Don't call me a singing god, I just want to go back to doing scientific research.

The earlobe that my fingertips touched still retained a burning sensation; that heat was like a tiny flame, traveling through my bloodstream all the way to my heart.

Little turtle.

He gave a self-deprecating twitch at the corner of his mouth.

That's a really fitting name.

When faced with danger, they immediately retreat into their hard shells, believing that this will protect them and isolate them from everything outside.

But he forgot that Gu Yang was not the outside world; he was the one who would foolishly reach out and try to pry him out of his shell bit by bit.

again and again.

Tireless.

Ling Luo slowly closed his eyes, his words echoing in his ears.

"My research could consume me at any moment. One phone call and I could disappear for a year, two years, or even longer."

"Why should I gamble the rest of my life on whether he will spend the rest of his life in endless waiting and worry?"

These words were spoken to Li Mingjun, but also to himself.

Every word was like a knife chilled to ice, ripping his heart open and leaving it bleeding.

But the appearance of Gu Yang was like an unreasonable warm sun, determined to melt the ice layer he used to protect himself.

If this continues, he will lose control.

He couldn't help but reach out and clutch that ray of sunlight that shouldn't belong to him tightly in his palm, dragging it into his bottomless dark world.

No.

Absolutely not.

Ling Luo suddenly opened her eyes, the last trace of warmth in them replaced by a chilling calmness.

He picked up his phone and, without hesitation, dialed Shao Hui's number.

The call was answered almost instantly.

"Ling Luo! What are your instructions?" Shao Hui's voice still sounded excited.

"Brother Shao, do me a favor." Ling Luo's voice was steady, but if you listened carefully, there was a slight tremor. "Find me an apartment near the company. It needs to be secure and quiet. As soon as possible."

Shao Hui on the other end of the phone was taken aback: "Looking for an apartment? Don't you live in Guyang?"

"Yeah, it's inconvenient."

"Huh? How could it be inconvenient? I see you two..." Shao Hui stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.

He wasn't stupid; Ling Luo's sudden decision clearly indicated that she wanted to distance herself.

"Okay, I understand." Shao Hui didn't ask any further questions. "I'll take care of it right away and make sure I find you a satisfactory one. But... have you told Gu Yang about this?"

Ling Luo paused for a moment, then said, "I will tell you."

After hanging up the phone, Ling Luo stood up, shut down her computer, and put it back in her bag.

  

He walked out of the conference room, and Gu Yang had already gone upstairs to practice singing in the practice room.

Without saying goodbye, he took Li Mingjun back directly.

The car drove smoothly into the villa area and finally stopped in front of Gu Yang's house.

Li Mingjun got out of the car and opened the door for him, but Ling Luo didn't move immediately. He looked at the house in front of him, which was lit up with warm lights at night. He had only lived there for a little over a month, but it seemed to have been etched into his very being.

There is a place called Guyang here.

There was Nono, whom they had picked up together.

There were various kitchen utensils and ingredients that he had specially bought.

There was Gu Yang's loud, boisterous laughter, and his off-key humming while practicing singing.

This place feels like home.

The warmth here has made him want to slowly succumb to it without even realizing it.

But it was precisely because it was so warm that he had to leave.

The only outcome for a moth drawn to a flame is always being burned to ashes.

He had been in darkness, so how could I bear to drag him into hell?

"Mr. Ling?" Li Mingjun's voice pulled him back from his chaotic thoughts.

Ling Luo snapped out of his daze, quickly concealing the tenderness and struggle in his eyes, regaining his usual calm and composure. He got out of the car, walked straight to the gate, and entered the password.

With a "click," the door opened.

The living room was brightly lit. A fluffy little figure heard the noise and immediately jumped off the sofa, wagged its tail, and stumbled over, nuzzling his trouser leg affectionately with its little head.

It's Nono.

Ling Luo bent down and picked up the puppy. The little guy was very light, curled up obediently in his arms, and made a contented purring sound.

"Since you ate my food, you have to protect him for me from now on, understand?"

The words he had spoken to Nuonuo in Haicheng now echoed in his ears.

Like an ironic joke.

He can't even protect himself, let alone provide a stable and secure companionship.

Ling Luo carried Nuonuo and slowly walked towards the sofa.

Gu Yang's coat lay on the sofa, next to a half-finished lyric book filled with colorful highlights. Two cups sat on the coffee table, the ones he and Gu Yang had used for water that morning, still untouched.

Every inch of this space is filled with the vibrant and bright atmosphere of Guyang.

He was like an intruder who didn't fit in.

He gently placed Nuonuo back into its soft little nest. The little guy seemed to sense his low mood, touching his palm with its wet nose, its bright black eyes full of dependence.

Ling Luo's fingers stiffened for a moment before she withdrew them.

He stood up and said to Li Mingjun behind him, "I'm going upstairs to pack my things."

Li Mingjun didn't speak, he just nodded, like a silent statue, guarding the entrance to the living room, shutting out everything from the outside world.

Ling Luo turned around and went upstairs into her room.

The room originally contained only a few pieces of clothing, but in just over a month, it has been crammed with many more.

There are even half of the clothes in the closet that I haven't had a chance to wear yet.

Many books have been added to the desk one after another.

There was even a bestselling science fiction novel that Gu Yang forced on him, saying that looking at data every day was too boring and he needed to change his mind.

It's such a pity that he never even opened it once.

Gu Yang, what should I do with you?

These words echoed in his heart once again.

But this time, he has already made his choice.

He opened the wardrobe, took out several pieces of clothing, folded them one by one, and put them into his suitcase.

The movements are mechanical, precise, and without the slightest hesitation.

Just like when he was in the research institute, dealing with those cold, hard data.

He thought he could stay calm, but when he picked up the Shiba Inu plush toy, his fingers tightened uncontrollably.

He grabbed this from the claw machine and gave it to Gu Yang. When Nuonuo first came home, Gu Yang held Nuonuo in one arm and Xiao Chai in the other, insisting that the two of them become brothers. As a result, they made a fuss until very late and didn't want to go to sleep.

He was both amused and exasperated when he confiscated Xiao Chai, and never returned it.

At that moment, "Little Shiba" was looking at him innocently with its black bean-like eyes.

Ling Luo stared at it for a long time, so long that he thought he might waver.

In the end, he stuffed the doll into the corner of his suitcase and zipped it up.

"Click".

Another soft click, like a lock, firmly locking all the warmth and reluctance inside the box.

As he walked out of the room with his suitcase, Shao Hui called.