Chapter 703: Youth. Remains

u family arrives at Chinese New Year, it's always the most lively one. This year is even more so than ever before. 。The entrance to the Siheyuan courtyard of the Zhuo family was almost worn out, these...Tinglan, having had a little bit of alcohol, was also feeling a little sleepy. 。While Zhuo Yuyan was the only one on the field with a clear mind at this time. 。Though I tried to be sober, it wasn't so easy, especially when he finally moved to sit beside Tinglan. I don't know when she leaned her head against his shoulder, but at that point, what sobriety was there left Her fragrance enveloped me, and I was already slightly tipsy, unable to move a muscle. 。The room was very quiet by the late hours, with most of the students slumped asleep on the sofas. 。Zhuo Yu'an had been very restrained and gentlemanly, remaining perfectly still as she leaned against him. At this close proximity, he was already quite content. 。However, Tinglan shifted slightly at some point, leaning her entire body halfway onto him, with both hands directly wrapped around his waist. 。Zhuo Yu'an's heart was about to burst. The warm, slightly dim light of the private room magnified emotions infinitely. Zhuo Yu'an could no longer remain composed, gently reaching out to embrace her, holding the small, soft figure close. 。As if he had committed some terrible crime, his heart trembled, his face flushed hot with shame, but in reality, he didn't have any other thoughts. He just held on, thinking about being together forever. 。She had no idea originally, but as she slept, her hand around his waist tightened, and her face rubbed back and forth against his chest. 。Zhuo Yu'an's inner wild beast was stirring again, almost driving him to lose his mind. 。He leaned down slightly, placing a kiss on her forehead. His lips were hot. 。She flinched, raising her head slightly with a soft sigh. 。There was a hint of sweetness in the air, like wine. Her lips were already beautiful, and even under the warm yellow light, they shone with a glistening beauty. 。This was the person he had silently liked and followed for three years. No matter how good Zhuo Yu'an's upbringing or self-control was, at this moment, he couldn't hold back. He gently lowered his head and kissed him softly with burning lips. 。My heart was pounding painfully. 。This kiss was his first, and he poured all his emotions into it. But even then, he only brushed his lips against hers lightly, afraid to go any further. 。Unbeknownst to her, he knew he'd gone too far and dared not hold her again. He wasn't a saint, afraid he might continue with a second or third kiss. 。He loosened his grip on her hand, even turning his face slightly to the right, creating some distance between them. 。However, without her protection, Tinglan was dazed and possibly afraid of falling. So she snuggled closer into his arms to hold on better. 。After the battle between man and heaven, Zhu Yu'an helplessly turned his face back, reaching out to embrace her. 。That night, Zhu Yu'an felt like he was dreaming, a happiness so profound. Yet, his body was enduring an unprecedented torment. He had transitioned from boyhood to youth, and many things were simply his body's natural response. He could only endure the pain, allowing her to unconsciously "torture" him. 。bittersweet 。He thought, tomorrow morning when she woke up, he would confess his feelings. He wanted to find peace for the flutter in his heart after that fleeting glance in their first year of high school, and an answer to these three years of yearning. He couldn't wait any longer, he didn't want to wait anymore. 。He was thinking this way, but unknowingly fell asleep at 5 am. 。He didn't know, if he hadn't fallen asleep at 5 o'clock that day, if he had confessed, would his life be completely different Because there were no ifs. 。。It wasn't until my heart felt empty that I realized I'd treated Zhuo YUAN as a big bear in the family, always holding him and sleeping with him. 。He was asleep, thankfully, and probably none the wiser. So she slipped away. 。Last night, she slept soundly without any dreams. It was only in the early morning when a sudden feeling of unease struck her that made her feel uncomfortable. 。She took the earliest bus home. The streets were deserted at this hour, with only a few early vendors setting up their stalls, emitting plumes of smoke, and sanitation workers sweeping the roadside. Everything was so ordinary. 。After driving for several stations, the city finally came to life. 。She got off the bus and walked home, picking up breakfast for her parents on the way. 。She walked into the neighborhood, into this place she had lived in for over a decade, just like every other day. 。However, accompanied by a dull sound of something falling from the sky, that morning's memory became completely blurred. 。Only that blurred, red shadow of flesh and blood remained, followed by screams, the sound of an ambulance, and the cries of my mother. 。They were interwoven, always blurry. She was trembling all over, and the breakfast in her hand fell to the ground, scattering everywhere. 。She thought she was dreaming. She pinched her fingers hard into her palm, feeling the sharp pain, and the warm, sticky feeling on the soles of her feet made her uncomfortable as well. 。Actually, it wasn't that much blood that could turn her white canvas shoes red. It was the soy milk she spilled on her shoes and on the ground. The splashes looked like bloodstains, slowly dyeing the canvas shoes red. 。She stood there blankly, her breathing labored. She didn't know how long she had been standing there, or where she was. Everything was blurry until her mother gave her back a hard slap, at which point she gasped for air, only managing to whisper "Daddy, Daddy". 。

Mother held her and cried, weeping with a broken heart. 。After Lan left home last night, she had another fight with Shu Minghai. But unlike other times, Shu Minghai didn't retort last night. He let her complain and only said "I'm sorry, you've worked so hard for so many years" before bed. 。She was blaming herself, wondering if she had put too much pressure on him and failed to understand the difficulties of his work, which led him down this path. 。Zhang Heqiang, stifling his grief, began contacting people from Shu Minghai's work unit, Xu Tao, and his friends, trying to understand why Shu Minghai had become this way, wanting to know what he had gone through. But these people who were usually warm and friendly all avoided her. 。Tinglan watched her mother make phone call after phone call, each one met with rejection. Finally, a menacing stranger arrived, accompanied by Xu Tao. He said in a stern voice that her father had done something wrong and was under investigation. They were ordered not to speak about her father's death, as he had died to protect himself. 。At that time, Tinglan thought simply, people were dead, what was there to keep Only her mother suddenly fell silent. She had been an accountant for most of her life, and she understood many things instantly. 。Just like Zhang He, I was also confused. If Shu Minghai really embezzled funds, where did the money go

Or perhaps he didn't embezzle anything at all; maybe he was forced to take the blame for someone else

At that time, Zhang He completely trusted Shu Minghai's character. She firmly believed that he was driven to this by desperation and took the blame for someone else, ultimately dying in their place. 。fore, when facing clients, her emotions were always hidden.Upon reaching the conference room and closing the door, the two sat opposite each other across the table, sizing each other up in a silent st...