Chapter 273 -  Selfish Hearts

Xiong Zhi rejected Lu Yin Ze's good will of dropping her off to City F many times.

But Lu Yin Ze was so stubborn and insisted to use his private plane. He wanted to personally accompany her to City F's airport.

Lu Yin Ze said, "I bothered you to come here, so please let me repay the favor." 

"There's no need to be so serious. I have no problem going there by myself."

"Just let me accompany you there. I'm very free after all. I will only be at ease once I see you arrive at City F safe and sound."

"…" Xiong Zhi stared helplessly at him. "Alright, suit yourself."

His silver-blue eyes obviously would not accept 'no' for an answer. He was strangely stubborn today.

They were still at the Luxury Hotel, preparing to depart, when she received a message from Song Xuantin.

[Are you still in the capital? I saw Senior Linfeng a while ago. He told me to message him once you are here in City F. But it's been three hours now and I'm still not getting any heads up from you. Is everything okay there with Lu Yin Ze? Or are you already with Senior Linfeng?]

This message shocked Xiong Zhi to the core.

Linfeng was already in City F! It had been three hours! She could have spent those long three hours alone with him, but now it was all a waste! Xiong Zhi was unsettled and blamed herself inwardly.

"Is that from Song Xuantin?" Lu Yin Ze's soft voice caught Xiong Zhi's attention back. She turned to him instinctively. 

She was annoyed at herself for not reminding Song Xuantin to contact her as soon as she saw a shadow of Linfeng. That annoyance had not fully dispersed from her eyes yet when she looked at Lu Yin Ze. Upon realizing it, she composed herself, her face turning cold and expressionless as a result.

"...!" Lu Yin Ze was stunned. He still caught the vexation in her eyes.

Lu Yin Ze was not able hide the surprise look in his eyes in time, so Xiong Zhi saw it. 

She instantly felt guilty of her thoughts, for calling the three hours she spent with him a 'waste'. How rude was that? How could it be a waste when she used it to help comfort someone in sorrow? Especially, it was for her friend.

"Yes. It's from Song Xuantin. I forgot to mention something important to her. I can't help but blame myself," she explained honestly, a hint of chagrin in her voice.

Lu Yin Ze smiled awkwardly. It was time to let her go, but his heart did not want to. However, he still said it in the end.

"I guess you are needed there?"

"Yeah, I have to leave now."

Disappointment and a sense of loss flashed through his eyes, but he kept quiet and smiled in understanding. Lu Yin Ze was not good at hiding his emotions, thus, Xiong Zhi still caught onto it. 

She sighed. This boy tended to choose to bottle up his emotions and make himself suffer. Just like right now, he could go with them to the trip, but he still chose to stay and be left alone by himself.

She stared at the silvery white furry puppy whose ears were drooping down and eyes were watery with sadness, but was still trying to look sensible and well-behaved.

Just who could hate such a sensible puppy, ahem, sensible boy?

Xiong Zhi's hand itched and she patted the poor boy's fluffy silver hair. "If you feel alone, why not come with us?"

Lu Yin Ze blushed and caught her hand. He did not hold it for too long because he was afraid that Xiong Zhi would forcefully take her hand away from him. It looked like he had just stopped her from patting his head, but in fact he felt happy at the chance to hold her hand, even for a bit.

"...Thank you for worrying about me. But I think I will be fine here already. I don't feel so bad anymore." 

…The truth was that his weak heart could not bear to look at Xiong Zhi and her butler spending time together like they were alone in their world. 

He did not want to see such a scenery. He would be better off staying here and focusing on his mom's diary and the flash drive. He had to be satisfied with the warmth he received from her when she accompanied him at his one of the lowest points in his life.

Xiong Zhi nodded.

She finally accepted Lu Yin Ze's offer to drop her off, because it would definitely be way faster than booking another flight. Of course, she could use her own plane, but why bother when there was one ready for departure? She sent a message to Song Xuantin before she boarded the private plane with Lu Yin Ze.

Ting!

A notification sound came from Linfeng's phone. It was a forwarded message from Song Xuantin.

[I will arrive shortly. Please tell him I am on my way. And I am very sorry. >﹏< - Xiong Zhi.]

Linfeng smiled. He stared for a long while on her name.

After thirty minutes of waiting, finally, another message came from Song Xuantin again.

[I just arrived at the airport right now. We are in the private lane. Is Linfeng in the resthouse with you? - Xiong Zhi]

Linfeng's feet moved quickly and went to the exit of the private lane, where the VVIPs usually enter and exit. The moment someone appeared in the entrance, his heart quickened its beating.

Ah...

There she was. Lovely as always even with her plain clothes on. If anything, her beauty shone through at such a simple attire. 

From afar, he could see how her eyes immediately caught his. The indifferent face finally broke out with a smile. 

'Zhi'er.'

Linfeng's feet moved to her direction. Everything around them seemed to be in blur. He could only see her. 

However, a silver mop of hair suddenly blocked his view.

Linfeng's steps halted. 

Lu Yin Ze was holding Xiong Zhi's baggage. He stood in front of her. He did not know what came to him, but he suddenly wanted to interrupt the two from cutting everybody else out around them. 

He was here, too. Yet the moment they saw each other, he could clearly feel as if his presence disappeared from Xiong Zhi's perception. 

He was near her, and he wanted to his presence to be known.

"Zhi'er..." Lu Yin Ze turned and called out to Xiong Zhi. He wanted those eyes to stop looking at that butler with such yearning and emotions in them. 

Xiong Zhi recovered herself and looked at him questioningly. 

"Yes?" she asked with a lingering smile on her lips. Her face was glowing. Her eyes seemed to be filled with tiny little stars, happiness evident in them.

Her usually cold face softened so much that it was hard for him to associate Xiong Zhi the Heiress to this youthful girl in spring.

Lu Yin Ze felt speechless at the sight. She was not like this when they were together. 

Just a mere sight of her butler, and she was already this happy?

He felt a pang of heartache in his chest. Somehow, he felt as if it was hard to breathe.

"I... I can also take care of you..." He muttered this very lowly, only he could hear it.

"What?" Xiong Zhi could not hear his whispers. Not to mention, she was distracted. Her Linfeng stood there, a few meters away from her. She badly want to run to him right now and hug him tightly. 

Her necklace needed a recharge, too!

Lu Yin Ze felt another stab, looking at how she kept glancing at her butler from time to time. 

"...I-if you need my help, just call me. I'm just one call away," he said helplessly instead. There was no way he could say his true feelings to her at this moment and ruin such a happy look on her face.

He… do not have the courage yet.

Xiong Zhi happily patted his shoulder. She was in such a good mood as she was finally able to meet Linfeng. So, she smiled at Lu Yin Ze and assured him with a light heart.

"Don't worry, I'm in safe hands. I should be the one telling you that. If you encounter trouble, just call us. Alright?"

Lu Yin Ze nodded obediently. A shadow loomed over him.

Linfeng's tall figure appeared beside them. His entire person appeared mature, calm, and reliable compared to the fragile, delicate, and innocent appearance of Lu Yin Ze. Such great contrast of two vastly different male beauties attracted the attention of the surrounding people. Their eyes kept on sticking on the picturesque scenery. 

Linfeng reached out his hand. His face was calm and collected like a butler would.

"Thank you for taking care of 'my' Young Miss. I will handle the rest from here." 

Linfend did not wait for Lu Yin Ze's answer as he gently took the luggage from the latter's hold. He then smiled gently at his Young Miss. His mesmerizing eyes attentively studied Xiong Zhi for a while, before offering his other free hand to her.

"Let's go, my Young Miss," he gently said.

Xiong Zhi let out a carefree smile. Her small jade-like hands slipped intimately into his large palms. Their hands perfectly fitted each other.

As if they were meant to be.

Xiong Zhi gave one final glance at Lu Yin Ze as she said her farewell.

"Thank you for bringing me here. See you again after the trip!" 

Linfeng also threw one look at Lu Yin Ze before he put all his attention to his Young Miss.

After saying some parting words, the two left. 

Lu Yin Ze stood alone as he watched the pair leave. The tall man was looking down gently, his aura filled with the intent to spoil the girl beside him. The girl was looking up at the man, her eyes looking at him as if he was her whole world. 

They stood far from him, as if they belonged to an entirely different world.

The people from different walks of life continued walking to and fro around him. He was the only one standing rooted in place, unable to move one step. 

...He was alone again. His empty hand touched his lips. Earlier, he almost said out loud what his heart was screaming. However, he knew he was not courageous enough to express his feelings to her. He was afraid of her rejection. 

Especially right now, at this time when she was clearly interested in another person.

His short period of selfishness was finally used up. His dark silver lashes lowered, hiding his eyes. 

If he could not say his feelings out loud.... Then what was he supposed to do with these feelings? Bottle them up again, until he exploded?

He closed his eyes to bury the needle-like pain and heartache he felt. How he wished his grandfather's story could also happen to him.

If Linfeng leaves Xiong Zhi, then at that time, he would not hold back. He would snatch her away from him and make her fall for him.

The young boy who had just tasted love, finally learned how it meant to be selfish.