Strolling

Lin Yu wanted to explain.

He felt that the relationship between him and Xia Muzhu shouldn't be maintained in such a pathetic way.

But she seemed to be possessed, unable to listen to a single word.

Finally, Lin Yu made up his mind, mustered some strength, pushed her away a little, and grabbed her shoulders to prevent her from clinging to him again.

"Sister Zhuzi, I..."

He had barely started his sentence when he suddenly couldn't go on.

Xia Muzhu's tears pattered against Lin Yu's chest. She was heartbroken, her azure eyes soaked in glistening tears, as if silently questioning him.

Do you already despise me this much?

Are you unwilling to even do this kind of thing with me anymore?

Seeing Xia Muzhu looking so pitiful, Lin Yu suddenly found himself speechless.

Yes.

What was the point of saying more?

If he insisted on rejecting her, then no matter how eloquent he was, no matter how beautifully he phrased his words, what would be the use?

It was like borrowing money from someone who kept talking about how great your relationship was, even saying they could trust you with their life.

But if they refused to take out their bulging wallet, what credibility did all those words have?

If...

If doing this could really make her feel even a tiny bit of reassurance...

...

...then so be it.

Lin Yu stopped gripping Xia Muzhu's shoulders so tightly and stopped resisting her intimacy.

Instead, he began to cooperate with her gently and actively.

Hoping to tell her in this silent way.

I like you.

Don't worry.

...

...

Xia Muzhu left. Dragging her exhausted body, she stubbornly went to the hospital to keep Xia Yueshan company.

Even though Xia Yueshan had the most comprehensive monitoring and the most professional nurses taking care of him, she was still uneasy and insisted on keeping watch over him at the hospital.

Even though her vigil was meaningless.

But as a sister who had watched Xia Yueshan grow up bit by bit, Xia Muzhu just had to be by his side.

He didn't need her.

But she couldn't stop worrying about him.

Xia Muzhu left quietly. Lying in bed, Lin Yu actually noticed the emptiness beside him, but he was too tired.

Exhaustion dragged his awakening soul back into the ocean of slumber.

It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that Lin Yu groggily woke up.

Seeing that Xia Muzhu was no longer beside him, Lin Yu rubbed his temples, vaguely remembering that she seemed to have gone to the hospital to see Xia Yueshan.

After contacting her via text message, Lin Yu confirmed that Xia Muzhu was indeed at the hospital.

Lying in bed, waiting until he was a bit more awake, Lin Yu got out of bed, put on his clothes, and decided to go to the hospital as well.

Sister Zhuzi's current state was quite unstable; it would be better for him to spend more time by her side.

After getting dressed, Lin Yu went downstairs, left the residential area, hailed a taxi at the gate, and headed straight for the hospital.

Outside the intensive care unit, Lin Yu saw Xia Muzhu sitting on a bench in the corridor. He walked over and sat down beside her.

Before his butt even hit the seat, Lin Yu naturally reached out, put his arm around Xia Muzhu's shoulders, and gently pulled her into his embrace.

Xia Muzhu didn't resist at all. She docilely leaned against Lin Yu, resting in his arms.

The late-night corridor was silent and deserted. The two of them sat together, leaning on each other.

The weight in his arms was reassuring. Gradually, the sleepiness that hadn't completely faded surged up again. Lin Yu shifted his body, found a more comfortable position, closed his eyes, and rested quietly...

...

"Lin Yu..."

"Lin Yu?"

A soft call sounded in his ear. Lin Yu woke up in a daze and found that it was Xia Muzhu calling him.

"Hmm?"

"What's wrong?"

His tongue felt like it hadn't woken up yet, and his voice was a bit slurred.

"Go back and sleep."

Xia Muzhu raised her hand to tidy up the slightly messy hair on Lin Yu's forehead, a trace of reluctance showing in her azure eyes.

"It's fine, I'm not sleepy."

"Yawn~"

As he said this, as if his left and right brain were fighting each other, Lin Yu let out a huge yawn.

"Alright, hurry back."

Xia Muzhu stroked Lin Yu's face affectionately and said softly.

"I'm really not sleepy..."

Before Lin Yu could finish, Xia Muzhu blocked his mouth with her soft lips.

The brief kiss ended as soon as it began, like a piece of candy used to coax a disobedient child. After the brief kiss, Xia Muzhu spoke softly again:

"You don't need to worry about me, I just want to sit here for a while."

"If I feel tired, I'll go back and rest."

"Be good, go back and sleep."

Having been stuffed with a kiss, Lin Yu inexplicably really turned into a child who had received a piece of candy. He was a bit reluctant to leave, but he obediently nodded.

"Then I'll go back."

"If anything happens, remember to call me."

Before leaving, Lin Yu exhorted her uneasily.

"Okay."

Xia Muzhu looked a bit tired, but she still nodded with a smile and agreed gently.

The parting words had been said, but Lin Yu didn't leave.

Looking at Xia Muzhu, a question arose in Lin Yu's mind.

How on earth did she know about him and Tang Manman?

Was it the push of fate?

Or was it that bastard Qing Mo who leaked the secret?

Standing there hesitating for a while, a moment later, Lin Yu chose to swallow this untimely question and turned to leave.

After leaving the hospital, Lin Yu looked at the few taxis parked at the entrance. After a moment of hesitation, he lifted his foot and took large strides past them.

Blown by the cold wind, Lin Yu felt that most of his sleepiness had dissipated.

Feeling the cold weather kept at bay by his padded jacket, Lin Yu actually felt quite comfortable for a moment.

I'll just stroll outside for a while first.

I'm not in a hurry to go back anyway.

Thinking this, Lin Yu began to wander aimlessly in the windless snowy weather.

Breathing in the fresh city air tinged with a bit of chill, Lin Yu didn't want to think about those messy things anymore. He emptied his mind and decided to let his exhausted brain relax properly as well.

Just like how he was walking aimlessly right now, not thinking about anything.

As he walked, Lin Yu arrived at a familiar intersection.

This was the intersection he had to pass through every day when he was in high school.

If he walked two more blocks towards the school, he would almost be able to see the always energetic Gu Yue.

Looking at the snow-covered road, a flash of reminiscence passed through Lin Yu's eyes.

After a brief recollection, Lin Yu turned his head and looked in another direction.

Walking from here, it wouldn't take long to reach the riverside in H City.

Ummm...

Let's go for a stroll.

I'll take the opportunity to see if the river has frozen over in such cold weather. I'm a bit curious.

Thinking this, Lin Yu changed direction and walked towards the river.