The Persuader

"I'm finished," Lin Jiao said, looking at her. "What did you want to say just now? Tell me everything at once. I won't interrupt again."

Hesta's throat moved slightly. She shook her head.

"Why not? Do you think I'm being unreasonable?"

Words couldn't persuade her, Hesta thought. No matter what she said, it would be useless.

"Jane?" Lin Jiao frowned.

"I don't want to argue with you over a topic you think is completely meaningless," Hesta said softly. "You're right. It would be absurd to have a fight over something like this."

"Do you really think that, or can't you be bothered to argue with me?" Lin Jiao looked at her seriously. "If it's the former, then we'll end the topic here. If it's the latter, I hope you'll fully explain your own thoughts too—yes, I think this topic is absurd, but arguing with you is worth the effort to me. I hope you feel the same."

Hesta unclenched the fist in her pocket and turned back. "I have nothing to argue about... I said before that I don't know Ava. I just think the accusations against her don't hold up."

"Ha." Lin Jiao raised her brows. "'Think'? You merely 'think' so?"

"Think of it as intuition, then," Hesta said with a smile. "My intuition has always been good."

Both of them let out a breath. After talking for a while in front of Ava's portrait, they said goodbye.

Hesta remained where she was, watching Lin Jiao's retreating figure. Once again, she felt an emptiness in her heart.

She didn't know where things had gone wrong, creating such a deep rift between Lin Jiao and Ava. If Ava were still alive, she would most likely have approved of a sharp young leader like Lin Jiao, perhaps even admired or guided