As for Tang Jing, he didn't have too many thoughts, he just wanted her to live well and lead the life she desired without being so negative every day.
Upon hearing Lin Yifan's response, Tang Jing's entire sweet world of love collapsed, she hadn't anticipated that Lin Yifan had saved her out of a debt of gratitude from many years before.
The next moment, tears she could no longer hold back poured down from her eyes.
Seeing Tang Jing , Lin Yifan didn't know what to do.
The thing he least wanted to see had still happened in the end.
"Although I am handsome and charming, please don't fall in love with me so quickly?"
Lin Yifan was speechless inside, feeling powerless about how to deal with this crush from years ago.
"Can you... please stop crying? You don't look good when you cry!"
Lin Yifan was trembling and at a loss as he cautiously wiped the tears from Tang Jing's cheeks.
However, the more he showed his concern, the more intensely Tang Jing cried.
Finally, Tang Jing punched his chest and cursed, "Liar!"
Then, with tears streaming, she quickly left the party, yearning to escape this heartbreaking place.
Seeing this scene, Lin Yifan shouted loudly and then immediately chased after her.
He was truly worried that Tang Jing would become despondent; if Tang Jing chose to end her life, he would blame himself forever.
As Lin Yifan left, the party gradually began to liven up. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel~fire~net
Everyone was discussing fervently, talking about the events of the evening.
"Hehe! The drama has finally come to an end, tonight is destined to be Zhao Yi's night of shame."
"Being publicly cuckolded is a huge disgrace for anyone."
"But that woman is also quite miserable, a once glorious singer now reduced to selling herself to pay off debts, truly tragic."
"If you want to blame someone, blame her gambling father; without him, she wouldn't have had to demean herself by marrying Zhao Yi."
"Even if she didn't have a gambling father, do you think she could escape Zhao Yi's grasp?"
"True, those who are eyed by a Clan scion can hardly escape, unless you belong to a powerful force; otherwise, you'll eventually become the woman of a Clan scion."
Watching Lin Yifan's departing figure, both Lu Qiu and Long Tengyu sighed.
What had been a lively birthday party had now turned into such a mess, truly helpless and regrettable.
Long Tengyu couldn't help but laugh and cry at the unpredictability of it all.
He had thought he had the ability to prevent all this, but he had underestimated Zhao Yi's hatred for Lin Yifan.
However, organizing this party had not been a loss for him; at least he had clarified Lin Yifan's background and strength.
Lin Yifan was not someone the Clan scions could handle. Given time, he would definitely become a formidable force; therefore, befriending him was the clearest choice.
"Brother Long! It looks like your perfect calculations for tonight are going awry!"
"Haha! No help for it, sometimes plans can't keep up with changes."
Long Tengyu shook his head, feeling speechless.
After Lin Yifan left, the party returned to normal; however, it never regained its initial harmony and warmth.
Elsewhere, shortly after stepping outside, Lin Yifan caught up with Tang Jing, who was running away with tears.
At that moment, he embraced Tang Jing in his arms, while stroking her hair and comforting her, "Please, don't cry. It's not that I don't like you, but I already have a girlfriend."
"You have a girlfriend, so why do you still care about me? Why say those high-sounding words, why save my life with your own? Don't you know this can cause misunderstandings?" Tang Jing rebuked, her hatred for Lin Yifan growing deep.
"I know, I know all of that. But to abandon you in danger, I couldn't do it, I really couldn't," Lin Yifan responded.
He really couldn't be at ease about Tang Jing.
"You couldn't do it, so you decided to hurt me instead? Do you know that what you are doing is despicable?" Tang Jing questioned, continuing to sob.
"I didn't come to hurt you, I came to save you," Lin Yifan defended.
"By saving me, you just hurt me even more," Tang Jing said.
"Alright! I was wrong!"
Seeing this, Lin Yifan had no choice but to step back and let Tang Jing scold him.
Now Tang Jing was so agitated she was not thinking clearly, but he believed once she calmed down, she would go back to normal.
"Jerk, jerk, you damn jerk!" Tang Jing kept hitting Lin Yifan's back, venting her anger, finally collapsing into Lin Yifan's arms, sobbing incessantly.
Lin Yifan quietly comforted her, allowing Tang Jing to cry and make a scene.
Who knows how long it had been when the crying finally stopped, and the frenzied Tang Jing had regained her composure.
"Let me go, Lin," Tang Jing formally requested.
This embrace was inappropriate between classmates of different sexes.
"I won't let go!" Lin Yifan answered.
"Why won't you let go? You don't even like me," Tang Jing asked, really unclear on what Lin Yifan was thinking.
"I just don't want to," Lin Yifan stubbornly replied.
"Why do you have to treat me ?" Tang Jing continued to press.
She felt that Lin Yifan's act of saving her wasn't just out of past gratitude, there might also be some feelings mixed in.
"Because I just wanted to feel that unreachable hug from the past," Lin Yifan replied honestly.
He had truly wanted to hug Tang Jing back then; but at that time, he was immensely insecure and simply didn't have the courage to make such a request to Tang Jing.
Lin Yifan's response hit right at Tang Jing's guess. She felt that Lin Yifan must have liked her back then, only he was hindered by some realistic reasons and dared not express it.
Thinking back then, she only felt pity for Lin Yifan; so it was normal for Lin Yifan not to like her.
After all, if you look down on someone, how can you expect them to like you.
Actually, all the faults lie in the uncertainties of the future.
Back then, how could she have imagined Lin Yifan would achieve what he has today.
To satisfy Lin Yifan, and also to thank him for helping her, Tang Jing quietly stood still, allowing Lin Yifan to embrace her.
Actually, she also wanted to stay a few more minutes in that warm and safe embrace.
After a while, with a sigh, Lin Yifan finally let go of Tang Jing.
What was past is past; what's here now should be cherished; thus, letting go of Tang Jing was the best choice.
Tang Jing was somewhat reluctant to part, but, as a well-mannered person, she wouldn't cling to Lin Yifan shamelessly.
"Sorry for being a bit rash just now," Lin Yifan apologized.
"It's okay, I understand," Tang Jing replied, regaining her earlier poise, appearing even more charming.
"Where do you live? I'll take you home!" Lin Yifan changed the subject, breaking the awkward silence.
"No need, I'll just take a cab," Tang Jing declined, really not wanting to trouble Lin Yifan further.
Also not wanting to continue in awkwardness with him.