The first time she had met someone so generous, the waitress was somewhat at a loss, also feeling uneasy about Lu Lingchuan's extra money.
"Actually, just give me money to buy some mouthwash. I really shouldn't take any more. Miss, could you give me your payment QR code? I'll scan the money to you—"
As the waitress started taking out her phone from her pocket, Shen Nian put the money back into her pocket and smiled at her, "Since this is his tip money for you, just take it."
"But—"
"It's fine. Helping us buy things isn't your duty to begin with, so giving you delivery fees is what we should do."
The waitress bargained with Shen Nian for a bit longer. Seeing that Shen Nian had no intention of taking the money back at all, she finally said, "Alright then. Next time if you two come to eat in our restaurant again, come find me. I'll treat you."
Shen Nian and Lu Lingchuan had given her over 450 yuan for delivery fees. Treating them to a meal was the proper thing to do.
Shen Nian smiled faintly. "Okay."
Stunned by Shen Nian's smile, the waitress sincerely said from the bottom of her heart, "Miss, you and your boyfriend are both good-looking with kind hearts. Heaven will surely bless you and let you grow old happily together."
Having said that, she left.
Hearing the waitress' sincere blessings, Shen Nian's smile froze and the slight curve at the corners of her lips quickly disappeared.
Clutching the mouthwash, she turned around and placed it on the sink counter, raising her head to stare at herself in the mirror.
Heaven will bless them and let them grow old together...
Humph.
Heaven had never blessed Lu Lingchuan before, nor had it blessed her, Shen Nian.
Staring at the bottle of mouthwash, Shen Nian's nose soured severely. She wrinkled her brows before immediately raising her head to stare at the ceiling light overhead, hot tears swirling in her eyes. She tilted her head back, not letting the tears fall.
...
Exiting the bathroom, the things on their table had already been cleared by the waitress. Lu Lingchuan sat there holding his phone, his fingers quickly tapping the screen.
He was probably replying to emails while waiting for her.
As if having a sixth sense, when Shen Nian was still less than 10 meters away, Lu Lingchuan suddenly raised his head, meeting her eyes right on.
Putting his phone away, Lu Lingchuan stood up, "Let's go back."
"Okay." Shen Nian answered and left the restaurant with him, one after the other.
Neither of them mentioned anything about the mouthwash. For them, little things like this were meaningless, whether mentioned or not.
Driving back after leaving the commercial street, the car entered the underground garage. Taking the elevator up from the garage, Shen Nian unlocked the door with her fingerprint―
From start to finish, the two of them exchanged zero words or dialogue.
Until Shen Nian opened the door and they entered the room one after the other, just as Shen Nian was about to hit the light switch, there was a "bang" as Lu Lingchuan shut the door behind him.
Not giving her a chance to turn on the lights, Lu Lingchuan pressed her directly against the wall next to them. What came next was his familiar scent.
Lu Lingchuan leaned down towards her, one hand firmly grabbing her wrist and pressing it against the wall while the other held her waist tightly. His gentle breath caressed her face as he easily pried open her lips and teeth, lingering back and forth.
His actions were gentle, as if she was a treasure to be carefully handled for fear that a slight mistake would break her.
Shen Nian's lashes trembled lightly. In the pitch black room, her facial expression was unclear, but she did not struggle. Her other unrestrained hand rose and clung onto his neck.
For a man, this was an unspoken invitation.
Lu Lingchuan only paused for a moment before reacting with madness. Soon, all their clothes were scattered on the ground as they kissed their way into the bedroom.
They were people who could not stand the light, or perhaps it could be said that they did not dare face the light.
Light represented hope, the start of a new day, meant they had to put on smiling masks to face everyone.
Exhausted, truly exhausted.
Only at night, in the pitch darkness where they could not see their own five fingers, could they temporarily forget everything and the shackles that hindered their progress.
To be their true selves.
Their real selves.
After an unknown period of time, the room quieted down again.
Shen Nian was extremely tired and sleepy, falling asleep in less than a minute. Lu Lingchuan turned on the small light by the bed and carried her into the bathroom to quickly rinse off before bringing her back to bed.
The weather now wasn't too cold, but Lu Lingchuan still covered her with a thin quilt to prevent catching a cold.
The soft light from the bedside lamp shone upon her sleeping face. Lu Lingchuan gently caressed her cheek with the pad of his finger.
He stared at her like this, his gaze gentle enough to overflow.
Only at times like this could he watch her so openly without reservations.
After staring at her for an unknown amount of time, Lu Lingchuan finally retracted his gaze. Lowering his head, he lightly pressed a kiss onto her soft lips—
Gently, tenderly, without any implication.
Brushing aside a lock of hair on her face, Lu Lingchuan then quietly left the bedroom, gently closing the door.
In contrast to Shen Nian who was tired and sleepy, Lu Lingchuan now felt wide awake.
Leaving the bedroom, he entered the living room without turning on the lights and groped his way to the balcony by touch.
It was already very late, but standing on the balcony gave a beautiful night view of dazzling neon lights outside and streetlamps that had all lit up, with cars driving by one after another.
Lu Lingchuan raised his eyes to glance at the sky. The weather today was good—the starry night sky was exceptionally bright, as was the moonlight.
He retracted his gaze, taking a seat on the bench left permanently on the balcony.
He used to frequently sit here alone in a daze at night, hence the bench.
Settling down, Lu Lingchuan focused his attention on the paper in his hand—
He had taken it from somewhere when he came out earlier.
Lu Lingchuan unfolded the paper―
The edges were a little frayed from being viewed many times.
Sitting there with courtyard curtains undrawn, the light from outside lamps and moonlight shone in, illuminating certain words on the paper he held.
Abortion, surgery...
It was Shen Nian's consent form for her abortion surgery.
He always kept this slip with him. On countless deep nights like this, he would sit alone like now, thumbing the paper, drowned in his own thoughts like a hollow old man.
If not for everything that had happened, their first child would be three or four years old already.
Already able to run and jump, to cry and laugh, to call him Daddy...
Lu Lingchuan stared blankly ahead for an unknown amount of time before removing the topmost surgical consent form to reveal the ultrasound scan underneath.
It was the ultrasound Shen Nian had when she went to the hospital.
Although only seven weeks along, the gestational sac was already visible—a tiny little thing...
Lu Lingchuan gently stroked that miniature little gestational sac that he could easily cover with one finger, caressing back and forth.
And so, he remained awake through the night.
【You haven't reviewed my book yet~~~ Please hurry and write me a review, while also giving me a five star rating heh... This book is angsty, so I'm seriously afraid the average rating will end up at barely six-something. If that happens, it'll really dampen my mood and I won't feel like writing anymore *cries*...】
