It's my turn.

I'm here too.

These three light words came out of the phone speaker, gently drilling into Lin Yu's ears, the voice as soft as a spring breeze.

But Lin Yu's first reaction upon hearing these words was his brain going completely blank, as if it had exploded.

To be honest.

Lin Yu was most afraid of this kind of Tang Manman.

Making no sound, saying no words.

Suddenly just appearing right beside you.

Holding a box in her arms that could contain either fresh flowers or a nuclear bomb.

Making you tremble with fear as you recall whether your recent attitude towards her had been lacking in any way.

Ah...

Oh!

You're here?

Where are you right now?

I'll come find you.

After a brief moment of panic, Lin Yu quickly adjusted his mindset and came up with the best response plan.

If it's a blessing, it's not a disaster.

If it's a disaster, you can't avoid it.

The most urgent thing right now was to meet up with Tang Manman.

Specific situations required specific analysis!

I just got off the high-speed train.

I haven't left the station yet.

Tang Manman's voice was soft and small, mixed in with the background noise of pedestrians.

Lin Yu almost perked his ears up like antennas.

But he still couldn't decipher the emotion in Tang Manman's words.

However, hearing Tang Manman's voice so small.

Lin Yu felt she probably wasn't very happy.

Ah.

Okay.

Then just wait for me at the station entrance.

I'll head over to find you right away.

Lin Yu said this while standing up, grabbing his coat with one hand and awkwardly starting to put it on.

Mhm.

Tang Manman gave a soft hum.

Okay.

See you in a bit.

After speaking, Lin Yu hung up the phone, his speed of getting dressed and changing shoes increasing exponentially.

Hurriedly putting on his clothes.

Lin Yu walked quickly downstairs.

When he reached the front door.

Lin Yu's hand reaching for the doorknob suddenly stopped.

At this moment, a doubt surfaced in Lin Yu's mind.

Should he tell Su Yuyao that he was going out to see Tang Manman?

Nowadays, Tang, Xia, Qing, and Su all knew about each other's existence and had accepted one another...

...

At least on the surface!

So...

Should he tell Su Yuyao that he was going out to keep Tang Manman company?

Otherwise, if he hid it, he was afraid Su Yuyao would overthink things.

But if he brought it out into the open like this.

Wouldn't Su Yuyao...

Be even more prone to letting her imagination run wild?!

Sigh!

Lin Yu let out a soft sigh, rubbing his tight brow with his thumb.

Actually, for the past year.

Lin Yu always had the idea of bringing these four together.

It didn't necessarily have to be some inappropriate activity.

Just sitting together, chatting, and getting to know each other would be good.

Otherwise, continuing to interact in such a distant manner wasn't a solution!

It was just a pity that Little Darling really didn't give him any peace of mind.

Lin Yu felt a bit helpless.

She would occasionally cause some trouble.

Throw a little tantrum.

Causing her mother to shed many tears for no reason.

So, in order to avoid further stimulating the fragile Su Yuyao, he could only repeatedly shelve this plan.

Sigh!

Thinking of this.

Lin Yu sighed again.

He didn't know when that day would finally arrive.

Just thinking about the lively scene of them all gathered together.

Lin Yu felt a faint weakness in his lower back!

Leaving the villa.

Lin Yu didn't take a taxi this time.

Instead, he called the standby driver in the villa to take him there.

The villa wasn't far from the high-speed rail station, but it required passing through the city center.

It would take at least twenty minutes.

After Lin Yu arrived and got out of the car, he found that Tang Manman had already walked out of the station.

She stood on the left side of the station exit.

She was wrapped tightly in ordinary winter clothes.

Around her neck was a black and white checkered scarf.

Seeming unable to resist the cold of this winter, she buried the lower half of her face into it.

Dragging a suitcase half as tall as a person.

Tang Manman stood there all alone.

Around her.

Countless pedestrians hurried by.

Everyone had their own destinations, so their footsteps were swift and firm.

Only she stood there, solitary and alone.

Looking like a little beast unaccepted by the city.

Finding Tang Manman, Lin Yu hurried up to meet her.

Upon seeing Lin Yu.

Tang Manman's peach blossom eyes exposed above the scarf swelled with a mixture of joy and anxiety.

Coming to Tang Manman's side, Lin Yu instinctively took the suitcase from her hand.

Leading her towards the outside of the station.

Why did you come so suddenly?

You didn't even tell me.

Seeing that Tang Manman's condition was relatively fine, Lin Yu breathed a sigh of relief and asked casually.

Tang Manman's pretty eyes lowered.

Her long eyelashes trembled slightly in the cold wind.

After a while, she whispered:

I was afraid you wouldn't let me come.

Hearing Tang Manman's grievance-filled words.

Lin Yu subconsciously wanted to refute.

To say, How could I not let you come.

But before the words could leave his mouth.

Lin Yu froze.

Actually, asking himself honestly.

If Tang Manman hadn't acted first and reported later.

But had told him in advance over the phone that she wanted to come see him.

How would he have replied?

Lin Yu felt that he would most likely have rejected her.

Told her not to rush, to wait a bit.

Wait until he had time.

And then he would go find her.

Because the previous few times she had tactfully expressed her desire to come see him.

He seemed to have replied in exactly that way.

Lin Yu fell silent.

Because he suddenly realized.

Tang Manman's act of acting first and reporting later.

Seemed to stem from him always inadvertently pushing her away.

Actually, thinking about it, Lin Yu felt he was a bit innocent.

If Tang Manman's attitude during their chats had been just a little bit firmer.

Then he wouldn't have refused her coming over.

Because from his perspective, he was merely making a tentative suggestion for Tang Manman to wait a little longer.

Wait until he had time to go find her.

And Tang Manman would always obediently agree right away.

This made Lin Yu feel that she probably didn't need him all that much.

Just that occasionally her emotions flared up.

And she wanted to act spoiled with him.

Once he comforted her.

She would be fine.

And could happily continue with her life.

But the truth didn't seem to be like that.

Her tactful expressions weren't a whim of acting spoiled.

But rather, when the little people of longing in her heart rebelled and she could no longer suppress them, she would finally take their hands and send out a cautious probe towards him...

...

The two walked in the cold wind.

Lin Yu's silence seemed to make this winter even colder.

Tang Manman thought Lin Yu was angry with her.

She panicked.

She raised her hand and grabbed Lin Yu's hand. When Lin Yu subconsciously looked over, she looked at him and said aggrievedly:

I know you have a lot of things to busy yourself with right now.

I'm not being unreasonable and insisting on pestering you.

It's, it's...

It's that it should be my turn now.

You already went to accompany Qingmo and Xia Muzhu.

According to the usual pattern, it should be my turn now.

As Tang Manman spoke, tears quickly welled up in her eyes. Sorrow and grievance filled her reddened gaze, spilling over as the teardrops fell.

Watching her cry, Lin Yu suddenly felt a deep ache in his heart.

Why was she crying so pitifully again?

It was as if someone had bullied her once more.

Hadn't he made a silent vow to himself long ago?

A vow that he would never let Tang Manman suffer such heartbreak again?

Yet, it seemed he hadn't been able to change a single thing.

He truly hated this feeling.