Ambiguous probing
Lin Tingyue gripped her phone, her fingers unconsciously tightening.
“Brother, this isn’t about whether to help or not.” She tried to keep her voice calm. “Chi Zhuo has already helped the Lin family a lot. We can’t keep asking for money. Besides, your project is so risky; even Dad doesn’t agree to it…”
"So even you don't support me?" Lin Yujin's tone suddenly turned cold. "I thought at least you would understand me."
“I understand you, but I don’t agree with your approach.” Lin Tingyue took a deep breath. “If you really believe in this project, you should come up with a detailed plan and risk assessment, instead of rashly asking for money like this.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, and when she spoke again, her voice was filled with obvious disappointment: "Fine, I understand. Marrying into a wealthy family really makes a difference; even her own brother isn't willing to help anymore."
"Brother, it's not like that..."
"Okay, I have something to do, I'll hang up now."
Hearing the busy tone on the phone, Lin Tingyue felt a pang of unease.
In the following days, Lin Yujin did not contact her again.
Lin Tingyue thought he had given up, but a few days later at dinner, Chi Zhuo suddenly asked, "Has your brother contacted you recently?"
Lin Tingyue paused, her hand holding the chopsticks still. "What's wrong?"
"He contacted me."
Her heart tightened. "When did this happen?"
“The day before yesterday, he directly said he wanted to discuss cooperation.” Chi Zhuo said in a calm tone, “However, I have read his project documents. The idea is good, but it is too idealistic. He has not considered many practical issues.”
Lin Tingyue put down her chopsticks. "I'm sorry, I didn't know he would contact you directly."
“You don’t need to apologize.” Chi Zhuo looked at her. “If you ask, I’ll consider helping him.”
Lin Tingyue looked at him in surprise, seemingly puzzled, but she quickly understood. "No, this is my brother's own business. I admit that my brother was good to me before, but within my ability, I would help him even if he didn't ask. But this matter is his responsibility, his own problem, and I can't control it."
A hint of appreciation flashed in Chi Zhuo's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure: "However, you should be prepared that he may not give up easily."
Lin Tingyue sighed softly, "I know."
Back in the bedroom, Lin Tingyue was organizing clothes; she had recently found several different styles of shirts for Chi Zhuo.
Chi Zhuo pulled her hand and wrapped her arms around her. "Don't be busy for now, let me talk to you."
Lin Tingyue didn't struggle, letting him hold her and enjoying the warmth of his embrace.
"Actually, I'm really happy that you think this way, but I won't stand idly by when it comes to your family's affairs. If necessary, I'll still lend your brother a hand."
Lin Tingyue looked up at him, her eyes filled with emotion. "You..."
Chi Zhuo used to be the most concerned about gains and losses, but now he is truly thinking about himself.
But Chi Zhuo just stared at her lips and moved even closer.
Now, Lin Tingyue understood what the other person was thinking.
This time, she didn't dodge, but watched helplessly as the other person's profile drew closer.
Finally, she closed her eyes, full of anticipation.
The imagined kiss never came, and the person beside her seemed to stop moving.
She slowly opened her eyes, only to see Chi Zhuo's ambiguous smile. She suddenly realized what was happening and immediately tried to turn over and struggle to get up.
Chi Zhuo is playing a trick on her!
The next second, Chi Zhuo once again restrained her waist, stopping her movements and pulling her into his arms.
"Don't rush."
Lin Tingyue was genuinely annoyed this time. "Who's in a hurry! I have something to say."
As she spoke, she began to walk downstairs.
"What is it?" Chi Zhuo grabbed her wrist, his eyes playful. "Is it more urgent than our business?"
"I……"
Before Lin Tingyue could utter a single word, the next second, Chi Zhuo knocked her down and pressed her onto the soft bed. At first, Chi Zhuo made slight attempts, gradually escalating from gentle touches to a fierce plunder.
Finally, Lin Tingyue couldn't hold on any longer and tried to dodge, but she was powerless to do so.
She tossed and turned, being bullied by Chi Zhuo from one end of the bed to the other. They even messed up all the decorations in the room. Luckily, the apartment was a detached house, otherwise she would have been worried about disturbing her neighbors' sleep.
The next morning, Lin Tingyue woke up in Chi Zhuo's arms.
Covered by a soft blanket, Lin Tingyue kept her hand in a comfortable place, refusing to move it even an inch, until Chi Zhuo reacted, at which point she realized something was wrong and hurriedly removed it.
But Chi Zhuo still seemed sleepy and changed his sleeping position again.
Lin Tingyue took the opportunity to touch his waist; it felt really nice. Seeing that Chi Zhuo didn't react, she hugged him again, getting closer to him.
Finally, Chi Zhuo, who rarely stayed in bed for half an hour, sat up with a yawn, while Lin Tingyue pretended to be asleep with her eyes closed.
"I might have to go on a business trip in the next couple of days."
Lin Tingyue woke up right after Chi Zhuo finished speaking.
Where to?
She probably didn't even realize she was feeling this way.
"With the city under lockdown, the company is about to start a new project related to food safety. We need to keep a close eye on things at this critical juncture."
"Oh," Lin Tingyue said in a muffled voice, sounding somewhat disappointed.
Doesn't Chi Zhuo's business trip mean they'll be in a long-distance relationship?
Before, she might not have cared, and might even have been happier. But now, she's truly reluctant to let go, after all, it's only been two days since she recovered.
"Fengcheng, isn't it famous for its tea? But I've never had Fengcheng's tea before."
After Lin Tingyue finished speaking, Chi Zhuo, who had already put on his clothes, smiled and said, "Would you like to try some? You can come with me."
She was stunned for a moment, and said "Huh?" in disbelief.
“There aren’t any important projects at the studio that require your attention lately, so you can go out and take a walk. I’m tired of you working overtime every day.”
The intention behind these words was to help Lin Tingyue relax, and Chi Zhuo was extending an invitation, but Lin Tingyue didn't understand and thought it was a test.
Seeing that Lin Tingyue did not answer, Chi Zhuo went to the bathroom again.
"If you don't want to go, I won't force you. I'll leave the driver with you, and you can go wherever you want."
She threw back the covers and got out of bed, stepping barefoot onto the soft carpet, and followed the child to the bathroom door.
Chi Zhuo was brushing his teeth when he saw her leaning against the door frame in the mirror, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn't.
Lin Tingyue finally spoke, her voice still hoarse from the early morning, "I want to try the tea from the lockdown."
Chi Zhuo gazed at her for a moment, then smiled slightly: "Okay. Then pack your things today, arrange your work, and leave tomorrow."
-
It was already evening when the plane landed and the city was locked down.
Chi Zhuo was indeed very busy. After arranging Lin Tingyue's accommodation, he rushed off to attend his first meeting.
Soon after, Chi Zhuo sent a message saying that there was a business dinner that evening and that she should take care of her own dinner.
She walked out of the hotel alone and strolled slowly along the street.
The city is famous for its tea, and all kinds of teahouses can be seen on both sides of the street, with a faint aroma of tea in the air.
She casually walked into a teahouse that looked quite old and ordered a pot of local specialty Yunwu tea.
Amidst the fragrant aroma of tea, she took out her phone and saw several messages from Lin Yujin.
First, he questioned why he didn't speak up for him, then softened his tone and asked Chi Zhuo for his specific opinions on the project.
She sighed and did not reply.
“This isn’t how you’re supposed to appreciate tea,” a gentle voice suddenly rang out.
Lin Tingyue looked up and saw an elderly man, about sixty years old, standing in front of the table, wearing a Chinese-style jacket.
"Are you saying that my tea-brewing method is wrong?" Lin Tingyue looked at the tea set on the table with some confusion.
The old man smiled and sat down opposite her: "It's not about the way you brew tea, it's about the state of mind you have when you taste it. With your brow furrowed and your mind heavy, you won't be able to appreciate even the best tea."
Lin Tingyue paused for a moment, then unconsciously touched her brow.
"Young lady, you must be from out of town?" The old man took an empty cup and refilled her tea. "Tea in a lockdown needs to be savored slowly and calmly. The first sip is bitter, the second is sweet, and only the third reveals its true flavor. Just like the challenges in life, you can't rush them."
Lin Tingyue took the teacup, lost in thought.
Thank you for your guidance.
The old man didn't say much, but just smiled and left her to enjoy her tea alone before getting up and leaving.
After wandering around, Lin Tingyue found a specialty restaurant, ordered two or three side dishes, and enjoyed a delicious and satisfying meal.
Afterwards, she packed up a snack and strolled back to the hotel.
It was past nine o'clock at night when we got back to the hotel.
Lin Tingyue pushed open the door and found that Chi Zhuo had already returned. He was sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed, resting, his tie loosely hanging around his neck, and he looked tired.
"You're back?" she asked softly.
Chi Zhuo opened his eyes and beckoned to her: "Come here."
Lin Tingyue walked over and was pulled into his arms, a faint smell of alcohol wafting over.
"Have you been drinking?"
"Social engagements are unavoidable." Chi Zhuo buried his face in the crook of her neck. "What did you eat for dinner?"
"We ate something nearby and also went to a teahouse."
After saying that, Lin Tingyue suddenly remembered something, got up and went to the table next to her to get the snacks she had packed back.
Lin Tingyue handed the still-warm lunchbox to Chi Zhuo: "I brought you some local snacks, would you like to try some?"
Chi Zhuo accepted the package with some surprise, opened it, and found delicate tea-scented pastries and several local specialties from the lockdown. "You brought this especially for me?"
"I just happened to be passing by and thought you might not have eaten enough after your social engagement tonight." Lin Tingyue said casually, but she was secretly observing his reaction.
Chi Zhuo hadn't eaten much, and only now, smelling the aroma of food, did he realize his stomach was empty.
He picked up his chopsticks and slowly began to savor the taste.
Lin Tingyue sat to the side, watching him eat earnestly, and felt a sense of satisfaction.
"The tea merchant I met today gave me some nice teas." After finishing his meal, Chi Zhuo took out several exquisite tea canisters from his briefcase. "You can try them."
Lin Tingyue took the tea canister, opened it, and the aroma of tea filled the air. She then smiled gently and thanked them, saying, "Thank you."
"I have an important meeting tomorrow morning, but I'm free in the afternoon," Chi Zhuo said casually. "I heard there's an ancient tea garden in the west of the city. Would you like to go take a look?"
Lin Tingyue's eyes lit up: "Okay!"
"It's quite delicious."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Tingyue saw that Chi Zhuo had finished eating everything in front of him.
She was a little surprised, "You...you've finished eating?"
Chi Zhuo wiped his mouth, picked up his water glass, and took a sip.
"Um……"
Just as Lin Tingyue was about to clean up the trash, Chi Zhuo pulled her into his arms again, and she heard him whisper:
"I'm still not full... what should I do..."
Lin Tingyue immediately understood and blushed instantly.
The night was cool and still, and I had a good night's sleep.
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