CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 71 JIU CITY JOURNEY 3_1

Wan Donglin kept watching Yan Xixi’s expression. She, however, kept her head down, focused on the rabbit leg. Afterwards, she began to drink the steaming rock-sugar pear soup, appearing to thoroughly enjoy it, with no discernible change in her expression.

After a while, he sighed heavily. "Are you full?"

She stood up. "Almost."

"Do you want to go to the mall? There’s still time."

"If you’d like to, I’ll accompany you."

Wan Donglin gave a wry smile. "Do you think I would enjoy shopping?"

She fell silent.

Talking with Wan Donglin was exhausting, like fighting a battle. One careless sentence could offend him. Just like now, his face immediately turned cold.

Yan Xixi, I’m accompanying you *only* because it’s you. Don’t be ungrateful.

Being with him was like living with a tiger. This life was truly not easy.

However, she really did not want to go to the mall—even though he was quite displeased at the moment, she still did not want to go.

He immediately saw through her thoughts—she was afraid of running into an acquaintance, or more specifically, someone like Huang Xiaojue.

Did she intend to avoid public appearances forever, just because she was with Wan Donglin? Other women would brag and show off if they were merely seen with him, or even if they just exchanged a few more words, eager to prove some special connection to him. But Yan Xixi? She was the complete opposite! I myself had dared to dine out openly, yet she was the one who was afraid. Afraid of what? Ashamed to be with me? Really interesting, isn’t it?

For the next few days, Wan Donglin stayed at home.

Although Yan Xixi had been with him for a year, she had never experienced spending such a long time with him, and she felt quite uneasy.

There was not much to talk about between them. Sometimes, she would feel his gaze on her for extended periods, scrutinizing her. She would always break out in a cold sweat, feeling as if she were on pins and needles.

But he didn’t lose his temper. In fact, since she had known him, she had never seen him fly into a rage. It was as if he were an exceptionally good-tempered person—but how could that be possible?

The shadow of the red velvet swing still lingered in her mind, refusing to fade.

When she was reading and preparing for her lessons, he might occasionally ask a few questions or just watch quietly. Perhaps he had never seen a woman so serious, so focused on meticulously doing one thing. Truly, Yan Xixi valued this diploma far too much. He was even a little puzzled. Was it really that important? Nowadays, don’t people go to university just to earn money? Why was she getting her priorities mixed up?

On the sixth day of the New Year, the weather cleared, and the long-absent sunshine was exceptionally brilliant.

Wan Donglin woke up early that day and said casually, "Xixi, I’ve been idle these past few days. Why don’t I take you on a trip? You’ve been with me for so long, and I’ve never taken you out to have some fun. Are there any enjoyable places in the country? Jiu City? Li City? Where do you want to go?"

"Thank you, Mr. Wan. Please don’t trouble yourself."

"Thank you, Mr. Wan." "Thank you, Mr. Wan"—that was the phrase she said to him most often.

Upon careful reflection, it accounted for more than seventy percent of her contributions to their conversations.

Most of the time, she just listened to him speak. When he finished, she would simply respond with, "Thank you, Mr. Wan."

"Have you ever been to Jiu City?"

"No."

She had never been on any long-distance trips.

He reached out and took her hand. "Come on, let’s go to Jiu City for some fun."

She no longer refused, immediately changing her clothes and heading out with him.