Chapter 13 Can We Hold Hands Now?

Chen Shuo's blunt words pierced the last vestiges of peace in the private room like sharp thorns.

The man closed his eyes, almost trembling, as if he dared not face Xu Yan, nor dared he answer Chen Shuo's question.

Xu Yan's expression was indifferent, as if they weren't talking about her.

He simply and slowly placed the teacup on the table, the porcelain making a soft tapping sound as it touched the surface.

Xu Yan looked at Chen Shuo, but that look made the other man's smile freeze.

There was no anger, no shame, just a detached, indifferent detachment.

"Chen Shuo." Xu Yan's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. "After all these years, do you still only know how to use this one trick over and over again?"

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Ming, who was stiff and pale. "Do you think I'd be surprised to see Zhang Ming next to you?"

“I knew from the beginning that he was just part of your game.”

"But why should I refuse when someone is eager to help me?"

Xu Yan smiled softly, "I should thank you for helping me solve my brother's problem."

After speaking, Xu Yan paused, "You don't think I would take your boring and low-level plans to heart, do you?"

Chi Chen watched Xu Yan's every move, his heart pounding incredibly fast.

He knew that Xu Yan was not someone who could be threatened.

Although he didn't know what had happened in the past, judging from Chen Shuo's increasingly gloomy expression, every word Xu Yan said pierced the other's heart.

Chen Shuo finally lost his composure. His face turned ashen and his body tensed involuntarily. "Xu Yan, don't push your luck."

Xu Yan chuckled, her long eyelashes drooping slightly. "If President Chen knew this was how you did things, he would probably... take that person back."

Chen Shuo's eyes were fierce as he stared straight at him. "How do you know that you've been paying attention to me all these years?"

Xu Yan raised her hand. "The contract."

Chi Chen immediately understood and pulled out the contract he had brought today.

Xu Yan took the contract, casually tossed it on the table, and then stood up. "Sign it and bring it over. Please enjoy your meal, Mr. Chen."

After saying that, he turned and walked away without waiting for the other person's reaction.

At almost the same time, Chi Chen also stood up.

His exceptionally tall stature was intimidating simply by standing in front of him.

Chen Shuo was already at the peak of rage and humiliation. Seeing that the other party hadn't left, he immediately turned his anger on him, gritting his teeth and growling, "Your master has left, what are you still standing here for?"

After he finished speaking, he was stunned. There was no respect on Chi Chen's face at all. Instead, there was a genuine feeling of pity.

This is more damaging than any words.

Chi Chen didn't linger and quickly turned to catch up with Xu Yan, who had already walked out.

He followed Xu Yan, the person beside him always standing straight with a cold demeanor.

Even now, someone has vaguely glimpsed a trace of her unsavory past.

"Brother, why aren't you afraid of him at all?" Chi Chen picked up the umbrella under the eaves, and the evening breeze that rushed towards him carried a damp coolness.

Xu Yan paused for a moment, then looked at Chi Chen beside her, "Come with me somewhere."

Chi Chen stared blankly at Xu Yan, feeling that Xu Yan seemed very gentle at this moment.

He hadn't been of any use at all just now—even though he had already sent the other party's information to his former assistant.

I believe that Mr. Chen's family will soon face considerable trouble, and that contract will turn into a warm penalty for breach of contract.

Unlike when they arrived, they took a comfortable minivan, no longer needing to engage in perfunctory work-related interactions.

Xu Yan looked out the window without saying a word, remaining very quiet.

Chi Chen didn't want to disturb him, so he just watched.

The scene outside the window gradually changed from bustling to somewhat dilapidated, until even the traffic became sparse.

They arrived in the suburbs.

Finally, the car stopped under a dim porch light.

Chi Chen picked up the umbrella and took Xu Yan down from it.

The cemetery is somewhat eerie around 7 or 8 pm, and almost no one comes here at that time.

In the rainy night, rows of tombstones stood in neat rows, creating an exceptionally quiet and solemn atmosphere.

Xu Yan seemed very familiar with this place, even though he hadn't been back for several years.

After winding their way through the streets, they stopped together in front of a tomb. It wasn't decorated much, and the surface of the tombstone was clean from being washed by the rain.

Chi Chen stared silently at the black and white photograph above the tombstone. The woman in the photograph was young, with delicate features, but there seemed to be a faint sadness between her brows.

His gaze returned to Xu Yan's profile.

Xu Yan's expression was calm, without sadness.

“I haven’t visited her in a long time,” Xu Yan suddenly said.

"Because she said that as long as I'm doing well, I should never come back."

After Xu Yan finished speaking, she smiled and said, "Sometimes I think that if she were as selfish as I am, she might be able to live a good life."

Chi Chen was silent for a few seconds, then said, "She loves you very much."

Xu Yan gave a soft "hmm," her eyes filled with a gentle smile.

Chi Chen wondered if Xu Yan's mother hadn't left, perhaps things would be different for him now.

What exactly did he go through?

It was very easy for Chi Chen to find out, just as he easily investigated everything that Xu Yan had done in recent years.

But perhaps the stories of this city should be told to him by Xu Yan himself.

Before that, he just needed to deal with that Mr. Chen.

After the brief conversation, Xu Yan simply stared quietly at the tombstone, lost in thought.

When the rain gradually thinned out, he turned around and said, "Let's go."

It's difficult to get a taxi at this cemetery.

The two then decided to walk to the bus stop.

As he walked, the rain stopped. Chi Chen put away his wet umbrella and looked up to see a sky full of stars. "I haven't seen so many stars since graduation."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yan also raised his head. In the darkness of the night, his silhouette appeared somewhat soft, and his usually taut lines relaxed a little.

His gaze was distant, as if he were looking through the stars at something else.

The two walked down the wet asphalt road. The streetlights were sparse, casting a dim yellow light, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and grass.

"Brother, are you cold?"

"It's alright." Xu Yan hadn't walked this far in a long time, and because she was constantly moving, she didn't feel cold.

"I was going to put my coat on you," Chi Chen said with a coquettish smile. "Sometimes you don't have to be so strong, brother."

"Because your strength has come."

Xu Yan chuckled, "Thank you, but I'm getting a little hot from walking."

"Okay." Chi Chen said with some regret.

They walked for twenty minutes, and the atmosphere seemed much more harmonious.

Fortunately, the two caught a bus as soon as they arrived at the station.

Because it was very late, there were only the driver and a few elderly people on the bus.

They found a good spot to sit down, shoulder to shoulder, with Xu Yan leaning against the car window.

When their clothes brushed against each other's shoulders, Chi Chen realized that they rarely got this close.

This seemed to be the ideal distance between the two people on the plane, perfect for them to naturally hold hands.

Chi Chen tensed up at the thought.

He bit his lip, not daring to look at Xu Yan's face, and just stared out the window diagonally in front of him.

The car started shakily, the darkness outside the window gradually dissipated, and the city became lively after entering.

Chi Chen knew that a long time had passed and Xu Yan was resting. He didn't dare to disturb her and hesitated to reach out and grab her.

Suddenly, he felt a weight on his shoulder.

Chi Chen's body tensed instantly. He slowly turned his head and saw Xu Yan's long eyelashes casting a faint shadow under her eyes.

Her beautiful lips parted slightly unconsciously, like pink berries waiting to be picked.

Chi Chen's heart almost stopped; he dared not move, and even his breathing slowed down.

Xu Yan's hair was blown by the wind outside the window, gently brushing against the side of his neck, causing a slight tickle.

But it also adds a touch of realism.

It's not a dream.

Chi Chen's fingertips twitched slightly... Now, can we hold hands?

A note from the author:

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Our Yanyan is such a bitter little gourd [pats head]