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Novel Catalog
Chapter 97
Jiang Ning, who had been silently observing her, glanced at her from the corner of his eye. The faint tension in the car was palpable, and he could feel the weight of her words hanging in the air.
“I thought you might say that,” he replied quietly, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of understanding. “But you have to understand, there are times when things are beyond your control. You may not need my protection every time, but I can’t stand by when I know you’re in danger.”
Lin Yuzhen remained silent, staring out of the window as the car glided through the streets of Donghai. Her thoughts were a swirl of emotions. She was grateful for everything Jiang Ning had done, but at the same time, she couldn’t shake the feeling of growing dependence on him. It troubled her, and it made her want to push him away.
The sudden realization hit her hard—he had become an anchor, and with that came a sense of vulnerability she didn’t want to admit to herself.
“Is that how it always is for you?” Lin Yuzhen asked, her voice quiet but firm. “You just step in and fix things without asking?”
Jiang Ning didn’t look at her directly, his focus still on the road ahead. “It’s not about fixing things for you. It’s about ensuring you’re safe, even when you don’t ask for it.” His tone remained steady, but there was something in his eyes—something that revealed just how deeply he cared about her well-being.
Lin Yuzhen swallowed, turning her head slightly to glance at him. She could see the sincerity in his expression, but at the same time, she felt like a burden. She wasn’t used to being protected, especially not in this way.
“Maybe… maybe I should be more independent,” she muttered, almost to herself, her fingers gripping the edge of her seat.
Jiang Ning’s lips curved into a faint smile, though it was soft and unspoken. “You are independent, Lin Yuzhen. But being independent doesn’t mean you have to handle everything alone. We all need someone sometimes.”
The words settled into the silence between them. Lin Yuzhen’s heart skipped, and she felt her own defenses falter. She couldn’t deny the truth in his words, no matter how much she wanted to.
They continued their drive in silence, each caught in their own thoughts. Lin Yuzhen’s mind wandered back to the events of the past days—the chaos, the power shifts, and everything that had been changing around them. It was as if everything was shifting beneath her feet, and Jiang Ning, whether she wanted it or not, was part of this new, unexpected world.
When they arrived at the office, Lin Yuzhen was the first to get out of the car. She paused for a moment, then turned back toward Jiang Ning. “Thank you,” she said softly, her voice carrying a weight of meaning. “For everything.”
Jiang Ning didn’t respond right away. He just gave her a steady look, one that spoke volumes more than any words could. And in that moment, something shifted between them—an understanding, a connection deeper than what either of them had anticipated.
With that, Lin Yuzhen walked toward the entrance of the building, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that things were changing. And maybe—just maybe—those changes were something she wasn’t entirely ready for, but still couldn’t avoid.
