The two sat side by side on the roof, neither saying a word.
All they could hear was the distant tide striking the rocks, one wave after another, like the beat of a heart.
Jiang Chen held a blade of grass between his teeth. His gaze drifted lazily over the sea, his thoughts somewhere far away.
Then he felt someone watching him. The gaze was almost burning.
He turned his head and found Zhu Zhuqing staring at his profile, something in her eyes he couldn't quite read.
"What?" Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. "Is there something on my face?"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't answer. Her lashes lowered slightly, as though she wanted to say something but swallowed the words.
Jiang Chen grinned. "You came looking for me in the middle of the night instead of sleeping. Don't tell me it was to admire the view. Come on, what is it?"
Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment.
"Jiang Chen."
"Yeah?"
"Do you remember when we first met?"
Jiang Chen thought for a moment. "Outside Shrek Academy? You had that icy look on your face, like everyone there owed you money."
The corners of Zhu Zhuqing's mouth lifted. "You said a Support-type Soul Master didn't need anyone to protect him."
"Did I? I'd forgotten."
The moment Jiang Chen said it, he felt her gaze grow hotter.
He turned and met Zhu Zhuqing's deep black eyes.
In the moonlight, something seemed to be hidden in them.
Her stare made Jiang Chen a little uncomfortable. He was about to tease her when she suddenly spoke.
"Jiang Chen, I have something to tell you."
"Go ahead."
Jiang Chen sat up straight, dropping his usual careless manner.
Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath, as though gathering all her courage.
She looked at him, but scenes from