Chapter 24 Chapter 24 The Taste of Regret
"Why are you two standing there like idiots?" When Song Zhihan came out, he saw the two of them looking at each other in silence, which was indescribably strange.
Lin Jie indifferently withdrew his gaze and stood naturally to her right, with a white women's bag slung over his arm, like the last piece of white unstained in the black ink.
"We were just chatting about why a good horse never turns back." Meng Xingyu smiled, his words hinted at something, and his eyes revealed a sharp edge.
Song Zhihan looked back and forth between them, then understood. He replied very seriously, "Because the horse has tasted the grass and knows it's not tasty. It's not stupid, so why would it turn back? A horse can't eat the grass it's turned back to, just like a dog can't eat chocolate."
It was a simple and easy-to-understand metaphor. Meng Xingyu was speechless. Lin Jie turned around and curled the corners of his lips.
This autumn park is so beautiful.
When you get closer, you can see a sign hanging in front of the tree, which lists the adopter, tree species and adoption date.
"I made a reservation on the official account yesterday. Please come with me." Song Zhihan took out his mobile phone and queued up to pay. The claimant must make an appointment online or by phone a few days in advance. He will not be able to get a number if he comes on the same day.
A trace of regret flashed across Meng Xingyu's face. He had always been meticulous, but he made a mistake in this matter. He really shouldn't have done that.
He looked at Lin Jie, taking him for granted as one of his own kind. "Then Mr. Lin, let's go with Zhihan to claim it."
But what he didn't expect was that Lin Jie actually raised his phone at him with a surprised look on his face: "I have an appointment too, don't you?"
Such smooth and natural acting! Meng Xingyu couldn't hold back his smile. Where did this competitor come from? So difficult!
"How about this, I'll give you my spot, and Song Zhihan and I can share one. We can't come here for nothing, right?" Lin Jie generously handed him the phone, which showed that it had been authenticated.
This is simply charity.
Meng Xingyu of course chose to refuse: "Thank you, but no thanks."
Lin Jie uttered a "eh" and stuffed the phone into his hand like a familiar person: "Here, you're welcome."
In this way, Meng Xingyu was forced to accept this gift. He could only watch Song Zhihan and Lin Jie get together to name the tree they claimed. He became a complete outsider.
Gritting his teeth and swallowing his reluctance, he took his phone to find the staff to register.
"Hello, what would you like to name it?"
"...casual."
On the other side of the table, Song Zhihan whispered to Lin Jie, "Why did you make an appointment for this too?"
Lin Jie pulled her drooping bag to the side and glanced at her sideways: "Why don't you ask your ex-boyfriend why he didn't make an appointment?"
Song Zhihan's eyes widened, and he threatened quietly, "You're so annoying, can't you just call him by his name?"
I wonder if she would feel embarrassed when she hears calling her ex-boyfriend.
"Okay, got it. Let's name it." He lowered his head, hiding the smile in his eyes. Yesterday, he had done a quick search online for Ditan Park travel guides and saw this thing in someone else's sharing. He guessed Song Zhihan would like it, but he was worried that she, a confused person, would forget, so he decided to make an appointment himself, just in case.
Song Zhihan gave him the opportunity: "You tell me what you want, I don't mind, any name is fine."
Lin Jie did not refuse. While Song Zhihan was taking pictures, he whispered a few words to the staff.
Song Zhihan took photos in front of the well-arranged trees. She walked past each named tree, seeing the many different names and wanting to understand the story behind each one. For example, the "Money Tree" carries the good wishes of its adopter, while the "Potato Cult Leader" carries its adopter's grand ambition.
People often like to project their wishes onto meaningful objects. This is a beautiful expectation, but Song Zhihan rarely does this. She doesn't need to pray, because Song Yazhi will help her realize any wish she has from childhood to adulthood.
What a pity. I should have come here with my parents before leaving the Song family.
There was a hint of regret on Song Zhihan's face.
After the claimed tree sign is registered, the staff will inform them that the subsequent listing information will be released simultaneously on the VX public account, so they can pay attention to it in time.
After completing this last task, today's trip will come to an end.
Song Zhihan fulfilled a wish, but Meng Xingyu felt more regretful.
He sent a car to take them back, and before leaving, he called Lin Jie alone.
Lin Jie looked at him calmly, with an unclear expression in his eyes.
Meng Xingyu smiled, as gentle and polite as if they had just met for the first time: "Mr. Lin, you are sure that Zhihan will not turn back. I agree with this statement for the time being."
He talks a lot, and Lin Jie has very little patience when facing him.
"I'm Zhihan's first love. You should think carefully about why she chose me instead of you, whom she has known for a longer time. You didn't have a chance ten years ago, let alone ten years later? That person wasn't me, and certainly not you."
Lin Jie's face grew colder and colder. He looked at Meng Xingyu and suddenly felt powerless.
...
The usually congested traffic was exceptionally smooth today, and the driver was a rare taciturn person, driving in silence.
Song Zhihan was bored. He looked at Lin Jie, who had been silent since getting on the car, and asked, "Lin Jie, who will be there later? Will it be convenient for me to go?"
"It's convenient. A few college classmates who I have a good relationship with, and one of them is also from Yuhang." Lin Jie answered her, but his mind had already drifted away.
Song Zhihan nodded, not quite understanding: "Oh." Suddenly, he remembered the girl he had chatted with face to face yesterday: "Was the person you were talking to yesterday your former colleague?"
Lin Jie's thoughts were interrupted, and his eyes focused: "Yes, she is also a modeler."
After a long while, he heard a hesitant voice next to him: "So...what are you talking about..."
Later, Lin Jie realized that she cared a lot about this matter.
All kinds of things about her inexplicably flashed through his mind: her occasional shyness, her subconscious intimacy, and her resistance to Meng Xingyu's attempts to get close to her.
All this seemed to be sending a signal that Song Zhihan might still have some feelings for him.
Was it an unforgettable old love, or was it just the unresolved feelings from their youth? Lin Jie himself couldn't be sure, but he could sense that Song Zhihan treated him differently from others.
"If you don't want to talk about it, forget it." Song Zhihan urged with resentment, bringing Lin Jie back to reality.
From the side, he saw Song Zhihan's slightly pouting lips, and the eldest lady seemed to be angry with him again.
"We were talking about work. In order to cope with the impact brought by Lingdong, Jujiang decided to launch a new S-level project in advance. By then, it will definitely take away Lingdong's traffic. We and Jujiang will have a fierce battle to fight." Lin Jie explained to her, and as expected, she saw that Song Zhihan's eyes were full of curiosity again.
She always seems to be like this, her temper comes and goes quickly, she gets angry easily but is easy to coax.
Song Zhihan was thinking about the humiliation of Lin Jie luring the enemy deep into her territory and enduring the humiliation of selling her body in exchange for information. But putting that aside for now, she was more concerned about Lingdong's future: "Are you ready to deal with it?"
"I believe in our team, and I also believe that there won't be any better work than Lingdong on the market for the time being."
"You're such a big talker." Song Zhihan rolled her eyes at him, but the wildly raised corners of her lips revealed her inner thoughts.
This feeling of standing on the top of the invincible world is so great. Is this the feeling of being led by a top student to win without any effort?
The car had smooth driving all the way to the hotel. The destination was a business club, which was low-key and simple, and fit the stereotype of some science and engineering men.
Song Zhihan suddenly felt a little nervous, but what made her even more nervous was Lin Jie's next words.
"Song Zhihan, after we go in, I might act more...obsessed with you." He hesitated for a long time and came up with this wording.
? !
Song Zhihan opened his mouth into an O shape in surprise, and told everyone who was on Lin Jie to get off immediately!
Lin Jie took a deep breath and explained for her, "Because I've been hanging out with boys for four years in college, some of them suspect I'm gay, so... please."
Is this the structure of all top students' brains? Song Zhihan didn't understand and was deeply shocked.
But since Lin Jie brought it up, it must have caused him trouble, so she just helped him.
"Okay, I know, I'll help you clarify."
After the two of them had agreed, they went in together.
Song Zhihan was feeling nervous. Before pushing the door open and going in, he adjusted his facial expression and gave a proper smile.
There were three men sitting inside, one bald, one black, and one with dyed yellow hair.
She was shocked by the yellow-haired man for a moment, but she greeted him calmly: "Hi~"
The three people inside were equally shocked, their eyes flicking back and forth between her and Lin Jie. Song Zhihan suddenly felt something was wrong. She moved closer to Lin Jie's voice and said in a whisper, "Didn't you tell them that someone they didn't know was coming? Why are they all so confused..."
Lin Jie suppressed a smile: "The script I wrote for myself is that of an admirer who pursues you relentlessly."
In other words, a bootlicker.
Song Zhihan's pupils were dilated with fear, but she couldn't back down. She followed the predetermined script, put on a cold and arrogant look, and threw the bag to Lin Jie in a domineering manner.
Lin Jie obediently put her bag away, pulled out the stool and poured water in one go.
The other three were stunned. Huang Mao was the first to lose his temper and screamed, "After all these years, Lin Jie, you secretly worked as a dog for a beautiful woman without telling us?"
The words may be rough, but the truth is there.
Song Zhihan said wittily: "Thank you for the compliment."
The other two also woke up from their dreams and began to criticize Lin Jie one by one.
During the meal, Lin Jie also diligently performed the duties of a bootlicker, serving tea, pouring water, and picking up dishes. Song Zhihan didn't touch the seafood that came into his hands at all, and he shelled and peeled it for him.
After this incident, he completely transformed from a sexually apathetic man who was not interested in women to a little bootlicker who served the young lady at her beck and call.
Song Zhihan felt happy. The sadness of being rejected by Lin Jie and the humiliation of being persuaded by him to change careers at the meeting were all avenged at this moment.
Even when she parted with those classmates, she was still immersed in the script and couldn't come out of it.
Lin Jie, oh Lin Jie, you have come to this day!
The meal lasted until the afternoon, and a cool breeze blew on my body, bringing a refreshing feeling.
Song Zhihan's confused brain also became clear for a moment.
She walked side by side with Lin Jie, looked at the prominent white bag on his body, and suddenly said, "Lin Jie, you brought me here not to clear up the misunderstanding, did you?"
Regardless of whether there were rumors or not, Lin Jie would not let her meet his friends under such hasty circumstances.
"Do you think that I felt very embarrassed when you rejected me back then? So you want to use this method to help me regain the face I lost?"
To reduce himself to a lowly lickspittle in order to atone for his past mistakes? Song Zhihan felt that this was probably what he was thinking, and Lin Jie's silence confirmed her suspicion.
She smiled softly, recalling the past: "It's not shameful to like someone, and it's normal to reject someone you don't like. I don't feel ashamed, just a little sad. But now I think about it, I was too young and not thoughtful enough. I can't just consider my own preferences and ignore your feelings, so it's okay."
Lin Jie opened his lips, about to say something, but paused.
"I hate embarrassment, but Xingyu is an exception. He is not only my ex-boyfriend, but also one of my best friends. Your rejection cast a temporary shadow on my mind about dating. It was he who taught me what a normal and healthy relationship is and brought me to a wonderful experience. He is a qualified boyfriend. Although we ultimately made different choices, I will always consider him a friend."
"I am no longer the same person I was before, so all the unpleasant things in the past are in the past."
She stood there quietly, less lively than usual and more calm, saying one word after another that broke Lin Jie's heart.
He stood on a sunny day, yet seemed to be in the center of a violent storm. It's all over. This sentence is far more cruel than "I hate you".
But he could only accept it and answer Song Zhihan with a voice that was already trembling from listening carefully.
"Tell me about your past with Meng Xingyu."
Even though that memory was about her past with someone else, he pieced together a Song Zhihan he had never seen from the fragments of glass.
Lin Jie was powerless. He finally tasted the bitter taste of regret today, a sour and astringent taste comparable to the world's most potent poison.
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The author has something to say: The babies will enter tomorrow, thank you again for your support! This chapter draws a red envelope
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