Chapter 4 You Are Not Like Her
After that meeting with Lin Yaoyao, the obedient, proper Lin Yaoyao from his mouth kept showing up between us.
After that, the time I spent alone with Xu Heng grew less and less.
We fought often. We also fell out over me telling him to fire his assistant, and we barely saw each other for almost a month.
Xu Heng offered on his own to take me on a holiday trip.
I wanted to make up too, so I agreed.
Another phone call ruined it.
Under the dim light, Xu Heng's outline looked especially clear and refined.
After he hung up, he kissed my lips and took the mint candy I was addicted to.
I was about to answer the kiss when he pushed me away.
"Lin Yaoyao said she wants to come to Hainan too. We can all hang out then."
Since when had Miss Lin become Lin Yaoyao?
My face fell. "Again? You work for them. You didn't sell yourself."
Xu Heng drew back the arm around me. His tone went cold and hard.
"Don't talk so ugly."
"If there was really something between her and me, would I contact her openly in front of you?"
Between them, it looked open. Every time Xu Heng was alone with Lin Yaoyao, he reported it.
But could the things I could not see, and the things I could, really be explained clean?
I turned over, my back to him.
Xu Heng sighed, turned off the lamp, and held me from behind.
"The Lin Family Group has been looking into whether our company is worth investing in. Lin Yaoyao just came back and has no friends. She treats me like an older brother."
"I only treat her as an investor. I am being respectful. I have no other ideas."
"I don't want to fight anymore. Can we just get through this properly?"
His body ran warm against me, like the heat from his palm when he saved me seven years ago.
I understood his startup was not easy, so his attitude toward Lin Yaoyao was different.
After all, having the Lin family behind an ordinary company was a huge temptation.
I pressed the anger down for the moment. By the next day, it came up again.
Lin Yaoyao took my place the whole time.
One moment she wanted Brother Heng to get her water. The next she could not twist a bottle cap. Then she needed a blanket.
I could not stay on the beach chair. I said outright that I was going into the water.
Xu Heng said he would come with me. Lin Yaoyao, lying there just fine, stood up at once and said she would come too.
I ignored her and went straight to the changing room for my swimsuit.
Lin Yaoyao and I walked out at the same time. Xu Heng's gaze landed on me first, then turned to her.
She tugged her skirt and spun, excited. "Brother Heng, do I look good?"
She had not spun much before Xu Heng stopped her. Lin Yaoyao's face immediately looked wronged.
Xu Heng sighed, helpless. The explanation sounded like he was soothing her.
"Spinning is dangerous. Take care of yourself."
His tone sounded gentle, indulgent.
Under the harsh sun, I felt cold.
I got ready to leave.
Lin Yaoyao gave a well-behaved "oh," straightened the skirt that nearly reached her knees, and looked at me as if by accident.
"Ah, Sister Yue dressed like that... isn't it too dangerous?"
I stopped. I was about to snap back.
Xu Heng got there first. His tone was flat and lazy.
"She's just like that."
"You and she are not the same."
I froze.
I did not understand what he meant.
When I came back to myself, the two of them had already gone into the sea.
The sun hung high. The glare hurt my eyes.
I walked toward the beach, sullen.
I saw the hand Xu Heng had on Lin Yaoyao's arm let go all at once.
Then he waved at me. "Tian Yue, come teach Lin Yaoyao how to play in the water."
It seemed like he was forcing an explanation.
But why be so tense.
I watched for a few seconds, settled myself, and walked over slowly.
When I arrived, the distance between Xu Heng and Lin Yaoyao opened a little.
"It's better if Sister Yue teaches me. Brother Heng is clumsy."
Lin Yaoyao smiled sweetly and pulled me over, all familiar.
My face stayed blank. I started teaching her to float and told her to relax.
She tried several times to get her feet off the bottom and failed. Xu Heng looked like he wanted to speak, then stopped, and left the water for the beach.
The strange part was, once Xu Heng left, Lin Yaoyao succeeded.
Lin Yaoyao's expression went flat. Without warning, she pulled her arm back.
"Thanks, Sister Yue."
My hand stiffened on the water.
"You're not used to it yet. I'll hold you."
Lin Yaoyao looked at me sideways. Her mouth hooked into a sneer.
"Drop the act. A Delinquent Girl who mixed in society early would understand this."
"Clinging to someone from another world. Aren't you tired?"
"Tian Yue, you really can endure."
I frowned hard. The hand under the water clenched until it hurt.
Suddenly, a wave hit without warning.
Lin Yaoyao and I both went under. I steadied fast and started treading water.
"Lin Yaoyao!" A shout rose from the shore.
I turned. The wave had carried Lin Yaoyao back. I startled.
I changed direction and swam toward her.
A violent force yanked me away.
"Don't go!" Xu Heng's eyes looked ready to split.
It was a warning.
Because of that sudden move, I choked on several mouthfuls of water.
The bitter seawater stung.
It burned down my throat.
More than the pain in my body, a cold spreading from the bottom of my heart made me clench my teeth.
This time, I saw it clearly.
From start to finish, the way Xu Heng cared about Lin Yaoyao was not the same.