Chapter 136: The Argument

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation      Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Xia Xin obediently followed Jing MO and said, “It’s okay, I’ve already had a drink. Heh.”

The drive back home was marked by Jing MO’s silence, which unnerved Xia Xin.

She awkwardly glanced at him, his eyes fixated on the road, and ventured, “Would you like to say something? Even a sound would be fine. You’ve been exceptionally serious today.”

A brief pause hung in the air before Jing MO curtly responded, “Did you take my words as mere wind passing by your ear?”

“Ah, no…” Xia Xin’s voice was a soft murmur, nearly a mosquito’s whine.

“So when I told you to leave things to me, why did you sneakily follow? Do you find our predicament not troubling enough? Or do you want to faint on some street again, waiting for some good Samaritan to rescue you?”

Xia Xin instinctively wanted to argue back but found herself speechless; she had no ground to stand on. Jing MO was right. Had she intervened with the reporter today, she might have ended up fainting again. While she had planned to take a cab home to sleep, plans seldom go as envisioned.

Looking down in guilt, Xia Xin realized that Jing MO had grown all too familiar with her inconsistent fainting spells. He parked the car at the side of the road and looked into her eyes with an earnest seriousness.

“Before, you were merely overconfident, but you never took risks that endangered yourself. What about now? You’re treating your own well-being like a joke! What if you faint in the middle of nowhere and something terrible happens that even I can’t help you with?” said Jing Mo.

Xia Xin froze. She’d never considered how her recklessness might cause someone else genuine concern. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

‘Was Jing MO’s care for her merely that of an older brother toward a sister?’ Xia Xin asked.

Both apologized in unison after a pause. “I’m sorry,” Jing MO began, “I was too harsh. I’ll be more mindful in the future.”

Xia Xin conceded, “l shouldn’t have lost my temper at you. You’re only concerned about me.”

She grasped his arm, using her tried-and-true tactic to lighten the mood. “Jing MO, don’t be mad. I realize I’ve been careless. From now on, I’ll be more cautious—I promise!”

Jing MO was skeptical; she’d made the same promise just yesterday.

Xia Xin sought to charm her way out, “When I was younger, I was always the one rushing ahead and protecting you. You never said anything then. So why do you treat me like a child now that I’m grown up?”

Seeing Jing MO’s expression soften, Xia Xin continued earnestly, “Jing MO, I’ve grown up. During the years you weren’t beside me, I learned to handle things maturely and to rely on myself. It’s not that I don’t trust you; I’m just accustomed to solving my own problems.”

Jing MO was hit with a pang of regret, ‘Had I not abruptly left her years ago, would she have turned out differently? But staying would have meant risking that ‘incident’ happening again.’

Jing MO wanted to explain his absence over the years but found himself speechless, unable to find the right words. The years he’d been gone had already done their damage to Xia Xin. All he could do now was protect her.

Breaking the silence, Jing MO suddenly asked, “How much of our earlier conversation did you catch?”

“Huh?” Xia Xin was momentarily confused before answering honestly, “I heard it all.”

“Have no questions?” Jing MO inquired.

“Whatever you want to tell me, you will,” Xia Xin added after a pause, “And the same goes for me.”

Both harbored secrets, but avoiding those topics would perhaps not affect their current relationship.

Jing MO lowered his gaze, saying nothing more.

Remembering Xia Xin had a shoot in the afternoon, Jing MO drove her toward the set. A few hundred meters away, Xia Xin asked him to stop.

“Why?” Jing MO parked and looked at her.

“I’m afraid if you drop me off right at the set, reporters will snap photos and stir up rumors,” Xia Xin explained..