Chapter 80: Do You Dare to Fly?

“Don’t you want to ask me anything?”
Xi Mintang carefully applied the ointment and replied quietly, “Who else could make you lose your composure like that?”
Throughout the meal, Xiaoxiao was distracted, and Xi Mintang kept her mother company, chatting about many things and occasionally praising her cooking. Her mother was delighted and kept serving him dishes, clearly pleased with his manners. After dinner, her mother suggested the two of them go for a walk, and Xiaoxiao finally remembered that today’s main purpose was to take Xi Mintang to visit the flower garden, so she led him outside.
“In Provence, I once saw fields of lavender stretching like an ocean, and in Holland, tulips that moved the soul. I never imagined I’d find such a beautiful sea of flowers here in China as well.” Xi Mintang praised sincerely. Xiaoxiao merely nodded, and he asked, “Even my compliments for your garden can’t make you happy?”
“I’m sorry, I…” The words stalled on her lips, unsure where to begin. After a long pause, she decided to speak honestly. Xi Mintang listened intently, not interrupting once. When she finally finished, feeling she’d rambled on, she asked, “Did I overreact?”
“No.” He smiled faintly. “It proves you aren’t as indifferent as you seem. You just think things through too much. Your relationship with Lin Shuo is real, but business is business and feelings are feelings. Seeking a win-win is never easy. If he were governed by emotion, how could he have built what he has today?”
Privately, Xiaoxiao felt he made sense. Maybe she really was overthinking, because with Lin Shuo’s cold and decisive style, why would he bother having someone analyze the pros and cons for her?
When she got home, she soon received a call from Zhou Yanting, who eagerly asked about her schedule, hoping to sign a contract soon. Xiaoxiao guessed he’d gotten wind of something. When everyone else was holding back, the moment one person signed, it would inevitably shift the whole situation. The more she thought about it after hanging up, the more uneasy she felt. She knew how famous Mao Yuan was, so while it was still light, she hurried to Mao Yuan Tower. The security guard stopped her, demanding a work permit or for someone inside to come fetch her. With no alternative, she called Lin Shuo.
He was indeed still at the company, and seemed to have anticipated she would come sooner or later, as if he had been waiting there for a long time. When his secretary brought her in, he was sitting in his swivel chair with his back to her. The office was spacious, lit only by a desk lamp, so quiet that it made one afraid to breathe too loudly.
“You’re very pleased, aren’t you?” This was the first thing she said to him, her words carrying a cold resignation that wounded him. He pressed his back against the chair, suddenly rigid, his scalp tingling. He refused to turn and face her, so she strode around the desk and stood before him, blocking his view, with the daunting drop just behind her.
He looked up and sneered, “Someone will communicate with you about the flower garden sale. If you’re so anxious, I’ll think you’re just using it as an excuse to see me. What, do you miss me that much?”
“Enough!” He was right—deep down, she truly wanted to see him again, but not here and not now. She retorted sharply, “You told me to leave, and I did. Why must you weave a prison of money to trap me, watching me helplessly submit at your feet—is that how you satisfy your perverse joy?”
Darkness settled deeply into his eyes as he straightened his collar and stood, his tightly pressed lips betraying his fury. He suddenly grabbed her arm, still healing from a burn. She gasped in pain, but he ignored it, dragging her to the floor-to-ceiling window and raising his voice, “Look carefully!”
She lowered her head; the height was terrifying. The people and cars below looked like tiny insects. Instinctively, she stepped back, as if Lin Shuo could let go and she’d plummet, lost forever. He held her tight, pulling her back to the window, demanding, “You’re desperate to escape this cage, but I’ve given you the sky and sea—do you dare to fly?”