Chapter 598 - 597: I Fancy You

’Have I fallen for Tang Yuanxiao?’

Lin Huanzhu sat on the floor before the sofa, hugging her knees. She rested her chin on her hands and gazed at Tang Yuanxiao, quietly pondering this question.

When her aunt asked that question, Lin Huanzhu’s jaw had dropped, leaving her stunned.

She didn’t say yes, but she didn’t say no, either.

At her silence, her aunt’s expression instantly turned grim.

"Huanzhu, whether you have or not, I have to advise you to give up on that idea right now. I will not approve."

Liao Jin’s face was stern, and her words were firm and resolute.

After that, Liao Jin gave Lin Huanzhu one last, deep look before going into her room and not coming out again.

Lin Huanzhu stood there, stunned, for a long while.

She washed her face, then quietly ate the meal Liao Jin had left for her in the kitchen. After washing the dishes and freshening up, Lin Huanzhu watched Tang Yuanxiao for a moment before returning to her own room.

But in the middle of the night, she woke up.

Once awake, Lin Huanzhu couldn’t get back to sleep.

She rose quietly, letting her eyes adjust to the dimness. Guided by the light from outside, she walked over to the sofa, sat down, and looked at Tang Yuanxiao in the gloom, thinking about that question.

’Now that I’m actually thinking about it, the answer seems obvious, doesn’t it?’

Lin Huanzhu sat in the living room for half the night, her eyes shining brightly in the darkness.

The next day, in the predawn hours, Tang Yuanxiao awoke with a furrowed brow to a throbbing headache and a wave of nausea.

The moment he woke up, he knew he was in an unfamiliar place.

The place was strange, but he didn’t sense any particular danger.

Tang Yuanxiao’s sharp gaze swept his surroundings. It felt vaguely familiar, and a second later, Lin Huanzhu’s face flashed through his mind.

The memories from before he’d completely passed out came flooding back. He remembered seeing Lin Huanzhu.

’So... I’m at Lin Huanzhu’s place.’

Tang Yuanxiao threw off the blanket and sat up, rubbing his head.

Seeing the time and the color of the sky, Tang Yuanxiao quietly folded the blanket, put on his shoes, and was just hesitating over whether he should say something before leaving when a bedroom door opened.

Lin Huanzhu walked out.

"You’re awake?" she asked softly. She was neatly dressed, already looking ready for work.

"Yes. Thank you," Tang Yuanxiao replied, also in a low voice.

"Let’s go, then," Lin Huanzhu said, heading for the door.

Tang Yuanxiao glanced at the other closed bedroom door, hesitated for a moment, then followed Lin Huanzhu.

The two of them descended the dim staircase, one after the other. A normal person would have needed a flashlight to see.

But with their excellent vision, it wasn’t a problem for them.

After coming down the stairs and leaving the apartment building, they didn’t run into anyone, as it was still very early and the eastern sky was just beginning to brighten.

Tang Yuanxiao let out a quiet sigh of relief.

After a few more steps, Lin Huanzhu asked in a low voice, "Are you leaving, or are you going to see your mother?"

"I’ll be going. I have things to do later," Tang Yuanxiao said, shaking his head after a moment’s hesitation.

"Okay," Lin Huanzhu acknowledged, saying no more as she walked on. Tang Yuanxiao followed silently.

They walked some distance, until the main gate was already in sight, before Tang Yuanxiao thought for a moment and spoke again.

"I’m sorry to have troubled you last night."

"It’s fine. Did something happen?" Lin Huanzhu asked.

"...Yeah. I lost my composure a bit," Tang Yuanxiao admitted after a moment of silence.

Lin Huanzhu didn’t ask what it was. She and Tang Yuanxiao left the sanatorium, one after the other.

Tang Yuanxiao was just about to say goodbye to Lin Huanzhu when she spoke first.

"It’s still early. Let’s get some breakfast first. You were drunk, so you must be feeling pretty awful right now."

Tang Yuanxiao nodded in agreement. "Alright."

Although the temperature had warmed up a bit, it was still cold, especially in the mornings and evenings.

The two of them ended up stopping at a beef noodle stall and had a bowl of hot noodle soup.

By the time they finished eating, the sky had gradually brightened.

After eating the noodles, Tang Yuanxiao finally felt like he had come back to life.

They walked for a while after their meal until they reached the fork in the road where Lin Huanzhu had to turn for work.

Lin Huanzhu stopped and looked at Tang Yuanxiao.

"Tang Yuanxiao, have you ever thought about finding another woman to spend your life with?"

Tang Yuanxiao froze, wondering why Lin Huanzhu would ask such a question.

Lin Huanzhu looked at Tang Yuanxiao. "You must have thought about it, right? You’re still young, after all."

A flash of bitterness crossed Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes. The question made him think of Su Li.

He thought of Su Li, who was already engaged to Wu Sheng.

He had told Su Li before that he would wait for her, at least until he was thirty-five.

He had always held on to the extravagant hope that things wouldn’t work out between Su Li and Wu Sheng, that he would get his chance. But in the end...

Just as Tang Yuanxiao was about to speak, he suddenly heard Lin Huanzhu say...

"Tang Yuanxiao, what do you think of me? Why don’t you consider me?"

Tang Yuanxiao’s head snapped up to look at Lin Huanzhu. She looked no different than usual, smiling, her tone of voice even the same.

"You..." For a moment, Tang Yuanxiao was speechless, not knowing what to say.

’Does she mean what I think she means? Or did I mishear her? But that can’t be right... it can’t be...’

Tang Yuanxiao’s face was a picture of stunned bewilderment, mixed with a hint of panic. Watching him, Lin Huanzhu couldn’t help but rub her nose and give a sheepish smile.

"Uh, did I scare you?"

Tang Yuanxiao shook his head hastily. "No, it’s just... why would you suddenly say something like that? What’s going on?"

Lin Huanzhu’s eyes rested quietly on Tang Yuanxiao. He was still the same person, but as he met her gaze, his heart skipped a beat.

Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes flickered, and he lowered his gaze, avoiding her stare.

Lin Huanzhu looked away too. A small smile played on her lips as she exhaled, kicked at a stone by her feet, took a breath, and looked back at Tang Yuanxiao.

"Tang Yuanxiao, seriously, think about what I said. I’ve realized I’m quite fond of you."

She tilted her head slightly, a smile on her face and in her voice, but beneath it was complete seriousness.

Tang Yuanxiao stared blankly at Lin Huanzhu.

Lin Huanzhu raised a hand, placed it over her heart, and patted it twice. "It’s beating really fast right now. It’s beating for you. It’s never beaten this fast before."

Lin Huanzhu’s index finger pointed gently at Tang Yuanxiao. "It’s fond of you. I like you. I think spending a lifetime with you wouldn’t be bad at all. What do you think?"

Tang Yuanxiao stared at Lin Huanzhu’s delicate but not exactly fair-skinned index finger, rendered speechless.

’To be honest, if Su Li wasn’t in my heart, I’d probably be ecstatic right now.’

’Lin Huanzhu is a good woman. I’ve always admired her. And she’s nothing like Qin Shanshan, who I can’t stand.’

’She can even handle Mrs. Tang. I heard about what happened before, and I know how much Mrs. Tang fears and is wary of Lin Huanzhu. If she were my wife, I wouldn’t have to worry about my mother causing trouble or bullying her... ’

’She’s the most suitable person for me.’

’Besides, she’s such an excellent, wonderful woman, and she even likes me. Life with her would probably be very good.’

’With my circumstances, for someone like Lin Huanzhu to take an interest in me is an incredible blessing. What did I ever do to deserve this...?’

Tang Yuanxiao looked at Lin Huanzhu as a thousand thoughts flashed through his mind, leaving his head in a state of utter chaos.

He had thought about so much, and he knew what the rational choice was.

But... but...