Shy

Hot, shaky breaths fell onto Shen Mingjin's collarbone like an invisible net, wrapping tightly around him, sending a shudder down his spine.

Instinctively, he lowered his head. The man who had just looked so proud and arrogant now stared at him with red-rimmed eyes, resembling a fragile rabbit. His pale, elegant neck stretched tautly, as if it could snap with the slightest pressure.

They were so close that their breaths intertwined. The sunlight streamed in at an angle, outlining Xu Duwan's side profile with a golden glow. Shen Mingjin could see the fine hairs on his face and the way his jaw clenched tightly.

Anyone could tell—Xu Duwan was on the verge of exploding, like a powder keg ready to ignite at the slightest spark.

Shen Mingjin had lost his memory, not his intelligence. It only took a moment of thought to realize how much his earlier words must have agitated Xu Duwan.

It seemed that this man had some kind of grudge against him.

Shen Mingjin didn't remember what he had done to offend such an important figure, but he wasn't foolish enough to fan the flames. So, he wisely chose silence. His clear, bright eyes simply watched Xu Duwan, as if waiting for him to calm down.

But to Xu Duwan, that silence looked like guilt.

He waited, and waited—but Shen Mingjin didn't explain. The fury on his face deepened, his eyes burning red with frustration. The veins on his thin wrist bulged from the force of his grip. Then, without warning, he shoved Shen Mingjin aside and let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"Good. Very good."

Shen Mingjin… fine. You're doing great. You won't even bother lying to me anymore, huh?

Xu Duwan felt pathetic. When Shen Mingjin lied to him, he was unhappy. But now that Shen Mingjin refused to lie to him, he was even more upset.

The air grew thick, heavy, like a frozen lake before it cracked. The only sound left was Xu Duwan's ragged breathing. After a long, tense silence, a cautious voice finally broke through.

"Young Master Xu, he came to apply for a worker's position. If you don't want him here, I can just… just…"

The foreman wanted to please Xu Duwan, but under the man's icy, sharp gaze, he suddenly felt like prey being watched by a predator. A chill ran down his spine. He stuttered for a while but couldn't manage to finish his sentence.

"...Shut up."

Xu Duwan frowned impatiently. He felt like smoking again. Did they really think he didn't know why Shen Mingjin was here?

It didn't matter.

Xu Duwan had already sworn to himself—he would never believe a single word Shen Mingjin said.

"Yuanlong doesn't need workers like him."

His gaze locked onto Shen Mingjin, his eyes narrowing slightly. In that moment, his pale irises softened, making him look unexpectedly obedient.

But that moment passed in an instant. Cold determination returned as he declared, firm and unwavering—

"As long as I'm here, he won't step a foot into Yuanlong!"

Shen Mingjin, who had stayed silent this whole time: "…"

Did he hear that right?

What was with that childish declaration?

Sure, he needed a job, but it wasn't like he had to work here specifically.

Was this guy… trying to get his attention?

The thought flickered through Shen Mingjin's mind like a passing breeze before disappearing again.

He rubbed his fingertips together, deep in thought. Then, after a brief pause, he raised his head and smiled at Xu Duwan.

"Alright."

He stood up and walked over, stopping right in front of Xu Duwan. Then, lowering his gaze slightly, he looked at him seriously.

Xu Duwan's heart skipped a beat.

Had he pushed too far? Had his harsh words triggered Shen Mingjin's competitive side?

He instinctively took a few steps back, his eyes falling on Shen Mingjin's strikingly beautiful face. But after a few seconds, as if scared to keep looking, he quickly averted his gaze. Forcing himself to remain calm, he asked,

"What do you want?"

Was he going to fight?

"Nothing."

Shen Mingjin watched him, amused. Xu Duwan was stiff, tense like a frightened rabbit with its ears perked up, ready to bolt. He raised an eyebrow, his hands relaxed at his sides, showing no sign of aggression.

Then, with a gentle smile, he let the sunlight spill into his dark eyes, softening every sharp edge of his expression. He no longer carried the cold, distant aura from years ago—now, he looked warm, approachable, almost inviting.

Slowly, he said, "No matter if it was ten years ago… or now…"

He paused.

Then, in a sudden, fluid motion, he leaned in.

Close enough that Xu Duwan could see his own wide-eyed reflection in Shen Mingjin's pupils.

Xu Duwan instantly froze. His entire body tensed like a statue, unable to move, barely even breathing.

Shen Mingjin's eyes were dark, deep like polished black jade, filled with unreadable emotions. But beneath all the danger, there was a deceptive warmth, luring people in like a silken trap.

And he simply watched, unmoved, as people willingly tangled themselves in his web, breathless and helpless.

"…If I ever met you," Shen Mingjin whispered, voice soft yet firm, "I don't think I could bear to lie to you."

Xu Duwan's face turned red.

Shen Mingjin looked at him—so fierce on the outside, yet secretly fragile underneath, someone who would get misty-eyed from the slightest push.

How could he ever bring himself to lie to someone like that?

The scorching breath felt like a giant net, tightly wrapping around Shen Mingjin's collarbone, bringing a wave of trembling that felt almost unbearable.

Instinctively, Shen Mingjin lowered his head. The man who had been acting so arrogant just moments ago now had eyes red like a rabbit, staring at him. His pale, slender neck looked so fragile, as if it could snap at any moment, barely holding onto a single breath as he lifted his chin.

They were so close that their breaths mixed together. The sunlight cast a golden glow on Xu Duwan's profile, and Shen Mingjin could see the fine hairs on his face, as well as the way he clenched his molars tightly.

Anyone could see that Xu Duwan was on the edge of an explosion, like a barrel of gunpowder ready to go off with just a spark.

Shen Mingjin had lost his memory, not his intelligence. A little bit of thought was enough to guess what kind of reaction his earlier words must have triggered in Xu Duwan.

This man seems to have some history with me, Shen Mingjin thought.

Even if he couldn't remember when or how he had offended this important figure, he knew better than to add fuel to the fire. So, Shen Mingjin wisely chose to remain silent. His clear, bright eyes simply gazed at Xu Duwan, as if waiting for him to calm down.

However, to Xu Duwan, this silence only seemed like guilt.

He waited and waited, but Shen Mingjin didn't explain himself. His anger flared even more, bloodshot eyes glaring as veins popped on his thin wrists from the force he was exerting. Then, suddenly, he shoved Shen Mingjin to the side and let out a bitter laugh.

"Good. Very good."

Shen Mingjin. Fine. You're really something. Now you won't even bother lying to me anymore.

Xu Duwan felt pathetic. When Shen Mingjin lied to him, he was angry. But now that Shen Mingjin wouldn't even lie to him, he felt even worse.

The room fell into silence, heavy like frost and snow. The only sound left was Xu Duwan's sharp breathing.

After a long pause, the construction manager's nervous voice broke the tension as he tried to redeem himself:

"Young Master Xu, he came to apply for a worker's position. If you don't want him here, then I… I can just…"

He had wanted to curry favor with Xu Duwan, but under Xu Duwan's cold, sharp gaze, he suddenly felt like a prey being watched by a wild beast. A chill ran down his back, and he stammered for a long time without finishing his sentence.

"…Shut up."

Xu Duwan frowned in frustration. He suddenly wanted a cigarette. As if he didn't already know why Shen Mingjin was here. But he didn't believe a single word of it.

He had sworn long ago—he would never believe anything Shen Mingjin said again.

"Yuanlong doesn't need workers like him," Xu Duwan declared.

He stared at Shen Mingjin, his light-colored eyes narrowing slightly. For a brief moment, there was a trace of something soft in them—almost obedient.

But the softness disappeared as quickly as it came, replaced by sharp determination. His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

"As long as I'm here, he can forget about stepping through Yuanlong's doors!"

Shen Mingjin, who had been silent the whole time: "…"

Did he hear that right?

What was with this childish declaration?

Sure, he really needed a job, but it wasn't like he had to work here.

So, was this person… deliberately trying to get his attention?

The thought flickered through his mind like a passing breeze and was quickly dismissed.

Shen Mingjin rubbed his fingers together, as if in thought, then looked up and smiled at Xu Duwan, who had been secretly watching him this whole time.

"Alright."

He stood up and walked right up to Xu Duwan, then lowered his gaze slightly, looking at him seriously.

Xu Duwan's heart skipped a beat.

Did he push too hard? Had his words provoked Shen Mingjin's pride?

Suddenly nervous, Xu Duwan instinctively stepped back a few steps. His eyes landed on Shen Mingjin's strikingly handsome face, but after a few seconds, he seemed unable to keep looking and quickly shifted his gaze elsewhere.

Trying to maintain his composure, he forced himself to sound calm.

"What… what do you want?"

Was he going to start a fight?

"Nothing."

Shen Mingjin watched as Xu Duwan tensed up like a frightened rabbit, shoulders stiff and teeth clenched. It was hard not to find it amusing.

Raising an eyebrow, Shen Mingjin let his hands rest at his sides, making it clear he had no intention of making a move.

Then, with a gentle smile, his dark eyes lit up with specks of sunlight, shedding the cold aura he had carried in the past. Instead of seeming distant, he now had an inviting warmth that made people want to draw closer.

Slowly and deliberately, he said:

"Whether it was ten years ago… or now…"

He paused, then suddenly leaned in, closing the small gap between them. In Shen Mingjin's smiling eyes, he saw Xu Duwan's pupils shrink in shock.

Xu Duwan instantly froze, stiff as a board, not daring to move.

Shen Mingjin's deep black eyes held emotions Xu Duwan couldn't quite understand. There was something dangerous about them, yet at the same time, a deceptive gentleness that made it impossible to resist falling into his trap.

And Shen Mingjin simply watched, indifferent, as people got caught in the net of his kindness, struggling to breathe.

"If I ever met you," Shen Mingjin murmured, "I probably wouldn't have the heart to lie to you."

Tough on the outside, soft on the inside.

Like a little rabbit that gets teary-eyed the moment it's bullied.

How could anyone bear to lie to him?

—

Without waiting to see Xu Duwan's stunned reaction, Shen Mingjin pulled back. He turned to the construction manager and Mr. Cheng, gave a polite nod, then walked to the door and left without looking back.

The moment he stepped out of the cool air-conditioned room, a wave of unbearable heat wrapped around his legs. Sweat quickly trickled down his back.

Shen Mingjin looked up at the blazing sun, then down at his phone, checking his bank balance.

If he couldn't find a job soon, he would starve.

Thinking for a moment, he turned his head and noticed a bar nearby, where someone was handing out flyers for a waiter position. Without hesitation, he walked inside.

Making money came first.

Meanwhile, back in the office, Xu Duwan was in shock.

He hadn't even said much yet, and Shen Mingjin had already left, as if he couldn't stand being insulted.

But… but…

Thinking about what Shen Mingjin had said before leaving, Xu Duwan's heart pounded wildly. His palms grew damp with sweat. His usually rigid expression suddenly felt out of control, his face heating up, his gaze unsteady, and his eyelashes trembling slightly.

Don't believe him. Don't believe him. He's full of lies…

But the more he repeated this to himself, the clearer Shen Mingjin's focused expression became in his mind. That moment when he had looked down at him with such sincerity—

His heart thumped like a drum, almost bursting from his chest.

What do I do? What do I do…?

If no one else had been around, Xu Duwan would have slapped himself.

Xu Duwan, get it together…!

Beside him, the construction manager noticed how red Xu Duwan's face and neck had become. Thinking it was because of the heat, he quickly lowered the air conditioner a few degrees.

Mr. Cheng, on the other hand, rolled his eyes at him in frustration.

Idiot, can't you see?!

Young Master Xu's face wasn't red from the heat—

He was embarrassed!