Chapter 470: Chapter 470 Nonsense
Gu Shiting’s heart gradually sank, as if it were sinking into a cold, deep abyss.
It was so cold around him that he was about to freeze.
He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to explain or refute, but Sheng Tang stopped him.
"Do you know about ’imprinting behavior’?" Sheng Tang asked him.
Gu Shiting nodded.
Imprinting behavior was a theory from Sheng Tang’s world. This world has a similar concept called "imprinting response"; the theory is almost the same.
Seeing him nod, Sheng Tang still explained, "Newly hatched chicks or other newborn mammals will recognize the first moving object they see as their mother.
Just like ducks, if a duckling hatches and its mother isn’t around, it will consider the first person it sees passing by as its mom."
Gu Shiting understood what she was trying to say.
"What you think is love is actually a kind of ’imprinting behavior’," Sheng Tang said. "That day, when I saved you from the water, you clung to me and felt warmth, leading you to see me as the only person you weren’t afraid of.
From then on, in your life, I am the only one you can get close to. You only recognize me and need me. To me, you are just like a little animal."
Gu Shiting didn’t say a word in rebuttal.
He felt a slight stir in his heart: if someone else had saved him that day, would he have the same feelings?
Indeed, it was only after that incident that he was no longer afraid of Sheng Tang’s proximity.
It was an accidental, unrepeatable event that happened to involve Sheng Tang.
"You have been very good to me, and I know that," Sheng Tang said. "But the kind of love I want, the kind of love I hope you have, shouldn’t be this."
These are words she should have said to Gu Shiting long ago.
However, she never found the right moment, always thinking she would leave everything to time.
Unexpectedly, Gu Shiting broke it all first.
"If one day, you no longer need my help, if you no longer rely on me psychologically, if you truly become someone unconstrained, you can come to me and talk about love.
At that time, if you still place me in the most important position in your heart, think that I am the only one, we can start a relationship," Sheng Tang said.
Her words were logical and well-founded.
But Gu Shiting was not persuaded at all.
He thought to himself, "Nonsense!"
Love is love, how can it be reduced to "imprinting response"?
He never saw Sheng Tang as his mother.
If it weren’t Sheng Tang who saved him that day...
But life doesn’t have so many "ifs." It was Sheng Tang who saved him that day!
This is destiny!
As for Sheng Tang... her "imprinting response" was even more severe; she always saw Gu Shiting as a child.
However, since she was willing to say so much and didn’t throw a tantrum and walk away, Gu Shiting felt more at ease.
"Take your time." He alternately pressed his palm with his fingers, suppressing all his impatience.
As long as she was still his, still by his side, Gu Shiting could compromise on everything else.
He needed to take his time and carefully grind away Sheng Tang’s resistance.
So, he followed her words and pretended to be obedient, "I understand, Tangtang, I won’t do this again!"
After speaking, he stood up and hugged her tightly.
He held her for just three seconds before letting her go at the perfect moment.
Gu Shiting experienced the first truly meaningful deep kiss of his life, once again coaxing Sheng Tang, and the heavy weight on his heart finally eased.
He let out a faint sigh of relief.
As the quiet settled in, he silently savored her taste.
Before dinner, Sheng Tang and Gu Shiting had eaten a few slices of apple, so her mouth still carried a hint of apple’s fresh scent.
Gu Shiting savored it for a long time, feeling he had made significant progress, secretly pleased with himself.
Sheng Tang could also tell that her words hadn’t fully convinced Gu Shiting. She felt a bit exhausted and fell into a deep sleep, without the ease that Gu Shiting felt.
