Chapter 76 I'll Go Back with You
After a long while, Lin Xili released him, sat up, and turned on the bedside lamp.
She turned to look at Huo Nanchen, whose usually aloof eyes now held a stubborn clarity.
"Huo Nanchen, after spending so much time together, have you fallen in love with me too?"
It wasn't about "like" or "dislike," it was about "love." She asked directly; she didn't need the ambiguity of liking, she wanted a definite feeling.
Huo Nanchen sat up to face her, his dark eyes fixed on her without any hesitation, "Yes!"
He raised his hand, his fingertips gently stroking the corner of her eye. "I realized I had fallen in love with you during the Spring Festival. I didn't say anything first because I was worried that you would respond out of gratitude, and I was also worried that my love would cause you trouble."
Lin Xili felt a slight tingling in her nose, but she forced back her tears.
This man was afraid that she didn't love him, so he didn't dare to take the initiative to fight for himself. He was afraid of repeating the mistakes of his mother and Ning Yu.
“Huo Nanchen,” she said, reaching out to wrap her arms around his lean waist and burying her face in his chest, “the past is the past. It wasn’t your fault. You don’t have to be so careful in your love anymore. From now on, we’ll be a real couple.”
She looked up at Huo Nanchen with unwavering determination, “Mutual trust, loyalty, and support are not constraints or cages. I want us to cherish and protect this love we share.”
This was her extending an olive branch to him, inviting him to build a present and future based on love and trust.
Huo Nanchen felt the warmth of the person in his arms, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
That long-lost warmth spread through his veins, making his long-dormant heart beat violently again.
"Okay." He tightened his arms and held her close in his embrace.
The moment he made the promise to deliver, a sense of guilt quietly took root in the softest corner of his heart.
He still has secrets he hasn't been able to fully reveal.
The Huo family's past identity was shocking enough; if she knew Dr. Lan's true identity, he wouldn't know how to broach the subject.
Let's wait a little longer, until a more suitable opportunity arises, to reveal Dr. Lan's identity to her.
Emotions are inherently selfish; at this moment, he only wanted to indulge himself and revel in the warmth that belonged to him.
He lowered his head and kissed her lips.
No longer a tentative kiss, nor a lukewarm one, this kiss was intensely aggressive, yet it transformed into a suppressed, burning heat the moment it touched her.
Lin Xili did not back down. She raised her hand and hooked her arms around his neck, responding awkwardly but passionately.
She wanted him, she wanted this love to be put into practice.
Her fingertips slipped under the hem of his dark blue silk pajamas, and she closed her eyes, her palms caressing his waist.
Huo Nanchen's breathing became heavy, and his original restraint collapsed instantly under her initiative.
He grabbed her wrist, taking the initiative and pressing her against the bed, kissing her from the corner of her lips to her slender neck, the side of her neck, and her hollow collarbone...
He removed her top, his hands, trembling with a burning heat, caressing her front and back, roaming over her round, soft flesh.
Lin Xili felt as if snow was melting in spring beneath him, letting him lead her as they explored each other's bodies.
The loungewear was eventually left lying on the floor.
This time, there was no more nervousness or shyness like last night.
Sweat mingled, breaths mingled, and all the past and all the anxieties were melted away in this moment by the ultimate intimacy and trust.
Tonight, tender feelings flow like water, yet a raging fire ignites.
On the day the doctoral entrance exam results were announced, Lin Xili was sitting on the sofa reading a book.
The moment the webpage refreshed, her top score jumped into view. She paused for a moment, then beamed with joy.
A short while later, she received a call from the admissions office inviting her to the interview stage.
On the day of the interview, Huo Nanchen specially took a day off to drive her there.
The car slowly stopped outside the examination hall. He turned his head to look at Lin Xili beside him, who seemed calm but whose fingertips were slightly curled. He reached out and gently covered the back of her hand.
"Just do your best." His voice was steady. "I'll come back and wait for you here after I park the car."
Lin Xili took a deep breath, squeezed his hand back, and nodded: "Okay."
The interview went as smoothly as expected.
Her logic was clear and her insights were unique, drawing frequent praise from the examiners.
As she walked out of the examination room, the warm sunlight shone on her.
Huo Nanchen was still standing in the same spot where they had parted, but now he held a bunch of blue snowflakes in his hand.
Seeing her come out, he slowly stepped forward and asked, "How was it?"
"No problem." Lin Xili smiled, her eyes bright as a spring stream. "The examiner said to just prepare the follow-up materials."
"Congratulations, Dr. Lin." He handed her the flowers.
Lin Xili took it, lowered her head and sniffed it lightly. The delicate fragrance lingered around her nose. She suddenly raised her head, her gaze softening.
"Actually, I didn't have any particular preference for flowers before, and I can't say I especially liked any particular type."
"Until the first time I received the blue snowflake from you, you said it was a lot like me, brave and resilient."
May the sunshine warm you from dawn till dusk. She always remembered Huo Nanchen's words of blessing to her. She knew that this ray of sunshine was him.
Huo Nanchen's dark eyes gazed at her silently. He didn't say anything, but simply took a small velvet box from his suit trouser pocket and handed it to her.
Lin Xili was slightly taken aback, then took the document and opened it.
Inside is a blue snowflake pendant made of jadeite, with excellent texture and clarity, a warm and lustrous feel, and a supple and resilient quality.
"What is this?" She looked up in surprise.
Huo Nanchen took out the necklace, walked behind her, and gently put it on her neck with his cool fingertips.
"From now on, no matter how difficult things get, you must believe that the sun will always shine again."
"Forensic work can sometimes be dangerous, so always prioritize your own safety."
Lin Xili lowered her eyes, her fingertips lightly tracing the petal-shaped pendant. Beneath its coolness, she felt her clear and vibrant heartbeat.
She understood his unspoken words and what was hidden behind this gift.
"Yes." She nodded emphatically, her eyes slightly warm. "I know."
Just then, the phone in my bag rang.
The word "Mom" flashing on the screen made Lin Xili frown. She was silent for a moment, but still answered the call.
Song Yuan's voice came from the other end, her tone unusually softer than usual: "Xi Li, it's your dad's birthday in a couple of days, remember to come back for the birthday party."
"I understand," she replied casually.
After hanging up the phone, she looked at Huo Nanchen. Before she could speak, his warm, dry palm enveloped her hand.
"I'll go back with you."
He would never again let her face the home that had always given her the neglect and grievances she felt alone.
Lin Xili gripped his hand tightly in return, "Okay."
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