After all, there is no going back

That night at the dinner table, Lin Yuan didn't even mention his trip to Shanghai.

There wasn't much to say, after all; he couldn't very well tell Xia Ye: "Zhang Yan and I actually spent a whole day together in Shanghai."

Especially since he'd be sharing a bed with Xia Ye later that night.

Thinking of this, Lin Yuan finally realized with a sigh—he had, after all, become a scumbag. No, actually, he had been a scumbag for a long time.

Lin Yuan asked himself why he had taken this step. It was still Zhang Yan's words—"You and Xia Ye haven't gone through difficulties together."

Although Xia Ye had said: she would rather Lin Yuan be the delivery driver he once was.

But Lin Yuan understood Xia Ye's personality too well—she was a naive person who couldn't endure hardship. Lin Yuan had realized this not long after meeting her. Otherwise, he wouldn't have treated her like his eldest daughter.

It was precisely because of this that Lin Yuan's heart inevitably wavered slightly regarding Xia Ye.

If Xia Ye had gone to a maid cafe because she couldn't endure hardship, then if Lin Yuan really were just a delivery driver, wouldn't she change her mind because she couldn't endure hardship?

Xia Ye was naive, but Lin Yuan wasn't; Lin Yuan always believed: a person's behavioral logic is consistent.

However, Lin Yuan didn't have much prejudice against Xia Ye because of this, as there are very few pure things in this world. Just like when Lin Yuan first took a liking to Xia Ye, it was entirely for her looks. Why bother making things so clear? If he made them too clear, he would also be very tired.

"Xia Ye, is the injury on your elbow still not healed?" Lin Yuan noticed Xia Ye wincing when her elbow touched the table while eating.

"The previous one was on the other hand," Xia Ye lifted her other arm, "it's almost healed. This one is a new fall."

"Lift it up, let me see," Lin Yuan quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks, grabbed Xia Ye's arm, and began to examine it.

Zhang Yan, seeing this, retorted irritably, "Brother, you and Sister-in-Law will have plenty of time to look slowly in bed later."

Lin Yuan immediately glared back, and Zhang Yan fell silent.

But Xia Ye had already pulled her arm back, "I'm fine, it's just a small injury."

Actually, this wasn't a hidden conflict between Zhang Yan and Xia Ye; normally, the atmosphere in this house was quite good.

After dinner, Zhang Yan even took on the task of clearing the table and washing dishes because Xia Ye's elbow was injured. Speaking of which, this young miss's housework was truly dreadful; she'd break bowls or plates every other day, clearly someone who didn't do chores at home.

But even if the atmosphere was harmonious, everyone knew what was going on in their hearts. Xia Ye wouldn't act too intimately with Lin Yuan, especially when Zhang Yan was present.

Zhang Yan maintained a friendly facade towards Xia Ye and Song Xiaoxiao, but her eyes always held an indifferent expression. Every morning, Lin Yuan would be pulled out by Zhang Yan under various pretexts, even though it was already winter break.

This kind of relationship was like the sunrise on a winter morning—you see the golden light of the sun spilling down, but if you look closely, the grass blades on the ground are covered in layers of white frost.

This relationship also deeply affected Lin Yuan's interactions with Xia Ye.

Xia Ye used to love cuddling with Lin Yuan to sleep; now, she was used to turning her back to him.

Although they had slept together in the same bed for quite some time, the most crucial thing had still not been done.

It wasn't that Xia Ye wasn't cooperative, but rather that her cooperation was too mechanical, making Lin Yuan feel that it was merely an act of obedience.

"Little Xia, let me see your wound." After closing the door, Lin Yuan unbuttoned Xia Ye's clothes and carefully examined her entire body.

Besides her elbow, there were also many bruises on her knees, feet, and buttocks.

"Does it hurt?" Lin Yuan massaged the swollen areas.

Xia Ye bit her teeth in pain, then stubbornly said, "It doesn't hurt. I've already applied medicine."

"Do you have to practice dancing? Do you have to take the postgraduate entrance exam?"

"Otherwise?" Xia Ye retorted, "I always need something to do. I can't even watch Douyin now. No wonder you used to say: watching too much Douyin makes people stupid."

"So what if you're stupid? Being naive is quite cute," Lin Yuan teased her.

"Not cute anymore." Xia Ye's face was straight, showing no interest in Lin Yuan's hint.

Lin Yuan immediately lost interest as well, "How about we move out?"

"What about Zhang Yan?"

"I talked a lot with her today in Shanghai. She probably won't object. We can just rent another apartment in this community."

"Don't go to extra expense," Xia Ye said softly, "It's not easy for you to earn money. I don't want to act..."

"I don't think you're acting, and renting a house doesn't cost much."

"That's because it's easy for you to earn money now. For Xiao Xiao and me, renting a house is too expensive. This is good as it is; we have food and clothes. I'm not unsatisfied."

"But I still see that you're unhappy."

"Am I?"

"It's written all over your face."

"Alright," Xia Ye was a little dejected, then she burrowed into Lin Yuan's arms, "I'm not like this because of you; I'm like this because of my own incompetence. Lately, I've been thinking that my twenty-something years of life have been a complete failure.

At home, I relied on my parents; after leaving, I relied on men.

It seems I've never relied on myself.

What's more irritating is that I'm only realizing these things now."

Lin Yuan picked up a strand of Xia Ye's hair with his hand; it felt cold to the touch. "So you're practicing dancing like crazy?"

"Something like that. Actually, it's also a way to vent. Besides practicing dancing, I don't seem to have anything else I can do. I clearly know that the chance of getting into Purple Arts is slim, but I have no other choice. Besides teaching dance at a tutoring center, all I can do is sell milk tea.

Lin Yuan?" Xia Ye suddenly sat up from Lin Yuan's embrace, staring at him blankly, "Will you abandon me in the future?"

"No, why would you ask such a question?"

"You don't even touch me. Are you disgusted with me?"

Lin Yuan gave a wry smile, "Sister, you're clearly the one rejecting me."

"How am I rejecting you?"

"Your micro-expressions have always been rejecting me."

"Alright, I do feel a bit uncomfortable. I always feel like you're not my boyfriend now, but my customer."

Lin Yuan felt dizzy, "Alright... So that's how you treat your customers?"

Xia Ye whispered, "I don't have any experience."

"How about we learn from each other?"

But Xia Ye remained unmoved.

"Lin Yuan, you still haven't answered my question. Will you not want me in the future?"

"Didn't I answer you? No."

"Then will you marry me?"

"Yes."

"What if Zhang Yan doesn't agree and wants you to marry her?"

"She said she wouldn't interfere with my marriage."

"But who can say what will happen in the future?"

Lin Yuan keenly noticed a hint of something unusual, "How do I feel like these words sound like Song Xiaoxiao?"

"These are indeed Xiao Xiao's words to persuade me. She told me not to hope for too much and that it's best to yield to Zhang Yan now. She said the sooner I yield, the more benefits I'll get."

Lin Yuan chuckled, "Song Xiaoxiao really is... she lives up to her reputation."

"What else did Song Xiaoxiao advise you about?"

"Nothing else."

"Impossible. Just tell me directly. I won't be angry with her; I'm not that petty."

"She said... you could pay attention to some of your dirt..."

Lin Yuan chuckled again, "So that it can be used as leverage against me in the future? Song Xiaoxiao, she really is... sigh. Never mind, she's also thinking of you. At least she didn't instigate you to do anything reckless. So what about you, Little Xia? What's your own decision?"

"Me? I don't know. I seem to have never been able to make decisions. I want to be able to sleep in the same bed with you every day in the future, but I don't know how long this can last. If Zhang Yan changes her mind, you won't be able to not listen to her, right?"

"No, there's a gentleman's agreement between her and me; you can rest assured about that. I, Lin Yuan, am not her puppet, and Zhang Yan doesn't want a puppet either. Don't overthink it, go to sleep."

But Xia Ye still sat there, showing no intention of lying down. "Lin Yuan."

"What is it?"

"Just give me and my child a place to eat in the future."

"Damn! A woman's growth truly exceeds my imagination."

"You don't like me like this...?"

"I can't say," Lin Yuan rested his head on his arms, "From your perspective, what you're doing is completely reasonable. Alright, let's sleep."

With a click of the switch, the room finally became quiet and dark.

Lin Yuan, however, kept his eyes open. He finally realized: the once innocent Little Xia could never go back.

But Lin Yuan still turned and embraced her, and Xia Ye also naturally hugged him back.

They did nothing.

True and false, real and illusory. Lin Yuan only knew that at this moment, this second, the one he held in his arms was the real and warm Little Xia.