Then she accepted the call.
“It’s me.”
“Mmm.”
Lin Xinyan lowered her eyes and walked back to the living room. She said nothing, and she waited for him to talk.
“I’m outside your place. Are you free now? I want to see you.” He Ruize said after a moment of silence.
Lin Xinyan hummed quietly in response and ended the call. She took off her apron and knocked on Lin Xichen’s door. “Xichen, I have some matters to settle downstairs. Grandma is coming back soon, so don’t leave the house.”
Lin Xichen stood at the window and looked downwards where He Ruize and Zhuang Zijin were talking. When he heard Lin Xinyan’s voice, he answered, “Okay.”
Lin Xinyan changed her footwear before she went downstairs. In the park, He Ruize was talking with Zhuang Zijin. He Ruize wanted to carry Lin Ruixi, but Zhuang Zijin did not let him. “The girl is cheeky.”
Zhuang Zijin had never rejected him.
This time, He Ruize sensed her obvious distancing.
After she knew that He Ruize’s mother had talked to Lin Xinyan, and that they were impossible to be together, she no longer felt close to He Ruize.
After all, she had treated He Ruize as a son-in-law previously.
Now, she could not be as enthusiastic.
Nor did she have the need for the children to be that close to him.
“Auntie, did I do something wrong?” He Ruize asked.
“No, no.” Zhuang Zijin waved her hand and tried to explain, “This girl had been fussing lately. I’m afraid she’ll start crying.”
“I watched her grow up. She’s familiar with me. She won’t cry if I hug her.”
“Ruize.”
Lin Xinyan walked over quickly. “Mom, it’s cold now. Bring Ruixi back home.”
“Alright.” After bidding He Ruize goodbye, Zhuang Zijin hurried away with Lin Ruixi in her arms.
“Have you eaten?” Lin Xinyan asked.
He Ruize gave a slight smile. “I haven’t. Will you make me food?”
“Sure.”
The two looked at each other and smiled.
“Let’s take a walk.”
“Okay.”
It was obvious that something had changed in their relationship.
They were no longer as close as before.
“You know.” He Ruize looked at the road ahead of him. “I’m about to say that I just found out. Would you believe my words?”
“I don’t know.” Lin Xinyan gave an ambiguous answer.
“You still don’t believe in me.” He Ruize smiled bitterly.
He knew it. When Lin Xinyan knew about the truth, she would change her attitude towards him.
“If He Ruilin and I were in danger, who would you save?” Lin Xinyan suddenly stopped in her tracks and looked at He Ruize. “It’s a ridiculous question, right? You would think of He Ruilin first, then you’ll think of me.”
“Why are you so sure?” He Ruize looked at her.
“There are many types of relationships in this world. Blood is thicker than water. Family is the most important, and she is your sister. If you can ignore your sister’s survival, how cold-blooded would you be? Who would dare to be in love with you?”
He Ruize did not say anything. He just looked at her quietly.
Her words were not wrong. Between He Ruilin and her, he would think of He Ruilin first.
It was not because of their familial ties, but it was because he felt guilty to her.
They had lost her that year because of his negligence.
“This doesn’t mean that my love for you has lessened.”
“However, I can’t accept this you. I don’t think your family can accept me either. Let’s just turn back the time, back to when you treated me like a younger sister.”
He Ruize frowned. He knew that with Lin Xinyan’s personality, she would change her attitude after knowing, but he had not expected her to be that resolute.
Were his many years of company not worthy enough to be with her?
Even if he had been hiding some matters, his love for her was not fake.
Was that not in her consideration?
He Ruize’s heart was in turmoil.
Suddenly, he started laughing.
He looked at Lin Xinyan. “Will you really not consider the times I had been nice to you?”
“No. I’ve been treating you like a brother.” Lin Xinyan said sincerely.
When she found out that the person behind the accident was He Ruilin, she had not held her accountable because of He Ruize.
For their future, Lin Xinyan had to be firm with her stance now.
If she really managed to pin He Ruilin with her crime and she goes into jail, He Ruize would feel complicated when facing her.
“My life is such a failure.” He Ruize laughed.
He Ruilin did not understand him.
Even Lin Xinyan did not believe in him.
Lin Xinyan continued on. She took light steps as she walked by the side of the road.
“Perhaps it’s fate.” She smiled too. “I was actually about to accept you. We’ve known each other for nearly ten years…”
It was because of Zhuang Zijin, and because he took good care of her.
Who knew that Bai Zhuwei would turn out to be his sister, He Ruilin?
He Ruize pulled her into a tight hug. “That’s her, and this is me. You can’t reject me because of her. This is unfair to me.”
“She’s your blood sister. Do you think that’s alright?” He was only lying to himself.
“She hurt you, so you reject the kindness from me?” It was as if He Ruize was questioning her.
Lin Xinyan did not give him an explanation.
She never rejected it.
She just knew that she and He Ruize were not meant to be together.
He did not realize it.
“What if I don’t want to be siblings with you, I just want to be a couple with you?” He Ruize looked at her shadow, which was merged into the tree’s shadow. He could not differentiate whether he was looking at the tree or her.
His gaze deepened, as if he had made some decision. “I’ll promise you what you want, but you have to have a drink with me. I’m having a bad mood.”
“It’s late.” Lin Xinyan tried to refuse.
“Can’t you accompany me just for one drink? Must you be so distant from me now?” He Ruize cupped her face.
He looked into her eyes and wanted her to look back at him.
If that would make him let go, she would say yes.
“Alright.”
“I know a quiet place.” He Ruize held onto her hand.
It was almost as if she was dragged along by him.
After they entered the car, He Ruize handed her a bottle of water. “Your lips look dry.”
He started the car.
Lin Xinyan reached out to touch her lips. It seemed fine, and she was not thirsty. The bottle remained in her hands, untouched.
The car was driving smoothly on the road. He Ruize turned around to glance at her. “You’re not drinking the water I gave you. Are you afraid that I poisoned it?”
“What are you talking about? I’m just not thirsty.” Lin Xinyan opened the bottle and drank. It tasted like normal mineral water, and she placed the cap back on. “Is it alright now?”
He Ruize did not answer me; he looked focused on the road.
If you noticed carefully, his blue veins were seemed throbbing in his temple.
Soon, the car stopped outside a private club.
He Ruize came down, then opened the door for her.
“I can come down myself.”
He Ruize held her hand. Lin Xinyan wanted to retract her hand, but he held on to it tighter. “Just this once, let me hold your hand one more time as your boyfriend. After tonight, it’ll be great if you still want to treat me like your brother. If not—”
“What are you talking about? Why do you sound like you’re going to cut ties with me?” Lin Xinyan realized that He Ruize was acting unusual today.
However, she could not think of the reason why he was acting unusual today.
He Ruize smiled.
He was really domineering her. With her personality, she would definitely cut ties with him after today.
Unlike what He Ruilin said, she would not feel anything for him even if he was her man.
If it was like that, then would she never forget the man who first had her forever?
His heart skipped a beat when he thought about Lin Xinyan’s first man.
He grabbed her hand tightly. He was not to be blame.
