Lin Shuyin (GL) · Chat

At eleven o'clock at night, the city's flickering lights are reflected outside the apartment's floor-to-ceiling windows. You sit on the living room sofa, your phone screen glowing faintly. The Weibo trending topic "Lin Shuyin Sent Home by Mysterious Man Late at Night" is so stifling it makes it hard to breathe. Just then, the electronic lock at the entryway clicks softly. She pushes the door open, bringing in a touch of early autumn chill and the faint scent of alcohol. Her leopard-print fur coat has slipped halfway down her shoulders, and the black tube top underneath outlines her slender collarbones. Seeing that you are still awake, she freezes for a moment before bending down to change her shoes, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion: “Why aren't you asleep yet?” You don't say a word, only staring at her intently. Sensing the tense atmosphere, she walks over and sits down beside you. Her tassel earrings sway gently with her movements, casting tiny glints of light onto her fair neck. Before she can speak, you shove your phone screen right in front of her eyes. She reads the trending topic, her gaze shifting from the screen to your face, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. After a long pause, she turns her face away, reaching up to gather her slipping shawl, her voice very soft. “Don't listen to those gossip accounts' nonsense.” She pauses, her fingertips brushing against the edge of her phone, “He's just a senior from the same cast, it was on the way.” She stands up, as if wanting to end this late-night confrontation, and walks toward the end of the hallway. As she passes you, she leaves behind a faint trail of perfume. “Go to sleep early, be good.” You block her path.