Later that day, Chen Jin disappeared. Lin Wan maliciously speculated that he might have some kind of issue and secretly went to see a doctor. Of course, there was another possibility: he had grown tired of her. People like them were always infatuated with something new and quickly bored by it. She remembered him saying that during a certain period, there could only be one woman, and for some reason, she believed that phrase wholeheartedly. So, she thought maybe, just maybe, she was safe. On the seventh day after Chen Jin's disappearance, she decided to move back into her own little place.
These days, she had been quite busy, returning to work and being treated to meals by her colleagues, who were celebrating her recovery. But she couldn't shake the feeling that their attitudes toward her had changed, as if there was a layer of extra politeness—almost as if they were treating her with more care than usual. It annoyed her. Chen Jin, that man, had come into her life like a bucket of ink from the heavens, completely staining her world black.
Also, with the long "disappearance" of Chen Jin, she had to come up with various excuses. She thought she was becoming a liar. Now that she was free again, she needed to check in with everyone and make her presence known.
She called Milan and found out that Qian Jiawei had been hospitalized due to liver damage from excessive drinking. Sitting in a café across from the hospital, Milan sighed, "Last time I caused a scene, he lost his job. I'm about to get a divorce, and he couldn't handle it. He just drank himself into this state... Honestly, he was good to me. I'm a bit vain, I used to spend money recklessly, but he never once said no. This time, he said, once he earned this commission, he could pay off the mortgage faster…"
"Wanwan, am I pathetic? I'm still defending him after he lied to me. Please don't laugh at me…"
Lin Wan's gaze darkened. What right do I have to laugh at you?
She didn't know how to comfort Milan. Every family had their own troubles, and everyone had their own challenges. They had grown up and were no longer carefree girls from school. The real world had its hardships and dangers. The only thing they could do was be brave—brave enough to face it.
After saying goodbye to Milan, Lin Wan wandered aimlessly through the streets, realizing that the once barren trees by the roadside were now full of green leaves. Life had returned. Spring had arrived.
Spring in the north was still cold, with strong winds and occasional sandstorms, but it didn't stop people from loving the season. For example, several girls walked by wearing skirts, their long, slender legs exposed. Lin Wan glanced at herself, her outfit a dull gray, and felt like she was ruining the view.
Further down the street, she entered a commercial area, with clothing stores on both sides. The young shop assistants stood at the entrances, loudly advertising various discounts. Lin Wan casually walked past, stopping in front of an Adidas and Nike store. She couldn't help but pause, looking at the young people coming in and out. It reminded her of the times when she and Wang Xiao used to visit these shops together. Wang Xiao was good-looking and could wear anything, and it always looked good on him. She had once said, When I have money, I'll take all my clothes with me, one outfit per day, never repeating for a whole year...
Eventually, Lin Wan went to the mall across the street and picked out a few bright-colored spring outfits. She even bought a red trench coat, which she heard could ward off evil spirits. Carrying several shopping bags, she made her way back as the sun was setting. Just as she reached her building, Lao Li, dressed in black, quickly approached her with a Stoic expression. "Mr. Chen sent me to pick you up. There's an important dinner tonight."
Lin Wan froze. What was going on? She knew Chen Jin wouldn't easily let her go, but a dinner? Was this some sort of trap? No, she thought—how could someone like her, a defeated mess, cause him to go to such lengths? Maybe it was just a formality. She had heard that rich people always took a companion when they went out…
She paused for a moment and said, "Let me drop these things off first."
The car stopped in front of a boutique, and a stylish, smiling shop assistant ushered Lin Wan inside. The next thing she knew, she was surrounded by busy workers—makeup artists, hair stylists, and fashion assistants. For the first time in her life, she felt like a princess, though she felt more like a puppet being dressed up.
Several assistants flitted around her, chatting non-stop. "Miss Lin, your skin is so nice, makeup goes on perfectly."
"Your figure is amazing, the small size fits you just right."
"You have great style."
"Mr. Chen has good taste."
After hearing these compliments, Lin Wan couldn't help but laugh coldly inside. This was the point, wasn't it? She never thought of herself as particularly beautiful, and these young girls weren't necessarily any prettier than she was. But at the end of the day, it was all because of that man. Sigh, she really didn't like places like this, or these hypocritical, power-driven people.
Although the people weren't many, their skills and taste were decent. After some busy work, Lin Wan was transformed. She looked delicate yet understated—wearing a white wool dress that revealed her slim, straight legs. Her short hair was styled into a cute, lively shape, and she wore a plump, round pearl necklace, with a wide gold belt accentuating her waist. The matching patent leather shoes added a touch of elegance. Apart from a small pearl-colored handbag, there were no other accessories, just enough to highlight her pure, fresh beauty.
She hadn't worn white in a long time. Subconsciously, she had felt unworthy of it. Now, seeing herself in the mirror, looking fresh and cute, she couldn't help but feel a little dazed. Then she smiled at herself, thinking back to how she had complained earlier on the street. How quickly things change—I'm wearing a dress now too.
Chen Jin smiled nonchalantly and responded to the girl who had spoken earlier, "Wasn't it you who said it was too dull to have a bunch of men celebrate your birthday? That's why I brought a girl to keep you company."
Lin Wan finally got a good look at the room. There were fourteen people in total, including her. Only three of them were women, and the girl who had spoken was sitting on Chen Jin's other side.
The girl said, "But she didn't need to be this pretty. You've made me look bad."
What a frank little miss, Lin Wan thought, glancing over at her. The delicate-looking girl winked at her, giving off a friendly vibe.
"Is she pretty? Let me see." Chen Jin feigned surprise as he looked at Lin Wan, then chuckled, "Hmm, after a little touch-up, she's not bad."
"Ahem, A'Jin, haven't you introduced us to this lady yet?" A gentleman across the table quickly spoke up.
"Ah, I forgot the formalities. Let me introduce myself. This is Lin Wan," Chen Jin said, then turned to Lin Wan, "These are my friends who've been with me through thick and thin." Lin Wan just pulled a small smile, nodding toward everyone.
Chen Jin then patted the shoulder of the girl on his right and teased, "This little miss is my sister, Chen Xi, the 'Xi' from 'things'. Today's her twentieth birthday."
Seeing the girl looking at her with some anticipation, Lin Wan smiled faintly and said, "Happy birthday."
Chen Xi immediately beamed and replied, "Thank you! You're so pretty! Are you from the south?"
Lin Wan's eyes darkened slightly as she gave a quiet response, "I suppose."
It was then that Chen Jin took over the conversation. "Her dad's from the south, her mom's from the north."
"Wow, no wonder! A mix of southern and northern blood!" Chen Xi exclaimed, drawing laughter from everyone around.
Lin Wan didn't laugh. She was surprised that Chen Jin knew all of this about her. Thinking about it, though, it made sense. This man, who was constantly scheming against others, would definitely have investigated her background. In fact, though her father was indeed from the south, and she had lived in the soft-voiced Wu dialect area for a few years as a child, she had never considered herself a southerner. She didn't even retain any trace of the local accent.
Chen Jin, of course, didn't know what Lin Wan was thinking. He was lost in his own thoughts. To be honest, he had been stunned when Lin Wan first walked in. The moment she entered the room, he even stopped breathing, as if he had just seen a fresh, natural jasmine blossom. His little white flower.
These past few days, he had been staying at the old apartment. One reason was that work had been hectic, and another was that Lin Wan had caused too much trouble. He sought women for fun, not to add stress to his life. So, his way of dealing with Lin Wan, this little fire, was to ignore her and let her burn herself out.
This afternoon, while at work, he suddenly thought of her. Coincidentally, it was Chen Xi's birthday, so he invited her. Surprisingly, Lin Wan hadn't given him the cold shoulder or spoken sarcastically. She had actually cooperated, which pleased him greatly. As he thought about this, his hand, still resting on her arm, moved gently up and down. If there weren't so many people here, he would have pulled her into his arms and kissed her senseless. It had been days since they had been intimate, and now she was sitting so close, smelling so good—it was driving him mad.