Chapter 155: What? A Forced Kiss?!

"What if what?" Qin Sheng tilted her head, looking up at Song Qing'an. A hint of slyness flickered in her eyes, underscored by the faint, playful curl of her lips.

Qin Sheng’s teasing tone, combined with the way she kept leaning closer, made Song Qing'an blush instantly. The crimson flush on his cheeks was particularly striking. Seeing this at such close range, Qin Sheng smiled with satisfaction. She knew that whenever she got close, Song Qing'an couldn't help but blush. It was a tactic that never failed whenever he was about to be intentionally unreasonable. She was quite pleased with the results of this particular "experiment."

Knowing that if she kept staring, the flush on his face wouldn't fade, Qin Sheng chuckled and prepared to pull away. Unexpectedly, just as she was about to retreat, she felt a warm palm rest against the back of her neck. Qin Sheng’s body was naturally cool, and the moment the warmth met her skin, she couldn't help but shiver. Before she could react, she felt a pair of lips—also slightly cool—press against her own.

Qin Sheng’s eyes widened. They were so close that she could clearly see Song Qing'an’s long eyelashes. His face was flushed, his eyes tightly shut, but as if sensing her shock, he slowly opened those peach-blossom eyes again. In the moment their gazes met, a tingling electric current shot through both their hearts. Song Qing'an’s lips rested gently against hers; in that shared gaze, Qin Sheng could almost feel the temperature of his skin. She wasn't sure if it was his warmth or her own.

Qin Sheng stood frozen, not daring to move a muscle, until Song Qing'an pulled away. Only then did she begin to process what had happened. Song Qing'an seemed to realize his own impulsiveness; his lips trembled slightly, and his peach-blossom eyes were filled with a mixture of ambiguity and tenderness. As their eyes met again, the strange yet heart-pounding sensation flooded her mind once more. Like a naive teenager, Song Qing'an stared at her, blushing, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long time.

Qin Sheng remained relatively calm. She cleared her throat and left him with a single sentence before quickly running off.

"Don't forget to eat later."

Before Song Qing'an could reply, she had already vanished into the hallway. He stared at the direction she had fled for a long time, unable to snap out of it. Unconsciously, he reached up and touched his own lips, a shy, gentle smile spreading across his face. Unlike the sensation of those lips he craved, his own hands felt much rougher. Those lips were so tender and red—he had never imagined human lips could be so soft, so sweet, and so intoxicating, making him want to possess such beauty all to himself.

Once back in her room, Qin Sheng dove straight into her private space without a second thought. She splashed her face repeatedly with the cold water kept there, but even then, her cheeks remained as red as if they might drip blood. She had never expected such a thing to happen. Based on how he would blush at even the slightest tease, she would never have dreamed that an active, impulsive kiss like that could come from Song Qing'an. Perhaps it might happen, but certainly not now. At the thought, she plunged her face into the cold water once more.

Only when the heat on her face finally subsided did she stop. She had actually kissed Song Qing'an! How embarrassing! Qin Sheng let out a few whimpers before collapsing onto a hammock nearby. She didn't dare to dwell on what had just happened; every time she did, the details replayed in her mind like a slow-motion film, along with the synchronized rhythm of their racing hearts. She had no idea how she would be able to look at him normally again.

***

"We agreed on brotherly friendship, so why did you sneak a forced kiss?"

Qin Sheng’s hard-won composure was shattered once more. She didn't dare to reflect on it; every time she did, her heart would flutter like a startled deer. *Exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale...* She repeated this countless times before she could finally calm down. To keep her mind from wandering into inappropriate territory, she resolutely picked up her tools to tend to her vegetable garden, even though the soil in her space never sprouted a single weed. Keeping busy provided some relief, and soon she was fully focused on the garden, casting the earlier incident to the back of her mind.

Song Qing'an, on the other hand, was having just as much trouble recovering. He didn't know where he had found the courage at the time. When Qin Sheng answered his question, he hadn't wanted to hear a definitive answer, yet he was terrified that it might actually be one. So, he chose to seal her lips rather than hear anything at all. He hadn't expected that momentary impulse to trigger such a lingering, turbulent emotion.

He didn't know when he had started paying such close attention to everything about Qin Sheng—her moods, her well-being—or why he couldn't bear to see her struggle. Perhaps it was that fleeting glance when they first met. Or perhaps it was the courage she showed when she faced the horde of zombies in the school cafeteria. Or maybe it was every meal they shared together. He realized now that his excuse about wanting a sandwich was baseless; perhaps he just wanted to see her, or hear her speak with that feigned annoyance while still offering him something she knew he liked. He didn't even like sandwiches that much—it was only because the first food she ever gave him was a sandwich that he kept using it as his excuse.

He didn't understand what love was, only that his feelings ran deep.

Song Qing'an gradually calmed his turbulent heart. He had always prided himself on his self-restraint, yet today, he had failed to control his emotions. He knew all too well that the timing was wrong. He began to regret it; the weight of everything rested on his shoulders, and he had neither the time nor the ability to make any promises. But he had broken his own rules.

Song Qing'an clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and vanished from where he stood.

***

"Why are you back?" Lu Shenchen looked at Song Qing'an, who had just appeared at the entrance of the "Fate Shop," with astonishment. Didn't this guy say he wouldn't return until he had collected all the 'positive factors'? Had he already collected them? In just two or three days?

"Did you collect them all?" Lu Shenchen’s expression turned serious. If Song Qing'an had finished collecting the positive factors, it meant they had to return to that other world. The events of so many years were finally coming to an end.

"No."

Seeing Lu Shenchen’s sudden tension, Song Qing'an’s honest "no" instantly dissipated it.

"If not, why do you look so somber? What happened?" Lu Shenchen let out a sigh of relief and asked casually while continuing his work.

After a long silence, Song Qing'an took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and poured out the story of how he had forced a kiss on Qin Sheng.

***

"What?!" Lu Shenchen’s shock was no less than Song Qing'an’s. He had been busy with herbs, but upon hearing this, he dropped them all on the floor. He stood up, as agitated as if he were the one involved.

"You confessed to Qin Sheng? I knew you liked her! Back then you denied it, talking about 'brotherly bonds' and 'saviors'..." Lu Shenchen rambled on, completely oblivious to Song Qing'an’s growing anxiety. He should have known that a mother-hen like Lu Shenchen wouldn't offer much useful advice. Lu Shenchen had been single even longer than he had.

Still, one thing Lu Shenchen said stuck: *Confession.*

He didn't know exactly what a confession entailed, only that in this world, men usually brought flowers to their beloved when they confessed, telling them of the countless ways they felt for them.

"However, you have to think clearly about one thing: once the positive factors are collected, we have to leave," Lu Shenchen said, his excitement fading into a serious tone. That meant they were destined to return to the other world. If that day came, all they would have left of this time were these sweet memories.

He certainly wouldn't leave Qin Sheng behind, but if that final battle came, he couldn't guarantee whether he would live or die. He had thought he would be satisfied just by spending some time with her before collecting the last factor. He thought that if they only spent a little time together, she would move on quickly even if he left. He wouldn't have to worry too much. But now, it seemed he had overestimated his own self-restraint and underestimated her pull on him.

"People are selfish. If you truly love her, you should cherish the present. After returning to the other world, having her in your heart might make things easier."

"Just don't make the girl wait too long..."

Lu Shenchen knew he could only offer so much advice; the decision was ultimately Song Qing'an’s. He turned and left, giving him some space.

It wasn't until the following evening that Song Qing'an emerged. With dark circles under his eyes, it was clear he hadn't slept, but he seemed to have figured out what to do.

"Go on. I support you," Lu Shenchen nodded gently.

"Do me a favor."

"Unconditional support!"

Lu Shenchen regretted those words the moment he said them. He watched as Song Qing'an strode toward the precious, rare roses he had spent so long cultivating and plucked every single one, leaving none behind. Lu Shenchen could only grit his teeth and smile, watching his carefully nurtured medicinal roses become the tools for Song Qing'an’s confession.

"I'll pay you back when we return to the other world," Song Qing'an said, clutching the large bouquet as he dashed out of the Fate Shop.

Lu Shenchen shouted at his retreating back, "I don't want roses! You owe me your prized crystal bottle!"