For a long time afterward, Xie Jinghui would frequently visit Shen Sixian, as if the two were old friends with a deep friendship.
Shen Sixian wasn't always willing to see him, but unfortunately, he always chose times when Shen Sixian wasn't at the company, so Shen Sixian couldn't very well refuse to see him.
So after this happened several times, Shen Sixian specifically instructed the servants to take Xie Jing to the reception room in the side hall whenever Xie Jinghui, far away from the living room and also far away from Shen Shuangjian.
Whenever Xie Jinghui came, there was usually nothing particularly important to talk about. They would just have a cup of tea, a couple of topics, and sit for an hour.
He never mentioned Shen Shuangjian, nor did he subtly inquire about her Shen Shuangjian situation from Shen Sixian. However, even if he did ask, Shen Sixian would not tell him.
Shen Sixian often found him annoying, but Xie Jinghui was a very sensible person and would never give him the opportunity to actively drive away guests.
If Shen Sixian agreed to watch TV with Shen Shuangjian that day, he would be particularly annoyed by Xie Jinghui's arrival. Usually, Xie Jinghui would leave several tens of minutes earlier than usual that day, only sitting for a short while before leaving.
But if Shen Shuangjian hadn't come down from upstairs that day, Shen Sixian would have been more composed, and Xie Jinghui would have stayed longer, until an hour later, before getting up to leave.
Every time he came to visit, Shen Shuangjian would know more or less that he was sometimes sitting in the living room watching TV, and when he knew Xie Jinghui, he would become somewhat absent-minded.
Xie Jinghui came to see Shen Sixian; it had nothing to do with him.
Shen Shuangjian rarely moves, so even though Xie Jinghui has been visiting every few days for so long, he has only met Shen Shuangjian twice.
Each time, we just brushed past each other in a hurry, glanced at each other for a few seconds, and then left.
On one occasion, Xie Jinghui to visit, but returned twenty minutes earlier than Shen Sixian.
At that time, Shen Shuangjian the man was in the small garden connected to the side hall. He was leaning back in a recliner, already asleep. The book in his hand had been lying on the grass next to him for who knows how long until it was gently picked up by someone.
Xie Jinghui stood by the rocking chair, quietly placing the book on the table beside him. He looked down at Shen Shuangjian, who was still asleep, and even his breathing became lighter.
Nearly two months have passed, Xie Jinghui hasn't been able to properly look at Shen Shuangjian like this in a long time.
Compared to her own weariness and emaciation, Shen Shuangjian serene, like a handful of pure new snow, or like translucent frost flowers on branches. Just looking at her made one want to retreat again and again, for fear of disturbing this moment of permitted stay.
Xie Jinghui finally couldn't resist. He reached out, as if wanting to touch Shen Shuangjian's cold and smooth long hair again.
Just as his hand was about to touch the slumbering man's eyes, Shen Shuangjian suddenly trembled her eyelashes and then slowly opened her eyes.
Upon receiving that gaze from those brownish-red eyes once more, Xie Jinghui did not withdraw her hand. Instead, she yearned even more for the familiar dependence she once had.
Mr. Xie...
Shen Shuangjian seemed somewhat startled. He propped himself up, but just in time avoided Xie Jinghui's hand. His questioning and puzzled gaze fell into Xie Jinghui's eyes, causing a moment of sting.
"Feel sorry."
Xie Jinghui his hand, his long-suppressed anger making him want to ask Shen Shuangjian why she was hiding.
But he was terrified that Shen Shuangjian would show resistance and avoidance in her eyes; he feared that even the last vestiges of gentleness and dignity would be lost in her Shen Shuangjian.
I shouldn't have seen you; it was my presumption.
Xie Jinghui a step back, and just then, Shen Sixian, who had returned home, strode into the side hall and witnessed the scene.
He gave Xie Jinghui a couple of unfriendly glances, and only softened his tone slightly when he saw that Xie Jinghui had simply stood there and greeted him with great tact.
Even so, he lost interest in Xie Jinghui and coldly said, "How rude of me, I am not feeling well today and cannot entertain Mr. Xie."
"Hmm." Xie Jinghui didn't press the matter, but simply nodded silently.
Huijian.
It was unclear who he was speaking to, but after uttering those two words, Xie Jinghui quickly turned and left without a moment's hesitation.
Watching his retreating figure, Shen Shuangjian opened her mouth for some reason, but didn't know what to say.
" Shuangjian, why are you sleeping outside?"
Shen Sixian didn't give Shen Shuangjian a chance to figure out why. He wiped the edge of the recliner, sat down next to Shen Shuangjian's legs, and smoothed his long hair.
"..."
Shen Shuangjian lower her eyes, she only answered softly, "I was reading and accidentally fell asleep."
He looked so pitiful and wronged, even if that was only in Shen Sixian's eyes, he still couldn't help but compromise.
"No, you'll catch a cold."
He ruffled Shen Shuangjian's long hair, then stood up and grasped his younger brother's slender, white wrist. Suddenly, for some reason, his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
"How come you never gain weight? Where does all the food go?"
Shen Shuangjian he wasn't listening very carefully to what he said.
After two months of Xie Jinghui's countless visits and her own numerous subtle thoughts, Shen Shuangjian suddenly seemed to understand.
What puzzled him was why Xie Jinghui had suddenly stopped talking to him.
Shen Shuangjian vaguely remembered that she hadn't been this troubled in a long time.
When he was little, he needed a lot of companionship when he first arrived at the orphanage. There were many children who wanted to play with him, but he was too weak to run, jump, or play hide-and-seek.
Gradually, those people stopped playing with him. As he grew older, the headmistress forbade others to approach him or have any physical contact with him.
So Shen Shuangjian gradually got used to the loneliness of being alone.
He hadn't asked himself or anyone else for a long time why they had suddenly stopped talking to him.
Later, when I went to university, just like when I first arrived at the orphanage, there were many friendly people who helped me and warmly approached me.
But he was too taciturn, unable to do anything or participate in anything, and slowly, these people disappeared.
At this moment, Shen Shuangjian she had forgotten to ask herself why they were ignoring her.
Because he knows, knows his own blandness and dullness, and also knows his own troubles and weaknesses.
No one will cater to a withdrawn patient forever.
Xie Jinghui just too gentle and understanding. When he was most confused and unfamiliar with the world, she reached out a hand to him.
So when he took it back, Shen Shuangjian finally remembered to ask, something she hadn't done in a long time.
Why is he suddenly ignoring me?