It was painful for Lin Xinyan but she kept quiet, allowing him to vent his anger.
No matter what, it was she who concealed the truth.
His gaze was deep and his voice was low and warm, “I only have one woman and that is you…”
All his emotions and physical body were dedicated to one woman.
Lin Xinyan was not sure if his breathing was too warm or he had caught her off guard. Her body felt feverish with panic. Yet, pretending to be calm, she asked, “What about He Ruilin?”
Deliberately, she brought up the past.
If she could find no fault with him, she was afraid he would continue to pester her about what she was concealing.
This time Zong Jinghao was not fooled by her, he pinched her chin and embraced her in his arms, vowing, “In my last life, I must have been a heinous villain. In this life, the heavens sent you to punish me.”
Even though he knew her intentions, he could not point it out.
That’s alright.
Anyhow, I will investigate and find out.
I want to know what has been hidden from me.
What could have changed her attitude and made her do everything to prevent me from finding out.
Lin Xinyan held on to his collar. Her heart was in turmoil. Quickly, she recovered as she began to understand. She thought it out and made a decision, “I’ve never been in love. I don’t know how to love a man. If there is anything I did not do correctly, please forgive me.”
Zong Jinghao was taken aback. Slowly he lowered his eyes, “Are you confessing to me?”
Lin Xinyan was still uncertain but she decided to try, “You may assume I am.”
He laughed aloud. His gaze fell upon her shy face. Just a moment ago, she was so brash and vocal but now she was blushing timidly.
Lin Xinyan avoided his eyes. He brushed her hair away from her face and looked at her for a while. Everything about her was pretty.
He brought his lips near and touched her cheeks. Then he said something strange, “I regret.”
Lin Xinyan’s eyes widened in surprise. She did not respond for a long while. What does he mean by that?
“What do you mean?”
Zong Jinghao raised his eyebrows and chuckled. His tone was low and deep with a tinge of unconditional acceptance. “You forget so soon? It’s okay, I will explain another day.”
Lin Xinyan always felt that his words had double meanings.
Suddenly, her eyes widened. Was he talking about last night?
Boom!
Her face felt flushed as if on fire. She turned redder.
Zong Jinghao held her in his arms lying on another bed that was quite narrow. Since Zong Jinghao was so tall, his feet were left dangling outside the bed. He curved his upper body as well. Lying on one side, holding Lin Xinyan who was also lying on one side, this was the only way they could lie in bed together.
Lin Xichen’s little hands gripped his pillow tightly in order for him to stay quiet. He kept telling himself, “They are my parents, so it is normal for them to embrace. It is not wrong.”
He was struggling with himself. He wished that Lin Xinyan would not forgive Zong Jinghao so easily.
On the other hand, he feared they would separate.
In his mind, he thought, perhaps he was a contradiction.
About noon, they reached Baicheng.
All this time, living in the village was quite inconvenient and they did not rest well either. And so, when they returned to the hotel, everyone was tired.
“Everyone, go upstairs and get a bath. Rest for a while. Later on, come down here for lunch. Let me arrange,” Shen Peichuan said to the group.
Su Zhan left first, “I haven’t changed for a few days. I’ve got to go back to my room.”
“Come, let’s go together.” He looked at Qin Ya who was next to him.
Qin Ya stepped back, putting some distance between them.
Su Zhan frowned, “Don’t forget, we are a couple…”
“We have broken up,” Qin Ya replied loudly.
She was tired of Su Zhan and worried that if they carried on any longer, it would be difficult to dump him later.
Su Zhan was taken aback. He had not expected her to say this in public. He was stunned for some time.
Shen Peichuan called out his name worriedly, “Su Zhan…”
“That’s okay, this is a matter of the heart. Two people are involved. She can’t make this decision alone,” Su Zhan resumed his happy-go-lucky style, “I’ll go up first.”
“Ya,” Lin Xinyan let Zong Jinghao take care of her two kids and walked over to Qin Ya to see that she was okay.
“Lin, I’m fine, don’t worry about me. I’m going upstairs for a shower. It’s been some time since I had one.”
After she said that, she hurriedly went upstairs as if trying to flee from something.
At this point, she wanted to be left alone.
Lin Xinyan was a little worried. These two had been together not for long. She was afraid Qin Ya would be hurt.
Zong Jinghao held her hand, “Don’t worry, they’re not kids. In matters of the heart, let them handle themselves. You go on upstairs.”
Lin Xinyan nodded. Perhaps she worried too much. They were adults and Su Zhan was a lawyer by profession. Though he was unemployed, when necessary, he could surely handle things appropriately.
Lin Ruixi scratched her head and her brows were knitted together. Lin Xinyan picked her up, asking, “Your scalp feels itchy?”
“Yeah.” The little head nodded vigorously. Her tiny hand continued scratching. Travelling outside, her hair had not been washed for days. It was uncomfortable.
Lin Xinyan comforted her, “You will be fine after I wash it for you.”
On entering their room, after putting down their luggage, Zong Jinghao went into another room, letting the children use the former one.
Lin Xinyan went into the bathroom and filled the tub with warm water, getting ready to bathe Lin Ruixi.
The little girl exclaimed, “It feels comfortable to be at home.”
“This is not home,” Lin Xichen corrected her. Can’t she differentiate between hotel and home?
The little girl was annoyed. She pouted, “Big brother is annoying.”
Lin Xichen shook his head as if he did not know what to do with her.
“Mommy, look! My brother is bullying me.” Lin Ruixi ran into the bathroom, climbed onto Lin Xinyan’s back and hugged her neck to complain. Lin Xinyan rubbed her cheek and asked teasingly, “How did he bully you? Did he beat you or pinch you?”
Lin Ruixi did not reply immediately.
She tilted her head and thought for some time, “He hit me.”
Lin Xichen stood at the doorway, looking at his younger sister, and asked, “I hit you?”
Lin Ruixi nodded her head determinedly, “You hit me.”
“Where did I hit you?”
Lin Ruixi thought for a while, “Hmm… my bum.”
“Bum, oh…” Lin Xichen lifted his hand and made a gesture as if to hit her. At the same time he said, “Since you say I’ve hit you, I must do it or else you would be lying.”
“Ahh…”
Lin Ruixi was scared and hid in Lin Xinyan’s arms. Lin Xinyan turned off the water faucet, saying, “That’s enough playing, it’s time to bathe.”
Lin Xichen stopped horsing around. She looked at her sister and said, “For mommy’s sake, I forgive you.”
Lin Ruixi poked her tongue out at her elder brother.
Lin Xinyan removed her clothes and put her into the tub.
The water temperature was just right. The little girl sat in the tub with her head above the water. With her body soaked in the water, she felt comfortable. After soaking for a while, Lin Xinyan washed the dirt from her body.
Then she washed her hair.
When she was done, she wrapped her in a towel and used a hair-dryer to dry her hair.
At this moment, the doorbell rang suddenly.
Lin Xichen got the door. It was a hotel staff.
“Hi, what’s up?” Lin Xichen looked up. He had seen this staff member before so he let his guard down.
“This is for your mommy.” The staff member handed him an exquisitely decorated box.
Lin Xichen hesitated for a while. “What is inside? Who is it from?”
“I don’t know. I’m just delivering it. I don’t know any details,” The staff member answered truthfully.
The guests on this floor came with bodyguards and luxury cars. They looked wealthy. No one would dare play pranks on them anyhow.
Lin Xichen accepted it and told the staff member politely, “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.” The staff smiled, thinking how well-brought-up this child was, not at all spoilt. He was well-mannered and good-looking.
Lin Xichen closed the door and put the box on the bed. He folded his arms upon his chest and rubbed his chin with his fingers. Staring at the box, he was curious what it contained.
Can it be papa giving mommy a present?
His curiosity overwhelmed him and, unable to resist, he opened the box.
However…
“Ahh!!…”
