Tyler Tan was incredibly nervous—his heart was pounding harder than it ever had in his life.
As they entered, several black-clad men surrounded Tyler and Annie Shu, steering them straight toward the elevator.
Outside, night had already fallen.
On their way, they drew countless curious looks from everyone around.
Annie Shu kept a cold face, but deep down she felt strangely unsettled.
If she hadn’t been forced, if this wasn’t the consequence of losing a bet, if Tyler Tan wasn’t beside her, Annie would almost feel like some spoiled rich girl straight out of a novel.
Honestly, the black-clad men keeping them from running totally felt like movie-style elite bodyguards.
Their aura was intense.
They entered the elevator and headed upstairs.
Top floor.
Annie Shu felt powerless to resist. She could only accept reality and step inside the Hilton Presidential Suite Evan Lin had booked.
"We're here. Please head in. We'll be standing guard outside until dawn. Try to behave and stay put until morning, alright?"
A man spoke respectfully, pushing open the suite door. Tyler Tan awkwardly started to explain, "You got it wrong—"
"Maybe I should call Evan Lin and talk to him? See if he'll let us off the hook?" Tyler Tan suggested, trying to find a way out.
Tyler Tan suddenly lost his nerve. He sneaked a glance at Annie Shu, who stood cold-faced at the doorway, staring at the lavish decor inside. One look, and her mood was impossible to describe.
Annie Shu didn't say a word. She stepped inside, leaving Tyler Tan stuck at the door, unable to move forward or backward.
"Go on in. Don't make things harder for us," one of the guards said.
A black-clad man looked at Tyler Tan: "Master Lin already gave orders—if you refuse, we're supposed to tie you up and throw you in."
Annie Shu walked toward the bedroom as she spoke, her bitterness showing.
She lay sideways on the bed, not looking back, her heart numb and tears silently streaming. All the self-respect, confidence, and pride she'd built up over the years shattered in an instant.
He stumbled forward into the room, and before he could turn around, the door slammed shut behind him.
Inside the room.
Annie Shu sat on the sofa; Tyler Tan stood awkwardly ten meters away. He blurted, "Uh... maybe I should sleep on the floor tonight?"
"Just sleep on the bed."
Tyler Tan had prepared a million things to say, but at this moment, he found himself speechless.
Even his famously slick tongue failed him now.
"This is what you wanted, so why are you pretending?"
Annie Shu stood up, looking at Tyler Tan. Her face stayed cold, but her eyes were completely red.
No matter how strong Annie Shu acted outside, she was still just a girl at heart.
Ever since Evan Lin wrecked the Sanda Club and defeated its president, Annie Shu’s life had changed dramatically. Up to now, she felt more and more powerless and insignificant in front of Evan.
Annie Shu had no power to resist; she could only accept reality and appear here, in this place.
"You're mistaken," Tyler Tan replied.
Tyler Tan wanted to explain.
"There's nothing more to say. Tonight, you can do whatever you want. After tonight, we'll be strangers," Annie Shu said coldly.
Annie Shu let out a bitter laugh: "As expected, now the whole school is talking about us."
"You got what you wanted, right? From now on, my reputation at school is ruined. Everyone knows we spent the night at the Hilton together," she said.
"This is what you wanted, Tyler Tan. You won, all because you have a powerful roommate!" Annie Shu spat.
Annie Shu spoke as she walked toward the bedroom.
With her back to Tyler Tan, Annie Shu didn't look back. She reached the bedroom, lay down sideways, closed her eyes, her heart dead, tears streaming down her face.
Self-respect, self-confidence, pride.
Everything Annie Shu had stubbornly held onto these past years shattered inside her heart.
She regretted ever getting Tyler Tan to join the Sanda Club. If she hadn't recruited him that day, maybe none of this would have happened.
Annie Shu trembled, emotions swirling inside her.
Pat-a.
A soft sound echoed.
The room lights dimmed and went out.
Annie Shu's heart tightened with anxiety, but before she could react, she felt a light air-conditioner blanket gently cover her.
"You've had a long day. Get some rest. I'll stay outside," Tyler Tan said softly.
"If you're worried, you can lock the bedroom door," Tyler Tan reassured her.
"And don't worry, I won't let you totally lose face at school, or let anyone spread any dirty rumors about you," he promised.
Hearing Tyler's words, Annie's heart gave a little jolt. She opened her eyes and saw his forced smile—awkward, sincere, and a little bit vulnerable. "Honestly, I really like you. Liking someone means fighting for them, but it doesn't mean owning them without a bottom line."
"I still want to keep my own dignity. Good night," Tyler said, voice soft but resolute.
After speaking, Tyler Tan turned and closed the door behind him, leaving the room in darkness.
From her vantage point, Annie Shu could see the city lights outside the window, feeling distant and lonely.
The streets below were still lively, but for Annie Shu, the sight filled her heart with indescribable complexity.
She lay there for a long time, then slowly got up, hesitated, and tiptoed to the door, gently cracking it open to peek into the living room.
"Hey, everyone, come chat! Anything goes," Tyler Tan called out, livestreaming to classmates.
In the living room, Tyler Tan sat in front of his phone, holding a bottle of red wine. He grinned at the camera: "Tonight's Saint Tyler Tan, live on air, ready to talk about what love really means."
"Livestream all night! Ask me anything—even gossip about Evan Lin, no problem!" Tyler Tan announced.
"I'll spill everything, nothing held back!"
"Huh? You guys asking if Annie Shu and I are in the same room?" Tyler Tan read out a comment.
"Yeah, that's right. But come on, we're all classmates, nothing's happening. And tonight, until Annie Shu heads back to campus tomorrow, I'll be right here on camera. So chill—this is a livestream, not whatever you guys are imagining!"
Tyler Tan kept livestreaming, acting as his own hype man.
The Rivercrest State forum had been blowing up all night about Annie Shu and Tyler Tan, with rumors everywhere. But once Tyler's livestream went live, all the gossip instantly faded away.
To attract more viewers, Tyler Tan amped up his performance, cracking jokes and acting silly, totally willing to play the clown just to make people laugh.
He was like a monkey on display for everyone to watch.
Annie Shu watched him for a long time, her eyes red again. She sniffled, not sure if she felt relieved or sour inside.
Tyler Tan kept clowning on camera, while Annie Shu quietly watched from behind.
The two of them just looked at each other in silence.
Evan Lin stood on the dorm balcony. Eric Wang had gone to dinner with Sophie Ge, while Ming Zhao was glued to Tyler Tan's livestream.
Evan Lin didn't react much—he just let everything play out naturally.
In this world, treating others with sincerity doesn't always bring Buddha-like compassion, but if the other party has any heart, they'll be moved by genuine kindness.
That's what human emotion is all about.
If Tyler Tan's efforts got this far and Annie Shu still isn't moved, then there really is no future for them.