Because I simply love you
Chapter 378: A stifling feeling

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

Silence.

Huian stared at him continuously for God knew how long. She finally blinked her eyes when they began to water.

She felt as if she didn't hear it right.

I should get my ears checked…

"What?" she asked in confusion.

Shin knew his question was akin to a bomb dropping on her out of nowhere.

"I mean…I…"

Shin wanted to pull his hair out. He didn't seem to get the words to explain himself.

"Will you please listen to me just once?" he sighed.

Huian was still in a daze.

"I am listening."

Shin nodded. "Well, Mom and Dad are pestering me to replace a girlfriend, and now they are…trying to convince me to date Mu Shuchun."

Huian somewhat knew about their situation, so she understood why he must be in trouble.

"I think you must have already guessed that Mu Shuchun and I have broken up. There is no way I can get back together with her."

"I understand…"

Shin wryly smiled. "They don't know about it, and it has been already seven years…I don't want to dig up that past incident in front of them after all this time. They shouldn't know."

Huian was waiting for him to get to the point.

"I said that I don't want to date her, but they aren't ready to listen. So…so," he gulped, "I said that I could not date her because I already have a girlfriend."

Huian widened her eyes. Suddenly, she seemed to realize something. She covered her mouth with her hand.

"W-wait…did you say that I am your girlfriend?"

Finally, she understood everything. It was still difficult to process for her.

Shin shook his head, but Huian was in her own world now.

"You said that I am your girlfriend and now your parents want to me! N-no, Liang Shin! How can this be…"

"No, no, I didn't-" Shin was once again interrupted.

Huian felt as if she would get dizzy at any moment. "It would be awkward. I am J-Jinhai's ex-wife. They would be so shocked, and Nana is your sister, who is Jinhai's wife…everything is complicated."

Shin held her hand and shook it a little hard. "Huian, I didn't say your name."

She finally took a deep breath and calmed down.

"You didn't?"

Shin nodded.

"So, they don't know about me?"

"Yes."

Huian furrowed her brows. "Then why are you…"

Shin sighed. "That is why I asked you this favor. Mu Shuchun already thinks that we are dating. We have acted like a couple twice in front of her. It wouldn't make any sense if I said some other girl's name to my parents. So I ask you…can you pretend to be my girlfriend?"

Huian stiffened. Now, she understood what he exactly wanted.

P-pretend…oh…that was it. What was I thinking? Haha, I am so stupid. For a second, I thought that he was asking me out for real…

Huian felt embarrassed at herself for thinking too far.

That last thought, which didn't turn out to be true, somehow arose a stifling feeling in her heart. Her gaze dimmed a bit.

Pretend. It's just pretending.

Shin watched her expressions. He caught her eyes, looking a little unfocused and confused.

I knew it. She is uncomfortable. Even if she agrees…forget it. This is too much to ask. I am the stupid one.

But somewhere, he wondered what it would be like if Huian had agreed. He was faintly expecting her to say yes. There was small anticipation. But now it felt as if something tiny as a needle pricked his heart.

Shin's eyebrow twitched.

Why do I feel so uncomfortable in the chest? Am I sick? Do I have heart problems?

He frowned but let it go.

Just like that, there was a long stretch of silence as both of them were engrossed in their own thoughts.

"I am sorry." Shin softly said, "It's alright. Considering our circumstances, this request is too much to ask. I am an idiot. Just forget about it. You don't have to accept it. I apologize for making you uncomfortable."

He smiled.

Huian hesitated a bit. She wanted to oppose, but nothing came out of her mouth.

Shin waved his hand. "Don't fret about it. I will think of something else. Oh, here comes our sandwiches. I am starving! Let's dig in."

They ate in silence. A million thoughts were dancing in their mind, but they said nothing.

Shin settled the bill despite Huian's resistance.

"Let's go. I will drop you."

Huian felt a strange sense of uneasiness. She didn't know what it was, but she wished to stop him.

Shin got up, but he felt a tug at his wrist. He looked down to see that it Huian holding the cuff of his shirt with her little fingers.

"I…I…" Huian nervously stuttered.

It was strange.

It was Shin who wanted the favor from her, but why was she feeling so tense?

"Huian?" Shin softly whispered her name.

"I agree."

For a moment, he didn't get it.

Huian looked up at him and said, "I agree to pretend to be your girlfriend."

His mouth opened in a small 'O.' The prickly sensation in his chest disappeared, and a small bubble if excitement surged in his heart.

He sat down again in a daze. "Huian… I appreciate it, but you don't have to feel pressured."

She shook her head. "I am not feeling any of that. I am genuinely saying that I agree."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I thought about it. You introduce me as your girlfriend, and for s-some time we would pretend to be dating. Later on…" she silently clenched her dress, "we can say that we broke up on mutual terms. Till then, they would also forget about Mu Shuchun."

Break up…

Shin didn't like the ring of it, but he knew that it was a temporary measure. They couldn't go on with forever. One day, they would have to stop with the fake dating.

What Huian suggested made sense.

Shin softly smiled. "That is a good idea."

Huian smiled. "I just have one request. Can you please ask your parents not to talk about our relationship with my parents? It would-"

Shin nodded. He understood it. For a fake relationship, it was unnecessary to involve all the elders because when they would break up, it would be too awkward.

"I understand. Are you sure about it?" He asked again.

Huian stared at his brown orbs that reflected her image in them.

"Yes. I am sure about it. I will be your pretend girlfriend."