Chapter 156: I’m Not Going Anywhere

She had simply been afraid to admit it.

Her grandfather’s voice entered her memories.

"Go see your golden hero!"

Her face warmed.

Even remembering it hurt.

But this time...

The memory also made her smile.

Shen Tian noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"That wasn’t nothing."

Chi Lingxi shook her head.

"Grandpa said something stupid before I left for school that morning."

Shen Tian smiled.

"What did he say?"

"I’m not telling you."

"Now I definitely want to know."

"No."

"Was it about me?"

"..."

Shen Tian’s smile widened.

"It was."

Chi Lingxi covered her face.

"Forget I said anything."

"Too late."

"Shen Tian..."

He laughed.

For a moment...

Chi Lingxi simply listened.

Then her expression softened.

She realized something.

This was the first time she’d laughed about her grandfather since his death.

The realization made her eyes sting.

Shen Tian immediately noticed.

"Chi Lingxi?"

"I’m okay."

"You sure?"

She nodded.

"Actually..."

She lowered her hands.

"I think... I’m a little better."

Shen Tian smiled.

"Good."

Silence returned.

But it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Chi Lingxi moved slightly closer.

Their shoulders almost touched.

Her heartbeat increased.

She looked at Shen Tian’s hand resting on the grass.

Then at his face.

Then back toward the pond.

Her courage disappeared.

Returned.

Disappeared again.

Shen Tian noticed her restlessness.

"You okay?"

"Yes."

"You’ve moved your hand five times."

"..."

Chi Lingxi stared at him.

"You count that?"

"I notice things."

"That’s annoying."

"I’ve also been told that."

She laughed again.

Then...

Before she could overthink it...

Her hand moved.

She gently placed it over his.

Shen Tian looked down.

Chi Lingxi immediately became red.

But she didn’t move away.

"..."

Shen Tian looked toward her.

She stared determinedly at the pond.

As though nothing unusual had happened.

Shen Tian smiled.

His fingers slowly turned.

Then...

He held her hand.

Chi Lingxi’s heart nearly stopped.

She looked down.

Their fingers were intertwined.

Her face became even warmer.

Shen Tian said nothing.

Neither did she.

For several minutes...

They simply sat there.

Eventually...

Chi Lingxi whispered,

"Shen Tian."

"Yeah?"

"I need to tell you something."

He looked toward her.

Her heart hammered.

This wasn’t how she had imagined doing it.

She hadn’t planned a speech.

She hadn’t prepared anything.

Maybe that was better.

She turned toward him.

Her eyes were still slightly red from crying earlier.

But her expression was serious.

"I like you."

Shen Tian became still.

Chi Lingxi swallowed.

Then forced herself to continue.

"I’ve liked you for a while. At first... I thought I was just grateful. Because you were nice to Mom. Then because you invited us out. Then..."

She smiled faintly.

"You kept appearing."

Shen Tian listened.

"You made me laugh. You made Mom happy. You treated Grandpa respectfully even when he said ridiculous things."

Her smile trembled.

"And when that car almost went over the mountain... You came back for me."

She looked down at their hands.

"I know you probably would’ve done it for anyone. But... It mattered to me."

She took a breath.

"Then you gave us the prize money. You promised to help Grandpa. You showed me this entire world I never knew existed."

Her fingers tightened slightly around his.

"And every time I’m scared... I want to see you."

Shen Tian’s expression softened.

Chi Lingxi finally looked directly into his eyes.

"So... I don’t know if this is the right time. I don’t know if I’m saying this because everything hurts right now. But I also don’t want to hide it."

Her voice became barely above a whisper.

"I love you."

Silence.

Chi Lingxi immediately became nervous.

She had said it.

Actually said it.

There was no taking it back.

Shen Tian looked at her for several seconds.

Then...

He smiled.

"I like you too."

Chi Lingxi’s eyes widened.

"...Really?"

"Really."

Her expression immediately brightened.

Then Shen Tian continued.

"But..."

Her heart dropped slightly.

He gently squeezed her hand.

"I don’t want to rush anything."

Chi Lingxi looked confused.

Shen Tian spoke carefully.

"You’ve been through something horrible."

"Your grandfather just died. You’re grieving. And right now... You’re looking for something stable."

Chi Lingxi’s expression became quieter.

Shen Tian continued.

"I’m happy you told me. And I’m not rejecting you."

Her eyes lifted.

"I’m saying yes."

A tiny smile returned.

"But I want to give you time."

"Time?"

"To grieve. To recover. To figure out how you feel when everything isn’t falling apart around you."

Chi Lingxi stared.

Shen Tian smiled.

"If you still want me after that..."

His fingers tightened gently around hers.

"I’m not going anywhere."

Her eyes immediately filled with tears.

Shen Tian panicked slightly.

"Was that bad?"

Chi Lingxi shook her head quickly.

"No."

"Then why are you crying?"

"Because..."

She laughed through the tears.

"You’re being stupidly nice again."

Shen Tian relaxed.

"I can stop."

"No!"

Her answer came so quickly that he laughed.

Chi Lingxi wiped her face.

Then leaned closer.

Her head gently rested against his shoulder.

"Just... Stay like this."

Shen Tian nodded.

"Okay."

He didn’t kiss her.

Didn’t push anything further.

Didn’t turn her vulnerable moment into something else.

He simply sat beside her...

Holding her hand.

And let her rest.

Unfortunately...

Peace around Shen Tian never lasted particularly long.

Xu Ning appeared several feet away.

She opened her mouth.

Then noticed Chi Lingxi resting against Shen Tian.

She stopped.

Shen Tian immediately narrowed his eyes.

"Don’t."

Xu Ning covered her mouth.

[I didn’t say anything.]

"Your expressionless face did."

[I have no idea what you mean.]

Shen Tian ignored her.

Xu Ning floated closer.

[Host.]

Shen Tian noticed the change.

"What happened?"

[New protagonist.]

His eyebrows rose.

"Already?"

Xu Ning nodded.

[And this one...]

She paused.

Shen Tian mentally sighed.

"Just tell me."

A transparent system screen appeared.

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[Name: Jiang Feng]

[Identity: Fallen Professional Gamer]

[Protagonist Type: Return-to-the-Peak / VRMMORPG]

[Current Fate Value: 200,000]

[Special Trait: God-Level Gaming Talent]

[Destined Path: Eternal Realm Supreme Player]

[Able to Die: No]

[Current Destiny Stage: Beginning of the Comeback]

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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)

SEND POWESTONES!!!

ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!