For The Rest Of Our Life – Chapter 53

Lin Xian, her gaze seems off

After New Year’s Day, Lin Xian’s final exams at school were approaching. Therefore, the regular weekly fitness activity, which used to take place once a week, was temporarily put on hold by Lin Xian, who made the excuse of needing to make the most of her time for review. She decided not to accompany Xiao Wanqing for now and instead chose to diligently study alone at home.

In reality, the exams were not difficult for Lin Xian. Since entering university, while she couldn’t be considered a top student, she still managed with ease. The truth was that on the night of New Year’s Eve, when she returned home, she couldn’t help but recall the subtle and surging undercurrents in her exchange of glances with Wen Tong. She couldn’t quite grasp how much Wen Tong truly understood. At that time, she did have a somewhat arrogant desire to intimidate her love rival, but upon further reflection, she didn’t want her rival to be the one to reveal her feelings to her beloved. It was hazy, like seeing flowers through mist. She could see their form, but it was hard to determine their true nature. Ultimately, this was the best approach at the moment.

She decided to temporarily avoid Wen Tong, so as not to disrupt her own rhythm.

Indeed, her decision turned out to be wise.

On the first Saturday after New Year’s Day, Wen Tong arrived at the gym early. She casually walked on the treadmill at a slow pace, exercising while waiting for Xiao Wanqing to arrive. Deep within her eyes and brows, there was a profound mistiness.

That day, was it just her overthinking? Or did Lin Xian truly have that intention? She was never someone who believed in intuition, but this time, deep down, she inclined to believe that she hadn’t received any incorrect information. The girl’s calm and cold gaze seemed to see through her thoughts about Xiao Wanqing. Moreover, with an intimate posture with Xiao Wanqing, she declared a challenge to her.

However, she thought back and carefully pondered their few encounters at the gym on ordinary days. Lin Xian hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary towards Xiao Wanqing, her gaze was clean and pure. Even if there were some intimate gestures between her and Xiao Wanqing, it was nothing more than normal interaction between an elder and a junior, right?

For a moment, her thoughts wavered.

She reached out and increased the speed of the treadmill with a “beep beep beep” sound, secretly making a decision to observe carefully tonight.

If she hadn’t overthought and overlooked anything on ordinary days, then with a purposeful examination today, she should be able to discern something in the end.

A person’s gaze towards someone else cannot deceive others.

Especially when that person shares the same affection for someone as you do.

However, her thoughts ultimately fell short. Wen Tong watched as Xiao Wanqing, with a loosely tied casual yet charming ponytail, walked into her view with a graceful figure. There was a momentary daze in her eyes. She instinctively stopped the treadmill, stared at Xiao Wanqing, furrowed her brows, and blurted out, “Where is Lin Xian?”

Xiao Wanqing leisurely performed warm-up exercises beside her, wearing an unconcerned smile as she replied, “Xianxian needs to prepare for her final exams. She may not have time to come here for the next two weeks.”

Sharp darkness suddenly clouded Wen Tong’s brows and eyes. Her lips tightened, and her entire presence seemed to lower with a pressurizing aura. Lin Xian didn’t come, and this made all her preparations go to waste. It felt as if a punch had landed on cotton, leaving her powerless and frustrated.

Having known each other for many years, Xiao Wanqing naturally immediately sensed Wen Tong’s low mood. She stopped her warm-up exercises and asked Wen Tong with a concerned look, “What’s wrong? Your face suddenly looks so unpleasant.”

Wen Tong gazed deeply at Xiao Wanqing, considered her words carefully, and hesitantly asked, “How has Lin Xian been with you recently…?”

Xiao Wanqing was somewhat puzzled but nodded without thinking, answering, “She’s been pretty good, well, I should say even better.” She smiled, and an affectionate and indulgent expression appeared on her gentle and graceful face. “To be honest, I’m quite grateful to Zhou Qin for that,” she paused, lowering her tone slightly and speaking softly, “Having a child brings vitality. Sometimes I feel like my life has gradually gained some vitality as well.” Her gaze gradually became distant. “Wen Tong, you know, for me, this is incredibly precious.”

Wen Tong’s heart sank suddenly.

She opened her mouth, wanting to tell Xiao Wanqing, “Lin Xian… her gaze seems off.”

Xiao Wanqing gazed at her with raised eyebrows, waiting for what would come next.

Wen Tong, as she stared at Xiao Wanqing, noticed a rare and genuine smile on her face when she mentioned Lin Xian. It suddenly struck her that, perhaps, at some unknown point in time, the melancholy that seemed to always linger between Xiao Wanqing’s brows had gradually dissipated.

Was it the changes brought about by Lin Xian?

Xiao Wanqing was enjoying this relationship. From Xiao Wanqing’s expression, she clearly saw it.

Her throat moved slightly, and her voice gradually got swallowed up in her throat. Her hands, hanging by her sides, tightened into fists. For a moment, a mix of myriad emotions overwhelmed her.

She was delighted that Xiao Wanqing was able to move on from the past and slowly embrace life again, something she had always strived for and was gradually becoming a reality.

But she also felt sorrowful because all these changes were not brought about by her.

Yet, Xiao Wanqing was gradually reverting to the girl from the past who could light up the whole world with her gentle and radiant smile. There was a fleeting hint of hidden pain in her eyes, and suddenly, she couldn’t bear to disrupt Xiao Wanqing’s rare, carefree, and peaceful life with her uncertain speculations.

In the end, she lowered her eyelids, smiled faintly, and shook her head in denial. “It’s nothing.”

Xiao Wanqing, seeing her obvious hesitation, knew she wasn’t telling the truth. She furrowed her delicate brows in dissatisfaction and pressed on, “Clearly, there is something. Wen Tong, who talks halfway like that?”

Wen Tong collected all her melancholy and sorrow, adjusted her emotions, raised her gaze, and appeared confident and assertive as she said to Xiao Wanqing, “It’s me, of course.” She raised an eyebrow and teased, “Old Xiao, you always have the appearance of being mature and content, so why is your curiosity so strong? Don’t you know curiosity killed the cat?”

Xiao Wanqing, taken aback by her playful banter, lost her desire to pursue the matter. She glanced at Wen Tong, but it had no impact whatsoever. She tidied up her things and walked away directly, no longer wanting to pay attention to Wen Tong.

Wen Tong watched her retreating figure, and the smile on her lips gradually faded, replaced by a tender expression.

Perhaps she was overthinking. After all, how old is Lin Xian? What could she possibly know? The gap between her and Xiao Wanqing is not just in age and seniority but also in gender. In this world, how many people would have such a strong preference for the same gender?

Just like before she met Xiao Wanqing, she had never known that girls could be attracted to other girls.

Lin Xian, she’s still so young, how could she understand?

Xiao Wanqing, her defenses are so deep. If Lin Xian really had any thoughts, how could she be completely unaware, let alone unguarded?

Maybe she’s overthinking. It must be.

She hurriedly caught up with Xiao Wanqing and whispered in her ear about her own affairs, oblivious to anything else. “Old Xiao, guess who I ran into at Wanquan Villa?”

Xiao Wanqing calmly and softly uttered heartless words, word by word: “I don’t want to guess, I’m not curious, I don’t want to know.”

Wen Tong burst into laughter, her eyebrows and eyes relaxed, and her aura gradually dissipated and softened. “Are you holding a grudge? No, I have to tell you. It’s Chairman Shi Xing. Hey, are you listening to me? Editor Xiao! Old Xiao! Little Xiao! Beautiful Xiao…”

At home, Lin Xian, in Xiao Wanqing’s study, stopped writing and inexplicably yawned twice. Her ears felt a little warm.

She felt somewhat uneasy in her heart. Wen Tong shouldn’t have said anything she shouldn’t have to Xiao Wanqing, right?

Although she had observed Wen Tong’s seemingly carefree and cheerful personality, in reality, she was a cautious and discreet person. Especially when it came to Xiao Wanqing, she should be even more careful. Otherwise, for so many years, she wouldn’t have dared to reveal a single bit of her feelings toward Xiao Wanqing without certainty.

That day, they didn’t disclose everything on the spot, and today, they probably wouldn’t have the courage to burst it open. That day, Wen Tong didn’t share her speculations with Xiao Wanqing, and today, with her deliberate avoidance, Wen Tong probably wouldn’t easily come to a conclusion, right?

She repeatedly convinced herself in her heart to relax, but her thoughts couldn’t fully focus on studying. She lowered her head and tried to concentrate on the review materials when she suddenly noticed that, at some point, the blank spaces without printed text on the pages were filled densely with Xiao Wanqing’s name.

Lin Xian’s eyes widened, and her face turned completely red in an instant. Oh no, this material needs to be borrowed and copied tomorrow. She hurriedly took transparent tape from Xiao Wanqing’s pen holder and started sticking it on, tearing it off delicately, attempting to remove the writing.

However, it was too difficult, and after a few attempts, Lin Xian gave up.

Forget it, if it’s seen, then it’s seen. She had never deliberately hidden her feelings for Xiao Wanqing. When Shi Man mocked her, she mocked back, when they teased each other, she joined in. If possible, if Xiao Wanqing didn’t mind, she even wished she could tell the whole world, she wished she could declare to the world that Xiao Wanqing was hers, and no one else was allowed to covet her!

Thinking of Xiao Wanqing, her heart softened involuntarily. She took out her phone, smiled, and sent a text message to Xiao Wanqing.

Xiao Wanqing finished her workout at the usual time, bid farewell to Wen Tong at the parking lot, and drove home alone.

During this journey, during this time, she had gradually grown accustomed to having Lin Xian by her side. Lin Xian was still young, pure-hearted, and her emotions were visible on her face. Through these past few months of getting to know her, Xiao Wanqing felt that she could roughly grasp her moods. When the girl was in a good mood, her lips would curve upwards, her head would sway slightly, and she would hum along to the music playing in the car. When her mood was not so good, her eyes would darken, her head would tilt slightly, and she would gaze motionlessly at the bustling lights outside the car window. Xiao Wanqing never told Lin Xian, but she was actually very curious about what scenery Lin Xian saw through her eyes. Why was it that every time they admired the night view, Lin Xian could instantly dissipate her sadness and reveal a brilliant smile by just glancing at her?

As the red light illuminated, she looked towards the empty passenger seat, attempting to see the world of dazzling lights at night from Lin Xian’s perspective through the thick glass window.

Her gaze swept slowly from back to front, taking in the densely packed high-rise buildings, the passing electric cars with couples cuddling and swaying outside the car window, and the brightly lit small shops not far ahead. There, a gigantic electric rice cooker was displayed.

A slight tremor touched Xiao Wanqing’s heartstrings, and a shallow dimple appeared on her cheek, faintly visible.

As the green light lit up, she smoothly started driving, gradually approaching the small shop. She parked her car in a temporary parking space by the roadside, got out, and walked towards the shop with measured steps.

She remembered that Lin Xian really liked the corn from this place.

Standing outside the shop, she asked the owner for a stick of corn. After the owner wrapped it up, she received it with both hands and entered the shop to settle the payment.

Standing in front of the counter, as she opened her wallet to take out money, she caught a glimpse of the neatly arranged cigarettes on the shelf behind the counter. A faint smile formed on her lips, and she couldn’t help but pause for a moment.

During that time, in the misty drizzle, what kind of emotions did she have standing here?

After returning home that day, surrounded by steam, she hid in the bathroom and smoked half a pack of cigarettes, one after another. What kind of taste was it?

It seemed as if, all of a sudden, she couldn’t recall some memories.

The owner noticed her gaze fixed on the cigarette cabinet and thoughtfully asked, “Would you like Esse(brand)?” The owner remembered that on that day, this woman had bought corn and then stared at the cigarette cabinet before purchasing a pack of green Esse.

Although it was just a brief encounter, he remembered it quite clearly. It was simply because there weren’t many women who came to buy cigarettes, let alone women who looked gentle, beautiful, and elegant like her. Most importantly, on that day, his friend who happened to be chatting with him in the shop noticed that she didn’t have an umbrella. With a clear and delicate face, a hint of moisture, and despite wearing a sporty outfit, she appeared soft and vulnerable. Out of sympathy, he took the initiative to offer her his umbrella and even suggested exchanging contact information so that she could return it conveniently. However, the woman heartlessly refused. He couldn’t forget about it for several days.

Unexpectedly, contrary to the owner’s expectations, Xiao Wanqing withdrew her gaze upon hearing his words, paid for the corn, and seemed to remember something. A gentle curve appeared on her lips, and she softly replied, “No need, I quit smoking.”

She had just stepped out of the small shop when her phone in her bag gently vibrated.

She opened it, unlocked the screen, and saw an unread message.

Lin Xian asked her: “Aunt Xiao, are you coming back soon? Xian Xian has been waiting for you until the flowers have withered. Please be safe on the way.”

Xiao Wanqing’s deep eyes, resembling an ancient pool, gradually became rippled with tender emotions. Embracing the corn in her arms, her fingers lightly danced as she replied to Lin Xian, “I’m almost home.”

She put away her phone, tightly held the corn to her chest, and with light and brisk steps, she walked towards her car, picking up pace gradually.

Her heart, just like her steps, felt light, joyful, and impatient.

Someone was waiting for her at home.