Chapter 192
When Nan Yan raised her head, their eyes met. Her face was very close to Zhong Ling's, so close that Zhong Ling could almost smell the fragrance of her hair and the breath coming out from the corners of her lips. He clearly felt her breathing pause for a moment, and then quickly returned to normal.
At this moment, the strange feeling in Zhong Ling's heart became stronger and stronger. He felt that his eyes were staring at Nan Yan's face uncontrollably.
At such a close distance, he could see that her fair and soft face was covered with a layer of light fine hair under the light, and her thick and curly eyelashes fluttered slightly. Her eyes were gentle and focused, yet revealed a hint of strangeness because of his sudden action.
Zhong Ling's breathing was slightly stagnant. He looked at her and suddenly asked in a low voice, "Why don't you ask me why I was scolded tonight?"
Hearing this, Nan Yan seemed to come back to her senses. Her face moved slightly away, but she still held the tiny cotton swab in her hand, gently touching his chin without letting it go.
Nan Yan took her hand back, gently rubbed some disinfectant, and then applied it on his chin, and then asked softly, "Is it because of your breakup with your ex-girlfriend?"
Her tone didn't change, it was as gentle and calm as usual, just like when the two first met.
Zhong Ling said "hmm" in a hoarse voice.
His eyes were still fixed on her face, and he added, "You are right, but not entirely."
Also, after the guests left, his mother asked him what he meant by bringing a strange girl back.
He said it was meaningless, they were just two people together, he could bring her back if he wanted to, and he and Xiaoxiao had already broken up.
His mother was so angry that she broke a cup and explained the facts clearly, saying that she had found out the girl's identity from his friends.
She was a princess from a high-end club. How could he bring a princess back to the Zhong family? His mother later scolded him, asking if he was crazy. Why did he become like this? Was he obsessed with sex and had chosen someone else? He actually got together with a princess with an unclear background. Would the Zhong family still have a foothold in Lingcheng in the future?
Zhong Ling frowned. How did he respond at that time?
He said, so what? This is his own business, and it is his choice. It has nothing to do with her. A person's background does not mean anything. Instead of disliking others' poor background, wasn't it the same situation when my mother was with my father?
His mother was so angry that she slapped him in the face and ordered him to break up with that woman as soon as possible. The Zhong family could not afford to lose face like this!
Zhong Ling said nothing after that and just turned and left. He thought to himself that things didn't have to be so complicated.
He only needed to say that he and Nan Yan had a superior-subordinate relationship based on a signed contract, and he just asked her to help out and put on a show.
If he told the truth, he wouldn't have to face these things, and he wouldn't have to argue with his family. But he didn't know why he didn't tell the truth? Maybe it was because he was rebellious at heart?
Thinking of this, Zhong Ling didn't know what he was thinking. He was silent for a moment, lowered his head and said, "I didn't tell anyone about the contract we signed."
After she finished saying this, Nan Yan obviously stopped wiping her hands. She raised her head subconsciously, and happened to meet Zhong Ling's gaze. The two of them looked at each other for a moment.
At this moment, there was clearly a subtle atmosphere brewing in the air.
Zhong Ling just stared at her. He only felt a faint tingling sensation where she was cleaning the wound with a cotton swab. He was clearly injured, but it itched deep into his bones. He didn't know if it was his illusion or if it was really like that.
At this moment, the itching was still spreading, from his chin to his throat, and then to his chest, feeling numb and tingling, and then extending completely into his heart.
Especially when he met Nan Yan's gentle and moist eyes, he felt the unusually soft emotion in his heart begin to surge out again.
Zhong Ling's throat slid involuntarily.
He didn't know if it was because of the wine he had just drunk, but the alcohol was slowly evaporating, causing his brain to suddenly feel tipsy and intoxicated. But at this moment, Nan Yan was right in front of him, looking at him, very close to him.
From his angle, he could clearly see that her hair was originally scattered softly on her shoulders, and then slowly slid to her chest as she moved. It was very long, with a little curl at the ends, and had never been stained with any other color.
In fact, a gentle, quiet and beautiful girl like her would have been the object of secret admiration and crush for many boys in their high school years.
If she had been in the same school as him in high school, he might have been attracted to her involuntarily... But that might not be right, because it was not only in high school, it is also the same now.
Beautiful and gentle people and things will always be attractive no matter where they are or when.
Zhong Ling couldn't take his eyes off her face. There was a hint of confusion and drunkenness in his eyes, but he really only drank that one sip of wine. His fingers moved and they rested on the sofa cushion beside her without her noticing.
His body leaned forward unconsciously, his lips moved, and he slowly moved closer, getting closer and closer.
He could faintly smell the soft breath from her lips, as well as a hint of lychee-flavored lipstick.
The distance between them was getting closer and closer, so close that their breathing blended together. Just a little bit more, his fingers gently touched the back of her hand, and his eyes unconsciously revealed a hint of lust. Just when he lowered his head, lips slightly parted, and was finally about to touch her, Nan Yan suddenly stepped back a little and turned around quickly.
This action also brought Zhong Ling back to his senses instantly.
His body stiffened for a moment, then he reacted. All those previous confused and intoxicated emotions disappeared at this moment, and he was now even more sober.
He could clearly sense her reluctance from the way she retreated, and from the hesitation and disbelief in her eyes at the last moment when he approached.
She might be shocked now, shocked at why he did such a crazy thing tonight.
But Nan Yan soon found a suitable excuse for his rash behavior tonight. She lowered her head and laughed twice in an unnatural way, "Is Mr. Zhong drunk tonight? He must be drunk to have mistaken me for someone else."
Her tone was calm, with a hint of caution and tentativeness.
Nan Yan is not a fool. If she can't tell that the other party has feelings for her from such obviously intimate actions, then she is completely blind. But seeing it doesn't mean she has to respond to him. What's more, in her eyes, this man has always liked her ex-girlfriend.
Nan Yan seemed a little nervous. She wanted to put the cotton swab in her hand on the coffee table, but it accidentally fell to the ground. She subconsciously lowered her head to pick it up to cover up the tense atmosphere.
Zhong Ling could clearly see the slightly stiff expression on her face. He knew that she was politely declining and was still trying to save some dignity for him.
Zhong Ling turned away in silence, with no expression on his face. He seemed calm and sober, and did not seem to have any emotional fluctuations because of this incident.
But only he himself knew that his heart was not calm at all at this moment. His heart was beating very fast in his chest, so fast that he subconsciously tightened his fingers and had to slow down his breathing. Then he pretended as if nothing had happened.
He seemed to understand at this moment what it meant for him to be absent-minded, depressed, and to have those unbearable emotions in his chest during this period.
But it was one thing that he knew it, and there was another, more important thing: she was clearly rejecting him. Or maybe it was more than that. Maybe at this moment in her heart, his actions tonight were no different from those of the hooligans, take advantage, and two-faced guests she had met in the club before.
Zhong Ling pursed his lips and his hands unconsciously tightened a little.
He turned his head and glanced at Nan Yan beside him. Perhaps he noticed that she was pretending to be calm, but her face was still stiff. After exhaling a breath of foul air, Zhong Ling said calmly, "Sorry, I may be really drunk tonight. You go upstairs and rest first, and I can handle the rest.
After he said this, Nan Yan seemed to be slightly relieved. She pursed her lips, smiled at the other party as if nothing had happened, then put down everything in her hands and prepared to get up and leave.
Zhong Ling glanced at her calmly.
Nan Yan didn't seem to notice. Just as she reached the stairs, she remembered something and turned to look at the man sitting quietly on the sofa. She reminded him, "Then pay attention to the wound on your face. It's best not to touch water tonight."
Zhong Ling didn't turn around to look at her, but just uttered a low "hmm". The expression on his face was still calm and gentle, and there seemed to be nothing unusual.
But after Nan Yan went upstairs and left completely, Zhong Ling clenched his fingers tightly, and the expression on his face suddenly became gloomy and embarrassed.
…
Afterwards, only after Zhong Ling had completely calmed down his emotions did he let out a long sigh.
He rubbed his brows and looked at the things on the table. He originally planned to go to the bathroom to take a shower to wake himself up, but when he reached the door, he suddenly remembered something, so he turned upstairs and took two pieces of clothes from his room, both of which were unopened.
然後走到另一邊敲響了南嫣卧室的房門，屋內的人并沒有第一時間開門，只是輕輕問了聲，“誰，有什麽事嗎？”
鐘嶺住的房子裏還有個三十多歲的打掃阿姨，平常做飯清理衛生的，不過并不在這邊住，屋裏實際上就他們倆，但南嫣還是故意問了聲。
門外的鐘嶺沉穩應道，“是我。”
他語氣沒什麽異樣，不過可能是今晚煩心的事情有些多，讓他嗓音不自覺的有些低啞，“你今晚來的突然，沒帶貼身衣服，房間裏也沒有女孩子穿的衣服，我拿了兩件自己的過來，都是幹淨的，你換洗用吧。”
聽到這話，鐘嶺又聽到屋內窸窣翻動了兩聲，很快就過來打開了一道門縫。
半張臉隐在朦胧的燈光中，鐘嶺看到她頭發還有些濕，有水滴順着發尾滴在了毛巾上，身上裹着寬大的毛巾，裹得嚴嚴實實。
看來是晚上發生的事情有的有點吓到她了，所以連換洗衣服都沒有的事情，也不敢主動跟他說。
鐘嶺将衣服遞過去，并沒有什麽多餘的舉動，不過在看到那濕漉漉的發尾時，還是忍不住提醒了一句，“晚上睡覺的時候記得把頭發吹幹一點，要不然濕的容易頭疼。”
“衣服是給你換洗用的，沒有女孩子的睡衣，找的是比較柔軟的襯衣，還有底褲，都只是洗過沒穿過，你可以放心穿。”
說完他揉了揉眉心，又補充了一句道，聲音緩和了不少，“很抱歉，我今晚酒喝的有點多，還有鐘家的事情有些心煩，差點對你犯了渾，不過現在已經清醒了，別介意好嗎？”
他說完甚至對她露出了一個溫和的笑，跟往常一樣，又恢複成了那個溫柔雅致的鐘家公子。
而南嫣看到他這副态度跟語氣，似乎心底的防線也跟着漸漸消失了，她擡頭朝着對方露出微笑，目光這才落到他的手上。
南嫣看到是一件柔軟的襯衣，底下還放了一件灰色的四角棉褲。
她這才伸手過來，鐘嶺看到那只伸過來雪白的手臂纖長柔軟，還沾着水珠，尤其是瑩白的燈光下，隐約可見那淡青色的血管。
南嫣輕呼了一口氣，又朝他輕笑了聲，目光柔軟，“真是謝謝了，我洗完澡後才發現沒有換洗衣服，也不好意思再出來找你要。”
鐘嶺搖了搖頭，說，“這沒什麽，也是我忘記了，晚上早點休息吧。”
南嫣點頭輕應了聲。
兩人都互相笑了笑，一副若無其事的樣子，似乎都在心照不宣的不去提剛才發生的事情，好像那樣就能當做沒發生過一樣，但不提也不意味着事情就此過去了。
南嫣收下了衣服，道了聲晚安之後，鐘嶺便也沒有多停留，他轉身就要離開。
南嫣看了一眼對方的身影，又稍微提醒了聲，“鐘嶺，你今晚也少喝些酒吧，記得早點休息，還有晚上的事情其實我也沒介意。”
她說完又朝他露出一個真誠而溫柔的笑意，發絲柔順的垂在腰際，他聽見她的聲音輕輕的，像是一片羽毛緩慢劃過鐘嶺的心髒，讓他的心跳有些輕顫發癢。
鐘嶺身形頓了下，他不知道自己是怎麽了，心中隐隐生出了一絲不甘，一種罕見的不甘情緒，慢慢從胸口擴散，卻又因為今晚發生的事情而不得不平複下來。
他轉過頭朝她輕笑了一聲，半張臉隐在燈光下，聲音淡淡的說了聲，“嗯，知道了，你也早點睡吧，晚安。”
鐘嶺說完便直接進了對面的卧室，房門關上，發出一聲清脆的聲響，南嫣也同樣把門關上，轉個身随意地往床上一躺。
南嫣将手裏的襯衣展開，唇角彎起，看來今晚發生的事情對他刺激還挺大，所以才讓鐘嶺一下子，隐約認識到了自己的心意。
不過算算時間，他那位前女友也該回來了吧，正好，讓他頭疼去吧，反正都到這一步了，她明天差不多也可以離開了。
所以第二天一大早，南嫣給對方留下一條消息後，直接就打車離開了，她找的借口也很合适，有朋友生病住院了，這幾天正在準備手術，所以她準備過去看望一下。
而等到鐘嶺醒來時，已經是早上九點多了，睜開眼的那一瞬間不由得有些頭疼，很久都沒這麽沒有規律地睡過頭了。
公司那邊也懶得去了。
他起身掀開被子，摸到櫃子上的手機，一打開就看到屏幕上置頂的消息：
嫣嫣說她自己打車離開了，去醫院看望朋友去了，廚房裏給他煮了點白粥，早上酒醒後可以喝點暖暖胃。
鐘嶺也不知道自己是什麽心情，只是面無表情的反複将那一行字看了幾遍，最終确定自己沒有看錯。
而那消息是早上七點多就發出的。
她沒有喊他，也沒有提前告知他一聲，甚至沒有想過敲開他的房門跟他說兩句客套的話，而是直接留下一條短信後，就這麽走了。
這很難讓他不去想這其中的原因。
但除了昨晚的事情，還能有什麽原因呢？
鐘嶺低頭凝視了一會兒，眼神平靜無波，沒有絲毫波瀾，只是那明亮幽藍的屏幕襯得目光有些深。
他忽然閉了閉眼，一貫平和克制的面容上湧出一股沉悶的情緒。
他将手機直接扔了出去，不知道為什麽，心底忽然有種不受掌控的煩躁情緒。
他不是這種控制不住脾氣的人，相反，他從小到大遇到任何事情，一直被要求要冷靜處理。
不管做什麽都要去想到最優解跟最直接的辦法去解決問題，可現在，他發現自己好像找不到一個解決問題的方法，也根本控制不住心底那股隐隐不甘又開始翻湧的情緒。
鐘嶺直接去了她昨晚的卧室前，看到房門緊閉着，他下意識地敲了敲門，心中隐約有一絲期許，或許對方還沒來得及走。
但他敲了半天，屋內也毫無動靜。
鐘嶺便直接推開了房門，諾大的房子裏早就是空蕩蕩的了，卧室裏根本什麽人都沒有，四周很安靜，窗簾被拉開了。
他走過去，看到那床鋪也被人細致地整理過，被子鋪的整整齊齊，像是根本沒有人睡過一樣。
鐘嶺忽然有些無力地坐到了那床鋪上，轉個頭目光不自覺地落到了櫃子上那一件雪白的襯衣上。
衣服明顯有些皺了，但還是疊得整整齊齊的放在那裏。
他伸手将衣服拿了起來，身體直接往後靠在了枕頭上，目光一寸一寸地掃過這件衣服，隐約聞到那上面殘留的淺淡香氣。
他覺得自己現在的行為有些令人厭惡，但還是忍不住去想，她穿他衣服時的模樣，她的腰身那麽細，他一只手就可以掌控。
于是腦子裏不受控制的浮現出那些旖旎的畫面，是昏暗的燈光下，她穿着他衣服一步一步朝他走過來時的場景，某種念頭越來越深，他抓着那衣服的力道也越來越緊，一股突兀的熱氣自身體裏升起，有種無止境的癢意從腰間往下，并迅速蔓延到周身，察覺到身體上那股很久都未出現過的變化。
鐘嶺身體繃緊，喉嚨裏發出一聲輕微的哼聲，表情忽然變得有些不堪，那張如玉似的臉龐好像充了血似的湧上一股潮紅。
他覺得這樣的自己好像失去了最後的底線跟廉恥，是那種來自心底深處的自我厭棄似的某種難堪和掙紮。
道德上的束縛跟情緒上的失控讓他覺得自己現在的反應令人作嘔，有種厭惡至極的心理，那種反應越是明顯炙熱，那種自我厭惡的心理就越來越嚴重。
她對他分明半點心思都沒有，可他現在卻像個發/情的獸類一樣，連對着一件衣裳都能這樣。
不能再繼續想了……
鐘嶺克制着，用力攥緊了衣服，只等身體裏那股異樣消退下去，可是這次不同，不去動手根本消退不了。
不想着她，也根本出不來。
……
一直到最後，從浴室清洗幹淨的鐘嶺徹底失去了去公司的想法了。
他覺得今天的自己需要休息，穿着睡衣靠在沙發上，腦袋陷進柔軟的沙發墊裏。
白玉似的耳垂還是有些紅暈，連帶着眼尾都泛起了一絲豔靡的紅意。
鐘嶺閉着眼睛，揉着眉心，又摸出手機看了一眼時間，已經十點多了，他給南嫣發了一條消息：
「好，最近我也有些事情要忙，暫時不用你跟着我了，放你一段時間的假吧。」
對面很快就傳來了一條消息。
感受到手心的震動，鐘嶺下意識地按開屏幕，上頭卻只有短短的幾個字，很敷衍。
「好的，謝謝鐘先生。」
這幾個字就像是一盆冷水，從頭澆下，瞬間将他心底的某種隐秘的期待澆滅得徹底。
他也不知道自己在期待什麽，可看着這敷衍的消息，心中那股郁悶實在難消。
鐘嶺吐出一口悶氣，覺得自己胸口更不舒服了，眉心微蹙着，有種不知道該怎麽辦才好的迷茫感？
He had that kind of thought about her, the kind of thought a man has about a woman, but she didn't want to agree, so he could only stay away from her so that he could be more sober and avoid doing something like he did last night that would scare people.
Zhong Ling felt a headache whenever he thought about these things. After a while, he heard another vibration from his mobile phone. Perhaps he had been hit for a long time, so he didn't expect anything. But when he saw the message of care and condolences displayed on it, he couldn't help but feel a little happy.
"Mr. Zhong, is your headache better?"
"I left in a hurry this morning so I didn't bother you. I cooked some porridge for you in the kitchen. Remember to drink some when you get up later. Also, be careful with the cuts on your face. It's best not to touch water when washing your face."
Zhong Ling read this long paragraph, and for some reason, he suddenly felt a sense of relief and satisfaction in his heart.
"Okay, that's it. Thank you. Also, if your friend's medical expenses are insufficient, you can continue to borrow from me."
Zhong Ling knew that the friend she shared the apartment with was sick and hospitalized, and she asked him to borrow money that day because of this. Fortunately, they became connected because of this.
He considered it over for several times in the dialogue box before changing the original word "want" to "borrow".
This time the other party responded quickly, saying that it was not necessary and that there was still a lot of money left, and then thanked me again.
Zhong Ling turned off the screen of his mobile phone and did not reply this time. He turned around and went downstairs. He saw the white porridge that had been kept warm in the kitchen, as well as some common side dishes. Zhong Ling, who originally had no appetite for food, could not help but walk over.
…
On the other side, Nan Yan did go to the hospital. She brought some bone soup, fruits, and some light food to Sister Zhou.
After arriving at the hospital, I saw that Sister Zhou seemed to be in good spirits. At least she did not look as listless as the other patients.
She was beautiful when she was young, and she had a very outgoing and cheerful personality. Although she is not as young as she used to be, her foundation is still there. Even when she was hospitalized, she kept herself clean. She was in the same ward with a six-year-old boy, and they could chat from time to time.
At this time, Sister Zhou had already known the male nurse. The man was also an honest man and was under Sister Zhou's control. He often ran around to buy food for her.
After Nan Yan came, Sister Zhou was obviously in a better mood. She held her hand and asked her all sorts of questions. She refused to let go after chatting for a long time. Perhaps it was because her family was not around and she had been working hard in a foreign place for so many years that she always cared more about the care of people around her. In addition, with the 300,000 life-saving money that Nan Yan lent her, she now really treated her as her own sister.
It was not until the nurse came to do routine checks and record keeping that Sister Zhou reluctantly let go of her hand. She then reminded her to protect herself and not to have a relationship with Boss Zhong.
Nan Yan naturally agreed with a smile. After making sure that Sister Zhou was fine, she left alone.
However, when she arrived at the outpatient lobby on the first floor, she happened to meet a very familiar figure.
The elevator door opened with a ding, and Nan Yan followed the crowd out. After taking just two steps forward, she saw the young man standing opposite her.
There's no way, he's too eye-catching, tall and slender, with fair skin, and looks completely different from Zhong Ling. Wherever he stands, he exudes an aura that keeps people at a distance.
The two people's eyes met, and there was a moment of awkwardness in the air. Nan Yan naturally saw that he had a number sheet in his hand, and her eyes subconsciously shifted down a few inches to below his waist, and her eyes became subtle.
He Mian didn't smoke today because smoking is not allowed in the hospital. He suddenly felt an itch in his hands, especially when he noticed that the look in the woman opposite him had become subtle. The originally noble and cold expression on his face stiffened for a moment.
He held the order number tightly and was about to explain.
As a result, Nan Yan, who was standing opposite him, lowered her head, turned around and passed by where he was standing, and quickly said, "He, Mr. He, you are busy. I really didn't see anything this time. I didn't follow you on purpose. I just have a friend who is sick and happens to live in this hospital. I really didn't know you were also receiving treatment here. Sorry, I'm leaving now."
He Mian: “…”
How could she really mean walking? It was as if there was a ghost chasing her. She turned around, went around He Mian, and started running forward. How could He Mian tolerate this?
Damn! He knew that the little girl must have had some bad ideas.
But he came to the hospital this time just to see a doctor. What did she think he was doing here?
If she hadn't run away, He Mian wouldn't have had any extra thoughts, but now that she's running away, doesn't it mean that she has wrong ideas? She still refuses to admit it. How could she dare not admit it when she met him in the hospital? Is he a monster?
So when she ran away, He Mian gritted his teeth in anger and chased after her. His little bit of male self-esteem was almost completely destroyed by this stinky girl.
As he started chasing her, Nan Yan ran even faster. The two of them ran around the small staircase on the second floor outside. Finally, Nan Yan couldn't run any further, so He Mian stretched out his long legs, rushed up and grabbed her, then dragged her to a secret corridor at the corner of the hospital.
"Why are you running?!"
Nan Yan ran out of breath, but she couldn't help but resist, "I told you that I wouldn't tell anyone about what happened to you in the hospital today. I also kept the secret I heard in the bathroom very strictly and didn't tell anyone. Why are you still holding on to me?"
He Mian got even angrier after hearing this, and his face turned red. Of course, he ran out. His calm demeanor in the lobby disappeared in an instant. "You little bitch, dare you say something nonsense again? Do you want to see clearly? I'm seeing a surgeon this time! The dermatology department! It's your bite wound that got slightly inflamed last time. Why are you running away?"
He was probably furious, and he still shouted at her, and it was obvious that he attached great importance to maintaining his fatal male self-esteem.
Nan Yan also got angry when she heard the shout. Maybe she ran too fast and her throat hurt a little. "If you don't chase me, how can I run? Who wants to know what department you are in?"
"What does this have to do with me? I don't want to know about all the bad things that are wrong with your body."
He Mian was trying to protect his little bit of male self-esteem. If it weren't for her weird tone, would he have chased after her so recklessly?
However, after hearing her words, He Mian's eyes still flashed with annoyance, his face turned blue with anger, and he grabbed Nan Yan's shoulders, "Try to say something nonsense again, what kind of messed up problems do I have?"
How could he not mind at all when people pointed out his flaws so frequently? He is not dead, and a normal person would mind, right? Moreover, he has a very bad temper!