Chapter 50 Meeting the Rivals

Chapter 50 Meeting the Rivals

After Su Wan disappeared at the restaurant entrance, Lin Mianmian sat in the booth for a long time.

The chatter of the surrounding guests and the clattering of cutlery were like countless tiny needles pricking her eardrums.

She raised her hand to wipe her face, forcing back the tears that were about to spill. Just as she stood up, she saw the manager rubbing his hands and walking towards her with a troubled expression.

"Mianmian," the manager said in a low voice, his face showing some apology.

"You know who that Miss Su was. Before she left, she specifically instructed that if I kept you working here, our shop..."

Lin Mianmian's heart sank suddenly, and the warmth at her fingertips vanished instantly.

Seeing the manager's hesitant expression, she understood immediately. She forced a smile that looked more like a grimace and said, "I understand, Manager. I'll go pack my things now."

The manager sighed, patted her on the shoulder, and didn't say anything more.

In the kitchen's storage cabinet, there was an old canvas bag she had brought.

Lin Mianmian folded the apron and put it inside.

A fellow part-time worker passed by and secretly slipped her a piece of candy, whispering comfortingly, "Mianmian, don't be sad, it's their problem."

Lin Mianmian held the candy in her hand, the texture of the wrapper digging into her palm. A bittersweet feeling welled up inside her, but she couldn't suppress the sourness in her heart.

She forced a smile, said "thank you," and walked out of the restaurant with her bag.

The afternoon sun was a bit too bright. Lin Mianmian stood by the roadside, watching people come and go, and suddenly felt a little lost.

She walked aimlessly forward, her phone vibrating in her pocket.

She took it out and saw it was a message from Bai Xiulin, asking her what she wanted to eat for dinner.

Lin Mianmian stared at the words on the screen, her eyes starting to well up with tears again.

She sniffed, typed "I have something to do, I'll talk to you later," hesitated for a long time, and then sent it.

She didn't want Bai Xiulin to worry, and she didn't want him to know that she had gotten into trouble again because of Xie Lin.

But some things just can't be hidden forever.

As evening fell, Bai Xiulin, carrying the groceries he had just bought, knocked on Lin Mianmian's door.

The moment he opened the door, he sensed something was wrong.

Lin Mianmian's eyes were red, clearly from crying. She was still wearing the clothes she wore during the day, and she looked listless and lacked any energy.

"What's wrong?" Bai Xiulin put down the vegetables in his hand and reached out to touch her forehead, but she subconsciously dodged away.

He frowned, his tone filled with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Lin Mianmian shook her head, looked down at the tips of her shoes, and said in a voice barely audible, "I'm fine."

Bai Xiulin refused to believe it.

He walked into the living room, his gaze sweeping over the old canvas bag on the coffee table, and he already had some guesses in his mind.

He remained silent for a moment, then turned and went into the kitchen, tying on an apron: "I bought your favorite ribs. I'll make you some soup first. We can talk about anything else after we finish eating."

The familiar smell of cooking wafted from the kitchen. Lin Mianmian sat on the sofa, watching Bai Xiulin's busy figure.

The grievances in my heart were like a flood that had burst its banks, and I could no longer hold them back.

Tears rolled down silently, landing on her trouser leg and spreading into a small, dark stain.

At dinner, Bai Xiulin served her a full bowl of pork rib soup and put several pieces of meat into her bowl.

Lin Mianmian ate her rice, finding it tasteless, but her eyes grew increasingly red.

"It's because of Su Wan, isn't it?" Bai Xiulin suddenly spoke, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable certainty.

Lin Mianmian's chopsticks froze in mid-air, and a tear fell into her bowl with a "plop".

She looked up at Bai Xiulin, and finally couldn't hold back any longer. She choked up and told him, word by word, what had happened at the restaurant that afternoon.

From Su Wan's difficult behavior to the check being torn up, and then to being fired by the manager, her shoulders trembled violently with every word she spoke.

Bai Xiulin listened quietly, his expression gradually darkening.

He put down his chopsticks, his fingertips turning slightly white, his eyes swirling with anger, but he didn't lash out immediately.

After Lin Mianmian finished speaking, he took out a tissue and handed it to her, his voice a few decibels deeper than before: "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

Those four short words made Lin Mianmian's tears fall even more fiercely.

She kept up a brave face, pretending not to care, but only she knew that Su Wan's words and contemptuous glances were like knives, tearing her self-esteem to shreds.

"That restaurant is better off shutting down." Bai Xiulin's voice carried a hint of coldness. "Su Wan relies on the Su family's power to act arrogantly and domineeringly. Does she really think no one can control her?"

Lin Mianmian sniffed and shook her head: "Forget it, Brother Xiulin, I don't want to cause any more trouble."

She was afraid; afraid that her problems would implicate those around her.

Looking at the timidity and exhaustion in her eyes, Bai Xiulin felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if something had tugged at it.

He reached out and gently ruffled her hair, his tone firm and unwavering: "This matter cannot be left like this."

You've been wronged, I can't just stand by and do nothing.

He paused, then added, "And as for Xie Lin, I'll go and talk to him about it."

Lin Mianmian's heart skipped a beat. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

She knew that Bai Xiulin was doing it for her own good.

But what about Xie Lin? He drank so much last night that he had a stomach hemorrhage. How is he now? Is he getting enough rest? Is he taking his medication on time?

These thoughts had barely surfaced when she forcefully suppressed them.

It was over between her and Xie Lin a long time ago.

The sky outside the window had completely darkened, and the light from the streetlights shone through the window and onto the floor.

The warm yellow light couldn't dispel the slight chill in the living room.

Bai Xiulin looked at Lin Mianmian's dazed expression, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

He knew that she still couldn't let go of Xie Lin in her heart.

But what could he do?

All he could do was stay by her side and offer her a shoulder to lean on when she needed it.

As night deepened, Bai Xiulin settled Lin Mianmian, who was crying so hard she was dozing off on the sofa. He covered her with a light blanket, then turned and grabbed his coat before heading out.

We drove straight to Xie Lin's apartment. The black Maybach parked downstairs was covered with a thin layer of dust, clearly indicating that its owner hadn't taken good care of it for a long time.

Bai Xiulin rang the doorbell, and after a long while, the sound of dragging footsteps came through.

When the door opened, a strong smell of alcohol mixed with the smell of cigarettes hit me.

Xie Lin was wearing a wrinkled T-shirt, his eyes were covered in dark circles, and his face was so pale it was almost transparent. When he saw the person outside the door, he forced a smile and said in a hoarse voice, "Why are you here?"

Bai Xiulin didn't stand on ceremony with him and pushed the door open to enter. His gaze swept over the cigarette butts and empty bottles scattered on the floor, and the coldness in his eyes intensified.

"Su Wan went to find Lin Mianmian and forced her to lose her job at the restaurant where she worked part-time."

Xie Lin's body stiffened abruptly, and his fingers gripping the door frame tightened instantly, his knuckles turning white.

He staggered back two steps, slumped onto the sofa, head down, the wisps of hair on his forehead obscuring the emotions in his eyes. All that could be heard was him mutter, "I know."

"You know?" Bai Xiulin sneered, stepped forward, and looked down at him.

"You knew all along, yet you let Su Wan act so recklessly? Xie Lin, you know the Su family's methods, you know Lin Mianmian can't withstand any more trouble, so why did you still drag her into your mess?"

"I didn't." Xie Lin suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, his voice carrying a weak roar.

"Su Wan and I made it clear a long time ago, it's just that she won't let go!"

"Explain yourself?" Bai Xiulin sneered. "Your explanation is to let Lin Mianmian be publicly humiliated and have her part-time job, her only means of making a living, taken away? Xie Lin, look at yourself now, living a life of debauchery, like a coward!"

These words were like a sharp knife, piercing Xie Lin's heart.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, and a suppressed groan escaped his throat.

Seeing his appearance, Bai Xiulin's anger subsided slightly, but he still said coldly, "I didn't come here to argue with you."

"I'll give you two days to resolve Su Wan's matter and make sure she never appears in front of Lin Mianmian again. Otherwise, I won't consider our past relationship anymore."

After saying that, Bai Xiulin turned and left. When he reached the entrance, he stopped, his back to Xie Lin, his voice as cold as ice: "Also, Lin Mianmian is right, it's over between you two a long time ago."

The moment the door closed, Xie Lin could no longer hold on and collapsed onto the sofa.

He raised his hand to cover his face, and suppressed sobs escaped through his fingers.