Chapter 166: Chapter 166

If you sincerely want to apologize, shouldn’t you have called on Monday? Telling me today, what’s the real intention?

"Actually, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, I hardly have any relatives or friends. My best friends are you and Yuan’er. As long as you two don’t misunderstand me, I don’t care what others think of me!"

These caring and reassuring words made Luo Yifan secretly smile bitterly.

Best friends! That’s the title she has given him. Perhaps she’s hinting for him to obediently stay in the original position?

"Tongtong, has anyone ever told you that you have a cruel heart!"

The position she sets for him, a bit more seems ambiguous, a bit less makes them seem distant.

Such a title is undoubtedly the most powerful shackle and constraint for him.

Le Tong was stunned, then forced a strained smile at him a moment later.

"Yifan, I’m sorry! I truly am a cruel person, so don’t waste any more time on me."

Facing her smile, uglier than crying, Luo Yifan’s heart felt like it was being torn with pain.

He had never seen Le Tong smile so forcedly. His intuition told him he had inadvertently uncovered a scar she never wanted exposed, but what that scar was, he never knew.

"Tongtong, I didn’t mean it that way... I’m sorry..." He reached out in a panic, wanting to ruffle Le Tong’s hair.

But Le Tong seemed not to hear his apology, looking down with her head lowered, hands grasping the cup tightly, eyes staring at the water inside in a daze.

He was exactly right; she really is a heartless woman!

So, she deserved to carry self-reproach and pain throughout her life!

"Tongtong..." Luo Yifan’s hand, extended in midair, eventually dared not touch Le Tong’s head. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novèlfire.net

Le Tong, head bowed in silence, seemed to be living in another world he couldn’t enter. Her lowered brows and powerlessly hung shoulders made him feel that, in her current world, it was filled with darkness and sadness.

Such helplessness made one heartache.

He very much wanted to hold her in his arms and comfort her fiercely. Yet, between them was like a glass wall impossible to pass, hard to get close.

Luo Yifan wanted to slap himself a few times. If it hadn’t been his careless accusations against her, she wouldn’t have recalled those humiliating pasts unknown to him but which she didn’t wish to remember.

When examining carefully, mistake after mistake, from start to finish, he’s the one to blame; why did he even criticize her as heartless?

She’s always been exceptionally good to him, other than not being able to give him the love he wants. She was almost like a more caring sister than Luo Yuanyuan, thoughtful, gentle, and sensitive, making him nearly believe she was the worm inside his stomach.

But people are greedy; she gave him sister-like gentleness, yet he always felt it wasn’t enough. Even when she repeatedly hinted that she could only offer so much, he couldn’t help but want more, and when he couldn’t have it, he tried to take it.

Thus, the shocking headlines on Monday’s newspaper came about.

He thought she doubted him, believing that after making it public, she would believe his sincerity.

But right after the newspaper hit the streets, she made no movement at all—not calling joyfully to confirm nor angrily to question—overall, she was calm as if nothing had happened, as if the Le Tong described in the headlines wasn’t her at all.

He became a bit anxious, hence had Luo Yuanyuan probe, only to find out that Le Tong didn’t take it seriously. Furthermore, Le Tong never considered him as that kind of target.

Understanding the outcome, Luo Yifan was tormented for two days, and after pondering, finally realized he made a grave mistake. The headline matter seemed to have pushed Le Tong beyond her limits, prompting her to treat him with silent disregard, neither looking at nor listening to nor caring about him.

He had no choice but to publish a clarification statement in the press.

In this self-scripted and self-directed farce, she was the biggest victim, so where did he get the nerve to accuse her of being heartless?

"Tongtong, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have forced you ." Luo Yifan apologized with guilt, placing his hand on her fragile shoulder and shook it.

Le Tong was roused by his movement, raised her head to look at him. In her eyes, was pain that hadn’t been sorted out.

Regaining herself, Le Tong gently shook her head, the pain in her eyes vanished instantly, with a faint smile surfacing on her lips," I’m fine! I’m just a little hungry!"

Having said that, she picked up the menu on the table and looked at it, "Why is the food so slow today, I’m so hungry."

Luo Yifan stared at the instantly normal-looking Le Tong, his heart growing heavier.

This clearly very painful but still acting like nothing happened and always meeting people with a strong optimistic smile Le Tong, made him increasingly heartbroken.

"Tongtong, come to my house tomorrow, I’ll cook for you, I promise you won’t go hungry!"

Luo Yifan’s invitation seemed to slip out without thought.

After speaking, he realized he might have been a bit abrupt.

Le Tong had been to his house before, but not alone; she was with Luo Yuanyuan and Xu Tao. Whenever invited alone, she rarely accepted.

Le Tong chuckled, "Sure, if Yuan’er and the others are available."

Implying she won’t attend alone.

Luo Yifan knew this would be the result, yet he couldn’t give up.

"Can’t you come by yourself?"

Le Tong shrugged, laughing, "Being alone with you man alone in a room is dangerous!"

Sometimes Le Tong is so direct it leaves Luo Yifan unable to get angry even if he wants.

"Okay then, whenever you feel it’s safe to be alone with me, let me know, I’ll prepare a feast for you."

Regarding the newspaper incident, this marks its end and the knot between them is eased.

Though unsaid, they both understood each other’s thoughts and implicitly agreed to continue as the good friends they’ve always been.

The waiter brought their dishes, and having let go of the awkwardness, they began eating with laughter and chit-chat.

"Want some wine?" Luo Yifan asked.

Ever since she got so drunk at the anniversary party and such and such with Ji Rui, Le Tong has almost developed a fear of alcohol, avoiding it whenever possible.

"Quit?" Luo Yi seemed incredulous, when eating with friends she could easily drink them under the table, how could she quit?

"Tired of blocking for others!" Le Tong’s words were indeed true, if she hadn’t been blocking Ji Rui’s drinks back then, she wouldn’t have been drunk.

Not being drunk wouldn’t have led to such entanglement with Ji Rui.

Thinking of that, Le Tong’s gaze unconsciously shifted away from Luo Yifan’s face; when her gaze aimlessly turned to the door, seeing those two males entering, she suddenly froze!