Chapter 47 Confession

Chapter 47 Confession

The cicadas chirping louder and louder outside the window made the summer afternoon even more languid.

Lin Mianmian leaned back in the rocking chair on the balcony, holding an open exercise book in her hands, but her gaze drifted to the blue sky and white clouds in the distance.

Bai Xiaoyu lay on the living room carpet, fiddling with his Transformers toy, muttering to himself, sometimes imitating car horns, sometimes imitating robot speech, having a great time.

"Teacher Lin!" The little guy suddenly looked up, his round face covered in downy hair. "Brother said he's taking us to the amusement park this afternoon! Really? Really?"

Lin Mianmian came to her senses and nodded with a smile: "It should be true. Your brother specifically told me to pack our things and wait for him before he left this morning."

"Yay!" Bai Xiaoyu cheered, jumped up from the carpet, and ran to Lin Mianmian's side, tugging at her clothes and shaking them. "Let's change clothes now! I want to wear that blue Ultraman T-shirt!"

Lin Mianmian couldn't help but laugh as he shook her: "Okay, okay, I'll go change now."

Once the little guy got the confirmation, he dashed upstairs to the second floor, his footsteps clattering like a happy little rabbit.

Lin Mianmian slowly got up and walked to her room. She opened the wardrobe, and inside, besides the few simple clothes she had brought, there were two new dresses.

Bai Xiulin bought it on a whim a few days ago while shopping, saying that she always wore T-shirts and jeans and it was time for a change of style.

She hesitated for a moment, then picked up the light pink dress. The dress was made of very soft fabric, and the neckline was embroidered with tiny flowers, giving it an exceptionally gentle look.

After changing her clothes, Lin Mianmian twirled in front of the mirror, her cheeks slightly flushed as she looked at herself. She rarely wore dresses, always feeling they were too eye-catching, but this dress actually looked quite nice.

"Teacher Lin! Are you done yet?" Bai Xiaoyu's voice came from downstairs, with a hint of urging.

"Alright, alright!" Lin Mianmian replied and quickly walked downstairs.

Bai Xiaoyu downstairs had already changed her clothes, wearing a blue T-shirt, denim shorts, and white sneakers, looking incredibly energetic.

Seeing Lin Mianmian come down, the little one's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands and shouted, "Wow! Teacher Lin looks so beautiful in her dress! Like a fairy!"

Lin Mianmian's face turned even redder, and she reached out to ruffle his hair: "You're so sweet-talking."

Just then, the sound of a key turning came from the doorway.

Bai Xiulin pushed open the door and came in, still wearing his work shirt and trousers, his tie loosened, looking a bit travel-worn from just returning from outside.

His gaze fell on Lin Mianmian and he paused instantly.

Sunlight streamed through the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing Lin Mianmian in a soft golden glow, giving her pink dress a delicate golden edge.

Her hair was loosely tied up, revealing her slender, fair neck. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her eyes held a hint of shyness, like a gardenia bud about to bloom.

Bai Xiulin's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes, before he regained his usual gentle demeanor and said with a smile, "This dress suits you very well."

Lin Mianmian's heart skipped a beat. She didn't dare to look him in the eye, lowered her head, and whispered, "Thank you."

Bai Xiaoyu, oblivious to the subtle tension between the two, skipped over to Bai Xiulin, grabbed his hand, and pulled him toward the door: "Brother! Let's go! Let's go to the amusement park! I want to ride the roller coaster!"

"What's the rush?" Bai Xiulin smiled helplessly and reached out to rub his younger brother's head. "Let me change my clothes first."

He turned and went upstairs, and soon came down in a casual outfit: a white T-shirt and black sweatpants, looking fresh and sunny.

The amusement park was packed with people, and laughter filled the air.

Bai Xiaoyu was like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins, sometimes pulling Lin Mianmian to ride the carousel, sometimes dragging Bai Xiulin to play bumper cars, his eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.

Lin Mianmian sat on the carousel, watching Bai Xiaoyu cheering beside her, then looked up at Bai Xiulin standing not far away. He was holding his phone, the camera pointed at her and Bai Xiaoyu, a gentle smile on his lips.

Sunlight shone on his face, outlining his handsome features. As Lin Mianmian looked at him, her heart suddenly softened.

But the next second, Xie Lin's face flashed into her mind unexpectedly—that rainy night, he stood in the rain with a black umbrella, the bloodshot eyes and loneliness in them like a fine needle, gently pricking her.

Her heart sank, and the smile on her face faded slightly.

After playing until the afternoon, Bai Xiaoyu finally got tired, rubbed his eyes, and leaned against Lin Mianmian's chest to doze off.

Bai Xiulin went to buy ice cream, and when he came back, this was the scene he saw: Lin Mianmian was sitting on a bench, and Bai Xiaoyu was curled up in her arms, sleeping soundly. She gently patted the little guy's back, and her eyes were so gentle that they could drip water, but deep in her eyes, there was a trace of loneliness that he could not understand.

Bai Xiulin slowed his pace and walked over slowly, handing her a strawberry-flavored ice cream: "You must be exhausted. Have some ice cream and rest."

Lin Mianmian took the ice cream, thanked her, and ate it in small bites.

The sweet taste melted in my mouth, but it couldn't dispel the inexplicable sourness in my heart.

“Actually,” Bai Xiulin suddenly spoke, his voice low and gentle, “when I was a child, I also loved coming to amusement parks.”

Lin Mianmian raised her head and looked at him curiously.

“My parents were busy with work back then and rarely brought me here.” Bai Xiulin’s gaze drifted to the Ferris wheel in the distance, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

“Every time I see other children playing with their parents, I’m so envious. After Xiaoyu was born, I started bringing him here all the time, wanting to play with him all the games I never got to play when I was little.”

Lin Mianmian listened quietly, and suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for him. Even the seemingly gentle and cheerful Bai Xiulin had experienced such lonely moments in his childhood.

“But things are different now.” Bai Xiulin turned his head, his gaze falling on her face, his eyes filled with a smile. “With you and Xiaoyu here, it feels very lively.”

Lin Mianmian's heart started racing uncontrollably again. She quickly lowered her head, pretending to eat ice cream, but her ears secretly turned red.

In her mind, Xie Lin's face and Bai Xiulin's face inexplicably overlapped, making her feel a little flustered.

As the sun set, the evening glow painted half the sky red. Bai Xiulin carried the sleeping Bai Xiaoyu in his arms, with Lin Mianmian walking beside him. The two walked slowly, their shadows stretching long and thin.

A gentle evening breeze blew by, carrying the sweltering heat of summer. Lin Mianmian gazed at Bai Xiulin's tall, straight back, her mind a jumble of emotions. She admitted that Bai Xiulin's gentleness and thoughtfulness, like lukewarm water, were slowly seeping into her heart.

But the unforgettable past Xie Lin brought her, the joy and pain, were like marks etched into her bones, impossible to erase.

She was afraid, afraid that if she invested her heart again, she would only end up hurt again.

Back home, Bai Xiulin carried Bai Xiaoyu back to her room and gently covered her with a blanket. Lin Mianmian went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

She tied on her apron and had just finished rinsing the rice when Bai Xiulin walked in, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "Let me help you."

"No need, no need," Lin Mianmian quickly waved her hand, "You've had a long day, go and rest in the living room."

"It's alright." Bai Xiulin smiled, picked up the vegetables next to him and started picking them. "It'll be faster if the two of you work together."

The kitchen lights shone warmly, casting shadows on the two figures. Lin Mianmian chopped vegetables, while Bai Xiulin stir-fried them. They occasionally exchanged a smile, and a gentle warmth filled the air.

But Lin Mianmian felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on her heart.

Dinner was simple: three dishes and a soup, but it tasted exceptionally delicious.

Bai Xiaoyu woke up with a big appetite, ate two bowls of rice, and kept praising Lin Mianmian's cooking.

After dinner, Bai Xiaoyu volunteered to wash the dishes, while Lin Mianmian and Bai Xiulin sat on the sofa in the living room watching TV.

An old movie was playing on TV, its plot slow and gentle.

Lin Mianmian felt a little sleepy while watching, and unconsciously leaned her head to the side, resting it on a warm shoulder.

She woke up with a start and tried to sit up, but Bai Xiulin pressed down on her shoulder. His voice was deep and gentle, with a seductive power: "Don't move, just lean against me like that."

Lin Mianmian's cheeks burned, her heart pounded like a drum, yet she remained motionless, as if possessed.

She could smell the faint scent of laundry detergent on Bai Xiulin, a pleasant fragrance that made her feel at ease. But this sense of security only fueled her anxiety.

The night outside the window grew darker and darker, the cicadas' chirping gradually subsided, and only the light inside the room shone warmly.

After washing the dishes, Bai Xiaoyu peeked out from the kitchen and saw the two people snuggling on the sofa. She covered her mouth and chuckled to herself before tiptoeing back to her room, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.

The old movie continues to play, with the male and female leads embracing and kissing on screen.

Lin Mianmian's cheeks grew hotter and hotter. She could feel Bai Xiulin's gaze fixed on the top of her head, carrying a scorching heat.

“Mianmian,” Bai Xiulin suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with barely perceptible nervousness, “I like you.”

Lin Mianmian's body stiffened, her blood seemingly freezing at that moment.

She looked up and met Bai Xiulin's gaze. His eyes were full of seriousness, and a hint of cautious expectation.

"I know it might be a bit abrupt to say this now," Bai Xiulin's voice was a little hoarse, "but I really like you, I've liked you since the first time I saw you."

“I know you may still have someone else in your heart, but that’s okay. I can wait, wait for you to slowly let go of the past, and wait for you to see my feelings.”

Lin Mianmian looked at him, and her eyes suddenly welled up with tears. She thought of Xie Lin, of those unforgettable past events, and of those hurtful scenes.

But when she looked at Bai Xiulin in front of her, his gentleness, his patience, and his carefulness gradually melted the ice in her heart, but also plunged her into a deeper struggle.

She sniffed, looked into Bai Xiulin's eyes, her voice choked with emotion and a hint of helplessness: "Xiulin, I'm sorry..."

Bai Xiulin's eyes dimmed slightly, but he still looked at her gently: "It's okay, I know you need time."

“No,” Lin Mianmian shook her head, a hint of weariness in her eyes, “It’s not that I don’t love you, it’s that… I’m afraid to love anymore.”

She paused, her voice as soft as a feather: "The wounds Xie Lin left me haven't healed yet."

I'm afraid that if I invest myself again, I'll end up battered and bruised. Right now... I just want to live a peaceful life and don't want to be in a relationship anymore.

Bai Xiulin felt as if he had been pricked by a needle, and the pain was intense.

He looked at the vulnerability and exhaustion in Lin Mianmian's eyes, reached out and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his voice so gentle it could melt water: "Okay, I'll wait for you."

"Wait until the day you are willing to open your heart, wait until the day you are not afraid to love again."

"Until then, I'll be your friend, Xiaoyu's older brother, and stay by your side, okay?"

Lin Mianmian looked at him, her tears falling even more fiercely. She nodded, choking back sobs and unable to speak.

The moonlight outside the window shone through the gap in the curtains, gently enveloping the two people embracing.

This summer seems exceptionally long, with a touch of sweetness and a touch of bitterness.