106 Han Lingxue

"Auntie," I said quickly, "you’ve been exhausted looking after Tie Tou all these days. You should head back early to get some rest. I’m fine, really. Once I have some free time in a few days, I’ll come to visit you and Tie Tou."

Auntie Lin replied promptly, "Alright, you get plenty of rest too. I’m heading out then."

Because A-Yun was present, Auntie Lin didn't want to overstay her welcome. She smiled at A-Yun and said, "Dear, thank you for your trouble. I’m off now." A-Yun replied coolly, "Take care on your way, Auntie."

Although A-Yun was brimming with jealousy, she still maintained her manners. She even walked Auntie Lin out when she left.

A few minutes after she returned, she noticed that with one hand in a saline drip, it was inconvenient for me to eat the beef noodles. She walked over and asked, "Do you want me to help you?"

I said, "If you're willing, I’d be delighted, but I didn't want to impose if you weren't."

A-Yun rolled her eyes at me. "Stop putting on an act. Let me feed you." She took the noodles from my hand and began to feed me.

"Thank you!" I said. A-Yun replied, "Why be so formal? I’m your girlfriend now; taking care of you is only right!" As she spoke, she slipped a piece of beef into my mouth.

Watching me devour the food, A-Yun said with a hint of jealousy, "Is this beef noodle so delicious that you couldn't bear to throw it away, even though she bought it?"

I laughed. "The beef is indeed quite good, but the main reason is that you, a great beauty, are feeding me. As long as you’re the one feeding me, everything tastes wonderful."

A-Yun blushed slightly. "Smooth talker. If you like being fed so much, I’ll feed you something else later and see if you still have the appetite." As she spoke, she sat on the edge of the bed, leaning closer to my chest. The faint, delicate fragrance of her skin left me feeling unsettled...

Suddenly, a voice called out, "Oh! I'm so sorry, am I interrupting something?"

A-Yun and I looked toward the door and were stunned to see Han Lingxue standing there, her beautiful eyes scanning us.

I was dumbfounded. "Who are you looking for?" I asked, surprised.

Han Lingxue replied coolly, "Is there anyone else here?"

I suddenly realized, "Oh! So you’re here to see A-Yun."

Han Lingxue’s tone remained indifferent. "I’m not even close with her."

I was completely bewildered and stammered, "You couldn't possibly be looking for me, could you? We don't seem to be close, either."

Han Lingxue said, "How could we not be close? Years ago, you attempted to assault me, and you ended up serving two and a half years in prison for it. Isn't that right?"

I blurted out, "Don't talk nonsense! I didn't—"

Han Lingxue sneered, "How is this nonsense? You confessed to it yourself back then."

I quickly interjected, "Lingxue, I offended you back then, but that’s in the past. Please, let it go."

From her tone, I guessed she had come to settle scores. What puzzled me was why she hadn't come for me sooner, waiting until today. Perhaps she hadn't been able to find me; after all, I hadn't been out of prison for even half a year.

"Lingxue," I pleaded, "I was foolish back then. I did wrong and tried to offend you, but I’ve already served my time. Can't we just move past this?"

Han Lingxue shook her head. "I was even more foolish than you, and my mistakes were far more outrageous."

I glanced at A-Yun, but curiosity got the better of me. "Lingxue, what mistake did you make?"

"Do you want to hear it?" she asked. I nodded instinctively. She looked at A-Yun with a beaming smile. "Aren't you afraid she’ll be jealous?"

A-Yun replied, "I’m not that petty. What belongs to me won't run away, and what doesn't, I can't force."

Lingxue said, "Since you’re so confident, can you leave him and come back tomorrow?"

A-Yun was startled. "You mean you want to stay here tonight?"

Lingxue asked, "Are you afraid, or are you reluctant to leave?"

A-Yun replied coolly, "So, you want to take care of him? Fine! I’ll yield to you." She shoved the half-eaten container of noodles into Lingxue’s hands. "Then you can take over."

Lingxue asked, "Are you leaving, or do you want to stay and listen?"

A-Yun retorted, "What kind of sordid business could you two have that's worth me staying to hear?"

Lingxue asked, "Aren't you worried I might hurt him again?"

I was stunned. What did she mean by that? Had she hurt me before? I thought we had no prior connection, so why would she harm me? "Lingxue, I’m just a man with a worthless life. It wouldn't be worth your time to hurt me."

Lingxue replied calmly, "If I wanted to hurt you, would I even need to lift a finger?"

I sighed helplessly. "If you can't let go of the past and insist on settling the score, there’s nothing I can do. Suit yourself."

Lingxue said, "I truly cannot let go of what happened back then, and I do want to pursue it, but the truth is not what you think."

"Lingxue, what on earth do you mean?" I asked, confused.

Lingxue gave me a charming smile. "If you want to hear it, finish these beef noodles first." She sat beside me and began to feed me.

Watching her, she didn't seem to have any malicious intent, but I couldn't understand why she was feeding me. Even if we had a history, I was the one who had offended her. I should have been grateful she didn't hate me, so why was she doing this?

This was the behavior of a girl who had fallen for a man. Suddenly, I was struck by a thought: Could it be that Lingxue had known all along that I was framed, and that I was actually the one who saved her?

A-Yun’s expression soured. "Han Lingxue, what is the meaning of this?"

Han Lingxue replied coolly, "If you want to listen, stay. If you don't like what you see, you are free to leave."

A-Yun sneered, "Lingxue, he is my boyfriend. Have you considered my feelings at all?"

Lingxue replied indifferently, "A-Yun, just because you like him and call him your boyfriend doesn't mean he necessarily wants the same."

A-Yun’s face grew darker. "Lingxue, what do you mean? Could it be that you’ve taken a liking to him too?"

Lingxue countered sharply, "That’s right. I like him too. Are you surprised?"

At her words, my jaw dropped in shock, and the beef I was being fed fell right out of my mouth.

A-Yun laughed in fury. "You like him, yet you sent him to prison!"

Lingxue replied, "I enjoyed doing it! Do you have a problem with that?"

A-Yun was speechless, her face flushed with anger.

Lingxue continued, "He admitted to wanting to assault me back then; he chose to go to prison himself. I was simply helping him get what he wanted. Was I wrong?"

Hearing this, it finally clicked. Lingxue had known I was innocent all along. But why didn't she help clear my name? Was it truly just to fulfill my own "choice"?

Women are like liars in disguise—not a word they say can be trusted, and their actions are even more unfathomable. Tonight, I truly learned that lesson.