Chapter 68 Love Talk

After dinner, the task force was going to hold a supervisory meeting, so Lin Yu and Qin Zhenyang had to rush back.

The procuratorate was only one stop away from the police station. The reluctance of Qin Zhenyang and Xu Pingyan when they parted made Lin Yu feel sad.

Qin Zhenyang glanced at him and said, "There's no way I can talk about love with a single guy like you."

Hearing this, Lin Yu raised his eyebrows and smiled, his fangs pointed, revealing his youthfulness. "Who said I don't have a partner? I have one too."

"Then why is your multi-thousand dollar phone so silent?" Qin Zhenyang thought he was joking, but after taking a closer look at the tenderness in his eyes, she asked in surprise, "Really?"

Lin Yu hummed twice, showing off the phone screen to Qin Zhenyang, saying in a very smug tone, "Isn't it cute?"

"Wow, so beautiful." Qin Zhenyang praised him without hiding his appearance, and then patted his shoulder. "You don't have to work overtime today. The team leader decided to give you a day off so you can go on a date."

Hearing her speak so generously, Lin Yu felt both amused and annoyed. At the end of the year, if you didn't work overtime, it would be considered a holiday.

"Thank you, Team Leader. I'll be grateful if you can help me."

Thinking carefully, the last time he met Chen Wan was five days ago. Lin Yu had originally planned to take time to have dinner with her. After thinking it over, he felt that the only way to help Chen Wan overcome her shyness was to spend more time with her.

From neighbors to friends, from ambiguity to dating, the changes in mentality during this period can be considered gradual, and now it needs to be sublimated.

After experiencing that kiss, Lin Yu deeply understood what it meant to "taste the marrow and know the taste".

Thinking of what Qin Zhenyang said just now about the phone not ringing at all, he sent a message, reporting what he did in the morning and what he had for lunch, and asked her to have dinner together tonight.

After waiting for a few minutes, I received a message saying "OK" along with a photo of lunch.

The arrogant fat cat expression at the end made Lin Yu laugh.

Chen Wan has a lot of cat-head emoticons, and the expressions are all arrogant, which is completely different from the impression she usually gives people, but after looking at them for a long time, they seem surprisingly appropriate.

Apart from being gentle towards people around him, Chen Wan is indeed very cold towards outsiders and has his own style.

......

Chen Wan was also very busy recently because Lin Yu's birthday was coming up and she wanted to save money to buy a birthday present by working part-time. When she received the text message, Jiang Yao was just saying that he wanted to go to the interview with her.

The address of Lin Yufa's restaurant is quite close to where Chen Wan is going next, both on Huaixi Road.

The part-time job they found was tutoring high school students. They took the bus to Huaixi Road and just got off when Youran suddenly called and said that her USB flash drive was broken and asked them to help buy a new one when they returned to school.

"I remember the computer city isn't far from here, we can go check it out." Jiang Yao looked around the bustling commercial street and pointed to a narrow alley not far away. "It seems we can get there by going through that alley."

Between Huaixi and Huaibei lies an urban village. Because expansion and development have been delayed, desolation and prosperity coexist side by side. This stark dissonance lends the city a sense of diversity.

The two of them walked carefully through the narrow alley. It had snowed two days ago, and a layer of snow had accumulated in the alley, which was trampled into gray and black dirty water by people passing by.

The sunlight shines on it, reflecting the neon signs on the bustling streets, and the boundary between light and dark looks like sketch shadows.

Jiang Yao held Chen Wan's hand, and suddenly squeezed her palm, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Wan Wan, there's someone up ahead."

Chen Wan followed her gaze and saw a slender figure at the alley entrance. It was a woman, her features shrouded in darkness, a tiny orange spark between her fingers. A faint blue mist permeated the light, enveloping her features.

There was nothing to be afraid of in broad daylight. Chen Wan took Jiang Yao's hand and walked straight past the man, but was stopped by the familiar smell of perfume.

Their eyes met, and after seeing the pair of frivolous yet charming almond-shaped eyes, they were both stunned for a moment.

Zheng Yunqing tapped her index finger, shook off the cigarette ash, and her eyes brightened a little. "It's you."

Chen Wan nodded and paused, but didn't know how to respond. It was just a one-time meeting, and he didn't think they would meet again.

"Hello," she said, her tone as calm as her expression.

Looking at Chen Wan's calm and composed appearance, Zheng Yunqing developed some liking for her. She felt that this girl was a little special, as pure as a plant.

"Zheng Yunqing." She smiled, said her name, and then asked, "What about you?"

"Chen Wan."

I thought it was just a simple exchange of pleasantries, but when Zheng Yunqing heard that they were going to the computer city, she put out her cigarette and said she wanted to go with them. "Last time I said I needed to get my phone repaired, but I haven't found a suitable opportunity to come out."

The word "come out" caught Chen Wan's attention. She glanced at Zheng Yunqing calmly, and noticing the coldness in her mood, she looked away in an instant. It was just a chance encounter, so there was no need to spend time speculating.

Zheng Yunqing's phone wasn't just damaged in terms of volume buttons; the screen also needed to be replaced. After the boss removed the broken screen with tweezers, she sighed, "Sister, is this urgent? Judging by the extent of the damage, it'll probably take seven or eight days to repair."

"I'm not in a hurry, but try to fix it for me."

After Zheng Yunqing asked about the price, the boss suggested that they use a spare phone first, but she refused without hesitation.

Seeing that she paid very neatly, the boss kindly reminded her, "Actually, if you buy a new one, the price will be about the same as this repair price."

Zheng Yunqing didn't look at him, she smoothed her hair and her eyes regained their pride.

After buying the USB flash drive, Chen Wan and Jiang Yao hurried to the interview location.

Zheng Yunqing asked if she needed a ride, "I just happened to be going to buy a new phone."

Because they were in a hurry, Jiang Yao and Chen Wan did not refuse.

Zheng Yunqing drove the car and the two of them sat in the back seat.

Chen Wan saw a men's suit on the passenger seat, and there was a faint sandalwood scent in the car, a different scent from Zheng Yunqing's.

"By the way, there are snacks in that bag. You can eat them." Zheng Yunqing looked ahead, checked the road conditions, raised her hand and pointed back, indicating that they could take whatever they wanted.

Chen Wan took a look and found that there were also vegetables and fruits, in sufficient quantity. There was a bag in the corner containing a pineapple.

Jiang Yao saw the hot pot base and asked with a smile: "Sister, do you want to make hot pot yourself?"

"I don't eat spicy food. Someone wants to come over for dinner today." As he was speaking, the car's Bluetooth phone kept ringing. Zheng Yunqing glanced at it, frowned slightly, and answered it anyway, her tone revealing impatience: "What for?"

Chen Wan recognized the male voice on the other end, and it seemed to be the same one she had spoken to last time.

The man's tone was not gentle either, and he asked her why she hadn't arrived home yet. Zheng Yunqing pinched her eyebrows, slowed down the car, and her eyes were cold. "I'm shopping and will be back soon."

After saying that, he hung up the phone without waiting for a response.

Jiang Yao and Chen Wan listened to the conversation passively, looking at each other in embarrassment. Fortunately, they arrived at the interview location and got out of the car obediently.

"Thank you, sister." Jiang Yao and Chen Wan thanked her very sincerely.

"Nothing." Zheng Yunqing lowered her head and readjusted the navigation route. She rolled up the window, glanced at Chen Wan, smiled, and said, "Maybe if we're destined to meet again, we'll meet again next time."

For some reason, Chen Wan felt that there was an indescribable sadness in her words, but when she looked closely, Zheng Yunqing had suppressed her emotions and turned back into a thorny rose.

Chen Wan and Lin Yu made an appointment to have dinner together, and Jiang Yao returned to school after the interview.

Before leaving, he put his arm around her shoulders and said earnestly, "Wanwan, you can be reserved on the first date, but don't be afraid after that. Be bolder!"

It was rare to hear such bold words from her mouth. Chen Wan wanted to laugh. She was also a little distressed about the issue of modesty that Jiang Yao mentioned.

After all, it is the first time to fall in love and you have no experience, so you will subconsciously want to leave a good impression on the other person in your words and actions, but the result is that it seems deliberate.

And as soon as she saw Lin Yu, she felt that any more words would be redundant.

For the first time, Chen Wan knew that there really was such a person in the world. His existence took away her sight and language. In front of him, she became a fool who could not say anything and could only look at him.

She was overwhelmed by her overflowing emotions, and her taciturn nature made her restrained and reserved.

......

When Lin met her on Huaixi Road, the lights were already on. He asked Chen Wan to go into the restaurant first, saying it was too cold outside, but he saw her at the door.

Chen Wan is afraid of the cold, so in winter she would consciously wrap herself up like a small cotton ball, wearing a beige lambskin jacket and a dark green plaid cotton skirt. She would unconsciously stare at the glittering shop windows, and her profile would be outlined with a bit of brightness.

"Welcome." He strode forward and took her into his arms. He could smell the faint scent of jasmine in her hair, and his heart became full. He smiled and asked, "Didn't I tell you to wait for me inside?"

Chen Wan heard the laughter mixed in his breath and also curved her eyebrows. She took Lin Yu's hand and rubbed the back of his slightly cold hand with her fingertips, transferring the warmth to him, "Why don't you wear more clothes?"

Lin Yu said disapprovingly, "Ever since I went to the South City and spent the winter there, I feel that I can completely survive the winter in the north by relying on my righteousness."

Although the temperature in the north is low, it is relatively dry. The winter in the south is very wet and cold, and the chill penetrates into the bone marrow.

Chen Wan glanced at him helplessly, "Yes, you are the passionate Officer Lin."

Lin Yu chuckled and took her to a seat. While waiting for the food to be served, they chatted casually about their daily lives.

"I've been really busy lately, rushing to finish a report every day." Lin Yu took a sip of tea, turned his head and leaned on Chen Wan's shoulder. "But do you know what the busiest thing is?"

His natural and intimate behavior eased the slight tension in Chen Wan's heart. She put her arm around Lin Yu's shoulders, patted him soothingly, and asked, "What is it?"

She lowered her eyes and saw Lin Yu's clear facial features, with a light bluish-gray color under his eyes, showing his fatigue.

Chen Wan knew that he was very busy at work, and sometimes he would be out on the field before he could say a few words. He had his own duties and obligations to maintain the goodness in society.

But now when he relied on Chen Wan like this, he was just an ordinary and real man who also wanted to get some gentle comfort.

Hearing this, Lin Yu slowly raised his eyes to look at her, her silhouette reflected in his dark pupils, and said slowly, "I'm busy thinking about you."

Chen Wan was stunned for a moment, then blinked. He moved the hand on his shoulder to the side of his face and pinched it twice, still a little bit incredulous. "Have you been drinking?"

Lin Yu laughed and pinched her face, "Can you be more conscious of being a girlfriend? You should say I am the same now."

There was a thin layer of calluses on his fingertips, and the slightly rough feel contrasted with her soft skin. Lin Yu only touched it lightly and thought it was tender tofu.

I thought to myself, this is what it means to take advantage of someone.

The moment the word "eat" came out, he was stunned for a moment, and his eyes fell on Chen Wan's soft lips.

"Okay, I'm busy thinking about you too." Chen Wan smiled, with the corners of his lips slightly raised.

Lin Yu's throat moved slightly, and he calmly looked away, raised his eyes to look at her, and saw genuine joy in his curved eyebrows.

Just as he was about to speak, the waiter brought the dishes, interrupting Lin Yu's thoughts.

But what was extremely rare was that he had no appetite at all. After eating a portion selectively, he held a cup of tea and watched Chen Wan eat, picking up some food for her from time to time.

"Why did you only eat so little?" Chen Wan saw that he looked uninterested and took a look at the dishes and asked curiously, "Don't you like these dishes very much?"

Lin Yu nodded and shook his head, his brows furrowed slightly, and said in a somewhat tangled manner, "It's not as delicious as you make it."

His tone was listless, like a sigh, like a little child.

Lin Yu wasn't one to sweet-talk, and his words were usually simple and sincere. Coupled with his dark, drooping eyes, he exuded an irresistible, harmless aura.

Chen Wan felt warm in his heart and thought that this relationship was really great. It turned out that Lin Yu was so cute when he said sweet words.

"Then I'll cook for you on your birthday." She also stopped eating and looked at Lin Yu. "Okay?"

In fact, she is a person who is accustomed to using declarative sentences, and she does not leave any room for pauses or endings. However, when facing Lin Yu, she always can't help but raise the end of her sentence and use rhetorical questions.

Because when you like someone, you actually think about everything for him and all you want is a definite result.

Hearing this, Lin Yu scratched the back of his neck, smiled a little embarrassedly, and whispered, "I thought you didn't know. I never mentioned it before."

"Every year has this day, every year has this day." Chen Wan recited this sentence and smiled slightly. His eyes were warm and clear, like the waves of Suzhou River. "Lin Yu, you said you would take it seriously, and I will too."

Because I have been growing in your direction.

When they were in Qinghe Town, Lin Yu asked her what reward she wanted, and even took her jokes seriously, guarding her gently and seriously.

In Lin Yu, gentleness is a kind of strength that gives people peace of mind and makes them feel relied upon.

For Chen Wan, growth is a transformation, accompanied by pain and waiting to break out of the cocoon.

Growing up is to accumulate strength to protect the people you love, to be tolerant to yourself, and to be gentle to others.

She and he both guard each other's other side, leaning on each other and embracing each other's fragility.

......

On the way to send Chen Wan back to school, we walked along the slightly bleak streets. The snow was piled under the trees, reflecting a faint light.

Lin Yu and Chen Wan held hands and walked unsteadily under the bright moonlight.

The warmth from the intersection of their palms spread to the bottom of his heart. Lin Yu tilted his head slightly and rubbed her soft black hair. "Wanzi, your hair smells so good. What shampoo do you use?"

Hearing this, Chen Wan stood on tiptoe, then held his face in her hands, pretending to look at him seriously for a while. She brushed his jet-black hair and sniffed her fingertips, "You smell good too. You have plenty of hair, and it's very smooth."

This scene seemed familiar. Her smooth words reminded Lin Yu of the evening in South City when he went to trim the pomegranate tree to make Chen Wan happy, and the excuse he made when he rubbed her hair for the first time.

It turned out that his heart beat so early, so early that he was speechless and could only choose to deceive himself.

Just as he was dazed, Chen Wan moved closer to him and kissed his clean cheek. The moist touch slowly moved down, and soft words flowed into his lips and tongue like water. There was a smile in her lingering breath, "Lin Yu, I miss you too."

Lin Yu had thought about the definition of loneliness before. He felt that loneliness was being able to see the moon every day but having no one to watch the moon with him.

He also asked what love was, but he only had a vague understanding of those profound truths.

Now, holding Chen Wan's hand and looking at the moon together, looking at her bright profile, Lin Yu understood love.

Love is the person who accompanies you to watch the moon. The moonlight tonight is so beautiful.