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Lin Xiao remained silent, feeling relieved that when she returned to work at Yu Rao after her injury, she had already moved out of Lido Water View.
"Lin Xiao, do you like me? Or is it just because of my status as Li Hao, the County Party Secretary, the son of Li Boshan?" Li Hao crushed the cigarette in his hand, feeling utterly insignificant. "You have to endure even when we’re together."
Lin Xiao felt a pang of sadness at his words, tears streaming down her face once more. She wanted to argue that it wasn’t like that, to express that she liked him and was willing to be with him, but she couldn’t control herself. Yet now, saying such things seemed futile.
Li Hao couldn’t stand her tearful demeanor; ever since they got together, he often found himself causing her to cry. Perhaps they truly weren’t meant for each other. With that thought, he turned and walked out the door.
Watching Li Hao’s retreating figure, Lin Xiao understood that this turn was their final farewell.
Once outside the room, Li Hao glanced at the food on the table and regained a bit of his composure, but he still couldn’t let go of her. As he re-entered the room and saw her sitting there in silence, still looking as she did moments ago, his heart softened. "I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you okay?"
Lin Xiao looked up at him through tear-filled eyes and softly called out his name.
Li Hao felt a pang in his heart as he approached the bed but hesitated to touch her. Lin Xiao was still wrapped in the blanket; she pulled it tighter around herself and leaned against him, sobbing quietly.
He hated seeing women cry, and Lin Xiao's tears broke his heart. She cried like a trapped beast in a cage, holding back her sobs.
Li Hao sat on the edge of the bed and held her gently, patting her back to comfort her. "About what happened last night, it’s not your fault; it’s my problem."
After crying her heart out, Lin Xiao decided it was time to clarify things between them—to part on good terms. Her words made Li Hao’s feelings of pity and pain for her intensify. Was this some form of self-criticism? He would have preferred if she had yelled at him instead.
As a man who had done such things, shouldn’t he be condemned? Why did she still feel responsible?
Yet he couldn’t bring himself to push her away; he merely continued to soothe her gently.
"Do you know about what happened when I first started working in Gulou District?" Lin Xiao nestled into his embrace, finding a comfortable spot with her head buried against him.
Li Hao was puzzled as to why she brought up that incident. He had heard plenty of gossip about such matters in rural areas; naturally, he had heard about Lin Xiao’s situation too. Initially, because of these rumors, he hadn’t wanted her as his secretary.
Six years ago, in Changlin, there was a selection process, and Lin Xiao was assigned to Gulou District. She was placed in Ren Zhen, alongside a male colleague named Xu Ran. The Town Head and Secretary of Ren Zhen took good care of both of them, and they hardly encountered any issues during the assignment.
As the New Year approached, those who lived nearby returned home for the holidays, while those from farther away also went back to celebrate. Only a few remained in the town. Lin Xiao's home was next door to Xu Gong in Changlin, and Xu Ran mentioned that he would be visiting Xu Gong the next day and could give her a ride back.
That evening, Town Head Ji Quan You invited those staying in the town for dinner. With the festive spirit in the air, everyone drank a bit too much, but Lin Xiao refrained from alcohol since she had to be on duty at the Party and Government Office.
Around ten o'clock, Ji Quan You called Lin Xiao, asking her to deliver a document. At that moment, Lin Xiao instinctively felt something was off; the document didn’t seem urgent. To be safe, she asked Xu Ran to accompany her.
That night, Xu Ran had drunk quite a bit but still got up to help her with the delivery. In the past, government offices in rural areas were not very formal; the Town Head's office was located in a separate courtyard. The main room served as both an office and reception area, while there were dormitories in the back and a kitchen in a side room.
However, Xu Ran had drunk too much and was caught by the cold wind. As they approached the Town Head's courtyard, he suddenly vomited. Lin Xiao thought that she would just drop off the document and return quickly; Xu Ran could wait for her there and check on her if anything went wrong.
She delivered the document alone and made sure to open the gate of the courtyard for safety. Hearing this part of the story, Li Hao guessed what might happen next; his heart raced as he realized how reckless Ji Quan You could be.
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