Chapter 531 - 365: The Only Two at Home?

Chapter 531: Chapter 365: The Only Two at Home?

"I need some space."

He felt completely unable to make a calm decision under the circumstances, so he just went into his room and shut himself in.

Only when the world fell silent did he feel his chaotic thoughts gradually begin to settle.

From the perspective of Great Xia customs and etiquette, and setting aside his special relationship with Erica, he really should visit her father even if they were just good friends.

What’s more, Erica was also his business partner. From that angle, he definitely had to make an appearance.

But it was precisely the ambiguous nature of their relationship that became the biggest obstacle to him showing up.

If he appeared, it would be a tacit acknowledgment of his relationship with Erica.

On this point, people from any country would likely reach the same subconscious consensus.

So, that brought up the question.

’What am I even agonizing over?’

He held the cold soda can up before his eyes, his brow furrowed as he silently posed the question to himself.

He had thought about this question many times before, but he’d never been able to reach a definitive answer.

Until now. For some reason, it was as if he’d suddenly had an epiphany and understood something.

It wasn’t that he didn’t have feelings for Erica; he was simply avoiding it.

It was a similar situation with Jin Meiyan, too. Whenever things reached a critical point, he would always come up with some reason to shackle himself.

’What am I avoiding?’

’Is it that I’m afraid of entering an intimate relationship?’

’Or maybe I’m worried that it would be especially difficult for two people from different cultures to be together?’

’It seems to be a bit of both, yet neither feels like the most crucial factor.’

He narrowed his eyes, gazing at the azure coastline not far beyond his window as images from the past involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

’Ah... so that’s it.’

’So that’s what it was.’

When he first arrived in this foreign country, even basic communication was a struggle. Before he could take his specialized courses, he had to attend a language program and pass the proficiency tests.

It was during that time that he met his first love.

Because he was a man with a very strong sense of responsibility, he felt that once he started a relationship, it had to be with marriage in mind. He had to be responsible for the other person.

Unfortunately, she was a few years older than him. Girls tend to mature two or three years earlier than boys, and with the added age gap, their relationship, which had been harmonious at first, slowly began to change.

His endless doting caused her to become selfish. Compounding this, a chef’s career requires a massive time investment, and the beginning was the hardest part.

It then evolved into her constantly pressuring him, trying to get him to change jobs for a higher income to provide so-called "marital security"—what she called a sense of safety.

Work was already exhausting, and after his shift, he still had to handle all the housework—even waiting on his girlfriend, feeding her fruit and giving her massages. The day-in, day-out fatigue and arguments slowly built up inside him until the tightly wound string in his heart finally snapped after another fight.

This time, he didn’t lower his head to coax her, and the relationship naturally came to an end.

Although he was deeply sad and pained at the time, it wasn’t because he was lovesick, but because he felt it hadn’t been worth it for him.

After ending that twisted relationship, he felt unusually relieved. Not only could he focus on his work, but he also had plenty of free time to do what he wanted.

It was only after that his career slowly got on the right track.

Gathering his scattered thoughts, he sighed silently.

’Yes, that’s right.’

’This is it.’

He thought he had completely forgotten that experience, but he never imagined it had left him with a reflexive trauma response, subconsciously rejecting the start of any new relationship.

He was afraid. Afraid that he would once again face that suffocating situation.

"Huuu..."

He let out a long breath and shook his head, feeling this wasn’t a problem he could solve on his own.

Downing the last of the soda in the can, he turned and walked toward the door.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Hearing the knock, Jin Meiyan immediately trotted over to open the door.

"Oppa? What’s wrong? Is something the matter? Or have you made a decision?"

She had expected Lin Chen to just stand at the door and chat, since that’s what he’d always done before. After all, there were more than just the two of them living in the house.

But this time was different. Lin Chen actually shook his head and glanced inside her room.

"Is it okay if I come in?"

"Huh? Yes, of course. Come in."

Right now, it was just the two of them at home. Erica wouldn’t be back anytime soon, and Andre was planning to head to the forest; it was uncertain if he would even be back tonight, possibly camping outdoors.

That meant no one would be back for at least half a day.

The thought of this made her little heart pound uncontrollably.

Lin Chen tactfully sat in the chair by the desk, not on a young woman’s bed.

Before she could ask, he took the initiative to briefly recount his past experience.

Just recalling it in his mind hadn’t felt like much, but once he spoke the words aloud, it was as if he were reliving the entire thing. The suffocating pressure wrapped tightly around him, crushing him to the point where he could barely breathe. Even taking a single breath felt difficult.

Jin Meiyan was already flustered by Lin Chen’s sudden confession, at a loss for how to comfort him. But when she saw his emotions intensify as he spoke, his expression filled with pain and struggle, the softest corner of her heart was quietly touched.

This was the man who made her heart flutter. How could she just stand by and watch him recall such a painful past because of a commitment to another woman?

She subconsciously took a few steps forward, wrapped her arms around his head, and gently pulled him into her embrace. Her right hand patted his broad back tenderly as she soothed him with her sweet voice.

"There, there. What’s past is past. It’s okay, it’s okay."

"Let’s not think about those bad memories. Without those experiences, you wouldn’t have become the perfect Oppa you are today."

"Relax, take a deep breath. There are very few bad women in this world. Oppa, you have to believe in yourself. It wasn’t your fault. It was just because you were too outstanding. Your good character and morals held you back. Let’s look forward, okay?~"

Soothed by the girl’s soft, gentle words, Lin Chen’s agitated emotions gradually subsided. As his story came to an end, his lips pressed together tightly, unsure of what to say next.

The room instantly fell quiet, the only sound the frantic thumping of a heart.

The extreme warmth and softness against his cheek pulled his thoughts back to reality. He suddenly realized the position they were in, holding each other just like this.

Waves of a captivating floral fragrance filled his nose—clear yet rich, with a hint of rose, the lingering scent of lavender, and the freshness of citrus.

He could clearly feel the soft, smooth texture of her skin even through the thin layer of her clothes, and his throat instantly went dry.

As puffs of warm breath ghosted across her chest, Jin Meiyan, who was slowly calming down herself, also realized their posture was a bit inappropriate. But she couldn’t be sure if Lin Chen had completely composed himself, so she could only force herself to stay still.

Suddenly, Lin Chen lifted his head from her embrace, his dark eyes locking onto hers.

"Meiyan, what kind of person am I in your eyes?"

"Ne?"

She never expected Lin Chen to suddenly ask her such a question. A trace of panic and shyness flashed in her eyes. She tilted her head in thought for a moment before speaking.

"Gentle, considerate, and reliable. Just being by your side, Oppa, gives me an inexplicable sense of security. Especially in the wild. When you told me there was a bear on the other side of the river, I even felt that if we really encountered one, you would protect me well."

"In your daily life, your cooking is incredible—noodles, stir-fries, stews, desserts, even foreign cuisines are no problem for you. You’re also very thoughtful and often prepare dishes suited to my and Eonni’s tastes. You’re so serious when you work, and you even take the initiative to help with housework in your free time. In my eyes, you’re a perfect man."

"...Is that so?"

He hadn’t expected to have such a high evaluation in Jin Meiyan’s eyes. ’Just how low have Korean guys dragged their own reputation online?’

’Or is it simply because she’s so beautiful that she’s only ever run into disgusting flies?’

He suddenly stood up. The movement startled Jin Meiyan, who subconsciously tried to step back to avoid bumping into him.

But the bed was right behind her. As she retreated, her calf hit the edge of the bed, and she instantly lost her balance and started to fall backward.

Quick as a flash, Lin Chen’s hand shot out and wrapped around her slender, willowy waist. With a sudden pull, he brought her soft body into his embrace, simultaneously using his leg to push the inconvenient chair aside.

Held tightly in Lin Chen’s arms, Jin Meiyan’s breath hitched. She didn’t dare look him in the eye, her chin resting lightly on his collarbone as the thunderous, drum-like beat of her own heart echoed in her ears.

"Are you okay?"

The man’s gentle, deep voice sounded by her ear. The warm breath made the shell of her ear itch, and the strength was instantly drained from her body. She went limp in his arms, unable to stand up straight.

She blushed and murmured, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, "I... I’m okay... Thank you, Oppa..."

Though her face was burning with shyness, Lin Chen’s sudden initiative made her heart leap with an inexplicable joy.

Compared to the passive man he used to be, this version of him was far more captivating.

He didn’t need to be forward like a scummy Korean guy; just being a little more proactive than before was wonderful.

After all, when it came to moving a relationship forward, she felt it was something the man should take the lead on.

’Wait, moving the relationship forward?’

Her expression changed, and she quickly straightened up in his arms.

"Oppa, this isn’t the time for hugging. So, have you decided what you’re going to do about visiting Erica Eonni’s father?"

Lin Chen keenly noticed the fleeting disappointment in her eyes and smiled faintly.

"Thanks to you, I’ve made up my mind."