Chapter 158 Upholding Justice
There was also a hint of inexplicable curiosity.
Before long, the two of them had been chatting for almost two hours.
They talked about everything, their topics flowing naturally like a stream without any hindrance.
Lin Zhiming spoke slowly and calmly.
His logic is clear, and his breadth of knowledge is truly astonishing.
"It's already this late?"
A bell rang over the library's loudspeaker, signaling the clearing of the area.
This interrupted the almost heartwarming conversation.
Qiu Zishu glanced down at her wristwatch and was immediately startled—it was almost 9:30.
She hurriedly stuffed the book she was holding back onto the bookshelf.
"I have to go back."
Qiu Zishu looked out the window; it was already completely dark.
"I'll take you."
Lin Zhiming immediately closed the book in his hand, stood up, and spoke naturally.
Qiu Zishu quickly waved her hand, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"No, no, it's just a few steps, no need to trouble yourself. The family compound is really not far from here, I'm used to walking there every day."
Lin Zhiming smiled, his eyes behind his glasses were warm and bright, and his tone was exceptionally sincere.
"Don't refuse, it's what I should do. It's so late, I'm worried about a girl walking alone."
Qiu Zishu hesitated for a moment, her face turning slightly red.
The night breeze blew in through the window, ruffling the stray hairs on her forehead.
She finally nodded.
"……good."
On the way back, Qiu Zishu walked on Lin Zhiming's right side.
The two maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
The moonlight shone on the asphalt road, lengthening their shadows.
She secretly glanced at the man several times—
He walks with a steady gait and his shoulders are straight.
Even on such a quiet night, he exuded a well-trained air.
Why are you staring at me?
Lin Zhiming noticed her gaze, turned his head, and had a gentle smile on his lips.
"Huh? No...it's nothing."
Qiu Zishu's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly looked away, her cheeks flushing even more.
She remained silent for a few seconds before finally mustering the courage to speak.
"I just feel that what you said to Wanyin is not quite the same."
Lin Zhiming's expression darkened slightly, and a complex look flashed in his eyes.
He gazed at the dark path ahead, his voice lowering slightly.
"Aqing has some misunderstandings about me, but I don't blame her. When we were young, who didn't act impulsively? Who didn't say the wrong thing?"
"Everyone makes mistakes when they're young and impetuous. But it's never too late to turn back."
These words were like a gust of wind.
It dispelled the lingering sense of estrangement and defensiveness in Qiu Zishu's heart.
Suddenly, she felt that the person in front of her wasn't so unfamiliar anymore.
His silence, his restraint, his thoughtfulness...
They all touched people's hearts silently.
Let's stop here and not let people overthink it.
Lin Zhiming stopped at the entrance of the military compound, speaking softly.
This detail warmed Qiu Zishu's heart.
Holding the book, she hesitated for a moment, her fingers tightening slightly, before speaking softly.
"Thank you, I had a very pleasant chat today."
The sound was very soft, but it still reached Lin Zhiming's ears clearly.
Lin Zhiming smiled slightly.
"There's a Hong Kong business networking event this weekend, with exhibitions and performances. It's quite interesting. If you're not busy, would you like to go check it out with me?"
A sense of resistance instinctively arose in Qiu Zishu's heart.
After all, she has never been used to participating in such lively events.
But then she thought about it again, and realized that her father had been nagging her lately that she should go out more.
Qiu Zishu didn't want her father to worry anymore.
So she wavered a little, and a hint of hesitation arose in her heart.
Qiu Zishu paused, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
"I... I'll think about it first. I haven't decided whether I want to go or not."
No rush.
Lin Zhiming, with a gentle expression, took out an invitation from his briefcase.
He gently handed it to Qiu Zishu.
"The time and place are written on it, and you are welcome to come anytime. Even if you decide to come at the last minute, there is still plenty of time."
After returning home, Qiu Zishu stood in front of her desk and hesitated for a long time.
In the end, I carefully tucked the invitation into the very bottom of the drawer.
But not long after, she couldn't help but open the drawer, take out the invitation, and take a closer look.
Then, Qiu Zishu put it back.
The next day at noon, sunlight slanted into the canteen of the military compound.
The air was filled with the aroma of food.
Qiao Wanyin arrived early and sat by the window waiting for Qiu Zishu.
As soon as Qiu Zishu entered the door, she saw her friend's familiar figure.
He then quickly walked over.
Not long after sitting down, Qiu Zishu noticed that Qiao Wanyin's gaze was fixed on him.
The gaze wasn't sharp, but it carried a certain scrutiny and inquiry.
This made her inexplicably uneasy.
"What's wrong?"
Qiu Zishu smiled somewhat awkwardly and raised her hand to touch her cheek.
"Is there rice on my face? Or is my hair messy?"
Qiao Wanyin gently shook her head, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Have you been preoccupied lately? I feel like you're always distracted, and you don't speak as clearly as you used to."
"No."
Qiu Zishu denied it in a low voice, deliberately avoiding Qiao Wanyin's gaze.
Qiao Wanyin narrowed her eyes, her tone suddenly becoming meaningful.
"You wouldn't... be in a relationship, would you?"
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
Qiu Zishu suddenly raised his head, his voice rising abruptly, his face flushed red.
What alarmed her even more was that Lin Zhiming's image kept popping into her mind uncontrollably.
This reaction is quite unusual.
Qiao Wanyin immediately became alert.
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze intense.
"Wait, could it be... Lin Zhiming? Did he come to you?"
"no!"
Qiu Zishu hurriedly denied it, his fingers unconsciously gripping the chopsticks tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white.
But the more eagerly she tried to explain, the more guilty she seemed.
Qiao Wanyin put her chopsticks on the table, her expression becoming extremely serious.
“Zishu, listen to me, Lin Zhiming is unreliable. He may seem gentle and polite on the surface, but he’s a master of manipulation behind the scenes.”
She paused, a hint of pain and wariness flashing in her eyes.
"He was able to deceive my feelings back then, leaving me heartbroken when I trusted him the most. Now that he's suddenly appearing in your life, he's definitely up to no good! Don't be fooled by his pretense."
Qiu Zishu frowned, her tone tinged with displeasure.
“Sister Wanyin, aren’t you being too sensitive? People change. The current Mr. Lin is a legitimate businessman with a successful career. He even told me personally that he wants to contribute to the country’s military industry and is willing to contribute his technology and resources.”
"What?"
Qiao Wanyin's eyes widened suddenly, as if she had heard something absurd.
"He said that to you personally? Zishu, you're so naive! These words were carefully crafted by him to make you think he's reformed and has a noble heart! He's building his image and gaining your trust, especially from someone as soft-hearted and naive as you!"
Qiu Zishu was a little unhappy, her brows furrowed slightly, and her tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
"So you're saying I can't tell good from bad? Do you think my judgment of people is that bad?"
"I did not mean that……"
Qiao Wanyin hurriedly explained, a look of anxiety appearing on her face.
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