Chapter 34: Little Tiantian

The two of them walked downstairs together, passing by a group of elderly men and women who were chatting. They could vaguely hear the teasing remarks directed at them.  

Lin Zhizhi walked past them with a smile, unhurried and composed, but internally, she was screaming like a startled chicken: Is this the legendary experience that all young people must go through when they return to their hometown—being scrutinized by the village elders at the entrance?  

She continued walking at a steady pace, intrigued by this ordinary, down-to-earth way of life filled with the scent of daily living. Suddenly, she realized that Zhou Tiantian, who had been walking beside her just moments ago, was now five or six steps ahead.  

Lin Zhizhi quickly jogged to catch up, muttering softly: “Having a height of over 1.7 meters really makes a difference, huh? Your strides are noticeably longer than the average person’s.”  

Zhou Tiantian noticed that Lin Zhizhi had caught up and turned slightly to whisper: “Walk faster. If we get to the supermarket now, we might find some good deals.” Besides, walking faster also meant escaping the 360-degree, no-dead-angle scrutiny of those elders sooner.  

Lin Zhizhi blinked her large, glistening eyes in surprise. “Good deals?”  

Hearing her question, Zhou Tiantian hesitated for a moment. She had momentarily forgotten that Lin Zhizhi was the sole heir of the Lin Group. Everything she ate and wore was regularly delivered to her doorstep by luxury brands. Zhou Tiantian herself had once lived a similar life, but now…  

Her eyes darkened momentarily, but she quickly composed herself and softly explained: “Before closing, supermarkets sell food that didn’t sell during the day but has a limited shelf life at a lower price. So, during this time, you can buy things that are usually expensive at a discount.”  

Lin Zhizhi’s face lit up with an expression of sudden realization. She nodded enthusiastically, signaling that she understood, and didn’t forget to compliment Zhou Tiantian: “Tiantian is so capable. I wonder who’ll be lucky enough to marry her in the future.”  

Lin Zhizhi had only been surprised earlier because she hadn’t expected someone who was destined to be a future elite to be so grounded. After all, Zhou Tiantian had also been pampered and raised in luxury since childhood.  

Now, seeing that Zhou Tiantian assumed she didn’t understand, Lin Zhizhi initially wanted to say that she actually knew what it meant. But on second thought, she couldn’t break her character—after all, the original Lin Zhizhi wouldn’t have known about such things.

Zhou Tiantian listened to Lin Zhizhi’s soft and syrupy voice calling her “Tiantian” and immediately felt uncomfortable, as if goosebumps were rising all over her body. She cleared her throat and pretended to be calm as she said: “Ahem, don’t call me that. I’m not used to it.”  

As soon as she finished speaking, she took larger strides, deliberately widening the distance between herself and Lin Zhizhi, quickening her pace as if she were fleeing in panic.  

Lin Zhizhi immediately chased after her. “Why can’t I call you that? Tiantian! Tiantian! Isn’t it such a nice name? Hey! Tiantian! Little Tiantian! Wait for me!”  

—  

Downstairs from Lin Zhizhi’s building, Lu Yi sat in the driver’s seat. He pressed a button to lower the car window and looked up at the floor where Lin Zhizhi’s apartment was located. The windows were completely dark—clearly, no one was home.  

He pulled out his phone and sent Lin Zhizhi a message. After waiting for a while with no reply, he casually tossed the phone onto the passenger seat beside him.  

The surroundings were quiet. A few streetlights illuminated the road, their glow filtering through the open car window and casting soft light on Lu Yi’s face. His handsome features were partially obscured by the dim lighting, making him look even more mysterious and alluring.  

Lu Yi took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. With a flick, a small flame ignited, and he lazily lit a cigarette.  

Resting one arm on the car window, his long, well-defined fingers held the cigarette between them. He leaned back against the driver’s seat in a relaxed posture, his striking features appearing and disappearing in the flickering light.  

As he took a drag from the cigarette, his mind drifted back to that night with Lin Zhizhi.  

That night, though he had consumed a lot of alcohol and his mind was hazy, he hadn’t been completely out of it. He had been conscious enough to know what he was doing.  

He had seen Lin Zhizhi’s dazed eyes, clearly intoxicated. He wasn’t an animal—he wouldn’t take advantage of a girl who wasn’t fully aware of herself. Just as he was about to leave, however, Lin Zhizhi had suddenly opened her eyes, grabbed his collar, and forcefully pulled him back onto the bed.  

Their gazes locked. Lu Yi looked into her clear, watery eyes—pure and flawless—yet in that moment, they shimmered with a seductive glint. Her dark, silky hair spread across the bed, and his heart wavered. His hands, planted on either side of her, clenched slightly.  

But when Lin Zhizhi wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her soft, crimson lips against his, he no longer restrained himself—he let himself fall completely into her embrace.  

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