Chapter Twelve: The One I Cannot Hold
Standing beside Lin Shuo was a beautiful woman, her features graceful and refined, but she was no longer the petite butterfly from before. Only now did Lin Shuo truly fit the image of a consummate playboy. He raised an eyebrow, surveying Xi Mintang, the corners of his mouth curled in a teasing smile. Suddenly, he changed his mind, saying, “Let’s eat here.”
The palpable tension made Hua Mei and Zeng Ziyu exchange troubled glances. Xiao Xiao, sensing the unease, greeted them with casual politeness, but omitted any introductions between the two groups. Instead, she absentmindedly slipped her arm through Xi Mintang’s, the gesture smooth and natural, leading him along as she said, “You haven’t tried authentic snacks since coming to Kunming. I just remembered something particularly distinctive. Let me take you.”
Xi Mintang was quick-witted and perceptive; he immediately sensed the undercurrents and cooperated fully, nodding graciously to Lin Shuo and his companions, though his smile carried a hint of indifference. As they turned away, Xiao Xiao caught the faint sound of someone’s knuckles cracking.
“Don’t look back,” Xi Mintang murmured, calling her back to reason. She shook her head, realizing curiosity wouldn’t serve her now. The car was parked by the roadside; Xi Mintang subtly tucked Xiao Xiao’s hand in the crook of his arm and kindly reminded her again, “Ride with me.”
Not once did Xiao Xiao glance back as she got into the car. Only when they rounded the street corner did she finally exhale in relief, feeling the performance was complete. Yet, she knew this would lead to future lies and inevitable questioning from Hua Mei.
“You promised to take me for a special snack. Shouldn’t you tell me where to go, or are you planning to drive all the way to Myanmar?”
Xiao Xiao played along with Xi Mintang’s dry humor, replying, “That would be fine. We could just try Burmese snacks instead.”
“As long as you can still laugh,” he said.
“Do I seem that bad to you?”
Xi Mintang lowered the sun visor and tuned the radio. The DJ was reading out messages of blessing as songs traveled gently over the airwaves. Xiao Xiao leaned into the leather seat, closed her eyes in contentment, and tapped her fingers lightly on her leg in time with the music.
In Kunming, dusk always arrives late, casting a dreamy glow over every corner of the city. The last rays of sunlight bent around a few streets and fell upon a small alley, illuminating the windowsill of a humble home, where a fragile crab cactus had just sprouted in a rough clay pot, its jade-green brilliance shining through.
“You know best how you’re doing,” Xi Mintang’s gentle words drifted into Xiao Xiao’s ears. He saw things with remarkable clarity, and she instinctively drew her feet closer, like a kitten caught by the scruff, timid and constrained.
In the end, the meal never happened. On the way, she received a call from her supervisor, canceling her day off and summoning her back to work immediately. Not daring to delay, she reluctantly asked Xi Mintang to drop her at the company. He couldn’t help but chuckle, “You seem very invested in this job. Is it because you enjoy it?”
She shook her head. “I don’t like it, but I like money.” She couldn’t bear to imagine what would happen if she lost her job one day—whether she could find anything better, where she would get the money for expensive medical bills, or what excuse she could use to stay busy enough to avoid melancholy.
“It’s simple. Just hold on to that man. He looks well-off.”
“What?” Only after a long moment did Xiao Xiao realize he meant Lin Shuo. Xi Mintang didn’t look at her, unaware that her face had turned pale. Lin Shuo was indeed desirable, but perhaps her fingers were too slender to hold him tight.
Lonely Moments, Don’t Speak of Love 12—Chapter Twelve: The One She Cannot Hold. Update complete!