3:00 AM.
Luo Shu stood by the floor-to-ceiling window on the 29th floor, clad in a white bathrobe, gazing down at the harbour district at 3 a.m.
Just then, the sound of the hairdryer from the bathroom finally ceased.
Moments later, Luo Shu heard a soft thud from the side.
Turning his head, he saw Ai Hoshino sprawled face-down on the freshly changed bedsheets, stretching lazily:
"Ahh... finally over... so tired, so sleepy, and it hurts so much..."
Hearing her complaint, Luo Shu felt slightly guilty but still asked:
"Want me to help with the pain?"
At this, Ai Hoshino immediately shot him a wary look and protested vehemently:
"No! Absolutely not!"
"If you come near me again, it won't just hurt - I'll die!!"
"Just stay where you are. No, even further away - five metres. No, make it ten."
Luo Shu couldn't help but laugh at this declaration:
"At ten metres, I'd fall right off the building."
"Then just sit over there."
Ai Hoshino very considerately pointed to the sofa by the window.
Luo Shu glanced at her, shook his head, then walked over and sat down on the sofa.
Just then, Ai Hoshino grabbed a white cushion nearby and placed it under her stomach. Propping herself up this way seemed to ease her discomfort somewhat. She then turned to look at Luo Shu:
"Come to think of it, I don't think I know your name? Whereas you've probably investigated everything about me already?"
"Luo Shu. That's my name. Though exchanging names at this stage somehow makes me feel even guiltier."
As he spoke, Luo Shu studied Ai Hoshino lying there and thought she looked even more beautiful than before:
"Should I introduce myself properly?"
Ai Hoshino grabbed another pillow to cushion herself and refused without hesitation:
"No, these things are most interesting when discovered slowly over time..."
"Slowly over time?" Luo Shu sounded somewhat surprised.
Ai Hoshino immediately became alert at his tone and questioned:
"Wait, that's a very suspicious question, especially coming from you, Luo Shu."
She studied him intently:
"Didn't you say earlier that I wasn't allowed to have a boyfriend? That you were going to monopolise that position?"
"Were you lying to me just now?"
Luo Shu couldn't help but laugh. "That's not what I meant. I just suspect you might avoid me after this."
"Avoid you?" Ai Hoshino paused, then, after a moment's thought, nodded seriously: "True. If you did this to me every day, I'd definitely die in your arms sooner or later. Maybe I should avoid you after all."
'I strongly suspect you're hinting at something...' Luo Shu's mouth twitched involuntarily. Noticing the obvious smile on Ai Hoshino's face, he couldn't help but chuckle:
"I'm not that desperate."
"True." Ai Hoshino nodded after some thought. "You're clearly very experienced, Luo Shu. You must have no shortage of female company, right?"
Luo Shu's expression faltered at this.
'Experienced' at what exactly? What exactly are you implying here?
At that moment, Ai Hoshino clearly noticed the change in Luo Shu's expression and couldn't help teasing him:
"Don't make that face!"
"Being experienced in such matters is actually a plus~"
"Besides, Luo Shu, it's not like you're without girlfriends, right?"
Hearing Ai say this, Luo Shu studied her face with deep curiosity.
What exactly is this girl's thought process made of?
Wait, come to think of it, in Japan, isn't being inexperienced more likely to draw ridicule than having experience?
It seemed like in schools, many inexperienced popular kids would pretend to be experienced just to fit in.
Whereas in Luo Shu's hometown, having experience would be a huge problem that warranted calling parents and teachers.
Is this the difference between countries?
Thinking this, Luo Shu couldn't help but say:
"As for girlfriends, I do have a few."
"A few?" Ai's interest was piqued, her curiosity evident. "How many exactly? Give me a number."
Seeing Ai's eager expression, though uncomfortable with the topic, Luo Shu indulged her curiosity:
"The kind where two hands aren't enough to count."
"More than ten? Luo Shu, you're really something."
Ai said this cheerfully, calling him 'something', but her tone was more playful than judgmental.
"But if you have so many girlfriends, why are you meeting with me... Could it be I've stumbled into one of those urban drama plots where chaebols exchange gifts?"
As for herself, Ai very rationally positioned herself as the 'gift'.
Based on Luo Shu's earlier attitude and her observations, it seemed he wanted to monopolise this particular gift.
Thinking this, Ai subconsciously glanced at Luo Shu's profile.
Though she'd been looking at it earlier—even deliberately leaving her mark on that face—this time, she felt she was seeing something deeper.
Just like a child with a new toy, utterly unwilling to let go.
Facing Ai's gaze, Luo Shu raised an eyebrow. "I feel like there's something off about your stare."
"It's a gaze full of loving passion," Ai said words even she didn't believe, though her smiling face made it seem genuine.
"I'll take that at face value then." Luo Shu gave Ai a disdainful look, though he didn't dwell on the girl's lie.
"Hehe~" Ai hugged a pillow, giggling playfully with remarkable ease.
If one ignored that this was their first meeting, she really did resemble a girl deeply in love.
If this was acting, Luo Shu would have to admire her skills—but it wasn't necessarily all genuine either.
'Eighty per cent real, twenty per cent act...'
Luo Shu made this assessment while glancing at Ai, thinking that keeping such an amusing idol girlfriend might be interesting.
Just as Luo Shu was thinking this, he suddenly turned his head towards the entryway.
Simultaneously, at the entryway.
With a soft beep.
The door was silently, gently pushed open.
In the early hours of the morning, an uninvited guest stepped inside.