Chapter 93. She closed her eyes and acted voluntarily and clearly…
In Lin Baizhou's view, Wen Xue has a very contradictory quality.
She appears fragile, yet she is resilient.
In the afternoon coffee shop, he clearly saw tears glistening in her eyes. He couldn't help but nervously recall their conversation, which had revolved around Zhou Zhan. He subconsciously assumed she was worried about He Yan, and he felt at a loss, even regretting his earlier honesty.
He knew perfectly well that he hadn't done anything wrong, but if he not only failed to help her but also caused her anxiety and distress, he would regret it.
"Teacher Wen, don't worry."
Unlike his calm and steady voice, a hint of anxiety flashed between his brows. "I think he knows what he's doing, and he should have already discussed a plan with Zhou Zhan, right? Maybe I was exaggerating the other day. Don't take it too seriously."
He paused for a moment, then gave a fair assessment: "Besides, Zhou Zhan's position is now higher than his brother's. In short, it all depends on human effort."
Wen Xue slowly looked at him.
She sensed something was off about his words, and remembering the missing business card in the armrest box, she had a vague guess in her mind. Suppressing her surprise, she asked directly, "What did you talk about that time you met? Can you tell me?"
Lin Baizhou hesitated upon hearing this.
Wen Xue's face remained calm, but her fingertips were slightly cold, and her heart was in her throat.
Sure enough, without her knowledge, he had contacted Lin Baizhou.
She knew him; he wasn't the type to do anything inexplicable. If he went to find Lin Baizhou, there was only one possibility: in his heart, Lin Baizhou had also been involved in the matter.
After a moment of silence, Lin Baizhou said in a low voice, "He asked if anyone else saw him get into Zhou Zhan's car that day. Besides me, there was no one else. Also," he quickly chose his words, "he also asked me not to tell anyone else about this. The fact that he asked this means that I guess not many people know that he was involved in the Zhou family's affairs, which is good."
Wen Xue nodded and looked at him: "Anything else?"
"there is none left."
Lin Baizhou remembered He Yan's reminder, or rather, warning, and his expression stiffened. He naturally wanted to hide these inappropriate conversations, but Wen Xue, who was sitting opposite him, was watching him intently and naturally did not miss the most subtle change in his eyes.
Wen Xue lowered her gaze slightly, concealing the understanding in her eyes. She could roughly guess some of it. She had wondered before that He Yan seemed to be particularly concerned about Lin Baizhou. Although she also felt a little strange at the time, she did not think about it deeply. Thinking back on the past, when did he start picking her up and dropping her off every time she went to the Fang family?
It was after meeting Lin Baizhou.
"Yes, thank you for telling me all this," she said, noticing his unease, and didn't press him further.
Seeing that her hand holding the coffee was a little unsteady, Lin Baizhou said again, "If there's anything I can help you with, just let me know."
This wasn't just polite talk; it came from the heart.
Even though he still thinks he's wading into muddy waters, he might not care so much if it's for her sake.
This time, Wen Xue looked at him seriously.
The person in front of me is upright and has clear eyes. He is often clumsy when he is around her, but he is very sincere. He always wants to get close to her but restrains himself from keeping his distance.
He is a very good person.
If this is a mess, a terrible situation, she still doesn't want to cause trouble for the people around her, and hopes he can stay away.
Although Lin Baizhou wanted to spend more time with her, like this, drinking coffee together, even without saying a word, he felt very satisfied. However, he could also tell that although she was sitting right across from him, she seemed absent-minded and her thoughts were far away.
"Teacher Wen, I'm going back to the company now."
He turned his wrist, looked at the watch face, and said gently, "Besides coffee and cake, is there anything else you'd like to eat? I remember my colleague said the waffles here are also delicious."
"No need," she smiled. "My friend's interview should be over soon too."
Lin Baizhou gave her a deep look, nodded, stood up to say goodbye, and prepared to leave.
He had only taken two steps when she suddenly called out to him. He immediately turned around, and the sunlight outside shone through the French windows onto her, bright and gentle, just like the day he first saw her in the hospital room.
"Lin Bozhou, thank you."
Wen Xue said with a smile.
She always addressed him politely as Mr. Lin; this was the first time she had called him by his name.
He couldn't describe his feelings at that moment. He should be happy, but he felt inexplicably lost, as if he had lost something precious, even though he hadn't gained anything.
…
Chen Bingwen's interview went smoothly. She originally wanted to treat Wen Xue to a movie and dinner today, but Wen Xue forced a smile and said she had no appetite, so she had to postpone the invitation until after she officially received the notification of her internship offer.
The two parted ways at the subway station.
Wen Xue sat in the sparsely populated carriage, her heart sometimes feeling empty and sometimes heavy. She looked up at the window, which became a mirror, clearly reflecting her bewildered expression.
As I emerged from the subway station, the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the earth.
She arrived at the faculty and staff residential area. The moment she opened the door, she heard hurried noises from inside. Shitou was wagging its little tail and barking excitedly, extremely happy. Wenxue chuckled, went inside to change her shoes, and gathered all the things she needed to take the dog for a walk.
Stone is quite strong now.
It tried to pull her forward.
She is very grateful to have it in her life; it is always waiting for her at home, allowing her to calm down as quickly as possible, no matter how chaotic the situation.
He Yan had a business dinner with clients today. They only talked business and didn't drink, but he did have his eye on the chocolate tart on the menu. The waiter introduced it as their signature dessert.
Wenxue loves everything about chocolate.
She'll definitely like it.
He ordered takeout and, before leaving, sent her a message: "Where are you?"
A few minutes later she replied: "[Take the stone to play in the park.]"
He raised an eyebrow slightly and typed: 【Okay, I'm done with my work, I can take it to you】
Wen Xue: [Okay.]
He put down his phone, started the engine, and drove the car out of the parking lot and onto the main road. He began to concentrate on driving, occasionally glancing at the delicate takeout box he had carefully placed on the passenger seat. Just imagining her sparkling eyes when she ate it made him happy, and he didn't even frown when passing through congested areas.
The two met downstairs.
He Yan had just parked his car when Wen Xue, holding her dog who refused to go home, looked troubled.
"I'll do it."
He casually handed her the takeout box, then took the leash from her hand, while keeping an eye on her reaction. Normally, Wen Xue would have noticed the surprise he brought back long ago, but today she was clearly distracted.
Once inside the elevator, he gently kicked Stone's rear end, speaking to the dog but trying to appease her, "Did you do something wrong again and upset her? Looks like you haven't been to pet school enough."
The stone barked at him.
Wen Xue's expression remained unchanged; she seemed lost in thought and wasn't paying attention to what he was saying.
He Yan frowned.
Everything was fine yesterday, could something have happened?
As they stepped out of the elevator, he unlocked the door, deliberately stepping aside to let her go first. He followed a few steps behind her, watching her back thoughtfully. Seeing her place the takeout box on the table, he couldn't help but remind her, "It's dessert inside, a chocolate tart, I brought it for you."
Wen Xue snapped out of her daze. "I can't eat right now. I had dessert this afternoon."
"What did you eat?" he asked casually, thinking that he could put this in the refrigerator and eat it tomorrow.
Tiramisu.
She thought for a moment and added, "I ran into Brother Weiwei."
He Yan's expression changed slightly. "He bought it?"
"Um."
After Wen Xue nodded in response, she casually tied her hair up with a hair tie. The first thing she did after walking the dog every day was to wash its paws with water. She bent down, picked up the stone, and went into the bathroom. He Yan followed closely behind and took the dog, who was still trying to act spoiled, from her arms. "I'll do it."
She looked up at him, picked up the showerhead, and turned it on.
"Hasn't that kid already finished her high school entrance exam? Where did you run into her brother?" he asked casually.
“It was quite a coincidence. I accompanied Bingwen to her job interview today and ran into him at a coffee shop near the office building. It turns out he also works at that company.” She paused for a few seconds, lowered her eyes, and continued, “Actually, I recommended this interview to Bingwen, but my senior also asked me if I was interested in doing an internship together, and I’m a little hesitant.”
She seemed oblivious to his sudden change in expression, and continued, "I think it's not bad there. I'll give her an answer after I decide whether to consider it."
"Need not."
He said curtly, "Old Wu has already arranged an internship for you. The pay is good, and it's close to your current residence."
In her past life, she interned at the company where Lin Baizhou worked.
Undeniably, it was the experience and time spent together over the past six months that brought her and Lin Baizhou closer. They went from strangers to colleagues who saw each other frequently, and then to friends.
But the past life is the past life, and this life is this life.
“But Bingwen is there, and I can see her every day and look after each other.”
"It's too far."
"Fortunately, there's a subway, so I can get up earlier every day."
"You really want to go?" he asked, sounding impatient.
She paused, her heart racing. She was so close to the answer, and she had to test him and push him if she wanted to reach it. She said softly, "I'm discussing this with you, asking for your opinion."
"My opinion is not to go."
He Yan looked serious, reached out and grabbed her wrist, then turned the showerhead to spray him.
He stared at her intently, his hair damp, water droplets sliding down his sharp eyebrows.
She snapped out of her daze and hurriedly turned off the shower. Her flowing skirt was also splashed with water and clung to her calves in a disheveled state. Both of them looked as if they had been caught in a rainstorm, and they stared at each other in silence.
The stone in He Yan's arms began to struggle. He bent down and put it down, and it immediately ran away.
In this "place of right and wrong," only he and she remained.
She seemed to be avoiding his gaze, turning around to take his towel and handing it to him, saying, "You dry yourself off first."
He stared intently at her, took the towel, and tossed it aside. "Don't go."
The bathroom is damp and stuffy; if you stay there for too long, you'll feel like you're lacking oxygen.
"Why?" she asked, looking at him.
Why?
Upon hearing these three words, He Yan inappropriately thought of the chocolate tart she had forgotten on the dinner table.
It's only been a short time, less than two months, and she's already mentioned Lin Baizhou twice. Last time, she kept referring to him as "he" and "we," and this time she even wants to go to his company. So, what kind of person is Lin Baizhou in her heart now?
No need to wade into muddy waters, no need to get involved in dangerous things, a reliable, steady, and trustworthy good person, right?
“Not suitable.” His face was tense.
"Where is it unsuitable?"
"The person is not suitable."
He Yan held back his words, and the restroom fell silent. They stared at each other, locked in a standoff.
Wen Xue felt as if her heart was being gripped by a hand. The way he looked at her now was familiar to her; he had looked at her like that before when he was drunk and not fully conscious, with a sense of helplessness and despair. She didn't understand then, but she understood now.
"You mean Lin Baizhou?" She barely dared to breathe, trying to calmly reason with him. "I'm going there for an internship, and besides, I don't know how—"
He could no longer tolerate it.
She will.
No one knew better than him what the outcome of letting her go would be.
He interrupted her coldly: "So you still want to go?"
After a brief yet long silence, Wen Xue asked in a low voice, "Do you have a prejudice against him? I sensed it a long time ago, but you don't know him and you've never spoken to him, do you?"
He Yan's face turned ashen, and he blurted out uncontrollably, "Enough!"
He regretted it as soon as he said it.
Because Wen Xue in front of him seemed to be frightened by him, and was looking at him in astonishment, her eyes filled with sadness.
He turned his head, took a deep breath, regained some composure, suppressed his anger, and said slowly and laboredly, "I have no prejudice against him. You can make friends and start a new life if you want."
In that instant, the whole world consisted of only them.
He was lying, and she knew it was all insincere. He spoke calmly and tolerantly, but his gaze was forcefully fixed on her, coaxing her, telling her he needed her and wouldn't let her leave.
"But Lin Baizhou is not suitable."
Wen Xue looked at him silently, then chuckled, "Then tell me, who is suitable?"
He Yan didn't know that just asking this question had almost exhausted all her courage.
She was brave, walking the tightrope silently with him; she was also timid, always keeping her eyes tightly closed and proceeding cautiously. Now she wanted to open her eyes, to see for herself whether continuing forward would lead to a plunge into an abyss or to a flat plain where flowers bloomed.
Regardless of which one it is, she must open her eyes and see clearly.
He Yan's pretense was shattered, and his gaze turned deep. Did he want to hear the truth?
No one will do.
He stood right behind her, guarding her side. Whether it was Lin Baizhou, whom she had loved in her past life, or Zhou Xian, whom she wanted to escape, he wouldn't allow them to get close to her.
Wen Xue's heart skipped a beat, a tingling sensation spreading through her. She lowered her eyes, turned slightly to the side, picked up the towel he had thrown on the sink, stood in front of him, tilted her head back, and silently dried his hair and face.
Without realizing it, she didn't even notice that her eyes were red and a tear had quietly fallen.
Her heart was aching terribly, for herself and for him.
He Yan stared at her intently, then suddenly froze. The tear fell on his scorched heart, extinguishing his raging anger and jealousy. What was he doing? What was he saying? No longer able to restrain himself, he reached out and hugged her tightly.
Wen Xue was trapped by him, her nose filled with his scent.
It used to make her feel very safe, but now it makes her feel sore and uncomfortable.
Without hesitation, she returned the hug, her palm resting on his injured left shoulder. Although she hadn't seen it many times, she already remembered exactly where it was and how it was stitched up. She wanted to ask him if it was worth it.
Wen Xue's fingers curled up.
She pressed herself against his tall, stiff body, feeling his hot breath, and gently tiptoed, closing her eyes as she kissed him willingly and consciously.
No one else is suitable except you.
No one else will do, only you.
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