Smile Code (Lost Laughter) 失笑 - Zhu Le 祖乐

25

A jerk only needs to be made happy, and maybe he'll make you happy too. But a straight guy is different. He will require you to love him.

It seemed Liang Daiwen misunderstood. As he was about to close the door, his blood-stained hand got caught in the door gap, and he winced in pain. Gu Yi was startled-did he have self-harming tendencies?

"Do you have a temper with me?"

Gu Yi didn't respond. His domineering, CEO-like question almost made her laugh. Was this the response of someone with emotional disorders? Given his usual style, he was about to come up with something unexpected to end the awkward silence, and she was prepared.

After moving from Liang Daiwen's house to her new, unfamiliar place, the once simple and modern Italian-style décor was gone, replaced with old furniture emitting a damp smell and gray walls. Yet, in this environment, Liang Daiwen somehow looked more alive. His hand must have hurt; otherwise, he wouldn't have been frowning. The light in the room reflected in his eyes, almost as though it lit him up entirely. Some stray hairs from his forehead brushed into his eyes, and he used his bandaged hand to push them behind his ear, expressionless but biting his lip. In the next second, it felt like he was about to strike.

Gu Yi took a step back, but he followed her into the room, returning her intense gaze. What did this mean-revenge? Gu Yi vaguely remembered Guan Xingxin's words, "Never say things like 'let's break up' to Liang Daiwen." Could it be that he didn't like what she said about giving back what he gave her?

What was next-was he going to hurt himself too?

She hesitated to think further.

"I don't understand what you mean. If you don't want to be friends with me, just say it directly."

"I..."

"I know, everyone around me becomes unhappy. If that's the case, it's fine, I can accept it. But I need you to tell me directly, I don't like ambiguity."

Gu Yi thought, this way of thinking is really strange. He only pushes others away but won't allow himself to be isolated. No wonder he has no friends. But at this moment, Liang Daiwen, wearing a black sweater with his hand still wrapped in a bandage, his hair scattered in front of his forehead, gave off an aura that made people want to pity him. Liang Daiwen, dejected, didn't want to keep his emotions bottled up but only responded to gentleness.

She softly said, "If you push me away first, I'll be sad."

Liang Daiwen froze, taking another step forward, his head lowered as if sniffing her scent. The expressions of the actors in K-dramas like Ding Hae-In and Song Joong-ki disappeared, and all that remained was Liang Daiwen's initial, expressionless demeanor. "I have something to say to you."

Liang Daiwen, who had emotional disorders, gave her a comprehension question for the first time. Gu Yi perked up her ears.

He got closer, breathing and words coming together, but suddenly something dragged across the next door, making the whole floor echo. She couldn't hear clearly, only catching the words "you" and "me," sending goosebumps down her arms.

"What did you say?"

But he didn't speak again. Gu Yi was stirred by the helpless look in his eyes. If you keep looking at me like that, I don't care whether you have emotional disorders or not, I'll drag you in and deal with you right then and there. Do you believe me?

Just as she thought Liang Daiwen was within her grasp, her phone suddenly rang. Liang Daiwen instantly shifted, his self-awareness seeming to shut off like an AI, returning to his usual, stiff state. He answered the phone, and upon hearing it was work, he stepped back, gave her a brief greeting, and left. The sound of him descending the stairs echoed throughout the six-story building, and although Liang Daiwen had no expression, his tone about work told her that he was in a good mood.