CHAPTER 605: CHAPTER 605: DO YOU HATE ME?

A sudden idea flashed through Lin Zhiyi’s mind.

Just as she lowered her head, Gong Chen handed her a pen, as if he had anticipated what she was about to do.

Lin Zhiyi took the pen and began crossing out letters.

This line of letters was too easy.

"Strike out the extra letters, and what’s left is... save... me."

"Save me."

Lin Zhiyi and Gong Chen spoke in unison.

The living room fell silent.

Li Huan took a deep breath and said, "This piece of jewelry was already criticized for its abstraction, could it be a prank by Bai Ruoshu?"

Lin Zhiyi immediately refuted this suggestion.

"If Bai Ruoshu did this, it would not only disregard her own image but also mock her clients. Her image is the image of the Bai Family; she wouldn’t joke about this."

Gong Chen turned his head slightly, detecting the implication behind her words.

"Zhiyi, do you think this isn’t Bai Ruoshu’s design?"

"Her design style has always been quite vibrant, so being a bit daring and bold seemed reasonable to everyone. But as I went through her past designs out of boredom over the past couple of days, I discovered something."

She finished speaking.

Lin Zhiyi projected her computer screen onto a larger screen.

She pointed at the screen and continued, "Over the years, her style gradually became fixed after she gained fame. These are her works from the recent years, divided into three categories, which are the three in front of us. Bold shapes, bold colors, bold materials."

"Recently, she seems to have been searching for a new style, resulting in the mishap with Xue Man’s Studio’s new product. Now she’s reverted to bold colors again, which is her most used and most successful design."

"Even I admire her use of color among the gems."

On this point, as an art student, Liao Yi had the most authority.

She nodded and said, "Indeed, among these works, those that are bold in color are the most mature. This also indicates her strong sensitivity to color."

"However, if you combine all the bold elements, it seems overwhelming, so she divided these styles into three categories," Lin Zhiyi continued.

At this point, Li Huan and Chen Jin were completely puzzled.

Only Gong Chen, after comparing the three styles, reached a conclusion.

"At least three people are helping Bai Ruoshu design, and the failed design last time was likely her attempt to switch to a new style, which backfired."

Lin Zhiyi nodded.

Initially, when she noticed something unusual about Bai Ruoshu’s designs, she thought of some details from her past life.

Even though she hadn’t met Bai Ruoshu, she connected some dots from the few words of Song Wanqiu.

Song Wanqiu never saw Bai Ruoshu’s designs in person, yet Bai Ruoshu always produced stunning work at critical moments.

Leaving Song Wanqiu with nothing to hold onto.

Lin Zhiyi hadn’t thought much of it before.

Now it seemed that Bai Ruoshu didn’t design most of the time because she didn’t know how to.

Li Huan stared at the screen, suspiciously, "So what’s with the Bai Ruoshu Art Museum under her name? It’s impossible that so many people can’t see through it, right?"

Gong Chen explained, "Anyone entering the Bai Ruoshu Art Museum needs an invitation, which screens out most troublemakers. The Bai Family just needs to ensure that the people who enter the museum will speak well of Bai Ruoshu, and she becomes celebrated."

That said.

Lin Zhiyi still had one thing she couldn’t understand.

"The people designing these jewels are very talented. If they worked independently, they could certainly become famous. Why are they willing to help Bai Ruoshu for so many years?"

Gong Chen placed two sheets of paper together on the coffee table.

"Because of this."

"Save me, Lin Zhiyi."

Lin Zhiyi’s breathing became heavy, feeling inexplicably as if a hand was approaching her from behind.

She felt a chill all over.

Li Huan wanted to say something else, but Gong Chen interrupted.

"This matter needs long-term consideration, no rush."

Gong Chen lifted his eyes and looked at Li Huan and Chen Jin.

"Hmm."

Li Huan understood Gong Chen’s intention and asked no more questions.

Chen Jin nodded and quietly left the house.

At this moment, an aunt emerged from the kitchen and waved at them from the dining room.

"Dinner is ready."

Gong Chen wrapped an arm around Lin Zhiyi’s shoulders, comforting her, "These are just speculations, let’s eat first."

Lin Zhiyi looked at the dimming screen and agreed softly.

Turning around, she took Xingxing to eat.

After sitting down, Lin Zhiyi realized that Chen Jin was gone.

"Where’s Assistant Chen?"

"There’s something at the company he needs to handle."

"Alright."

Lin Zhiyi continued to eat.

After dinner, Li Huan went back to the hospital.

Seeing Lin Zhiyi wasn’t feeling well, Liao Yi took Xingxing for a nap.

Returning to her room, Lin Zhiyi lay wearily on the bed, trying to rest but her mind was elsewhere.

It wasn’t until a warm chest pressed against her back that she slowly came back to herself.

A man’s voice sounded above her.

"Worried."

Lin Zhiyi grabbed the corner of the blanket, "Yes, I’m afraid I missed some information, letting someone else..."

Gong Chen embraced her, "No you won’t. If our conjecture is correct, then before Bai Ruoshu confirms a switch in style, these people wouldn’t come to harm. Otherwise, who would maintain her title as a genius jewelry designer?"

Hearing this, Lin Zhiyi breathed a little easier.

The next moment, the man’s hand lightly circled her small abdomen.

Tickling her through her clothes.

Lin Zhiyi squirmed slightly and pressed his hand, thinking he was misbehaving again.

"What are you doing? Liao Yi is still here, and besides, didn’t you just..."

Before she could finish, Gong Chen withdrew his hand and slid it directly into her clothes.

She froze.

But Gong Chen didn’t go too far; instead, he rested his palm on her small abdomen, breathing deeply.

"Zhiyi, it must have been frightening, being alone, pregnant, in such a distant place."

It took Lin Zhiyi a few seconds to come back to her senses.

He remembered the things they had mentioned in their conversation earlier.

She didn’t respond with a laugh or a squabble, but answered directly.

"Frightening, on sunny days I was fine, but when it rained or was windy, I was especially scared. Every prenatal check-up, I’d prepare everything in advance, afraid of forgetting something and having no one to help, passing out from low blood sugar with no one to take care of me. I even checked my shoe soles before going out, fearful of slipping."

"In the late stage of pregnancy, each day was full of anxiety. I didn’t know when I would give birth, afraid of not being able to call for help at night to go to the hospital, or that people wouldn’t hear me whimpering during the day. During that time, I was almost always with the shopkeeper."

Listening, Gong Chen’s hands around her waist gradually tightened.

"Do you hate me?"

"Yes, how could I not?" Lin Zhiyi took a breath.

Gong Chen buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent for reassurance.

"I always thought that as long as I kept you close, explained everything once it was all over, it would protect you. I thought you’d understand me, but I realized I never understood you. Sorry, Zhiyi."

Lin Zhiyi thought for a moment, turned over to face him, and they looked at each other.

"Did you know? I once thought of taking you down with me, but... I couldn’t."

She only understood after having died once that death truly meant complete loss.

Her mother, her Xingxing, her dreams...

Why else would she be reborn?

She had to live, no matter how painful, she had to move forward.

If not for this idea, she wouldn’t have known how many truths were hidden in her past life.

"Why not?" Gong Chen stared at her with hopeful eyes.

Lin Zhiyi pressed her lips, "You want to know? I’m not telling you. This is a trick I learned from the Third Young Master, keeping everything to myself."

The somber mood vanished instantly.

Gong Chen’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

"Then you should learn a lot from me."

"Learn what... hmm"

Li Huan’s regime of strengthening exercises wasn’t for nothing!