Chapter 55 Don't be afraid, from beginning to end, it was I who forced you.
Mingxian laughed in exasperation, "Lin Zaoyi, what are you hiding for? Come out!"
Lin Zaoyi slowly poked half her head out, and at this moment she quickly admitted her mistake, "Mom, I was wrong, please don't be angry."
Then the mother pulled off the shawl draped over her body, looking as if she was about to hit someone. Seeing this, Uncle Tan quickly pulled her back, saying, "Talk to her properly, don't hit the child."
Why would I hit her? Am I that unreasonable?
Mingxian glanced at her husband. "I'm anxious. Are these two girls not very bright? Wouldn't it be better to fight two against two? Why do they have to fight three against one!"
"Hehe." Lin Zaoyi jumped out from behind someone and hugged her mother. "I didn't lose out."
Tan Jiani nodded straight in agreement, “Yes, we took off our shoes and tied our hair up, so another one wouldn’t be a problem.”
Mingxian: "...Look at you two, are you hurt anywhere?"
The two shook their heads.
Mingxian could guess without asking why that Zaoyi must have said something nasty, otherwise Zaoyi wouldn't have taken action. As for how Jia Ni got involved, she must have been scolded as well.
That said, it surprised her that these two girls joined forces against a common enemy.
Just then, Tan You came running over upon hearing the commotion. "What's going on? Why are you fighting all of a sudden?"
Lin Zaoyi was hungry. "Ask Tan Jiani."
As she walked towards the front hall, Tan You grabbed her after only a few steps. "Before we eat, tell me who this strange man is?"
She declined to comment, saying, "Don't ask, I don't know anything."
Tan You narrowed his eyes and called out her full name, word by word, "Lin-Zao-Yi!"
"I'm calling back the soul." Lin Zaoyi moved towards the food counter. "I'm eating, I'm so hungry."
Tan You gave her time to eat, saying, "I'm going to meet a friend, don't slip away."
Lin Zaoyi had no intention of running away, but someone came looking for her and unreasonably dragged her to an empty private room in the backyard.
What are you going to do?
"Sit down, let me apply the medicine."
I don't know where Tan Zhaojing got the iodine and cotton swabs.
She blinked in surprise, "Am I injured?"
Tan Zhaojing took off the suit jacket she was wearing with one hand, and only then did he notice a long scratch on her forearm when her arm was exposed to the air.
Her skin is so fair that it's almost blinding at first glance, but you don't really feel anything unless you touch it. However, it's a different story once it gets covered in iodine.
He hissed softly, "It hurts..."
Tan Zhaojing unconsciously softened his movements, saying, "Bear with it, it'll be over soon."
Lin Zaoyi lowered her eyes, her gaze unconsciously falling on him. The light from the overhead lamp was warm, making him look less cold than usual. Coupled with his current actions, he seemed more gentle and unguarded.
She nudged him unconsciously.
The man slightly lifted his eyelids, his eyes deep and warm. "Hmm?"
He curled his fingers and said, "It's nothing."
He tossed the cotton swab into the ashtray on the coffee table, but didn't let go. He moved to sit down next to her and said, "Since there's nothing else, let's talk."
What to talk about...
She was terrified of this person talking to her, afraid of whatever they might talk about.
She had the urge to run away, but her wrists were grabbed, and she used her mouth to express her resistance, "I won't talk!"
Tan Zhaojing glanced at her, his eyes unfathomable. "So you can do it with Tan You?"
A question popped into Lin Zaoyi's mind: "What does this have to do with Tan You?"
The man's lips curled into a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "You like him?"
"?"
What a mess.
Not receiving an immediate answer, Tan Zhaojing's eyes darkened further. He cupped the back of her head with his palm and lifted her head, saying, "Speak."
All Lin Zaoyi wanted to say was, "You're so boring."
The phone rang suddenly. The contact name was Tan You, so it must be looking for her. "I have to go."
Tan You had already found the vicinity. A faint ringing sound came from the air to his ears. He followed the sound and approached. Suddenly, his breath caught in his throat, and his pupils visibly dilated.
This…this…
Zaoyi and her cousin
Through the crack in the door, barely half a palm's width wide, he saw his cousin holding Zaoyi in his arms, in such an ambiguous way that it was impossible to call them brother and sister.
He was caught off guard, as if struck by lightning, his mind went blank, and his heart was in turmoil.
After regaining his composure, he knocked on the door neither too hard nor too softly.
Then, they left without a sound.
The sudden noise startled Lin Zaoyi, who hid in Tan Zhaojing's arms, exclaiming that she was doomed. However, after several seconds of fear, no one pushed the door open and came in.
She looked up in alarm, but the man in front of her remained calm. "What are you afraid of?"
"Of course, I'm afraid of being discovered having an affair with you."
Tan Zhaojing: "..."
Although I don't like to describe it this way, anyway, the girl didn't renege on her debt.
He cupped her face in his hands, meeting her gaze without any obstruction. "Don't be afraid. From beginning to end, it was I who forced you."
Lin Zaoyi was stung by those words, and in order to spare her from moral burdens, he took all the responsibility upon himself.
But... but she was the one who had cholera in the first place.
Time stretched out, both lukewarm and thrilling, and something in the air seemed to be rustling and shaking.
no.
cannot.
The intense pressure was about to burst through her heart, and she pressed her advantage, saying, "It's good that you know, it's because you're so persistent."
Tan Zhaojing chuckled softly, "Yes, I'll keep pestering you."
She got up and opened the door, but there was no one there. "It's nothing, go out."
That knock just now, it's possible that a staff member accidentally bumped into it, but it doesn't matter, it will be made public eventually anyway.
Passing through the backyard, which was pitch black, Tan Zhaojing reached out his hand, but Lin Zaoyi only dared to grab his sleeve. She knew that if it were a little closer, it would be a hand that would put her at ease, but she just didn't dare to take that step.
As soon as there was light, she immediately let go.
As she jogged along, Tan You suddenly appeared in the front hall, staring at her expressionlessly. "Come with me."
Without saying a word, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him away.
"!!!"
Are these two brothers out of their minds?!
The backyard pond was empty. Tan You made sure no one was around before speaking, "I was the one who knocked on the door just now."
Without warning, Lin Zaoyi instantly lost control of her expression; she never expected Tan You to be the first to notice.
I'm also glad it was him.
Tan You, whether out of anger or anxiety, rolled up his sleeves, then, still feeling hot, pulled out his shirt tucked into his pants, completely disregarding his image. "Are you crazy? Of all people to be with, why my brother? Aren't you afraid my grandfather will kill you!"
Lin Zaoyi's lips trembled before she could speak, "No...we're not together..."
"You're hugging each other and you still say you're not together?"
Tan You, suppressing his racing nerves, said, "Lin Zaoyi, you're something else! Playing with ambiguous relationships at such a young age!"
Lin Zaoyi didn't know how to explain it to him, and she didn't know where to begin. In an almost pleading tone, she said, "Tan You, please don't ask anymore..."
"Did my brother force you?"
Did they force me?
It seems so.
But so what?
She had already fallen for him.
Where did Xin Yue begin? She probably can't even trace it back herself.
Lin Zaoyi shook her head silently. The wind blew, making a few strands of hair at her temples messy. She had no time to care and stared blankly at a certain spot.
Tan You had a headache. He put his hands on his hips and said, "Okay, I got it."
Lin Zaoyi blinked slowly. "Know what..."
"I know you were seduced by my brother!"
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