At that utterance, her small nose suddenly experienced an inexplicable tenderness.
She bowed her head, gaze fixed on the ground, but before her eyes, a misty haze of tears gradually spread.
She knew it wasn’t her fault, yet in today’s society, when such matters fell into the eyes of others, most would regard her with a face of scorn.
Thinking she deserved it, that she didn’t cherish herself.
How could they know what the truth was, and how could they care about the pain their words would inflict upon her?
Just a fake piece of evidence on the school forum was enough for her to face a full-blown attack—she didn’t need to guess to know, once exposed, "nude photos" like that, her atmosphere would be permeated by one term:
As Shen Lin saw the tears spinning in her eyes, she clenched her fists, trying to hold back, but tears still slid down the corners of her eyes.
He simply watched the scene, his eyes growing deeper.
Li Zaijun didn’t want him to witness her vulnerability, and she was about to turn around, but the moment she moved her foot, her wrist was suddenly grasped by him.
Her jaw was lifted as well.
Through her blurred tearful eyes, she looked at him, his face grave, lips slightly pressed together, his fingertips touching her cheek, helping her wipe away the tears.
His voice, unlike his usual nonchalance, sounded very serious:
"Even if those things really did happen, you must know that such events cannot define you, they will only guide you."
They will only show her what to do and what not to do in the future—that is the true essence of "experience".
Listening to his words, her heart trembled slightly once again.
Indeed, he really was a man who’d experienced much, calm and mature, seeing things much more rationally and thoroughly than she did.
"Be good, don’t be sad, that person isn’t worth your sorrow."
His fingertips gently caressed her cheek.
Such warmth made her suddenly confused, not sure if it was the heat of his fingertips or her tears that were hotter.
This contact, this gesture, yet added to her embarrassment, making her ears inescapably heat up.
After all, he was her brother’s friend.
Shen Lin held her chin like that, looking at her, at her reddened eyes brimming with grievance and helplessness, his heart inexplicably trembled.
Being gazed at like that by him made Li Zaijun feel even more uneasy.
She wanted to break free slightly, but contrary to her intentions, she didn’t let go.
Her breathing tightened, yet she heard him say slowly:
"You shouldn’t turn cold to all men under heaven just because someone has hurt you before. On the contrary, the world is full of fine prospects, and eventually, you will meet the one who’s truly right for you..."
As he spoke, his tone was deliberate, his expression serious, his phoenix eyes unwaveringly staring at her.
Her eyelashes still damp, she met his gaze back.
Was it her illusion...
Why did she feel that in the depths of his eyes, there seemed to be something she couldn’t penetrate, something obscure?
Her voice hoarse, with a pronounced nasal sound, she murmured tearfully, "What kind of man is the right one for me...?"
Indeed, what kind of man would it be.
Did she have to keep blindly stumbling in search of him, no, she was already tired, thoroughly exhausted.
She just wanted to live quietly by herself; even if she never found someone for the rest of her life, she didn’t want to easily step into—