Do Hearts Truly Beat as One?

"Hehe." Shiina Hiyori finally let go of his hand after successfully making him laugh.

She took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped it clean. "Does it really hurt that much?"

She had obviously been very careful.

"Of course." How could Shi Cheng possibly pass up such a good chance to play the victim? He nodded forcefully. "It hurts a lot."

Shiina Hiyori worriedly held his hand in front of her and blew warm breaths onto it.

"Is it better now?"

Shiina Hiyori looked up at him pitifully.

Her eyes were full of apology.

What else could he say? Of course, he could only forgive her.

"It's much better. I'm just really hungry. I want to eat something Hiyori made herself."

Although he had not fully seized the opportunity, collecting a little interest was still fine.

Shiina Hiyori thought so too.

It was just that the two of them were not on the same wavelength.

She thought Shi Cheng had truly given up on that idea entirely.

"Okay." Feeling guilty, she wanted to make it up to him.

Now that Shi Cheng had brought it up, it suited her perfectly.

After eating at Shiina Hiyori's dorm, Shi Cheng left without feeling particularly relaxed.

He knew Shiina Hiyori would not speak to him for the next few days.

Shi Cheng did not care.

Wouldn't it pass if he just waited?

After reaching the ground floor, Shi Cheng went outside for a walk to digest his food.

"Why aren't you in your dorm?"

A slender figure suddenly appeared before him.

Under the night sky, her smooth, lustrous legs seemed to glow.

But he had no time to admire them right now.

Seeing Horikita Suzune looking as though she were checking up on him, Shi Cheng frowned.

Who are you to meddle in my business?

"Yeah, what is it?" Shi Cheng replied casually.

Horikita Suzune raised her brows, clearly unconvinced.

She could not claim to be the fastest at returning to the dorm, but no one else could claim to be faster either.

So she was absolutely certain.

Shi Cheng had not been in his dorm.

But none of that mattered now.

What mattered was that she had finally found Shi Cheng.

"There's something I want to ask you to do."

Since it concerned her brother, Horikita Suzune did not get straight to the point.

What if Shi Cheng refused?

Wouldn't that make her look ridiculous?

"Wait a second." Knowing it definitely would not be anything good, Shi Cheng raised a hand to refuse. "If it's a family matter, I'm afraid I can't help."

Seriously, you were actually refusing right away?

The beautiful fox-like eyes of Horikita Suzune grew anxious.

After all, he was in the same year as her and could speak with her brother.

Horikita Suzune truly could not think of anyone else who could help her.

"Please, I'm begging you. Can you help me?" Horikita Suzune's pleasant voice softened, and Shi Cheng felt his bones nearly melt.

She was using a beauty trap already?

Was he the kind of person who could not withstand such a tiny temptation? Who was she looking down on?

If she had the guts, she should try harder.

Naturally, he would not say any of that aloud.

Shi Cheng merely stared steadily at Horikita Suzune before him.

Compared to her usual icy demeanor, she was a little too cute right now.

Was this the visual feast brought by contrast?

Shi Cheng felt enlightened.

"Can you?" Horikita Suzune unusually launched another attack.

Girl, you've got it bad.

Shi Cheng came to that conclusion.

After thinking it over, Shi Cheng decided to accept this hot potato after all.

She was already trying so hard to please him.

If he refused, he might never get another chance to see her acting normal again.

"Fine. I'm going out to buy a drink. Wait here for a bit."

Shi Cheng had a headache. How had he ended up agreeing?

"I'll go." Horikita Suzune said urgently, as though afraid he would change his mind.

Seeing her turn away, Shi Cheng called after her. "Aren't you going to ask what I drink?"

Horikita Suzune was forced to stop and stared straight at him.

"Any flavor of coffee is fine."

Having received precise instructions, Horikita Suzune nodded and left.

The vending machine was not far away, and she moved with exceptional speed.

She returned quickly.

Taking the ice-cold can, Shi Cheng teased, "Oh, you even knew to choose a cold one. I thought you'd pick room temperature."

That made it sound like she had no common sense.

Horikita Suzune was extremely displeased.

"In weather this hot, would you not drink something cold?"

"Of course not." Shi Cheng shook his head, popped the tab, and took a large gulp.

While waiting for the elevator, Shi Cheng asked, "Your place or mine?"

Not knowing how long this would take, Horikita Suzune, who remembered the dorm rules, said, "Yours."

Looking at her calm expression.

Shi Cheng rather admired how calmly she could say that.

"If Horikita's expression were a little more vivid, I might misunderstand."

"Heh." Horikita Suzune sneered. Though she said nothing else, the mockery in her tone was unmistakable.

"Tch."

Shi Cheng clicked his tongue. Her attitude had changed far too quickly after he agreed.

Shi Cheng suddenly wanted to tease her.

He wanted to say he had been lying just now and see how she reacted.

"Hiss!" Perhaps because they were standing so close.

Horikita Suzune actually guessed what he was thinking.

And she immediately gave his waist a hard pinch.

I haven't even said anything yet.

Shi Cheng grimaced in pain.

Once she let go, Shi Cheng shouted in dissatisfaction, "If something goes wrong, selling you wouldn't even be enough compensation!"

This time, Horikita Suzune did not respond. She merely curled her lips into a pleased smile.

It seemed she was in a very good mood now.

Just you wait.

Shi Cheng shot her a fierce glare.

Then the two took the elevator to his dorm room.

"I didn't expect your place to be so clean." Other than her brother's room, she had heard that the others were all terrible, so she was somewhat surprised.

"That's just prejudice." Shi Cheng had no intention of entertaining her. "You didn't even buy yourself a drink just now, so I assume you didn't come here specifically to take advantage of me."

Horikita Suzune cast him a cold look and began talking business.

"Come sit down."

Sitting across from her, Shi Cheng asked, "Go on, then. What family matter needs help from an outsider like me?"

Horikita Suzune spoke solemnly. "I want to be able to talk normally with my brother. Do you have any ideas?"

That was quite the statement.

Shi Cheng narrowed his eyes at once. "You really are an incredible brother-con!"

Horikita Suzune immediately cried out, "You don't understand at all!"

In short, she described President Horikita as unbelievably great, filling in the rest with her own imagination. It was too much trouble to write out.

"So insignificant as I am, I can only gaze at my brother's back." After saying the part that stirred her most, Horikita Suzune lowered her eyes.

Under the light.

Her waist-length black hair covered her beautiful, captivating face, hiding any change in expression.

Pondering her final words, Shi Cheng said in surprise, "So after talking with him today, you came looking for me because you think I can help?"

No, what kind of thought process was that?

As expected, every kind of abnormal obsession was abnormal.

"That's right!" Horikita Suzune raised her head again.

But her gaze was no longer as cold as before, and there was now a trace of vulnerability in it.

She was still just a girl, after all.

She still needed a warm shoulder to lean on.

Shi Cheng nodded to himself.

He was best at being that shoulder.

"Hmm." Shi Cheng fell into thought.

Ordinary methods definitely would not work on someone with thought patterns as abnormal as Horikita Suzune's.

He would have to use something drastic.

"I do have a method, but I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."