Chapter 32 The Sour Smell in the Air.
Zhong Yan's wife.
Tan Xi had known about Zhong Yan's marriage for several months, but she had never met his wife.
A person with Zhong Yan's personality would still give others face even if he didn't like them; that's his character and upbringing. Tan Xi knew even better that Zhong Yan wouldn't like anyone.
His personality speaks for itself.
They appear to be the most gentle, but are actually the most aloof and cold, and don't get close to people.
When he talks about his wife now, his eyes show...doting affection.
When he talked about his wife.
As they exited the hospital, Jin Huan walked beside Zhong Yan and couldn't help but ask, "Did I tell you last night that I was going to have dinner?"
She didn't quite remember, but she felt that Zhong Yan wouldn't lie.
Zhong Yan neither admitted nor denied it, only saying, "I'll pick you up after class."
Jin Huan was still thinking. On one hand, she was thinking about this matter, and on the other hand, she was thinking about Du Qingxu's confession to her. Her thoughts were slowly mixed up like this, and she finally nodded in agreement.
Regarding lunch.
Zhong Yan never asked her to have lunch with him at this time of day. As soon as the time came, she would grab her bag and run out. When Tan Xi saw her, she asked her what she was rushing to do. Jin Huan said as she went downstairs, "I have an appointment to have lunch with someone."
Tan Xi felt a gust of wind beside her, and she smiled helplessly.
One or two of them, how come they all have lunch appointments?
Zhong Yan was waiting for her at the entrance of the building.
Jin Huan spotted him immediately. She ran towards him, stopping when her toes touched his, and asked with a smile, "Why are you here so early?"
Normally she wouldn't come out this early, because she eats lunch at the cafeteria, and this is the peak time for the cafeteria. It would be much better if she went a little later, about ten minutes later.
Oh dear, if Mr. Zhong had messaged her earlier to tell her to wait here, she would definitely have come out a little earlier.
Zhong Yan smiled and said, "It's okay, I just arrived two minutes ago."
If it's convenient, Jin Huan would like to invite Zhong Yan to try the school cafeteria. There's a stall that serves really delicious noodles. The broth is made with mushrooms and chicken soup, and it's very flavorful. Jin Huan usually finishes a whole bowl by herself, and even drinks half of the soup.
But Zhong Yan would stand out too much among a group of students, especially since he was dressed so formally today.
So, we'll have to wait until next time to enjoy ourselves.
There will always be another chance.
Having lunch with Zhong Yan should have been a happy occasion, but Jin Huan had barely taken a few bites when she saw messages in the group chat expressing concern for Du Qingxu's health and suggesting that they all go to visit him that afternoon. She had just taken a bite of a rib when she sighed.
Remembering why Zhong Yan came to the school today, Jin Huan couldn't help but ask, "Will you really let Du Qingxu join your company in the future?"
Even though they had become husband and wife, Jin Huan didn't know much about Zhong Yan's company. She had only heard Teacher Tan say a long time ago that Zhong Yan was a big shot in the industry and that he and his company were so powerful that they were beyond the reach of most people.
Jin Huan hasn't reached the point where she needs to look for a job yet, so she hasn't put much effort into researching it.
Zhong Yan served Jin Huan a bowl of fish soup. The soup tasted good. The tofu was lightly fried before being added to the soup to stew, which brought out the sweetness of the fish. Jin Huan should like it.
"There's no such thing as real or fake." Zhong Yan agreed to help his friend, but it didn't mean he had to cover for anyone. He was just giving him an opportunity. Whether he could seize it or make the most of it was beyond his control.
Jin Huan nodded: "Oh."
The question she just asked was indeed unnecessary; she should already know something about Zhong Yan's personality.
Jin Huan took a sip of the fish soup.
Her eyes lit up at the delicious aroma, and she approved of the taste. Recalling the afternoon tea that Zhong Yan had treated her to last time, Jin Huan couldn't help but sigh. This was near her school, how come Mr. Zhong could find so many delicious things to eat?
Mr. Zhong is the kind of person who excels at everything he does, even finding good restaurants is a step ahead of her.
That's really amazing.
Zhong Yan had no idea that Jin Huan was praising him for this; he only noticed that her expression wasn't very good and assumed she had something on her mind.
I do have some worries on my mind.
If she hadn't been interrupted this morning, Jin Huan really wouldn't know what to say. But they are classmates and in the same research group, so there will be plenty of opportunities for them to run into each other in the future.
Did Mr. Zhong hear what I said this morning?
Jin Huan pondered, then observed Zhong Yan's expression. She recalled that when he appeared at the door with Teacher Tan, his expression was completely normal, so he probably hadn't heard anything.
If she didn't hear it, should she speak?
But... wouldn't it make her seem really clueless to tell Zhong Yan about someone else confessing their feelings to her?
Jin Huan thought to himself, then took another sip of soup.
It was the same soup, but it no longer tasted as sweet and delicious. She swallowed without feeling it, looked up at Zhong Yan, then lowered her head again. Several times, the words that were on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down.
He hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
Jin Huan remained in this state until the afternoon of the following day.
After dinner, Zhong Yan received a work call. He stood by the window and spoke to the person in a low voice in English.
Noticing Jin Huan's gaze, Zhong Yan turned to look at her immediately after hanging up the phone.
"Sir, is your English name Elvis?" Jin Huan asked sullenly.
When Jin Huan first met him at a family banquet, she heard someone call him that. The voice was so far away that it was almost indistinct, but she remembered it.
Zhong Yan nodded: "Yes."
Elvis, Elvis.
Jin Huan silently murmured the name, but when asked, there was no further response; he simply drifted off into a daze once more.
"Jin Huan." Zhong Yan walked over and called her name softly. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
He asked her directly.
"There is something." Since he asked, Jin Huan decided to tell him. She had been struggling with whether to tell him or not for two days, but finally realized that if she couldn't solve the problem on her own, she would eventually have to seek help.
He is omnipotent and can solve any problem.
Jin Huan hesitated and asked, "Would you think I'm stupid if I told you?"
Zhong Yan chuckled: "You go first."
“Yesterday morning, at the hospital, when you came in, Du Qingxu was confessing his feelings to me.”
Jin Huan tried her best to narrate the matter objectively. She mustered her courage, took a deep breath, and kept her voice steady.
Zhong Yan sat down next to her, leaned back slightly, casually placed his hands on his lap, looked at her, and listened attentively to what she had to say.
Jin Huan bit her lower lip and voiced her real problem: "Sir, I don't know how to respond to him."
Every bit of affection deserves to be valued, and Jin Huan has been thinking of the most dignified and appropriate solution.
This frustrated her, as she wasn't very good at communicating.
Zhong Yan's face showed no particular expression, as if he already knew about this. He calmly asked, "What exactly did he say to you?"
“He said he liked me,” Jin Huan recalled. “He said he liked me when we first entered university.”
Zhong Yan asked again, "And then? What was he trying to achieve by confessing his feelings?"
Jin Huan replied, "He said he didn't want to do anything, he just wanted me to know."
Zhong Yan nodded knowingly. He had come to understand the general outline of the matter, and that was about it.
"So what's bothering you?" Zhong Yan asked, noticing her furrowed brows and remembering how she had been sighing silently for the past two days.
Jin Huan lowered her head: "Have I told you? Du Qingxu is a very good person."
Not only is he a very nice person, but he's also quite pitiful. He even spoke his feelings very carefully and simply, telling her that he didn't need a response, that he just wanted to tell her, to let her know... that's all.
It's because he's such a good person.
"I don't know how to tell him my thoughts without hurting him."
He was already physically ill, and we couldn't afford to further damage his mental health; this was Jin Huan's thought.
She wanted to find a balance, a balance that wouldn't make him feel too uncomfortable, even if she couldn't agree to it.
Such a balance is too difficult; she has never really dealt with something like this before, and she doesn't quite understand it.
Zhong Yan listened attentively the whole time.
"I understand." Zhong Yan smiled faintly, his eyes lowered in thought. After a moment of silence, he asked, "What do you think is the most important thing for him?"
"For example, some people value profit, some value relationships, and some people don't want anything at all... Which one would he be?"
Zhong Yan was practically guiding her, asking her questions and letting her think about it herself.
His current situation is terrible.
He needs money now, he needs to make money, and make even more money.
Therefore, matters of the heart are secondary to practical matters for him.
This is also why he said he didn't need a pleasant response.
He simply wanted to create a utopia for himself where he could place his emotions.
"As for money... let's calculate interest," Jin Huan replied hesitantly.
Zhong Yan's lips curved slightly. Only then did he take back what he had just said. He slowly said, "According to what you said, he is not so fragile that he would break at the slightest touch. He is very clear-headed, knows what he wants, and is aware of his current situation. The things that are already out in the open do not require you to take care of him... right?"
When a person lives in society, he or she must abide by the rules of social survival, especially since he or she is an adult with full capacity for civil conduct.
Jin Huan agreed with Zhong Yan's words. She nodded vigorously and tentatively asked, "So I should just refuse directly, right?"
Don't think about how to save his pride, and don't hesitate about how to refuse. Just state your attitude and position directly and refuse him outright.
Directness is better than any roundabout or indirect approach.
Zhong Yan smiled with satisfaction. He nodded slowly, looked at Jin Huan with approval, and then said softly, "So clever."
When he praised her, Jin Huan's face began to turn red.
Why do you have to praise her for something like Mr. Zhong's actions? It sounds like you're coaxing a child.
"I understand." Jin Huan nodded, then thought for a moment, "I'll talk to him about it once he's discharged from the hospital in the next couple of days."
Jin Huan chatted with him for a few minutes and felt a sense of relief and lightness in her heart.
I wish I had told Mr. Zhong sooner. He sees everything above the problem and can provide decisive and quick solutions. Not only is he good at handling things, but he also has a keen understanding of people's hearts. He is truly the best of the best.
Jin Huan's admiration for him arose once again.
Zhong Yan responded indifferently.
Zhong Yan raised his hand to brush away the stray hairs from her forehead, taking in her bright, sparkling eyes, and said gently, "You've finished talking... Now it's time to resolve the issues between us."
Jin Huan blinked, looked at herself, and asked in surprise, "What's wrong with us?"
Not understanding Zhong Yan's meaning, Jin Huan suddenly felt a little nervous. Her first reaction was that it was a serious situation where there were problems in the marriage. She held her breath and scared herself. The next second, she met Zhong Yan's cold eyes.
Zhong Yan lowered his voice and asked with a gentle smile, "Do you smell a sour smell in the air?"
Jin Huan was stunned for a moment, then she went to smell it again.
She moved closer to Zhong Yan, sniffed, and could only smell the pleasant fragrance emanating from the man, a wonderful scent coming from his sweater. It was clearly fragrant; there was no sourness about it at all…
Zhong Yan watched with tolerance as she earnestly searched for the source of the scent, sniffing hard with her nose like a sensitive puppy. He pointed to his chest, placed his hand on her head, and pressed her upper body closer to his left chest.
“Here it is, Xiao Bao.” Zhong Yan sighed helplessly, his chest trembling. “Smell it here.”
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