Chapter 77 Avoiding Me?

Chapter 77 Avoiding Me?

Lin Yao's breath hitched, and her heart tightened.

She had agreed to meet Shi Yu on the weekend, but at the time, she was kissed so passionately that her mind went blank, and she forgot to think. After calming down, she thought it would be a good opportunity to talk privately about breaking up.

But Lin Yao never imagined she would find herself in this predicament.

If she entered the villa with Shi Yu, she could almost predict what would happen next.

He gazed at her with eyes so intense and dark, and the lingering scent of ambiguity still filled the car. Even if Lin Yao were not as perceptive, she could sense that something was amiss with Shi Yu.

There was a feeling that once she stepped inside, he would devour her whole, leaving her bedridden.

But if she didn't go in, she suspected he would take her right there in the car…

"Baby doesn't want to get out of the car?" Shi Yu's gaze was cold and unwavering as he stared at her, "Then I'll come back into the car to keep you company."

As he spoke, he started to turn back towards the car.

The man's face was cold, his jawline taut, giving off an unfamiliar chill.

"N-no… I'll get out now, and go in with you…" Lin Yao immediately caved, quickly opening the car door and getting out from the other side.

Delaying for a moment was better than being alone with Shi Yu in the car.

Worst case scenario… once they were in the villa, she'd figure something out.

Shi Yu nodded indifferently, showing no change in expression, and walked over to put his arm around her shoulder, holding her hand as he led her inside.

Lin Yao instinctively surveyed their surroundings.

This was a vast estate, with villas stretching ahead and an endless fountain and garden behind, making it hard for her to recognize where they were in the darkness.

Isolated countryside, cut off from the world, a place where cries for help go unheard, just the two of them, confinement, force, imprisonment…

Several chilling thoughts flashed through Lin Yao's mind.

Her soft hand was held tightly by Shi Yu's larger one, but instead of warmth, she felt a chill, causing her to shiver slightly.

Did Shi Yu bring her to this remote estate just for this?

If… if she really said the word 'breakup' here, how would Shi Yu react?

Would he confine her here, do something excessive and forceful, and make sure she was never found, becoming his captive bird?

For some reason, she had no doubt that Shi Yu was capable of doing such things.

Lin Yao couldn't help but think of her fate in the original novel.

Becoming the caged canary of a powerful figure in certain circles, her wings clipped and confined, kept as a mistress.

Though she lived in luxury, she was only ever kept in a gilded cage.

Always hidden behind the scenes, as if her identity were something shameful, something that couldn't be brought to light.

Although she was originally a minor antagonist described as a scheming character, by the end of the story, only a few words were dedicated to her downfall, mainly focusing on how she met a lonely and self-inflicted end, with no further detailed description.

But Lin Yao could guess that given her situation as someone's kept woman, the powerful figure in question must also have an identity that couldn't be exposed, likely old enough to be her father.

Perhaps even married, making her a mistress, a position of disgrace, perhaps even the second or third.

No wonder she couldn't be taken out in public.

Thinking about her decadent and fallen ending in the original story, when Lin Yao looked up at the luxurious and grand villa gates before her, it seemed like the gaping maw of an abyss.

The young girl's legs felt as heavy as lead, unable to take a single step forward.

"Why aren't you moving?"

Shi Yu glanced over, his deep voice asking, his dark eyes thoughtful.

"I... I don't want to go in... Shi Yu, I don't want to go in..." A sudden fear made Lin Yao instinctively shake her head and step back.

In the best-case scenario, after entering, she would only have a relationship with Shi Yu and then be able to run away.

In the worst-case scenario, if she said they should break up, Shi Yu might lock her in this villa until Zhou Yanan appeared.

No, with Shi Yu's pride and temperament, he would likely find it hard to accept a breakup.

So, even with Zhou Yanan around, he might not let her go, still keeping her hidden in the shadows.

Then she would truly become another form of a caged canary, a captive.

Lin Yao didn't want that; she refused it.

She feared the tragic fate described in the original story.

After all, she had worked so hard to get into university and rewrite her unknown minor character's tragic storyline.

She shouldn't have been tempted by Shi Yu, shouldn't have been swayed by her fleeting feelings.

She should have known that the protagonist belongs to the protagonist, not to a minor antagonist like herself.

Suddenly, Lin Yao felt that the villa gates before her were like a warning from the "plot deity," telling her that if she dared to change the main characters' pairing, she would face the same fate as in the original story.

"Shi Yu... I remembered I have something else to do, I'll leave now..." The young girl panicked, tears welling up again.

This time, her eyes reddened as she forcefully pushed away Shi Yu's fingers and ran out crying.

She wouldn't take a car; even if it meant walking until her legs gave out, she would leave no matter how far from the city this place was, even if it were in the middle of nowhere.

The girl, her heart in turmoil, turned to walk away.

In her panic, she stumbled on the steps at the entrance, nearly falling, but Shi Yu's hand steadied her from behind.

He held her waist, his voice low yet patient.

"Baby..."

"No, I don't want you to help me. I want to leave here, I won't go back inside..."

"Listen to me, inside is..."

"I don't want to listen, don't touch me... let me go..."

"Yoyo..." Suddenly, a gentle yet emotional voice came from within the villa.

Lin Yao had just shaken off Shi Yu's hand when she heard this voice, freezing in place.

She turned around.

Inside the villa, by the front door, two familiar figures had appeared without her noticing.

The reserved and slightly silent middle-aged man wheeled the delicate woman sitting in a wheelchair into Lin Yao's view.

She turned fully, her expression gradually shifting from stunned to joyful, her eyes trembling as more uncontrollable tears welled up. "Aunt Song, Uncle Shi..."

"Yoyo..." Song Li, sitting in the wheelchair, also had tears welling up, opening her arms toward her.

Lin Yao choked back a sob, rushing over to embrace her.

They hugged tightly.

The young girl buried her face deeply into Song Li's warm embrace, just like she used to do when she was younger.

Her face, red and tear-stained, was filled with joy.

Song Li couldn't control her tears either, hugging her tightly.

Behind the two crying women.

The reserved and handsome middle-aged man leaned down slightly, resting his chin on his wife's head, gently kissing her tear-streaked cheek, patting her shoulders softly to comfort her.

"You've only just recovered a bit, don't cry too much, it's bad for your health. Let's bring Yoyo inside and talk slowly."

Embarrassed, Song Li wiped away her tears and touched Lin Yao's face. "Yoyo, come inside. Auntie has prepared many things for you. We can eat and chat."

Lin Yao looked up, nodding obediently.

She couldn't resist hugging Song Li again, rubbing her head against her chest to confirm the reality before getting up and going inside together.

The young man left behind by Lin Yao could only stand there with one hand in his pocket, his thin lips pressed tightly together as he watched the scene unfold.

His fingers in his pocket lightly rubbed, restraining himself from the urge to snatch the little green tea away and carry her off.

Shi Yu lowered his dark, cold gaze, a hint of darkness in his eyes.

She always seemed more proactive and enthusiastic when hugging others than when hugging him.

...

...

A few minutes later, Lin Yao sat in the large living room of the villa.

In front of her, the coffee table was already adorned with over a dozen varieties of high-end pastries, along with a pot of hot tea and a pot of coffee, all exquisitely arranged.

Song Li, carried by Shi Mo, was placed on the sofa, holding Lin Yao's hand and saying, "Yoyo, feel free to take whatever you like. Oh, by the way..."

Suddenly realizing something was missing from the table, Song Li looked up at Shi Mo with some dissatisfaction. "Where's the milk tea? I said earlier that we needed to prepare it."

Receiving his wife's disapproving look, the reserved middle-aged man immediately frowned and looked at the butler.

The butler: "The milk tea has been bought and will be brought in shortly."

Soon, several cups of different brands and flavors of milk tea were carefully placed on an elegant tray and brought in by the servants.

Lin Yao felt both moved and overwhelmed by the effort.

She remembered a time after school when she had hidden at the corner outside her neighborhood to finish her milk tea before going home.

At that moment, she turned around and saw Aunt Song, Uncle Shi, Shi Yu, and Shi Nian walking towards her.

Terrified, she immediately crouched behind a shop sign.

Back then, the four members of the Shi family acted as if they hadn't seen her and walked past her.

At the time, Lin Yao thought she had been lucky to hide quickly.

Now, she realized that perhaps it wasn't that she hid quickly, but that the four of them had seen her and chosen not to reveal her presence.

Song Li: "Yoyo, see which flavor you like. I heard from Shi Yu that you prefer extra boba, so I asked them to add extra. How about this boba milk cap or this sea salt boba..."

"Aunt Song, it's okay, one cup is enough." Lin Yao picked her favorite flavor. "Why don't we give the rest to others? Don't waste it."

Song Li: "No waste, no waste. One cup isn't enough. Yoyo, please don't be polite with me and Uncle Shi. Take another cup..."

"Mom, she's staying for dinner tonight. Now that she's had her fill, what will she eat later?" Shi Yu's cold voice came from the other side of the sofa.

Ever since they entered the villa, Lin Yao's hand hadn't left Song Li's.

Sitting on the opposite sofa, Shi Yu's dark and solemn gaze fell on Lin Yao's small hand, which his mother was holding.

Lin Yao suddenly looked up and met his clear, deep eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Thinking about how she had misunderstood Shi Yu earlier outside the door...

She had thought he had brought her to this suburban manor to do something unspeakable.

But she never expected that he had brought her here just to meet Aunt Song and Uncle Shi.

The girl's face turned red with embarrassment, feeling guilty for having such thoughts. She had judged him too harshly.

"Alright, dinner is ready," said Song Li, pulling Lin Yao's hand. "Yoyo, let's go to the dining room. Tonight's dinner is all prepared according to your taste. You'll love it."

Shi Mo came over and lifted Song Li onto her wheelchair. Song Li treated Lin Yao like her own daughter, refusing to let go of her hand and insisting on leading her to the dining room.

Before the incident, the Lin family had always avoided the Shi family.

But after the Shi family's misfortune, it was the Lin family who took care of Shi Nian and Shi Yu.

When Song Li woke up from her coma and Shi Mo regained his memory, they learned that during their absence, their friends had taken care of Shi Nian and Shi Yu.

Song Li and Shi Mo were both moved and unsurprised.

They knew...

Xia Tingnan was their best friend. No matter how many misunderstandings there had been among them in the past, their friendship remained unshaken in times of need.

Even if their situations were reversed today, they would have made the same choice as Xia Tingnan.

This was the bond they had formed through their shared youth.

At the table, Lin Yao realized that all the dishes were her favorites.

It was the taste of home.

Lin Yao, who hadn't felt homesick before, now felt a pang of nostalgia upon tasting these familiar foods from Jincheng.

Song Li: "Yoyo, when I'm feeling better, shall we go back and visit your parents?"

Lin Yao was surprised that Song Li would suggest this.

She didn't know that if not for Song Li's poor health, she would have gone to see Xia Tingnan right away upon waking up.

But with her daily rehabilitation training and difficulty walking, the idea of seeing Xia Tingnan filled her with a sense of apprehension.

She wanted to present herself in a better state to her friend.

Shi Mo, though quiet due to his personality, also tacitly agreed with Song Li at the table.

He silently served Lin Yao her favorite dishes, those she often reached for.

He also reminded Lin Yao to contact them if she needed anything while in the capital. They had watched her grow up and considered her their own child.

"By the way, Yoyo, how are you doing at school?"

Song Li glanced at her son, who had been silent throughout the meal.

"It's a pity that Shi Nian is abroad recently, and Shi Yu is always traveling. They're busy with their grandfather's company and don't know when they can return to school. Otherwise, Shi Yu could keep you company."

Song Li was worried.

She herself came from a large family like the Song clan and didn't want her children to be tainted by its negative aspects, becoming too pragmatic and cold.

But with the Shi family's assets weighing on them and Shi Mo's memory still unrecovered, Shi Yu and Shi Nian had no choice but to step up.

Now that Shi Cheng was punished, Song Li hoped Shi Yu and Shi Nian could return to school soon and regain the vitality of their age.

Though Shi Nian was overly mature, at least he had a good character, unlike Shi Yu, who was ruthless and cold-hearted.

Song Li was most concerned about Shi Yu.

She felt he was becoming more like the young Shi Mo—though not entirely silent, he was even more aloof and cold than his father.

Despite being fond of Lin Yao when they were young, now they sat at the same table for so long without much conversation or even a smile.

Song Li noticed that Lin Yao had glanced at Shi Yu several times while serving herself, only to quickly look down and focus on her food, clearly intimidated by his cold demeanor.

She had specifically asked Shi Yu to pick up Lin Yao, hoping to foster their relationship. Even if it wasn't perfect, at least they could be like siblings again.

"I... I don't need anyone to accompany me..." Lin Yao's hand trembled as she served herself, almost dropping the meat on the table. She quickly glanced at Shi Yu. "My roommates are very nice, and I get along well with my classmates. Shi Nian has called me several times from abroad, and we chat regularly. It'll be fine once she returns."

Lin Yao dared not ask Shi Yu to accompany her.

Since entering the villa, Shi Yu's expression had been cold and tired, clearly still upset about the incident at the villa entrance.

She was making such a fuss about leaving, and she was also speculating about him with those thoughts.

It would be strange if he wasn't angry.

"Indeed, you don't need me to accompany you..." Shi Yu lifted his thin eyelids, giving her a look without any expression. "Lin Yao is very popular at school; there are plenty of people who can keep her company."

"Oh, really?" Song Li picked up on the meaning behind Shi Yu's words and looked at Lin Yao with surprise. "I knew it. Our Youyou is so pretty; of course, someone would chase after her as soon as school started."

Lin Yao: "..."

"No, no... not at all..." She shook her head vigorously, feeling both alarmed and afraid, and a sense of guilt that she couldn't quite put into words. "No one is chasing after me..."

Lin Yao felt a jolt of memory confusion. Hadn't she told Shi Yu about rejecting two classmates during military training?

"Hmm, just two boys from the same class confessed to her, she received three love letters, and five people asked for her WeChat on the street. Oh... she was also mentioned four times on the school forum's confession wall and caused two scandals."

His voice was low and deep, devoid of emotion, each word enunciated clearly, the tone of the last syllable drawn out calmly and casually, effortlessly reciting a series of numbers.

Lin Yao's eyes trembled, and she finally lost her grip on the chopsticks.

Lin Yao: "How... how did you know..."

Shi Yu's dark gaze swept over her visibly stunned face, his voice calm yet sharp. "I saw it on the forum."

...

...

The dinner left Lin Yao feeling uneasy.

Song Li could also tell that the atmosphere between the two was off, worrying silently in her heart.

After dinner, she took Lin Yao to see her room, where she would stay tonight.

Taking advantage of the moment when only the two of them were alone, Song Li patted Lin Yao's hand. "Youyou, don't take it personally. Shi Yu is just like that; he has a terrible personality, probably inherited from your Uncle Shi when he was young."

Shi Mo was always like that, especially before he entered society and started working. His interpersonal relationships were almost exclusively with Song Li and Xia Tingnan.

Especially with Song Li, he had an almost obsessive possessiveness.

Apart from that, he barely spoke to anyone else, let alone paid attention to others.

Song Li seriously suspected that Shi Yu, like his father, wouldn't understand what it means to be gentle until he met a girl he liked.

Song Li: "He's just like his father, always tinkering with computer programming. That's probably why he pays attention to things on your school forum. Don't worry; he's definitely not targeting you intentionally."

Song Li felt guilty, even suspecting that Shi Yu might have hacked into the school network to see other people's phone and forum information, revealing these incidents to embarrass Lin Yao deliberately.

She didn't consider any other possibilities.

She only thought that Shi Yu was annoyed because she occupied his time today, insisting on accompanying Lin Yao.

So her son, out of impatience, deliberately brought up these matters to make things difficult for Lin Yao.

Song Li: "Anyway, if Shi Yu bullies you in the future, tell Auntie, don't be afraid of him."

Lin Yao: "..."

What could she say? She couldn't tell Auntie Song Li that Shi Yu probably wanted to bully her to death right now.

Thinking back to the string of data Shi Yu had recited earlier, Lin Yao could smell a strong scent of jealousy across the table.

She wondered how many informants this person had planted in the school.

Song Li's voice suddenly broke Lin Yao's train of thought. "That room up ahead, push me over there."

Only then did she look up and see three suites at the end of the corridor.

Song Li smiled. "This is the room I specially prepared for you. Next door are Shi Nian and Shi Yu's rooms. Go ahead and open the door to see if you like it..."

Lin Yao saw the anticipation in Song Li's eyes and became curious herself. What kind of room had Auntie Song Li prepared for her?

Pushing the door open, Lin Yao gradually widened her eyes.

Such a beautiful and luxurious room.

The entire space was decorated warmly and tastefully, with a high, ornate ceiling, and a white long-pile carpet by the bed.

In the center stood a four-poster bed draped with curtains, exuding a dreamy romantic style.

There was also an entire row of wardrobes filled with various beautiful dresses and bags.

Song Li wheeled herself next to the wardrobe. "Unfortunately, my legs aren't healed yet, so I couldn't go abroad to pick clothes for you myself. I chose everything based on pictures and your usual style. This row is the latest dress designs, those are more casual outfits, and here... this cabinet contains bags suitable for your age."

Song Li truly prepared these things as if dressing up her own daughter, meticulously selecting clothes, jewelry, and bags.

Not only did she prepare various clothes, jewelry, and bags,

she even set up a desk for Lin Yao, equipped with a study computer, and provided all necessary learning materials and reference books.

Song Li: "Your Uncle Shi and I thought that if we bring you over on weekends, you could study here. As for other daily necessities, I prepared everything according to Shi Nian's room. If you need anything else, just tell Auntie."

"No, no... I don't need anything else..." Lin Yao stood in the middle of the room, looking around at its exquisite and luxurious decor, feeling a sudden pang of emotion.

She never expected them to treat her so well.

Knowing that Auntie Song Li and Uncle Shi Mo were good people was one thing.

Actually experiencing their kindness was another matter entirely.

She knew they cared for her, but did they really need to care this much?

This made her unable to resist wanting more... wanting to be part of their family, not wanting to be separated.

"Naive child, why are you crying as you speak..." Seeing Lin Yao's eyes turn red, Song Li felt a pang in her heart and wheeled closer to hug her.

"What's wrong with you? Are you homesick, or did Auntie say something that upset you?"

Lin Yao had always been a gentle and delicate girl, the kind that made people want to dote on her.

Song Li could never bear to see Lin Yao cry; when she cried, Song Li's heart ached too.

Such a treasure should be cherished and comforted. When the two families became estranged, it broke her heart. Now that the families were close again, Song Li wished to make up for all those years of separation.

Shi Mo and Shi Nian shared the same sentiment.

"Not really..." Lin Yao sniffled and shook her head. "I just... feel... you're being too good to me..."

"It all feels so unreal. I don't know, I've been scared lately..."

"Auntie Song Li, I'm really scared..."

The young girl looked lost and uncertain at that moment.

She seemed like a lost child, gazing at her with a bewildered and unfocused look, seeking help.

Song Li wasn't sure what had happened to Lin Yao recently, but she could see her unease and uncertainty.

She hugged Lin Yao tightly.

"Yoyo, listen to me. These things are merely external possessions, the least valuable to the current Shi family. Compared to your help when Shi Nian and Shi Yu needed it most, these mean nothing."

When someone is wealthy, giving a fraction of their wealth doesn't count for much.

But when someone gives their all, or even just a tenth, to help others, that's truly commendable.

Seeing Lin Yao lift her eyes, looking lost and about to cry again, Song Li's heart ached.

Thinking about what happened while she was unconscious, her heart clenched in pain.

Song Li had heard from Shi Nian about the events in Jincheng. She stroked Lin Yao's head and wiped away her tears. "You must understand that Uncle and I have already treated you like our own daughter. We hope for your happiness, just as we do for Shi Nian and Shi Yu.

"Trust us."

"No matter what happens to you, Uncle and I will always be your strongest support."

"Don't be afraid. Do whatever you want, and we'll always stand by your side."

Always stand by her side?

So, even if she had to choose between her and Zhou Yanan in the future, would they still stand by her without hesitation?

Lin Yao lifted her eyes, feeling uncertain for the first time.

Did this mean... perhaps she had a chance to challenge fate and compete with the protagonist?

"Knock knock—"

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door behind them.

Lin Yao snapped out of her melancholy and confusion, turning around abruptly. Her tear-stained eyes met a cold and serene gaze.

It was Shi Yu...

He stood by the door, his dark eyes unreadable, looking at her indifferently.

"Mom..." His gaze shifted from her face to Song Li. "It's time for your evening rehabilitation."

Song Li quickly turned away, wiping away her tears. "Right, how forgetful of me. Almost forgot. Could you show Yoyo how to use the bathroom switch? I'll go ahead."

A servant was already waiting outside to wheel Song Li away.

The room fell silent.

Lin Yao stood rooted to the spot, unsure what to say. She lowered her panicked, reddened eyes and instinctively headed toward the bathroom. "No need, I can check it myself..."

"Click—" The sound of the door locking echoed behind her.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickened her pace, almost running.

In the next moment, her wrist was firmly grasped by a large hand, and Shi Yu's tall, cool figure blocked her path.

"Lin Youyou..."

He cornered her at the bathroom door, his voice low and cold.

"Avoiding me?"