Hidden truth, intricate love

Chapter 247 An unexpected encounter

For some time, Lin Yue and Li Hao's interactions had become increasingly rare. Lin Yue was busy with her company projects, while Li Hao chose to protect her in a more secretive way. The distance between the two seemed to widen as a result of this deliberate avoidance.

One evening, Lin Yue got off work early, a rare occasion, and decided to relax at a recently opened bookstore. However, as she entered the bookstore, she saw a familiar figure standing in the new book recommendation area.

It’s Li Hao.

When their eyes met, they were both stunned.

"Lin Yue?" Li Hao spoke first, his voice low and with a hint of surprise.

Lin Yue nodded slightly, her tone calm: "Mr. Li, what a coincidence."

"I didn't expect to meet you here." Li Hao smiled and put down the book in his hand. "Do you like coming to the bookstore too?"

"Occasionally." Lin Yue's answer was brief, but her eyes unconsciously fell on the book in Li Hao's hand. It was a book on emotional psychology with a striking title: "Why She Always Refuses to Get Close."

Li Hao seemed to notice her gaze, coughed lightly, and put the book back on the shelf: "Just taking a look, nothing special."

Lin Yue didn't respond, but walked to another bookshelf, trying to avoid this sudden encounter. However, Li Hao didn't leave, but followed.

"Lin Yue, I haven't seen you for so long. How are you?" His voice was low and gentle, and seemed to have no aggressiveness at all.

"I'm fine." Lin Yue casually pulled out a book and flipped through a few pages. "Mr. Li, have you been busy lately?"

"Not bad." Li Hao stood beside her, looking at her intently, "But I've been following your project. You're doing great."

Lin Yue stopped what she was doing and looked sideways at him: "Mr. Li, there's no need for such polite words."

"I'm not being polite." Li Hao's tone was a little more serious. "Lin Yue, I really want to care about you. You know my feelings very well."

Lin Yue's eyes flickered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure: "Mr. Li, we've already made everything very clear between us. I hope you won't mention it again."

Li Hao took a deep breath, a hint of helplessness in his eyes: "Lin Yue, are you never going to give me a chance?"

"This has nothing to do with opportunity." Lin Yue closed the book and said calmly, "Mr. Li, my lifestyle will not change, and I don't need to change it."

The atmosphere between the two of them suddenly became tense, and the low background music in the bookstore seemed to become harsh.

As the two of them stood in silence, a sudden cry of surprise rang out from the bookstore. It turned out that a customer had accidentally knocked over a bookshelf, sending several heavy books crashing down from above. The little girl standing next to the bookshelf had no time to dodge and was about to be hit.

Li Hao reacted extremely quickly, dashing forward and holding the little girl in his arms. The book hit his shoulder with a dull thud.

"Are you okay?" Li Hao looked down at the little girl in his arms with a gentle tone.

The little girl was so scared that she started crying loudly. Lin Yue quickly stepped forward and helped to prop up the fallen bookshelf.

"Hurry and take the child to find her family." Lin Yue looked at Li Hao with a hint of worry in her eyes. "Is your shoulder injured?"

"It's okay." Li Hao smiled and rubbed his shoulders gently. "It's just a few books. It won't break."

Lin Yue frowned and looked at him, but said nothing. She just silently supported the little girl and handed her to the bookstore staff.

After the incident, Lin Yue and Li Hao walked out of the bookstore side by side. It was already dark, and the streetlights cast long shadows on their bodies.

"Is your shoulder really okay?" Lin Yue broke the silence with a hint of concern in her tone.

"Are you concerned about me?" Li Hao smiled, his tone was relaxed, but his eyes were a little complicated.

"Don't think too much." Lin Yue's tone returned to its cold and hard tone. "I'm just asking as a bystander."

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Li Hao gently moved his shoulders. "But if you are willing to care about me, I will be very happy."

Lin Yue didn't say anything else. He looked into the distance, but his pace slowed down involuntarily.

The two walked in silence for a while, neither of them speaking first. When they passed a dessert shop, Li Hao suddenly stopped.

"Lin Yue, I remember you like these little cakes." He pointed to the display case in the store and said with a smile, "Do you mind sitting together for a while?"

Lin Yue hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.

The two chose a seat by the window. Lin Yue ordered a cup of coffee, while Li Hao ordered two cakes, one of which was her favorite cheesecake.

"Thank you, but no thanks." Lin Yue looked at the cake in front of her and said lightly.

"You're too tired. Relax once in a while." Li Hao said softly, "Otherwise, one day you'll push yourself to collapse."

Lin Yue sighed softly and picked up the coffee cup: "Mr. Li, don't you feel tired of always forcing yourself to care about others like this?"

"Tired." Li Hao did not deny it, "But compared to giving up on you, this tiredness is nothing."

Lin Yue's hand paused slightly, and she looked at him with complicated eyes. The corners of her mouth moved slightly, but in the end she said nothing.

The atmosphere in the dessert shop was quiet and warm, but the feelings between the two were like an invisible chasm that could never be crossed.

"Lin Yue." Li Hao suddenly whispered, "If one day you are really tired, can you try to rely on me for once?"

Lin Yue was silent for a while, then whispered, "Mr. Li, my choice will not change, and please don't waste any more time."

Li Hao smiled bitterly, with a hint of helplessness in his tone: "Lin Yue, some things are not a waste of time, but things worth persisting in."

The conversation between the two came to an abrupt halt, and a complex emotion filled the air. The streetlights outside the window lit up, casting their shadows on the glass, seemingly close yet always maintaining a distance.

The encounter at the dessert shop didn't change anything, but it made the relationship between the two more complicated. Lin Yue still insisted on her choice, and Li Hao's protection never stopped.