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Psst! We're moving!
Lin Wangshu didn’t take his words too seriously.
It was already late, so she went back to her room to rest.
She had to get up early tomorrow to pick up Lin Yue at the airport.
She had already planned to take him on a good tour these few days.
Returning to the city where he had lived for so many years, he should be happy.
The Western Lan Symphony Orchestra concert was the day after tomorrow.
She had bought the tickets a long time ago.
Unable to sleep, she got out of bed and took out the treasured business card.
The name “Sheng Lin” on it was the light she had been striving for all these years.
He had probably long forgotten her, the girl he had met once at the airport.
But that was okay. One day, she would introduce herself to him in a different way.
Not as Lin Wangshu, his fan, but as Lin Wangshu, the cellist.
She would succeed one day.
And she had been working hard for it.
Outside the window, the moonlight was cool like water. She carefully put the business card away.
Her grandma, Lin Yue, and the cello were all the hope she had to live for.
They were also the goals that made her desperately want to grab onto the last rope and stubbornly live, even in this messy life.
________________________________________
The next day, Lin Wangshu got up very early and went to the market to buy some of Lin Yue’s favorite dishes.
Her cooking skills were quite good.
Seeing how seriously she was picking tomatoes, the stall owner’s wife held a mini fan and blew it at her sweaty face.
The market’s roof didn’t dissipate heat, and in the middle of summer, it felt like being in a giant steamer.
The owner’s wife joked with a smile, “Young girls these days are so diligent, going out in such hot weather to buy groceries for their hardworking husbands.”
Lin Wangshu was stunned for a moment. Her long eyelashes slightly lifted. She said softly, “He’s not my husband.”
The owner’s wife saw her reserved demeanor and laughed even harder. She said to the owner of the stall next to her, “Look, this little wife is blushing.”
Their voices were loud, and the attention of other people in the market was drawn to them.
The “little wife” lowered her head, blushing at what they were saying.
She was naturally thin-skinned, and no one listened to her gentle explanation.
She gave up picking and randomly chose a few types of meat and vegetables she needed, asking the owner’s wife to weigh them.
The owner’s wife weighed them, bagged them, and gave her a few extra pork kidneys.
Lin Wangshu said, “I don’t think I...”
The owner’s wife smiled warmly. “A gift from me, sister. Make soup for your husband. It’ll be good for him, and you’ll have a big fat baby sooner.”
After she said that, there was another round of laughter, but it was all good-natured laughter.
The girl looked sweet and well-behaved, and she was the type who could cook.
She would blush after a few words, which was endearing.
Lin Wangshu thanked her, paid, and left quickly, afraid they would say something else that would make her blush.
Two tall, strong men followed her the entire time.
Since the last incident, Jiang Congxian had replaced the two people who were following her.
She had originally thought he had sent people to monitor her every move.
Now it seemed she had been narrow-minded.
A nearby stall was selling pork ribs.
Jiang Congxian wasn’t a picky eater and didn’t have any dietary restrictions, but he seemed to have a slight preference for pork ribs.
After hesitating for a moment, she changed her direction and walked toward the rib stall.
It was a form of thank you for what he did before.
After bringing the groceries home, she told Xiao Lian to let the kitchen know they didn’t need to cook today.
She would do it.
Xiao Lian was stunned. There was a look of confusion and a hint of doubt on her face.
She didn’t seem to believe that a young lady who had never done any chores would know how to cook.
Lin Wangshu changed into a jacket, looked at the sun outside, and brought a parasol with her. She smiled. “I lived alone when I was a student, and I learned to cook back then.”
Xiao Lian said “Wow” in admiration. “Sister Shushu, you’re amazing.”
Even at her age, she wouldn’t dare to live alone.
She was afraid of ghosts.
Lin Wangshu smiled. “Then I’ll get going.”
She was in a good mood today and was smiling all day.
Xiao Lian was also happy and offered to help. “Then I’ll wash everything first.”
After thanking her, Lin Wangshu hailed a taxi to the airport. She had been worried about Lin Yue flying alone.
It wasn’t until she saw a man pushing Lin Yue’s suitcase as he walked out of the airport that her worries began to subside.
Those people were only loyal to Jiang Congxian. It must have been his order for them to come along this time.
Lin Yue kept his head down the entire time, looking timid and uncomfortable.
He was afraid of crowded places and strangers.
Lin Wangshu walked over, held his hand, and gently called his name.
“Xiaoyue.”
He cautiously looked up. After a long hesitation, he dared to get closer to her. “Si...ster.”
Even those two words were difficult for him to say.
On the way home, she asked him many things: how grandma’s health was, if he had made any new friends at school, and if the trip was tiring.
He didn’t talk much, and he used shaking and nodding his head to answer her questions.
Lin Wangshu told him she would make his favorite braised pork for dinner tonight.
“I went to the market today specifically to buy the food you love.”
He kept his head down without speaking, occasionally glancing at the scenery outside the car window as it moved backward, but quickly looking away. His body was trembling.
Lin Wangshu gently held his hand, rubbing it in a comforting way.
“You have your sister with you. Don’t be afraid.”
The car stopped outside the villa. Lin Wangshu took Lin Yue’s hand and went in. Xiao Lian had already washed and prepared all the vegetables.
When she saw Lin Yue, she went over to greet him.
He instinctively avoided her and hid behind Lin Wangshu, his body trembling even more.
Xiao Lian was a little embarrassed by his reaction. The hand she had extended awkwardly hung in the air, not knowing whether to pull it back or keep it there.
After calming Lin Yue down, Lin Wangshu explained to Xiao Lian, “My brother has autism. He’s afraid of strangers.”
Xiao Lian understood but also felt a little sad.
Such a talented young man with a promising future, but he had a disease like this.
It was a shame.
The guest room on the second floor had been cleaned and was close to Lin Wangshu’s room.
A maid took the suitcase upstairs.
Lin Wangshu took out the clothes from the suitcase one by one and hung them in the closet.
Lin Yue stood by the side, playing with the Rubik’s Cube in his hands.
While she was tidying up, Lin Wangshu asked him, “Is there anywhere you want to go?”
He acted as if he hadn’t heard her, still focused on turning the Rubik’s Cube.
In a few turns, all six sides of the cube were solved. He then messed it up and continued to turn it.
He didn’t want to speak, so Lin Wangshu didn’t force him. She just told him the plans she had made in advance.
“Tomorrow, we’ll visit Mom and Dad’s graves, and then your sister will take you to a concert, okay?”
Hearing the word “concert,” Lin Yue’s dull eyes gradually became bright.
“Concert, sister, likes.”
He had always remembered that his sister loved the cello.
She loved it very, very much.
Seeing him like this, Lin Wangshu wanted to cry again.
To prevent him from seeing her red eyes, she hugged him. “Yes, your sister loves it.”
________________________________________
After settling Lin Yue in, Lin Wangshu put on an apron and went into the kitchen.
Xiao Lian helped her.
The soup was simmering in a clay pot—corn and pork rib soup. She also made sweet and sour pork ribs.
The food was ready, and Lin Wangshu glanced at the clock on the wall.
Jiang Congxian’s arrival time was uncertain. He was not a person with a regular schedule.
Many times, his days and nights were even flipped.
Xiao Lian said she would call him to ask how long it would be before he came home.
She went out with her phone and came back quickly.
She shook her head. “No one answered.”
He must be at a social event.
Lin Wangshu said, “Then let’s wait a little longer.”
The dishes in the pots were still hot. Because she was worried that Lin Yue might be hungry, she went upstairs and said she would serve him a separate portion so he could eat first.
But Lin Yue shook his head. “Wait... for brother.”
Lin Wangshu’s expression changed slightly. She zipped up his jacket and asked softly, “You like him?”
He nodded.
Lin Yue rarely got close to anyone. He was always distant and unfamiliar, even with his father.
The person she was so eager to escape from was someone her brother liked.
It was ironic.
Lin Wangshu stroked his head, her voice full of affection. “Okay, sister will wait for him with you.”
The time spent waiting for someone always passed slowly. Afraid that Lin Yue would be bored, Lin Wangshu played with building blocks with him for a while.
Until the car lights from the courtyard came closer.
The black Maybach stopped outside the gate. After a moment, the gate opened.
The car drove in, and the window was halfway down.
Through the darkness, the man’s profile was strong and handsome.
Xiao Lian heard the sound and quickly went to open the door.
Every time Jiang Congxian came back from a social event, he always smelled of smoke and alcohol.
This was unavoidable in the business world.
Jiang Yuan helped him into the house and told Xiao Lian to make some hangover tea.
Jiang Congxian was coughing badly. His hand was pressed against his lips, and his shoulders trembled slightly from the coughing.
His health had always been very good. He still exercised regularly despite his busy schedule.
It was the first time Lin Wangshu had seen him like this.
Jiang Yuan noticed her gaze and explained, “Mr. Jiang smoked heavily today. It might have triggered his pharyngitis.”
Lin Wangshu poured him a cup of hot water and asked softly, “Why did he smoke if he can’t handle it?”
It wasn’t a question of concern, but she was genuinely curious.
He was not someone who could be forced into things.
Jiang Congxian pulled off his tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.
His eyes, which were red from alcohol, now had a faint smile. He got closer to her, reaching past the water cup she was holding, and grabbed her slender wrist, slowly tightening his grip.
“Are you worried about me?”
He seemed to want to kiss her. His lips were an inch away from her cheek when Lin Wangshu dodged.
Her expression showed resistance and even a hint of disgust.
He wasn’t angry. He was still smiling.
He just sat up straight, took the water cup, and said in a lazy, casual tone, “My little princess, not everyone is as lucky as you. You had your dad protecting you before, and now you have me.”
He said, “There are still many things in this world that are out of your control, in the dirty corners you can’t see.”
What did it matter how high his position was now?
Countless people wanted to bring him down.
Reality itself was cruel. Only those who were shrewd and hypocritical could smile and survive until the end.
Being arrogant and self-righteous was something only people with a full stomach would consider.
________________________________________
The hangover tea hadn’t been made yet. Jiang Congxian went to the bathroom and threw up.
His coughing became even more severe.
He only felt a little better after taking some medicine.
His already fair skin now looked even paler.
The smell on him was not pleasant. It was a mix of smoke, alcohol, and perfume.
Lin Wangshu knew he hated these lavish social events more than anyone. He had a strange kind of cleanliness in certain aspects.
He hated being touched by others.
The living room was quiet. You could even hear the sound of the pendulum swinging on the wall clock.
Jiang Congxian stood up, holding his forehead. His voice was low and a little hoarse. “I’m not eating dinner.”
Lin Wangshu was serving food in the kitchen. She was just serving his bowl, which was clearly more than the others.
Hearing his words, she paused.
After a moment, she poured the rice from the bowl back into the pot.
Lin Yue didn’t see Jiang Congxian and refused to eat. Lin Wangshu spent a long time trying to comfort him before he finally used his chopsticks.
But he only ate two bites. No matter how much Lin Wangshu tried to persuade him, it was no use.
He lowered his head and sullenly went back to his room.
She had spent all day preparing dinner, but almost none of it was eaten.
Xiao Lian looked at it and felt it was a waste. She thought about putting it in the refrigerator and reheating it tomorrow.
It could still be eaten.
She made the hangover tea and brought it up. Jiang Congxian had finished his shower and was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in a white bathrobe, talking on the phone.
Xiao Lian was afraid of disturbing him, so she carefully placed the hangover tea on the table.
He responded with a low “Hmm” to whatever was said on the other end. “I’ll go deal with it tomorrow.”
He hung up the phone and walked over, placing his phone on the table next to him.
Xiao Lian handed him the hangover tea. He took it with one hand, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. A drop dripped from the corner of his lips, outlining the curve of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed.
It was both sexy and ascetic.
Xiao Lian was not very old, so she was at the age of having a crush.
She had always thought that Jiang Congxian was the most handsome person she had ever seen.
Like a pine tree, like a green bamboo.
And like a breeze that you can’t touch or grasp.
She had been by his side for so long, but she didn’t really understand him.
Even with his gentle exterior, he wasn’t a cold and reserved person who said little. But he was never willing to open up to people.
It was as if he had trapped himself on a lonely island. People from the outside couldn’t get in, and he himself had never thought about leaving.
It wasn’t because he was arrogant or lonely.
He just found such relationships too burdensome. He didn’t want to be tied down by anything.
Including useless things like emotions.
And his mental state seemed to be a little off. Xiao Lian had seen him have an episode before, and it was terrifying.
She couldn’t sleep at night and wanted to get some fresh air in the courtyard. She happened to hear a noise from the study on the second floor, so she went up to take a look.
Through the half-open door, she saw Jiang Congxian, his eyes as red as blood, silently stabbing his wrist with a pair of scissors.
His entire arm was a bloody mess, but he didn’t seem to feel any pain.
The force of his hand kept increasing with each stab, but his expression was always indifferent, as if he was stabbing someone else.
At that moment, Xiao Lian saw no light in his eyes.
She tidied up the teacup and, after thinking for a moment, spoke up to advise him, “It’s better to eat something after drinking, or your stomach won’t be able to handle it.”
Jiang Congxian refused indifferently. “No.”
Xiao Lian paused for a moment and then said, “Sister Shushu went to the market very early to buy groceries. She specifically bought your favorite ribs to make soup. You didn’t eat any of the food she spent all day making, and Young Master Yue didn’t eat much either. It’s all left over.”
Her words were full of pity.
There was also an office area in the bedroom. He had just turned on his computer. Hearing her words, he slightly raised his eyebrows. His tone was calm, not questioning, as if he was just asking in passing. “She can cook?”
Xiao Lian nodded vigorously, not holding back her praise. “Sister Shushu’s cooking is excellent. It’s almost as good as the kitchen aunt’s.”
The latter part was a bit of an exaggeration. The chefs in the house were all top chefs from various cuisines.
Lin Wangshu’s cooking was, at most, a little better than Xiao Lian’s.
Jiang Congxian didn’t know what he was thinking. After a moment of silence, the flat line of his lips curved slightly, as if he was a little interested.
“Tell her to serve it to me herself.”
Xiao Lian was happy that he was finally willing to eat. After saying “okay,” she went directly to Lin Wangshu’s bedroom.
She had just finished cleaning up and was probably about to take a shower.
After Xiao Lian told her, Lin Wangshu thought for a moment and then agreed.
She simply reheated a few of the dishes.
Jiang Congxian came down after changing his clothes into a light gray set of loungewear.
When he saw Lin Wangshu, he pulled out a chair and sat down. “Why didn’t I know you could cook before?”
She didn’t say anything. She just brought the food out one by one and placed it on the table.
He picked up his chopsticks and chuckled softly. “You and your brother are really close. As soon as he comes, you can do everything.”
Lin Wangshu didn’t respond to his teasing. After serving him the rice, she was about to go back to her room.
He used his foot to pull out a chair and told her to sit down.
Lin Wangshu glanced at him.
He met her gaze, his smile calm.
He seemed to have anticipated that she would listen.
And indeed, Lin Wangshu eventually sat down.
He wasn’t really hungry.
His strong exterior didn’t show it, but his internal organs were a mess from his irregular schedule and diet.
If he didn’t eat or ate too late, his stomach would hurt, but after the pain subsided, he couldn’t eat anything.
But he still ate a little bit.
He wasn’t a picky eater. He ate whatever the kitchen made, but his chopsticks lingered a little longer on the plate of ribs.
He looked up at her and asked knowingly, “Did you make this?”
Lin Wangshu nodded. “Yes.”
Jiang Congxian’s eyes changed slightly. He said in a cold voice, “Don’t make this in the future.”
She didn’t know what she had done to displease him.
But his personality was always so temperamental, with frequent mood swings, that Lin Wangshu had long since grown used to it.
Lin Wangshu paused for a moment and still nodded. “Okay.”
She was like a feelingless robot repeating a line.
There was even a plate of pork kidneys on the table, right next to the ribs.
“So you’re worried about my kidneys.” Jiang Congxian instantly shed his previous coldness and put down his chopsticks with a soft laugh. “Are you complaining that it’s not good enough?”
The pork kidneys were a gift from the stall owner. She had cooked them so they wouldn’t go to waste, and she didn’t expect Jiang Congxian to misunderstand.
She opened her mouth to explain, but he didn’t give her the chance.
His words became more and more explicit.
“Didn’t you complain about it being too big and full before?”
“You were crying so pitifully then, begging me to let you go.”
He looked at Lin Wangshu’s ears, which were gradually turning red, with satisfaction. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap. His voice, hoarse from being corroded by cigarettes, and his warm lips nibbled on her earlobe, a chuckle escaping from between his teeth. “Then big brother will eat a little more to replenish himself, and I’ll satisfy you tonight.”
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