Chapter 63 Reconciliation

Chapter 63 Reconciliation

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather was freezing cold, and heavy snow, accompanied by a biting wind, blanketed the entire city in white.

Half a month after the postgraduate entrance exam ended, Lin Mianmian's heart finally settled down, but the relief she had imagined did not come.

She stayed with her grandmother in the old house for the New Year. Bright red "Fu" characters were pasted on the windows, and pork ribs were simmering in the pot. The sound of the Spring Festival Gala rehearsal was lively on TV, but her heart felt frozen by heavy snow, empty and impossible to fill.

Grandma sat on the sofa picking vegetables. Seeing Mianmian staring blankly at the snow outside the window, she sighed and said, "Mianmian, if you feel bored, go for a walk."

The snow is falling so heavily; the snow scene outside is absolutely beautiful.

Lin Mianmian snapped out of her daze and forced a smile: "Okay."

She pulled out her long black down coat, wrapped herself up tightly, put on a scarf and gloves, and pushed open the door to walk into the snowstorm.

Snowflakes pattered against my down jacket, making a soft rustling sound. The snow under my feet was ankle-deep, and with each step I left a deep footprint.

She wandered aimlessly, passing by the wet market she had once visited with Xie Lin, and the steakhouse he had promised to take her to.

The Spring Festival couplets at the door were already pasted up, their bright red color almost blinding. She stared at them for a long time until a cold wind blew into her collar, making her shiver, before continuing on her way.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, and visibility gradually became blurred.

She lowered her head, stepping on the thick snow, her mind filled with Xie Lin's image—the warmth of his embrace, the tone of his voice when he said "things will get better," and the way he lay on the hospital bed, his eyes cold as he said "break up."

My chest felt like it was blocked by something, a dull, aching pain.

In the instant she was distracted, a blinding headlight suddenly shone on her, accompanied by a sharp screech of brakes.

Lin Mianmian trembled with shock and instinctively looked up to see a black sedan hurtling toward her out of control, its wheels crunching through the snow and kicking up large plumes of snow.

She froze, her hands and feet were ice-cold, and she didn't even have the strength to dodge.

"Mianmian!"

A hoarse shout pierced the wind and snow, followed by a familiar force that suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her backward.

The immense inertia caused her to stumble and fall into a warm embrace, her nose bumping into a cashmere coat that smelled faintly of tobacco.

The car stopped, brushing against the hem of her clothes. The driver leaned out, muttered a few curses, and then hurriedly drove away.

Lin Mianmian was still in shock, panting heavily, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She looked up and met a pair of bloodshot eyes.

It's Xie Lin.

He had lost a lot of weight, and the black cashmere coat he wore made his face look even paler. His hair was cut very short, and the youthful arrogance in his eyes had faded, replaced by a sharp and weary expression.

Only those eyes, when looking at her, were still filled with an unyielding tenderness and affection.

"How could you..." Lin Mianmian's voice trembled, and before she could finish speaking, tears fell down her face.

Xie Lin didn't say anything, but just gripped her arm tightly, his knuckles turning white.

His right leg was slightly lame; he had exerted too much force just now, and now he was subtly shrinking back, with fine beads of cold sweat appearing on his forehead.

Lin Mianmian's gaze fell on his legs, and her heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle. Her tears fell even more fiercely: "Your legs..."

"It's nothing." Xie Lin's voice was terribly hoarse. He raised his hand and clumsily wiped away her tears, his fingertips icy cold. "Why weren't you watching where you were going? With so much snow, what if something happened?"

His tone carried a hint of reproach, but even more so, it was filled with lingering fear.

What he just witnessed almost made his soul fly away.

He watched her come out of the old house and followed her at a distance, watching her walk slowly in the snow, watching her stare blankly at the residential buildings, and watching the car rush towards her in the moment she was lost in thought.

At that moment, he couldn't care about anything else; he only had one thought in his mind—he couldn't let anything happen to her.

Looking at his reddened eyes and his forced composure, Lin Mianmian felt a surge of grievance and longing well up inside her.

She raised her hand and pounded her fist on his chest: "Why did you hide from me? Why didn't you tell me you were back? Xie Lin, you bastard!"

Xie Lin did not dodge, letting her fist fall on him.

His body trembled slightly as the person in his arms cried their heart out. The warm tears soaked through his coat and melted his heart, which had been frozen for a year.

"I didn't hide." His voice choked with emotion as he held her tightly, as if embracing a lost treasure he had found again. "I just... was afraid to get close to you."

“I’m afraid that I’ll be a burden to you in this state. I’m afraid that Xie’s father will cause you trouble, and I’m afraid that you will suffer if you stay with me.”

“When I see you going to the library every day, when I see you studying hard for the exam, when I see you chatting and laughing with your classmates, I think, this is good. You deserve better, not someone like me... a useless person.”

His voice grew softer and softer, and the last few words were almost inaudible.

Lin Mianmian suddenly looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears: "Who told you you're a cripple? Xie Lin, in my heart, you've never been!"

"I don't care about your leg, I don't care if you're the heir of the Xie family, what I care about is you! You're the Xie Lin who would make me scrambled eggs with tomatoes, who would hold me and tell me that things would get better!"

"Do you know how much I've suffered this past year? I went to the hospital to see you, but the bodyguards stopped me at the door; I called Liang Cheng, but couldn't get through. I looked at that contract you never got to start working on, and cried countless times!"

Xie Lin felt as if his heart had been clenched tightly. He lowered his head, his forehead touching hers, and hot tears fell onto her face.

"I was wrong." His voice trembled uncontrollably as he held her tightly, as if she would disappear if he let go.

"Mianmian, I was wrong. I shouldn't have said goodbye, I shouldn't have avoided you, I shouldn't have... made you sad alone."

"I'm afraid you'll really leave me. I think about you every day, it's driving me crazy."

“I run the Xie family’s company and work myself to the bone every day. I just want to become stronger, strong enough to protect you, strong enough to stand up against Xie’s father, strong enough to stand by your side with dignity.”

The wind and snow continued to howl, and the two embraced tightly in the heavy snow.

The world around them was silent, with only the sound of their heartbeats and sobs remaining.

Lin Mianmian reached out and hugged him tightly, feeling the warmth of his embrace and his trembling body.

She knew that the chasm between them was never about distance or status, but about his deep-seated inferiority and timidity.

"Xie Lin," she spoke softly, her voice gentle yet firm, "can our lives ever get better?"

Xie Lin looked up at her tear-filled face, at the light in her eyes. He nodded vigorously, his eyes red-rimmed, yet his smile was incredibly radiant.

"able."

"This time, I won't let go."

The heavy snow fell on their hair and shoulders, like a white wedding dress draped over them. The occasional sound of firecrackers echoed in the distance, the festive atmosphere growing stronger.

Lin Mianmian leaned against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, and the emptiness in her heart was finally filled.

She knew that the year of waiting and suffering had been worth it.