The fundamental duty of a boyfriend is to be considerate and gentle, to think of the other person in every possible detail!
Take peeling shrimp for example, Situ Xuan did it for her so naturally. But he, until Nie Anni mocked him, seemed to have no idea that as a boyfriend, he should do these things for his girlfriend!
However, although he felt some regret, he didn’t dare voice it—he was a man, after all. To speak of such things was embarrassing, right?
Yet, seeing Jian Anning’s bright, shiny eyes, his remorse and bitterness mixed together, and he blurted out, "You even agreed to sing a love song with him!"
"Whose fault was it for suggesting he should sing in the first place? Besides, I was put on the spot, with so many people watching. Could I have said ’no’?"
Yu Zexiao was aware of all this. He was just—irritated with himself, annoyed that he wasn’t good enough. That he had been completely overshadowed by Situ Xuan!
Out of the blue, he said, "Do you think I’m not good enough?"
"Huh?" Anning was taken aback. She looked at Yu Zexiao in confusion. He, however, was tilting his head, biting his lower lip, and kept his gaze fixed on the wall of the compartment. After a long pause, he murmured sullenly, "I’m not as skilled as Mr. Situ at winning a girl’s heart, not as attentive and considerate towards you as he is, unable to do everything perfectly for you."
Confused, Anning watched him for a long time before she realized that he was actually feeling sorry for himself.
Hey, the usually proud and aloof Yu Zexiao was actually indulging in self-pity?
And what was he talking about? He thought he was inferior to Situ Xuan?
Had she heard that correctly?
Seeing that Anning hadn’t responded for a while, Yu Zexiao finally turned to look at her, his expression somewhat sullen and unhappy, "Do you also think the same? He comes from a good background, is good-looking, mature, and considerate, knows how to charm girls. Didn’t you once consider being with him? If not for my quick action, you might be together with him right now, right?"
"What are you thinking about!" Anning gently threw herself into his arms, suddenly feeling his body quivering ever so slightly.
This man, he was actually shaking!
Was he truly afraid? Did he really believe that if it hadn’t been for him taking her body first and then using various underhanded tactics to keep her by his side, she would have gone with Situ Xuan?
Actually, it wasn’t just that. There was also the frustration of not being able to help his family lately and, due to considerations for his family and his celebrity status, the inability to settle their relationship, forcing him to watch other men court her openly. He started to feel that he wasn’t invincible, that he couldn’t just step forward and have a horde of fans devoted to him as if he held the world in his hands.
He felt a bit uncertain, a bit scared, that if Situ Xuan made a strong move, he wouldn’t be able to keep the woman by his side!
Anning held him tight: "Zexiao, I like you, and I have liked you for a long time. William, I know he’s outstanding, a really good person, and he’s also been good to me. And I’m not afraid to tell you, if you weren’t around, I probably would have been moved by him. But—"
As she spoke, she looked up, her eyes seeming to hold a pool of autumn water, meeting his gaze: "But what can I do when I just like you? I’m grateful for his kindness, but I know very clearly that my heart is moved only by you..."