Chapter 201 – 201

Chapter 201 - 201

Soon, the incident that occurred at the club swiftly circulated within a particular social circle of Lingcheng's high society.

Initially, it was dismissed as gossip, given the Zhong family's substantial reputation in the city. Zhong Ling, known for his impeccable conduct and gentle demeanor, was an admired figure among many young women.

However, too many people had witnessed the event firsthand, and it was done so brazenly that attempting to cover it up would be futile. Not only were Zhong Ling's friends present, but also those from neighboring rooms who seized the opportunity to expose the incident.

As a result, Zhong Ling's reputation within the circle had indeed plummeted. After all, it was not a positive occurrence, and his actions that day were undeniably excessive.

Throughout the entire next morning, Zhong Ling was on the phone, his private line inundated with calls from both his family and curious inquirers.

It seemed that when a refined and unattainable figure like him tumbled from their pedestal, they became all the more susceptible to gossip and criticism. Some callers hurled insults at him, while others offered condolences and understanding, voicing their belief in his character.

Zhong Ling didn't experience much emotional upheaval; he even found the situation somewhat amusing. It was more reliable to trust in rumors than in one's character, for even the most virtuous individuals could lose their temper or resort to underhanded tactics to obtain what they desired.

Perhaps he had acted impulsively, but the consequences of his actions were not irreparable. They would merely require time and effort to address.

With a hand raised to end yet another call from a friend, Zhong Ling lowered his head to attend to the documents at hand.

The sound of a fountain pen scratching across the latest contract echoed in the quiet office. The assistant beside him tidied up the documents and then turned to say,

"Boss, the situation might not be looking too favorable now. It seems the news about your impulsive behavior at the club has spread, and a few companies that were supposed to collaborate with us are reconsidering their deals. They're planning to move to our competitors."

The male assistant added a word of caution, "Boss, I suggest you clarify the situation through public relations as soon as possible, or gather evidence of those spreading rumors secretly. You should file a lawsuit against them promptly. This incident's impact is significant, negatively affecting both the company and your personal reputation."

"Also, your private phone has been ringing non-stop from the Zhong family. Your mother is urging you to go home and explain the situation. I've temporarily declined the calls on your behalf. Try to keep a calm mindset, Boss."

Zhong Ling didn't lift his head, responding casually, "Mm, thanks for the reminder. I've already assigned someone to handle this matter. Evidence is being collected at the company. If there's nothing else, you can get back to your work."

When the assistant left, Zhong Ling finally put down his pen. The documents on the desk were spread out before him. He leaned back in his chair, resting his head on the cushion, and began to recall the events of the previous day.

In truth, he didn't harbor much regret. The only concern was that Nan Yan might not be as close to him in the future. But so what? If she had consistently ignored his feelings, it was better for her to see his true self than to continuously disregard him.

Perhaps due to the pent-up emotions, the act of venting all his resentment towards someone had relieved some of the pressure within him. However, he couldn't help but wonder if his actions had truly frightened her.

Thoughts of those incidents caused ripples to involuntarily pass through Zhong Ling's tranquil, obsidian-like eyes. His heart stirred slightly, but the emotion quickly dissipated.

He had long wished to express those sentiments to her. Now, with no need to suppress his feelings and intentions, especially after realizing he couldn't forget her, why not make one last effort?

With this thought, Zhong Ling felt a sense of relief instead.

On the other side, it took He Mian an entire day to finally soothe his girlfriend's foul mood. He assumed that she had been frightened by Zhong Ling's actions.

In reality, however, she hadn't been scared at all; she had deliberately approached him for the sake of pretense, trying to gauge this man's limits. But after playing along for so long, she realized that He Mian was only slightly annoyed and had no intention of seeking revenge on Zhong Ling. So, did this mean that he truly viewed her as nothing more than a tool?

Well, if being a tool was what it took, then so be it. She had all the time in the world to wear him down; she didn't believe she couldn't soften his heart.

Despite everything, He Mian was still a fairly responsible boyfriend. At least when she was upset, he knew how to cheer her up, fulfilling his role as her partner. They spent the whole day watching a horror movie, with him taking her out to distract her. Throughout the film, Nan Yan remained unbothered, while he clung to her hand, claiming to protect her from fright. Hah, she wasn't fooled; it was clear that he was the one who was actually scared!

After the movie, they ventured to an amusement park nearby. Her boyfriend, surprisingly playful, seemed to be enjoying himself even more than she was. As they were leaving, they passed by a tattoo parlor, where her boyfriend, on a whim, suggested, "Come on, let's get matching couple tattoos."

Nan Yan initially resisted, but his persistence was unwavering. He insisted it was a romantic gesture, something couples nowadays often did, and that it would be simple, just on their arms. Eventually, she gave in and accompanied him inside.

The shop owner was a bald man with tattoos covering his arms, yet he appeared quite courteous, which was expected in the service industry.

They spent time deliberating, and as Nan Yan observed a young girl getting a tattoo, blood seeping from her arm, she couldn't help but feel hesitant. In the end, it was decided that only He Mian would proceed with the tattoo. When he was done and emerged from the parlor,

Nan Yan lifted his sleeve to reveal a perfectly inked, pink Peppa Pig on her boyfriend's arm, surrounded by a few tiny beads of fresh blood.

Nan Yan: "..."

Was this true?

She never would have imagined that her boyfriend's hobby was so unique.

This time, Nan Yan truly couldn't hold back. After a moment of silence, she burst out laughing on the spot.

He Mi held her hand and led her out of the tattoo parlor. Across the street, under the shade of a tree-lined path, they stopped at a small, quiet park. They sat on a bench to rest.

Nan Yan couldn't stop laughing at the Peppa Pig tattoo on He Mian's arm.

No wonder the shop owner had looked so peculiar while inking it—trying to suppress his laughter, probably because he had never encountered such an absurdly unique customer before.

She genuinely hadn't expected this man to have such an unconventional hobby. Indeed, one had to have a Peppa Pig tattoo to showcase their unparalleled sophistication and style in this world, didn't they?

Nan Yan mercilessly patted his arm, giggling uncontrollably. He Mian gritted his teeth in frustration. Whose fault was this? It was all for her sake, yet now that he had succeeded in making her happy, she was mocking him heartlessly. What was there to laugh about? Didn't he have any dignity?

He Mian's composure was beginning to crumble. If only he hadn't believed those online tricks claiming this would please his girlfriend. In a few days, he would remove it, erasing every trace of it. So much for a matching couple's tattoo; he was the only one enduring the pain and ridicule.

Heming saw her laughing so joyfully that he playfully reached out to tickle her armpit and waist. Nan Yan giggled uncontrollably, trying to retreat, but he held her in place. Eventually, she laughed so hard that she couldn't straighten up, tears streaming down her face. She frantically called out to him, "You're bullying me! Taking advantage of your height to settle personal scores – that's not fair! If you have the skills, let me use just one hand!"

Heming chuckled with narrowed eyes. Holding Nan Yan by the waist, he adjusted his position and actually allowed her to use only one hand. Yet, even with that handicap, he still managed to pin her down effortlessly. Finally, pressing her onto a park bench, he asked,

"Unfair? Is it fair now? I've given you one hand, yet I can still take you down. So, are you convinced now?"

Struggling to get up from the bench, Nan Yan realized that this man was not only silly, but also rather straightforward. Which boyfriend would compete with his girlfriend for a win or lose?

Was he really that clueless?

Nan Yan glared at him, but he refused to let go. In response, she struggled more fiercely, her cheeks flushing slightly. At wit's end, she stealthily extended one hand, intending to tug at his ear. However, in a fumble, she accidentally pulled out a silver chain with a clamshell-shaped flip cover from around his neck.

The chain had warmed to match his skin temperature. It suddenly slipped down from his neck, landing softly on Nanyan's cheek. As she shifted, it glided down to her chin and then nestled into the collar of her clothing, ultimately resting against the skin of her chest. The rigid metal, still bearing the warmth of his body, created a distinct sensation of heat.

South Yan ceased her resistance, out of sheer curiosity, she reached out and grasped the chain directly. Raising her gaze, she looked at him and asked, "What is this?"

She traced the warm chain with her fingers, guessing by its texture that it was made of platinum, for it had retained its color over time. It was neither too thick nor too thin, and the pendant, resembling a scallop shell, had a hinged lid. "It seems like you've been wearing this for a long time, never taking it off."

Hao Mian's body paused for a moment before quickly returning to its natural state.

He casually took the chain from Nanyan's hand and, holding the small pendant between his fingers, stroked it twice. Seeing his girlfriend looking at him with curiosity, he couldn't help but chuckle and reply, "Are you a curious cat? Why are you so curious about everything? It's just a chain. If you like it, I'll buy you an identical one in the future, okay?"

Leaning on his chin, he pondered for a moment before adding, "This was a gift from a friend in the neighboring ward during my hospital stay after the car accident. They said it would bring good luck, so I accepted it. I've been wearing it for many years now, but there's no special meaning behind it."

Nanyan remained silent, still gazing at him.

Could something without any particular significance be worn for so many years?

South Yan sensed an elusive hint of "mischief" in the air.

Noticing her displeasure, He Mian couldn't help but reach out to rub her face and pinch her rosy cheeks, seemingly unaffected by the matter at hand.

But whether he was truly indifferent or not was known only to him.

He explained casually, "As you know, I had just narrowly escaped from a life-threatening car accident and kidnapping. During that period, my emotions were quite volatile. With my family occupied with work and unable to be by my side, they hired a few nurses to attend to me. So, I tended to have outbursts and make things difficult for people."

"The patient in the neighboring bed couldn't bear to watch and stepped in to say a few words. That's how we got acquainted."

This friend was younger than him but offered quite a bit of encouragement and comfort, leaving a somewhat deep impression on him. In fact, it went beyond that; they got along quite well. After all, youthful affections were different from those in adulthood. Back then, he wasn't as calculative as he is now; he could be considered an earnest and passionate young man.

At the time, the friend accidentally tumbled down the stairs, fracturing his leg, while he also broke his leg in a car accident. Together, they roamed around the hospital in their wheelchairs, often getting scolded by doctors. Yet, the next day, they'd repeat their antics, causing a trail of nurses and attendants to follow them daily. Looking back, that hospital stay was rather amusing.

Upon hearing this, Nan Yan sensed something amiss. She could almost visualize a breakup scenario with the friend as his past "white moonlight." As his current girlfriend, it was appropriate for her to express her reasonable doubt.

"Is that really all there is to it?"

Hao Mian didn't hide anything, explaining clearly, presenting himself as an innocent and pure young man with nothing to conceal.

"And what else could it be?"

Heming lowered his head and smiled, not bothering to look at her face again. "Do you really think there's something I can't tell you?"

"It's not some big secret. Many people knew about the car accident back then. When we have a gathering someday, you can ask my friends. Would I lie to you about something like this?"

His tone sounded particularly natural, without any unusual emotions. His explanation was reasonable, but there was still something off about his attitude.

Upon hearing this, Nan Yan still refused to believe him. Frustrated, she reached out to open the shell pendant in his hand, curious about what was hidden inside.

However, He Mian subtly evaded her touch, casually responding, "It's just a trinket, nothing much to see."

Despite his words, Nanyan's fingers paused, and her expression immediately revealed her displeasure. She asked, "If it's nothing worth seeing, then why can't I take a look?"

"And why haven't you mentioned this before? If I hadn't discovered it, would you have kept it to yourself forever?"

Her voice was muffled, akin to most girlfriends who, upon accidentally finding a gift from an ex-partner, couldn't help but feel jealous and let their temper flare.

He Mian was no fool; he could easily detect the concern in her tone. A hint of amusement stirred within him. "Isn't that obvious? I'm not stupid. Why would I mention such trivial matters? Besides, she wasn't an ex-girlfriend. It's been over a decade since that incident, is it really necessary to dwell on it now?"

When He Mian said this, his expression remained unchanged. He genuinely appeared normal, without any hidden intentions. He continued with a smile, "Besides, who said I won't show you? I'm just giving you a heads-up so that you won't get angry after seeing it."

He Mian's reasoning was logical and left no room for argument. "Think about it, you're already upset even before I show you. If I were to describe our past in more intimate detail or show you something more revealing, wouldn't we end up in a huge fight? I'm merely avoiding potential conflict by not telling you – isn't that also because I'm afraid we might argue?"

Indeed, his words held some truth.

But was Nanyan the type to let things go easily? She could make a mountain out of a molehill, especially considering the obvious complexity of their past relationship.

Not as innocent as he made it sound, that's for sure.

Nan Yan looked at him in silence. Seeing that she was genuinely upset, He Miun removed the necklace from his neck with a casual gesture and passed it to her. "You're getting angry over such trivial matters. You used to be so indifferent towards me, but now you're different."

"Are you head over heels in love with me?"

He teased her on purpose, "What am I to do now? If I were to leave you someday, would you miss me terribly?"

He Miun couldn't quite pinpoint his feelings, but he didn't dislike this sensation.

He couldn't help but chuckle, then, with his thumb, he gently rubbed the skin around her eyes, the slightly cool and delicate touch causing her skin to flush slightly. He continued massaging slowly, curious to see if she would shed tears, but after a while, not a single tear was wiped away.

In his mind, he thought, Hmm, seems like this girlfriend isn't as fragile as I imagined. She doesn't cry easily. But when she does, it's quite amusing. Yesterday, it took me quite a while to calm her down.

Now, he found that cheering someone up could be quite an enjoyable task.

Nan Yan swatted away his mischievous fingers and reached for the fabric offered to her. The pendant had cooled down, and upon holding it, it felt icy smooth in her palm.

She opened the scallop-shaped pendant and, as expected, found a picture of a young girl inside. The girl in the photo had a youthful, innocent expression, appearing to be around thirteen or fourteen. Her smile was delightful, radiating a particularly sunny sweetness.

At this point, Nanyan would never believe that they had no history together. Would someone disregard something so much to wear it around their neck for years?

Nanyan pressed her lips together and lifted her gaze to study He Mian's expression. He still seemed casual, his eyes calm without any unusual emotions. But could excessive calmness be considered abnormal in another sense?

After all, this was something that could lead to misunderstandings with his girlfriend. Shouldn't he be a bit anxious to explain?

Maintaining her composure, Nanyan looked back down at the girl in the photo. Though she appeared young and inexperienced, it wasn't hard to recognize who she was. Thus, Nanyan asked,

"This girl seems somewhat familiar. Was she the one who drank with you at the gathering the other day?"

Hearing this, He Mian turned his head to glance at her. His long legs were crossed, and his posture exuded an effortless nonchalance. He chuckled. "Why are you suddenly concerned about this again? You have quite the keen eyesight. You only took a few glances that day but still managed to remember her appearance."

Wasn't that obvious?

How could she not recognize Ruan Xiaoxiao's photo?

During their brief encounter last time, she hadn't missed the fleeting fear and panic in her eyes when she looked at Zhong Ling.

Although it was a photograph from her teenage years, her facial features had not changed much. The youthful innocence and brightness in her eyes remained largely unchanged even as she matured, except that the naivety was gone. Nevertheless, her smile still radiated the same sweetness and sunshine.

Would anyone be able to resist such a girl?

Moreover, she not only recognized the girl in the photo but also knew that she was the one who took care of and comforted He Mian during his car accident.

How could such a warm and radiant girl, like a little sun, not be adored by others?

Most importantly, wasn't the person who had always occupied He Mian's heart none other than her? Didn't he initially lure Ruan Xiaoxiao back with a photo because he couldn't let go of his feelings for her?

He Mian had indeed kept his true nature well hidden. After all, how could a man widely regarded as someone not to be trifled with by his friends appear so simple and harmless in front of her?

He had merely concealed his charisma and presence before her. He could hold his own against Zhong Ling, even overpowering him. Nan Yan refused to believe that he was an ordinary man.

Heming's gaze calmly swept over the smiling face on the necklace. In truth, even Zhong Ling was unaware of this. Hardly anyone knew about it – it was a secret between the two of them.

It all started when they met at the hospital. How could one not be drawn to such a lively and sunny girl? Heming had naturally developed a fondness for Ruixiao. However, upon discovering the issue with his body, his initial affection was suddenly extinguished by a cold shower of reality. No boy could tolerate such a flaw, let alone reveal it to a girl he once liked!

Thus, on Christmas Day, when Ruixiao nervously presented a card and confessed her feelings, Heming, after much hesitation, turned her down. Since that day, they had no further interactions.

The incident was kept discreet, known only to the two parties involved. Even Heming's friends were oblivious to it.

Then, Nuan Xiao Xiao fell in love with another boy, who was Zhong Ling. Their relationship progressed smoothly, and Nuan Xiao Xiao left her past behind with him. When they met again, their interactions were limited to polite nods and smiles. He treated her as a close friend of his boyfriend, and she never mentioned their previous history. She even privately asked him not to reveal her previous confession to Zhong Ling.

She was afraid that Zhong Ling might become unhappy or that their future encounters would become awkward.

He Mu agreed, having no intention from the beginning to share this with anyone. However, since then, he couldn't shake off a faint sense of dissatisfaction mixed with a touch of helplessness. His feelings for Nuan Xiao Xiao were complicated. His initial fondness was genuine, but it was also true that he had rejected her confession due to his own shortcomings. They simply weren't fated to be together.

Her swift departure left an indelible mark on his heart. Perhaps a corner of his subconscious held onto a lingering regret and dissatisfaction. From then on, He Mu approached relationships with casual indifference.

He didn't believe there was any overly intimate attachment between him and Nuan Xiao Xiao; it was just that the first flutterings of adolescent love were hard to forget.

Upon learning of her breakup with Zhong Ling, He Mian found himself, for some inexplicable reason, offering Zhong Ling a misguided plan. He was unsure if his true intention was to sincerely help Zhong Ling rekindle the relationship or to seize this opportunity to sever all ties between them once and for all.

After all, any rational person would understand that such an approach would only push both parties further apart.

If Zhong Ling truly fell deeply in love with someone else, or if Nuan Xiao Xiao's personality were just a bit more headstrong, would it mean that there was no chance for her and Zhong Ling to be together?

Over the years, Nuan Xiao Xiao had been studying abroad, and they had even planned to settle down overseas. After he sent her a photo of Zhong Ling kissing another girl, Nuan Xiao Xiao spent a long time on the phone with him that night. Eventually, she decided to return home.

This was his original intention -

He had managed to separate Zhong Ling from Ruan Xiaoxiao and then brought her back from abroad – both feats now accomplished.

Up until now, no one had suspected his behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

In truth, he had prepared many plans.

However, some unforeseen issues arose during the execution of these plans. For instance, he discovered that his health wasn't completely hopeless; it might just require some stimulation to gradually recover. It was at this juncture that he, by sheer coincidence, became entangled with Wen Nanyan. His relationship with Wen Nanyan was an unexpected turn of events.

But an accident didn't mean he intended to toy with her emotions. Though he wasn't an upright person, he wasn't despicable enough to deceive a girl's feelings, especially not someone as gentle and kind as Wen Nanyan. She was someone who could never evoke malice in others.

Although there were initial sparks of friction between them, he couldn't help but grow fond of her over time. He did have feelings for her, given her endearing nature, but they were not as profound as one would expect. Rather, his interest in her held ulterior motives.

When affection becomes entangled with numerous other elements, it often loses its purity. He has his limits, and after their breakup, he endeavors to compensate her for what she desires, albeit restricted to material needs alone.

Isn't that how relationships often unfold?

He always believed that love and marriage were two entirely distinct matters. In a relationship, happiness was enough; but when it came to marriage, he had never seriously entertained the thought, or perhaps, had never allowed himself to consider it at all.

He supposed that if his actions were exposed online, he'd likely be branded as a jerk. Why date if one had no intention of marriage? But such was reality; many couples who fell in love ended up parting ways due to various issues, only to remarry with different partners later on.

In a way, he was just an ordinary person, but his encounter with a gentle and sweet girl had magnified his flawed nature exponentially.

Thus, he had been trying his best to accommodate her and had done quite a bit to please his girlfriend recently. Normally, he wouldn't have such patience with girls who liked him.

Frankly, he wasn't experienced in love either. This was his first serious relationship with a girl seven or eight years younger than him, and he believed he was doing a decent job. After all, he had been quite attentive and considerate towards her.

However, when it came to emotions, sincerity was easily perceivable after spending enough time together.

Nan Yan could clearly sense his distraction. How should she put it? Although He Mian appeared to be kind to her, his actions stemmed from necessity rather than genuine affection; there was a stark difference between the two.

Perhaps he had some affection for her, but it was likely not substantial, a kind that could be easily discarded at any moment.

Especially after Nan Yan identified the girl in the photo, he seemed rather reluctant to discuss the topic. However, the more averse he appeared, the more Nan Yan persisted in steering the conversation towards it.

"Are you fond of this young lady?"

"Hmm?"

Hao Mian turned his head, lifting his eyelids slightly. His gaze fell upon her with a faint expression. Actually, his demeanor had shifted slightly, and Nan Yan could even sense the change in his aura. However, he held back, asking, "Why ask so many questions?"

"Am I not allowed to ask?" South Yan seemed taken aback by his response, her grip on the chain tightening instantly. A hint of hurt appeared on her face.

"Have you forgotten that I'm your girlfriend now?"

He Mu couldn't help but laugh at her reaction, reaching out to pinch the soft flesh on his girlfriend's cheek, apparently in a good mood. "How dare I? But if I speak the truth, will you be angry?"

South Yan swatted his hand away and glared at him.

"Tell me the truth first!"

"Alright, I'll tell you," He Mian surrendered with his hands up. He lowered his voice, and though it was perfectly normal, Nan Yan sensed a hint of grievance in it. However, his gaze was unusually sincere.

"The story is actually quite straightforward. Back when your brother was young and handsome, this little girl here relied on her looks to get by. She fell for my brother's unparalleled beauty, confessed to him, but was rejected. So, she turned to my best friend instead."

As he spoke, he gently squeezed her fingers, his tone filled with disdain. "This kind of person embodies the mindset of, 'If I can't have you, I'll settle for your brother as a consolation prize!' My dear girlfriend, now do you understand? There really isn't any secret relationship between us."

Nan Yan couldn't help but look at him doubtfully. "Are you being truthful? Why does this sound so unreliable? Weren't you the one who pursued her, only to be rejected and end up crying alone in despair?"

He Mian: "…How could that be!"

What kind of figure is your brother in your eyes? Are you still feeling dejected? Is he really that spineless? It's impossible for him to cry, never in this life.

Nan Yan tugged at a strand of hair on his side, pinching his cheek as she asked again,

"Are you being serious? You're not lying to me?"

He Miang patted the Peppa Pig on his arm and then held it out as a pledge, "Of course it's true, truer than pearls."

It was indeed true; he wasn't lying, but he also didn't refute Nan Yan's initial question.

In the end, he hadn't forgotten the young girl who had comforted him in the hospital at the beginning of it all.

Nan Yan could see through his evasion, but if he wasn't planning on exposing their facade just yet, she would play along for now. After all, it wasn't the right time to break up. She wouldn't hold onto such a trivial matter and nag him over it. There would always be a chance to settle scores in the future.