His hand gently ran through her short hair, the warmth of his palm pressing against her scalp like an iron, as though he wanted to use this touch to instill his own ideas into her, to brainwash her. Lin Wan, irritated, swatted his hand away. As she looked up, she met his gaze, which lacked warmth. It wasn't cold; it was just... indifferent.
Lin Wan paused for a moment, then said solemnly, "You're too extreme, Chen Jin. Let's make a bet. One day, you will fall for someone, completely and recklessly, and then you'll realize the world is different, and you'll take back everything you said today."
Chen Jin turned his head, his eyes locking with hers. Despite disagreeing entirely with what she had said, he was drawn to the gravity and conviction in her expression. For the first time, Lin Wan noticed the intricacies of his eyes. She had always thought he had single eyelids, but now she realized they were double eyelids. His pupils were deep and black, and in them, she saw her own determined reflection. Strangely, it gave her confidence. Perhaps this battle wouldn't end in total defeat for her.
After a long silence, Chen Jin suddenly agreed, his voice steady, "Fine."
Lin Wan, sensing the opportunity, pressed on. "Since we're betting, there has to be a wager."
"What do you want?" Chen Jin raised an eyebrow. Although he was certain he wouldn't lose, he was still curious about what Lin Wan had in mind as the stake.
Lin Wan's expression remained calm. "I want that file. The original copy."
Chen Jin immediately understood what she was referring to. Realizing he had perhaps underestimated her resolve, he felt a moment of surprise, but then he relaxed. A few sheets of paper weren't much to worry about. After all, he had already achieved his goal. The things he wanted to secure, he had secured. Compared to betting, he preferred making certain choices, but in this case, the outcome was entirely within his grasp. So, without hesitation, he agreed, "No problem."
Lin Wan, still cautious, asked, "You will keep your word, won't you?"
Chen Jin smiled, playfully pinching her nose. "Silly girl, if you're going to bet with me, you have to trust me. Otherwise, what's the point?"
At 6 p.m. that evening, Lin Wan, just off work, sat in a café. Across from her sat a man in a pink shirt, someone whose handsome appearance might make other women blush. He had approached her on the street, insisting they have a conversation. She hadn't planned on engaging with him, wary of all the frauds these days, especially the ones with good looks, but when he mentioned Chen Jin, her interest was piqued, and she stopped to listen.
She wondered to herself, Could this man be connected to Chen Jin in some way? In her mind, Chen Jin was a force of nature—dangerous, a monster in human form. She wouldn't be surprised if he were bisexual.
The man smiled broadly, showing off a set of perfect white teeth, and introduced himself. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Tan Xizhe. Tan, as in 'hope,' and Xizhe, as in 'philosophy.'" He leaned back, smiling casually. "Ms. Lin, I must say, you're quite the dancer."
Noticing her wariness, he added, "I was at the event the other day, and I happened to catch your performance. It was brilliant. I went home and looked you up. I found out about your... situation. If I had been in the country at the time, I would have made sure he didn't get away with it. Chen Jin has been getting more and more reckless, completely out of control."
Lin Wan's curiosity piqued, she asked, "And what's your relationship with Chen Jin?"
Tan Xizhe's eyes gleamed with a hint of mystery. "We're both friends and enemies." He winked, his tone cryptic. "That's why I think we could work together."
Without waiting for Lin Wan to respond, he continued, "You know, it's not impossible to gather evidence for the car accident again. Even though they destroyed the physical evidence, it involved so many people that if we start with the small players, we can eventually drag out the big fish…"
The mention of the accident made Lin Wan's mind wander. She had realized that Chen Jin had played them all, putting on a show. It was all smoke and mirrors, not flawless, but carefully constructed to make them back off. He had relied on that ace card, certain that they would back down. And they had.
A bitter taste filled her mouth as she absentmindedly pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, speaking dryly, "I'll handle things with him myself. I don't want to complicate it further."
Tan Xizhe seemed surprised by her refusal. He tilted his head, looking at her thoughtfully. "But don't you think it would be more efficient for us to collaborate? Don't you want to get rid of him as soon as possible? Or are you planning to stay with him and take your time with the revenge?"
Lin Wan's eyes dimmed. He really didn't know anything, did he? Should she tell him she was only staying with Chen Jin because of the leverage he had over her? No. That would endanger her father's fate. This man seemed intent on taking down Chen Jin, but who knew if he would care about the collateral damage?
Tan Xizhe continued, "You don't have to decide right away. You can investigate me first. After all, it's important to know who your allies are. But honestly, I think being with someone like him is a nightmare. I suggest you make a decision sooner rather than later."
"I don't think I need to consider," Lin Wan replied, her voice firm.