Chapter 25 - If you really have to leave, then this time don't...
"Gungung knows~"
The panda jumped up, put its front paws on the edge of the trunk, and peered inside. "Fu Lili, didn't you bring the merchandise from the cabinet?"
"...No, I didn't have time to organize it. I'll talk about it next time."
As she spoke, Fu Qingli grabbed it by the back of the neck, lifted it up, and closed the trunk door.
Gun Gun was a little disappointed: "Oh, okay then~"
Then she added, "When you get back from your business trip, Fu Lili, you must remember to bring this to Xiaoxi~"
“Okay.” Fu Qingli nodded somewhat perfunctorily, then turned to Lin Xi and said, “If Gun Gun is too noisy, just force it to rest. Don’t give in to it.”
"Fu Lili~" Before Lin Xi could react, Gun Gun shouted angrily, "Gun Gun won't make a fuss~"
Shouting, she curled herself into a ball and bumped her head into Fu Qingli's calf.
Fu Qingli didn't move an inch, but Gun Gun was bounced back and sat down on the ground with a thud. Its fluffy, round face was so cute and soft that it made people's hearts melt even when it was angry and throwing a tantrum.
Fu Qingli, however, was not going to tolerate it and gently scolded, "Stand up yourself!"
This interruption calmed Lin Xi down for some reason, and she couldn't help but whisper in defense of Gun Gun: "Don't be so fierce, Gun Gun is very well-behaved."
Her voice had the soft, gentle quality characteristic of people from the Jiangnan water towns, and when she spoke softly, it carried a hint of coquetry.
The long-lost intimacy made Fu Qingli pause for a moment, and her voice unconsciously carried a coaxing tone: "But we can't spoil it too much, or it will become arrogant."
Lin Xi couldn't help but ask curiously, "Isn't its personality pre-programmed?"
"It's just a preset personality type; its individuality still needs to be guided and trained in daily life."
"so."
Lin Xi seemed to understand but not quite. When she saw Fu Qingli pull out the handle of the suitcase, she subconsciously reached out to take it, but he dodged her, saying, "I'll take you upstairs."
Lin Xi, holding a plush toy, walked beside him, her tone clearly displeased: "You bought another late-night flight?"
What was clearly a reprimand sounded like heavenly music to Fu Qingli's ears.
He accepted all her complaints and sincerely admitted his mistake: "This time I didn't manage my time well, I will try to pay attention in the future."
In the lobby, two middle-aged women were waiting for the elevator. They looked over at the sound, their eyes lit up, and a hint of mockery appeared in their smiles.
Lin Xi had bumped into them a few times in the elevator before and knew they were neighbors on this floor.
She lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly and silently moved behind Fu Qingli.
Fu Qingli noticed his little movement, so he took a step forward, blocking her view with his body, and silently shook his head at them.
Seeing this, the women smiled broadly.
She didn't look at them again and turned back to continue chatting about everyday matters.
Just then, the elevator arrived at the floor. Lin Xi was still embarrassed and quickly hid in the corner with her head down.
Fu Qingli pressed the floor button, facing her directly, using his body to block others' view, and also enclosing her in a small corner that belonged only to them.
At this distance, his breath carried the unique scent of cedar wood.
My gaze was fixed on his collar, which was unbuttoned at the top two buttons, revealing the outline of his collarbone. Above that was his strong neck, with his prominent Adam's apple bobbing slightly from time to time.
It was even more ambiguous than yesterday's hug.
Not long after, the two women arrived home one after the other, leaving only the two of them and their cat in the elevator.
Fu Qingli still didn't back away, looking down at Lin Xi's fair and pink cheeks.
Lin Xi felt his burning gaze, and the temperature of her cheeks continued to rise.
Although she didn't know what he was thinking, she couldn't stop her heart from racing and her thoughts from wandering.
Hearing the elevator doors open, Fu Qingli barely managed to suppress her impulse, took a step back, and spoke in a low, hoarse voice, concealing the myriad thoughts in her heart: "Xiaoxi, can you please not disappear suddenly again this time?"
"...If you really have to leave, don't forget to take me with you this time!"
*
Lin Xi suddenly realized that the abrupt breakup had not only left a deep wound on him, but also on his heart.
Years have passed, and their wounds have festered and scabbed over, but have never truly healed.
Facing separation again, the wounds are reopened, bleeding profusely, and the fear of repeating the past is palpable.
Even someone as aloof as Fu Qingli had a dark cloud in her eyes at this moment, as if a downpour was about to begin.
Her eyes were red-rimmed and filled with a thick mist, but she stubbornly held back the tears.
Her voice was soft, but firm: "This time, I won't leave again."
"Then let's make a pinky promise."
As she spoke, Fu Qingli extended her little finger and held it up in front of her.
His expression was serious, full of unwavering determination, without a trace of joking.
Lin Xi unconsciously followed his example, obediently extending her hand and making a promise with him just like when they were children.
The last time they did something like this was when the Shen family elders returned from studying abroad and learned that their daughter, Shen Yu, was ill. They rushed to Nanqing to bring her back to Beicheng for treatment.
Even though Lin Xi was sensible from a young age, she was only a five-year-old child at that time.
Hearing that Fu Qingli was leaving, her big, dark eyes welled up with tears, but she held back her sobs and clung to Fu Qingli, refusing to let go.
The adults tried to persuade her for a long time, and even Lin Fengyuan's stern face didn't work.
Fu Qingli remained silent, letting her hold her tightly.
Seeing Lin Fengyuan's stern face, he finally reacted and shielded Lin Xi behind him: "Uncle, don't be mean to Xiaoxi, let me talk to her."
After saying that, he turned to face her, tidied up the little ponytail she had messed up in her movements, and retied it.
Over the past month, his hair-tying skills have become increasingly proficient, and he can even adjust the bow of the hair tie to the exact center position.
After he finished tying her hair, he stroked her soft hair and coaxed her gently, "Little Xi, your brother's mother is sick, and I need to go back to Beicheng with her. But I promise you, every winter and summer vacation from now on, I will come to Nanqing to play with you, okay?"
"Really?" Xiao Linxi's voice was soft and sweet, with a clear hint of crying.
"Okay," Fu Qingli extended her little finger, "Brother makes a pinky promise with you, I'll never go back on my word!"
He kept the promise he made when he was young for twelve years.
His studies were interrupted only when his mother became seriously ill and her life was in danger, and he chose to suspend his studies to stay by her side.
Yet they still accompanied her as she grew up through text messages and phone calls.
The childish way they made the promise held special significance for them.
Having received the promise, Fu Qingli's expression returned to normal.
He still didn't go inside. He pushed his suitcase into the entryway, squatted down, gave Gun Gun a few instructions, said goodbye to them, and left.
Lin Xi stood at the door and watched the numbers on the elevator door slowly decrease until it stopped on the first floor, where it remained motionless for a long time.
She was very confused; she really wanted to tell him that she wasn't the person he thought she was back then.
But upon closer reflection, I realized that the outcome wasn't that different.
That day, downstairs at the apartment building, after sending him a breakup text message, she blocked all his contact methods.
After doing all this, the string of feigned composure in her mind completely snapped, and she rushed into the torrential rain like a madwoman, running forward with all her might.
At that moment, she wanted to throw away and forget everything related to him, and never see him again.
If it weren't for what happened later, and if they had some entanglement, they probably wouldn't have broken off their relationship so cleanly.
Although he already knew about his father's death, she didn't know how to tell him about those things she had avoided for years and never dared to think about.
"Little Stream~"
While I was still in a daze, my trouser leg was tugged by a force, and a childish voice rang in my ears.
Lin Xi snapped out of her daze and looked down at Gun Gun.
It tilted its adorable head back, looking completely innocent, and said, "Don't worry, Fu Lili will come back!"
Lin Xi nodded haphazardly, her mood not very high.
Gun Gun blinked twice: "Xiao Xi, if you're worried, you can let Gun Gun check Fu Lili's location and even change his bank card password. Xiao Xi, do you want to try?"
"Huh?" Lin Xi was startled. "Why would you change his password?"
"That way, Fu Lili won't have money to go anywhere else, and we can find him anytime."
Lin Xi was both amused and exasperated: "How did he grant you this permission?"
I just said that the panda has an independent personality and that we've entrusted it with our economic lifeline.
What if Gun Gun gets upset and changes the password? What will he do then?
"No~" Gun Gun looked blank and confused. "It's Xiao Xi who has the authority to let Gun Gun start this program~"
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