Slowly disintegrating

Lin Tingyue couldn't help but laugh when she recalled what Chi Zhuo had said back then.

The laughter drew a teasing remark from Xia Xiaoran. "Oh my, you can't hide your smile anymore. How's it going? Getting better and better off lately, huh?"

Lin Tingyue truthfully replied: "A simple life is a happy and carefree one."

Xia Xiaoran hugged her head and cried, "Oh, I envy you. Your studio is doing well, and your marriage is happy. Unlike me, I'm still being pressured by my parents to go on blind dates."

Lin Tingyue frowned. "Huh? Your parents are still pressuring you to go on blind dates? Don't you have a job?"

Xia Xiaoran nodded pitifully: "Yes, but they think there's something wrong with me not looking for a partner. Not to mention those people who often invite my parents to dinner, all they talk about is their children's marriage, as if they have nothing to talk about if they're not married."

Lin Tingyue ordered another cup of coffee. "Maybe it's true. Think about it, besides worrying about your marriage, what else do your parents have to do? Look, with a company as big as the Chi family, the old man should be worried about Chi Zhuo, their future child. But they're busy with year-end inspections right now, and they have so much to do that they can't spare a moment. So, find something for your parents to do. Once they're busy, they won't have time for you. They might even need your help to postpone thinking about marriage."

Xia Xiaoran sat up abruptly, her eyes lighting up: "Find something to do? You're right! They're just too idle!" She pondered for a moment, biting her straw, then suddenly slammed her hand on the table, "I've got it! Aren't my parents always complaining that there aren't enough community activities? I'll encourage them to organize a community cultural festival!"

Lin Tingyue nodded approvingly: "That's a good idea. If you need help, I can ask Chi Zhuo to help you contact some resources."

"Great!" Xia Xiaoran immediately perked up and took out her phone to start planning.

"Oh, right." Xia Xiaoran suddenly remembered, "I handed over your matter to Gu Yanzhi. Although they didn't get Jiang Shaoyang imprisoned, they still went to great lengths to keep quiet this time."

Lin Tingyue said calmly, "I trust you with my business."

Previously, Chi Zhuo had said that he would handle it as a group matter, but in the end Lin Tingyue did not want to make such a big fuss. Moreover, the Chi family was involved in too many things, and if it was not handled in time, it would become a handle for others to use against them.

"Don't worry, don't worry, Gu Yanzhi said there won't be any problems."

Lin Tingyue felt the name sounded familiar. "Gu Yanzhi? The senior you introduced back then?"

"yes."

"You two are still in contact."

Xia Xiaoran's fingers flew across the screen without looking up: "That's right! He handled that matter for you last time with ease, and now that I heard you're in trouble, he happens to be a perfect fit for the job. You wouldn't believe how powerful he is now, he's quite famous in the industry."

Lin Tingyue stirred her coffee thoughtfully. "I remember he had a crush on you back in college."

"Cough cough—" Xia Xiaoran choked on her drink, her ear tips turning slightly red. "That's all ancient history! We're just ordinary friends now."

Lin Tingyue smiled but remained silent.

Just then, Xia Xiaoran's phone beeped with a notification. She glanced at it quickly, and her face instantly fell.

"Ugh, my mom wants me to meet someone again this weekend."

Lin Tingyue immediately said, "That's perfect. You mentioned that community event, so let your mom organize it."

"That's right!"

Xia Xiaoran took a deep breath, answered the phone, and her tone instantly became cheerful: "Mom! I was just about to tell you something important!"

...

After hanging up the phone, Xia Xiaoran breathed a sigh of relief and gave Lin Tingyue a victory sign: "Done! Finally, I can have some peace and quiet."

Lin Tingyue smiled and took a sip of her coffee. "It seems this trick really works. It seems people really can't be too idle."

"It's more than just effective, it practically saved my life!" Xia Xiaoran picked up her phone again. "By the way, Gu Yanzhi really put in a lot of effort this time, you have to show your appreciation, right?"

Lin Tingyue said thoughtfully, "Oh dear, what a coincidence. I happen to be negotiating a collaboration recently, and I also have to go back to my old house this weekend."

She looked at Xia Xiaoran, raised an eyebrow, and said, "I'm really too busy, sorry. Otherwise, could you please go to the trouble of thanking him for me?"

Xia Xiaoran seemed hesitant, "This..."

Lin Tingyue pleaded again, "Okay, Ranran, please, please, as you've seen, I have a ton of things to do lately."

Xia Xiaoran sighed, "Alright, alright, I'll go all the way since you've said so. I'll make the trip for you again. But remember, this isn't me inviting him, it's me inviting him for you."

"Okay, okay."

Lin Tingyue sent a red envelope with a grin, "Hehe, this is for your hard work."

Xia Xiaoran happily accepted the red envelope, "Okay, I promise I'll make it look beautiful for you."

She glanced down at her phone; Chi Zhuo had sent a message: "I have a business dinner tonight, don't wait for me for dinner."

Lin Tingyue replied with an "okay," and a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

Xia Xiaoran peeked over and clicked her tongue twice: "Look at your expression, you've been married to Chi Zhuo for so long and you're still like you're in the honeymoon phase."

"No way." Lin Tingyue put away her phone, but a smile played in her eyes.

Xia Xiaoran couldn't help but sigh at the happiness in her voice, "That's wonderful. When will I ever meet a soulmate like that?"

"Let's focus on organizing the community cultural festival first," Lin Tingyue said with a smile. "Maybe then, you'll meet some like-minded people?"

"Thank you for your kind words!" Xia Xiaoran cheered up again.

Over the weekend, Lin Tingyue and Chi Zhuo went back to the old house again.

After their last conversation, Su Jinghe gradually changed her attitude. Although she was still a little awkward at first, she clearly wanted to make amends.

After the meal, Chi Zhuo stood in the small garden, while Su Jinghe stood at the door.

She thought for a moment, then took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and walked over.

"Xiao Zhuo".

Chi Zhuo turned around, his eyes devoid of any tenderness, filled only with coldness.

Seeing Chi Zhuo's gaze, Su Jinghe suddenly couldn't hold back anymore, and a wave of bitterness welled up in her heart.

Over the years, she had indeed neglected her son too much. Before, she hated herself for being unable to escape this place, but now she didn't know who to hate or how to improve the relationship.

How have you been lately?

She actually wanted to ask about his life, but it seemed that she hadn't cared much about it over the years. She seemed to have become like the Chi family, driven by self-interest to sway her emotions.

"fine."

The same two words, "indifference," still rang out. Unlike the last time Lin Tingyue was present, this time the conversation between the two felt strangely distant.

"So... are you and Tingyue... both... alright?"

Chi Zhuo turned around and met Su Jinghe's anxious gaze, his tone still distant: "We are both fine."

Su Jinghe twisted her fingers as if she had made up her mind. "I know you've been carrying this burden all these years on your own, and it's been tough. But I just can't accept what happened back then. I hate your father, and I hate you because of him. In the end, I hate myself."

Her voice trembled slightly, "But I've realized that I've made mistakes all these years."

Chi Zhuo's eyes flickered slightly as he silently looked at her.

“I shouldn’t have taken out my resentment towards your father on you.” Su Jinghe’s eyes reddened. “Tingyue was right that day. I’ve been running away, and I don’t even have the courage to be a mother. Today, I’m telling you this not to beg for your forgiveness, but because I hope you can live a better life in the future. Really, I won’t run away anymore.”

In the garden, Chi Zhuo finally spoke: "Why are you saying all this now?"

"Because I don't want to lose you again." Su Jinghe's voice choked with emotion. "I know it's too late to say this now, but... can you give me a chance to make it up to you?"

Chi Zhuo remained silent for a long time, his features softening in the night: "I'll think about it."

Those few simple words brought Su Jinghe a huge sense of relief: "Okay, okay, I'll let you think about it. No rush."

On the way back, Lin Tingyue gently held Chi Zhuo's hand: "I heard Mom talked to you today, how did it go?"

Chi Zhuo fell silent again.

Lin Tingyue leaned on his shoulder and said softly, "I know that some things can't be resolved in a short time, but after all, she is one of the few relatives you have left in this world. Since she is willing to take the initiative to speak up, shouldn't we give her a chance? I know that you haven't been happy these past few years, and you have suffered, but if she is willing to do it, let her do it. Whether we accept her or not is another matter. What do you think?"

Chi Zhuo intertwined his fingers with hers: "I know." He paused, "I know you want to resolve the conflict between us, but some things are not as simple as you think."

Lin Tingyue turned to look at him and said, "Why don't we give it a try? Just like any decision you make, there are always risks involved. Sometimes taking a step might just be a big step towards success."

Seeing her clear eyes, Chi Zhuo's heart wavered slightly again. He lowered his head and thought for a while before saying calmly, "Then... let's take another look."

Lin Tingyue smiled instantly, "That's right! No matter what, being willing to try is progress!"

-

After the weather turned cool, the temperature in northern Beijing plummeted like a rollercoaster.

In just half a month, Lin Tingyue changed from wearing long dresses to thick sweaters, and became increasingly lazy, staying in her bedroom and refusing to go out.

"It's so cold."

She complained in the bedroom early in the morning that Chi Zhuo had already finished washing up, but she was still lying in bed.

"You're leaving? Aren't you going to work today?"

Chi Zhuo pushed open the door and saw Lin Tingyue still lying on the bed. He frowned. "Tingting?"

Lin Tingyue, still wrapped in the blanket, peeked out with a grin, "It's so cold, I want to ask for leave."

Chi Zhuo glanced at the weather on his phone. It was around twelve degrees Celsius outside, which was indeed a bit cold, but not cold enough to make him unwilling to go out.

"You... are the boss..."

"Well, being a boss means you have to go to work, I'd like to ask for leave."

Chi Zhuo laughed at these words, "You're the boss, you can choose not to go if you don't want to."

"Oh right." Lin Tingyue suddenly realized, "Then let's just not go today."

Now that I'm the boss, I can do whatever I want.

"bite--"

Lin Tingyue received a message on her phone at that moment, and instinctively picked it up to see the schedule in the work group.

She glanced at it, then numbly closed her eyes. "Wait for me for ten minutes, then I'll go out with you."

As she spoke, she got out of bed as quickly as possible, and under Chi Zhuo's watchful gaze, she finished washing up in ten minutes and got into the car with him.

Chi Zhuo was truly impressed by this efficiency.

"Didn't you say you weren't going?"

Lin Tingyue sat in the back row, took an eyebrow pencil and drew her eyebrows. "It's almost December. We finally managed to finalize the cooperation with 'Vanya' this time, so we have to keep an eye on it. I won't feel at ease unless I go and see for myself."

"Okay." Chi Zhuo escorted her to her office building and thoughtfully reminded her, "I'll pick you up after work."

"Okay." Lin Tingyue was about to leave when Chi Zhuo grabbed her wrist. "Hey, wait a minute."

She turned her head in surprise, "Huh?"

Chi Zhuo looked at her tenderly, "Did you forget something?"

Lin Tingyue immediately understood and looked somewhat embarrassed, "I... I'm wearing a full face of makeup today."

"so……"

Lin Tingyue deliberately touched his chin, gently scratching it like she was petting a puppy. "Good boy, we'll talk about it when we get home, bye~"

After saying that, she immediately turned and ran away without looking back.

Chi Zhuo was left with a helpless expression.

"Little liar."