CHAPTER 339: CHAPTER 338: ATTEMPTING SUICIDE (2)

Ling Chuxia was still wiping her face, utterly unaware that Shi Che had already approached her until he suddenly took the wet cloth from her hand and continued to wipe her face for her.

Ling Chu was slightly taken aback. As she raised her eyes, she met Shi Che’s dark pupils.

He looked at her intently, his dark eyes focused and serious, his movements gentle and careful, wiping away the tear stains on her face bit by bit.

Ling Chuxia stared at him, her heart originally pressed down by extreme guilt and self-reproach. She forcibly held back, not wanting Shi Che to notice anything amiss. But at the sight of Shi Che, as he gently wiped her tear stains, she didn’t know why a fog suddenly rose before her eyes, a sourness surged into her nose, and tears uncontrollably began to flow.

She was afraid that Shi Che would see her crying, and suddenly extended her hand to embrace Shi Che, burying her face in his chest.

Shi Che hadn’t expected Ling Chuxia to suddenly hug him. He became momentarily stunned, a flash of surprise in his eyes, which then lowered to the small figure huddled against his chest. The surprise in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a growing gentleness.

He parted his lips lightly, his voice low and soft, "What’s the matter?"

Ling Chuxia dared not speak, afraid that once she did, he would hear the crying in her voice. She bit down hard on her teeth, only holding Shi Che tighter with both hands, leaning closely in his embrace.

Ling Chuxia remained silent, but her body couldn’t help trembling slightly. Shi Che’s brows furrowed slightly, his voice deepening, "Chuxia?"

He wanted to pull her away to see what was wrong, but she stubbornly hung her head, sobbing as she spoke, "I just want a hug... just for a moment."

Shi Che, holding Ling Chuxia’s arm, paused, his gaze intensifying.

Even though she restrained herself well, he could still hear the sobbing in her voice. Why was she crying again?

He watched her, her small body trembling badly, yet she suppressed it fiercely, not letting out a single sound. In the past, whenever she cried, she would cry out loud, and each time he had to soothe her for a long time before she calmed down. Now, however, whenever she cried, she suppressed herself tightly, afraid to let anyone know she was crying. It was as if she had to swallow all her pain back inside herself.

Shi Che’s heart felt as if it had been harshly pricked. Looking into Ling Chuxia’s eyes, a deep sense of heartache emerged.

He didn’t ask Ling Chuxia why she was crying again, but slowly reached out his hand, hugging Ling Chuxia back, firmly enveloping her in his embrace. He lowered his head, his lips gently kissing the top of her hair.

Not just a momentary embrace—if it means embracing until the end of time, that’s okay too.

In the bustling square with people coming and going, Shi Che and Ling Chuxia embraced like this, utterly disregarding the gazes of those around them. So many passersby, yet they seemed isolated from the crowd, existing in their own little world.

Ling Yunshu hid behind the statue, her eyes fixated on them.

For the first time, she realized that Shi Che’s gaze at Ling Chuxia was so deep, so focused. She learned that Shi Che could also be so gentle, so earnest.

She had thought that even if Shi Che truly fell in love with someone, given his indifferent nature, he wouldn’t express his feelings as passionately as others.

But she was wrong, completely wrong.

Ling Yunshu felt all her strength drained in that moment, barely able to support herself, she slid down against the statue.

How could they be so happily together? Why did they deserve to be so happy together?