There was a faint tremble in Lin Jianqiu's voice, but it was laced more with a resolve that had pushed through her confusion.
She summoned the greatest courage of her life and looked directly into Chang Jia's turbulent eyes.
Chang Jia's Adam's apple bobbed. The smell of alcohol on him seemed to have faded slightly, but his gaze was still unfocused.
He looked at the hand Lin Jianqiu had reached out with—the hand that was now gripping his arm tightly.
Then he looked at her eyes, which were brimming with confusion, and finally let out a heavy sigh.
Chang Jia's voice was thick with exhaustion as he said hoarsely, "...Let me rest for a bit."
He gently pulled his arm from her grasp. Although the movement lacked its earlier force, it still carried a sense of distance.
Lin Jianqiu watched Chang Jia leave, frozen to the spot.
The spark of courage that had just ignited in her heart felt as if it had been doused by a bucket of cold water.
