Chapter 312: Why Won't You Believe Me
Lin Chuyue returned to her room and did not come out again.
Ever since returning to Jiangcheng, she had been like this, holing up in her room day after day. Aside from meals, she hardly ever came out.
She had even stopped managing the Lin Group, the company she once valued most.
Although the Lin Group was technically Lin Chuxing's business now, Xiao Ye had also sent members of the Xiao Family there to keep up appearances.
But if Lin Chuyue wanted to go to the company, no one would stop her.
Xiao Ye received daily reports on the situation in Jiangcheng.
He had thought that with Lin Chuyue's personality, she would keep herself busy to avoid dwelling on her unhappiness.
But unexpectedly, Lin Chuyue had done the exact opposite and shut herself away.
Worried something would happen to her, Xiao Ye mulled it over for a long time before deciding to ask Chu Yan to visit her.
'He figured having some company would surely help.'
DING DONG...
The doorbell rang.
The Lin Family's butler answered the door. He was surprised to see Chu Yan. "Miss Chu, what... what brings you here?"
"I'm here to see Lin Chuyue. Where is she?"
The butler's face was etched with worry. "She's in her room right now. I'll go call her for you."
He wasn't sure he could actually get her to come out. After all, Lin Chuyue's state had been terrible these last few days.
Aside from mealtimes, she ignored any and all sounds from outside her room.
"No need. I'll go myself." Chu Yan already knew what was going on. Without giving the butler a chance to stop her, she strode directly up the stairs.
She didn't bother with pleasantries, raising her hand and pounding on the door.
After a while, Chu Yan's hand had started to ache. Just as she was about to switch to her other hand, the door finally opened.
Lin Chuyue looked awful. Her face was pale, and her lips were colorless.
She froze when she saw Chu Yan. "You... what are you doing here?"
'Of course, Xiao Ye sent me. I wouldn't have come otherwise!'
'In the past, Chu Yan had felt that Lin Chuyue wasn't good enough for Xiao Ye. Coupled with her own ambitions to take her place, she naturally had a poor impression of the woman.'
'But now, Chu Yan understood with profound clarity that she could never be with Xiao Ye.'
'How could a mighty lion marry a housecat? It was a pipe dream!'
'Besides, this was an order from Xiao Ye; Chu Yan had to see it through.'
At that thought, her voice softened, and she forced a smile, as if she were greeting an old friend. "I just came to see how you were doing."
Lin Chuyue gave a miserable laugh. "You're here to laugh at me, aren't you?"
"Then again, you're right. I am a joke. Xiao Ye is so exceptional, and now he has such status... I'm not good enough for him."
"Who says? I'm just here to see you. As for being a joke, that's nonsense."
Chu Yan pushed the door wide open and strode into Lin Chuyue's room. "No matter what anyone says, you were once the woman by Xiao Ye's side."
"And the people who are laughing at you? They're not even in your league."
Lin Chuyue clutched her shawl tighter. "What are you really here for?"
"Nothing, really. Why won't you believe me?"
Chu Yan casually picked up a pill bottle from the nightstand. Her brow furrowed instantly. "Sleeping pills? You've been taking sleeping pills?"
"Yes. I haven't been sleeping well lately. I need them to help me rest."
Chu Yan mentally calculated how long Lin Chuyue had been back, then glanced at the bottle. "You've only been back a few days, and you've already taken this many?"
"By my count, you're taking several pills a day?" Chu Yan turned to look at Lin Chuyue.
"I've taken these exact same sleeping pills before. For someone who doesn't use them often, one pill a night is all it takes to sleep soundly."
"Lin Chuyue, be honest with me. What's really going on with you?"
Lin Chuyue sank into a chair, defeated. "I think about Xiao Ye every day... but I don't want to."
Chu Yan pieced it together, her voice filled with disbelief. "So you take sleeping pills every day just so you can sleep all day?"
"Yes. I sleep all day so that I can dream."
In her dreams, she could always see the past she shared with Xiao Ye.
Back then... they were so happy.
In Xiao Ye's eyes, there was only ever her.
Chu Yan marched over to the window, opened it, and threw the pill bottle out. "You're insane! And to think I used to believe you were cold and heartless, like a stone that could never be warmed."
Lin Chuyue said nothing, simply staring lifelessly out the window.
Chu Yan couldn't bear to watch. She grabbed Lin Chuyue and pulled her to her feet. "Come on, I'm taking you out to get some fresh air. What's the point of stewing at home all day!"
"I don't want to go!" By now, Lin Chuyue had completely sealed herself off.
She didn't want to go out. She didn't want to face the chaos of the outside world.
It wasn't that she was afraid of losing face; it was that everything would be a constant reminder of what she had with Xiao Ye!
But Chu Yan wasn't having any of it. She grabbed a coat from the wardrobe, threw it over Lin Chuyue's shoulders, and dragged her out the door.
"Come on, we're going shopping!"
"Shopping is the best medicine!"
The two of them went to the mall.
With Chu Yan there, Lin Chuyue was, to a large extent, distracted.
She was forced to shop and forced to try on clothes, but her mood had undeniably lightened.
Night fell.
Chu Yan decided to stay the night with Lin Chuyue. Using the excuse of taking a shower, she took her phone into the bathroom.
"Master Xiao, Chuyue's condition improved a lot today, but as soon as we got home, she relapsed."
"Also, Chuyue is suffering from insomnia, but I'll figure out a way to handle it."
Xiao Ye's heart ached for her, but he was swamped with his own affairs. The various investigations had left him feeling drained.
"Then stay with her. I'll send a contract over to the Chu Family."
"Thank you, Master Xiao!"
After hanging up, Chu Yan returned to the bedroom and wrapped her arms around Lin Chuyue. "Go to sleep. Don't think about anything. There's nothing in this world that you can't get through."
Lin Chuyue closed her eyes as tears streamed from their corners.
'But my love was lost forever!'
「Imperial City.」
The New Year was just around the corner.
But Lin Chuxing secretly slipped out of the Xiao Family estate and went to a café tucked away in an alley.
The place was very secluded and rarely had any customers on a typical day.
Lin Chuxing wore a hat and a mask, looking as though she wished she could be fully disguised. The moment she entered, she hurried to the second floor.
The moment she reached the top of the stairs, a large hand pulled her into a private booth.
"Chuxing, I've missed you so much!"
Ouyang Xin eagerly pulled down her mask and kissed her.
Lin Chuxing wrapped her arms around his waist in response, her eyelashes fluttering.
After a long moment, Ouyang Xin finally released her, his eyes brimming with affection. "Chuxing, you're so beautiful today."
This was only their second time meeting in person.
It was completely different from pouring their hearts out to each other over the phone. Lin Chuxing felt her entire body go weak.
She finally understood why a king would light war beacons simply to win a smile from a beautiful woman.
'For Ouyang Xin, she would do anything!'
Ouyang Xin led her to a seat and personally placed a hot coffee in her hands. "What's wrong? You seem unhappy."