Chapter 696: Sincere and Pure

In the building, Lin Gantang had just finished trimming Ximi’s nails and placed the obedient pet on the soft couch. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Aunt Zhong came out with delicate tea snacks, and Lin Gantang looked up briefly before Aunt Zhong explained, “These are prepared for Sir and his friend’s afternoon tea.”

“I’ll take them over.” Lin Gantang washed her hands and took the items from Aunt Zhong’s hands.

In the courtyard.

The atmosphere had sunk into a lull as Shi Jun felt heartache for his friend. He watched how the other had waited painfully for love for years, and just when he’d finally had a response, complications arose unexpectedly.

It seemed as if fate always had to be harsh to him, was it going to make him lose what he had gained? Truly cruel.

“You can’t bear to, right? If you could, you wouldn’t be in such agony,” Shi Jun said. “Since you can’t bear to, then just follow your heart. You’re always indulging others; it’s time to indulge yourself for a change.”

“Would it be the right choice to forcefully keep her by my side?”

Lin Gantang walked to the barrier of the courtyard and overheard this melancholic sentence. She tilted her head to listen to the conversation beyond the barrier and unconsciously stopped in her tracks.

Wen Yanqing held the cup that was gradually losing warmth, speaking with unspeakable sorrow, “Not only have I gone blind, but I might also lose other things. If she leaves me and gets over this period of sadness, she’ll be able to find a new beginning. Just like how she once loved Gu Zhichuan deeply, she eventually let go, didn’t she?”

Shi Jun remembered the countless nights when Wen Yanqing numbed himself with alcohol and felt that if he truly decided to separate, the heartbreak would probably be worse than death.

“Do you remember you said that once you were with her, you wouldn’t let go unless you died?” Shi Jun looked at him. “Are you giving up now?”

“I can’t bear to,” Wen Yanqing said hoarsely. “Shi Jun, have you ever dreamed of death?”

“No,” Shi Jun replied.

“Since my headaches started, I’ve dreamed of death more than once.” He gripped the now cold cup. “I’ve dreamed of dying from shock after heavy drinking, of death from a high fall, and of being crushed to death by a big truck.”

“All such things, incredibly realistic, as if I’m not supposed to be alive, as if no matter which path I take, I can’t escape the inevitable death.” Recalling the situations from his dreams, Wen Yanqing’s lips turned slightly pale. “How would you know if the issue with my brain now isn’t a harbinger of my own death?”

Shi Jun felt that he was being overly thoughtful and affected by negativity, and, not wanting him to be too pessimistic, said, “Dreams have scientific explanations; you’re overthinking it. You said yourself that you can’t bear to leave her, so why force yourself to make a choice?”

Shi Jun knew that he was struggling, entangled in a mess.

He loved Lin Gantang too much, so he couldn’t bear to cut the tangle with a single stroke, for fear that the blade would hurt her. He tried to untie the knots bit by bit but inadvertently wound himself up even tighter.

Shi Jun said seriously, “I think that she might not leave you.” At least for now, Lin Gantang’s love for Wen Yanqing seemed sincere and pure.

Wen Yanqing lowered his gaze, “She’s very emotional, if I tell her directly, she’ll just follow her current feelings and act recklessly, without rationally thinking about her own future.”

“So what do you plan to do?” Shi Jun asked.

Wen Yanqing’s breathing was painful, “I’ll arrange everything for her, so that even if I’m not here, her future will go smoothly, and she will find her place.” Footsteps approached, stopping beside them.

Shi Jun turned his head to see the cool-faced Lin Gantang, and his expression shifted slightly.

She slammed the afternoon tea down and stared fixedly at Wen Yanqing.