BC Chapter 180

Hospital.

Yao Jinglin looked around the ward at the survivors in various poses. Everyone was waiting for the day they could be discharged. Some were making plans, while others were lying down indifferently.

Knowing that it wasn’t convenient for the two of them to talk here, she signaled Lu Ziming to come out of the ward with her. The two slowly walked to a small, empty platform in the middle of the staircase. Yao Jinglin then turned around and stopped, looking at Lu Ziming standing in front of her and smiling, “I came to see you specifically.”

Yao Jinglin understood clearly that dealing with someone like Lu Ziming, who was like navigating a ship in the fog when it came to emotional matters, being subtle would only lead her into deeper confusion, even misunderstanding her intentions for approaching her. Therefore, she decided to take the most direct approach, presenting her feelings like a clear mirror in front of her, letting her know that she had no other intentions for this trip, only that she came for her.

Lu Ziming was slightly shaken by her words. Her just calmed thoughts seemed to be stirred up again. She felt an indescribable emotion rising quietly in her heart, but she couldn’t quite explain where it came from. It seemed to have just appeared, and yet it was as if it had been hidden for a long time and finally revealed itself. She smiled softly, trying to use her usual aloofness to conceal the fluctuations in her heart, “Oh, is that so? Then you must be here to thank me for saving you from that man in white the other day, right?”

She scratched her head and continued, “Actually, you didn’t need to come all the way to thank me for that. Saving you that day was just a matter of instinct. No matter who was in danger, I would have extended a helping hand without hesitation. So…”

Yao Jinglin listened quietly to Lu Ziming’s every word, a bitter feeling welling up inside her like a tide. Her keen insight had already captured the deliberately created atmosphere of alienation in Lu Ziming’s words, as if she was deliberately blurring the fact that they had faced life-and-death situations together several times before.

However, this time, Yao Jinglin had already made up her mind not to let Lu Ziming push her away so easily again. She couldn’t tolerate the fact that everything that had happened before was being glossed over by Lu Ziming so lightly. Therefore, before Lu Ziming’s attempts to conceal the truth with polite words could fully unfold, Yao Jinglin decisively interrupted her, not allowing her to continue using those high-sounding words to prevaricate.

“No, that’s not it. Although I sincerely appreciate you saving me several times before, I’m definitely not here today just to say some insignificant words of gratitude. Oh, yes, I’ve already heard about your amnesia from Xiao Xu. I know that you may not remember our past interactions now.” Yao Jinglin knew that if she didn’t take the initiative to speak, the relationship between her and Lu Ziming would be difficult to take a step forward. It would only remain at the level of neither strangers nor friends. Therefore, she resolutely decided to be the one to break through the barrier, bravely taking this step for the sake of the increasingly difficult to suppress feelings in her heart. Her eyes were firm, and her expression was decisive. This time, she would express her feelings to Lu Ziming without reservation, and after that, no matter what the outcome, she would choose to accept it willingly.

Yao Jinglin took a deep breath and stared intently into Lu Ziming’s eyes, as if trying to see through her heart, “That doesn’t matter. Lu Ziming, the reason I’m here today is because I want to face my own feelings and stop running away. Even if in your eyes, we are just strangers who have met once, I still want to tell you this—I… I like you.”

She blinked, her expression revealing an undeniable determination, and continued, “Not the kind of liking you have for a friend, but the kind of liking where I want to see you every day, spend more time with you, preferably live together, and sleep next to each other every night… a liking that goes beyond just liking.” As she said this, her cheeks and her jade-like ears were covered with a faint blush, like the gentle beauty of the rising sun. This hint of shyness made her look as if she had returned to her youthful years, revealing a girlish shyness and innocence that made people feel affection and unwilling to refuse her.

However, Lu Ziming was stunned, her heart surging with waves, unable to respond in time.

This unexpected confession was like a stone thrown into her calm lake, stirring up layers of ripples. A flash of astonishment and confusion quickly swept across her eyes, as if she had not fully understood Yao Jinglin’s intentions.

Like… likes me?

The moment Lu Ziming’s mind received this information, it was as if it had experienced a cosmic explosion of turbulence and chaos. Because of her introverted personality, she had always been bad at dealing with people. Throughout her growing years, she had never experienced a deep confession from others. In all kinds of groups, she was always that easily overlooked marginal person, existing like a transparent being. Over time, the proportion of emotions in her life became increasingly insignificant, and she had long been accustomed to living alone.

Even her mother’s last wish was that she could open her heart and actively make friends around her, but she selectively turned a deaf ear to it.

However, the gears of fate will always turn inadvertently. If it weren’t for this sudden disaster, she might not have had the opportunity to interact with so many people, let alone forge deep emotional bonds with them.

And Yao Jinglin, looking at Lu Ziming’s astonished expression, although she felt a little nervous in her heart, she was more firm and calm. She knew that her words had already been spoken, and there was no way to take them back. And she didn’t intend to take them back. She liked Lu Ziming, which was an indisputable fact, and she was willing to work hard and wait for this love.

Lu Ziming’s silence seemed to freeze the air, and the light in the stairwell seemed to become much softer, setting off Yao Jinglin’s expectant eyes. Her eyes were as deep as a lake, quietly awaiting Lu Ziming’s response.

“I…” Lu Ziming finally spoke, but her voice trembled slightly, “I need time to think.” Lu Ziming understood her own personality, and also understood that whether the relationship between people is harmonious depends on many factors. She wasn’t sure if she could really afford another person’s feelings, especially this kind of love from a woman.

If time were to be turned back to the days before the disaster, Lu Ziming would probably have refused Yao Jinglin’s offer without hesitation. She wouldn’t have hesitated for even a moment about the possible harm or the future direction of the relationship. At that time, Lu Ziming had become accustomed to acting alone, and she avoided the risk of getting involved in relationships, which could cause mutual harm, like the plague.

A deeper reason was that she had seen the cruel truth of love from her parents’ interactions—it was nothing more than an equal exchange of interests, even mixed with the ruthless exploitation of the weak. Because of this, she had never had any longing for spending a married life with a man and starting a family. From childhood to the present, there had been no shortage of all kinds of passers-by around Lu Ziming, and because of her own low presence, she had become an observer, coldly observing the grievances between couples, from passionate love to turning against each other, she had witnessed too much.

These experiences had left a deep mark on Lu Ziming’s heart, making her hold an instinctive vigilance and alienation towards love and marriage. So, if Yao Jinglin had appeared at that time, Lu Ziming would have given a negative answer without hesitation.

But now, facing Yao Jinglin’s sincere and expectant gaze, she couldn’t say the words of rejection. She unconsciously grasped the corner of her hospital gown with her hand hanging by her side, but she couldn’t determine what she really wanted to do in her heart. So she could only give an ambiguous answer.

Yao Jinglin smiled softly when she heard this. She knew that for Lu Ziming, who was a novice in love, it would indeed take some time to accept the love between two girls. But she wasn’t in a hurry, and she was willing to give Lu Ziming time to consider. Since she didn’t immediately reject her, it proved that she still had a chance. Because she believed that sincere feelings could overcome all obstacles.

“It’s okay,” Yao Jinglin said softly, “I can wait. Wait for you to sort out your thoughts, wait for you to be willing to accept this love.”

Lu Ziming looked up at Yao Jinglin, her eyes flashing with complex light. She had never thought that she would face such a choice one day. She had always thought that being confessed to was something that had nothing to do with her, so she had never imagined such a scene. And she had always thought that her heart had long been sealed off, like a wasteland that could no longer perceive any blowing wind or falling rain.

But now, facing Yao Jinglin’s confession, she found that her heart was not as barren as she had imagined. Yao Jinglin’s words seemed to awaken the only remaining seed in her wasteland. It sank into the soil, stretched out its tender but tenacious trunk, and drilled out of the soil layer again in a gesture like receiving hands. The new green embellished the withered yellow, so her heart began to have a trace of vitality.

“I…” She opened her mouth again, feeling that she should say something more, but she didn’t know what to say. She felt as if her language was sealed, unable to find an exit.

Yao Jinglin looked at Lu Ziming’s tangled expression and couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for her. She reached out and gently held Lu Ziming’s hand, giving her strength and support. “Don’t rush to give an answer,” she said softly, “We can take our time.”

Lu Ziming felt the warmth of Yao Jinglin’s palm, and the confusion in her heart seemed to decrease slightly. She looked into Yao Jinglin’s gentle eyes and took a deep breath. “Thank you,” she finally said, “I will consider it carefully.”

Yao Jinglin nodded with a smile. She knew that this was the best response Lu Ziming could give at the moment. Although she didn’t explicitly express acceptance or rejection, at least she was willing to think about it and face this relationship, which was already a good start.

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