Chapter 147
Luo Xiaoxi had been staring off into space throughout her entire workout session .
She had followed her personal trainer's instructions to a tee and had made every effort to perform all her workouts in perfect form . However, her face was completely devoid of any expression throughout the entire session .
The private trainer sighed and then told herself that she still preferred the old Luo Xiaoxi: the one who poured everything into each training session but did so with a highly expressive face; the cheeky one who would slack off occassionally or do something deliberately just to annoy and tease her .
The workout session lasted for two hours . Next up would be her training course, most of which involved teaching new models on ways to dispel performance anxiety, how to deal with questions from the press, et cetera . Luo Xiaoxi's mind did not register a single word by the lecturer, though . Even after the lecturer had wrapped up the lecture, Luo Xiaoxi remained in her seat, staring lifelessly on the surface of her desk .
Some time later, Candy walked up to her, "Xiaoxi, it's time for lunch . "
Luo Xiaoxi stared at Candy blankly . "Oh," she said . Then, like a robot, Luo Xiaoxi stood up and followed Candy to the cafeteria .
Training was a physically taxing affair, which was why Luo Xiaoxi was usually excited during lunch time . Today, however, not even the aroma of roast chicken breasts or the sight of fruit salad and yogurt could bring the life back into her . She just sat there, indifferent to everything . Her huge and beautiful eyes were void; she had no presence at all, as if someone could stare straight through her when they look at her .
"Xiaoxi, starving yourself won't do, you know . " Candy shoved a fork into Luo Xiaoxi's hand, "Your health is the most important thing . "
That comment broke Luo Xiaoxi's trance .
"Yeah, she's right . My health is the most important thing . I need to take care of myself . I've made a promise to Su Yicheng," Luo Xiaoxi thought .
She ate one mouthful, and then another . . .
One after the other, Luo Xiaoxi gobbled up the food on her plate . She finished the food, even if everything tasted about as bland as candle wax . She had to eat . She had to take good care of herself .
"Do you want to go home, or do you want to stay at the company?" Candy asked Luo Xiaoxi when the training course for the afternoon had ended .
Luo Xiaoxi glanced at the westbound sun, "I want to go home . "
She had no idea what she would do after she got home . All she wanted was to shut herself away and be alone . She want to be by herself .
"Okay, then . " Candy sent Luo Xiaoxi downstairs . After that, she sent Shen Yuechuan a text .
Lu Boyan had to do overtime today . Su Jianan, on the other hand, had gotten off work early . Before, she would have gone straight to Lu Boyan's company to look for him . But now, she wanted to see Luo Xiaoxi .
Su Jianan wanted to be there for Luo Xiaoxi during the time she needed her the most .
Su Jianan had found out from Shen Yuechuan that Luo Xiaoxi had already gone back to her apartment, so she gave Uncle Qian the address of Luo Xiaoxi's apartment .
Both Su Jian and Luo Xiaoxi owned the keys to each others' apartments, so when she got upstairs, she entered the apartment without ringing the doorbell . She was hit by the reek of alcohol the moment she entered .
"Xiaoxi!"
Su Jianan dashed into the living room and saw Luo Xiaoxi sitting on the carpet in front of the couch . Contrary to Su Jianan's expectations, Luo Xiaoxi was not drinking herself into oblivion . Instead, she was toying with the two bottles of alcohol in her hands .
Su Jianan's pounding heart slowed down in relief; a drunken Luo Xiaoxi was the thing that Su Jianan feared the most .
Su Jianan walked over and relieved Luo Xiaoxi of the bottle and glass, "Have you eaten yet? I'm going to make something for you, okay?"
"Don't worry," Luo Xiaoxi said . Her voice sounded scratchy still . "I won't drink . Jianan, I won't ever touch alcohol again . "
Back then whenever Su Yicheng rejected her, Luo Xiaoxi would always numb herself with alcohol . She had even thought of it as a cool thing to do . Her father had always nagged her to never touch alcohol, saying that alcohol would lead her into trouble one day .
Well, now she knew: her father had not been lying . In fact, she was now paying the price for not taking her father's advice .
"Xiaoxi," Su Jianan said, sitting down beside Luo Xiaoxi . "There's still a chance, you know . You have to snap out of it, and return to your usual self . This thing will pass, and when it does, my brother will come to you . "
"I don't even have the right to show my face at Cheng An Group anymore," Luo Xiaoxi said . Then she let out a self-mocking laugh, "My dad had warned me about this ages ago . He said that with my personality, I'd definitely cause trouble if I drink . Well, I guess reality has shown that my father was right . "
A drop of tear spilled from the corner of Luo Xiaoxi's eyes . She wiped it off stubbornly . Then, she stood up and began rummaging through the apartment for all the alcohol she kept . After that, she poured every single drop of them into the sink .
True understanding as well as the ability to tell right from wrong would come only after something had been experienced directly, and that applied to all human beings .
Su Jianan opened Luo Xiaoxi's fridge and peered inside . Other than yogurt and some milk, the only other food there were several packs of frozen food . There was also a bunch of lettuce which looked nearly dehydrated .
Su Jianan turned on the stove and boiled a bowl of wonton, which she seasoned with stock . Then she added the lettuce into a bowl after washing them . After that, she poured the stock-flavored wonton soup into the bowl . The lettuce regained its greenish appearance as it boiled in the hot soup, which was now releasing a pleasant aroma into the air . Finally, she sliced up a leftover cucumber and placed the slices into a small bowl before serving them up to Luo Xiaoxi .
Luo Xiaoxi felt a heaviness in her chest, right where her heart was; her heart felt so heavy that it almost felt as if it could sink into her stomach . She honestly did not have much of an appetite, but she still forced herself to sit up and eat .
Don't do anything stupid . Look after myself . That was what she had promised Su Yicheng .
Su Jianan squeezed two glasses of fresh fruit juice after Luo Xiaoxi was done eating . She sat with Luo Xiaoxi at the balcony to chat .
Ever since Su Jianan got married, they had very little chance to sit down like this and just chat, especially after Luo Xiaoxi single-minded decision to become a model .
"Xiaoxi, I don't want you to keep going like this," Su Jianan said frankly .
"I won't . I just need a few days to accept the reality of everything," Luo Xiaoxi said, taking a sip of fruit juice . "I know I can't go on like this too . My career has only just begun . I must pull myself together no matter what . But Jianan, please, can you guys give me a few days to just work through everything?"
"Alright," Su Jianan said, covering her hand . "Xiaoxi, I'm waiting for a better version of Luo Xiaoxi to come out from all this . "
Luo Xiaoxi smiled . Then, as if using the fruit juice as a substitute for alcohol, she clinked her glass to Su Jianan's before taking a few more sips, "Isn't it time for you to go home?"
"I want to stay here to keep you company," Su Jianan said .
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