I stand outside the door, holding the key in my hand.

The dark black door seems like a giant abyssal mouth waiting to swallow me.

Yet, I can't imagine what kind of face the person behind the door will have to greet me.

I stand there for a long time.

So long that I consider just leaving and finding somewhere else to spend the night...

The door opens with a soft "click."

Gu Shian's gentle and handsome face appears in front of me.

He seems surprised to see me at the door, then immediately smiles warmly and joyfully:

"Axuan, won't you come in?"

The muscles on my face stiffen uncontrollably into a smile as I avoid his gaze and walk inside.

He lowers his head, watching me slide past him.

I hang my bag to the side, suddenly noticing the now-cold dishes on the dining table.

Seeing my gaze turn in that direction, Gu Shian silently stands behind me.

A pair of hands circle my waist.

He pulls me into his arms, his voice deep:

"Why did you come back so late, hmm?"

"I..." I am at a loss for words.

Gu Shian bows his head and kisses my long hair, whispering softly, "Let's eat first."

We are extremely quiet at the dinner table.

I suppress the rapid beating of my heart, sipping soup slowly.

"You're too thin, you need to eat more vegetables," Gu Shian suddenly says.

In the next second, deboned fish appears in my bowl.

I lower my head in silence, ignoring the intensely penetrating gaze.

I don't understand why.

At this moment, I even hope that I'm mistaken.

After dinner, Gu Shian doesn't wait for me to get up before he quickly and efficiently cleans off the table to wash the dishes.

This is how we've been living for the past half year.

How I wish I were wrong...

"Gu Shian..." My hoarse voice echoes in the living room.

He doesn't respond, his hands busy with the chopsticks and bowls in the sink, his focused profile so stunningly beautiful.

I turn my head and nervously escape into my own room.

The room still looks familiar to me.

I lie on the bed, my mind replaying the daily scenes of the past six months with Gu Shian.

We often chat and drink together.

Sometimes we go hiking on weekends.

I remember coming home from work to see hot meals on the table every night...

And the figure with an umbrella waiting for me outside the library.

Just as I started to rely on him, to fall in love with him—

I had even planned our future together...

But one day someone told me.

He is the very person who orchestrated everything.