Chapter 166: You went to find Brother Jingze, why didn't you tell me?

Afterward, he said to the assistant behind him: "Help me cancel all appointments for the afternoon."

The assistant nodded: "Okay."

Liang Jingze closed the door gently; the slight movement didn't make Shen Li notice the person walking in; she was just quietly staring at a spot in a daze.

Until he walked to the water dispenser and got a glass of water, the sound of the water made her realize and come back to her senses; she slowly turned her head to look to the side.

Liang Jingze placed the glass of warm water in his hand in front of her, then sat beside her, deliberately keeping a distance that was just right—neither appearing distant nor making her feel uneasy; this sense of proportion made Shen Li not have half a bit of rejection in her heart.

Returning to Haishi from Wuchuan, this was a rare meeting for them.

If there was nothing wrong, Shen Li wouldn't come here; she knew Liang Jingze was usually very busy too.

The last time they met was during last year's National Day.

Liang Jingze looked at her, his tone peaceful and natural: "I was originally thinking, when I'm busy with this, I'd visit Uncle and Auntie during the New Year."

"Are you here for something today?"

Shen Li picked up the glass of water, took a sip, and told him: "To get medicine."

He nodded thoughtfully.

He had guessed it.

Noticing the dark circles under her eyes, she didn't seem to have much energy, "Didn't rest well during this time, because the study pressure is too great?"

Shen Li lowered her eyes silently, staring at the water surface in the glass, and didn't answer.

He continued to guide her: "Or did something happen?"

When asking this question, Liang Jingze didn't miss the micro-expressions on her face, including every subtle movement she made.

Until he saw her fingertips exert force, gripping the water glass tightly.

Shen Li: "..."

She didn't speak, and Liang Jingze didn't ask further; he just got up unhurriedly and walked to a massage chair in a space capsule, "Come over and try this."

Shen Li looked over suspiciously, seeing him adjusting the machine with a remote control; after hesitating for a while, she put down the glass in her hand and slowly stood up to walk toward him.

Liang Jingze adjusted it to a comfortable sitting-lying posture for her and told her: "Appropriate rest can relieve fatigue and also keep your mood pleasant."

Shen Li sat and lay on it; perhaps it was the psychological suggestion he gave, but the tight string in her heart slowly relaxed.

Liang Jingze picked up his phone from the table and brought up the Bluetooth speaker connected to the office; a soothing piano piece flowed out, "Do you remember what I told you?"

"..."

"Sad things, never bear them alone. You need a listener you can rely on; give yourself to me, trust me completely."

"Even if... you are in more pain, I have the ability to pull you back from the abyss and cure you."

Shen Li slowly closed her eyes, and the scenes she had thought of countless times appeared in her mind.

Including in her dreams, she even dreamed...

Dad left this home.

Mom also left with Shen Zhaozhao.

Only she was left standing in place.

No one was willing to want her.

Once this thought emerged, it was as if a hole had been torn in her heart, and all the emotions flooded in to erode her.

"That day... I saw Dad walk out of the house and walk to a woman's side..." Shen Li's voice was very light; she still told him everything she had hidden in her heart without reservation—besides him... she didn't know who else to tell these things to, "She is an English teacher at Dad's school; I've seen her before, when I was in my second year of junior high."

"She now has Dad's child."

"I also saw Dad holding that child, smiling... especially happily."

"It was also that night when I came back, Mom suspected that Dad had another woman outside, and a violent argument occurred."

"But he said... Mom was being unreasonable."

"Actually, I know; Dad lied. I didn't dare tell Mom about this..."

"I'm afraid... they will separate."

A drop of clear tear moistened her long eyelashes, flowed from the corner of her eye, and merged into her hair.

Liang Jingze listened to her flat tone and frowned slightly.

Shen Li told him everything in her heart, even everything that had happened at home these days.

Actually, she wasn't like she thought she could be—not sad, not caring, not indifferent...

Instead, she cared very much, even if she left Haishi in a fit of pique and went to Wuchuan to attend a junior college.

Shen Li had hoped that her father and mother would come to find her, and then they could care about her a little more, even if it was just a little bit of concern.

From beginning to end, she had never thought about letting her father and mother separate.

The person afraid of being abandoned had always been only her...

Approaching dinner time, Liang Jingze drove her back. Shen Li sat in the passenger seat, and he said: "I won't come over to disturb you on New Year's Eve; if I have time around the first day of the New Year, I'll go to your house to pay a New Year's visit and taste the dishes Auntie makes."

"We can also go see the temple fair at night; I heard there's a fireworks show."

Shen Li didn't refuse his invitation, "Okay."

He held the steering wheel, driving seriously, and suddenly thought of something, "How is it going with that boy you're dating recently? Still in contact?"

Xie Qin?

Thinking of him, Shen Li's mood became a bit low, and she lowered her eyelids, "I haven't called him in a long time."

The last call was three days ago.

Shen Li looked at him and nodded: "I listened to your suggestion and tried to like someone."

"Xie Qin... is very good."

"That's good." Liang Jingze curved his lips; the car drove for a while and soon arrived at the entrance of the residential complex, "I won't go in."

"Mm." Shen Li unbuckled her seatbelt and was just about to get out of the car.

Liang Jingze spoke again, reminding her: "Don't forget, come find me every two days; I'm always at the studio."

Shen Li nodded: "Okay."

After getting out of the car, Shen Li returned home and found that her father had already returned and was standing on a ladder in the living room fixing a lightbulb, with Shen Zhaozhao supporting him from the side.

The home was decorated with a very festive atmosphere for the New Year.

Shen Wenqing: "Go turn on the light and see if it's still bright."

Shen Zhaozhao: "Okay, Dad."

Only then did Shen Wenqing notice Shen Li, who had returned: "You're back?"

"Mm." Shen Li nodded.

"Where's Jingze? Didn't he come upstairs with you?"

"He still has things to do, so he went back first." Shen Li also told him: "He said he'll come to pay a New Year's visit on the first day of the New Year."

Shen Zhaozhao went to turn on the light, "Wow, Dad, you're amazing, you really fixed it."

"How is his studio doing?" Shen Wenqing got off the ladder and patted the dust off his hands, "A bit dusty, it needs to be wiped later."

Shen Li pulled out a few tissues for him to wipe his hands: "There are many people looking for him for psychological counseling."

"That's not bad." Shen Wenqing took the tissues handed to him and wiped his fingers, "Go wash your hands, we can eat in a while."

Shen Li: "Mm."

She walked to the washroom; after a while, Shen Zhaozhao followed, "You went to find Brother Jingze, why didn't you tell me?"