30 I'm Always Here

After Si Weimin read the letter, Xu Jia Li looked at him as she took it back and returned it inside the folder. She looked at him and said, "Can you bring me home now?"

Instead of answering her, she heard him asked, "Who sent this? I mean, there isn't a name."

"I don't know. And yeah, it is for me. It must be for me. That man, when I saw him standing at the side of the road holding the sheep, there's that look on his face. I couldn't fathom it. He was staring at me like he wanted to tell me something before he suddenly jumped in the middle of the road, and things happened."

Si Weimin faced her with worried look as he reached out to hold her hand. She was not afraid but she couldn't stop from worrying about the recent events that just happened. It clearly showed on her face.

She knew that someone was trying to stop her from avenging her mother. It was clear now. The death of her mother was still a mystery. The culprit was still on the loose. Someone didn't want her to dig deeper. 'The grave of the distant past.' She shuddered with the thought.

A mixed feeling of hatred and pain crossed her face, she wanted to know everything. She was itching to see how those people would suffer in her hands.

She heard him spoke as she felt his thumb caressing her hand, she felt sudden comfort from his action.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

She looked at him as she answered, "I'm okay. Don't worry. Take me home now."

"I know, it's not right for me to ask but do you have any idea who sent this?"

"Yes, I have." She answered as she moved her face away from him to see. She was not ready to tell him everything yet. It's too sudden to leave everything for his bare eyes to see.

"Okay, I won't ask further. I only want you to know that I'm always here if you need my help."

"Thank you. Let's go now. I-I still have to prepare for the art exhibit this night."

She gazed at Si Weimin as he retrieved his hand and started the engine. She breathed a sigh of relief with the knowledge that he was with her. She couldn't imagine what she would have done if she was alone. She was panic-stricken and would pass out if he wasn't there. The blood, too much blood, reminded her of her mom. She cringed as she remembered the blood, its rusty, pungent scent that made her nauseous, and most importantly, the look on the man's face.

Sensing her being distraught, Si Weimin patted her head as he spoke, "Don't think about it anymore. I'll always be here."

She only smiled as she laid her back on her seat. She closed her eyes and remembered all the things she had for the day. She experienced too much things in a day that she felt like these things were meant to happen, aiming for her to stop finding the truth. She was in deep thought as she heard him spoke,

"A penny of your thought?"

"Huh? Ah, it's nothing."

"Yeah, I'm sure."

"Hmm."

She saw him nod as he focused his attention on the road. She stared at the folder on her hands as she felt her hands trembled. 'Who could've sent this? Who is that man?"

She stared ahead and tried to divert her attention as she looked outside the window. Her mind was so light, she was asking herself if she should still continue. The grudge she had for Zhou Jiayin was so intense, she only wanted him to suffer. She couldn't even want to acknowledge him as her father.

She shut her eyes tight and pretended to fall asleep so she could avoid Si Weimin if he would ask her questions. She didn't want to keep secrets from him, but she didn't know what to do.

After a while, she didn't know that she had really fallen asleep until she felt Si Weimin's hand on her face – slightly tapping it to wake her up.

"Love, wake up. We're here now."

She opened her eyes and was treated to see his face close to her, she heard his voice again as he said, "Love, we're home."

She nodded and straightened up from her seat. She fixed her scarf and sunglasses. She saw him exited the car and opened the door for her. She was filled with adoration for him and his gentleness. She blushed as she took his offered hand as they both walk towards the building entrance.

While they were walking, Si Weimin spoke, "Don't let anything scare you, love. As your boyfriend, I'll never leave your side."

She couldn't believe it when he put his arm around her shoulder, she turned red as she saw people staring at the two of them. Once they were inside the elevator, she faced him and said,

"Okay, wait. Can we talk a-about t-this? A-about us?"

"What shall we talk, love?"

"T-this things, us, you see? It happened so fast. I accepted but can you stop calling me love in public?"

"Why? I'm proud to call you that."

"No. You must not, especially when we start shooting. Let's pretend to be civil with each other. No PDAs. No calling love."

"Can you tell me why?"

"Why? Well, it would be awkward and we've only known each other for a day, can we at the very least, take this slow?"

"If that's what you want, love." He put his arms around her waist and kissed her head.

She was blissful as she put her head on his chest. She wanted to shout to the whole world that she had him. But the time isn't right yet.

When they exited the elevator, Si Weimin accompanied her until they reached her apartment unit. She entered the password and opened the door. She looked at him and smiled as she said,

"Thank you for accompanying me."

"I'd love to always be with you, love. Anytime, anywhere."

"Okay, I'll go in now."

"Okay, I'll leave after you go inside." He touched her face and smiled.

Xu Jia Li smiled and went inside. She once again looked at him as she said goodbye.

When she closed the door, her phone suddenly rang. She saw the name registered on the screen, seeing its Shen Linqin, she answered, "Yes, Linqin?"

"Oh my! Li-jie, have you seen the post online?"

"What post?"