novelraw Chapter 403: Sure enough, she likes him! (Second update)
Chapter 403: Sure enough, she likes him! (Second update)
Le Tong furrowed her brows, "So late, why did he go to the bookstore instead of going home?"If he hadn’t gone to the bookstore and just went home, this accident probably wouldn’t have happened, right?
Xiao Li looked at Le Tong, seeming as if he wanted to speak but then thought better of it.
Le Tong didn’t really notice Xiao Li’s expression; at this moment, her heart was entirely focused on Ji Rui.
"Where is the knife wound, and why does he need surgery? Is it serious?"
Although Le Tong tried to think positively, the bloodstains on Xiao Li and his demeanor made her heart grow heavier and heavier.
"It stabbed the lower abdomen..." Xiao Li didn’t answer decisively, because Ji Rui had previously instructed him not to say anything to Le Tong to prevent her from worrying.
Le Tong gasped; everyone knew that a bunch of important organs were in the lower abdomen, and if this knife hit something vital, then...
Thinking of this, Le Tong didn’t dare to continue.
She tried with all her might to calm herself down and sat down on a chair by the wall.
Le Tong took a deep breath, steadied her mind, and asked, "Did the doctor say how long the surgery will take?"
All she could do now was wait for the doctor’s results, rather than make wild guesses on her own.
"I don’t know..." Xiao Li shook his head, bewildered.
"Brother Li, why don’t you sit down?"
Le Tong realized that she wasn’t the only one in a panic.
"Hmm."
"Does Mr. Ji like reading?" To prevent herself from overthinking, Le Tong attempted to change the topic to distract herself.
She had worked as Ji Rui’s secretary for so long, coupled with their recent private interactions, she had only seen Ji Rui read financial magazines or some extremely profound professional books. For that man, reading seemed to be just a way to kill time. When he wanted to read something, he would always tell Xiao Li or her to buy it; it wasn’t necessary for him to personally visit a bookstore.
"The president he..." Xiao Li hesitated but finally said, "The president seemed to be going to buy books for Miss Le."
Le Tong was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized—was that man buying her textbooks for class?
Le Tong’s heart felt like it was being hit hard by something, a dull pain spread uncontrollably from her chest.
That man!
So foolish!
Le Tong didn’t dare to let herself think too much further, forcing herself to endure the dull pain in her chest, she remembered another equally important issue.
"Has that assailant been caught yet?"
Xiao Li nodded, "Yes, the police have taken him in for questioning."
"Do you need to handle it, Brother Li?" Xiao Li usually helped Ji Rui with a lot of trivial matters, so that’s why Le Tong asked.
"The lawyer has gone over; they are more professional in these matters."
Le Tong had asked all the necessary questions and couldn’t find anything else appropriate to talk about.
In silence, that entity in her heart, burning like fire, grew larger and larger, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Not long ago, she had been wondering whether it was because she liked him as a person that she found his looks pleasing, or was it because she was a face connoisseur, and due to liking his appearance, she developed a small crush on him?
During this journey, her heartbeat was racing wildly, and her palms were still sweating coldly even now. If it was only for a fondness for someone’s appearance, would it go as far as making her feel like this?
Le Tong closed her eyes slightly, exhaustedly burying her head in her hands.
Her affection for that man probably has long been present.
Even from the moment when her gaze uncontrollably began following him around.
Even when she quietly remembered his numerous preferences, worried that he would get stomach pain from drinking or headaches from staying up late.
Even when those socialites called one after another to inquire about him, and she would unwittingly scare them off with sharp words.
...
It was just that he was too powerful at that time, and the dazzling glow on him always made her, an ordinary woman, feel overshadowed, which was why she subconsciously buried her feelings for him deep in her heart.
She didn’t want others to find out, nor did she want to realize it herself, because for the rational part of her, hopeless love was absolutely, absolutely out of the question to reserve.
Therefore, she subconsciously deceived herself, that she was just infatuated with his looks, merely infatuated, nothing to do with love!
Once she had this rational explanation, she could justify treating him well.
Over time, even she believed that she genuinely was only fond of his handsome shell, unrelated to him as a person.
Until that man, under the influence of alcohol, did such a thing to her.
She had to admit, her subconscious was still protecting him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be unable to recall what happened that night till now.
Even if drunk, she shouldn’t be unable to remember such a degree of invasion.
The only explanation is that her subconscious simply didn’t want to believe that the man who violated her under the influence of alcohol was the same man she liked silently.
And that man, after that night, changed completely.
Previously he was cold and indifferent to her, but after that night, he became increasingly sharp-tongued, picking on her at every turn, a thousand different criticisms. Naturally, the heart that liked him was hidden deeper and deeper.
Until later, those deeply hidden affections were bit by bit shattered by his excessive behaviors, making those affections seem increasingly laughable.
Le Tong was a proud person; she could accept having a secret crush on someone, but she couldn’t accept debasing herself because of her affection for him!
Loving someone isn’t wrong, but if loving this person causes her to lower herself to the dust, is this affection truly worth pursuing?
This severely unbalanced affection, even if attained, would it make her happy? Would it bring her joy?
The rational part of her, time and again, unconsciously made choices for her.
Once, he offered a five-million-dollar cheque to buy three years of her time.
If she were a bit foolish, perhaps she would have chosen to be with him regardless of anything.
But she didn’t, because deep down, what she wanted wasn’t money; what she wanted was a person.
And the person she wanted was a man who genuinely treated her well and knew how to cherish her, not a man who merely desired her beauty and stayed with her to quench some kind of urge.
After that, that man continued to use his arrogance and self-righteousness to successfully strip away Le Tong’s fondness for him, bit by bit, until Le Tong lost even her last shred of trust in him.
It was because of losing even the most basic trust that Le Tong habitually chose not to believe him when he confessed his feelings.
Le Tong thought she should have long given up on him.
But why, whenever she heard women’s giggles over the phone, would it make her feel unbearably uncomfortable?
And whenever she heard he was injured, she would remain in a state of extreme anxiety and concern?
Could it be that she, indeed, still liked him?