The air instantly froze.

Blake's hand hung suspended in midair, his expression momentarily blank.


I saw his Adam's apple bob once, and his eyes grew dark and unreadable.

He neither confirmed nor denied it.

He simply withdrew his hand and asked in a low voice: "Do you want me to like you?"


This was a trap.

Whether I answered "yes" or "no," I would be put in a passive position.


I simply closed my eyes, pretending to be delirious from the fever.

"My head is spinning..."

Blake silently looked at me for a while, and finally sighed, tucking in the corners of my blanket.

"Go to sleep."

Only after he left the room did I open my eyes, my heart in complete turmoil.

The[Gossip System]appeared right on cue.

[Ding! Congratulations host for activating a hidden gossip in the romance storyline! Would you like to view it?]

I chose "Yes" without hesitation.

[Gossip Title: Blake's Secret Crush Diary.]

[Selected entries:]

[Month X, Day X, Year X. Sunny. Today, a little one came to our home, named Vanessa. She's so small, so soft, like a little rice ball. They said she would be my sister from now on. But I don't want to be her brother.]

[Month X, Day X, Year X. Cloudy. Vanessa cried today because I didn't let her eat ice cream. She looks ugly when she cries, but I still gave in.]

[Month X, Day X, Year X. Sunny. Vanessa smiled at me for the first time. She said she likes her brother the most. My heart was beating so fast.]

……

[X month X day, year X. Rain. Vanessa said she's fallen for Howard. That man, I've reviewed his background—it's complicated and his intentions are not pure. I can't let her be with him.]

[X month X day, year X. Snow. For Howard's sake, she wants to break ties with me. She said she hates me. My heart feels like a piece has been carved out. Vanessa, how can you be so cruel.]

Reading these words, my tears silently rolled down.

So in the years unknown to me, Blake had carried such a heavy burden of emotions alone.

His control, his dominance, all stemmed from a deep love he couldn't express.

And I had pushed him away, again and again, in the most hurtful ways.

The family doctor came quickly and gave me an injection to reduce the fever.

Blake stayed by my side the entire time, never leaving for a moment.

By evening, my fever had subsided, and I was feeling much better.

Blake walked in carrying a bowl of plain rice porridge, intending to feed me.

I felt a bit uncomfortable: "I can do it myself."

He didn't speak, just stubbornly held the spoon up to my mouth.

I had no choice but to open my mouth and eat.

As the bowl of porridge emptied, my face turned completely red.

"Blake." I gathered my courage and called his name.

He responded with a "hmm," waiting for me to continue.

"I'm sorry," I said. "Before... I was being immature."

His movement of wiping the spoon paused, and he raised his eyes to look at me.

"You understand now?"

I nodded firmly.

He looked at me, gazed for a long time, and then, slowly smiled.

That was the first time I saw him smile—not a cold smile, not a sneer, but a smile of relief.

"Good that you understand now," he said.