Chapter Twelve
The needle jumped back to its original position, and the black record continued to spin tirelessly, the last note that had escaped from it dissipating into the air.
"I can jump now!" Su Xuan was overjoyed.
"Yes, you danced very well." Lin Zhiyuan's voice was cheerful, happy that she could dance, but actually it was because he was the one who led the dance.
They remained in their dancing pose, pressed close together. Whether it was from the alcohol or from spinning too many times earlier, Su Xian felt dizzy under his gaze.
Lin Zhiyuan lowered his eyes, lingering on her lips for a moment. When he looked up at her again, the tenderness in his eyes was more intense than she had ever seen before.
Su Xian's breathing became cautious.
Lin Zhiyuan did not let go of her hand, but instead took Luo Hui's hand and raised his other hand, which was originally on her waist, and carefully tucked her slightly messy black hair behind her ear. His fingers gently slid along Su Xian's ear, across her cheek, and down to her chin.
Su Xian's skin trembled, and her heart pounded wildly, like many little birds flapping their wings inside her body.
His cool lips landed on her brow and the tip of her nose, then moved closer. Su Xian tried to dodge, but his hand held the back of her head, leaving her no way out. Her breath was filled with the scent of birch trees from the wine she had just drunk; she couldn't tell whose it was. Her heart was pounding so hard she even suspected Lin Zhiyuan could hear it.
A feather-light kiss landed on Su Xian's lips, but Lin Zhiyuan didn't continue; he simply embraced her. The warmth of his hands on her waist could be felt even through her black dress. Her heart pounded like lightning, as if it wanted to break free of her clothes and beat in unison with his.
Su Xian leaned on his shoulder, and she could smell the faint scent of cedar on him, as well as an even more subtle, unique fragrance that she couldn't describe.
"Will you leave tomorrow?" Lin Zhiyuan's hoarse voice came from beside me.
"Okay, we'll head back to the film studio after the event."
What time is your flight?
"9 o'clock."
"Then let's have dinner early, and I'll take you to the airport, okay?"
"Um."
"Then I'm leaving."
Su Xian gave a soft "hmm." She was a little reluctant to part with him, but she wouldn't keep him here. If something was going to happen, it would have happened just now.
"Why are you only saying 'hmm' again?" Lin Zhiyuan chuckled, but didn't let go of her. "Let me hug you a little longer."
Su Xian smiled silently, wrapping her arms around his back and letting him hold her as if she could never get enough of his embrace.
"Have you quit smoking?"
How did you know?
"Just a guess."
During Su Xian's training camp, he was so busy that he barely had time to think about anything else, and his mild smoking habit naturally disappeared.
How did you guess?
"It's something you feel."
Is your intuition really that accurate?
"Yes, for example, I can sense that you will miss me after I leave, and you will dream about me at night."
That's so irresponsible.
"Then you should go back quickly." Su Xian smiled and gently pushed him.
"It is indeed very late." Lin Zhiyuan let go of her. "I'll come pick you up earlier tomorrow afternoon."
Su Xian nodded, saw Lin Zhiyuan to the door, and watched him get into the Phantom and drive away from the courtyard. Su Xian closed the door and saw a black lighter on the cabinet in the entryway.
She didn't even realize when he left it there.
Su Xian picked up the lighter and had only turned it halfway when her finger suddenly stopped. On the back of the lighter, there was a silver crescent moon, corresponding to the original four-pointed star on the other side.
Su Xian twirled the lighter in her hand several times, liking it more and more each time. She took out her phone from her handbag, intending to call him and tease him, telling him that he had left his lighter there. But since they were meeting tomorrow anyway, she might as well just give it to him and see what he would say.
Su Xian put down the lighter, sat on the bar stool, picked up a glass, and finished the rest of the drink.
"Spring Forest" is a much better name than the cocktails she just randomly mixed.
Looking at the two glasses on the table, Su Xian suddenly couldn't tell whether the one she had just finished drinking was the one Lin Zhiyuan had drunk from.
Su Xian buried her face in her hands, unable to suppress a laugh. Thinking of the kiss just now, her face grew increasingly hot. She even felt a little regretful; why was the kiss so light, why did it end so quickly?
Su Xian found that every time she saw Lin Zhiyuan, she became unlike herself. Even though it was only their second meeting, she was able to allow him to come to her house and even allowed him to kiss her.
She still remembers her boyfriend from college. He started pursuing her as soon as she entered the school. Later, when her mother passed away in her junior year, he helped her a lot. When she agreed to be with him, she couldn't tell whether she was being grateful or loving.
As for Lu Ran, he was 10 years older than her. Perhaps because of the lack of fatherly love in her childhood, she was more dependent on Lu Ran. Later, because of his excessive control, she also saw her feelings for him clearly and withdrew in time.
But this time, Su Xian was very clear that her feelings for Lin Zhiyuan were different. She was attracted to him and couldn't help but want to get closer to him.
Compared to the various wealthy people Su Xian had encountered in the world of fame and fortune over the past few years, none could compare to Lin Zhiyuan's family background. He was the future heir of a top luxury group, an undeniable presence, and the embodiment of a family's accumulated heritage and aristocratic prestige.
They were from completely different worlds. She was just a moderately successful actress, but her fame was limited to China. Did tonight's kiss mean they were together? But he hadn't said anything earlier; perhaps it was just wishful thinking on his part, perhaps she was just one of many women he'd picked from a garden of beauties.
How long can their relationship last? A few months or even less? Like that Ms. Winona, once the novelty wears off, they'll dump each other.
Since such an ending was already foreseeable, was there any need to continue?
Su Xian's fingers stopped tracing the patterns on the wine glass, and her stirred heart instantly calmed down.
Su Xian didn't sleep well all night. In her dreams, Lin Zhiyuan would smile affectionately at her, and he would throw a bank card at her and say goodbye.
The alarm clock rang, Su Xuan finished washing up, yawned, walked out of the courtyard, and got into the Alphard.
"Why are your dark circles so bad?" Bai Lin glared at her.
"Maybe it's because I haven't been home for too long, and I'm not used to sleeping here," Su Xian made up an excuse.
She took the soy milk from Qingqing, poked the straw in and stirred it, but kept thinking about whether she should see Lin Zhiyuan that night.
"Why aren't you eating? Didn't you say yesterday that you hadn't had fried dough sticks and soy milk in a long time?"
Su Xuan came to her senses, "It was still a little hot just now."
"Probably not, the car's air conditioning's been on for quite a while." Qingqing, who was sitting in the back, handed her the fried dough sticks.
Su Xian silently took a bite of the fried dough stick and drank a few sips of soy milk.
"After the cover shoot, there will be a short interview. I've already reviewed the interview outline, and there are no problems. You can just go through it again."
Dazzle is one of the world's most famous fashion magazines, and the cover of its Chinese edition is highly coveted by celebrities. After Bai Lin and actress Wang Man helped out at a Dazzle event a few years ago, Bai Lin and editor-in-chief Wang Yu became close. One of the terms of her Holmes contract was to secure a magazine cover, and Bai Lin had put in considerable effort with Wang Yu to get the September issue on the cover.
The studio shoot went very smoothly. Although it was the first time the photography team had worked with Su Xuan, photographer Sam was generous with his praise. In Sam's words, a good actress must be a good model because she has expressive eyes and a face that tells a story.
When Su Xian went home for lunch, her thoughts were still in a mess, and she could taste the sweetness in a mouthful of rice.
Bai Lin put down her chopsticks and placed her hand on her arm. "What's wrong today? You've been restless since this morning. Is something the matter?"
Su Xuan held her chopsticks, unsure of where to begin.
"Is it related to the friend you met last night?" Sister Lin is observant and had already noticed something was wrong last night. "You are a rational person, but you always tend to keep things to yourself and get stuck on them. Why don't you tell us? We can help you analyze it."
Qingqing had a round face and looked at her obediently with chopsticks in her mouth.
“Well…” Su Xuan carefully chose her words, “He wanted to have dinner with me before I left tonight, but I haven’t decided whether to go or not.”
Bai Lin looked knowing. "So what do you think of him?"
He's good-looking and gentle, but he might be a bit of a womanizer.
"Not bad," Su Xuan managed to say, managing to squeeze out four words in her reply.
"So what's causing your hesitation?" Bai Lin continued to ask.
"I just don't know if we're a good match," Su Xian said dejectedly.
She didn't know how sincere he was, or how long it would last. Moreover, she always believed that all relationships ultimately end in messy failures, just like her two ex-boyfriends, and just like her parents.
"Moreover, Snow Abyss is very important, and I don't want it to be affected."
She also has her career, which is something she can firmly control, and that's what's more important to her.
"Xiaoxian, I don't object to you dating, but remember to protect yourself." Bai Lin said earnestly, "I just think that your current hesitation shows that you are not ready yet. In that case, wait a while and don't rush to make a decision."
If she goes to their date tonight, it means she accepts him. Lin Zhiyuan is a good person, but Su Xian isn't sure if his goodness is only for her.
Su Xian looked at the French windows in the living room. Last night's dance was perhaps a trick he had used many times before, but she was clumsy, so clumsy that she fell into it.
What if he just wanted to play around, but she took it seriously...?
If you already foresee that you will be abandoned, then it's better not to start at all; if you don't start, you won't get hurt.
“It takes courage to love someone,” Qingqing said slowly from across the table.
"When did you become so philosophical?" Bai Lin teased her.
"No, I just suddenly remembered that line. Maybe Sister Xiaoxian needs some courage." Qingqing grinned and lowered her head to continue eating.
Su Xian can bravely face life alone, bravely enter the entertainment industry as an actress, and bravely face the controversy of the audience, but the kind of courage that Qingqing mentioned is clearly not something she possesses.
Su Xian rubbed her face, trying to cheer herself up, and picked up her chopsticks again. She needed to deal with the immediate problem first; she needed to eat properly, otherwise she wouldn't have the energy to work.
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