Chapter 4

The afternoon sun slanted across the bar counter, and Lin Xiaotang felt a nameless anger burning inside her, a stifling feeling with nowhere to vent. The gaze from the corner lingered on her back again, like a persistent shadow, making her restless. She abruptly pulled open a drawer, took out a cold can of yellow peaches, the hard tin can digging into her palm.

She needed to do something to distract herself, or rather, to fight off that gaze that made her extremely uncomfortable.

She roughly wedged the can opener into the can opening, and forcefully turned the handle, the metal gears meshing with a harsh grinding sound. She could clearly feel that the gaze pause for a moment because of her obviously emotional action, but did not look away.

This feeling of being silently watched, yet utterly rejected, reached its peak.

On what grounds?

She suddenly raised her head without warning and abruptly turned to face that corner—to face Fu Baisinian's eyes, which had been staring at her and were filled with complex emotions.

Her actions were too quick and decisive, carrying a sense of reckless questioning.

Persian was clearly not expected that she would suddenly look directly at him. As if he had been caught spying, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his body subconsciously leaned back, almost jumping off the chair. Panic and helplessness flashed across his face in an instant.

The moment Lin Xiaotang met his gaze, the strength in her hand did not lessen at all due to the intense fluctuation of her emotions; instead, she lost control and slipped suddenly!

"Sizzle—"

The sharp edge of the can opener instantly sliced ​​the side of the fingers gripping the can, leaving a deep gash. Blood gushed out, quickly staining the peach syrup and her fingers red, dripping onto the gleaming bar counter in a shocking sight.

"Ah!" Lin Xiaotang gasped in pain, and the can opener and can in her hand fell to the table with a clatter.

"Sister Xiaotang!" Xiaowei exclaimed as she rushed over, frantically pulling out a stack of tissues to press against the wound. "How could it be so deep! Quick, press it! Band-Aid, where's the Band-Aid!"

The tissue was quickly soaked with blood, and the bleeding couldn't be stopped. Blood trickled down between her fingers, soon staining a small patch of the countertop red. Lin Xiaotang's face turned pale with pain, and her fingers trembled slightly uncontrollably.

Per Sinian, who was in the corner, suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a sharp, grating sound. His face was even paler than Lin Xiaotang's; all the struggles, avoidances, and pain he had felt before were now replaced by a pure, almost panicked anxiety.

He rushed to the bar in a few steps, his movements incredibly fast, his voice tense and even a little rough with urgency: "What happened! Hold him down! We have to get to the hospital right now!"

His gaze was fixed on her bleeding fingers, the anxiety in his eyes almost tangible.

Lin Xiaotang was taken aback by his sudden approach and intense reaction. She subconsciously pulled her hand back and shook her head, enduring the pain, "No...it's nothing, just a small wound, a bandage will do..."

"This is no small wound!" Bai Sinian almost roared, a vein throbbing on his forehead. Without giving her a chance to refuse, he shoved aside Xiao Wei's blood-stained tissue and pressed his palm firmly against the wound to try to stop the bleeding. His movements were undeniably forceful, and his eyes held a determination and panic she had never seen before: "Let's go! To the hospital!"

"I really..." Lin Xiaotang still wanted to struggle, but the blood loss and pain made her a little dizzy. Bai Sinian didn't give her any chance to refute at all. He half-supported and half-forced her out from behind the bar and led her quickly out of the store without saying a word.

He pushed the glass door open forcefully, and the wind chimes shook violently, making a chaotic and rapid sound.

The sunlight outside was blinding. Bai Sinian's lips were tightly pressed together, his face ashen. He carefully protected her bleeding hand, practically shoving her into the black sedan parked not far away. His movements were hurried, even tinged with a barely perceptible tremor.

The engine started, and the car sped away from the quiet street corner, leaving behind a messy bar counter and a dumbfounded Xiao Wei in the "Corner" shop.