Lin Xingwan felt an urge to laugh at the man's mysterious demeanor. "It seems Mr. Zhou intends to surprise me, though it's rare for anything to truly surprise me anymore."
When she was little, a piece of cake, a new pretty dress, or even a compliment from her teacher would bring her immense joy.
But as she grew older, Lin Xingwan realized that such simple, pure happiness had been absent for a long time.
"Mrs. Zhou, you speak too soon," Zhou Jinnbai's expression held a hint of playful arrogance, lending a boyish mischief to his usually stern and distant face.
"Then let's wait and see," Lin Xingwan retorted, not to be outdone.
The car could go no further as it reached the entrance of the coastal road in Rongcheng.
Zhou Jinnbai parked the car and led Lin Xingwan by the hand along the road.
"I remember the last time I was on this road was over a year ago. It was still under development then. I can't believe it's transformed so much in just over a year."
Lin Xingwan gazed at the endless blue of the sea, which soothed her mood. Flowers of various colors bloomed around them, butterflies fluttered, birds sang, and people strolled by, giving a sense of a slow-paced life.
"Grandma walks on this coastal road two or three times a week. She calls it 'living an oxygenated life.' You, on the other hand, are always busy with work, so you overlook many of the beautiful things around you. Earning money is for a better life. If you forget to stop and appreciate your current life, forget to eat well, forget to be kind to yourself, then what's the point of earning money?"
Zhou Jinnbai pinched Lin Xingwan's cheek, leaving her speechless.
They walked along the coastal road for about twenty minutes before arriving at a restaurant.
The restaurant's fence wasn't high, and Lin Xingwan could see its charming interior decorations just by standing outside.
Zhou Jinnbai led Lin Xingwan inside, and a waiter immediately guided them to the dining area.
"Please have a seat," the waiter said, handing a menu to Lin Xingwan.
After Lin Xingwan ordered a few dishes, the waiter took the menu and left.
"From the outside, this restaurant looks quite large, but I didn't expect there to be only two tables inside. That's incredibly extravagant!"
Lin Xingwan clicked her tongue in amazement, but a faint smile never left her face.
Their seating was excellent, offering a view of the entire coastal road. The crystal-clear sea was less than half a meter away. It was late afternoon, and the sky was filled with orange-hued sunset clouds, creating a beautiful painting with the azure sea.
It was so beautiful, so relaxing and comfortable.
"You wouldn't know this, but this restaurant only serves two tables per day," Zhou Jinnbai explained.
"Two tables? Can they even cover the rent? I heard the rent for properties on the coastal road is very expensive, over a million a year."
"Perhaps the owner is someone who doesn't lack money?"
"Alright, poverty limits my imagination."
Soon, the waiter brought out their dinner.
The dishes were exquisite and delicious, and Lin Xingwan ate with a look of contentment.
"For you two, this is our restaurant's specialty drink." As Lin Xingwan and Zhou Jinnbai were finishing their meal, the waiter brought a colorless drink and was about to place it in front of Lin Xingwan.
Unfortunately, the waiter's hand slipped, and the colorless drink was unexpectedly spilled in front of Lin Xingwan.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," the waiter apologized profusely.
"It's alright..." Lin Xingwan didn't blame the waiter. Everyone makes mistakes. She quickly took out some tissues, intending to wipe the water stains from the table.
However, as the water soaked into the white tablecloth, words slowly began to appear.
"Lan An has met the bird of release," Lin Xingwan unconsciously read aloud.
The next second, a man's deep, resonant voice spoke, "I love no one but you."
Lan An has met the bird of release, I love no one but you!
In an instant, Lin Xingwan's expression shifted from confusion to a blush. She felt as if a storm had erupted in her calm heart, stirred by Zhou Jinnbai's words.
She looked at Zhou Jinnbai, her eyes filled with a million stars, feeling dazed, stunned, and incredibly happy.
Even after they had left the restaurant, Lin Xingwan felt as if her feet were floating and her mind was in a daze.
Fortunately, night had begun to fall, and the guiding lights along the coastal road couldn't fully illuminate Lin Xingwan's flushed face.
"Zhou Jinnbai, how did you think of having the waiter deliberately spill water on the tablecloth to reveal words?"
Everything this man gave her felt too surreal, and Lin Xingwan felt as if she were dreaming.
"Because I want you to be a happy woman. I want you to have everything other girls have, and even things they don't. I want to give you everything I possibly can."
Zhou Jinnbai spoke his true feelings, and Lin Xingwan's heart felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey.
"Before I met you, I always thought my relationship with Gu Shaoting was love. We worked towards a common goal. But now I increasingly feel I was wrong. Our dynamic wasn't like that of a couple; it was more like two allies with a shared objective."
Gu Shaoting had never given her romantic surprises, nor had he ever asked if she was tired. There were only contract after contract to sign and investor after investor to persuade...
"Because it wasn't love between you, but liking," Zhou Jinnbai stated incisively.
"Are love and liking different?" Lin Xingwan asked, confused.
"When you love someone, there will always be compassion. Love is tender, it's heartache, it's sorrow. It's seeing the other person's inner softness and wounds, feeling that they are uniquely special to you. You care if they eat well and sleep well, worry about them being wronged or hurt, feel a protective instinct, and a sense of responsibility.
But liking is different. It's just about the joy and happiness of being together, thinking about what the other person can bring you. You don't really feel much for their setbacks or sadness. You think, 'You clean up your own mess, it has nothing to do with me.' Liking is wanting to be close, but love is not being able to leave."
In the thick darkness of the night, the man's words were like music from the world's smallest piano room, gently caressing Lin Xingwan's heart.
"Zhou Jinnbai, I..." I want to kiss you...
Before Lin Xingwan could finish speaking, all the lights along the road were extinguished.
Except for the distant lights, the entire world seemed to plunge into darkness.
A few seconds later, Lin Xingwan was stunned by what she saw before her.