Sweetie, don't look at him, kiss me.

That afternoon, Lin Qingmian ended her last class early, intending to go to the hospital for a follow-up examination of her arm.

As soon as she stepped out of the teaching building, she saw Ji Xingye standing at the entrance.

The man was wearing a simple black T-shirt and dark gray trousers, his hair a little messy, looking like he had just run off a film set. He was carrying a bag of fruit and a bouquet of flowers. When he saw her come out, his eyes lit up for a moment, and then he quickly walked up to her.

"sleep."

Lin Qingmian stopped in her tracks.

She frowned at him, her voice cold: "Why are you here?"

"I came to see you." Ji Xingye handed her the fruit and flowers, his voice a little hesitant. "Is your hand feeling better?"

"Much better." Lin Qingmian didn't take his things, and walked past him towards the school gate: "I have a follow-up appointment, so I don't have time to catch up with you."

"I'll go to the hospital with you."

"Need not."

Lin Qingmian quickened her pace.

Ji Xingye followed, walking slowly beside her, his voice tinged with stubbornness: "Mian, I know you're still angry. But at least let me walk with you for a while, okay?"

"I was too impulsive that day, I'm sorry."

"I shouldn't have forced you to listen to me."

Lin Qingmian stopped and took a deep breath.

She turned around, looking at the man she had loved for twenty years, her voice calm yet carrying a deep-seated detachment: "Ji Xingye, I've said it many times."

We've broken up.

"I am married."

Ji Xingye stared into her eyes, those eyes that were once full of love, but now they were as cold as a stagnant pool.

His heart felt like it was being squeezed by something, and the pain made it hard for him to breathe.

"I don't believe it," he said, his voice a little hoarse. "Unless you let me see that person, let me see you with him with my own eyes."

"I will let you see him in a while."

Lin Qingmian's voice was calm, carrying an undeniable certainty.

Ji Xingye fell silent.

He stood in the afternoon sunlight, looking at the girl who had once been completely devoted to him. She had changed; she had become more mature, calmer, and more distant.

He suddenly felt a pang of regret, regretting why he had let go of her hand and why he had believed Sister Chen's words about "waiting a little longer" and "there will be a better opportunity."

He waited for two years, only to find out that she had married someone else.

"Then at least..." his voice trailed off, tinged with a pleading tone, "Let me take you to the hospital."

"I'm worried about you being alone, especially with your injured hand."

Lin Qingmian remained silent for a while.

She glanced at the time, then at Ji Xingye's stubborn expression, and finally sighed helplessly, "Whatever."

Ji Xingye's eyes lit up for a moment, and he quickly followed in her footsteps.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Lin Qingmian registered and waited a while before entering the examination room. Ji Xingye sat on a bench in the corridor, staring at the closed door of the examination room, lost in thought.

The examination results were good; the fracture was healing faster than expected, and the doctor said the cast could be removed in two weeks.

When Lin Qingmian came out of the consultation room, Ji Xingye immediately got up to greet her: "How was it?"

"That's good." Lin Qingmian responded calmly, "You can go back now."

"I'll take you home."

"No need." Lin Qingmian frowned: "I can manage on my own."

"I know you can do it yourself," Ji Xingye said softly, "but I want to give it to you."

The two people stood facing each other in the corridor.

Nurses and patients passing by occasionally glanced at them curiously, but no one paid any attention. Just as Lin Qingmian was about to say something, her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket.

She took it out and glanced at it; it was a message from Ji Linzhou: 【Follow-up appointment today? How were the results?】

Before she could reply, another message popped up: [I've arrived at the hospital. Which floor are you on?]

Lin Qingmian's heart skipped a beat.

She subconsciously looked up and gazed at the elevator entrance at the end of the corridor.

The elevator doors opened just then, and a familiar figure stepped out.

Ji Linzhou stood tall and straight at the elevator entrance, wearing a black overcoat and holding a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.

He glanced down the corridor, his gaze quickly locking onto her.

Then he saw Ji Xingye standing next to her.

The man paused, his gaze momentarily darkening. But he continued walking, his footsteps clear and distinct in the quiet corridor.

Ji Xingye also saw him, and his brows furrowed slightly: "Uncle? What brings you here?"

Ji Linzhou walked up to the two of them, his gaze sweeping lightly over Ji Xingye's face before settling on Lin Qingmian.

He handed her the coffee, saying, "I just finished a meeting and stopped by on my way."

Lin Qingmian took the coffee, and the warm touch from her palm warmed her slightly cold fingers.

"The follow-up examination results are not bad," she said softly.

"Hmm." Ji Linzhou nodded, then looked up at Ji Xingye, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable sense of pressure: "You brought her here?"

When Ji Xingye met his gaze, he instinctively felt that something was wrong.

Ji Linzhou's tone was too calm, as if he were talking about something insignificant. But the calmer he was, the more Ji Xingye could sense a certain undercurrent of lurking sharpness.

"Yes." Ji Xingye forced a smile, "Mian's hand is inconvenient, so I accompanied her for a follow-up checkup."

Ji Linzhou did not respond.

He glanced down at the coffee in Lin Qingmian's hand, then raised his hand and naturally tucked a stray strand of hair that had fallen beside her face behind her ear.

The movements were extremely light and gentle, carrying a familiarity and naturalness that only exists in intimate relationships.

Ji Xingye's pupils suddenly contracted.

The air in the corridor seemed to freeze instantly.

"Uncle," Ji Xingye began, his voice dry and strained, carrying a tension he tried to suppress but couldn't quite conceal: "What exactly is your relationship with Mian?"

This question is like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that spread in layers.

Lin Qingmian's fingers tightened suddenly around the coffee cup, slightly deforming the warm paper cup. She instinctively wanted to explain, but didn't know what to say.

Ji Linzhou, however, was much calmer than her.

He turned to look at Ji Xingye, his gaze indifferent, revealing no emotion. His voice was calm, as if discussing something trivial: "What do you think the relationship is?"

"I won't guess." Ji Xingye stepped forward, blocking Lin Qingmian's path, his gaze fixed on Ji Linzhou: "I want you to tell me yourself."

Ji Linzhou did not answer.

He merely glanced down at Lin Qingmian. His gaze held a questioning quality, as if asking, "Do you want me to tell you?"

Lin Qingmian's heart was pounding.

She gripped the coffee cup tightly, her knuckles turning white.

She knew that Ji Linzhou was waiting for her decision.

If she doesn't want to be exposed, he will cooperate with her to continue hiding it.

Just like that night at the hospital, after she shook her head, he swallowed back the words, "She's your aunt."

He has always been accommodating to her.

Lin Qingmian raised her head and glanced at Ji Xingye.

The man was staring at her, his eyes filled with a look of near panic she had never seen before. His eyes were brimming with unease and anxiety, as if he were desperately grasping at a last straw.

She suddenly felt very tired.

That heavy, lingering weariness that seeped from the very marrow of my bones reached its peak at this moment.

"Let me speak."