Chapter 172 Bitterness, Embarrassment, Panic

Chen Shuang froze entirely beneath the covers, her cheeks flushing red then turning pale.

Her eyes were filled with confusion and chaos, and she couldn't recover her senses for a long time.

Su Qingran... her best friend.

A year younger than her, both of them were campus belles at the Normal University, and their relationship had always been as close as sisters.

Yet... all those things she asked, like "What should I do if a Counselor likes a student?" or "What should I do if I can't get over it in my heart?"... were not asked on behalf of someone else, but for herself!

Chen Shuang suddenly looked up, staring at Lin Chen with wide eyes, her voice trembling slightly: "Lin Chen... c-could you say that again?"

Watching her shocked and flustered little expression, Lin Chen felt secret satisfaction, but he deliberately nodded slowly: "I said, I am a student in Su Qingran's class, and she is my Counselor."

"And..." He paused deliberately, watching Chen Shuang's expression change bit by bit. "It's not as simple as her just liking me."

Chen Shuang's breath hitched, and her heart gave a violent thump: "You... you two also..."

She stopped halfway, unable to continue, her ears burning instantly.

At the thought that her best friend was also secretly entangled with the man before her... her mind instantly became a tangled mess.

There was shame, annoyance, bitterness, and even a strange sense of excitement, all churned together, making her entire body feel hot.

"You... you, you, you—" Chen Shuang pointed at him, unable to form a complete sentence for a long time. Angry, she gave him a light punch, but the force was incredibly soft.

"You are too bold! You even dared to touch her! She is your teacher!"

Lin Chen seized the opportunity to grab her hand and pulled her into his arms, laughing in a low voice: "I didn't force her; it was all consensual. Isn't it the same for you?"

That single sentence struck directly at Chen Shuang's weak spot. Her cheeks turned bright red, and she struggled twice, only to be held even tighter.

Her mind kept echoing with the words she had said to Su Qingran before. "As long as you're an adult, it's consensual, love is free, and falling in love isn't against the law..."

So... she had been advising her friend, and yet now, the man her friend liked was lying right beside her. Even she herself had fallen for him.

"It's so embarrassing..." Chen Shuang buried her head in his chest, feeling both shy and mortified, her voice muffled. "I was foolishly giving her advice, and it turns out... it turns out the person she likes is you."

"Then does she know you're with me?" Lin Chen chuckled: "We've only just started," "She definitely doesn't know yet."

Chen Shuang instantly looked up, her eyes filled with a bit of nervousness and a hint of possessiveness: "Then you are not allowed to tell her first!" "I... I'm not ready to face her yet."

She bit her lip, her eyes darting around, "If she finds out, who knows how she'll laugh at me."

"Laugh at you for what?" Lin Chen teased her on purpose. "Laugh at you for rejecting so many people, only to end up running off with the same man she likes?"

"Lin Chen!" Chen Shuang pinched him in annoyance, her face turning even redder, "Stop talking!"

Watching her look so shy and angry, yet not truly upset at all, Lin Chen felt incredibly satisfied.

Chen Shuang took a deep breath, slowly calming down, and looked at him with a complex gaze: "I finally understand now..." "That girl Su Qingran really hid it deep."

"And you," she poked his chest, her tone resigned, "You are nothing but a menace."

"I hid for so long, but couldn't escape. Even someone as calm and rational as her couldn't escape."

Lin Chen lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his voice deep and steady: "I am not a menace." "It's just that both of you are worth me taking seriously." "Don't worry, I won't put you in a difficult position, and I certainly won't let you suffer any losses."

Looking into his earnest eyes, the bit of bitterness, embarrassment, and panic in Chen Shuang's heart suddenly softened away.

She gave a light "Hmph," turned her face away, but leaned into his embrace voluntarily. "Let's make this clear, this matter... I haven't forgiven you yet."

"And I haven't forgiven that girl Qingran either, for hiding such a huge thing from me." "Next time I see her, I will definitely have to ask her about it!"

Although she spoke tough, her ears were already completely red. Lin Chen could see it clearly. This hurdle, it could be said, was passed.

Moreover, it had also brought out the little possessiveness and jealousy hidden in her heart.

Just at this moment, the system panel popped up. [Congratulations to the Host for gaining 95 points, accumulated points: 281.]

Lin Chen clenched his fists, his eyes darkening, preparing to charge up a third time to deal with Chen Shuang. Suddenly, his phone "buzzed," the jarring ringtone directly interrupting the ambiguity between the two.

He clicked his tongue impatiently and pulled it out. The name "Chen Qian" flashing on the screen instantly caused his tense expression to relax significantly, and the hostility in his eyes also subsided quite a bit.

"Chen Qian?" He swiped his finger to answer, his voice softening unconsciously, and his tone restrained, with not a trace of the heat from just a moment ago remaining.

From the other end of the line came Chen Qian's crisp, slightly coquettish voice immediately: "Lin Chen! Where did you go?" "I sent you several messages and you didn't reply!"

Lin Chen scratched his head, his tone apologetic and slightly guilty. "How could that be, Qian'er, I overslept," "I threw my phone aside and didn't notice; I only just woke up."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Shuang beside him started acting up, elbowing him constantly in the waist, making faces, and mumbling indistinctly: "What are you pretending for..."

Lin Chen was quick-witted; he raised his arm and pressed down on the back of her neck. The force wasn't great, but it was enough to make her unable to move. He swept a warning gaze over her. Keep acting up, and I'll deal with you after I hang up the phone.

Chen Shuang shrank back under his hand, right against his waist. Chen Qian on the other end didn't notice the commotion here and continued: "My parents and I are at the beach right now. We just went on a speedboat, it was so exciting!"

Her tone was full of joy. She paused and added, "But we're flying to Thailand in the evening," "My mom said, if you're free, you should come with us; it would be livelier."

Probably afraid of putting Lin Chen in a difficult position, she quickly added: "Of course, if you're not free, it doesn't matter; I won't force you."

Lin Chen felt a stir in his heart, his mind racing. "Is Aunt Pan deliberately creating an opportunity for him?"

Chen Qian's parents had a good impression of him. If he followed them to Thailand, wouldn't there be more opportunities to be alone with Chen Qian? The more he thought about it, the more worthwhile it seemed, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.

But just at this moment, Chen Shuang, who was being held down, suddenly struggled violently. Lin Chen let out a low: "Hmm..." His voice carried a hint of something he couldn't hide...

Chen Qian on the other end immediately brightened, her tone becoming much lighter: "Eh? What are you 'hmming' about?" "Did you agree?" "That's great! I'm going to tell my mom right now!"

Lin Chen's face heated up. He quickly cleared his throat and hurried to explain, his tone a bit urgent: "No, no, don't misunderstand!" He secretly glared at Chen Shuang, who was looking down and snickering.