Chapter 157 Humility

As he spoke, he calmly accepted the box that Qiu Zishu handed him.

My fingertips gently traced the back of her hand.

The touch was so light that it sent ripples through her skin.

Like a flash of electricity, it sent a slight shiver through her heart.

It was as if some hidden emotion had been quietly awakened.

Qiu Zishu subconsciously withdrew her hand.

A faint blush rose to the tips of her ears.

"Your father's achievements in the army are truly admirable."

Lin Zhiming continued, his tone gentle and sincere.

"It is truly admirable that you were raised to be such a well-educated and sensible daughter."

“I came back to invest this time because I wanted to get to know more seniors like your father.”

He paused, his gaze drifting to the darkening sky outside the window, a deeper meaning creeping into his voice.

"After all, when someone develops in the mainland alone, they have to slowly rebuild their network and foundation."

Qiu Zishu frowned, feeling that something was off about what he was saying.

But I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong with it.

She had a vague feeling that Lin Zhiming was mentioning his father.

It wasn't just simple admiration; there was something else going on.

Seeing that her expression was different, Lin Zhiming immediately changed his tone.

A gentle smile reappeared on his face.

"You and Aqing are very close?"

"Yes, Sister Wanyin is a really nice person, and she's very gentle with me."

Qiu Zishu nodded, her tone softening.

"She always puts others first, and even if she suffers injustice herself, she doesn't want to trouble others."

A glint flashed in Lin Zhiming's eyes.

It was a complex emotion, a mixture of nostalgia and guilt.

There's also a hint of indescribable tenderness.

He sighed softly and raised his hand to rub his temples.

"Actually, I came back this time to make up for what I owed Aqing in the past."

"I know what happened back then hurt her deeply."

"But she seems to... have a deep misunderstanding about me."

Lin Zhiming gave a bitter smile, a faint look of melancholy in his eyes.

“I wrote to her, but she didn’t reply. I visited her in person, but she refused to see me.”

Qiu Zishu recalled the image of the two people standing very close in the photo.

Then I remembered Qiao Wanyin's cold attitude when she mentioned Lin Zhiming.

Her thoughts were somewhat mixed, as if she were being pulled in two directions by two emotions.

She paused, then spoke softly.

"Sister Wanyin has her own ideas, she... never easily reveals her feelings."

"If you really want to make amends, perhaps... keeping some distance would be better. At least for now, she's not ready to face you."

Lin Zhiming smiled wryly, took off his glasses, and gently wiped the moisture off the lenses with his fingertips.

The light shone on his profile, outlining his deep features.

“You’re right, but…”

"Some things, if you don't fight for them, you may never have another chance."

He looked up, his eyes serious.

“I don’t know many people in mainland China. Most of my old friends have drifted apart, and my relatives are far away overseas.”

"Could you talk to me once in a while? Just to... help someone who wants to start over?"

The sunlight was perfect, shining obliquely on Lin Zhiming's face.

A gentle breeze ruffled the stray hairs on his forehead, bringing a sense of tranquility.

Qiu Zishu suddenly realized that this man was indeed different.

Unlike the stern-faced officers in the military camp, he didn't exude an air of authority.

Lin Zhiming possesses a quiet strength.

Gentle but not weak, composed but not aloof.

"I……"

Qiu Zishu wanted to refuse.

But it felt like something was blocking my throat.

Her eyes flickered uncertainly, and she was going through a fierce internal struggle.

In that brief moment of hesitation...

Lin Zhiming had already taken a business card from the inside pocket of his suit and handed it to her.

"It's okay, you don't need to answer right away."

His voice carried an irresistible tenderness.

"This is my contact information. I sincerely hope you can call me. Even just to chat would be very appreciated."

As if by some strange twist of fate, Qiu Zishu accepted the business card.

The instant your fingertip touches the card.

She felt a subtle warmth in her heart.

By the time she came to her senses, Lin Zhiming had already turned and left.

His figure disappeared into the light and shadow at the end of the corridor.

Only a faint fragrance remains in the air—

The fragrance lingered around her nose, refusing to leave.

Back at the mutual aid center, Qiu Zishu saw Qiao Wanyin standing stiffly by the window.

"Did you return the things to him?"

Qiao Wanyin didn't turn around; her voice was icy cold.

"Yes, I returned it."

Qiu Zishu responded with a soft voice, almost as if he were talking to himself.

She instinctively reached into her coat pocket.

My fingertips touched the gold-embossed business card, and my heart skipped a beat. I quickly withdrew my hand.

Qiu Zishu hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not mention that Lin Zhiming wanted to be friends with her.

"Zishu, thank you!"

Qiao Wanyin turned around, her eyes slightly red.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you. I really don't want to see that person again."

Qiu Zishu smiled faintly, with a hint of reassurance.

She nodded slightly, without saying anything more.

He simply sat back down in his seat.

But involuntarily, Lin Zhiming's clear and sincere eyes appeared in my mind.

Those eyes weren't as cold or calculating as Qiao Wanyin had described.

Instead, it's like a clear mountain spring, transparent and gentle.

His expression was completely genuine.

The words, "I really hope you can call me," echoed in her ears, lingering for a long time.

...

For the next few days, Lin Zhiming seemed to have disappeared.

He never appeared at the mutual aid center again.

Qiu Zishu originally thought that the matter was over.

That business card will eventually be forgotten in the corner of the drawer.

It wasn't until Friday afternoon that she ran into Lin Zhiming, who was flipping through military journals, at the military library.

Sunlight streamed in, falling on his focused profile.

The edges of the pages were coated with a soft gold trim.

"Miss Qiu, what a coincidence!"

Lin Zhiming noticed her approach, looked up, and gave a perfectly timed smile.

"You like watching this kind of stuff too?"

Qiu Zishu was stunned, and his heart skipped a beat.

She subconsciously took half a step back, her voice a little strained.

"I...I'm here to borrow some books for my dad. He's been particularly interested in modern defense systems lately."

"Your father is indeed a diligent learner, just like the rumors say."

Lin Zhiming stood up with a smile, his movements natural and graceful.

He wore a dark blue shirt today; the fabric was of excellent quality, and the color was calm and elegant.

"What a coincidence! I've also studied some modern warfare theories. Would you like to talk to me about it? I wonder if there's ever a chance."

His tone was humble and sincere, and there was not a trace of frivolity in his eyes.

Qiu Zishu frowned slightly, a hint of doubt rising in his heart.

She stared at him for a few seconds, finally unable to hold back her question: "Aren't you in business? How do you know all this?"

Lin Zhiming pushed up his metal-framed glasses, his gaze calm and gentle.

"Yes, I've loved it since I was a child, but unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to pursue this path before."

He paused, his gaze slightly lowered.

"Actually, the reason I came back this time is to do something for the country's national defense."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Zishu's heart skipped a beat.

It felt as if something had suddenly bumped into my chest.

She had originally intended to have a casual chat with him.

But just now, she suddenly felt a greater sense of respect for him.