Reborn to Outshine My Ex and His White Moonlight-Chapter 296: Their Bonds are Too Deep

Gong Chen flicked his lighter, feeling the warmth of the flame.

It was quite ironic to hear this coming from another man’s mouth.

He scoffed softly, his expression cold and somber.

Sang Li didn’t mind and continued, "The Gong Family’s power structure is intricate and complex. Even though you’ve already taken control of quite a lot, the rest is still in the old man’s hands. If you want to completely control the Gong Family, you’re probably going to need a bit more time. Yet clearly, the old man only needs one move to control you."

For example, Lin Zhiyi.

As the words fell, the lighter in Gong Chen’s hand went out, the heat of its body pressing against his palm.

It felt like a needle prick.

Sang Li, no longer dwelling on the Gong Family’s matters, raised his hand and patted Gong Chen’s shoulder.

"Besides, I’m doing this for my sister, too. I don’t want her making mistakes and then it won’t just be about you owing her a life anymore."

Everyone understood today that Sang Ran’s words weren’t just a moment of impatience but a burst from many suppressed emotions.

After speaking, Sang Li left the balcony.

Gong Chen took a cigarette, but didn’t smoke it, letting it dissipate between his fingers.

...

Kitchen.

Lin Zhiyi was waiting for the water to boil while prepping the freshly bought vegetables by the sink.

Hearing the water boiling, she was just about to turn around to make tea when she heard a familiar voice.

"I’ve got it."

It was Sang Ran.

Lin Zhiyi gave a noncommittal hum, keeping her head down as she continued with the vegetables.

Behind her, Sang Ran opened the tea caddy and divided tea leaves into cups.

"Zhiyi, am I really terrible?"

"No, don’t overthink it," Lin Zhiyi said without ceasing her movements, appearing as if she didn’t care.

"I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me," Sang Ran said, sounding dejected.

Hearing this, Lin Zhiyi accidentally grasped too many vegetable leaves.

"Xiao Ran, you’re overthinking it," she said with a dismissive laugh.

Sang Ran turned and stared at her for a long time, "I understand now."

Neither mentioned what this was about, a form of dignity between adults, perhaps.

Sang Ran finished preparing the tea and called out towards the door.

"Brother, can you take this? I’ll help Zhiyi with the vegetables."

"Alright."

Sang Li stood at the kitchen door, taking the tray, relieved to see a harmonious scene in the kitchen.

With Sang Ran’s help, Lin Zhiyi was able to cook much faster.

She was about to serve the soup when Sang Ran suddenly leaned in.

"Zhiyi, my main reason for coming this time was to give a gift."

"A gift?"

"Yes, Third Young Master and I wanted to thank you for designing such a beautiful wedding ring for us. Third Young Master said it’s perfect for us; after all, it’s something we will wear for a lifetime, and we both cherish it greatly."

Sang Ran lifted her hand adorned with the diamond ring, gesturing with it.

Lin Zhiyi’s hand stiffened, and soup spilled onto her hand, the pain numbing her somewhat,

Worried Sang Ran might notice something, she quickly pretended to wash her hands, turning her back to Sang Ran to rinse them.

"It’s unnecessary, as long as you two like it, it’s all I should do."

"No, you must wait for me."

Sang Ran quickly left the kitchen, came back with her bag, and began rummaging through it.

Suddenly, her grip on the bag faltered and it fell to the floor, spilling its contents everywhere.

At the noise, Lin Zhiyi, disregarding the pain in her hand, immediately went to help Sang Ran pick up the items.

Bending down, she realized the floor was strewn with various pills.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Lin Zhiyi, despite her frequent hospital visits recently, had never taken so many medications.

"These are all yours?" she asked, surprised.

Sang Ran managed a wry smile, "Yeah, a week’s worth. Just a dozen or so a day. Right after the amputation, when the phantom limb pain had me rolling on the floor, I took even more than this."

"I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked," Lin Zhiyi said, feeling she had unknowingly touched upon a painful subject.

"It’s okay, it’s in the past. Besides, I did it willingly. When I saved Third Young Master, I even thought if only one of us could live, I’d be willing to die for him. Fortunately, we were both fine, and now it seems like we’ve reached the sweet after the bitter, don’t you think? Zhiyi."

Sang Ran clutched Lin Zhiyi’s wrist all of a sudden, not too forcefully, but persistently exerting pressure.

Lin Zhiyi looked up, meeting her expectant eyes.

He immediately grasped the deeper meaning of her words.

"Yes," Lin Zhiyi nodded, hiding the self-mockery and sarcasm in her eyes.

Actually, Sang Ran was worrying unnecessarily; who didn’t know how well Gong Chen treated her?

But that was also because Sang Ran loved Gong Chen too much.

Hearing the answer, Sang Ran took out a small box from her bag and handed it to Lin Zhiyi.

She smiled and said, "Zhiyi, thank you."

Lin Zhiyi held the box, somewhat at a loss for what to do.

Just then, Gong Chen and Sang Li from the dining room saw the two of them had not left the kitchen for a long time and came together to check.

"What’s the matter?" Gong Chen frowned at Lin Zhiyi.

Sang Ran stood up and took hold of Gong Chen, "It’s not Zhiyi’s fault. Maybe I stood too long, and I didn’t hold my bag steady. I dropped the medicine out."

Lin Zhiyi froze in place; so his concern for her was actually worry that she might bully Sang Ran.

She held the box with a faint sneer and said no more.

Sang Ran leaned slightly toward Gong Chen, "The kitchen is quite small. Let’s go sit down first, so we don’t trouble Zhiyi any further."

"Okay."

Gong Chen glanced at Lin Zhiyi but still helped Sang Ran out of the kitchen.

Sang Li approached Lin Zhiyi, "Are you okay?"

Lin Zhiyi stuffed the box into Sang Li’s hands, pretending to be relaxed, "Xiao Ran is too polite, but I can’t accept this. Could you return it to her for me?"

Sang Li opened the box; it was a pair of pearl earrings.

Not very expensive, suitable as a gift between friends.

Lin Zhiyi was not someone unfamiliar with social customs; such a firm refusal must indicate something was wrong.

"Did Xiao Ran she..."

"Not now, let’s have dinner first."

Lin Zhiyi interrupted Sang Li’s words and carried the soup out of the kitchen.

Sang Ran hadn’t said anything wrong; the bond between her and Gong Chen was too deep for an outsider to compare.

The dinner was eaten in an unusual silence.

After finishing the meal, Lin Zhiyi stood up to clean up, blandly saying, "I have things to do this afternoon, so I won’t keep you any longer."

She was clearly sending them away.

Sang Ran seemed to want to say something, but Sang Li spoke first, "Alright, Xiao Ran, you and Third Young Master go downstairs first."

"Okay." Sang Ran pursed her lips, forcing a smile.

Sang Ran and Gong Chen got up and walked toward the entrance.

Lin Zhiyi didn’t see them off but quietly cleaned the dishes and utensils. frёewebnoѵēl.com

At that moment, a heavy gaze fell on her back, but she didn’t turn around, just held the chopsticks tightly until the gaze was cut off by the closing door.

She put the dishes into the kitchen sink and when she came back out, she found Sang Li still there.

"What’s up?" she asked.

"You don’t look so good," Sang Li said, staring at her cheeks as he spoke slowly.

Lin Zhiyi forced a smile, "It’s nothing. I’ll be fine after a nap this afternoon."

Seeing she didn’t want to continue the conversation, Sang Li didn’t insist and nodded, "Then I’ll leave first."

Lin Zhiyi walked him to the door.

At the entrance, Sang Li steadied himself on a cabinet while changing his shoes and accidentally knocked her bag to the floor.

A stack of documents fell out.

Sang Li picked them up and glanced at them with a wry smile, "I thought you would consider me first. I didn’t expect... you’re planning to further your studies?"

Lin Zhiyi took back the documents, embarrassed. They were all brochures for schools abroad.

"I want to do well in my own job first."

She had expected that after her statement, Sang Li would back off.

But he drew closer across the stack of documents in front of her, his phoenix eyes slightly downcast, filled with an endless depth of affection.

"Zhiyi, I respect your choice, but my charm isn’t so great that it would make you lose your ambition."

The implication was that she could date and continue her studies at the same time.

"Don’t... don’t joke."

Lin Zhiyi subconsciously clutched the documents tighter.

Sang Li leaned in, seriously saying, "Even if it’s just utilizing, please consider me first."

Lin Zhiyi’s breathing hitched, her heartbeat skipping a beat.