Two Parallel Lines

Two Parallel Lines

For several days in a row, the two of them seemed to have returned to their former way of getting along. Lin Su was still the considerate, gentle assistant, while Gu Lin remained the aloof, unsmiling boss.

It was as if they had nothing in common beyond work. Even when they ran into each other on the stairs at home, they merely passed by without a word.

Gu Lin felt strangely as though he had lost something. Yet when he thought carefully about it, he had no idea what was wrong with him.

What made him uneasy was that he had not heard Lin Su's inner thoughts for days. Could even the last remaining connection between them be severed?

At that thought, President Gu grew anxious, though he did not know what exactly he was anxious about.

"President Gu, regarding the plot of land south of the city, President Yao of Fengyan would like to meet with you."

Gu Lin's pen paused slightly. "When?"

Xiao Jiang nervously straightened her back, her grip on the documents tightening. Her boss was too terrifying like this. Why had Assistant Lin not returned yet? Who could save her?

"Tomorrow at noon, at Emerald Oriole Pavilion in Dingfeng."

After a moment of silence, Gu Lin lifted his eyes, his gaze settling on Lin Su's empty seat.

"When will Assistant Lin be back?" His voice was low, his tone impossible to read.

Xiao Jiang swallowed and, after weighing her words several times, said, "The scheduled time was twelve o'clock. There are quite a few problems at the new mall, so he probably won't be back before the end of the workday."

"Mm. Go out."

She let out a breath internally. Though her tense body made her steps seem slow, she was actually taking huge strides, wishing she could fly out immediately.

As Xiao Jiang left, she glanced at Special Assistant Lin's desk, pity flashing in her eyes. Special Assistant Lin really had it hard. Working under the boss's watch every day—no one else in the company could possibly possess such composure!

Gu Lin undid his cuff and raised his hand to look at the watch on his wrist. He had bought it at the old residence a few days ago.

Lin Su had one too. But since that day, he had never seen him wear it again, not even on weekends.

Gu Lin took a deep breath, but instead of easing the tightness in his chest, it only made him feel more stifled.

It was already three o'clock. Looking at the unfinished documents on his desk, he cast aside the irritation in his heart and immersed himself in work again.

Lin Su really had run into a bit of trouble, but it was not with the new mall. Rather...

He had accidentally knocked over a college student. Mind you, not with a car—with his shoulder! His shoulder!

The matters at the construction site had indeed been somewhat complicated, but they were resolved fairly quickly. By the time everything was finished, it was already 11:40. The drive back to the company would take over thirty minutes, so there was no time to spare.

While making a phone call, he failed to notice the people approaching him. The man in front, dressed in a basketball uniform, was knocked to the ground by him just like that. To make matters worse, his leg twisted awkwardly.

Even worse, his phone had fallen and its screen had turned completely white. It was clearly broken.

Since he had caused the trouble, he had to take responsibility. He could only borrow a student's phone, but the signal there was terrible. The call kept cutting out, though he finally managed to ask for leave.

"Sir, we'll leave our Xiao Han in your care." With that, several of them waved goodbye while holding their basketballs.

"Hey!" He was about to get out of the car when the driver stepped on the gas and sped straight toward the hospital.

Seriously, there had been an especially high number of strange things this year!

It had to be said that drivers these days were truly fast. Before long, the two of them were standing at the hospital entrance.

"Sir, I'm really troubling you." As he spoke, he practically leaned his entire body against Lin Su. His sharp eyes happened to sweep over the suppressant patch at the back of Lin Su's neck.

With such a big person leaning on him, this was not merely trouble—it was pressure. After looking around, Lin Su locked onto his target, settled the man beside him, then strode toward it on his long legs.

Han Jin's gaze remained fixed on the man. His tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth, and his eyes gradually darkened as he seemed to contemplate something.

The refined man approached again, as did those bewitching, peach-blossom-like starry eyes. He could not help but sigh inwardly. He's so good-looking.

"Student? Student?" Why had he suddenly gone blank? Lin Su stepped forward and reached out to pat his shoulder, only for the young man to grab his hand directly. Lin Su frowned. Wasn't this a bit too lacking in boundaries?

"Sorry, I got distracted just now." Han Jin lowered his head in feigned embarrassment, only then noticing that he was holding Lin Su's hand. He froze for a moment, then immediately let go and scratched his head awkwardly. "Sorry, sorry."

Only then did Lin Su withdraw his scrutinizing gaze. His expression was calm as he said softly, "Get on. I'll push you inside."

"Thank you." The young man was very polite.

Hearing that, Lin Su looked at the young man's already swollen foot, his brows drawing together slightly. It must hurt badly. "No need to thank me. Your foot is like this because of me in the first place."

The young man looked at his ankle, his expression briefly falling before returning to an indifferent look. He waved his hand. "No, it isn't just your fault, sir."

All those subtle expressions fell into Lin Su's eyes. He knew the young man had not told him everything, but it was not appropriate to press further, so he let it go.

Gu Lin knew Lin Su had not returned yet when he saw the neatly arranged shoes by the entrance. A chill surfaced in his ink-dark eyes. He stopped at the staircase, seemingly lost in thought.

The dark, empty villa seemed to have returned to how it had once been. His brows were cold and stern, while his dark eyes gradually became deep and indifferent. After staring at the entrance for a long time, he turned and walked toward the bedroom.

At the hospital, the male student was diagnosed with a fracture of his left ankle. It would take at least more than two months to heal.

By the time the series of examinations and treatments had been completed, it was already past seven in the evening. Since he had caused the incident, Lin Su naturally had to take responsibility. After taking the young man back to his dormitory, it was already late. They exchanged phone numbers and names before Lin Su finally left.

He seemed not to have rested at all the entire day, and he was rather tired.

"Young man, where are you heading?"

Lin Su came back to his senses and realized he had not given an address. He really was tired enough to be muddled. "To Jing..."

Lin Su looked at the little clock swaying in the car. It was already eleven at night. If he went back now, he would probably disturb him, right?

The driver was puzzled. Did this young man not have a home?

"Driver, do you know of any phone shops nearby that are still open?"

The driver slapped his thigh. "You asked the right person! I just came from there. What a coincidence!"

Lin Su smiled. "It really is quite a coincidence. Sorry to trouble you."

"Hey, you're too polite, young man."

As he got out of the car, the driver called out to him.

"Young man, young man, it isn't safe to be out alone either. After buying your phone, hurry home early."

The driver was a very tactful middle-aged man. He did not ask about Lin Su's secondary gender, but the concern in his words was impossible to ignore.

"Thank you. You should be careful too." Lin Su smiled and waved goodbye to him.

Standing on the deserted street, he lowered his head to look at his white-screened phone. A long-lost, genuine smile appeared on his face. He had owned this phone for five years. It was a graduation gift from the director who had raised him. Now that it was broken, he should have it repaired properly.

Lin Su carefully put it away and walked step by step toward the brightly lit, bustling night market behind him.

Home. Mm, it was time for him to go home and take a look.