondered if Su Hua still remembered her episode—or the incident with those women. He knew he needed to explain everything properly, lest she misunderstand.

But for now, trapped in her embrace, he could do little else. Before long, he drifted back to sleep.