Seven Years of Silence

Chapter 1

The day Iris Ye announced her relationship publicly, the scientific prodigy Jin Mo leaped from the experimental building, and his life came to an abrupt end.

Three days later, the belongings revealed by the news sent the entire internet into shock—

Among the things he left behind were countless photos of the rising star Iris Ye, along with a notebook filled entirely with her name.

It was only in that moment that Iris understood—

The person she had secretly loved for seven years had been loving her all along!

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself back at the moment of the cast’s truth-or-dare game during their team-building event.

Her phone screen showed: one minute ago, that relationship announcement had already been posted.

…

Iris had never imagined she would meet Jin Mo again.

In the corridor of the research institute, the fluorescent lights were blindingly bright, making his white lab coat stand out even more sharply.

His legs were already broken, but sitting in his wheelchair, he remained as cold and untouchable as frost, as if he didn’t belong to the mortal world.

Perhaps the lights were too dazzling, but Iris felt her eyes grow warm.

She held back her emotions and forced a smile. “Jin Mo, long time no see.”

They had been high school classmates, but after the college entrance exams, they had gone their separate ways.

All she knew was that he had gone to Qingbei University for biology, and after that, she had heard nothing.

Jin Mo stared at her for a long time, as if trying to remember who she was. “Mm.”

That cold response left only bitterness in Iris’s heart.

If it weren’t for the new drama requiring her to experience the life of a researcher, she might never have had the chance to see him again.

And he had probably long forgotten that she had ever existed in his life.

Just like he would never know: she had been secretly in love with him for seven whole years.

Iris swallowed the ache in her chest and pulled herself out of her memories, only to see Jin Mo maneuvering his wheelchair, preparing to leave.

His back, for some reason, reminded her of the graduation farewell seven years ago, in their senior year.

She instinctively wanted him to stay a little longer. “Jin Mo, can I add you on a messaging app?”

But the moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them.

His contact was already sitting at the very bottom of her list, and she had never let anyone know.

Watching Jin Mo pause, Iris suddenly felt nervous.

She both hoped he would agree and feared that if he did, he would discover the feelings she had hidden for so many years.

But in the next second, Jin Mo’s cold voice cut through. “No need.”

With that, he left without looking back.

Iris stood frozen, her limbs stiff, watching his silhouette fade into the distance.

She knew it all along—his gaze would never linger on her for even a second.

The corridor was empty.

Iris felt her heart hollow out.

She didn’t know how long had passed before her agent, Maggie, found her. “Iris, your dorm is ready. Let’s go.”

She snapped back to reality and followed Maggie toward the dormitory.

They stopped in front of her room.

Iris stared at the nameplate on the door next to hers—“Jin Mo”—and felt a jolt.

Her room was right next to his?

Did that mean she would have many more chances to see him?

A surge of eager anticipation rushed through Iris.

Maggie noticed her gaze and glanced at the nameplate as well.

“This Jin Mo is no ordinary person! I heard he published several papers in SCI journals as a freshman and was admitted to the research institute before even graduating. He’s a rare talent, but…”

“He’s very odd. He won’t let anyone near him except the person who takes care of his daily needs. You should keep your distance.”

Iris listened, and the image of secretly watching Jin Mo play basketball in high school surfaced in her mind.

He had been such a proud and brilliant young man back then, and now he was trapped in a wheelchair…

A sharp pang of pain shot through Iris’s heart.

What had he gone through all these years?

She absentmindedly said goodbye to Maggie and entered her room.

Inside, Iris couldn’t bring herself to unpack. Her mind was filled with nothing but Jin Mo.

Finally, she pulled out the contact information of a high school classmate and sent a message:

[Do you know what happened to Jin Mo’s legs?]

She vaguely remembered that this classmate had been close to him in school and might know something…

A reply came quickly: [They were broken in a fire. Apparently… it was to save the girl he liked.]

---

Chapter 2

Iris felt every word on the screen become foreign to her.

So Jin Mo already had someone he liked?

And he had even rushed into a fire without caring for his own safety to save her?

A heavy weight pressed down on Iris’s chest, making it hard to breathe.

Out of habit, she opened her photo album and looked at the graduation photo she had treasured for seven years.

In the picture, Jin Mo stood right behind her.

For seven years, that had been the closest they had ever been…

Iris didn’t know how long she stared at the photo.

Only when her stomach growled loudly did she snap out of it. She tidied up a bit and headed to the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was crowded.

Iris carried her tray and spotted Jin Mo immediately.

He sat on a plastic chair, yet somehow looked incredibly refined.

Everyone who passed by greeted him, and he nodded in response.

Iris didn’t dare approach. She sat down not far from him, stealing glances whenever she could.

It felt like being back in high school.

Back then, she would also sit near him and watch, never daring to say a single word.

“You’re the big star here to experience the role, right?”

Suddenly, someone sat down across from her, completely at ease. “I heard you and the big shot Jin were classmates in high school. Why aren’t you eating together?”

His voice was loud, and everyone in the cafeteria turned to look.

Iris instinctively glanced at Jin Mo.

To her surprise, he was looking at her too.

Their eyes met, and she froze completely, unsure how to react.

But after just a few seconds, Jin Mo looked away and maneuvered his wheelchair to leave.

Had she disturbed him?

Iris lost her appetite. She forced a smile at the person across from her. “I’m done. I’ll be going now.” Then she stood up and left.

She wanted to take a walk and clear her mind.

But as soon as she stepped out of the cafeteria, she saw a woman pushing Jin Mo’s wheelchair ahead of her.

They were too far away for her to hear what they were saying, but she could clearly see the relaxed smile on Jin Mo’s face.

It was something Iris had never seen before.

A sour feeling rose in her chest. She couldn’t help but wonder: Was this the person Maggie had mentioned, the one who took care of Jin Mo’s daily needs?

Driven by an inexplicable impulse, Iris moved closer to get a better look at the woman’s face.

The next second, she froze.

It was Qingyu Xia, her high school class monitor.

Iris suddenly remembered that people in their class used to say Jin Mo and Qingyu were dating.

Neither of them had confirmed it, but they hadn’t denied it either.

So… it was true.

Iris stood there, her heart soaking in vinegar, sour and bitter.

But all she could do was watch. All she could do was envy.

Iris stood there for a long time.

Only after Jin Mo and Qingyu’s figures disappeared into the distance did she force her stiff legs to move in the other direction.

She wandered outside for a long time, trying to calm her chaotic emotions, before returning to the dormitory building.

But she hadn’t expected to find Jin Mo inside the elevator when the doors opened.

She froze, wanting to say something to him.

But she realized they had nothing to talk about.

In the end, all she could manage was a dry greeting. “Good evening, Jin Mo.”

Jin Mo gave her a faint glance, then maneuvered his wheelchair out of the elevator without a word.

He wouldn’t even return a greeting…

Bitterness spread across Iris’s tongue.

She lowered her eyes and was about to step into the elevator when she heard a noise from the entrance.

Turning around, she saw that Jin Mo’s wheelchair seemed to be stuck.

Iris hurried over to help. “Jin Mo, don’t worry. Let me help you.”

But just as her hand was about to touch the wheelchair, he shoved her away.

Her elbow slammed hard against the wall, sending a sharp, numbing pain through her arm.

Biting back the heat in her eyes, she looked up and met Jin Mo’s fierce glare.

“Get away! Don’t touch me!”

---

Chapter 3

Iris was stunned.

She had only wanted to help…

Jin Mo’s face was cold, his beautiful lips pressed into a tight line.

He lowered his head, frantically trying to free the wheelchair.

But the more he struggled, the tighter it seemed to get, and the more agitated he became.

This was nothing like the calm, composed Jin Mo she remembered.

Seeing him like this only made her heart ache more. “Jin Mo, let me help you…”

“No!”

Jin Mo didn’t stop moving, his voice colder than ever.

It took him a long time, but he finally freed the wheelchair. Without sparing Iris a single glance, he left.

Iris watched his retreating figure, her heart feeling as if it were being squeezed.

Was Jin Mo treating her this way because he didn’t want anyone to see him in such a vulnerable state?

Or was it simply because he hated her?

The sound of the elevator doors closing snapped her back to reality. She let out a bitter laugh and stepped into the elevator.

That night, Iris tossed and turned.

Every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was Jin Mo pushing her away in anger.

She didn’t manage to fall asleep until the early hours of the morning.

The next day, she pushed aside her emotions and went straight to the lab.

Since she was there to experience the life of a researcher, the institute had arranged for someone to guide her.

The moment she stepped into the lab, her eyes met a pair of cold, indifferent ones.

Iris froze.

Why was it Jin Mo?

The memory of the previous night came rushing back, and bitterness surged within her.

As she stood there in a daze, Jin Mo’s voice rang out. “Xu had something come up, so I’ll be taking over for him.”

Iris remembered hearing that Jin Mo had just finished a project and was currently resting.

So, for the next month, he would be the one guiding her?

A flicker of joy sparked within her.

But then she remembered his attitude toward her, and her heart grew cold again.

Besides, he already had a girlfriend. She should suppress her feelings…

Iris’s eyes dimmed.

In the silence, Jin Mo spoke again. “The reagents and equipment are ready. Follow the steps I’ve listed to complete the experiment.”

Iris pulled herself together and looked at the table. There was a notebook with bold, forceful handwriting.

For a moment, she felt as if she were back in high school biology lab.

Back then, Jin Mo had been a top student. During group experiments, he would patiently explain things to struggling classmates.

But she had been too timid to ever ask him a question.

Suddenly, a phone rang.

Realizing it was hers, Iris quickly apologized. “Sorry!”

She stepped aside to answer the call, exchanged a few words with Maggie, and hung up.

Jin Mo’s expression darkened. “You…”

Before he could finish, her phone rang again.

As her fame grew, so did her workload. She had to coordinate many of her schedules with Maggie.

But she hadn’t expected it to happen at this moment.

She quickly switched her phone to silent and apologized again. “I’m sorry.”

“If this is going to be your attitude, you don’t need to come anymore.”

With a cold face, Jin Mo left the lab.

Iris wanted to run after him, but his indifferent back made her stop. In the end, she stayed and finished the experiment.

On her way back, her phone buzzed with a message.

Qingyu: [Meet me downstairs at the dorm.]

Iris stared at the message, confused.

They hadn’t spoken since high school graduation.

Why would Qingyu suddenly reach out?

A thought crossed her mind—was it about Jin Mo?

After a moment’s hesitation, Iris decided to go.

At the dormitory entrance.

Iris was about to greet Qingyu when the latter spoke first. “Jin Mo read your diary from high school.”

Iris’s entire body went rigid.

That diary had recorded all her teenage secrets!

And it clearly contained the line—

[I like Jin Mo.]

---

Chapter 4

So Jin Mo had known all along that she liked him?!

Even though it was the height of summer, Iris felt as if she had fallen into a frozen winter abyss.

“So I’m here to ask you…”

Afraid of hearing something humiliating from Qingyu, Iris cut her off in a panic.

“Don’t worry. I’ll stay away from Jin Mo. I won’t interfere with your relationship.”

Qingyu was taken aback. “Jin Mo and I aren’t together. Iris, I was hoping…”

Before she could finish, Jin Mo’s voice rang out from nearby. “Qingyu!”

Qingyu’s expression changed. She quickly said, “Sorry,” and turned to walk toward Jin Mo.

Iris stood frozen, only catching fragments of what Jin Mo said next. “…Don’t come looking for her again.”

Was he telling Qingyu not to come looking for her?

Did he hate her that much?

It felt as if a wound had been torn open in her heart, making it hard to breathe.

Iris didn’t remember how she made it back to her dorm.

Qingyu’s words and Jin Mo’s distant gaze kept replaying in her mind.

In a daze, she fell asleep and dreamed of her high school days.

On the first day of school, she was carrying a stack of new textbooks when he came up from behind, took the books from her, and carried them to her classroom.

Later, at the opening ceremony, he stood under the flag as the freshman representative, giving a speech that made him shine.

The dream shifted.

Iris watched herself clumsily pretend to run into him over and over again, brushing past him…

And now, Qingyu had told her that everything she thought was secret had been an open book to Jin Mo.

When she opened her slightly damp eyes, it was already daylight outside.

Iris felt as if her heart were stuffed with waterlogged cotton, heavy and aching.

She washed up in a daze and left the room.

On her way to the lab, Iris was so tense she felt stiff.

Perhaps because it was early, there was no one inside yet.

Jin Mo already knew she liked him. She didn’t know how to face him.

She couldn’t help but wonder what he thought of her.

In the lab, Iris flipped through the previous day’s experiment records absentmindedly.

Until the lab door opened—

“This is today’s experiment.”

Jin Mo’s businesslike tone was like a bucket of cold water, dousing all her thoughts.

Right. They only had a working relationship now.

Once the experience exchange ended, they would never cross paths again…

“Okay.”

Iris swallowed the bitterness in her heart and took the notebook from him. She was about to start the experiment when Jin Mo spoke again.

“Eat this first before you start.”

He placed a small box on the table.

Iris looked at it and froze. It was a tiramisu from her favorite high school bakery.

How did Jin Mo know?

She instinctively wanted to ask, but when she met his deep eyes, she remembered.

Right. He had read her diary. Of course he knew her preferences.

Iris didn’t move.

As she grew older, her tastes had changed.

And after entering the entertainment industry, she didn’t dare touch such things to maintain her figure.

“Thanks, but… I don’t like this anymore.”

Jin Mo’s expression stiffened, and his tone grew colder. “So, the things you used to like… you don’t like them anymore?”

---

Chapter 5

Iris stared at Jin Mo, unable to snap out of her daze.

What did he mean by that?

The atmosphere in the lab grew strange.

Jin Mo didn’t say anything else. He just looked at Iris, as if waiting for her answer.

After a long hesitation, Iris finally spoke. “Yes…”

The moment the word left her mouth, she could clearly feel the coldness radiating from Jin Mo intensify.

Had she said something wrong and made him angry?

She wanted to say something to smooth things over, but Jin Mo’s cold voice cut in. “Finish the experiment. I’ll be back to check it.”

With that, he picked up the box from the table and walked out.

Iris stood there, watching his figure disappear through the door.

Her heart ached as if pricked by needles.

Did he hate her so much that he couldn’t even bear to stay in the same room?

She took several deep breaths before she could suppress the sting in her nose and focus on the experiment.

It was another simple, foundational experiment, but by the time she finished, a long time had passed.

She cleaned up the equipment and struggled with the thought of whether to wait for Jin Mo to return.

In the end, she decided to leave.

She didn’t want to face his coldness again.

The research institute was large, and the distance between the lab and the dormitory was considerable.

Iris had planned to take a walk and clear her head, but as she followed the gravel path, her mood only grew heavier.

Ever since their reunion, Jin Mo’s attitude and expressions kept flashing through her mind.

Finally, she decided to go back to her dorm and be alone.

But as soon as she reached the dormitory entrance, she saw Ziwen standing there, as if waiting for someone.

They had collaborated several times before, and he was the male lead in her new drama.

But if she remembered correctly, Maggie had said he had other commitments and would arrive a few days later.

Confused, Iris walked up to him. “Ziwen, what are you doing here?”

Seeing her, Ziwen broke into a smile. “We have that dual magazine shoot, remember? I happened to be passing by, so I thought I’d pick you up.”

He held up his phone. “I sent you a message. Didn’t you see it?”

Iris remembered then. She had turned off her phone to avoid distractions during the experiment.

“Give me a moment.”

A magazine shoot would take at least a day. She needed to let Jin Mo know first.

But she had no idea where he was or where to find him.

Just as she was thinking this, she turned and saw Jin Mo approaching.

He glanced coldly at her and Ziwen, then tried to pass by without a word.

Iris hurriedly called out. “Jin Mo!”

He stopped, his gaze even more distant than before. “What is it?”

The look in his eyes made Iris’s breath catch. “I have a work commitment. I won’t be able to come to the lab tomorrow…”

Jin Mo stared at her for a long moment before replying, “Understood.”

Then he maneuvered his wheelchair and left without looking back.

Iris watched his retreating figure, wanting to say more but unable to find the words.

Finally, she turned away dejectedly and looked at Ziwen. “Let’s go.”

The magazine shoot went smoothly.

But whenever she had a moment to herself, she couldn’t stop thinking about Jin Mo.

It was already late the next evening when she returned to the institute.

Thinking she would see Jin Mo tomorrow, she didn’t disturb him.

But when she walked into the lab the next day, Jin Mo wasn’t there.

Instead, there was a man she had never seen before. “You are?”

The man smiled politely. “Hello, I’m Xu.”

“Director Jin said I’ll be the one guiding you from now on.”

---

Chapter 6

Iris felt as if a heavy hammer had struck her heart.

Her face turned pale. “Why?”

Hadn’t Jin Mo been doing a good job guiding her?

Xu simply shook his head. “I’m just following orders. If you want to know the reason, you’ll have to ask Director Jin yourself.”

“Here’s the schedule for you. Take a look.”

Iris took the plan from him.

The schedule was meticulously detailed, with notes in red ink in the margins pointing out important things to watch for.

This was Jin Mo’s handwriting!

He had arranged everything perfectly, so why had he handed her off to someone else?

Her emotions churned. If she didn’t get to the bottom of this, she wouldn’t be able to focus on anything else!

She excused herself to Xu and ran out.

Standing in front of Jin Mo’s dormitory door, Iris took a deep breath and knocked.

Soon, the door opened.

Jin Mo stood inside, his expression cold. “What are you doing here?”

The question stole her breath.

The courage she had mustered to get an answer vanished the moment she saw him.

Her hands clenched tightly as she silently built herself up before asking, “Why aren’t you guiding me anymore? Why did you switch me to Xu?”

Jin Mo just looked at her without speaking.

Iris had to guess. “Is it because I went for the magazine shoot and delayed the progress?”

“I promise it won’t happen again! I’ve already asked Maggie to cancel all my other commitments…”

Before she could finish, Jin Mo cut her off.

His voice was cold. “Iris, Xu had something come up before, so I filled in for him for a couple of days.”

“Don’t overthink it.”

His words hit her like a slap, mocking her for reading too much into things.

Right. From the very beginning, Jin Mo had said he was only filling in because Xu was unavailable.

But she had mistakenly thought he would be with her for the whole month.

Iris felt like a clown, burning with shame.

She wanted to run away but couldn’t move.

She wanted to say something to ease the tension, but nothing came out.

Finally, Jin Mo spoke again. “If there’s nothing else, leave. Don’t disturb me.”

With that, he closed the door.

*Bang.*

The gust of wind from the door slamming swept over Iris.

This time, she truly felt Jin Mo’s avoidance.

She stood there for a long, long time before returning to the lab.

No matter what happened, her work had to continue.

In the days that followed, she practically lived in the lab, immersing herself in the daily life of a researcher.

It was the only way to keep herself from thinking about Jin Mo, to keep the pain at bay.

One day, Iris finished her tasks according to the schedule.

As she walked out of the lab, she saw Ziwen waiting for her.

“I’m starting my role immersion here today, but I don’t know my way around. Can you show me?”

Since they would be filming together, Iris didn’t refuse.

She led Ziwen along the shaded paths, discussing the script as they walked.

By the time the sky darkened, they returned to the dormitory together.

They weren’t on the same floor.

After saying goodbye to Ziwen, Iris stepped out of the elevator and headed to her room.

As she passed Jin Mo’s door, it opened.

She instinctively stopped and turned to look.

But the person who came out wasn’t Jin Mo. It was Qingyu.

Iris was startled. She couldn’t help but glance inside the room, only to find it completely empty.

Confused, she asked, “What’s going on? Where’s Jin Mo?”

Qingyu’s expression was complicated. “Jin Mo… he’s already moved out.”

---

Chapter 7

“Moved out?”

Iris couldn’t believe it.

Why would Jin Mo move out for no reason?

Qingyu didn’t answer. She simply said, “Don’t overthink it. He’ll be back after his surgery.”

Then she turned to leave.

But after a few steps, she looked back at Iris.

She seemed to want to say something.

In the end, she said nothing.

Iris didn’t notice her hesitation. Her eyes were fixed on Jin Mo’s closed door.

The nameplate that had once read “Jin Mo” was gone.

Empty.

She couldn’t help but wonder—if he was just going for surgery, why had he emptied the room? Why had he removed his name from the door?

Qingyu had told her not to overthink it, but the truth was that Jin Mo had moved out because he didn’t want to see her anymore, wasn’t it?

A wave of sadness washed over Iris. Her eyes reddened, and tears welled up.

Half a month passed.

Every day, Iris followed the same routine with Ziwen—dormitory, lab, cafeteria.

On the surface, she seemed to have forgotten about Jin Mo.

But only she knew that every night, she listened for the sound of the door next to hers opening.

It never came.

Just like the past seven years, Jin Mo had completely disappeared from her life.

One day, Iris finished her experiment and walked out of the lab with Ziwen.

“Wait.”

Ziwen suddenly spoke. Iris stopped instinctively and looked at him.

He leaned in and reached out to brush something from her hair. “There was something in your hair.”

His movement was too fast for Iris to dodge.

“Thanks.”

She took a small step back to create some distance.

Then she looked ahead and her eyes lit up.

Jin Mo was back!

He was standing not far away, in the dappled light beneath the trees, like a figment of her longing.

But Iris quickly came to her senses.

It was real. Because behind Jin Mo stood Qingyu.

Still, she couldn’t help but walk up to him. “You’re back! Did the surgery… go well?”

Her voice trembled with emotion.

But Jin Mo’s response was as cold as ice. “I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

Iris’s heart clenched in pain. She wanted to say more.

But Jin Mo turned to Qingyu. “Let’s go.”

Qingyu gave Iris an apologetic smile and pushed him away.

Iris’s smile froze on her face, slowly turning bitter.

Jin Mo… really didn’t want to see her.

She knew she shouldn’t keep bothering him, but she couldn’t control herself.

“Iris…”

“Ziwen, it’s late. I’m going to rest.”

Cutting him off, Iris walked away alone.

Back in her dorm, Iris lay in bed, trying to calm her mind.

But the memories of her time with Jin Mo kept replaying in her head.

Soon, her role immersion would end, and she would leave.

That would probably be the last time she ever saw Jin Mo.

The more she thought about it, the heavier her heart became, until she could barely breathe.

*Knock, knock!*

A sudden knock on the door startled her.

Iris opened it to find Qingyu.

Their eyes met, and Qingyu asked, “You still like him, don’t you?”

Iris didn’t know how to answer.

Qingyu continued, “Iris, if you still like him, why not give it a try?”

“Jin Mo… all I can tell you is that he absolutely doesn’t hate you. He never has.”

Her words left Iris dazed.

Jin Mo… really didn’t hate her?

But his attitude…

Iris’s mind was in turmoil. “But you and him…”

“We’re just friends. We’ve never been together.”

Qingyu’s final words completely shattered Iris’s composure.

She didn’t even notice when Qingyu left.

Iris stood behind the door, afraid that Qingyu’s words were all lies.

But she was also afraid of letting Jin Mo slip away.

Thinking about how this might be her last chance to see him, a surge of courage rose within her.

She would give it one last try. At least she wouldn’t have any regrets.

Following the address Qingyu had left, Iris made her way to Jin Mo’s home and rang the doorbell.

When the door opened, she looked at his cold face, her mind going blank.

All she could hear was her trembling voice. “Jin Mo, I like you!”

---

Chapter 8

Dead silence.

Jin Mo just stared at Iris.

Time seemed to stop.

All Iris could hear was the pounding of her own heart.

Maybe it was the rush of finally saying what she felt, but her eyes burned and her nose stung.

She looked at Jin Mo, waiting for his answer.

But Jin Mo let out a cold laugh, his eyes devoid of any warmth. “What do you like about me?”

Iris was about to answer without hesitation.

But Jin Mo didn’t give her the chance.

“I don’t know what Qingyu told you. Don’t pretend to pity me with this act.”

He looked at her, speaking each word clearly. “I don’t like you.”

“Please don’t disturb my life anymore.”

With that, he closed the door.

Iris stared at the red-painted door, her eyelashes trembling. Tears silently streamed down her face.

She had anticipated this outcome. She had thought she could handle it.

But now, the pain in her heart felt as if it were tearing her apart!

At least she had put an end to seven years of feelings.

She tried to comfort herself.

But it didn’t help.

The memories of the past came flooding back, refusing to be suppressed.

How could she just let go of someone she had loved for seven years?

Iris let out a bitter laugh and let the sadness and loneliness drown her…

In the days that followed, she was distracted and absent-minded.

One day, after having lunch with Ziwen, Iris planned to go back to her dorm and rest.

But on the way, she ran into Jin Mo.

He was talking to another researcher, a faint smile on his lips.

He was nothing like the cold, distant person he was around her.

Iris’s heart ached. She unconsciously slowed her pace.

She felt conflicted. Part of her wanted to avoid Jin Mo to spare herself the humiliation.

But another part of her wanted to see his reaction when he noticed her.

Would he remember her confession? Would he be unsettled too?

Just as she was thinking this, Jin Mo seemed to sense her gaze and looked over.

Their eyes met.

Iris’s fingers clenched tightly.

Jin Mo glanced at her, then looked away, as if she were a complete stranger.

Iris felt as if she had sunk into a frozen sea.

She turned and fled toward the lab.

“Iris, where are you going?”

Ziwen hurried after her, confused.

Iris paused and gave a weak excuse. “There are some things I still don’t understand. I’m not going back to rest.”

Ziwen looked puzzled. He glanced back at Jin Mo several times before turning away.

During the experiments that followed, Iris didn’t speak a word.

Even after finishing the day’s tasks, she didn’t want to leave.

She was afraid that if she had free time, she would start thinking about Jin Mo again.

Ziwen noticed and couldn’t help but say, “You’ve done this experiment so many times. Take a break?”

Iris just stared at the sample under the microscope. “Practice makes perfect. I don’t want to make any mistakes when we film.”

Ziwen opened his mouth, then hesitated before asking, “Do you… like that guy named Jin Mo?”

Iris’s hand, steadying the microscope, jerked.

The lens hit the chip, blurring everything.

But she didn’t care. She turned stiffly to look at Ziwen. “What?”

Ziwen was startled by her reaction. He quickly explained, “I didn’t mean anything by it. I just noticed you haven’t been yourself lately…”

“No.” Iris cut him off.

Jin Mo’s attitude flashed through her mind, and she spoke as if she were answering Ziwen and reminding herself at the same time.

“I’m not going to like him anymore.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she felt a sharp gaze land on her.

Iris turned around and met Jin Mo’s eyes at the door.

---

Chapter 9

Iris froze.

When had Jin Mo arrived? How much had he heard?

Her heart was in turmoil. All she could manage was a faint, “Director Jin…”

She didn’t use his name.

As if that would prove her determination to let him go.

“Mm. I’m just here to pick something up.”

Jin Mo maneuvered his wheelchair past Iris, retrieved something from a cabinet, and left without a single glance at her.

Iris’s shoulders slumped. The bitterness in her heart wouldn’t stop.

After a long silence, she said to Ziwen, “I’m tired. Let’s go back.”

Ziwen didn’t say anything. He helped her clean up, and they left together.

After that day, Iris rarely saw Jin Mo.

Even when she caught a glimpse of him in the distance, he would immediately turn and leave, as if he couldn’t get away fast enough.

Gradually, Iris’s heart grew colder.

At some point, she became the one to turn away first.

Iris knew she hadn’t truly let go.

She just thought that maybe, if she left first, she could leave him with a better impression.

Even if he would forget her the moment she was gone…

The days passed, and the day of her departure finally arrived.

Iris didn’t leave with Ziwen. Instead, she stayed at the institute until evening.

As if staying a little longer could change something.

The sky was overcast, and a light rain was falling.

She didn’t know if she would ever see Jin Mo again.

Her heart felt as if it were soaking in the rain, heavy and swollen.

She looked at the darkening sky, let out a long sigh, picked up her packed luggage, and walked out.

Just as she reached the institute’s main gate, she saw Jin Mo standing by a taxi, holding an umbrella.

The driver was helping him unload several large suitcases from the trunk.

He was… moving back?

On the day she was leaving.

Did that mean he had moved out just to avoid her?

Iris gripped the handle of her suitcase tightly. Even though she had decided to let go, she still felt suffocated.

Just then, Jin Mo looked over.

Her breath caught, but she quickly relaxed.

This was the last time they would see each other. Whatever happened, it didn’t matter anymore.

She dragged her suitcase forward. As she passed Jin Mo, she turned to look at him.

The rain seemed to grow heavier, isolating everything around them.

Jin Mo remained indifferent.

Iris lowered her eyes bitterly.

She had thought that, even if he hated her, he would at least say goodbye in a situation like this.

She had been overthinking it…

Iris swallowed the bitterness and whispered, “Goodbye, Jin Mo.”

Without daring to look at him again, she got into the van and left.

The day after she left, Iris began filming.

The schedule was tight, and under the intense workload, she still found herself thinking about Jin Mo.

She told herself to forget him, but she couldn’t.

Even during filming, she couldn’t help but remember the way he had guided her through the experiments…

Time flew by, and the filming was halfway done.

To prevent the cast from getting too stressed, the director arranged a team-building event.

In the private room, the lights flickered. Someone suggested, “Let’s play truth or dare!”

No one objected.

As the lead actress, Iris didn’t even have a chance to refuse before she was pulled into the game.

After a few rounds, her luck ran out, and she had already used up her truth options.

When she was chosen again, a fellow cast member said helplessly, “It has to be a dare.”

“Iris, how about you announce a relationship with Ziwen? It’ll be good publicity for the new drama.”

Everyone started cheering.

Such publicity stunts were common in the industry, so Iris didn’t refuse. “Sure.”

She casually edited a post and sent it, then put her phone aside and stepped away from the game to sober up.

But for some reason, she felt uneasy.

She thought it was just because she hadn’t been sleeping well.

But when the party ended and she checked her phone, she froze.

The top headline was: [A Star Has Fallen: Research Genius Jin Mo Dies After Jumping from Building]

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Chapter 10

*Boom.*

Iris’s mind went blank. She couldn’t think.

How could Jin Mo…

She felt as if all the blood in her body had frozen.

It took her a moment to come back to her senses. She pushed away Ziwen’s outstretched hand and stumbled out of the room.

It couldn’t be. It had to be a rumor spread by some irresponsible tabloid!

When she had left the institute, Jin Mo had been perfectly fine!

Iris rushed to the research institute without stopping.

When she arrived, she saw a crowd of police and reporters gathered around the experimental building.

Iris didn’t care what consequences her appearance might cause.

She just wanted to get closer…

But as soon as she took a step, someone grabbed her arm.

It was Qingyu.

“Class monitor, I…”

Qingyu