Love You Till the End Chapter 1166 - 1164: Shi Mei vs. Shi Keke (14)

"I do like you, as I said before, I’ve liked you for a very, very long time." Shi Keke faced him candidly, having uttered those words previously. Years ago, following her grandfather’s birthday banquet, the morning after she found herself in his bed, he had also confessed that she had openly admitted her affections for him.

This was hardly a hidden matter, so why the need for pretense?

The reason she prompted him to verify her earlier statements was her concern that she might have divulged further secrets, inadvertently exposing her innermost thoughts to him.

Shi Mei lowered his head, drawing his face near hers, stopping just short of her nose as he softly stated, "You also mentioned missing your childhood."

"I truly do miss my childhood immensely." Unsure of his underlying intention, Shi Keke could only echo his sentiment in her reply.

"Had you not brought it up, I might have forgotten; when you were three, your scarf fell into the fountain, and I retrieved it for you."

"Oh, so I spoke of that as well? It seems rather insignificant. Even after two decades, one would expect to recall personal events with clarity." Despite her words, Shi Keke felt a twinge of bewilderment, questioning the reason behind sharing such trivial anecdotes with him.

Shi Mei playfully pinched her nose, chuckling, "And when you were five, I intervened when you were being bullied, which resulted in me kneeling on broken tiles the entire night."

"At eight years old, the drawing board for your competition went missing, and you searched for it ceaselessly. Ultimately, I assisted you in finding it..."

"At thirteen, when your aunt first arrived, your youthful naivety led you to believe you were experiencing fatal blood loss. You cried throughout the night."

Shi Keke interjected, finishing his sentence: "You provided me with a lesson on menstrual cycles and even procured sanitary pads for me – regular, overnight, and heavy flow variants..."

Indeed, as he recounted these memories, she understood that during her bout of drunken rambling, she must have confessed the deeply buried secrets of her heart without reservation.

Consequently, from that inebriated night onward, he had been aware of her romantic feelings for him.

A wave of perceived foolishness washed over Shi Keke. She had been diligently restraining her emotions, suppressing any outward display of affection for him, terrified of rejection. Therefore, she had deliberately not elaborated on her declaration, "I like you."

"Shi Keke, I am also aware that you have harbored feelings for me for an exceptionally long time." The smile on Shi Mei’s face deepened as he gently traced a path across her cheek with his fingertip, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Shi Keke had never witnessed such tenderness in him before; it was akin to the gentle March breeze, so profoundly warm.

"What I truly wish to hear isn't that." She finally voiced her true desire, her expression turning serious.

"Then, what precisely do you want me to say?" Shi Mei’s lips curved into an alluring smile, his voice possessing a magnetic quality that could utterly enthrall someone.

"You already know." Free from the burden of suppression, Shi Keke felt an immense sense of relief. Even if they couldn't be together, knowing he was aware of her love was enough.

"Silly girl." Shi Mei suddenly encircled her waist, lifting her from the table and drawing her into a firm embrace. He whispered into her ear, "When you first confessed your long-standing affection, I made ample space in my heart for you. Shi Keke, I like you too, and I will continue to like you for a very, very, very long time."