lcionline Chapter 263 It turns out that 7 years ago, we secretly pledged our lives to each other.
Chapter 263 It turns out that 7 years ago, we secretly pledged our lives to each other.
The moment Su Qingge heard the words "kitten," she felt as if she had been violently struck by a high-voltage electric shock.
She was about to pick up the water glass to moisten Lin Zhou's throat when her slender wrist trembled violently, and the white porcelain glass wobbled dangerously between her fingertips.
Warm water splashed onto the back of her hand, but she seemed to have completely lost the sensation of pain.
"Lin Zhou... what did you just call me?"
Su Qingge's bright red peach blossom eyes were filled with utter disbelief.
She stared intently into Lin Zhou's eyes, trying to find any trace of a joke in those deep pupils.
However, Lin Zhou simply looked at her calmly and gently, his eyes filled with a deep and heavy love that was almost suffocating.
"What, only seven years have passed, and you're already denying it?"
Lin Zhou had a cynical smile on his lips, the same smile that Su Qingge remembered most.
He extended his slender fingers and gently hooked Su Qingge's chin.
"Back then, under that ginkgo tree at the back gate of the old campus, who was it that cried and shouted, 'I'll be Lin's kitten in life, and Lin Zhou's family in death'?"
Su Qingge's psychological defenses completely collapsed in that instant.
The bitterness, grievances, and panic that had been building up for seven years turned into a flood that burst its banks, flowing wildly down her cheeks.
"You bastard...you complete and utter liar!"
Su Qingge cried her heart out, and even disregarding Lin Zhou's injuries, she punched his shoulder hard.
"How long have you made me wait? Do you even know how I've endured these past seven years?!"
Lin Zhou pulled her into a tight embrace, letting her tears soak his hospital gown.
He closed his eyes, and the truths that had been deliberately buried seven years ago surfaced in his mind.
Outsiders all thought that the eldest son of the Lin family was a good-for-nothing playboy who only knew how to race cars and pick up girls.
But who could have imagined that it was a grand escape he orchestrated himself with the tacit approval of his father, Lin Zhenguo?
"Qingge, I'm sorry."
Lin Zhou rested his chin on the crown of her head, his voice carrying a weight that transcended life and death.
"At that time, the Lin family's political enemies had completely gone mad, and the K organization's henchmen were everywhere. If I didn't pretend to be a useless good-for-nothing, if I didn't show that I hated you, they would definitely have taken action against you."
Su Qingge raised her tear-streaked face and stared blankly at him.
"So, all that Cold War back then, all that public humiliation I suffered..."
"It's all an act for outsiders."
Lin Zhou slowly pulled a thin red string from around his neck.
At the end of the red string hung a plain, old-fashioned ring that was even somewhat worn.
They bought it for a few dozen yuan at a roadside stall when they were seventeen years old.
However, the inner ring is finely engraved with the initials of two names: LZ & SQG.
With trembling hands, Su Qingge pulled out a similar small red cloth bag from her own inner pocket.
Inside was another ring with the same inscription.
For the past seven years, she had wanted to throw the ring into the sea countless times, but in the last second she would finally hold onto it tightly.
It turns out that she was never alone in this seven-year-long, dark marathon.
"We were so stupid back then."
Su Qingge burst into laughter through her tears, and her haggard face appeared radiant and beautiful in the sunlight.
"Even though his family has hundreds of billions in assets, he still insists on buying these cheap street vendor goods after making a lifelong commitment to them."
Lin Zhou affectionately rubbed the tip of her nose.
"That's different. This is called a private engagement. If the old man finds out that I used a diamond ring worth tens of millions to seduce the daughter of his 'arch-nemesis,' he'll break my legs."
The words "mortal enemy" caused both of their expressions to become subtle.
Su Qingge pouted, her pretty face slightly flushed.
"Who's the daughter of your mortal enemy? My dad and your dad didn't get along back then, but he never intended to kill you."
"I know."
Lin Zhou looked out at the blue sky, a hint of emotion in his eyes.
"Our fathers were locked in a fierce battle in the business world, while we two secretly pledged our lives to each other. If this were made into a TV series, it could easily go on for eighty episodes."
Su Qingge leaned against his chest, feeling the warm heartbeat she had regained.
"Lin Zhou, promise me you'll never use the excuse of 'it's for my own good' to leave me again."
"I'd rather die with you under the guns of the K organization than live a life where even breathing feels superfluous."
Lin Zhou tightened his arms around her and kissed her forehead forcefully.
"Absolutely not. Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up, and you can take a nap in my arms."
Su Qingge gave him a playful glare.
"You've gotten quite the sweet talker lately. Where did the young master Lin who used to argue with me all the time go?"
Lin Zhou chuckled mischievously, a playful glint in his eyes.
"You mean, that 'sworn enemy' act we staged in public to cover our tracks?"
Su Qingge's ears turned bright red as she recalled those past events.
"How dare you bring that up! That time at the banquet, you actually spilled red wine on my dress in front of everyone, making me the laughingstock of all the socialites in Beijing for months!"
Lin Zhou touched his nose, his tone self-righteous.
"Wasn't that for a more realistic effect? Besides, didn't I climb over the wall into your bedroom that night to personally apologize to you?"
Su Qingge covered his mouth, looked around, afraid that someone might be overhearing.
"Shut up! Is that an apology? You're just taking advantage of me!"
Lin Zhou shamelessly grabbed her hand and kissed it.
"Qingge, if the old man knew that all those 'irreconcilable' arguments we had back then were actually just ways for us to avoid his eyes and go on dates, wouldn't he be so angry he'd crawl out of the ground?"
Su Qingge rolled her eyes at him, annoyed.
"Your dad was really furious with you back then. He kept complaining to my dad that although his son was a good-for-nothing, he had good taste, because he actually knew how to keep pursuing the most beautiful girl in the Su family."
As Lin Zhou listened to these words, he clearly remembered the old man's look in his eyes before he died.
That wasn't anger, nor was it disappointment.
It was a profound sense of relief, and a tacit understanding of completely entrusting the responsibility of protection.
"That old man is a real actor."
Lin Zhou snorted coldly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"If he didn't act like he wanted to kick me out of the house, how could the Black Bishop lower his guard against me?"
"We've all been exhausted from acting these past seven years."
Su Qingge sighed and pressed herself tightly against Lin Zhou's chest.
"So now that you've remembered, shouldn't we go all out and move on with our lives?"
Lin Zhou ruffled her long hair, his tone suddenly becoming serious.
"Life goes on, of course, and it should be lived in a way that makes the whole world envious."
"But before that, I have to deal with some 'legacy issues'."
Su Qingge raised her head, a hint of worry in her eyes.
"You mean the Black Bishop?"
"It's not just him."
Lin Zhou looked through the glass of the ward at the distant mountains.
"Qingge, do you remember that 'arch-rival' plan we had back then, which was still in its infancy, actually had an even more exciting part?"
Su Qingge was stunned, and shook her head blankly.
"What part?"
Lin Zhou lowered his voice and breathed intimately into her ear.
"You haven't forgotten that 'breakup scene' from back then was actually a final, suggestive interaction we staged to fool everyone, have you?"