Live together

12 Blockade

Although several communities were blocked, there were still many cars on the road.

Lin Ju looked at the huge traffic jam ahead and felt as if he had survived a disaster and was about to go through another one.

Her phone has been vibrating non-stop since a while ago. Several groups in the school are ringing. Many local students, some of whom are locked up in the community, say they haven't eaten meat for many days, while others are shopping in supermarkets, seemingly prepared to be locked up.

Others say that the sea city will be closed for at least several months. Some people don’t believe it, while others do.

For a time, people were in panic. Everyone was worried, but not about getting sick, but about losing their freedom.

Lin Ju put down her phone and looked at Zhao Xingcan.

Zhao Xingcan was wearing headphones and talking on the phone. He didn't know what he was hearing, but his lips straightened, his brows knitted together, and he hung up the phone. Zhao Xingcan used the navigation system to check the crimson road conditions. He was stuck in traffic if he drove in.

He simply turned the car around and said to Lin Ju, "The road ahead is blocked. Let's take another route."

The night grew darker and darker. Zhao Xingcan tried several routes, but all were blocked. All the roads leading to the airport or train station were blocked.

His phone was also ringing non-stop. Lin Ju asked him if he wanted to answer it. Zhao Xingcan said no, muted his phone, glanced at the gas tank, and saw that it was only half full.

Before in Changhe City, he didn't like driving trams very much because his tram was frozen and stalled halfway, forcing him to take the subway. But now seeing that the road was almost gone and the gas station was not open, Zhao Xingcan felt worried again.

He rarely has such moments. If he were alone, he probably wouldn't do this, but now Lin Ju is by his side.

He looked sideways and saw the little girl peeking out of the car window. The car was well heated. She took off her down jacket and put on a sweater with a circle of diamonds on the sleeves. He bought it for her.

Just now, it was the secretary who called and asked if he wanted a helicopter to pick him up.

Zhao Xingcan parked the car on the side of the road and used his phone to search for a wide area nearby. At this time, Lin Ju turned around and said, "Zhao Xingcan, do you have a lighter? I want to go out and smoke a cigarette."

"Put on your coat." Zhao Xingcan fumbled in his pocket, paused for a moment, and took out a lighter for her, handing it to Lin Ju. "I forgot to give it to you. I bought this in Paris."

It was a lighter made of black enamel and diamonds. It was said to be entirely handmade. It didn't look like a lighter, but more like a work of art.

Lin Ju could feel its heavy weight when holding it in his hand.

It was too valuable for her, but Zhao Xingcan handed it to her as a little toy.

She wanted to say something, but saw Zhao Xingcan was on the phone again. He was speaking French, which Lin Ju couldn't understand.

Lin Ju pushed open the car door, and the cold wind blew on her face. She quickly closed the door.

This place used to be a busy downtown area, usually lined with parked cars, making the road seem incredibly crowded every time I passed by. At this moment, almost all the stores were closed, and the few cars on the road sped by. On either side were bare sycamore trees, and large, withered, yellow leaves drifted on the ground.

She leaned against the railing, pressed her fingers on the heavy broken diamonds, gently moved them aside, and a faint flame ignited.

After lighting a cigarette and taking a deep breath, Lin Ju raised his head and exhaled the smoke upwards. The bright yellow light became blurred in the green mist.

Zhao Xingcan closed his phone and turned his head.

This is what I saw.

Zhao Xingcan thought of the first time he met Lin Ju, which was in the smoking room of the subway station. She was leaning against the wall, smoking like this.

Lin Ju leaned casually. From a distance, she had a snow-white face, with strong eyebrows and eyes, and red lips.

Zhao Xingcan suddenly had an idea that he might as well not leave.

Stay here and be locked up with Lin Ju for several months.

Lin Ju finished smoking a cigarette and was about to smoke a second one when the cigarette in her hand was taken away by Zhao Xingcan.

Zhao Xingcan bit his cigarette and lowered his head, "Light it up."

Lin Ju stood on tiptoe and used her hands to block the wind. She was extremely careful because she was afraid that the fire would hit Zhao Xingcan.

Zhao Xingcan looked at her with lowered eyebrows. The cigarette was lit, and it still smelled like peach. He raised his eyebrows with nostalgia.

"Are you cold? You're blaming me, but you don't even wear a coat yourself." Lin Ju said, opening her down jacket and putting her arms around his waist.

Zhao Xingcan was actually quite tired, but he didn't move and let Lin Ju hug him.

The white down jacket is quite warm, and it feels like a small quilt when covering the body.

After finishing a cigarette, he rested his head against Lin Ju's and said tentatively, "Lin Ju, we have two choices now. The first is to drive for three hours. A helicopter will come to pick us up, but we may not have enough gas. The second is to go back to my home. Even if I'm locked up there for a few months, I should be able to withstand it and not be in such a bad state."

Lin Ju raised her head and bumped her forehead against Zhao Xingcan's chin.

Zhao Xingcan groaned, covered his chin, narrowed his eyes and smiled bitterly, "Your reaction is quite big."

A red mark appeared on Lin Ju's fair head, but she ignored it completely. Her eyes were bright and clear. "I choose the second one."

She probably felt her tone was too urgent. She pursed her lips, her cheeks flushed, and she took a step forward, holding Zhao Xingcan's arm with both hands, and spoke slowly, "Being locked up for a few months is nothing. I'm a homebody anyway, and the car is out of gas. If it stalls halfway, the situation will be even worse."

She hesitantly explained, and the more she explained, the more obvious it seemed.

Zhao Xingcan raised the corners of his mouth, put his arms around her waist and pulled her into his arms, then moved his hands up along her soft and fluffy down jacket, hooked his fingers on the back of her neck, and applied a little force.

Lin Ju looked up, and he lowered his head and sealed Lin Ju's lips.

He had wanted to do this since he saw it in the car just now.

Back in the car, Lin Ju lowered her head, her long hair brushing down. The other door opened, and Zhao Xingcan got in. He pulled Lin Ju towards him, pinched her chin, looked at the girl's flushed cheeks, and tucked the loose hair behind her ears.

When the slightly cool fingertips touched the hot earlobe, Lin Ju's body leaned back involuntarily, and her pair of sparkling eyes stared at Zhao Xingcan.

Zhao Xingcan leisurely admired her expression, his brows moving slightly. He leaned over, his upper lip touching her soft lower lip, then turned his head and leaned close to her ear, his hot air warming her ears.

Zhao Xingcan's voice was low and soft, "Lin Ju, it's a deal, come home with me."

Lin Ju actually didn't hear clearly, so she could only stare at his lips without blinking.

The light from the street lamp fell into the car. Zhao Xingcan's face was in the warm yellow, and there were faint teeth marks on his moist upper lip.

She read the whole sentence, then realized what was happening. She immediately lowered her head, twisted her clothes with her hands, and made an inaudible "hmm" sound.

…

After Zhao Xingcan told his secretary his decision to stay in Hai City, he threw his phone to Lin Ju.

"If you hold it and someone opens it, just say, 'I'm driving and it's inconvenient.'"

Lin Ju held Zhao Xingcan's phone and blinked. After realizing what was happening, she immediately sat up straight, staring at the phone and licking her lips nervously. "Don't worry, I will definitely complete the task."

After that, Zhao Xingcan was in the phone for about half an hour, and Lin Ju worked as a telephone customer service representative for half an hour.

His cell phone kept vibrating. Every time he opened it, he would hear someone respectfully address him as "Mr. Zhao," followed by eager questions about his stay in Hai City.

Lin Ju listened, glanced at Zhao Xingcan who was driving leisurely beside him, and thought to himself, it is true that the emperor is not anxious at all, but the eunuchs are anxious to death.

After these people finished asking, they didn't hear Zhao Xingcan's voice, but heard the voice of a little girl.

The girl spoke slowly and her pronunciation was not very standard, but she could be heard clearly.

She said that Zhao Xingcan was driving and it was not convenient right now.

Lin Ju kept saying this all the way. When her own phone vibrated, she picked it up and blurted out out of inertia, "Zhao Xingcan is driving. It's not convenient right now."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Xu Gaoyou's shout, "Who is Zhao Xingcan? Sister, I am your brother."

Lin Ju was shocked and immediately hung up the phone.

The phone was silent for a few seconds, and then Xu Gaoyou called again. This time it was not a phone call, but a video call.

Xu Gaoyou was prejudiced against Zhao Xingcan. He warned Lin Ju more than once that she should not get involved in Zhao Xingcan's circle because the people in it were either rich or noble. They got things too easily and were not sincere.

Like Feng Longlu who is beside Zhao Xingcan, even though he wears gold and silver and smiles like a fool every day, the women around him change one after another. There are also many smiling tigers like Mr. Zheng, who appear to be polite and can get along with everyone, but are actually very insidious.

Xu Gao's words were shocking, but Lin Ju didn't think much of it.

What was there about her that required Zhao Xingcan to have any ulterior motives?

There are many women who are more beautiful than her. Why should Zhao Xingcan waste his time on a disabled person like her?

She thought it was ridiculous at the time and had another quarrel with Xu Gaoyou. She asked him, "Do you think I am so unworthy of being liked?"

Xu Gaoyou remained silent, slammed the door and left in anger.

The door slammed so loudly that the aunt downstairs couldn't help but run upstairs to look.

But Lin Ju didn't wear a hearing aid, so she couldn't hear it. If she could hear it, Xu Gaoyou wouldn't do that.

Lin Ju looked at the door slamming silently and knew that Xu Gaoyou did it on purpose.

In order to let her know the difference between herself and ordinary people.

"It's your brother calling, why don't you answer?"

Lin Ju didn't look up, staring at the phone, and sighed softly: "I had a fight with him. He is my stepmother's son. We were quite familiar with each other when we were young, but now that we have grown up, I always find it difficult to communicate."

Zhao Xingcan's gaze fell on the still-flickering screen of his phone, and he seemed to be lost in thought. "We're not related by blood."

He said that in a low voice.

Lin Ju stared at the phone and didn't hear anything.

She still hung up the video call from Xu Gaoyou, but replied to the message saying that she was fine.

As soon as she sent the message, Lin Ju's hand was grabbed by Zhao Xingcan, and the slight pull made her look up.

Zhao Xingcan pointed out the car window and said, "We're here."

…

Zhao Xingcan's residence perfectly fits Lin Ju's fantasy of a rich man.

The villa sat on a peninsula overlooking the lake, surrounded by lawns and dense forests. The thick night, like a hazy mist, enveloped them. Their car drove down a small road, through a dense forest, and arrived in front of a tall, wide, carved iron door. The security camera at the entrance picked up Zhao Xingcan's car, and the gate opened, allowing them to continue inside.

Passing through the carved iron gate, he entered the underground garage. The garage was very spacious, with several cars parked inside, some of which were antique cars that Lin Ju had never seen before.

After Zhao Xingcan parked the car, he went to the trunk to take out his luggage. Seeing the girl looking around curiously, he walked over and casually put a hand on Lin Ju's shoulder. "I don't live in this house often. My family used to live here, but later they all moved to France. No one lives here anymore, but there are still people who come to clean it, so don't worry."

They were going to take the elevator upstairs. When they reached the elevator entrance, Lin Ju saw racing helmets and polo equipment hanging on the wall on one side. One of the leather helmets had scratches on it.

Zhao Xingcan glanced at it and casually introduced it, "This is the scratch my grandfather made at the 1956 Le Mans race."

"That's amazing, do you know these?"

"I won't. I'm the only child in the Zhao family, and my family won't allow me to do anything that would threaten my life."

"Then... would staying with me in Hai City be considered a threat to your life?" Lin Ju blurted out the question as the elevator door opened. She deliberately avoided looking at Zhao Xingcan and walked in quickly.

Zhao Xingcan was behind her. She heard Zhao Xingcan smile, and then his arm tightened. When she came to her senses, she found herself pressed against the wall inside the elevator.

Her hands were clasped tightly by his fingers and pressed against her ears, her chin was pinched and lifted up, and the warm yellow light hit her eyelids. Although it was not bright, it made her unable to open her eyes.

She didn't even have time to think, her lips were held and wetness spread.

She heard Zhao Xingcan's low and hoarse voice, very soft, but it was right next to her ear, so she could hear it.

Zhao Xingcan said: "Staying here with you is not life-threatening, it's enjoying life."