Chapter 292
You're the best! The best, the very best!
Lin Xia looked at the small face in front of her, tear-streaked and trying hard to confirm her hope—tiny teardrops still clung to her eyelashes, like flower petals covered in morning dew, her nose was slightly red, and the corners of her mouth were slightly pursed because of that uncertain expectation, making her look particularly naive and pitiful.
This appearance was completely different from the arrogant little princess he remembered from Shrek Academy and the adoring figure at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
An indescribable, lighthearted feeling, a mixture of amusement and a touch of helplessness, unexpectedly dispelled the last vestiges of coldness in Lin Xia's eyes.
He finally couldn't hold back, and a clear, pleasant smile curved his lips, letting out a low, magnetic chuckle.
"Ah……"
The laughter was soft, but it struck Ning Rongrong like a thunderclap. She blinked blankly, tears rolling down her cheeks, completely bewildered as to what was so funny about her disheveled state.
Lin Xia shook her head slightly, the smile in her eyes not yet completely gone, and that lazy, playful undertone reappeared, carrying a sense of composure as if she were looking down on the whole situation.
"What's the difference between real and fake?"
The silver coin, gleaming with a cold light, had reappeared between his fingers, bobbing nimbly as if silently emphasizing the weight of his words.
"Geng Jincheng is, after all, under my control. Can't I decide who gets a small share of this new type of soul tool and how much?"
Lin Xia paused deliberately, her gaze precisely capturing the renewed sparkle in Ning Rongrong's eyes, but her tone shifted sharply with a merciless edge.
"only……"
Ning Rongrong's heart skipped a beat as he spoke.
"This time, you..."
Lin Xia's tone was calm, as if she were stating an objective fact, yet every word struck Ning Rongrong's sensitive nerves clearly.
"Indeed, they are more likely to cause trouble than to accomplish anything."
Ning Rongrong's shoulders, which had just relaxed slightly because of the previous sentence, tensed up again instantly. A blush of shame crept up her pale cheeks once more, and the tears that had just stopped were about to overflow again.
She was rendered speechless and unable to refute, and could only unconsciously tighten the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning slightly white.
Yes, if it weren't for her, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School wouldn't have needlessly lost that precious half-tenth of its share. Father's hard work almost ended because of her...
"Although--"
Lin Xia changed the subject again, the silver coin between his fingers tracing a smooth arc before he steadily gathered it in his palm.
"For me, this little incident has absolutely no impact. It's just a change in the ownership of half a share. No matter who gets it, what ultimately matters is Gengjincheng's core technology and the power to distribute it. No matter how fiercely they fight for it, the rules are still set by me. So..."
Looking at Ning Rongrong's tearful and self-reproachful appearance, he finally softened his tone, speaking with a sense of certainty that everything had been settled.
"So you don't need to cry! You look like the sky is falling, who are you trying to impress? If you can't even handle this little setback, how will you manage the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School in the future?"
This sentence, which carried a slight reproach yet contained a certain affirmation, was like a ray of light, instantly piercing through the heavy gloom in Ning Rongrong's heart.
"Really...really?"
Ning Rongrong subconsciously repeated it again, but this time her tone was no longer one of desperate seeking confirmation, but rather one of immense joy at surviving a disaster and a trembling disbelief. She tilted her small face up, tears blurring her vision, but she tried to open her eyes wide to see Lin Xia's expression clearly, afraid of missing any hint of confirmation.
Lin Xia's comment, "More trouble than she's worth," still echoed in her ears, but strangely, Ning Rongrong found herself not angry at all; in fact, a strange warmth welled up deep within her!
It wasn't because she was pleased by being scolded, but because behind Lin Xia's sternness and bluntness, there was no abandonment of her, and unlike the people in the private room, there was no contempt or ridicule towards her!
He pointed out her mistakes, but also gave her a clear answer—things weren't as bad as she imagined. The sect hadn't been destroyed, and her father's hard work hadn't been wasted because of her!
This attitude of "correcting mistakes but never giving up" actually gave her an unprecedented sense of security.
When the immense fear and self-blame receded like a tide, replaced by the relief of regaining what was lost and the gratitude of being forgiven, Ning Rongrong completely lost control of her emotions.
It wasn't a breakdown or loss of control, but an outburst of joy that caused a complete loss of control!
"Brother Lin Xia!"
She cried out almost in a sob, her voice soft and sweet, with a strong nasal tone, yet filled with an unprecedented intimacy and dependence.
The next second, before anyone could react—including Zhu Zhuqing, who was standing quietly to the side with a hint of surprise in her cat-like eyes—Ning Rongrong, like a cannonball carrying tremendous force, suddenly plunged headfirst into Lin Xia's arms!
"Waaah... You're the best! The best, the very best!"
She hugged Lin Xia's lean waist with all her might, burying her face deep into his black trench coat, which carried a faint, cold aura, as if it were the safest and warmest harbor in the world.
Tears welled up again, but this time they were not the coldness of despair, but hot tears mixed with grievance, fear, relief and great joy, instantly soaking the fabric of Lin Xia's clothes.
Her slender body was still trembling slightly, but it was no longer a spasm of fear, but the lingering effect of a violent emotional outpouring.
Lin Xia's body stiffened slightly the moment she was thrown into his arms.
He has never liked close physical contact with people, let alone such a sudden hug.
However, the girl in his arms' unreserved dependence and the immense emotional outpouring of relief, like a scorching warm current, unexpectedly shattered the ice layer he habitually built.
He could clearly feel her body trembling, the damp heat from her clothes, and even hear her suppressed, soft sobs.
A faint, gentle light, which even he himself hadn't noticed, quietly swept across Lin Xia's deep eyes.
He looked down at the fluffy head in his arms, sighed almost inaudibly, and the hand with distinct knuckles that he had instinctively wanted to push her away only lifted up gently, hesitated for a moment, and then, with a slightly awkward sense of comfort, landed on Ning Rongrong's slightly trembling back.
He didn't speak, but stood there quietly, like a silent and reliable tree, letting her vent her complex emotions of being on the verge of collapse and then reborn.
Sunlight bathed them, casting long shadows on the street. The tranquility of this moment stood in stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere in the luxurious private room not long ago.
Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly a few steps away, her cat-like eyes watching the two embracing silently.
She keenly caught Lin Xia's fleeting stiffness and subsequent somewhat clumsy attempts to comfort her, and also clearly saw Ning Rongrong's complete and unguarded dependence at this moment.
A complex emotion swept through her mind, a mixture of envy and understanding, before finally settling into a faint sigh and falling silent.
She simply adjusted her position silently, turning her back to them, like a silent sentinel, her cat-like eyes sharply scanning the surroundings for any possible prying eyes that might disturb the tranquility.
Time seemed to have passed for a long time, yet it also felt like it had only been a moment. (End of Chapter)