Going Out

When Bai Lin woke up again, it was already morning. Looking at the empty space on the bed beside her, although a lingering warmth remained, the person was gone. The faint scent reminded Bai Lin that last night was not a dream, but reality.

Thinking of this, Bai Lin moved her body, lay down in the empty spot, and hugged a pillow to her chest, inhaling deeply. This was where Chi Thanh had slept last night, and this pillow was the one she had rested her head on; it still carried her distinctive fresh scent.

Bai Lin closed her eyes contentedly, the corners of her mouth curving slightly. She remembered that she hadn't experienced such a joyful moment in a very long time. From childhood until now, she had never known what it felt like to laugh freely. But at this very moment, Bai Lin felt like smiling.

And the cause of this emotion was, without a doubt, Chi Thanh. Although the other party had only held her while they slept, to Bai Lin, its meaning was far greater than just a hug. There was a time when she hoped Chi Thanh could hug her, not when she was injured, nor out of pity or love, but simply a hug, without any other conditions.

This wish finally came true last night. Bai Lin was truly overjoyed, even so excited she didn't know what to do. And it was all because Chi Thanh had given her a hug, seemingly small, but for Bai Lin, it was enough.

Knowing she couldn't stay in bed forever, Bai Lin got up and went into the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. Standing before the mirror, seeing her spirits brighter than usual, she nodded happily. Just because of Chi Thanh's hug last night, Bai Lin had had the most peaceful sleep in the past month.

She could feel her body had recovered a lot thanks to the rest; even her always uncomfortable left leg felt much better. Bai Lin thought this was not an exaggeration, because in reality, it had truly been a long time since she had rested so well.

Coming out of the bathroom, changing into clean clothes, Bai Lin opened the drawer under the bed; before her eyes was a row of neatly arranged medicine bottles. She took out the medicines one by one, and when she finished, Bai Lin had nearly ten different types of pills of various shapes and colors in her hand.

All of them were medicines Bai Lin had to take, three times a day, without missing a single dose. She felt that the amount of medicine she took each day was even more than her meals. Among them were eye drops, painkillers, foot medication, and the rest were body tonics. Bai Lin was very clear that, given her current physical condition, not taking medicine was not an option.

After checking everything again, she stood in front of the mirror for another look, feeling that there were no issues before pushing the door open and going downstairs.
All women pay attention to their appearance, and Bai Lin was no exception. Her feelings for Chi Thanh were so deep that she could pay any price without calculation. But she also hoped for a return, hoped that Chi Thanh's gaze could linger on her a little longer. Bai Lin always hoped to show her best side to Chi Thanh, whether it was her body or her face.

"Good morning."
As soon as she went downstairs, Bai Lin saw Chi Thanh sitting at the dining table, drinking a cup of coffee. The other party's biological clock was always precise; no matter how late she slept, she would get up at seven the next morning. Now, seeing Chi Thanh sitting at the dining table, refreshed, Bai Lin's mood also brightened considerably.
"Mm, there's another portion of breakfast in the kitchen. After you eat, I'll take you to the hospital."

Hearing the first half of the sentence, Bai Lin was both surprised and delighted. She thought Chi Thanh only made breakfast for herself and wouldn't care about her at all. In fact, whenever Lu Wei Lai wasn't home, Chi Thanh would cook herself, but never made a portion for Bai Lin.
But now, everything was different from before. Chi Thanh even spoke to her in a soft tone, didn't treat her as invisible, and even prepared a portion for her when making breakfast. This Chi Thanh made Bai Lin feel extremely happy, but her joy lasted only a few seconds before the second half of the sentence turned her happiness into worry.

Subconsciously, Bai Lin didn't want Chi Thanh to know about her condition. If the other party knew, she might not take her along on missions anymore. Just thinking of Chi Thanh working alone in dangerous situations, while she couldn't be by her side to protect her, Bai Lin thought that if this really happened, she would surely go mad with worry.
"Why do I have to go to the hospital?"
Bai Lin didn't answer but asked back, also indicating that she didn't want to go to the hospital.
"Why? Bai Lin, how can you shamelessly ask me why? This morning I called Wei Lai, and she said your body is in very poor condition; you've been taking medicine for almost a month with no signs of improvement. If I don't take you to the hospital, I'm afraid you'll die at home and no one will know."

Chi Thanh spoke very unusually; even her speaking speed was different from usual. These words were spoken very quickly, carrying both confusion and anger. Bai Lin didn't understand why Chi Thanh was angry, but her intuition told her that the other party was like this because of her. Could it be that Chi Thanh felt constrained by her and was therefore angry?
"No need, my body has no problems; I won't go to the hospital."

The atmosphere in the room became extremely tense because of Bai Lin's firm words. Chi Thanh obviously didn't expect Bai Lin to speak to her in such a tone; her body stiffened, and she immediately looked up, staring at Bai Lin without a word. And strangely, the other person didn't avoid her gaze, but boldly met her eyes. In both their eyes, each other's reflection was mirrored.

At this moment, the villa door was pushed open; it was Su Ao Ning.
"Little Qing Qing, I've come to visit you."
Taking off her shoes, taking off her coat and hanging it on the sofa, Su Ao Ning didn't pay attention to Bai Lin standing there, but directly sat next to Chi Thanh and kissed her cheek.

Even standing a few meters away, Bai Lin could tell that Chi Thanh's already gloomy expression became even worse due to this action. This discovery greatly reduced the discomfort in Bai Lin's heart; she no longer looked at Chi Thanh and Su Ao Ning, but immediately went into the garden to prepare breakfast for Su Su and Luo Di. Seeing her leave, Chi Thanh didn't stop her, lowering her head to continue drinking coffee, but the dissatisfaction in her heart seemed to grow heavier.

Su Ao Ning was not a fool; of course, she noticed that Chi Thanh and Bai Lin were sulking. She didn't shamelessly tease Chi Thanh, but immediately went to the kitchen, took Bai Lin's breakfast, and ate it. Sitting in the garden, Bai Lin saw the entire scene in the living room. Seeing Su Ao Ning take her breakfast and eat it, then laugh and talk with Chi Thanh, Bai Lin lowered her head in loss, gently stroking Su Su's back.
She had angered Chi Thanh again.

Just as Bai Lin was feeling dispirited and distracted, a piece of white paper unexpectedly fell before her eyes. The paper appeared strangely, suggesting it contained much information, very suspicious. Glancing at the living room, then deliberately turning her head to look at the bodyguard, Bai Lin nodded to the other party, leaned sideways, pretending to play with Su Su, but in reality, she was reading the content on the paper.
Not much was written on it, but it contained meaning that perhaps only Bai Lin could understand. An "x" in quotation marks, followed by a few number 1s, and finally a famous dating spot for couples, Xing Luo Plaza. Carefully memorizing the content, Bai Lin stood up, seeing that the expressions of the people in the living room had not improved much, she walked towards the house.

"I'm truly sorry, I was wrong just now. My body is indeed a bit uncomfortable, but it's not a hindrance; I'll go to the hospital with you tomorrow. But right now, I want to go out for a bit, may I?"
Bai Lin stood in front of Chi Thanh and Su Ao Ning, speaking in a low voice. Although she appeared indifferent on the outside, her heart was already nervously fluttering. She didn't know if Chi Thanh would agree to let her go out after her defiance just now; if she didn't agree, what should she do?
"What for?"

From Chi Thanh's tone, it was clear that the other party's mood had not improved because of the explanations just now. Bai Lin bit her lower lip tightly, thought for a long time, then opened her mouth again.
"I want to go out and meet a friend."
"What? You have friends here? Why have I never heard you mention it?"
Evidently, Bai Lin's explanation couldn't convince Chi Thanh. She looked up, staring at Bai Lin, who dared not look up, and frowned.
"We haven't known each other long; I just want to meet her for a bit, I'll be back very soon."

Chi Thanh's current reticence was not due to her nature, but to what she had experienced. And Bai Lin's reticence was not innate, but caused by Chi Thanh.
When she was little, Bai Lin was like other children; she also had dreams. She wished for a gentle and beautiful mother, a tall and kind father. She also wished, like other children, to sit in her mother's lap and act spoiled, telling her mother stories from school.

But after realizing the cruel truth, Bai Lin's dream shattered, and her childhood memories were gone. Bai Lin once suffered from aphasia when she was little; she had never told anyone about this, and certainly never mentioned it to Chi Thanh. For the first six months after leaving Chi Thanh, she could barely make a sound.
Therefore, Bai Lin was very anxious and tried many methods but still couldn't speak. Later, with the guidance of a psychologist, she was able to open her mouth and speak. The reason Bai Lin had such severe speech impediment was because the pressure in her heart was too great, making her unable to communicate with anyone.

Now, it was extremely difficult for Bai Lin to speak, especially when facing Chi Thanh. No one knew that maintaining composure in front of Chi Thanh was the hardest thing for her. Bai Lin loved Chi Thanh, yearned for Chi Thanh, but also deeply feared Chi Thanh.
Childhood still left a shadow in Bai Lin's heart. Now she wasn't afraid of Chi Thanh hitting or scolding her like when she was little, but only afraid of the other party looking at her with indifferent eyes, saying hurtful words. The indifferent actions of the person she loved were always the most damaging weapon, the most difficult poison to cure.

Chi Thanh was like sweet honey to Bai Lin; as long as Chi Thanh showed a little gentleness, she would easily fall into it. But many times, Chi Thanh was cold as a dagger, like a bullet. A cold glance, a word without warmth, could leave Bai Lin covered in wounds, bleeding profusely.
Bai Lin admitted she was afraid of Chi Thanh. She was afraid the other party wouldn't want her, would detest her, would abandon her. This made Bai Lin feel that everything she did was useless. Chi Thanh only needed one casual action to easily erase all of Bai Lin's efforts, and even her existence.

Confused thoughts made Bai Lin's mind no longer clear; her head was bowed low, so low it couldn't go any lower. Bai Lin felt at this moment she was a superfluous person, and those two were the ones from the same world.
"Alright."

Who knew how long passed before Chi Thanh spoke. This "alright" surprised Bai Lin. She truly didn't think the other party would agree to her request so quickly.
"Thank you."
Gratitude spilled out from her heart; Bai Lin was truly happy that Chi Thanh allowed her to go out.
"No need to thank me. You are an independent person; you have nothing to do with me. Where you go is your freedom."

The joy in her heart vanished without a trace because of Chi Thanh's words; Bai Lin's body stiffened, and she instinctively lowered her head. The words she feared most finally appeared.
"I'm leaving now."
Bai Lin finished speaking, turned, and walked out the door. She couldn't bear the atmosphere in the room, and even less could she endure that cold gaze. Her heart ached, ached as if cut by a knife. But Chi Thanh didn't give her a chance to escape, calling her back.
"You have no money, no car. Are you just going to meet your friend like that?"

Chi Thanh asked Bai Lin, waving her hand from her seat. There was clearly no one else in the room besides Su Ao Ning and Bai Lin, but as soon as Chi Thanh waved her hand, a man in black immediately approached. He respectfully placed car keys and a wad of large-denomination bills in front of Chi Thanh.
"Use my car. Take this money to use, and there's a credit card; the password is six ones."
Chi Thanh looked at Bai Lin and said, signaling her to take the items in front of her. Looking at the stack of red bills, Bai Lin hesitated for a moment, first taking the keys, then extending her slender arm, pulling out two bills from the thick stack, and then not moving again.

This action was truly like an obedient puppy; without the owner's permission, it wouldn't dare to eat much or eat improperly. Su Ao Ning saw this scene and wanted to laugh, but out of consideration for Chi Thanh, she could only lower her head and suppress her laughter.
"Why didn't you take it all?"
Seeing Bai Lin only take two bills and not even the credit card, Chi Thanh asked, clearly displeased.
"I don't need that much money."
In fact, Bai Lin truly didn't need money. First, she didn't need to buy anything. Second, she had nowhere to spend it. Asking her to take this stack of money? Bai Lin naturally wouldn't do that.
"Two bills are enough? What if something happens then, what will you do?"
Chi Thanh truly didn't understand what Bai Lin was thinking. It was just money; why wouldn't she take it? Could it be that she was so polite with her that even money had to be clearly divided?
"Then... alright."
Bai Lin finished speaking, then pulled out three more bills from the stack. At this moment, Su Ao Ning truly burst out laughing, and with that laughter came Chi Thanh's annoyed face.
"You can go now."

Chi Thanh said in a low voice, her language revealing helplessness. She truly wanted to know how Bai Lin's mind was structured, to do things that ordinary people rarely do.
"Oh, don't be angry anymore; I'll be back very soon."
Her heart filled with remorse, Bai Lin said to Chi Thanh, taking the five bills and a car key and heading out the door. Seeing her go out wearing only a thin shirt and white pants, Chi Thanh wanted to call her back to put on more clothes. But the other party had already closed the door, not giving her the chance to do so.
"Little Qing Qing, I just realized, your daughter is even cuter than you. Does she have a boyfriend yet? If not, how about being my girlfriend..."
"Su Ao Ning, you'd best not have any designs on her, otherwise, I won't let you off."

Su Ao Ning's words were cut short by Chi Thanh. She looked at the other party with her pure black eyes; even though she knew the other was just joking, she was still angry.
Chi Thanh truly detested this feeling, as if her precious possession was being coveted by outsiders, having to constantly worry and hide it. Chi Thanh didn't know why she felt this way; perhaps, even she hadn't realized that in her heart, she had long considered Bai Lin her personal possession, and anyone who dared to touch her, Chi Thanh would not easily let them off. At this moment, she was like a fierce beast, with powerful destructive force, instantly making Su Ao Ning not dare to speak.
"Just kidding, why are you so agitated? Someone who didn't know would think I was stealing your wife."
"Go after you finish breakfast."
Not wanting to get entangled with Su Ao Ning, Chi Thanh stood up and went to her room. As soon as she entered her room, before the door even closed, she took out her phone and called the bodyguard downstairs.
"Sister Thanh."
"Follow Bai Lin. I want to know where she goes, who she meets, who the other party is, and their background and origins must also be thoroughly investigated."
"Yes."