Chapter 81 Drawing a Clear Line
He was very curious about Jiang Luo.
He wanted to explore the past that he hadn't been a part of.
He wanted to know everything about the good times and the bad times.
“Rarely, I usually go home after school,” Jiang Luo said.
From childhood to adulthood, many people automatically imagine her as a "bad girl" when they see her, assuming that she has a bad temper and is not easy to mess with, so most people are unwilling to play with her. In addition, she is not a warm-hearted person to begin with, so she has very few friends.
Fortunately, she has a carefree nature and doesn't take these things too seriously.
Over the years, people have come and gone in her life. She had a few friends, but most of them lost contact as the number of times she met decreased.
The reason why Xu Jingyan brought her such a deep feeling was precisely because, before Xu Jingyan, no one had ever treated her so warmly.
“I didn’t have many friends before,” Jiang Luo said, then realized that her words were too much of a plea for sympathy, and added, “But I have many friends now.”
He Ziyan pondered, "Who?"
“Lin Shuang, Shi Yan, and Brother Lin should count too, and…” Jiang Luo looked at him, “you.”
She counted on her fingers, a proud look on her face: "Four."
He Ziyan nodded, "Quite a few. And I know them all."
Is this a friendly compliment?
Is he still being sarcastic?
Unable to discern anything from He Ziyan's calm, expressionless face, Jiang Luo asked defiantly, "And you?"
“I have so many friends I can’t count them all,” He Ziyan said without changing his expression.
You?
With that aloof expression on your face?
Besides Ji Bei, do you have any other friends?
"I don't believe it." Jiang Luo raised her chin and stared at him intently through her sunglasses.
With a smile, He Ziyan, as if expecting this, continued, "There will be opportunities for you to see me in the future."
"Well..." No need for that.
Jiang Luo realized something belatedly and was stunned.
Did he mean to introduce her to his friends?
Why?
Is that what she meant...?
With a surge of emotion, Jiang Luo put her hands behind her back, turned around, and strode forward with the group to greet the final sunset.
When I bought my ticket and entered the park, it was completely dark.
The city's neon lights hang high, and the starry sky reflects the human world.
It's the perfect place to overlook everything.
Stepping onto the Ferris wheel, the two faced each other.
My mindset was different this time; without cameras, I felt less vigilant about being monitored.
Jiang Luo lowered her guard and comfortably leaned against the glass, gazing at the cityscape.
The lights of thousands of homes shone brightly, like a vast starry river, making her feel as if she had returned to the day when the fireworks were in full bloom.
It's breathtakingly beautiful.
The people around me are just average.
The elevator car slowly ascended, heading towards its highest point.
"Luo Luo," He Ziyan suddenly called out.
His fingers were curled up, his hands were neatly placed on his knees, and his back was straight, as if he carried two right angles with him.
Jiang Luo turned her head and met the person sitting upright, completely unaware of what was wrong: "What's wrong?"
Like a stone thrown into a lake, ripples spread across the still water. He Ziyan stared at her, his fingers tightening slightly.
It takes a short while to brew.
The car reached its highest point.
The quietly flowing river, the bustling amusement park, the colorful lights, and the couples strolling hand in hand all formed a dazzling backdrop.
The high-up sedan chair became the only focal point amidst the bustling scene.
Before him, the person paused slightly, a sense of tension lingering, but their gaze remained unwavering.
He Ziyan's gaze fixed on Jiang Luo, and he said in a deep voice, "I..."
"Ring ring..." The phone rang.
"Excuse me," Jiang Luo reached for her phone, "I need to take this call."
The rotation continues, the high point is reached, and then, only the downhill slope remains.
"Brother Lin, what's wrong?" Jiang Luo asked.
There was silence on the other end of the phone before someone said, "Lin Shuang is in trouble."
Every word felt like a weight, pulling Jiang Luo's heart downwards.
Her mind went blank for a second, a heavy panic gripping her forehead, and her voice trembled uncontrollably: "What happened?"
Upon hearing this, He Ziyan cast a glance at him.
“A girl claimed to be Lin Shuang’s ex-boyfriend’s girlfriend, saying that Lin Shuang interfered in their relationship while studying in France, and that Lin Shuang was a mistress.”
"Huh? That Lin Shuang has some dirty secrets... I saw it posted by a marketing account before..." The girls' chatter rang in Jiang Luo's ears again.
Is this... the scandal she was talking about?
Lin Shuang... interfered in someone else's relationship?
impossible.
Jiang Luo frowned. "Do you have any evidence?"
“That girl didn’t post any evidence, but she wrote a long essay. I sent it to you on WeChat. The reason I called you was to remind you not to make any statements or express any opinions on Weibo before the truth comes out. The brand’s official announcement was a huge event recently, and Lin Shuang’s popularity is no less than that of a celebrity. Someone will definitely try to contact you. You need to keep a consistent story and say that you usually talk about brand matters and don’t discuss personal relationships in private.”
Feeling a chill creeping over her, Jiang Luo asked dejectedly, "Are you telling me to cut ties with her?"
"It's not to the point of drawing a clear line yet, but you should be careful what you say to avoid falling into someone else's trap."
Again.
Jiang Luo was powerless.
Across from him, He Ziyan was still paying close attention.
"Ring ring..." His phone rang too.
It is Jibei.
He Ziyan answered the call, "Hello."
The moment the male voice appeared, Lin Heng's attention was completely focused, "Who are you with?"
Jiang Luo glanced at He Ziyan, who was on the phone across from her, then lowered her eyes, bit her lip, and said in a defiant tone, "He Ziyan."
Upon hearing his name called, He Ziyan looked again, his gaze fixed on Jiang Luo, while still comforting Ji Bei, "We'll be out soon, we'll go with you."
"Didn't you promise me you'd keep your distance from him?" Lin Heng asked angrily.
"I..." Jiang Luo hesitated, but couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation.
Before agreeing to He Ziyan's Ferris wheel trip, she thought of many reasons to come, but looking back now, none of them held water.
She knew in her heart that those excuses were just layers of shells, and the real demand inside was only one: she wanted to see He Ziyan.
"Jiang Luo." Lin Heng's voice became crisp and hard with anger.
The use of full names to address him revealed even more anger, and Jiang Luo shuddered upon hearing it.
Lin Heng almost gritted his teeth as he said, "I hope you understand what's most important to you."
"Beep—" The phone call ended.
Jiang Luo slowly put away her phone, feeling a heavy weight in her chest.
She looked up, staring blankly at the transparent ceiling, where she could see other people's sedan chairs at the highest point.
Little by little, the altitude gradually decreases. There will always be someone at the summit, but she has already missed it.
"Luo Luo," He Ziyan called softly, each syllable carefully chosen, as if afraid of startling her.
Jiang Luo is now like a piece of porcelain with cracks, as if it would shatter completely at the slightest touch.
He Ziyan continued, "Lin Shuang, she..."
“Brother Lin told me,” Jiang Luo interrupted his explanation. She didn’t want to hear that word again.
She said, "I'll go with you."
He Ziyan: "Mm."
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