Chapter 186: A Way Out

“Yinyin was just trying to help everyone!” Gong Jian yelled, stopping Gong Xue. He could tell that ‘Lin Yin’ was in a bad mood at the moment.

“I’m going down to sleep for a while too. I’m so tired.” Yi Ya looked listless, covered her mouth as she yawned, and glanced at ‘Lin Yin’ carefully before speaking softly to ‘her’.

“No! You are not allowed to go down!” Lü Yang immediately snapped at Yi Ya.

Even if everyone else went down, Yi Ya was not allowed to go.

Yi Ya was startled by ‘Lin Yin’ suddenly speaking so loudly. She frowned, unable to process what was happening.

“Enough! Yinyin, what is wrong with you!?” Gong Xue finally lost her temper.

“Can you not talk? If you’re tired, go down and sleep some more!” Gong Jian interrupted Gong Xue again. It seemed no matter what Lin Yin did, he would protect her without question, even opposing his own sister.

“Whoever wants to stay here and indulge her foolishness can stay. I’m going down.” Gong Xue gave her brother a helpless look, glanced at Lin Yin, then turned and walked down the mountain back to the hotel.

“Yinyin, you’ve really lost it.”

Yi Ya swayed a little as she stared at Lin Yin. Others could scold Lin Yin, and if they were unhappy, they could go back to the hotel and sleep. But she couldn’t, because Lin Yin was gripping her arm tightly, and hadn’t let go for three whole hours! It seemed impossible to break free from her grasp.

This felt really awkward. Even if they were close, there was no need for this, right? Could she be…

If she hadn’t been cursed by Lü Yang, she must have been possessed by him. Otherwise, none of this made sense…

“If you’re sleepy, just rest on me. Don’t go down the mountain. There might be a mudslide.” Lü Yang was extremely frustrated. Of course, he didn’t want a mudslide to actually happen, but the current situation was also very irritating.

“Yinyin… let’s go sit over there…” Yi Ya shook her arm and looked at a large rock not far away.

Lü Yang walked over to the rock, placed the dry side of his raincoat on top, and sat down with Yi Ya, letting her lean against him.

Hu Yulan also came over, copying Lü Yang by placing her raincoat on the rock too. She sat down on Lü Yang’s other side without asking, leaned her back against his shoulder, and soon fell asleep snoring.

Lü Yang had spent a long time in the bathroom before going to sleep last night, and later kept having ‘bad dreams’. Now, he was completely exhausted, but he didn’t dare close his eyes, forcing himself to stay awake.

If he accidentally fell asleep, Yi Ya might take the chance to escape back to the hotel. That absolutely must not happen!

A strong sense of unease before danger lingered in Lü Yang’s heart. He didn’t dare relax even a little.

Gong Jian also looked tired. He stood a few meters away, watching Lin Yin from a distance. He didn’t come closer but refused to leave, standing there dazedly as if guarding something.

…

Jing’an Residential Area, Lü Yang’s rented room.

When Lin Yin woke up in the morning, she found she was still in Lü Yang’s body and hadn’t returned to her own. This made her panic.

Lin Yin took Lü Yang’s mobile phone and dialed her own number, but still couldn’t get through. The same went for her classmates’ phones—either turned off or out of service.

Liu Hui had asked to meet her today. What should she do now?

Lü Yang had been dating Yi Ya and Liu Hui behind their backs, took Liu Hui’s first time, and then disappeared the next day. That was truly despicable! He must be punished. How could someone so irresponsible be with Yi Ya?

But was what she was doing right?

Lin Yin alternated between righteous anger and hesitation. She deeply regretted speaking carelessly last night, which landed her in this huge mess.

In the end, Lin Yin, the class monitor who was always kind-hearted and honest, made a decision. If she couldn’t switch back today and still couldn’t contact Lü Yang, she would take responsibility for Lü Yang toward Liu Hui. After all, Liu Hui said if she couldn’t be with Lü Yang, she didn’t want to live. That was terrifying.

If Liu Hui really ended her life over this, wouldn’t it be Lin Yin’s fault?

Yi Ya had always been lukewarm toward Lü Yang, treating him at most as a backup. Lü Yang liked Yi Ya more, and Yi Ya might just feel indebted to him for saving her life, making it hard to directly reject him. If Lü Yang had another girlfriend outside, maybe Yi Ya could be set free.

Liu Hui loved Lü Yang so much; it was a blessing for Lü Yang. With the Liu family’s huge assets, what more could Lü Yang want?

After thinking it over repeatedly, Lin Yin felt that Lü Yang and Liu Hui would be a better match.

Unless Yi Ya truly loved Lü Yang…

This was so frustrating! If only she could contact Yi Ya, she could find out what Yi Ya really thought, and this decision would be easier to make.

Unable to reach Yi Ya or Lü Yang, Lin Yin had to make the decision herself.

Make Lü Yang take responsibility for Liu Hui! That was the responsibility a man should take for his actions!

…

Just after Lin Yin washed her face and brushed her teeth, Liu Hui called and asked if she wanted to have breakfast together.

Lin Yin originally wanted to refuse, but after some thought, she decided to stick with the decision she made that morning. So she agreed to Liu Hui’s invitation.

“Where are you? Give me your address. I’ll come pick you up,” Liu Hui asked.

“I’m at Jing’an Residential Area, Jinghu North Road, Shexi District,” Lin Yin blurted out, then quickly covered her mouth.

Making this decision for Lü Yang was already pushing it. Since Lü Yang was avoiding Liu Hui, it meant he didn’t want Liu Hui to find him… If she hadn’t given Liu Hui the address, maybe there would still be room for negotiation when Lü Yang returned. But now that she’d told Liu Hui the address, Lü Yang had no way out.

Who told him to be so irresponsible about relationships? He shouldn’t be pitied!

“I’ll be right there. At most fifteen minutes,” Liu Hui said.

She couldn’t wait to see him.

From Liu Mansion to Lü Yang’s rented Jing’an Residential Area, it took at least half an hour without traffic. Liu Hui was afraid that if she said it would take too long, Lü Yang wouldn’t let her come, so she instinctively lied and said it would only take fifteen minutes.

“Alright, I’ll wait for you at the residential area entrance,” Lin Yin replied hesitantly.

“No, just stay at home. I’ll call you when I get there,” Liu Hui quickly told Lü Yang.

She didn’t want him waiting on the roadside. If he got angry, it would be a big problem.

After hanging up, Lin Yin sat dizzily on Lü Yang’s worn-out sofa, starting to regret again. One moment she thought she shouldn’t have made the decision for Lü Yang, the next she felt it was the right thing to do, then she worried that if he came back and found out, would he strangle her or something…

Over half an hour passed in Lin Yin’s scattered thoughts until… someone knocked on the door.

After driving to Jing’an Residential Area, Liu Hui didn’t call Lü Yang. Instead, she went to the guard house, sweetly called the guard “uncle,” and gave him two packs of cigarettes.

An elderly guard kindly led her to Lü Yang’s building and told her exactly which floor and room Lü Yang lived in.

Jing’an Residential Area wasn’t very big, and Lü Yang was tall and well-built, making him quite noticeable. He was also helpful and paid fees like property management through the guards, so the guards all knew him. That’s how Liu Hui got his address so easily.

Having found out, Liu Hui went straight upstairs and knocked on the door.

Standing outside Lü Yang’s door, Liu Hui was so emotional she almost cried.

The door opened.

Confirming that the person who answered was the one she had been dreaming of day and night… and last night on the phone, they seemed to have confessed their feelings and established a relationship… Overwhelmed, Liu Hui immediately threw herself into ‘Lü Yang’s’ arms.

Then, naturally, she started crying.

The meaning of her tears was clear: from today on, Liu Hui was officially attached to you. You must love me and take responsibility for me. If you dare not love me or take responsibility, I’ll make you regret it.

Liu Hui had always acted this way at home growing up. The gentleness she showed Lü Yang at Donkey Head Mountain was to impress him with her good side, but deep down, she still had a spoiled and bossy side.

Once Lü Yang got to know her better, he would see this side of her.

Lin Yin felt extremely awkward. It was her first time holding a girl like this, and as a girl herself, it felt very unfamiliar.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. You found me, didn’t you? I wasn’t deliberately avoiding you… I just… forgot your contact info… so… I couldn’t reach you…” Lin Yin stumbled through an explanation, thinking she was defending and making up for Lü Yang.

“You were looking for me too?” Liu Hui looked up, tears in her eyes, staring at Lin Yin.

“Yes… I’m not that irresponsible. Since we already… I will definitely take responsibility for you!” Lin Yin promised Liu Hui on Lü Yang’s behalf.

“I knew you were a good person and wouldn’t just abandon me,” Liu Hui blushed, now feeling that as a girl, she should be more reserved. Throwing herself into Lü Yang’s arms earlier might have been too abrupt.