She genuinely meant no mockery; she was truly curious. Although she was a demon who made deals with fallen humans, she did not understand the complexities of human emotion, and most of the time, her actions were merely clumsy imitations. Thus, there were times she truly did not grasp what made humans angry.
The System shrieked with excitement. He knew—he knew! There are three things in this world that cannot be hidden: coughing, poverty, and love.
"Because he likes you!" the System silently answered for the Lord God in his heart, but unexpectedly, the words slipped out.
The System quickly covered his mouth. He thought to himself: *It’s over, it’s all over! What kind of nonsense am I spouting?*
"Likes me?" Xingyu’s ears ached from the System’s excited shouting. She frowned, repeating the words subconsciously.
Caught off guard and exposed, Xu Lingjing’s ear tips burned red. He turned his head away in distress to avoid Xingyu’s gaze, his voice strained as he said, "No."
"No what?" Xingyu did not understand what Xu Lingjing was talking about.
Feeling a bit of a muddle in her head, she sorted through her scattered thoughts and coldly questioned the screaming System in her mind.
*What did you mean by your last comment?*
For the first time, the System felt the killing intent of a demon. Even though she looked adorable, that decisive, authoritative aura was so intense it made his skin crawl. His legs went weak. *Lord Demon, I was just joking, boo-hoo!*
*Do you think I’m easy to fool?*
*No.*
*Then explain yourself clearly!*
The System replied honestly, "In the human world, pupils dilating suddenly can mean many things, but when accompanied by blushing, it must be love... but only for that moment... after all, humans can’t always control their physiological reactions." The System frantically tried to make amends; if the Demon found out the Lord God loved her, it would be the end.
*Love? Love is something only humans have. Lingjing is a god without emotions; how could he have love?*
*But the Lord God is human in this world, haha,* the System explained dryly.
Xingyu curled her lips into a cold sneer.
*That’s true. After all, he’s supposed to be in a loving relationship with Ruan Qianqian, so how could there be no love? I finally understand. Lingjing tricked me into this micro-world just so I would watch his happy love story with someone else from the sidelines, right? Truly, his intentions are malicious!*
*The Lord God has no possibility with anyone else! Lord Demon, please don't say that anymore. If the Lord God hears you, he really will go crazy.*
*Boo-hoo, it’s too hard. Getting promoted to a Guardian Angel is just too hard.*
"I didn't... please don't find me disgusting, I beg you." Xu Lingjing’s face was pale, his usually calm expression revealing anxiety and timidness.
His fingertips twitched, as if he wanted to reach out and grab her hand to explain, but he dared not touch her at all. She hated him, so naturally, she would hate his unsolicited touch. Even if he groveled, it would only be seen as having ulterior motives.
Xingyu said in a soft, yet clearly mocking tone: "I naturally wouldn't take it seriously. After all, I know the one you like is Ruan Qianqian."
A flash of bewilderment crossed Xu Lingjing’s face. He pursed his dry, thin lips and said softly, "Ruan Qianqian? I don't like her..."
"Oh."
"I really don't like her..."
Xingyu didn't believe him for a second and scoffed. "If you don't like her, why do you remember her name?"
"I have hyperthymesia; I cannot forget anything. I am not familiar with her, and I have never spoken to her on my own initiative..."
"Are you annoying or what? I don't want to know about you and her."
"Fine." Xu Lingjing’s voice was very soft. After speaking, he lowered his head and cast his gaze downward, his thick eyelashes casting large shadows that completely obscured his eyes.
Seeing Xu Lingjing like this did not soften Xingyu’s heart at all. Instead, it made her chest feel very uncomfortable, as if something was gripping it, leaving a sour ache.
Xingyu pressed her hand hard against her chest to try and ease that oppressive feeling, all while not forgetting to glare viciously at Xu Lingjing.
But the feeling wouldn't fade. She let out a breath and, driven by some inexplicable impulse, grabbed Xu Lingjing’s large, hanging hand, expertly interlacing her fingers with his.
The moment she held him, Xingyu’s stifled heart could finally breathe again.
Xu Lingjing froze, the tension inside him snapping tight. He knew Xingyu must just be trying to toy with him, but his ear tips turned red nonetheless. He was so flustered that his fingertips felt scalding, and his palms began to grow clammy with a thin layer of sweat.
Xingyu realized what she was doing and a flash of embarrassment crossed her face. Her eyes widened, and she looked up at the ceiling in awkwardness, not knowing why she had taken the initiative to hold Xu Lingjing’s hand.
But letting go now would be even more awkward.
Perhaps it was a habit formed a long, long time ago. Lingjing was a man of few words, and Xingyu was the sharp-tongued type. His clumsy attempts to cheer her up never worked and only resulted in her retorting; thus, he could only hold her hand and pull her into a hug to soothe her. So, even after they had turned into enemies, Xingyu hadn't forgotten that habit.
Xu Lingjing trembled nervously, his thin eyelids stained with a glistening, crimson flush.
"Why are you holding my hand?"
He asked so quietly, his voice so ethereal it was almost impossible to hear.
Xingyu spoke with malice: "Does it bother you? Is holding hands not allowed? You’re so strong, why don't you just shake me off? So, even if you hate my touch, your ears still turn red? How interesting."
"Or is it that you blush no matter who touches you?"
*How can she say such things?*
Xu Lingjing was stunned, as if allergic to her words. His ink-black pupils were quickly veiled by a layer of shimmering water, and the corners of his eyes turned faintly moist.
"No."
After a long while, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and he forced out the word, terrified that if he said one more, he wouldn't be able to hide the hoarseness and choked emotion in his voice.
Yet Xingyu was so dull, or perhaps she simply didn't care about his reaction at all.
She continued: "It’s just holding hands. I’ve held hands with so many, many people. Does it bother you that much? Then I just won't touch you anymore in the future."
"With whom?" Xu Lingjing’s eyes became impossibly dim, his voice trembling like a string plucked by a beginner—hoarse and unrefined.
"Why should I tell you? I don't care who you’ve held hands with in the past, or who you’ll hold hands, hug, or sleep with in the future... I hate you, and you have no right to question me, so stop it."
Xu Lingjing couldn't even maintain a self-mocking smile. He felt as if he had stepped onto a void, unable to find solid ground, nearly falling into a shattered abyss.
The System was shivering just listening to this. It was too hurtful, and he grew anxious. *Lord Demon, I beg you, stop talking. The Lord God will be very sad.*
Xingyu narrowed her eyes. *He’ll be very sad because of this? You can tell?*
Xu Lingjing didn't seem to have much of a reaction at all.
*Who couldn't tell that?!*
Heaven help him! Every day since he bound himself to the Demon, he had lived in constant fear; he was so worried he was losing his feathers at such a young age.
*I didn't say anything that harsh. It’s all the truth... Besides, for the sake of reproduction and the continuation of life, humans find it hard to be truly devoted. Isn't it normal for someone to have seven or eight girlfriends and be married three or four times in a lifetime? So, it’s just holding hands, it’s not a big deal. Why care so much?*
The System: "..."
*Where is that normal?! Where is that normal?!* The Lord God would only ever be locked to the Demon. The Lord God was born indifferent, and he had given all those meager emotions to the Demon; how could he possibly touch anyone else!
The car was deathly silent. Xingyu disliked this atmosphere, so she irritably let go of his hand, furrowed her brows, and said gloomily, "Fine, since you care so much, I won't touch you in the future, okay?"
"If you feel I’ve tainted you, just wipe your hands clean with a wet towel."
"Don't worry, once you're dirty, I certainly won't touch you. Once you have someone you like, I’ll stay far, far away from you."
After saying this, Xingyu turned around, intending to pull a wet towel from the table.
The System: "..." He had completely given up hope.
Xu Lingjing’s calm, waveless face finally revealed a look of agony.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, his complexion shifted, and he clutched his chest, letting out a muffled groan of pain. Blood rushed to his head, and the taste of blood filled his mouth.
She was the only rose hidden within his desolate castle, but as the thorn-filled leaves and vines wrapped around his entire body, he still felt a world-ending, crushing pain.
Xu Lingjing forcibly swallowed the metallic tang rising in his throat and suddenly stared straight at Xingyu. He seemed to have been driven completely mad; his handsome face was gloomy, bizarre, and grotesque. His crimson eyelids lifted, and his dark eyes remained fixed upon her, unblinking.