Chapter 116: There Is Always a Key to Restart
As the incident unfolded, its influence gradually widened. The media launched a fervent exploration into the moral conscience of those in the teaching profession regarding the Pan Jinshi affair, pushing their investigative zeal to the absolute limit. Within a mere two days, they had unearthed old newspapers from years past, determined to get to the bottom of the truth.
Xiao Xiao had long anticipated this and had prepared herself mentally. She had taken leave from her company in advance, deciding to watch coldly as Pan Jinshi reaped what he had sown. What surprised her most was the inquiry from her former counselor. She still remembered how, at the time of the incident, the counselor had been filled with disappointment, condemning her for a lack of morals and wishing he had never taken her on as a student, eager to distance himself from her as much as possible. Now, however, the counselor first explained the painstaking efforts he had gone through to track down her contact information. Before she could even voice her grievances, the counselor apologized first, leaving her feeling both amused and helpless.
She received many similar calls one after another, all from witnesses to the past events. She didn't know what to say; forgiveness was out of the question, and letting go was even further from her mind. She could only smile at how fickle human hearts could be, so easily swayed by public opinion.
Occasionally, reporters would call requesting interviews, but she turned them all down. One thing at a time; settling scores after the fact wasn't done in this manner.
Only when her mother cried before her for a long time, offering prayers of gratitude to the heavens, did she finally manage to unearth a glimmer of genuine emotion from her long-buried feelings.
"I think you should lie low for a while; they will come looking for you sooner or later," Lin Shuo said as he helped her gather the clothes drying on the balcony, offering his sincere advice.
She caught the scent of the sun on the clothes—a refreshing fragrance that seeped into her skin—and replied indifferently, "Where could I possibly go?"
Lin Shuo changed the subject. "Do you know why a burglar wouldn't take the keys after breaking into a house?"
"Why?" She tilted her head to look at him, showing interest.
"Because he broke the lock, and the owner is bound to change it. The keys would be useless to him." Lin Shuo set the clothes casually on the lounge chair and reached out to take her hand, steering the conversation back to where they started. "I know I once did foolish things, and you must weigh everything with extra care. It will be harder than ever to gain entry into your heart again, but I don't care. I don't care about anything else; I only care if you are well." Lin Shuo’s throat moved with a swallow. "Come back with me. Leave everything, the good and the bad, to me."
She could feel his affection in his burning gaze. The word "yes" hovered at the root of her tongue, choked and stifled, unable to find its way out, so she simply gave a slight nod.
That very evening, she officially moved into his small residence—Number 71, Jasmine Tang Dynasty.
He had specifically sent the servants away, overjoyed. He pulled her to bed early, resting her head on his arm and gently stroking her hair until a heavy sleepiness washed over her. He kept his eyes open, watching her beautiful sleeping face, and couldn't resist kissing her lightly closed eyelids. Then, he turned off the bedside lamp and took a deep breath of the air, scented with her presence, filling his lungs until he felt whole and grounded in reality.
The next morning, before he had awakened, she moved stealthily about the bedroom and unexpectedly found that box. The little kitten on it had been worn smooth, and rust had begun to appear on the edges. With her slender fingers, she pried open the lid, and the coins she had once saved through sheer self-restraint lay quietly inside.
Her nose tingled, and her eyes grew sore. Many things in life do not vanish forever like the passage of time. So what if the lock is broken? There is always a key that can start things anew.