Chapter 10: The sleeve stud was ultimately a sign of his concern for his younger sister.
Lan Jia saw that his expression was bleak, but his eyes were red, like a trapped beast struggling to survive, his body weak and listless, but his spirit was still clinging to life, waiting for an opportunity to fight back.
She was both shocked and frightened. When did Meng Cenjun's words have such an effect? It was almost like bewitching someone.
Seeing his miserable state, Lan Jia couldn't help but recall her childhood memories with Qiao Zimu.
When they first met, he was a handsome, delicate little boy, quiet and frail, who always entertained himself in a corner. She had secretly observed him for a long time. At an age when he should be expressing his true nature, he had no friends at all. Suddenly, she felt a surge of sympathy for him and began to strike up conversations with him, intentionally or unintentionally.
But she soon discovered that this man was not a weakling, but a rock hard, ignoring her completely. Her attempts to save him failed miserably, but Lan Jia persisted, becoming more determined with each setback, and finally managed to pry open a corner of his heart.
Although she later learned that Qiao Zimu simply didn't want to talk to anyone, she was deeply influenced by fairy tales at the time and always fantasized that she was a knight traveling the world, and that somewhere, at some time, there must be a princess cursed in a tower waiting for her to rescue her.
Having finally found a real-life counterpart, how could she let it go so easily? Even with slight differences, as long as she adds a filter, embellishes the story, and makes it seem plausible, how could it not be a good show?
As they grew up, their personalities changed a lot, but in Lan Jia's heart, the image of the weak Qiao Zimu she had created was still too deeply ingrained. Even though she knew he was no longer the little boy who was shorter than her, Lan Jia still felt a pang of pity for him.
Just like now, whenever she sees his delicate and frail face, she can't help but feel an overwhelming urge to protect him.
Meng Cenjun stood there waiting for a long time.
Lan Jia looked back at him and asked him to give her time.
He disagreed, his brows furrowed, his expression a cold urging.
Lan Jia clenched her fingers, steeling herself and remaining motionless.
Meng Cenjun stared at her for a while, unsure of what to feel, then turned and left.
Qiao Zimu then came to his senses, still seemingly shaken.
"Xiao Qiao, what did my brother say to you?"
What did I say? I simply trampled his self-esteem underfoot and crushed it into the dust.
With a condescending attitude and an unquestionable tone: "I don't think you and Lan Jia are a good match."
Everything was over, completely finished. He was certain he had submitted a zero-point answer sheet, because Meng Cenjun had not given him a chance to answer at all, and had dictatorially sentenced him to death.
He looked at Lan Jia's worried expression, as if he were the only person left in her world. It was so tender, so tender, the kind of tenderness he had always longed for, something he would gladly die for, even if only for a fleeting moment. He looked at her, and a burning pain, like molten lava, washed over him, almost bringing tears to his eyes. He began to regret, deeply regretful, why he had been so impetuous, so unable to restrain himself? If he had been a little calmer, a little more cautious, perhaps his true thoughts wouldn't have been seen through?
No, it's still impossible... It's as if the moment he stands before Meng Cenjun, it's like being shone by a 100,000-volt searchlight, illuminating his desires and exposing his evil thoughts. He can't hide, he can't escape.
He has now completely offended Meng Cenjun.
Is there no possibility left for him and Lan Jia?
He was unwilling to accept it, he was unwilling to accept it...
"Xiao Qiao, Xiao Qiao?" Seeing that he was stunned again, Lan Jia patted his face hard.
Qiao Zimu took her hand and lowered his eyes, which were filled with tears of grievance.
"It's okay, Lan Jia, I'm fine."
Upon hearing this, Lan Jia knew he was putting on a brave face, and her anger flared up immediately: "Tell me, did my brother cause you trouble?"
Qiao Zimu remained silent.
Seeing this, Lan Jia already knew what was going on and immediately turned to leave, saying, "I'll go ask my brother."
Lan Jia gritted her teeth, "He shouldn't have treated you like that. I need to know why!"
Really? She's really willing to confront Meng Cenjun for him? She actually is! Qiao Zimu's disbelief turned to ecstatic joy, his eyes shining like alien stars.
At this moment, Lan Jia is his lifeline. He needs her soft heart and begs for her mercy. This is the only opportunity he can seize.
Then he looked even more pitiful, holding her hand against his cheek, like a stray dog begging for mercy: "Lan Jia, don't ask him. Let's not talk about this anymore, okay?"
"No matter what your brother says, it won't change our relationship. You said we'd always be good friends, right?"
"Lan Jia, I will never leave your side."
Seeing this, she had no choice but to give up and let Qiao Zimu hold her hand as a small compensation and comfort.
Lan Jia guessed that Meng Cenjun must have guessed that Qiao Zimu was secretly trying to persuade her to leave, and that's why he came to warn her. In that case, all those previous unusual behaviors were just sugar-coated bullets used to deceive and coax her. He wanted her to always be obedient and to live under his control forever.
She felt a deep sense of disappointment. In his eyes, what was she? Family? Sister? A responsibility she had to shoulder? Or just a prop in his role as a parent? A heartless puppet?
No one could guess what Meng Cenjun was thinking.
Her heart, which she had painstakingly mended, cracked again.
Lan Jia spent the entire afternoon with Qiao Zimu, playing games, watching movies, and exploring every corner of the hotel, as if they had returned to their childhood days when they could talk about anything.
During this time, Meng Cenjun neither urged her nor disturbed her, nor even contacted her once. Was he disappointed? Angry? Or was he thinking of other ways to deal with them? Suddenly, she was no longer afraid or indifferent, because she was angry with him too.
Lan Jia thought that she had never truly possessed anything for long, whether it was her long-deceased parents, a cat, a playmate, or her freedom, which was as narrow as a sardine can.
She has so little.
Now, all she wants is to protect her fragile friendship.
The two stayed together until dark, and Qiao Zimu invited her to stay for dinner, which she accepted without hesitation. Meng Cenjun still didn't contact her.
A suffocating feeling began to rise in her heart; a storm was brewing. Looking out at the dark sky, she couldn't help but laugh at herself—it hadn't been that long.
After dinner, Qiao Zimu asked her to stay, but she suddenly felt tired. She forced a smile and drifted back to her room like a ghost.
She opened the familiar chat window, but still, there was no message. Lan Jia angrily turned off the screen.
The same hotel, the same floor, separated by only a wall, yet like the Chu-Han border, so close yet worlds apart.
She grew increasingly angry and disappointed.
Lan Jia thought that they were like two Sirius stars in a binary system. Even though Meng Cenjun was not by her side, his gravity was always pulling her in, irresistible and unstoppable.
That's not fair at all.
The room was silent, the clock ticking rapidly. Lan Jia, with one arm raised, struggled to take a shower, and in the rising steam, she unconsciously sighed again.
She held back her tears, trying not to cry out, but they gradually fell like raindrops. Unable to stand, she hunched over, leaning against the table, her palm stinging from a cold, sharp pebble.
Rubbing his tired eyes, he looked closely and realized that what he held in his palm wasn't a pebble, but a sapphire stud, as blue as the deep sea. It had been hidden on the large blue jade marble countertop, unnoticed by anyone.
Lan Jia recognized it; it was Meng Cenjun's cufflink.
There was a sudden knock on the door.
Lan Jia felt a chill run down her spine, her heart pounding. She hurriedly put on her clothes, stumbled to the door, touched the handle, hesitated, hastily wiped away the tears on her face, took a few deep breaths, and then opened the door.
Upon seeing who it was, it was a false alarm.
"Young Miss." Zhou Qin smiled gently. "The master left something behind and asked me to retrieve it."
Lan Jia held out her palm to him: "This?"
Zhou Qin nodded.
Why go to all this trouble? Don't you want to see her that much?
A shadow fell over Lan Jia's face.
"Give it back to him!" she said angrily, shoving the item into Zhou Qin's hand.
Zhou Qin sighed inwardly, thinking that there were probably no two people in the world more awkward than them. If no one mediated, who knew how long they would keep sulking.
Helpless, I had no choice but to try to mediate.
So he handed the cufflink back to Lan Jia and earnestly advised, "Miss, I think the master would prefer you to give it to him personally."
Lan Jia scoffed, "Then why doesn't he come himself?"
He always acts superior and bosses people around like crazy. He's really annoying!
Zhou Qin smiled, a mysterious smile: "Miss, wouldn't it be better to have the initiative in your own hands?"
Lan Jia gripped the nail in her hand, lost in thought.
A moment later, there was a knock on Meng Cenjun's door.
A hand with distinct knuckles gripped the doorknob, paused, and then opened it.
It was still Zhou Qin's handsome and familiar face.
Meng Cenjun raised her eyelids somewhat wearily and looked at him.
Zhou Qin shook his head solemnly. He brought no good news. But he keenly caught the fleeting disappointment in Meng Cenjun's eyes.
"How is she?"
"Not good, I'm feeling wronged," Zhou Qin said truthfully.
Meng Cenjun lowered her brows, her expression melancholy.
Zhou Qin thought to himself: In the end, he still feels sorry for his younger sister.
Having calculated the situation, he spoke up again: "The young lady instructed me that something was left in your bedroom this morning, and asked me to retrieve it for her."
"What is that?"
"It's supposed to be a phone charm, a gift from a good friend."
What kind of good friend is he? Why are you still holding a grudge against him?
Meng Cenjun looked slightly displeased, but still turned around and went inside to look for it.
Watching his figure disappear into the distance, Zhou Qin's lips curled slightly, and he turned to the blind spot in his line of sight and said:
"Young Miss, you can come out now."
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