The Xue Family – the Chairman and the COO - was there at the press release but did not partake any speeches on the stage. They allowed Guangxi to take on all the limelight. Their hearts swelled with pride as they witness their youngest reverse the situation dramatically. In their eyes he would always be a kid, but they were proven wrong.
However amidst the pride there still was pain in their hearts. They will never forgive the Marketing Director, w.a.n.g Xi Fu and his niece, Su Jingjing. Justice and revenge are two dishes that are best served cold. Their time will come – both of them.
Xue Jinxu retired for the night. She did not stop at Apartment 201, at the neighbor's place. Instead, she went directly to her apartment that day. She was extremely drained out.
She was alone in the apartment. Xue Guangxi would be resting at the old Xue mansion for a while to recover his damaged confidence and outlook at life.
As she entered the apartment, she did not turn on the lights. She sat down in her living room couch, rested her elbows on her knees, and consequently buried her tired countenance on her palms. She maintained that position for a long time, no different than a statue.
Not only Guangxi suffered betrayal of trust. She, too, experienced it, witnessed it and got hurt from it. She too was questioning the world where they thrive. She had already been asking why was it so unfair that her twin brother left them so soon. She was already questioning before why she had to carry the responsibilities her twin brother should have faced.
And now, she was asking why should her innocent baby brother experience such a harrowing incident?
Their family was the same as any other. Only, they had a bit more fortune than others. Alright, they had exponentially more fortune than others.
But that's not a reason for others to pull them down, or to covet what they have. After all, their ancestors and each of the generations had contributed immense effort in maintaining it, growing it, nurturing it.
She heard the doorbell ring, followed by a soft knock on the door. There were flickering movements of footsteps on the s.p.a.ce below the door with the light from outside.
She did not respond. Honestly she did not want to entertain anyone, let alone see anyone. She wanted to be alone, in her own peace.
"Jinxu…"
"Jinxu.. It's me… Chen Linyun… Are you inside? I'm just checking on you…" Came the series of his inquiries and explanation. His tone was worried, but with a tinge of efforts of consoling.
"Can I see you for a bit? Please?" Chan Linyun pleaded.
There was a long silence. He was about to leave when he heard something from the door.
*Click* She opened the door without saying anything. Then she went inside and turned on the light from the lampshade beside the couch. That was the only illumination in the originally pitch-black apartment.
She returned back to her posture from before.
Chen Linyun stood still at the middle of the room and stared at her for a long time. Even if he went there, and said that he wanted to check on her, he did not know what to say. He did not know whether silence was better at this moment.
Xue Jinxu remained stoic. She did not even glance at Chen Linyun. She stayed in her position.
At last, Chen Linyun muttered all his courage and seated himself beside her - slowly, gingerly so as not to disturb her. She seemed to be meditating.
"Chen Linyun." Xue Jinxu broke the silence.
He froze. He simply stopped all his movements, but his eyes widened as if caught doing something unpleasant.
"Hmm?" He acknowledged her call.
"Thank you." It was m.u.f.fled, since her face was still buried on her palms.
Chen Linyun's frozen physique melted from her words, and all his tense muscles relaxed. His compa.s.sion for her got the better of him. He slowly wrapped his arms around her. One of his hands caught her head, and ever so gently leaned it closer towards his chest. Her grief was his grief too. He shared her sorrows.
No amount of time or enough set of words could compare to the comfort that Chen Linyun's single hug contributed to Xue Jinxu. In his hug, she broke down. Her whole body trembled. She sniffed and sniffed and sobbed and sobbed. Her lungs constricted and expanded so rapidly from her erratic breathing.
There were lines of worry on Chen Linyun's forehead. Still he maintained the silence. He did not speak. For a mighty lady like Xue Jinxu, how much had she suffered to break down like this? Had she been keeping it all bottled up inside her? Did his hug trigger her emotions to finally burst?
Did he do the right thing in visiting her at this moment?
He gently comforted her by rubbing her head with his hand, and gently swaying both of them together – her still in his embrace - like how mothers try to slowly comfort their babies in discomfort, or how mothers try to put their babies to sleep. He was trying to soothe her by this method.
"We were so happy… *sob sob* in the… *sob* in the… morning right?" She said while wiping her tears with her hands. She was pertaining to the picnic.
"Why did this have to happen?" She clutched the cloth of his dress s.h.i.+rt across the chest. "Guangxi, my poor brother…" His dress s.h.i.+rt was drenched in her tears.
He still did not respond. Actions speak louder than words. He kept on cradling her in his arms. He kept her wrapped in his warm hug. He kept her secured despite her insecurities.
For a time she had stopped crying. But they stayed in their position. She stayed in his warm embrace, not giving out any hint of movement.