Although it was takeout, the taste was excellent.
Lin Xiao ate his fill.
After finishing the meal, Lin Xiao offered to wash the dishes.
Ji Ran laughed and said, "Just put it in the dishwasher, I don't want to wash the dishes either."
"Okay." Lin Xiao didn't dislike washing dishes, but he didn't particularly like it either.
After clearing the table and washing his hands, Lin Xiao, seeing that there was still time, said, "Professor Ji, would you like to take a walk around the neighborhood downstairs? I think the scenery there is quite nice."
Ji Ran hesitated for a few seconds.
She still preferred to spend time with Lin Xiao in a private space.
She longed to be close to Lin Xiao, to inhale his scent.
She was somewhat afraid of being stared at by others when she was out in public.
Lin Xiaomo stared at Ji Ran with his dark eyes, guessing what she was thinking.
She hid him in this room because she felt insecure.
At that moment, he felt sorry for Ji Ran.
Clearly, there's nothing wrong with her intelligence; what's holding her back is her self-evaluation system and her imagined evaluation system of others.
Lin Xiao thought that she might have never felt loved, so she was inherently insecure.
Just like him.
Through the woman's beautiful yet fragile face, he vaguely saw his past self.
Even if a person who is not loved looks no different from others on the outside, they will always harbor inferiority complex deep in their soul.
He walked over, took Ji Ran's hand, and pulled her into his arms.
With his other hand, he gently stroked her head.
“Ji Ran, love yourself,” Lin Xiao lowered his head, resting his chin on the top of Ji Ran’s head, and said softly, “just like you long to be loved.”
Ji Ran's body trembled slightly.
The enormous emptiness in my heart was filled by a strange, warm current.
She raised her hand and hugged Lin Xiao's broad and strong shoulders and back.
Tears streamed down his face, soaking Lin Xiao's white shirt.
Lin Xiao continued, "You deserve to be cherished, and you deserve to have inner peace and happiness."
"Don't let other people's opinions bind you, and don't let those unfounded evaluations affect your heart."
Believe me, you are already excellent and wonderful enough. In this world, there are probably less than one in ten thousand people who can compare to you.
"Loving yourself is the beginning of lifelong happiness."
Ji Ran went from silently shedding tears to sobbing, and Lin Xiao handed her a tissue to wipe away her tears.
He did not try to stop her from crying.
Cry if you want to.
You'll feel better after you've cried it out.
His shirt can be sent to the dry cleaners.
He thought.
The more Ji Ran cried, the more wronged she felt, but Lin Xiao's embrace was so comforting.
Gradually, she stopped crying.
After wiping away her tears, she said with red eyes, "I'm going to wash my face."
Lin Xiao hummed in agreement and sat down on the sofa.
He glanced at the clock on the wall; it was already 8:30.
He felt that half a day was rather long.
He was considering not taking Ji Ran's orders anymore.
He felt that her emotional needs were a bottomless pit.
He was somewhat afraid of her.
But at the same time, he also felt some sympathy for her.
Because she cannot relieve her emotions, she will remain in a pathological state.
So, when the two were taking a walk in the neighborhood downstairs, Lin Xiao quietly offered his suggestion.
"Professor Ji, have you ever considered that you might want to try psychological counseling?"
Ji Ran paused, his tone becoming somewhat stiff.
"Lin Xiao, do you think I have a mental illness and need to see a psychiatrist?"
Lin Xiao was feeling a bit tired; here we go again.
Her inner defenses were too strong.
His words of comfort alone are not enough to cure her at her root.
"It's not a mental illness, but rather some issues that arose during your upbringing."
"Everyone, to a greater or lesser extent, has their own issues."
"I have one too."
"Maybe one day, when the time is right, I will also see a psychologist."
Ji Ran's tone softened.
The two of them were circling around an open space.
Ji Ran said in a low voice, "Lin Xiao, perhaps you are right. I will seriously consider your suggestion."
"Lin Xiao, you'll help me, right?"
She has fallen in love with Lin Xiao.
But she was like a frightened bird, not daring to let Lin Xiao notice.
She was afraid that Lin Xiao would ignore her, just like last time.
She was even more afraid that Lin Xiao would find out her true feelings and then avoid her from now on.
Therefore, she tried her best to control her emotions and needs, and not to put pressure on Lin Xiao.
She hoped that Lin Xiao would feel relaxed and happy when he was with her.
Lin Xiao was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes! I will accompany Professor Ji to the other side of the light."
As he left, Ji Ran took out a black leather pencil case.
"Lin Xiao, next Wednesday is your birthday. I think you might prefer to spend it with your friends or your aunt."
"I'm giving you my birthday present early, I hope you like it."
"Happy birthday, I'll save that for the day."
Lin Xiao was stunned for a moment.
This gift looks very valuable; he has never received such a valuable gift before.
He cherished the handmade diary and sketchbook that Bai Youyou gave him last time, and as a result, Bai Youyou's status in his heart also rose a bit.
Ji Ran smiled and said, "Open it and see if you like it."
Lin Xiao took it blankly, opened the pencil case, and found it lined with soft velvet.
The pen has a simple yet elegant design, giving it a high-end look.
The pen body features a deep, glossy lacquer finish in a dark green, while the clip and cap rings are made of exquisite metal plated with matte gold, adding a touch of understated luxury.
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