The first thing Xu Qian did after getting into the car was pull a pack of cigarettes from her bag.
Ever since she had started working as a streamer, she had resolved to quit smoking to protect her voice. Yet she did not know why, before setting out that afternoon, she had impulsively bought a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from the vending machine downstairs.
Perhaps Xu Qian had already sensed what was about to happen.
It was not as though she did not know that Electronic Sheep liked her. They had simply never pierced that thin veil between them. For Electronic Sheep, speaking up meant risking the loss of Xu Qian and no longer being able to stay by her side. For Xu Qian, it meant she could enjoy everything Electronic Sheep did for her with a clear conscience, without feeling the slightest guilt.
But that unspoken understanding had finally ceased to exist after Electronic Sheep said, "I like you."
After that, Xu Qian seemed rather distracted. She barely listened to the rest of Zhang Heng and Electronic Sheep's conversation, making up an excuse midway through and returning to the car.
Xu Qian lit the cigarette in her hand. Perhaps because it had been so long since she had smoked, her first drag made her cough. About fifteen minutes later, Zhang Heng emerged from the little restaurant, opened the car door, and sat in the driver's seat.
Through the car window, Xu Qian glanced at where Electronic Sheep was sitting inside the restaurant. He was still alone on his chair, staring blankly into space, seemingly lost in thought.
Xu Qian offered Zhang Heng a cigarette as well, but he declined it.
Zhang Heng then said, "Can you give me any more details about being followed before, and finding