"A-Are you only taking care of me... because it's your duty? Don't you like me a-at all? D-Don't you care about me as a person? Tell me, Maomao! Please tell me, I beg of you!"

Those words kept resounding in Maomao's ears like an endless echo.

She felt herself being torn to shreds by Jinshi's questions, not knowing where to run or whether to run at all as she stared into his still crying eyes, petrified. Her breathing accelerated, and her heart was pounding so loudly that she was sure Jinshi could hear it. While having the impression that she could hear his heart pound as well.

"That... cannot be..."

she gasped desperately in her thoughts.

"Why?... Just why?..."