Chapter 344: Diamond

This time, when Lin Ruoxi heard Yang Chen mention "making up," she didn't avoid the topic anymore and faced it calmly, after all, Yang Chen had already brought it up once before. However, Lin Ruoxi stared at Yang Chen for a moment, teasingly asking, "Oh really? Since you've said 'nothing is absolute' and that people make mistakes sometimes, what if I agree this time, but then you come to me again saying you want a divorce, or that you're afraid of watching me die or something like that? Do I have to hear 'nothing is absolute' from you again?"

"How could that happen?"

"But you said 'nothing is absolute'," Lin Ruoxi said innocently.

"Um..." Yang Chen furrowed his brows, feeling like he had dug a hole for himself.

Lin Ruoxi gave Yang Chen a cold glance. "Think it through before you speak to me. I'm not worthless trash that no one wants, for you to pick up and throw away at will. Even if you decide not to divorce, I might not agree, and that's something you should consider."

Yang Chen looked bitter. "Come on, darling, we're so familiar with each other now, we even share the same address and live on the same floor, and you're still this harsh?"

"That's my home!" Lin Ruoxi said indignantly. "You said 'nothing is absolute'. Maybe one day I'll be in a good mood and not be so harsh. But right now, I am. You taught me that."

After saying this, Lin Ruoxi turned away, ignoring Yang Chen.

Yang Chen drove with a furrowed brow the whole way, his mind in disarray. Unconsciously, the car entered the downtown area of Zhonghai. It wasn't until he saw the bright lights and towering buildings around him that Yang Chen snapped out of his thoughts. Driving here was almost instinctive for him; even if he was thinking about something else, it was safe.

As they passed through the commercial district, Yang Chen suddenly remembered that although they had dinner, he had only pretended to "faint" with the four guys and hardly eaten anything. Lin Ruoxi hadn't touched her cold dish either.

Looking at the time, it was already half past ten at night. Some restaurants were still open, but it was relatively quiet now. Going home to eat wasn't an option. Even if Wang Ma was willing, Yang Chen didn't want her to get up and cook hot meals.

So, he drove directly into an underground parking lot.

Seeing this, Lin Ruoxi asked, "Why are you parking here?"

"Obviously to eat," Yang Chen replied casually. "You haven't eaten much either. Can't go back to sleep on an empty stomach."

Lin Ruoxi did feel a bit hungry, but she hadn't thought about having dinner with Yang Chen so late at night. There was a faint uneasiness in her heart, but she didn't show it.

Walking on the street, Yang Chen leisurely searched for a restaurant, like someone looking for a precious gem. Lin Ruoxi followed behind, looking gloomy.

Compared to other couples walking side by side, the two of them were an odd pair. Moreover, due to Lin Ruoxi's naturally charming aura that she couldn't conceal, almost everyone passing by would glance at her in surprise, which made Lin Ruoxi feel like she wanted to walk closer to Yang Chen! It was just too awkward!

"Hey, have you decided yet? Just pick any place," Lin Ruoxi couldn't help but complain.

Yang Chen paused in his steps and turned back with a smile. "It's our first time dining alone at a proper restaurant. I have to carefully choose one, so we can have a nice memory."

Lin Ruoxi was taken aback, not expecting Yang Chen to say something like that.

A proper restaurant?

It suddenly occurred to Lin Ruoxi that they had been legally married for almost half a year now, and although they didn't spend every moment together, they were constantly in each other's lives. Yet in all this time, they had never had a formal dinner alone together.

If there was any occasion, it was just that time when Wang Ma was ill, and Yang Chen took her out for crayfish. But considering it was a small local place, Yang Chen probably didn't see it as a proper restaurant either. As for the movie date they had, they ended up having cake, not a meal.

Yang Chen also felt somewhat embarrassed and said ruefully, "Actually, when I was looking for a restaurant just now, I realized I might not be such a likable guy. Your firmness with me makes sense."

As he said this, Yang Chen spotted a Hangzhou-style restaurant ahead. He thought Lin Ruoxi would like the light and tasty dishes there. It wasn't crowded inside, rather serene. Ignoring Lin Ruoxi's distracted expression, he waved, "Let's go there. Hurry up before they close."

They were almost the last customers in the restaurant, but the waiter greeted them warmly and seated them by the window, a good spot. They placed their orders.

Knowing Lin Ruoxi wouldn't enjoy the task of ordering, Yang Chen casually ordered Song's Fish Soup, Dragon Well Shrimp, Orchid and Preserved Meat, and asked the kitchen to start preparing.

Sitting there facing each other, neither knew what to talk about. Lin Ruoxi was naturally quiet, her head slightly bowed, seemingly unaffected.

But with Yang Chen quiet like this, his mind was filled with thoughts of the past and everything between them.

That night at the bar, their passionate kisses; the night filled with longing and tenderness; the determination he showed on the café balcony, ready to marry her against all odds; the helplessness and resilience he displayed in front of his heartless father; her adorable act of sneaking sticky rice balls in the hospital bed; her shy gestures when buying books; her fearless and elegant move to stand up for her employees; her playful charm when setting traps for him into work; her ruthless determination when dealing with rivals; her gentle and sweet demeanor with the children.

And there was also the shadow of her heavy burdened fate, struggling, hesitating, lonely yet self-contained.

Someone once said, "A woman is like a diamond. Without being polished, you never know her true radiance."

Yang Chen suddenly realized how naive his initial thoughts had been.

Lin Ruoxi is Lin Ruoxi, and she will never be another person in his mind. She is so uniquely herself, much like how no two diamonds have the exact same facets. She is complex to the point of being completely inscrutable, yet she torments him in a way that he cannot help but think about her.

Perhaps even she herself doesn't know that some emotions in this world have no beginning, only an end.

Unconsciously, as Yang Chen pondered, the dishes he ordered had arrived. Lin Ruoxi picked up her chopsticks and took a small piece of Orchid and Preserved Meat, chewing delicately. Seeing Yang Chen silently watching her, her cheeks blushed slightly. Fortunately, the restaurant was almost empty, so it wasn't too awkward.

"What's wrong with you? Eat, you said you were hungry," Lin Ruoxi felt uncomfortable under his gaze, especially with the intense emotions swirling in Yang Chen's eyes, making her uneasy.

Was he about to make a decision?

Taking a deep breath, Yang Chen spoke with a solemn tone, "Ruoxi, although I said 'nothing is absolute,' there are some things that, while not absolute, have already become certain in one's heart."

"What do you mean?"

"What do you think of me," Yang Chen smiled and asked, "not as the woman who lives in the same house, not as the boss in the company, and not as someone who had a certain relationship due to an accident, but simply as a woman in the purest sense? What kind of man do you think I am?"

Lin Ruoxi's chopsticks trembled slightly in her hand, but she didn't grip them tightly. She looked at Yang Chen's sincere gaze with complexity, but remained silent.