It was still very early.

The dormitory area was quiet, and there weren't many people on campus yet.

However, Lin Qingye sitting there without a mask or a hat still attracted the attention of the few students who were up early to go to the library.

The morning glow was a pinkish yellow.

As soon as she swiped her card and walked out of the dormitory area, she saw Lin Qingye sitting across from her, his shadow stretched long by the morning light.

The young man's eyelids were drooping, his brows were slightly furrowed, and his features were cold. He looked somewhat impatient and aloof.

Xu Zhinan took a deep breath, and holding the shirt, she walked up to him under the gazes of the few people around.

Lin Qingye had been sitting here all night without sleep. The bright sunlight shone on his eyelids, making it hard to open his eyes.

Until a pair of shoes appeared in his peripheral vision—very clean white sneakers. The edge of a short sock was visible at the slender ankle, and above that were two straight, fair legs.

Lin Qingye recognized them as Xu Zhinan's legs. They were very beautiful.

His Adam's apple bobbed as his gaze continued upward, and then his vision went white.

Xu Zhinan had tossed the white T-shirt into his lap. "The clothes you lent me last time. I've washed them."

He tugged at the corner of his mouth and said, "Thanks."

Xu Zhinan didn't linger. She turned to leave, but as she did, he grabbed her wrist.

The two of them were already famous at Pingchuan University, and standing together was even more eye-catching. Xu Zhinan immediately tried to pull her hand back to shake him off.

But the difference in their strength was too great. She struggled to pull back, but with just a gentle tug from Lin Qingye, Xu Zhinan lost her footing and fell straight towards him.

Her arms landed on his shoulders. She had left in a hurry and hadn't tied up her hair, so the ends of her hair lightly brushed against the side of his face.

Up close, their eyes met.

Lin Qingye didn't steady her. He even took the opportunity to brace his hands behind him, which from a distance made it look like Xu Zhinan had thrown herself into his arms.

At this distance, Xu Zhinan noticed that his monolids had turned into double eyelids, a faint crease, probably from lack of sleep.

His eyes usually had a natural coldness to them, creating a sense of distance just by looking at him, but right now they had the feel of peach blossom eyes.

Then the corners of his eyes drooped downward, revealing a smile. "Are you okay?"

Although he was asking if she was okay, his tone was utterly wicked.

Xu Zhinan quickly pushed him away and stood up. She used too much force, and he fell backward, catching himself with his hands on the dirt of the flowerbed, getting them dirty.

He casually dusted off his palms, his tone finally becoming a bit more serious. "How long are you going to be angry with me?"

"I'm not angry with you." The young woman was very calm, her voice steady, her gaze meeting his without flinching. "I won't have any more illusions about you from now on."

In comparison, Lin Qingye, who hadn't slept all night and whose hair was slightly messy from the wind, looked even more wretched as he sat there looking up at her.

He didn't let go of her hand.

He seemed completely unfazed by the stares from those around them.

Xu Zhinan was quiet for a moment, then finally asked the question, "That night during freshman year when I first met you at the bar, was it on purpose?"

He was very honest. "Yes."

Xu Zhinan's heart sank. "Lin Qingye, you really are a bastard."

"Ah Nan, give me a tattoo," he said suddenly, his tone light. "Like I promised you before, tattoo your name on my back."

Xu Zhinan was now constantly on guard around him, not wanting to fall into his trap again.

She frowned. "I won't forgive you."

"Then don't forgive me."

He stood up, a head taller than her. In the sunlight, his pupils were the color of light amber, his face blurred, his expression unreadable.

"You're the Light of Pingchuan. For deceiving you, I have to pay a price," Lin Qingye said.

Xu Zhinan was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."

Xu Zhinan took Lin Qingye to her tattoo shop.

Their relationship had been entangled for so long, but in reality, this was the first time Lin Qingye had ever truly set foot in this shop.

Xu Zhinan was all business. She walked to the shelf, put on a mask and sterilized gloves, and asked, "Do you want anesthesia? It will affect the result."

"No."

"Okay." Xu Zhinan picked up the tattoo machine and pointed to the workstation. "Go sit over there. Take off your shirt."

Lin Qingye let out a low laugh, raised his arms, and crossed them to pull off his shirt.

Xu Zhinan's fingertips paused. She pressed her lips together firmly, recalling the last time in his studio. Back then, even a glance at him would make her blush and her heart race; she liked him so much.

Even she herself had never imagined she could like someone this much.

Watching him looking so radiant on stage, looking so casual and relaxed when writing lyrics, she would wonder what it would be like when a person like that truly fell for a girl.

That's why even though she knew she and he were from different worlds, she couldn't bear to let go.

But after having her heart broken, she no longer held onto these vain fantasies.

The future Lin Qingye would, as everyone hoped, have a flourishing career in the music industry, but no matter what, it would have nothing to do with her anymore.

Xu Zhinan sniffled and sat down behind him.

His back was indeed very nice to look at—the lines were smooth and firm, his shoulder blades protruded, his spinal column was indented, and from the side, you could see the lines of his abs extending from his waist.

"Where do you want the tattoo?" Xu Zhinan asked.

"You pick."

"Since it's about paying a price," Xu Zhinan pointed to his right shoulder blade with her index finger, "let's do it here. It's more painful here."

The author has something to say:

I revised the last sentence

Ah Nan giving the tattoo isn't about lingering feelings, it's purely about making him pay the price for his deception.

Maybe it's some old-school physical suffering (?)

The tattoo consists of a name and a large image of a girl. One-half is about to be completed.