Chen Jin, as he was speaking, noticed Lin Wan stiffen. He immediately realized he had said something he shouldn't have and wasn't sure how to fix it. The two of them froze in a position that felt too intimate for comfort. After a brief silence, Lin Wan finally spoke, her voice cold, "Do you think I'm a prostitute?"
Chen Jin immediately countered, "Don't say that. I never have, Wan Wan. Please don't overthink this…"
Lin Wan sighed and replied, "But that's the impression you're giving me. You say you'll set me free, so what's all this now? Taking advantage of the opportunity while it's here?"
Her words were like a cold bucket of water dumped over Chen Jin. The desire that had been building up in him was instantly extinguished. Only then did he realize his hand was still on her chest, and he quickly withdrew it. He wanted to turn on the light, pull her up, and seriously explain that he didn't mean it that way—that he was actually... but he hesitated, and in the end, he didn't. He realized his behavior was too easily misunderstood. He had been used to doing whatever he wanted, and though he knew he couldn't treat Lin Wan the same way he treated others, sometimes he just couldn't control himself.
His hand pressed against his side, and he clenched his fist. He sighed inwardly. So-called self-control was just a relative concept. Ever since he met Lin Wan, his self-control had been like a long dam eaten away by termites, gradually eroding without him even noticing, until it collapsed completely.
Chen Jin reflected for a while, then raised his arm to rest it around Lin Wan's waist. This time, however, there was no desire behind the gesture—just a sense of apology, even a hint of pleading. He sighed and said, "Wan Wan, I'm sorry."
Lin Wan sniffed and said, "From now on, don't touch me."
"Mm."
"Take your hand off me."
"…"
"Take it off."
"Wan Wan, you need to give me some space to adjust."
"Stop making excuses. You're selfish. Bastard."
Chen Jin silently accepted her accusations, but his mind kept returning to her earlier words. He wasn't trying to take advantage of the situation. He just wanted to be closer to her. He just couldn't help himself.
For a whole week, Chen Jin personally picked Lin Wan up from work every day. He was stubborn and sometimes had last-minute work, so he'd call and make Lin Wan wait in the office, not allowing her to go home alone. Lin Wan had learned how to handle his controlling nature and had grown too tired to argue. To be honest, there was a small benefit to him arriving late—it meant they wouldn't run into her coworkers, though they already knew about Chen Jin and had witnessed his presence.
Today was no different. Chen Jin was an hour late. When Lin Wan got in the car, she politely said, "Just have the driver pick me up next time."
"No, from now on, I'll pick you up."
She sarcastically asked, "Are you unemployed now? So free?"
"Damn, all my good intentions, and you treat them like a donkey's liver and lungs."
"You're the one with the donkey's liver and lungs."
Chen Jin was used to her cold remarks and simply smiled indifferently. Sometimes, he wondered how he could be so patient with her. He didn't believe love was as grand as people made it out to be, that it could transform everything. To him, love was just a relationship between a man and a woman, built on physical attraction and then elevated to something more, but even that couldn't transcend reality.
Later, he finally understood. They were like two jagged stones trapped in a box, gradually worn down by constant friction over time, until they became smooth and rounded. This process was the result of time, space, and love working together.
In fact, not only was he gradually adapting to Lin Wan and changing for her, but she, too, was gradually adapting to him. They had even started forming a tacit understanding of some everyday details. Chen Jin felt a sense of joy and pride in these discoveries. After all, hadn't someone once said, "It's not about forever, it's about having had it"?
Even if it was short-lived, it was better than nothing.
So, he smiled at Lin Wan and said, "Wan Wan, didn't I tell you? As long as I can do it, I'll do my best. These little things, like picking you up, are nothing. You don't need to feel burdened."
"I don't have a burden."
"Then why are you making a fuss? Just accept it."
Lin Wan turned her face toward the window and looked at the snow for a while before suddenly saying, "Stop the car."
Chen Jin slammed on the brakes, confused. "What's wrong?"
"I'm hungry."
Chen Jin laughed, "We're already going to eat. We're almost there. Didn't we agree that today you get to eat a hotpot? You forgot?"
Lin Wan pursed her lips, thinking about how he only said that to sound nice. The truth was, he was the one who wanted to eat it. Yesterday, he had complained that after eating light broth with her for so long, his mouth had gone bland...
"I want some cream puffs," she said softly.
Chen Jin was confused, "Now?"
"Mm."
Seeing the confused look on his face, Lin Wan raised her chin and gestured toward the window. Chen Jin understood and looked outside. There was a cake shop on the side of the road. He nodded and said, "Alright, let's go."
Seeing Lin Wan still not moving, he suddenly pointed to himself and asked, "You want me to go buy them?"
Lin Wan didn't respond, just blinked her large eyes at him. Chen Jin chuckled, "Don't you have legs?"
Hearing her grunt, he remembered his previous insistence and immediately corrected himself, "Alright, my bad. You want cream puffs, right?" He opened the car door and walked out, but after a few steps, Lin Wan suddenly lowered the window and called out to him, adding, "And a green tea cake."
Chen Jin laughed, "Anything else? Say it all at once."
Lin Wan thought for a while, then shook her head.
Chen Jin clenched his teeth, pointed his finger at her and said, "Are you messing with me? You wait here."