A little over ten minutes later, the two sat down on the living room sofa.
Li Xiaoyue lowered her head, nervously twisting her hands together. Her gaze stayed fixed on her toes, afraid to look at the man beside her.
Seeing her like this, Chen Lin sighed inwardly.
He knew they had to talk this through.
"Sister Xiaoyue, about last night..."
The moment he spoke, Li Xiaoyue jerked her head up like a startled rabbit and reached out to cover his mouth.
Her palm was cold and trembling slightly.
"Xiao Lin, about last night... could you just pretend it never happened?"
Her voice was pleading, her eyes rimmed with red.
"It was... I wanted it. It's not your fault."
Chen Lin drew her hand away and held it tightly in his palm.
He did not look away. He stared straight into her evasive eyes, his gaze more serious than ever.
"Sister Xiaoyue, I was your first man."
"I can't pretend nothing happened."
Li Xiaoyue froze completely.
She had never expected Chen Lin to say something like that.
A rush of warmth washed away her unease and shame. Her nose stung, and tears nearly spilled from her eyes.
In all her thirty years, this was the first time a man had spoken such words to her with such solemn sincerity.
But...
Reason soon overcame her emotion.
She shook her head hard and tried to pull her hand back, but failed.
"Xiao Lin... we can't."
Her voice was thick with tears.
"I can't betray Qiu Ya. She's so good to you, and to me... too."
"Besides, I... I've been married before. People will talk... I'm not good enough for you."
Her voice faded on those last few words, and her head sank even lower. The inferiority etched into her bones seemed to