When they returned to the villa, Tan Linyuan took out the key to unlock the door.
Nan Yu was in an abnormal mood. It wasn't that she was listless, but she just looked rather spiritless.
"Uncle Tan, I want to ask you something."
Tan Linyuan looked up at her without showing any special emotion. "Ask."
Nan Yu took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice calm. "I'd like to know when I can move into Ye Nanwan?"
Tan Linyuan wasn't surprised by her question. He suppressed the alarm bells in his heart and replied, "The public - notice period usually lasts for fifteen working days. If there are no unexpected circumstances, it will be by the end of this month."
Nan Yu nodded. "I see. I'll move there by the end of this month then."
The air froze for a few seconds.
"Move there?" Tan Linyuan frowned slightly, showing no other reaction. "Are you so eager to distance yourself from me?"
Nan Yu kept silent.
Actually, she didn't necessarily have to move out. She just had a chaotic mind and wanted to be alone.
But if she had to live under the same roof as Tan Linyuan, she would never be able to calm down.
Perhaps this was what the Buddhists called "distracting thoughts".
Tan Linyuan turned to face her. His eyes swept gently across her face. "What new tricks did the Shen father - and - son duo play on you?"
"Nothing."
"Then did they find another reason to force you to get married?"
"No, either." Nan Yu shook her head. "I've long stopped taking them seriously. Whether I'll marry Shen Yanche or not is up to me."
When she said this, there was a hint of pride in her tone, and the end of her voice rose slightly, full of confidence.
Tan Linyuan raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised by her frankness and confidence. So he changed the way of asking. "Then were you bullied?"
Nan Yu pursed her lips. "It has nothing to do with you, Uncle Tan."
Here she went again.
She erected a high wall in front of Tan Linyuan again, raising an armor that seemed strong but was actually extremely fragile, trying hard to emphasize the boundary between them.
A typical person who shows their temper only at home.
Tan Linyuan wasn't in a hurry. He walked slowly to the sofa and sat down.
The muscles on his back relaxed against the sofa. He waved at her. "Come here."
For some reason, Nan Yu walked over.
"Sit."
Nan Yu sat down.
"Sit closer."
Nan Yu moved a bit towards him.
Only then did Tan Linyuan turn his head, reach out his hand to push aside the stray hairs on her forehead, revealing her eyes.
His eyes also reflected her face.
"Let me take a look at your eyes."
Nan Yu shifted her gaze uncomfortably. "There's nothing interesting about my eyes."
Tan Linyuan studied her expression and answered her half - jokingly and half - seriously. "Your mouth is lying, but your eyes are very honest."
"What did it tell you, Uncle Tan?"
Tan Linyuan curled his lips, showing a faint smile.
"It said that it feels very wronged now and wants to shed a tear."
Tan Linyuan had seen through her the moment she left the Shen family.
From the moment she saw that letter, her heart had been sinking, filled with indescribable sadness and heaviness.
It turned out that she felt wronged.
What went wrong? Clearly, she had managed to hold back her tears on the way, but at this moment, they all broke loose.
Her tears overflowed like a breached dam, eager to gush out.
But the owner was so stubborn that she refused to let them out. The teardrops could only swirl anxiously in her eyes.
Nan Yu sniffed and pretended to be okay. "I just feel a bit tired today. After being strong for so long, I'm bound to be vulnerable sometimes. Besides, I've been staying at your place for so long. I can't keep bothering you..."
Before she could finish, Tan Linyuan placed his hand on her shoulder and pulled her into his arms.
"Who said you're alone? I'm here."
Nan Yu paused for a moment. Listening to the sound from his chest, she was suddenly speechless.
This man was really annoying.
When he was cold, he could be a high - and - mighty god looking down on all sentient beings; but when he was gentle, he was like a living Buddha helping people through their hardships.
Nan Yu suddenly realized that her inner faith had unconsciously tilted towards Tan Linyuan.
She was worried that one day, she would become his believer.
But he was a god, and the kind look on his face couldn't be reserved only for her, a single believer.
Finally, the tears in her eyes burst out like a flood, gushing out heartily.
She slowly and stiffly raised her arms and placed them on his back.
Since he was a merciful god in the world, then let her briefly borrow a warm hug from him.
It was just a hug. The god wouldn't blame her.
The more she cried, the louder she became. Her sobs were like those of a small animal, intermittent and inaudible.
What she said was all about that personal letter.
She always thought she had the most open - minded parents, but they had arranged her marriage with someone else without her knowledge. How could she not feel wronged?
After crying for a while, Nan Yu knew this sudden hug was inappropriate and tried to get out of his arms.
But he tightened his embrace instead.
"Cry for a while. No one can see you with your face buried."
His voice was gentle, and the sandalwood scent from his breath made her feel safe and familiar.
Nan Yu finally calmed down and slowly poked her face out of his embrace.
Her voice was muffled and a bit hoarse after crying. "I feel much better. Thank you, Uncle Tan."
Tan Linyuan looked down at her for a moment. After making sure she had really cried enough, he let go of her.
There was an obvious damp patch on the front of his shirt.
"I'll go upstairs. Wait for me here."
Tan Linyuan got up from the sofa, went upstairs to the master bedroom. After a while, he came down wearing another shirt.
Nan Yu felt a bit embarrassed and pursed her lips slightly. "I'll wash that shirt later."
Tan Linyuan gave her a non - committal look. "I let you stay here not for you to compete with the washing machine."
Nan Yu felt a bit awkward. "… I know."
"Besides," he added casually, "you can stay at my place for as long as you like. There's no time limit."
His voice was low, like the thick fog in a valley.
Nan Yu was suddenly in a daze, as if there was a moment of unreality.
When he went upstairs just now, Tan Linyuan also brought down the Buddhist scriptures that Nan Yu had copied before and handed them to her. "Take these."
Nan Yu took the stack of rice paper and didn't understand what he was up to.
Tan Linyuan led her out through the door beside the French window and into the courtyard.
There was an elm tree in the courtyard with leaves of different colors, golden and red.
There was a pile of fallen leaves under the tree root, presumably swept up by Tan Linyuan.
Tan Linyuan squatted down, took out a lighter from his pocket, and lit the pile of leaves with a piece of paper.
A cluster of fire blazed up, and the heat rushed towards their faces.
"Burn them."