His handsome, mature face was calm, and even his eyes were deep and reserved.
He stared at me, pondered for a moment, and asked in a low voice, "Can you tell me why you've been deliberately distancing yourself from me these past few days?"
I was startled, my gaze freezing.
He had noticed it again.
Indeed, with his keen insight and intelligence, how could he not sense it?
He pressed further, "Is it because you didn't make it to the second trial and wanted to avoid suspicion, or did someone say something to you?"
I was even more stunned.
He's so smart!
I can tell you what someone said to me.
I became increasingly conflicted and torn. I thought about what my aunt and grandmother had said, and about the recent rumors about me in my social circle. My mind was in a state of turmoil.
“Su Shenglin, you’re right, I’m a coward… I’ve thought about it seriously. The gap between us is too big. Even if you don’t care, and your family doesn’t care, once our relationship is confirmed and made public, there will be a lot of rumors and gossip, which will be very detrimental to you and your family.”
Su Shenglin frowned and walked towards me.
A faint sense of oppression suddenly washed over me.
But my legs couldn't move, so my mind was retreating while my feet remained stuck in place.
He stopped two steps away from me, his handsome brows furrowed with deep confusion and bewilderment: "Why does my love life need the approval of the public?"
"It's not that I need external recognition, but at least I can't tarnish your reputation and make you a laughing stock in the industry, otherwise I'll feel...very upset." I tried to explain, but couldn't find the right words to describe it.
I think if I didn't like him that much, I wouldn't have thought about it so much.
At this moment, I finally understand the saying: Liking is possession, love is restraint.
In just a few months, my feelings for Su Shenglin surpassed those I had for Gu Yanqing over six or seven years.
I'm so anxious and insecure because I've fallen in love with him.
I don't know whether to say that I fell in love with someone else too quickly, or that Su Shenglin was just too charming.
"You're so outstanding, how could you smear my reputation?" He raised his hand and pinched my cheek, smiling indulgently. "Jiang Wan, being a little selfish will make you happier."
I looked up at him, and the fortress in my heart continued to crumble.
"It's getting late, you should wash up and go to bed. I'll come see you again tomorrow." After pinching my cheek, he tightened his grip on my shoulder and whispered his instructions.
I nodded. "Okay, then you should go back now."
I watched him turn and leave, and only after closing the door did I let out a long sigh of relief and sit down at the nearest dining table.
My legs still hurt, but because they've been hurting all day, they've become a little numb, and the pain is much less intense than during the day.
It was cold, and I was too lazy to take a shower. I quickly washed up, struggled to get onto the bed, lifted my legs onto the bed, slowly straightened them, and lay down upright.
————
The next morning, I woke up to find unread messages on WeChat.
Su Shenglin texted me at seven o'clock, asking what I wanted for breakfast.
Although I enjoy this care, I also feel that the more I trouble him, the more I owe him, and the more I will never be able to repay him in the future.
So I replied: "Li Yunwei is coming today, you go ahead and do your own thing."
After sending the message, I felt uneasy again.
I'm worried that what I said might upset him again, making him think I'm distancing myself from him...
My phone suddenly rang; it was him calling.
I hesitated for two seconds before answering: "Hello..."
"Are you sure you told your friend that your friend would take care of you?"
"Yes, I already told her last night." Actually, I hadn't had a chance to say it yet, but only by "lying" like this could he put his worries at ease.
"Okay, then I'll go to the company first and pick you up after I finish work. You still have treatment today."
I was startled, only then remembering that I was supposed to go to the hospital for traditional Chinese medicine physiotherapy today.
"Um... I feel much better today, can I skip it?" I'm really afraid of acupuncture, and just thinking about it makes my heart race.
"No, if your injury isn't completely healed, it will leave a lingering problem later," he firmly refused.
"..."
"I'll come pick you up around ten o'clock."
"Okay... then you go ahead and get busy."
After hanging up the phone, I thought about the acupuncture I still needed to do, so I hugged my pillow and wailed, feeling like crying but having no tears left.
Feeling down, I still told Li Yunwei about my terrible, unlucky situation.
Upon learning this, Li Yunwei rushed to her home immediately.
Seeing how hard I fell, she looked at me with concern and said, "You've had the worst luck this year. You should go to a temple to pray sometime and try to change your luck."
I asked curiously, "Is it useful?"
"Oh, sincerity is key."
I just laughed it off.
I believe more in the fact that destiny is in our own hands.
Li Yunwei had breakfast with me. When she learned that Su Shenglin would be picking me up to go to the hospital for treatment, she couldn't help but tease and gossip with me.
At 10:30 a.m., Su Shenglin appeared on time as expected.
Li Yunwei was too bold. As soon as Su Shenglin entered the room, she went straight to the point and asked, "Mr. Su, when did you take a liking to Jiang Wan?"
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