Chapter 379: Childhood Friends Must Be Cultivated from a Young Age (62)

Xu Lin sighed, “You really need to take care of yourself. Look at how much thinner your face has become, like that frail Lin Daiyu. It makes people want to take care of you.”

(T/N: The main character from the 18th-century Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber. She is portrayed as a well-educated, intelligent, witty, and beautiful young woman of physical frailty who is somewhat prone to occasional melancholy.)

What could Shen Mubai do?

She felt utterly hopeless.

One night, while lying in bed, Shen Mubai had a sudden idea.

She thought she had come up with a good plan.

In the following days, she began to try to convince the young male lead that his feelings for her were just a misunderstanding.

She told him things like, “What you feel for me is just a form of dependency,” using every trick she could think of. Her arguments were almost as persuasive as the MLM scheme, yet they had no effect.

(T/N: Businesses that involve selling products to family and friends and recruiting other people to do the same are called multi-level marketing (MLM), network marketing, or direct marketing businesses.)

The boy’s eyes remained gentle and soft, looking at her with a tender, doting expression.

The smile on his lips was full of helpless affection.

Shen Mubai, “…..”

What else could she say?

It seemed all the effort she had put into explaining things over the past few days was, in his eyes, nothing more than child’s play.

So angry.

So hateful.

Well… helpless.

After months of struggling, Shen Mubai went from being mentally exhausted to putting up a desperate fight and finally to a state of numb acceptance.

But soon, something else diverted her attention.

Xiao Xueqing gave birth to the baby she had been carrying—it was a boy.

Shen Mubai was overjoyed at the arrival of this new life.

She cradled the baby in her arms, looking at his soft little face, a silly smile spreading across her own.

Lying in the hospital bed, Xiao Xueqing smiled gently, “I originally thought it might be a boy.”

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but laugh, “Boy or girl, it’s all the same.”

Shen Mubai was still gazing at the baby when a soft voice reached her ears, “Luoluo.”

The smile hadn’t left Shen Mubai’s face when she looked up, “Hmm?”

An Ziyu’s gaze rested on the baby’s small face.

He looked up at her and smiled, “Luoluo seems to really like the baby.”

As the young male lead said this, his eyes were fixed intently on her.

Having fully grasped the intensity of his possessiveness over the past few months, Shen Mubai was startled and quickly handed the baby back.

“Mom, Dad, Ziyu and I have classes this afternoon, so we’ll head back now.”

Xiao Xueqing smiled, “Alright.”

After leaving the hospital, An Ziyu lowered his eyes, his voice tinged with sadness.

“Luoluo likes the baby so much that she’s forgotten all about me.”

Even though Shen Mubai knew his true nature, she couldn’t help but soften, “That’s my little brother; how could I not hold him?”

An Ziyu looked up and smiled, “Luoluo seems to like him so much. Even if he is your brother, I’m still jealous.”

Shen Mubai: “…..”

Someone, please bring back that pure, innocent, and adorable little boy she once knew.

After Xiao Xueqing was discharged, Jiang Chen took some time off to stay with her.

Although her younger brother was always around, every time Shen Mubai approached him, she couldn’t help but think of the young male lead.

So she forced herself to keep some distance.

Later, An Ziyu took her to his bedroom.

When Shen Mubai saw the things inside, she was dumbfounded.

Photos on the wall, childhood items on the desk, even things from elementary and middle school—all of them were related to her.

An Ziyu hugged her and said, “Luoluo, didn’t you always want to see this?”

Shen Mubai was shocked and filled with regret.

Can she take it back?

As if he hadn’t stimulated her enough, An Ziyu chuckled softly and said, “I remember every single thing about Luoluo very clearly.”

Shen Mubai stood there stiffly, forcing herself not to think about the implications behind the young male lead’s actions.