Chapter 327: A Confession That Isn’t a Confession, Yun Sheng Is Dumbfounded
Chapter 327: Chapter 327: A Confession That Isn’t a Confession, Yun Sheng Is Dumbfounded
Yun Sheng was somewhat surprised. She didn’t know what Zhou Lin wanted to say to her in private, but she didn’t decline his request either. Pointing toward the terrace at the end of the corridor, she said softly, "Let’s go over there to talk."
Zhou Lin nodded and followed silently behind her. He didn’t speak the entire way, but his gaze remained fixed on Yun Sheng, calm and focused.
The terrace offered a quiet and elegant retreat. The railings were lined with blooming artificial flowers, and a faint floral scent lingered in the air, creating a refreshing atmosphere. Yun Sheng stopped in the center of the terrace, turned to look at Zhou Lin, and got straight to the point. "What did you want to talk to me about, Major General Zhou?"
Zhou Lin looked up at her. His gaze was open and straightforward, devoid of any concealment. "I was just on a blind date, but it wasn’t my idea. It was arranged by the elders in my family. Miss Lu is a wonderful person, but I only found out about this after both of our parents had already finalized the details. It would have been bad for her reputation and incredibly rude of me to refuse at that point, which is why today’s date happened."
Hearing this, the surprise in Yun Sheng’s eyes deepened. Zhou Lin’s blind date was purely his private affair; there was absolutely no need for him to explain it to her in such detail. She wondered what he meant by specifically stopping her to say these things.
"Major General Zhou, it seems you have no need to explain this to me?"
"I didn’t want you to misunderstand."
"Misunderstand? Major General Zhou, we are just casual acquaintances. Don’t you think it’s... a bit inappropriate for you to say that?"
As far as Yun Sheng was concerned, their interactions were sparse and they weren’t exactly close. He had absolutely no obligation to tell her about his private affairs.
Zhou Lin looked down at her. His expression remained open, without a hint of evasion, as he frankly confessed his feelings.
"Miss Yun, this is purely my one-sided desire to explain. I don’t want you to misunderstand, and I hope this doesn’t cause you any distress.
"I... know you have a boyfriend, and to you, I’m just a somewhat familiar stranger you’ve met a few times. Because of that, I never intended to intrude on your life, much less pester you.
"It’s just that we happened to bump into each other today, and I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea. So... I hope you don’t mind."
He had always been an upright and honorable man who acted with candor and disliked beating around the bush. This passive blind date today had never been his choice to begin with. He simply didn’t want a forced arrangement by his elders to cause the person he cared about to have even the slightest misunderstanding.
Yun Sheng was speechless for a moment after hearing this and could only give a gentle nod. "I understand. I don’t mind."
Seeing her distant yet polite demeanor, a faint trace of helplessness flashed through Zhou Lin’s eyes. However, he was tactful enough not to cross the line any further. "Then please return to your meal, Miss Yun. I won’t disturb you any longer."
With that, he gave a slight nod and considerately stepped aside to clear the way. Yun Sheng nodded back at him, then turned and walked off the terrace. Her footsteps were crisp and decisive, lacking even a fraction of hesitation.
Zhou Lin stood rooted to the spot, quietly watching her unhesitating retreating figure as a faint, bitter smile slowly tugged at the corners of his lips. He knew very well in his heart that these subtle feelings of his were, ultimately, nothing more than one-sided wishful thinking.
Just as Yun Sheng walked around the corner from the terrace, she immediately spotted Si Jin waiting not far away. He was casually leaning against the wall, his tall and straight figure exuding a calm demeanor. His deep gaze fell upon her, and she had no idea how long he had been waiting there.
Yun Sheng quickly walked up to him and naturally reached out to take his hand, her fingertips slipping seamlessly between his. "You heard all of that, didn’t you?" she asked softly.
Si Jin raised an eyebrow, flipped his hand to gently grasp hers, and chuckled. "Well? I wasn’t wrong, was I? A textbook potential rival."
Yun Sheng spread her free hand in exasperation, her eyes full of confusion as she muttered, "I’m honestly baffled. I’ve had zero real interaction with him from start to finish. I just happened to save him once before, but he shouldn’t even know about that. How did he end up catching feelings for me?"
Although Zhou Lin hadn’t explicitly said the word "like" just now, every word and sentence carried his subtle affection. It was virtually indistinguishable from a direct confession.
Si Jin raised his hand, his thumb gently caressing and pinching her soft cheek. His tone was doting, laced with a hint of pride. "It can’t be helped. Who told our Shengsheng to be so charming? It’s perfectly normal for people to like you." He leaned in close, his voice low. It carried a touch of jealousy, yet remained just as gentle. "But Shengsheng only likes me, so it’s useless no matter how much anyone else cares."
Yun Sheng couldn’t help but chuckle at his teasing. She obediently leaned closer to his side and held his hand tightly.
Meanwhile, on the terrace not far away, Zhou Lin happened to take in the entire scene of their intimate interaction. A cool breeze swept across the balcony, making his heart feel heavy.
Zhou Lin stood quietly where he was, watching their close, inseparable figures leaning against each other out in the corridor. His gaze was dark and obscure, hiding an irrepressible loneliness. He knew in his heart that Yun Sheng had never harbored even the slightest romantic thought about him. Even if he allowed himself to hope, it was ultimately just his own unrequited wishful thinking.
"I’m so full. Shall we go down to the mall for a stroll? We can walk off our food and check out the new arrivals while we’re at it," Cheng Nian suggested enthusiastically, putting down her cutlery and stretching.
Li Wen immediately agreed. "Sounds good! The seasons are changing anyway, and I’ve been wanting to buy some new clothes."
As they spoke, both turned to look at Yun Sheng in unison.
"Of course I’m going," Yun Sheng replied with a smile. She had come out specifically to hang out with them, so naturally, she would tag along.
As the girls gathered their belongings and prepared to get up, Si Jin gently caught Yun Sheng’s wrist.
"You girls are going shopping for clothes; I’m afraid you’ll feel constrained if I tag along, so I’ll pass. I’ll just wait for you in the lounge area on the first floor. Take your time, there’s no rush." He knew his boundaries well and deliberately gave them space to be alone with their friends, not wanting his presence to disrupt their rare get-together.
Yun Sheng understood his intentions and nodded obediently. "Okay, we’ll come down and find you when we’re done."
"Mm. Stay safe, and text me anytime if you need anything." Si Jin ruffled the top of her hair, his eyes gentle and doting.
Watching them, Cheng Nian couldn’t help but laugh and tease, "Doctor Lin, you’re way too good to her. Don’t worry, we’ll keep a close eye on Yun Sheng for you. We definitely won’t let her run off!"
"Alright then, I’m leaving Yun Sheng in your hands," Si Jin said with a smile. His eyes were full of warmth as he watched the three girls leave first.
Yun Sheng, Li Wen, and Cheng Nian chatted and laughed as they turned and headed toward the elevators. Along the way, they talked about new fashion trends and everyday anecdotes, chattering away in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.
As the elevator doors slowly slid shut, the gentle smile on Si Jin’s face vanished without a trace. He abruptly turned his head and looked toward the corner of a secluded corridor in the mall. His previously warm gaze instantly turned icy, his brows furrowing slightly as a chilling aura of vigilance immediately enveloped him.
From that direction, a faint but persistent gaze had been glued to Yun Sheng.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Si Jin strode rapidly toward the corner. Just as he neared the shadows of the corridor, a figure suddenly lunged out from the dimly lit space. The assailant moved with swift precision, raising a hand to viciously lock onto Si Jin’s shoulder. The strike was aggressively probing, its true purpose unknown.