The train compartment was very quiet, almost eerily so. Xia Yan hung up the phone, pondered for a moment, then slightly raised her eyes to glance at Lu Zhengting, who had been acting as if nothing was amiss. She spoke casually, "Xia Minghui found out about the burglary at my apartment and is very worried about my safety."
"Hmm?"
"He hopes I can move back home."
"And what did you say?"
"Didn't you hear what I said? I said I'm staying at a friend's place." Xia Yan said flatly, her gaze fixed on Lu Zhengting's expression. Seeing nothing unusual, she frowned and turned her head to look out the window at the scenery.
The night view of Jiangcheng was dazzling with neon lights, the brilliant glow illuminating the dark sky. A crescent moon hung gracefully in the sky, surrounded by stars that flickered and dimmed in turn. The trees lining the road, with autumn's arrival, had leaves that were once lush but now yellowed, unable to withstand the wind, as if a light touch would send them falling.
The car wasn't moving fast, giving Xia Yan ample time to take in the view outside. This route happened to pass through the commercial center. Amid the lively crowds, she saw smiles on people's faces, and her heavy mood seemed to ease slightly. Just moments ago, she had suddenly realized that she didn't know Lu Zhengting at all. She knew he was investigating something from over a decade ago, but she didn't know what it was or why it was connected to her biological father's death. She also didn't know if Lu Zhengting had any plans or next steps in place. She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.
Lu Zhengting glanced at Xia Yan and said calmly, "Xia Yan, trust me."
Hearing this, Xia Yan furrowed her brows. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Xiao Han's puzzled look. She neither nodded nor shook her head, letting the topic drop.
Back at Dongshan Villa, Chen Ma had prepared the ingredients in advance, knowing their arrival time. They had barely stepped inside when dinner was ready.
Xiao Han had been overly energetic during the day, bouncing around like a monkey, but now he was listless. After dinner, Xia Yan told him a fairy tale as usual, earning her usual playful critique from Xiao Han.
Once Xiao Han was asleep, Xia Yan felt a bit sore in her lower back. Rubbing her waist, she left his room. She returned to her own room and thought for a long time before finally deciding to go see Lu Zhengting. She knew he had gone to the study after dinner, so she went straight to the study door. Looking down at the faint light seeping through the crack, she raised her hand halfway, then suddenly withdrew it, as if something had crossed her mind...
Lu Zhengting stood by the window, the study enveloped in silence. He turned and noticed the flickering shadow in the crack of the door, slightly furrowing his brows. His deep voice broke the quiet of the study, "Come in."
Hearing this, Xia Yan, who had been about to leave, froze mid-step. With her back to the door, she clearly heard the voice from inside. She paused, then suddenly turned around, grabbed the door handle, and opened the door to see Lu Zhengting. What was she supposed to say?
...
Xia Yan turned the door handle, and what came into view was Lu Zhengting standing with his hands behind his back, facing away from her. Only a desk lamp was on in the study, casting a warm orange glow that barely illuminated its immediate surroundings. Lu Zhengting stood by the window, the dark curtains serving as his backdrop, the pitch-black night enveloping him. He seemed hidden in the darkness, yet his icy aura made his presence unmistakable.
Xia Yan blinked, staring fixedly at Lu Zhengting's back, suddenly at a loss for words. She took small steps, slowly approaching the shadow in the darkness. Stopping a short distance away, she parted her lips but hesitated to speak.
Lu Zhengting gazed expressionlessly at the night outside. Dongshan Villa was nestled by the mountains and water. In the distance, thick clouds seemed to be dispersing under a gentle breeze. Above the clouds, the moon emitted a clear, cold light, casting faint, shifting shadows on the mountaintop.
The study was so quiet it felt as if the air itself had stopped. Lu Zhengting narrowed his eyes slightly, glancing at Xia Yan behind him. His deep voice slowly rang out again, "What do you want to ask?"
"..." Xia Yan bit her lip, eyeing Lu Zhengting warily. She said flatly, "Will you tell me whatever I ask?"
Lu Zhengting frowned. "What do you want to know?"
"Don't I only get to know what you want me to know?"
With that, Xia Yan shifted her tone. "I want to know what happened over a decade ago, and whether Xia Minghui had anything to do with my father's death."
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting pondered for a few seconds. "The current evidence points to Xia Minghui, but there's no solid proof."
"And?"
"You don't need to know about other things. Just trust that I won't hurt you."
"You want me to trust you unconditionally, and I agree. I just hope my trust won't make me regret it."
Lu Zhengting remained silent. Xia Yan took a deep breath and suddenly spoke, "Lu Zhengting, do you love me?"
Before he could respond, she quickly added, "You don't have to answer me, because I feel like you probably do love me. But sometimes, I feel like you don't love me that much. Isn't that contradictory? I think so too. Lu Zhengting, in your world, you might be used to being alone, but I hope you can get used to a world with two people. Does that sound greedy? But I still want to tell you, I can trust you unconditionally. Can you, like me, not shut me out?"
After saying this, Xia Yan took a deep breath, clenching her hands at her sides. She hated this feeling of being shut out by him.
******
The bar was a chaotic, noisy world. It not only observed people's loneliness at night but also absorbed all their joy and passion. Dim, mottled lights crisscrossed, illuminating the scene inside. Everyone's face seemed to show exhaustion, yet also excitement and thrill.
But the person sitting at the bar stood out among the crowd seeking pleasure. Colored lights shone into his dazed eyes. He slumped weakly over the bar, his head resting on his arm, lips moving, while his other hand held an unfinished bottle of alcohol. Under the light, his once handsome face looked haggard, unshaven, carrying a sense of world-weariness and desolation.
Lin Xujia had lost count of how many times she had come to the bar to retrieve someone. Every time she saw Ye Yunchen like this, she couldn't suppress the anger and inexplicable bitterness inside her. She weaved through the crowd, drawing stares and flirtatious advances from men wherever she passed. She hated it but had no choice but to come here for Ye Yunchen.
She stood before Ye Yunchen, looking down at the man who was squinting at her. At that moment, she wanted to slap him across the face, but her raised hand fell back down. Her gaze, full of deep affection, locked onto Ye Yunchen, and she couldn't help but sigh.
"Hey, who are you? You, hic... why are you here?" Ye Yunchen suddenly lifted his head, shaking it as he stared at Lin Xujia, speaking faintly.
The air was thick with the bar's decadent atmosphere, mixed with the smell of alcohol and smoke. She frowned, staring intently at Ye Yunchen, then hoisted him onto her shoulder and dragged him out of the bar.
Outside the bar, a cool breeze carried a hint of chill. Lin Xujia instinctively pulled her coat tighter. Her car was parked by the roadside, just a few steps away.
Ye Yunchen's full weight pressed down on her. She struggled to drag him into the car, then finally breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, she heard him mutter, "Cold... cold..."
Hearing this, Lin Xujia took off her coat and draped it over him, rubbing her own arms to warm up. She shut the car door, quickly ran to the driver's seat, started the engine, and drove toward Ye Yunchen's place.
After getting Ye Yunchen home, Lin Xujia went through the motions she had repeated every night for the past few days. While preparing hangover tea in the kitchen, she heard a loud thud from the living room. She set down the cup and rushed over. Ye Yunchen, whom she had placed on the sofa, was now sprawled on the floor. She hurried over, using all her strength to haul him back onto the sofa. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she panted heavily.
"Xia Yan..."
"Xia Yan..."
Hearing Ye Yunchen call out Xia Yan's name, Lin Xujia's face instantly changed. She stepped back in disbelief, staring at the man lying drunk and unconscious on the sofa. Then, in a frenzy, she kicked at random objects around her. Her disheveled hair made her look like a vengeful ghost, her expression terrifying. She channeled the despair and pain Ye Yunchen had caused her into anger—anger at Xia Yan.
Suddenly, she collapsed weakly against the edge of the sofa, sobbing. But Ye Yunchen remained unconscious, unable to comfort her. Even if he were awake, he might not have. Tears streaming down her face, Lin Xujia stared at Ye Yunchen, gripping his hands tightly. She suddenly screamed hysterically, "Ye Yunchen, when you're at your lowest, it's me—it's me, Lin Xujia—who's by your side! When you get thrown out of the bar, it's me who brings you back! When you lost your job because of Xia Yan, it's me who stays with you no matter what! But why? Why can't you see my good qualities? What's so great about Xia Yan that I can't compare?"
Her cries didn't draw Ye Yunchen's attention. It was as if she were performing a one-woman show to an empty room. She hated Xia Yan, and at that moment, she even felt a hint of hatred for Ye Yunchen. Her phone rang from her bag. Crying, she picked it up, and her expression shifted slightly when she saw the caller ID. Taking a deep breath, she wiped away her tears and stepped onto the balcony to answer.
"Father."
"Do you even acknowledge me as your father? Where are you? Get back here immediately!"
"Father, I—"
"Remember your purpose in this family."