The afternoon sun hung low in the sky.
Warm light reflected off the surface of the pond, scattering golden ripples across the garden.
Lu Bolin stood quietly beside the water.
Across the stone path, Gu Yichen had just stepped out of the car.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, neither of them moved.
The wind brushed gently through the trees, carrying the faint scent of flowers.
Gu Yichen narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had returned home early for one reason only.
Curiosity.
But he hadn't expected to see this scene.
Lu Bolin was standing beside the pond, looking… peaceful.
Not weak.
Not anxious.
Just quietly observing the fish swimming beneath the water.
Gu Yichen slowly walked closer.
Each step was calm and controlled.
But his gaze never left Lu Bolin.
"You shouldn't be outside."
His voice broke the silence.
Lu Bolin looked at him.
The sunlight reflected faintly in his dark eyes.
"The doctor recommended light activity."
Gu Yichen stopped two steps away.
"You collapsed yesterday."
"I remember."
"You should still be resting."
Lu Bolin tilted his head slightly.
"Walking slowly is resting."
Gu Yichen stared at him.
This strange logical tone again.
For some reason, it irritated him.
But it also…
Interested him.
His gaze drifted toward the pond.
"You've been standing here the whole time?"
"No."
"What were you doing?"
Lu Bolin pointed slightly toward the water.
"Observing."
Gu Yichen followed his gaze.
Koi fish swam lazily through the clear water.
He frowned slightly.
"You're watching fish?"
"Yes."
"…Why?"
Lu Bolin answered calmly.
"They move slowly."
Gu Yichen raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
"They seem peaceful."
Gu Yichen was silent for a moment.
Then he asked,
"You've never seen fish before?"
Lu Bolin thought about it.
"Not like this."
Gu Yichen suddenly remembered something.
Lu Bolin had spent most of his childhood studying abroad.
After returning to the country, he had immediately been pushed into the political marriage.
He probably never had time for simple things like this.
But even so—
Watching fish like it was a rare discovery felt strange.
Gu Yichen studied him again.
The sunlight softened Lu Bolin's pale skin, making him look almost translucent.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
Not a single trace of the nervousness he used to show.
Gu Yichen suddenly asked,
"Why did you say you don't love me anymore?"
Lu Bolin blinked.
The question was direct.
But he answered honestly.
"Because it is not accurate."
Gu Yichen frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Lu Bolin looked thoughtful.
"I realized yesterday that my previous behavior was based on incorrect assumptions."
"Such as?"
"That emotional persistence would eventually create reciprocation."
Gu Yichen let out a quiet scoff.
"You thought I would eventually fall in love with you?"
Lu Bolin shook his head slightly.
"I thought the probability might increase."
Gu Yichen stared at him.
"You're talking about love like it's a math equation."
Lu Bolin considered that.
"Psychology and probability share similar patterns."
Gu Yichen suddenly stepped closer.
The distance between them shrank again.
"You're unbelievable."
Lu Bolin looked up at him calmly.
Gu Yichen's eyes were sharp and dark, like a predator examining unfamiliar prey.
"You forced your way into my life," Gu Yichen said slowly.
"You manipulated your family's power."
"You trapped me in a marriage I never wanted."
His voice was low.
Cold.
"So why are you suddenly pretending you don't care anymore?"
Lu Bolin answered simply.
"Because caring produced no results."
Silence.
A faint ripple moved across the pond.
Gu Yichen looked at him for several seconds.
Then he asked quietly,
"You think emotions are just strategies?"
Lu Bolin shook his head.
"No."
"Then what are they?"
"I don't know yet."
That answer caught Gu Yichen completely off guard.
Lu Bolin continued calmly.
"I've read about emotions."
"But experiencing them directly is different."
Gu Yichen's brows slowly furrowed.
"You're talking like someone who has never felt anything before."
Lu Bolin didn't deny it.
"That may be accurate."
Gu Yichen stared at him again.
Something about that answer felt…
Disturbing.
But also strangely honest.
The wind moved again.
Lu Bolin's hair shifted slightly across his forehead.
Without thinking—
Gu Yichen reached out.
His fingers brushed lightly against Lu Bolin's hair.
Moving the strands away from his eyes.
The moment the touch happened—
Both of them paused.
Lu Bolin blinked.
Physical contact again.
Warm.
Unexpected.
Gu Yichen's hand froze in midair.
He hadn't even realized what he was doing.
For three years, he had avoided touching Lu Bolin completely.
But just now—
It felt natural.
He quickly withdrew his hand.
Lu Bolin asked quietly,
"Why did you do that?"
Gu Yichen turned away slightly.
"It was in the way."
Lu Bolin nodded.
"Understood."
But the system suddenly appeared.
[Unexpected physical interaction detected.]
Lu Bolin mentally noted the observation.
Meanwhile—
Gu Yichen looked back at him again.
Something had definitely changed.
Not just Lu Bolin's personality.
But the atmosphere around him.
Before, Lu Bolin always felt… desperate.
Now he felt distant.
Like someone observing the world from outside.
Gu Yichen suddenly asked,
"What are you planning now?"
Lu Bolin answered honestly.
"Living normally."
Gu Yichen scoffed again.
"You weren't living normally before?"
"No."
"What were you doing?"
Lu Bolin thought for a moment.
"Chasing something inefficient."
Gu Yichen stared at him.
Then he suddenly laughed again.
A low sound.
Amused.
"You really gave up."
Lu Bolin nodded.
"Yes."
"Just like that?"
"Yes."
Gu Yichen leaned slightly closer again.
"And what if I don't believe you?"
Lu Bolin shrugged slightly.
"That is your decision."
Gu Yichen looked into his eyes carefully.
Searching for something.
Any sign of deception.
Manipulation.
Emotion.
But all he saw was calm curiosity.
Like Lu Bolin was studying him instead.
Gu Yichen's eyes darkened slightly.
"You're interesting now."
The words slipped out before he realized it.
Lu Bolin blinked.
"Interesting?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you stopped trying to please me."
Lu Bolin nodded thoughtfully.
"That behavior was ineffective."
Gu Yichen suddenly smiled faintly.
Dangerous.
"If that's your strategy now…"
"Then I'm curious how long it will last."
Lu Bolin answered calmly.
"Probably the rest of my life."
Gu Yichen's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's a long time."
"Yes."
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke again.
But the atmosphere between them had already changed.
The hostility was still there.
But beneath it…
Something new had appeared.
Interest.
Curiosity.
The first small crack in the wall Gu Yichen had built.
The system quietly updated again.
Villain Interest Level: 12%
Meanwhile—
Inside Gu Yichen's mind—
A strange thought appeared.
If Lu Bolin really stopped chasing him…
Stopped loving him…
Stopped needing him…
Then what would happen to this marriage?
And why—
For the first time in three years—
Did that idea feel slightly… unpleasant?
Gu Yichen frowned faintly.
He turned toward the mansion.
"I'm working in the study."
Lu Bolin nodded.
"Understood."
Gu Yichen walked away.
But halfway up the steps—
He stopped.
Then he looked back again.
Lu Bolin was still standing beside the pond.
Watching the fish.
Completely absorbed.
As if Gu Yichen's presence had never mattered at all.
For some reason—
That sight irritated him more than any argument ever had.
Inside Lu Bolin's mind, the system spoke again.
[Villain emotional fluctuation detected.]
Lu Bolin watched the fish quietly.
"Results?"
[Interest level rising faster than projected.]
Lu Bolin nodded slightly.
"Good."
Curiosity had already appeared.
And curiosity…
Always led to deeper attachment.
The experiment had only just begun.
But the outcome was already becoming unpredictable.