Chapter 42: I confess to Yuwei, "I like you."
"Haha, that's a bit sour. You're not just jealous of her looks, are you?"
Those flippant and malicious words, like poisoned needles, pierced Lin Yuwei's heart quickly and densely. Her face turned as pale as paper in an instant, and she clenched her fists. She had never imagined that the professional skills and efforts she had always cherished and devoted herself to could be so easily dismissed and distorted into such a despicable form in the eyes of others.
A surge of emotions, a mixture of humiliation, anger, and helplessness, overwhelmed her, instantly breaking down her defenses. She quickly left the courtyard of the village committee office.
Lin Yuwei walked aimlessly in the sunlight, her whole body trembling uncontrollably. In her heart, she berated herself: why had she failed to uphold that boundary? Why had she once again succumbed to the passion and chaos brought by Gu Qingyan? She hated that things had turned out so badly, and hated herself even more for seemingly becoming the source of all this gossip and stigma!
Just as her eyes were getting hot and water was rapidly accumulating, almost causing her to burst into tears, a warm coat, still warm from her body, was gently draped over her slightly trembling shoulders.
She turned around abruptly, her eyes meeting Zhou Xubai's, which were filled with worry and gentleness. She didn't know how long he had been following her. It seemed that he had also heard those unpleasant rumors, but there was no doubt or inquiry in his eyes, only pure and intense heartache.
“Don’t listen to those.” His voice was deep and firm, with a strange, soothing power: “The gossip of unimportant people is like the dust on the roadside; it’s not worth your attention, much less your concern.”
His tolerance and understanding, at this moment, were like an incredibly clear mirror, suddenly reflecting Lin Yuwei's deep-seated self-loathing and guilt. She took a step back abruptly, as if burned by his warmth, avoiding his hand that was meant to comfort her. All the suppressed emotions burst forth in an instant.
"No! Xu Bai, don't be so good to me!" She shook her head violently, her voice choked with uncontrollable sobs, with an impulse to give up entirely: "They're right! I might really be that kind of despicable person! I provoked both of you... I made you worry, I made him leave in a huff... I messed everything up! I made a complete mess of everything!"
She looked up at him, her eyes blurred with tears, and finally blurted out the heavy secret that had been weighing on her heart: "And I lied to you! Gu Qingyan and I didn't just meet! We...we've known each other for many years! We were together before, and we hurt each other! I'm not the simple and beautiful Lin Yuwei you see at all! My past is a mess! Chaotic and unbearable!"
After revealing the secret she had kept hidden for so long, Lin Yuwei almost held her breath, anticipating the shock, disappointment, and even the disdain that Zhou Xubai might show in his eyes. She had almost prepared herself with armor to withstand all of this.
However, Zhou Xubai listened quietly, his eyes deep and calm like an ancient well. When she finished speaking her excited words and only her rapid breathing remained in the air, he slowly stepped forward, still looking at her with those gentle and all-encompassing eyes, his tone steady and certain: "Yuwei, have you finished speaking?"
"Hmm?" Lin Yuwei didn't understand why he could be so calm.
Zhou Xubai sighed softly, raised his hand, and gently wiped away the tear tracks on her cheeks with his fingertips, as if handling a rare treasure: "What others say or think is their business. As for me, Zhou Xubai, I only believe what I see with my own eyes and what I feel in my heart."
"The past is important, and it's not important." His voice was like a gentle stream, softly yet powerfully washing away the silt and wounds in her heart: "What's important is that all the experiences, whether joyful or painful, have shaped you into the unique person standing before me today—a professional, resilient, kind person who always thinks of others. What's not important is that the past should never become a shackle binding you to the future and the pursuit of happiness. Every day the sun rises again is a new beginning. You always have the right to start anew and choose happiness and joy."
His gaze was sincere and ardent, as if it contained the energy to dispel all gloom: "Yuwei, I like you, not because you have a flawless, glamorous past, but because I met and fell in love with the real you now, the one who cries and laughs, who is vulnerable and strong. This liking stems from every moment of the present and points to the future we share. Are you willing to... give me a chance, and give yourself a chance, to try being together, and let me accompany you to see this new world?"
This confession, so heavy yet so sincere, was like a boulder thrown into Lin Yuwei's already chaotic heart, stirring up a stormy sea.
She was deeply shocked. Zhou Xubai's understanding and tolerance far exceeded her wildest imagination. However, Gu Qingyan's pale face when she left, the lingering nightmare in her heart, and the great fear and uncertainty about starting a new relationship stood coldly before her like insurmountable walls.
Lin Yuwei struggled intensely for a long time, as if an eternity had passed. In the end, she closed her eyes in anguish, shook her head with difficulty, and tears silently streamed down her face again: "I'm sorry... Xu Bai, I'm so sorry... You're just too good, so good that I feel unworthy of you. My heart is in such turmoil right now, filled with scars and shadows from the past... I can't... I really can't start a new relationship so rashly. It's so unfair to you."
The bright and expectant light in Zhou Xubai's eyes visibly dimmed, and a deep sense of loss almost overflowed, impossible to conceal. He remained silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and spoke again. His voice was still gentle, but inevitably carried a hint of hoarseness: "It's okay, I understand."
He forced a reassuring, warm smile, just like always: "I told you, I'd wait for you. Since you're not ready yet, let's stay the same as before, best friends, best work partners. I'll always be here for you, whenever you need me." He paused, his tone becoming softer yet firmer, as if making a solemn promise: "If... if one day you move on and want to embrace new sunshine and possibilities, please... please consider me first, okay? This is my only request."
Zhou Xubai's words were like the warm winter sun, sincere and comforting. Lin Yuwei looked at his gentle and kind face, feeling her heart filled with gratitude. This unwavering protection arrived just when she needed it most, like a lamp that never went out, quietly illuminating her path ahead. Lin Yuwei nodded gently, her eyes glistening with tears: "Thank you, Xubai."
After months of meticulous work, the cultural corridor project in Longquan Village has finally achieved a perfect integration of its online immersive experience platform and offline physical landscape, and is now officially open to the public.
This creative work, which blends cutting-edge digital technology with rich local culture, instantly became a phenomenal tourist hotspot. Its unique charm not only attracted local residents but also drew tourists from surrounding cities. Reservations were sold out instantly, and related topics continued to dominate social media, making it extremely popular.
The success of the Longquan Village Cultural Corridor project far exceeded expectations. This remarkable achievement has also elevated the brand influence and industry reputation of the main partners, "Qichen Technology" and "Shiguang Studio," to new heights, making them a highly praised golden combination in the industry. The brand awareness and reputation of the two companies have taken a huge leap forward as a result, and the project experience is regarded as an industry benchmark.
The unveiling ceremony and celebration banquet for the project were held in front of the newly renovated ancient stage in Longquan Village. As night fell, lanterns and spotlights illuminated the scene, making it dazzling and colorful. The venue was filled with guests, laughter, and chatter.
As one of the core creators of Shiguang Studio, Lin Yuwei was mingling with the guests who came to offer their congratulations. She was dressed in a simple yet appropriate evening gown, with an elegant smile on her face, exchanging pleasantries with people from all sides. However, her gaze would occasionally sweep unintentionally over the entrance or the periphery of the crowd, as if she were confirming something. But in the end, the figure that she knew would not appear but still subconsciously hoped for did not arrive.
Representing Venucia Technology's senior management was Vice President Lu Ming, who, holding a wine glass, walked through the crowd and naturally approached Lin Yuwei.
"Director Lin, congratulations! The final result is even better than we expected, especially the online virtual experience, which received very enthusiastic feedback from users." He raised his glass, his smile sincere, his tone pure praise.
"Thank you, Mr. Lu! It's also thanks to the full support of Venucia's technical team that our vision has been brought to fruition." Lin Yuwei lightly clinked glasses with him, responding politely and thoughtfully.
The two chatted for a while about some interesting things that happened in the early stages of the project and about future maintenance and operation. The atmosphere was relaxed and harmonious. After a while, Lu Ming seemed to suddenly remember something and naturally took out his phone from his suit pocket.
"Look at me, I've been so busy chatting. We'll probably need to coordinate with you frequently for maintenance updates and data feedback," he said casually, with a hint of professional familiarity. "Let's add each other as friends? It'll be easier to communicate in the future, instead of always going through such formal emails."
His suggestion was reasonable and his manner was poised and generous, seemingly out of consideration for work convenience. Lin Yuwei looked at him, a fleeting, almost imperceptible glint in her eyes, then smiled gently: "Okay, that's only right." She also took out her phone and opened the QR code business card.
Scanning the QR code, adding the contact, and noting the name and company—the series of actions were completed smoothly amidst the clinking of wine glasses and background music. Lu Ming looked at the newly added contact on his phone screen, quickly tapped the screen a few times to complete the note, then put away his phone, his smile unchanged: "Alright, I'll be bothering you a lot from now on." He turned and blended into the crowd, continuing his busy social engagements.
Lin Yuwei also put away her phone. She knew that Lu Ming and Gu Qingyan had a close personal relationship and vaguely sensed that there might be a deeper meaning behind this seemingly purely work-related action, but she chose not to point it out. Some threads, once buried, don't necessarily need to be pulled immediately.
Lin Yuwei picked up her wine glass again, her gaze fixed on the deep night sky. Under the dazzling lights, her expression revealed little emotion.
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Author's Note: I gained three more favorites without any rankings! Thank you everyone for your support, I'm so happy! I will cherish every one of you who has added me to their favorites! I hope you won't give up on me [crying emoji]
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