Chapter 93
Li Xing'en smiled outside the kitchen, but her eyes were fixed on Jiang Chen, who was leaning against Jin Chuwan.
For a moment, Jin Chuwan thought of those wives who would gather crowds to arrest people in certain situations.
After thinking it over, she couldn't help but show a helpless expression.
What are you thinking about?
Jiang Chen, who was being stared at, didn't seem to want to explain anything. He wore a detached smile, his dark eyes sweeping lightly over Li Xing'en. He probably didn't intend to show any confrontational attitude, but his natural arrogance made him look like a victor in some competition.
It's like a third party who catches someone but acts like the victor.
As Jin Chuwan thought about it, she suddenly felt her head itch even more.
What on earth is she bringing into this...?
--
The rain was still falling outside, its torrential downpour washing over everything in the world, but it couldn't wash away the scorching smell in the air.
Jin Chuwan looked at the two people staring at each other, and after thinking for a moment, decided to come out of the kitchen first.
She seems to have gotten used to this less-than-pleasant way of getting along. In short, give them some time, and they will adjust on their own.
During this time, she just needs to pretend she doesn't exist.
Back in the living room, Jin Chuwan casually turned on the TV. As the noisy commercials began, the previously quiet and heavy atmosphere seemed to be suddenly broken. Jiang Chen and Li Xing'en turned to look at Jin Chuwan, who was ignoring them, and both showed puzzled expressions.
Li Xingen and Jiang Chen exchanged glances. He walked over to talk to Jin Chuwan, but was completely ignored.
Jin Chuwan carried the packed documents to the bedroom, and a crisp sound of the door closing immediately made Li Xing'en freeze in place.
This obvious neglect left him momentarily at a loss. He stood there, stunned, completely devoid of the accusatory air he had displayed just moments before.
"Oh--"
Jiang Chen's light laughter came at just the right moment.
Hearing that provocative laugh, Li Xing'en frowned and turned around.
Jiang Chen leaned against the door with his arms crossed, adopting a spectator's posture.
"I told you a long time ago that being clingy is bad, but it seems you still haven't learned your lesson."
The tall young man smiled, then straightened up and slowly walked to Li Xing'en's side. Strands of hair fell slowly down his forehead, obscuring the expression between his brows.
"Also, let me reiterate, if you can't keep our previous agreement, then I might do something you don't like."
Their eyes met; one had a cold expression, the other a lazy smile.
Jin Chuwan had just finished tidying up her desk when she opened the door and saw two people who seemed to be chatting with their heads down.
She thought they had stopped their standoff, so she hesitated before speaking.
"that……"
Jin Chuwan looked at the boy in front of her. Just now she was thinking of asking them to leave as soon as possible, but now she felt that there were some things that should be made clear in advance.
Upon hearing her voice, the two people in front of her looked up almost simultaneously. Jin Chuwan looked at Li Xing'en, her light gray eyes seeming to hold a certain urgency.
However, Jin Chuwan's gaze only lingered on him for a moment before shifting to Jiang Chen.
"I'd like to talk to you again about what you just said."
The lighting in this old apartment building was already dim, and today's gloomy weather made the low, cold light streaming from the ceiling seem even less effective.
But this did not prevent Jin Chuwan from seeing the two people in front of her clearly.
Li Xing'en froze, while Jiang Chen nodded happily.
The sudden change in their expressions made Jin Chuwan absurdly think that she had said something intimate, such as "Let's be together" or "Let's kiss again," instead of "Let's talk some more."
She shook her head, then opened the door and went out first.
Raindrops pattered in through the open corridor, and across from the building was a wall covered with creeping vines, layer upon layer, making it impossible to discern their pattern.
A moment later, Jiang Chen also came out, and the two walked one after the other in the corridor until Jin Chuwan stopped.
It was already the end of October, and the wind blowing now was no longer cool but rather somewhat cold.
Jiang Chen took off his coat and draped it over Jin Chuwan. She was slightly taken aback, but did not refuse. She simply looked up at Jiang Chen while he was putting on the coat.
What did you mean by what you just said?
Jiang Chen lowered his head, and his eyes, which always seemed to reveal no emotion, appeared even darker now.
"It means exactly what it says."
As he spoke, he raised his hand and brushed a strand of hair that was hanging by her ear.
“I know I’ve known Li Xing’en for a long time, and he’s always been very good to you, so it’s normal that you have feelings for him. But I still hope you can know that, in my opinion, he is a very controlling person and also very vengeful.”
"Of course you don't have to believe me, after all, I can't just lay out all sorts of evidence in front of you like a policeman arresting a criminal."
"But if you want to leave and be free, you'd better not tell him anything."
Jin Chuwan listened, but her gaze was fixed on the windows of the building across the street. These old buildings had a strong sense of everyday life, with dim yellow lights shining on almost every floor.
She listened to the old man coughing and the children making noise downstairs, looked up at Jiang Chen, and then looked down again.
No one understood better than her that this was a world of online novels, so when Jiang Chen said that Li Xing'en was the kind of person who was all bark and no bite, she quickly accepted it.
But after accepting it, she felt that maybe it wasn't right, since the rainy day and everything around her seemed no different from the real world.
Thus, Jin Chuwan began to fall into a cycle of affirmation and denial. On the one hand, she felt that the story was already set, but on the other hand, she did not want to believe that this was a love script for the purpose of performing a drama.
Jin Chuwan's expression was complicated, and Jiang Chen, thinking she was sad, tried to comfort her.
"I know you probably find it hard to believe..."
Just as Jiang Chen was about to continue his persuasion, Jin Chuwan suddenly interrupted him.
"You don't know," she said calmly.
Looking into her eyes, Jiang Chen suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
He frowned but didn't say anything more. However, Jin Chuwan seemed to realize that her answer was a bit impulsive. She relaxed her expression somewhat awkwardly, then looked up and smiled.
"Never mind, it's alright, I know what you mean."
But fearing Jiang Chen wouldn't believe her, Jin Chuwan decisively repeated herself.
"Yes, I understand."
The wind carried Jin Chuwan's voice to Jiang Chen's ears. He remained silent, his gaze somewhat deep.
But Jiang Chen didn't say anything. He just nodded and said, "It's good that you understand."
Their conversation didn't last long, and Jiang Chen spent the rest of the time waiting for Jin Chuwan to give him a definite answer. He wasn't one to make promises, but he still insisted that no matter what she chose, he would find a way to help her.
Believe it or not, he will help her stop Li Xing'en and prevent him from disturbing her life.
But Kim Cho-wan ultimately said nothing.
She simply said she understood and thanked him for reminding her, adding that she would handle things herself in the future.
This answer made Jiang Chen a little anxious. He had been kept busy abroad for a long time by Li Xing'en, which even caused him to miss some of his studies.
But now Kim Cho-man says he doesn't have to do with her.
But she simply couldn't handle someone like Li Xing'en.
He only needs to pretend to be pitiful and she will soften; he only needs to shamelessly pester her and she will definitely hesitate and struggle before deciding how to refuse.
How should she deal with this?
Jiang Chen's originally calm expression began to turn anxious. He thought he understood her and knew her, but sometimes it seemed that wasn't the case.
Didn't you say you didn't like it?
He is now following her will, but she is not giving him the answer he wants.
If everyone is really going to refuse, then it should be fair.
Isn't she showing favoritism towards Li Xing'en?
The wind picked up, and raindrops began to fall on their shoulders.
Jiang Chen pursed his lips and stared intently at Jin Chuwan until the urgent ringing of the phone suddenly rang.
Jin Chuwan heard that something urgent had happened, so she took off her coat and looked up at him, her light-colored eyes carrying a faint smile.
"You go ahead and do your work, don't worry about me."
This time, Jiang Chen listened to the phone call calmly. He took the coat but put it on Jin Chuwan again.
"Rest well at home. No matter what happens, you can call me anytime. Don't feel like you're bothering me, and don't always think you can handle it yourself..."
Jin Chuwan listened to his constant instructions, nodding, but only gave Jiang Chen an ambiguous answer.
"I see."
I know, but I might not listen.
Jiang Chen sighed.
Before he left, he glanced at the open door not far away.
The person eavesdropping over there was clearly not very professional; a piece of their clothing was sticking out.
Jin Chuwan also noticed that area. She tilted her head and glanced at it before watching Jiang Chen go downstairs.
The rain continued to fall as finely and persistently as it had come. After seeing Jiang Chen off, Jin Chuwan did not rush back. She kept looking downstairs until the driver brought Jiang Chen back to the car with an umbrella.
The luxury car, its lights flashing, drove away from the neighborhood that seemed so out of place.
Kim Cho-wan's gaze made her seem reluctant to part, but that wasn't the case; she was just thinking about something else.
But others think differently.
Li Xing'en, who had walked over, lowered her eyes and followed her gaze in the direction the car had left.
His disgruntled gaze shifted from the distance to his side.
"You like him?"
Coming to her senses, Jin Chuwan turned to look at Li Xing'en. The boy's face no longer held the gentle smile he usually had. At this moment, he looked like a homeless puppy in the rain, his beautiful eyes fixed on her as if he were accusing her.
Kim Cho-wan didn't say anything, but simply took Lee Sung-eun's hand and walked home.
"...Do you like him?"
Her silence seemed to make Li Xing'en even more uneasy. Even though he obediently followed behind her, he still kept asking questions relentlessly.
Jin Chuwan led the person to sit down on the sofa. Feeling a little thirsty, she went to the kitchen to pour a glass of water. During this time, Li Xingen followed her around like a ghost.
He seemed genuinely uneasy.
"I heard it. Jiang Chen was talking badly about me outside..."
As Li Xing'en spoke, his gaze was fixed on Jin Chuwan. He was unsure how much Jiang Chen's words would affect her, and he hadn't heard them very clearly, only vaguely catching the gist of it: he was the one who was bad and she should leave him.
Thinking this way, Li Xing'en began to lose her composure.
"He just likes you, he covets you, and he's trying to kick me out of the picture. We grew up together, you don't really believe he doesn't believe me, do you?"
Jin Chuwan still didn't answer. She put the water glass on the table. She wanted to ask Li Xingen if he was thirsty, but when she looked up, she saw that his eyes were red and he looked like he had suffered a great injustice.
“Xing En…”
Jin Chuwan looked at him thoughtfully.
"Why are you always so hostile towards Jiang Chen? Actually, there's nothing between us, nothing before, and nothing now."
But her words had no effect on calming her down.
"Just because it's nothing now doesn't mean it won't be something in the future!" the boy said through gritted teeth.
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