Criticizing Love - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Early autumn, Nancheng.

The rain that had been stifling all day did not fall. The sun, sinking toward the sea level, left a sliver of white light to lean on. The ships that had furled their sails and docked at the harbor early were still waiting for the mist and haze that never came.

However, the air was saturated with moisture, and a previously broken collarbone continuously released a dull ache.

Most likely, there was going to be a heavy rainstorm.

Lin Xi thought so as she stood by the window.

The window in front of her was very large. The glass, separated by grids, occupied an entire long wall, silently framing the quiet harbor nearby and reflecting the dazzling, kaleidoscopic world behind her.

The magnificent crystal chandelier was brightly lit. Light refracted through the angled crystals, appearing piercingly bright just by spilling down.

Glasses clinked, clothes rustled, and the violin played; every inch of the banquet hall’s air was filled with the scent of extravagance and debauchery.

Except for Lin Xi.

She stood by the window with her head slightly bowed. Her face, exquisite to the point of being flawless, held no expression. Her slightly wavy long hair fell casually over her shoulders. Her red lips were lightly closed as white mist brushed against the glass.

A leg wearing a stiletto heel was faintly visible through the side slit of her black skirt, resting against the wall in a manner that wasn’t quite dignified. The light made her shadow long, slender, and thin.

The surrounding conversation grew louder, but Lin Xi was not keen on participating in this banquet.

She was an unqualified participant; wearing this black dress was the greatest politeness she could offer to this event.

“Xiao Xi, why are you standing here? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

A coquettish voice came through, and Lin Xi saw her manager, Ming Zhen, walking over.

Over the years, Lin Xi had accumulated significant fame in the art world thanks to her unique painting style, gaining the favor of many influential figures.

Ming Zhen wasn’t some “big shot,” but by virtue of being Lin Xi’s university classmate for four years and possessing smooth, impeccable social skills, she became Lin Xi’s best partner. She had organized all of Lin Xi’s art exhibitions over the years.

Today’s banquet was also organized by Ming Zhen; it was the only occasion Lin Xi was required to attend before each exhibition.

Unsurprisingly, as Ming Zhen walked over, she was accompanied by a woman Lin Xi did not recognize. Her long gown trailed on the ground, and she was exquisite and expensive down to her hair strands.

Sensing that this person was of high status, Lin Xi’s blank mind paused for a moment.

Seeing Lin Xi’s reaction, a trace of helplessness flashed in Ming Zhen’s eyes, and she took the initiative to introduce: “This is Teacher Chen from the Nancheng Artists Association. We owe it to Teacher Chen that you were able to rent such a good venue this time.”

Listening to Ming Zhen’s introduction, Lin Xi vaguely remembered that Ming Zhen seemed to have mentioned her before. However, she was busy dealing with the details of a new painting at the time, so it had gone in one ear and out the other.

Recalling this, Lin Xi’s attitude became more formal. She took the initiative to reach out her hand and said, “Hello, Teacher Chen. Thank you for your trouble during my visit to Nancheng.”

“It was no trouble at all,” Teacher Chen shook her hand in return. “Development has been fast these years. Riding the coattails of the harbor, Nancheng is now a top-tier city. You should come more often in the future so I can better fulfill my duties as a host.”

“Then I, the guest, shall have to trouble you again,” Lin Xi replied with a smile, though her words weren’t entirely from the heart.

Almost no one knew that although Lin Xi held a Kyoto household registration, she had grown up in Nancheng. Even Ming Zhen only discovered this after working with Lin Xi for a long time.

Although it was no longer possible now, in previous years, it was a common phenomenon to attend school elsewhere and then transfer back to Kyoto for the college entrance examination (Gaokao). Ming Zhen knew of at least five people like that. After all, compared to anywhere else, the Kyoto Gaokao was much easier, and the threshold for entering prestigious universities was the lowest.

This wasn’t the first time Ming Zhen had suggested Lin Xi hold an exhibition in Nancheng, but Lin Xi had crossed this location off her list several times in the past.

Ming Zhen was socially savvy and had a sharp eye. She knew that some people never spoke of where they used to live out of vanity regarding their Kyoto status, but Lin Xi wasn’t like that.

Perhaps all artists have their own worlds; Lin Xi was someone with very little social energy.

She was almost too lazy to interact with people and too lazy to disguise herself. Even when people confessed to her—even if it was a beautiful girl—she would reject them with indifference. The only destination for anonymous gifts was the trash can.

Cold-faced and difficult to approach—these had almost become Lin Xi’s labels.

But she didn’t seem to be like this in the past.

She once exerted all her effort and used every strategy just to get close to a person.

She had even become unlike herself.

“This harbor is really big. I heard there’s a breakwater here that’s particularly good for photos.”

“Yes, it was specifically planned and designed to attract tourists.”

“To tell you the truth, I started longing for Nancheng because I saw so many beautiful photos on social media.”

“It seems that after ten years, this place is still very attractive.”

“Has it really been that long already?”

“Yes, I went to the breakwater on the day the harbor officially opened. After that, the economy here got better year by year.”

Ming Zhen was talkative. Centered around the harbor scenery that Nancheng was most proud of, she chatted very happily with Teacher Chen.

The voices of the two talking passed through Lin Xi’s ears from left and right. Her long hair brushed against her shoulder, and her collarbone was aching.

The crystal chandelier still emitted an air of luxury, but the air in the banquet hall suddenly felt a bit stifling.

The expression on Lin Xi’s face didn’t change; she hid it well. She lightly tapped Ming Zhen’s shoulder and whispered, “Going for some fresh air.”

“Okay,” Ming Zhen replied, taking a break from the conversation.

But for some reason, hearing Lin Xi’s voice made Ming Zhen feel a bit uneasy.

The dense dark clouds spreading in the window weighed behind Lin Xi. Ming Zhen immediately followed up with a reminder behind her ear: “Come back soon.”

“I know,” Lin Xi nodded and didn’t stop her pace.

In front of the banquet hall door, a waiter respectfully opened the door for Lin Xi.

Passing through the towering gap of the door, her trailing skirt was pulled away neatly, showing no lingering attachment to the vanity fair inside.

After so many years, Lin Xi still hadn’t been able to adapt to social pleasantries.

The spacious and empty corridor met the cool breeze of the night. Lin Xi stood there, glancing at the banquet hall opposite. Before coming, she heard Ming Zhen mention that the opposite banquet hall was being used by some group to welcome a newly arrived “big shot.” It seemed to also be full of clinking glasses and extravagant luxury.

The cool breeze blowing through the hall brushed against the side of Lin Xi’s face. Beneath her long eyelashes was a pair of eyes filled with obscure, unreadable emotions.

The Nancheng here did not overlap with her memory.

That was for the best.

Lin Xi tilted her head back slightly and exhaled a long breath.

At this very second, the door of the banquet hall opposite was opened from the inside.

The corridor was somewhat dark, and light fought its way out of the crack of the newly opened door, instantly flooding Lin Xi’s vision.

After this second, time suddenly slowed down. Amidst the full-screen path of brilliant light, a woman walked out gracefully. Her slender fingers held the edge of her skirt, and every knuckle was painted with the refinement of someone pampered.

The lifted skirt opened a slit from the thigh downward, and her straight, well-proportioned long legs were faintly visible within it.

Light paved the path beneath her feet. The arches of her feet were pressed against high heels, and her fair, distinct ankle bone was wrapped in a strap. Every step she took made her extremely thin heels click against the marble floor.

And every step trod upon Lin Xi’s heart.

That was a figure she would never be able to forget—one she could still recognize even when facing blinding light or hopeless darkness. The person she… had loved.

Gu Nianyin.

Lin Xi’s heartbeat skipped a beat.

Then, as if gathering all its strength, the sound of her heart beating resounded through her world with destructive force, squeezing her breath and filling her body.

So, the “big shot” for whom the opposite hall was holding a welcoming banquet was her.

Therefore, the rumors circulating in the streets a few days ago were not without foundation.

At the beginning of the year, the direct grandson of the Gu family finished a three-year overseas assignment. In alliance with the Nancheng Lin Group, she suppressed the second branch of the Gu family. A major municipal contract changed hands from the fourth branch to the first branch. In March, the third branch’s company issued a joint statement: the land in the eastern suburbs would be developed jointly by them and the Lin Group.

Gu Nianyin acted with thunderous momentum, taking only one short year to end the ten-year division of the Gu family that had existed since the passing of Elder Gu.

Lin Xi thought that the current her certainly didn’t need to deliberately cater to others like herself.

She only needed to raise her hand, and everyone would come running to her.

Gu Nianyin was the snow on a high mountain.

Lin Xi was a vulgar person tainted with the smell of money.

Yet, between people like them, there lay a little-known story…

So, since she decided to return to Nancheng, had she thought about meeting her?

Yes.

So, had she thought about meeting her here?

No.

Two opposite answers collided in Lin Xi’s mind. The shift caused by this rapidly developing city in Lin Xi’s head slammed together with the familiarity of the past.

At the same time, Gu Nianyin’s gaze also overlapped.

“Clack, clack…”

High heels tapped on the tile floor; every sound was crisp and too fast to keep up with.

The waiter followed the two similar silhouettes that flashed across his vision with confusion. He saw the President Gu, who had just been surrounded and complimented by everyone with cold indifference, now gripping a lady’s wrist and taking her away without a word.

If he remembered correctly, wasn’t that lady from the banquet hall opposite?

Is it really okay to openly abduct someone like this?!

These questions turned in the waiter’s heart, but in the end, he didn’t make a sound.

The silent corridor was filled with the sound of footsteps, like a piano piece that had changed its tune—elegant yet possessing a strange distortion.

All sense of leisurely walking or being unshakeable fell from Gu Nianyin’s shoulders. She grabbed the wrist of the person behind her with one hand and kept moving forward. Her black skirt fluttered lightly, but her calm eyes were inversely tense.

It seemed that she was the domineering one, yet she was also the one about to lose control.

The wind generated by their pace blew from front to back. The rain in the harbor that had been delayed for so long suddenly began to pour in Lin Xi’s world.

Gu Nianyin wanted her to hurt; she gripped her with ferocity, but it eventually melted at the wrist, a wave of heat spreading under her tense palm.

A long, long time ago, they had been like this too.

At that time, Lin Xi asked her if she wanted to elope with her.

Her memory became blurred. Lin Xi’s back bumped against the cold tiles without any defense, making her wince in pain.

She didn’t have time to soothe this pain before Gu Nianyin, who had only left her a view of her back moments ago, approached her.

The light in the restroom was bright and gentle, and the surrounding atmosphere wasn’t as cold as it had been during the walk over.

Gu Nianyin had matured. The coldness about her was no longer youthful; her cheeks had lost some of their roundness, and her whole being was as thin as a cold blade.

She kept her lips sealed, saying not a word.

Light hit her body. Her falling hair strands were draped in golden light, appearing suddenly soft.

She was just like she was in Lin Xi’s memory.

In the quiet silence, Lin Xi could hear the sound of her own heartbeat.

Imbalanced and chaotic.

So she didn’t notice that her hair, hanging over her shoulder, had long been blown away by the wind along the way.

Her shoulder, held by two straps, appeared undisguised before Gu Nianyin’s eyes. Along the neck and downward, at the junction with the collarbone, was hidden a blue morpho butterfly with its wings folded. The folded wings simulated the appearance of a withered leaf, carving out the decay of rot.

But this butterfly was really not a good hider; the wings that weren’t completely overlapped leaked a corner of the upper surface.

Azure blue and shimmering, brilliant like stars—that sudden stroke in nature was forever frozen here.

Such a beautiful and realistic color required regular touch-ups every year to be maintained.

Gu Nianyin’s gaze was locked on it. After staying there for a long time, her tightly sealed lips finally opened a crack.

She desperately needed some numbers to put into a calculation. Her calm voice asked hoarsely: “How many times has it been touched up?”

“…Nine times.”

Lin Xi spoke truthfully.

She didn’t need to follow Gu Nianyin’s gaze to see; she knew what she was referring to.

Nine times, nine years. And the year the tattoo was first made, it didn’t need a touch-up.

A simple calculation crossed Gu Nianyin’s mind. She just quietly stared at the butterfly, staring at this creature that, if placed in reality, was destined to be eliminated by nature.

Not just because of its clumsily exposed upper surface.

Just its chest and abdomen, which contradicted thousands of other butterflies, was enough for it to be captured by a predator in a single strike.

Reason was analyzing, but Gu Nianyin’s finger had already risen early, brushing over that small protrusion on Lin Xi’s collarbone.

That was the butterfly’s flesh-colored body, and also the scar on her collarbone that wasn’t hidden by makeup.

Memories collided, hitting Gu Nianyin’s calm shell again and again, shattering her disguise.

“Heh.”

Air passed through Gu Nianyin’s lips, squeezed into a soft laugh with ambiguous meaning.

She lowered her head to look. Her long hair hid her expression, but her finger pressed deeper and deeper against that scar.

Her neatly trimmed nails still held a small circle of white, pressing deeply into that protrusion, pushing against the butterfly’s head as if trying to strangle it to death.

It is said that for some scars to heal quickly, many nerve synapses gather during the process, making it the most sensitive place.

As a cold sensation touched her, the sense of familiarity transmitted between the fingertips already woke up in a dense manner from Lin Xi’s collarbone.

Gu Nianyin’s ruthlessness was wrapped in the heat from Lin Xi’s body, like ice placed upon charcoal. It dragged and carved a trembling yet clear mark, extending into pain on Lin Xi’s body and stretching out thousands of emotions in Gu Nianyin’s eyes.

“Lin Xi.”

The simple name was spat out from red lips. Gu Nianyin raised her head.

Lin Xi remembered that she had the most beautiful eyes in the world—cold and quiet, clean and clear—yet at this moment, they were filled with bloodshot veins. Pride vanished, and her thick eyelashes held flecks of light, trembling violently.

“You still dare to come back.”

Gu Nianyin gritted her teeth.

“How dare you come back.”

A flash of lightning streaked across the sky over the harbor, passing through the glass and suddenly illuminating the entire space.

On the blank wall were two figures pressed together, hair intertwined, nearly intimate.

Then, the thunder arrived late, and the heavy rain poured down.

Support Criticizing Love