Chapter 179: The taste of a previous life
Chapter 179: Taste in a previous life
He was silent for a long time.
Just when Xia Ling thought he wouldn't answer, she heard him say softly: "I have never liked anyone."
She felt a pain in her heart, feeling indescribably empty and disappointed. But he continued: "But there is a person, she is a part of my life, and you are very much like her."
Xia Ling's heart stopped for a beat. She knew who he was talking about, but, "No, she's not. You don't even know..." Pei Ziheng, you don't even know that she is beside you, but you treat her as a substitute. Treat cruelly and roughly.
Xia Ling stood up and said, "Thank you for sending back my things, Mr. Pei. It's time for me to go."
He called her after himself: "Xiao Ling."
Her steps paused slightly, and she almost couldn't help but turn around - this was the first time since her rebirth that he called her with this familiar title, his voice was hoarse and painful, like countless soft intestines turning thousands of times. However, she can't look back. She never dares to come back to him. Their love is dead.
Go back to the apartment.
The days passed as usual.
After that time, her relationship with Li Lei became more subtle. Every day, they still ate together, drank tea, and basked in the sun, but he never hugged her again, and kept silent about those sensitive topics, as if he I never saw that scene in the elevator, and there was never an argument in the car.
He hides it well.
Only occasionally, when Xia Ling looked up inadvertently, she could see his eyes following her, vaguely.
Xia Ling didn’t know what he was thinking. Did he really not care? Or is it the calm before the storm? She had always thought that Li Lei was the clear sunshine, clean and warm, but now she felt that he was the sea. Under the calm and peaceful appearance, it was unknown whether it was a warm current or a huge wave that could tear a person apart.
But in the final analysis, this matter was her fault. While he was away, she carried him behind her back and hugged another man. She calmed down and thought about it. With Li Lei's identity and means, it was polite enough not to tear her into pieces. On the contrary, he was twice as kind to her.
This kind of comfort made Xia Ling feel guilty, and consciously or unconsciously, she began to avoid him.
Finally, she found the date for the next concert. She was very happy that she didn't have to face him in the apartment, so she packed her things early and got ready to go. When he walked to the elevator, he found that the door to his apartment was half open, Li Lei was drinking tea in the living room, and Er Mao was lying lazily at his feet.
“Xiao Ling,” he called her, “where are you going?”
“Singing party.” She said softly.
"It's still early. I'll take you there after dinner."
Xia Ling didn't want him to give it away, so she just said, "No, I've also made an appointment with a stylist. I need to do some styling first. It will take a long time."
“Style?” He looked at her carefully, “Aren’t you going to wear the clothes I bought for you?”
"I..." She was wearing ordinary clothes today, but she was not willing to wear the cabinet full of high-end ready-made clothes that Li Lei bought her some time ago. It was not because he bought it, but because those clothes and her Everything I wore in my previous life was of the same brand.
That brand is Pei Ziheng’s favorite.
That year, I went home with him from the orphanage. Xia Yan put on his best clothes, flowers and green, standing in the elegant hall of Pei Jiaya, like a beggar who was mistakenly entered. She still remembers the secret surprise and contempt in his sister Pei Jingyu's eyes when she looked at her, like a sharp thorn that deeply hurt her young self-esteem. Later, Pei Ziheng personally selected clothes for her, using soft light rice and gray powder to dress her up in a way that he and his family liked. There is no trace of man-made fiber on Xia Ling's body, and even the slightly gaudy colors and styles are the most original. She looks like a young lady from an ancient wealthy family should look like.
Pei Ziheng was very satisfied. She was just a child at that time and was not used to such a low-key and restrained style, but just because he liked it, she learned to adapt and appreciate it. Later, as time passed, she finally fell in love with them and would wear them every day except for necessary performances. People said that her dress at that time was very tasteful, but little did they know that it was Pei Ziheng who made it with mountains of gold and silver.
He domesticated her and left his mark on her.
To this day, Xia Ling can only escape from his shadow by resisting.
Li Lei asked: "You said you liked those clothes very much, why don't you wear them?"
She didn't know how to answer.
Li Lei stood up and walked towards her: "You look good in them. I like to see you wearing them. Xiao Ling, if you can change into those clothes to attend tonight's singing concert, I will be very happy." He He rarely asks for anything from her, which is why this request seems so sudden at the moment.
Li Lei is not Pei Ziheng, he won't help her take care of everything, and he won't even bother with her clothes and hairstyle to dress her up how he likes. Li Lei rarely interfered with her, but today was the first time. Maybe... Xia Ling looked at him and thought silently, maybe she didn't get along with him for a long time before, so it was only today that he finally showed his true colors. .
This thought made her shiver, and she was afraid for no reason.
Seeing him getting closer and closer, Xia Ling took two steps back. Li Lei's eyes dimmed and he paused for a moment, but for just a moment, he continued walking towards her until he forced her to the steps in front of the safe passage. She didn't check for a moment, her heels hit the steps and she was about to fall down.
Li Lei quickly grabbed her with his eyes and took her into his arms.
“Let go.” Xia Ling said reflexively.
His hand did not loosen. "Xiao Ling," he looked down at her, his gray-green eyes darkening, "Why are you avoiding me, why don't you wear the clothes I bought for you? Does my request embarrass you?"
Xia Ling turned her head helplessly and avoided his sight, not wanting to discuss this issue. How should she explain this? Tell him, Li Lei, are the clothes you bought the taste of my lover in my previous life? No, not lovers. At this point, she didn't know who she and Pei Ziheng were. Their identities were too ambiguous, and they were not even qualified to use the word lovers. Her heart was sour and astringent, but Li Lei turned her face: "What are you thinking about? You haven't been feeling well recently, Xiao Ling, as I said, I can help you with anything, don't be alone in your heart. ”
"It's nothing." Xia Ling said weakly, trying her best to push him away and stand up.
Li Lei's arms were as hard as stone and motionless: "Then tell me, why don't you want to wear the clothes I bought? Since I came back, I haven't seen you wearing them even once."
She was disturbed by his question: "Li Lei, please let me go first..."
“Answer me first.” His gray-green eyes stared at her.
“I just suddenly don’t like that style very much.” Xia Ling hesitated.
“Lie.”
"I don't…"
“You lied.” He said firmly.
—
(End of this chapter)