Chapter 162 Okay, let's continue.
Lin Zaoyi's first reaction was to hide the medicine box behind her back, but it was too late. Jia Ni had already discovered it and snatched it away. Then, she calmly tossed it back onto the table, saying, "I know about my brother's insomnia."
Without Lin Zaoyi asking, she said, "My brother started having this problem after you left. Whether it has anything to do with you or not, you can decide for yourself."
Lin Zaoyi did not shirk her responsibility and nodded bitterly.
Tan Jiani wondered, "You're here now, so you must have made up with my brother, right?"
"Almost there."
"…....What's the meaning?"
Lin Zaoyi looked at her with slightly red eyes, "It means almost."
Tan Jiani was stunned. Considering Lin Zaoyi's guilt at this moment, she tried to secure a benefit for her brother, "How about you take the initiative for the rest? Like... pursuing my brother?"
This isn't about seeking sympathy; it's the truth. "Lin Zaoyi, you dumped my brother twice. It's only because my brother is physically strong that he suffers from severe insomnia. If it were an ordinary person, they would probably be depressed."
A pang of sadness welled up inside Lin Zaoyi, and she felt like crying. Jia Ni was right; although the two breakups were forced upon her, ultimately it was she who took the initiative to give up.
Thinking back to a year ago, on his birthday, he said such hurtful things. Was Tan Zhaojing on the verge of breaking down at that time?
Since he came back, he has made all sorts of excuses, while she has only added insult to injury.
Lin Zaoyi, you really went too far.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she closed them again. "Chasing your brother, huh?"
“Yes, yes, yes,” Tan Jiani nodded quickly, “Yes, yes, yes, should we pursue her?”
The next moment, she heard her sister-in-law, who wasn't as cute as her, say decisively, "Okay, let's go for it."
"Hehe, that's more like it."
Tan Jiani put her arm around her shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, he won’t pursue you for too long. With my brother’s pathetic attitude, it will be at most three days, maybe even less. He’d rather give himself to her.”
"You're the one who's pathetic," Lin Zaoyi slapped her hand. "Don't talk about my boyfriend like that."
Finally, he added, "In the future."
Tan Jiani glared at her and said, "Don't be so sour."
He tilted his head outwards and asked, "Where's my brother?"
"I'm going to the company, I'll be back in a bit." Lin Zaoyi put the messed-up documents back in their place. "Don't tell your brother I know he's taking his medication."
It was obvious that Tan Zhaojing had deliberately hidden the medicine here.
Tan Jiani made an OK sign with her fingers, "So, are you going home for dinner tonight?"
Lin Zaoyi thought for a moment, "I should reply. My mom and Uncle Tan need to know about my pursuit of your brother."
This was also a way of telling the two elders that she wanted to be with Tan Zhaojing.
“Oh right,” Tan Jiani said, “Grandpa is back, but don’t be afraid, he can’t cause much trouble now.”
Lin Zaoyi nodded, "I'm not afraid."
This time, she couldn't let go.
...
Tan Zhaojing shortened his work schedule and rushed back before 12 o'clock. When he opened the door and saw that slender figure, a sense of peace settled down in his heart.
Lin Zaoyi put down her book upon hearing the voice, "You're back."
I took small, quick steps to get up to him, reached out and touched him; he wasn't hot anymore.
"Did you take your medicine?"
Tan Zhaojing's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "I ate it."
I still can't believe it, but right now, it's within my reach.
Unconsciously, he reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace.
She didn't push him away and obediently let him hold her.
My confused and bewildered thoughts found a place to settle in the soft touch.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at the unsightly snakeskin bag and saw it lying under the table two meters away.
This girl has that ability; she can instantly make him feel anxious and insecure.
He didn't speak, but pointed with his hand.
Lin Zaoyi turned her head and smiled, "You'll know its use right away."
She jogged over to him, held it up, and gestured for him to see.
Tan Zhaojing noticed something was wrong; there was a hole at the bottom. The girl pointed to the wiring on the outer packaging and said, "I tampered with this too. It won't crack if you put too much in it."
The next instant, the air was filled with the sound of something being violently torn apart.
The noise was created by Lin Zaoyi.
"Now you know why I didn't leave it in your car, right?"
She tossed the ripped burlap sack aside, freeing both hands to encircle him. "Tan Zhaojing, I didn't intend to move it."
She didn't expose him, but revealed her own little scheme: "I was unsure of your attitude, so I resorted to these little tricks. Later, Xu Yang told me that your car followed me all the way to Green County Mansion that day, and even reminded me to explain to you, so as not to cause a conflict over a meal of spicy hot pot."
At this point, she met his gaze directly. "Brother Zhaojing, it was Qianqian who invited me that day. Qianqian got home first, and I didn't have dinner with Xu Yang alone."
On the one hand, she explained the reasons, and on the other hand, she told Tan Zhaojing that she and Xu Yang only had a friendship as colleagues.
"As for the shirt..."
Unconsciously, she tugged at his cufflinks. They looked so familiar; they were the first pair she had given him. She looked up and asked, "Don't you like the other cufflinks?"
The topic jumped a bit too far, and Tan Zhaojing nodded half a second later, "I like it."
"Just going through the motions." Lin Zaoyi glanced at him. "If you like it, why don't you wear it?"
Tan Zhaojing said, "I'm used to this one."
Okay, she believed that reason.
"What's going on with the shirt?" Tan Zhaojing steered the conversation back on track.
Lin Zaoyi didn't hold back at all, uttering each word clearly, "You put your shirt away a long time ago, the day I returned to the country. I thought there was no possibility between us anymore, so I put it away. I didn't dare put it in the closet, because I was afraid that if I saw it, I would feel sad and want to cry."
The soft, gentle voice was like a summer breeze, and Tan Zhaojing felt a warmth spread through his chest.
It wasn't a misperception; she was willing to let him stay by her side.
In the silence of their gaze meeting, Lin Zaoyi's fingertip landed on his brow, where the wrinkles had finally disappeared. She smiled and said, "I have something for you."
The sticky note had been quietly sleeping in the bag for two years. The owner had taken good care of it; the edges weren't curled, and the pages hadn't even yellowed. It was just that the writing had faded a little over time, but that didn't matter; it was still legible.
There's a really painful memory associated with sticky notes.
Lin Zaoyi noticed that Tan Zhaojing's fingers, which had been loosely resting on his lap, instantly clenched into a fist. She reached out and placed her hand on the back of his hand, and when she spoke, her voice trembled involuntarily.
"From now on... from now on, let me celebrate your birthday with you, okay?"
The air was quiet, but unlike before, it wasn't a dull, deathly stillness, nor was it a suffocating, restless silence.
This time, what flows between the two is expectation and continuation.
The man snatched the note away, staring at the girl before him, his throat trembling slightly. "Have you thought it through?"
Lin Zaoyi deliberately misunderstood him, "Have you not thought it through yet?"
Without giving him a chance to speak, she seamlessly continued, "How about this, give me a chance to pursue you, and then we'll see how well I do?"
Clearly, as soon as he finished speaking, Tan Zhaojing's expression froze for a moment. Even though he tried to restrain himself, the constant pressure on his knuckles showed that he was not calm at the moment.
After a moment, he asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "Chase me?"
"Um."
Lin Zaoyi asked sincerely, "Should I pursue him?"
The man lowered his gaze. "Go ahead and pursue me if you want. Do you think I can stop you?"
Even though she tried to hide it well, she still caught a glimpse of a smile in his eyes.
Tan Zhaojing, you're secretly thrilled, aren't you?
He leaned closer, blinking his eyes.
Tan Zhaojing was amused by her little expression, and he placed his palm on the back of her neck, pulling her into his arms.
After stroking it carefully for a while, it felt even more real.
He swallowed; the burning pain was gone, but his voice was still a little hoarse. "Sorry—"
She interrupted him gently as he uttered just two words, "Tan Zhaojing, don't say sorry. I don't like it. I like it when you coax me."
His heart ached. "Okay, I'll coax you."
The person in my arms tilted their head back and said, "I have to coax you while I'm pursuing you, otherwise I won't have any motivation."
He slightly raised the corner of his lips, "I'll listen to Zaoyi from our family."
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