"Why do you care so much about what I think? We're just neighbors."
Shen Lang put down his chopsticks, leaned over the table, and stretched his neck to look at Li Liusi's beautiful face, asking with interest, "Hey, do you like me?"
Li Liusi's body trembled, and she looked at Shen Lang in disbelief before quickly averting her shy gaze.
"I'm just kidding."
Shen Lang knew that Li Liusi had feelings for him. Her incredible fondness for him was obvious. However, given her reserved nature, she wouldn't openly admit to liking him, so he decided to drop the topic.
"Let's eat."
Shen Lang opened Douyin and started watching short videos while continuing to put food on Li Liusi's plate, "Eat up and get some rest afterwards. You need to take care of yourself."
"Can I?"
Li Liusi suddenly asked.
"Hmm? Can you what?"
Shen Lang blinked in confusion.
Li Liusi took a deep breath, clenched her fists on her legs, raised her pale neck, and asked with a shy but determined expression, "Can I like you?"
For a moment, Shen Lang's breath caught. The atmosphere turned eerily quiet, and the sound from Douyin filled the silence.
"Look, this guy is Xiao Zhuang, surrounded by a dozen Karami..."
Li Liusi, having mustered the courage to confess, lowered her head in embarrassment, her anxious eyes sneaking glances at the stunned Shen Lang.
Shen Lang never expected Li Liusi to be so bold in confessing her feelings, especially given her introverted personality. So what now? How should he respond to this sincere girl?
"I never thought someone like me, who's so into gaming, could be liked by a girl."
Shen Lang pretended to be shy and scratched his head.
Li Liusi's face lit up with a joyful, incredulous smile upon hearing this.
"But we've only known each other for a few days. I don't really know you that well yet."
Shen Lang gave an apologetic smile and gently suggested, "Can we start as friends first?"
Upon hearing the word "friends," Li Liusi's smile froze, and a look of pure distress filled her delicate face. Still, considering his response wasn't a clear rejection, she felt a bit better.
That's the genius of the system. This option didn't reject or accept her outright, keeping her hopeful and ensuring she'd keep putting effort into the relationship.
Li Liusi thought for a moment and then smiled sweetly, "Okay, let's start as friends."
"Alright, let's eat."
Shen Lang smiled awkwardly and quickly dug into his meal, eating as if he had a vendetta against the food.
After finishing the meal, Shen Lang refused Li Liusi's repeated offers to wash the dishes and then sat down to relax with a cigarette.
Thinking about Li Liusi's expectant smile, Shen Lang paused for a moment as if making a decision. He quickly put out the cigarette and hurried to Li Liusi's door to knock.
Li Liusi quickly came to the door, and upon seeing Shen Lang, her face lit up with a delighted smile, "Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see your place. Can I come in?"
"Of course."
Li Liusi shyly stepped aside, letting Shen Lang in.
She would never turn away the guy she liked.
After mustering the courage to confess to Shen Lang, she couldn't focus on her studies; her mind was filled with thoughts of the kind-hearted boy.
Shen Lang noticed a lot of books and an open English book on the desk by the window, "Were you studying?"
"Yes."
Li Liusi's face turned slightly red as she nodded.
Shen Lang's previous words made this innocent girl believe that with some effort, she could definitely become his girlfriend.
Thinking about being together with Shen Lang filled her mind with beautiful scenes, leaving her with no mood to study.
"You're not studying effectively this way. Give me your phone. I know an app that helps with memorizing words. I'll download it for you."
After saying this, Shen Lang took Li Liusi's phone and started fiddling with it, then commented, "Your phone's storage is too small for this app. How about I buy you a better one?"
"No, no need."
Li Liusi shook her head vehemently, unwilling to spend Shen Lang's money.
"It's fine. Just note it down. You can pay me back when you start earning."
Without hesitation, Shen Lang bought the latest trending iPhone for Li Liusi, then fanned himself and said with a frown, "Your room's too hot. No air conditioning or fan. I have a contact for an AC technician. I'll get one installed for you. Don't say no, it's going on the list."
Li Liusi's room was small and faced the sun, with only a broken fan to cool it.
Shen Lang walked around the room like a property inspector, finding various excuses to buy expensive items for Li Liusi.
Li Liusi looked at Shen Lang in confusion, not understanding his intentions.
Afraid Shen Lang might get angry, she kept her doubts to herself, only giving him a puzzled, slightly aggrieved look.
"I thought about it and starting as friends is too slow."
Shen Lang took a deep breath and smiled, "How about you consider being my girlfriend?"