After Transmigrating into a book, I Was Played By a Black Lotus

Chapter 40 Breakup

The air suddenly fell silent.

Jiang Yeyu, who had been slumped on the sofa, slowly sat up, her once excited heart now anxious as she looked at Lin Xingzhu, who had fallen into silence.

"Cousin... are you angry?"

She cautiously watched Lin Xingzhu.

Lin Xingzhu stared at the untouched warm water in front of her. "Shouldn't I be angry?"

"..."

Jiang Yeyu held her breath, confusion flashing in her eyes.

But no matter how lost she felt at that moment, she knew Lin Xingzhu was indeed angry.

"I'm sorry, cousin..." Jiang Yeyu said sincerely, "I just wanted to help you."

Lin Xingzhu didn't mention that good intentions could lead to bad outcomes.

She simply gazed at the downcast Jiang Yeyu and asked lightly, "Do you know why I didn't confront your lie just now?"

Jiang Yeyu fidgeted with her hands, afraid to respond under Lin Xingzhu's piercing gaze.

"Yes, you were pinching me to keep me from speaking," Lin Xingzhu said. "But that's not a reason you can use to stop me. In that situation, with you excitedly telling a lie and trying to show off, if I had directly called you out, do you think you would have saved face? Wouldn't you feel embarrassed in front of a stranger, hurt to your pride?"

Lin Xingzhu closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them, a complex clarity lay within.

"Of course, I have my faults too; I should have stopped you at that moment."

"Cousin..."

Jiang Yeyu quickly looked up, her eyes slightly red.

Lin Xingzhu swallowed hard but remained silent.

She realized she had also made a mistake; if she had just jokingly stopped Jiang Yeyu the instant she started talking, she wouldn't have let her continue and wouldn't have let Bai Xiying misunderstand.

But undeniably, the moment Jiang Yeyu opened her mouth, she had instinctively cast a subtle glance at Bai Xiying, mixed with a hint of indescribable anticipation.

In that fleeting moment of distraction, she missed the opportunity.

Thinking of this, Lin Xingzhu clenched her fingers, feeling disgusted by her momentary, petty thoughts.

Things shouldn't have turned out this way.

For a brief instant, Lin Xingzhu felt emptiness; it seemed that even the most confident person could feel anxious and insecure when facing someone they liked. Did they also find themselves testing the waters in childish ways, needing validation?