Chapter 10

The more carefree I appear on the surface, the more flustered I am inside.

What will Chen Ye think of me?

Vain? Social climber?

That wretched woman stirring up trouble in front of that bastard man left my thoughts in turmoil. I was so distracted while walking that I nearly stepped in vomit several times.

I kept walking quickly until I reached the intersection and saw Qiao Liangze’s car parked on the side with its hazard lights flashing.

When I got in, he asked, “Should I take you home or back to school?”

“To the Convenience Store, please.”

Qiao Liangze raised his eyebrows in surprise.

At this hour, the dormitory gates were already closed, and Sun Hui definitely wouldn’t welcome me. Other than the Convenience Store, I really had nowhere else to go.

Neon-lit streets flashed by outside the window. The car was silent. After a moment, I said, “I’m really sorry for troubling you today.”

Qiao Liangze smiled. “It’s no trouble, just doing you a favor.”

“But favors are the hardest to repay.”

Just like now, I feel so uneasy around him.

Qiao Liangze glanced sideways at me and gave a wry smile. “It’s not as serious as you think. The shop only sells fake liquor, and the sofa and coffee table are all second-hand from the market. Altogether, they’re worth at most a thousand.”

A thousand?!

That damn boss actually asked for twenty thousand!

Qiao Liangze continued, “If you really feel bad about it, just treat me to a meal. I’m a bit hungry anyway.”

Night had fallen, and the city lights were just coming on. Qiao Liangze found a bustling street food stall, packed with people and noisy chatter.

We sat at a small table outside. I handed him the menu. “You order.”

He didn’t stand on ceremony and ordered two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a plate of stir-fried beef ho fun.

While waiting for the food, Qiao Liangze asked, “Have you been anywhere for fun since coming to Shenzhen?”

I shook my head.

“What about Hong Kong or Macau?”

I shook my head again. “I don’t even have a travel permit.”

“No worries, getting one is quick.” Qiao Liangze skillfully rinsed the utensils with hot water, then asked, “Are you free this weekend? We could go hiking at Wutong Mountain, or visit Judiao Sand to see the sea.”

My hand tightened around my drink bottle, knuckles turning white. I hesitated before asking, “Um… why did you choose me?”

Qiao Liangze paused, then asked in return, “Why do you think?”

I didn’t want to play games with him, so I answered honestly, “My understanding is, I’m young and don’t have much money, and I haven’t been hardened by society. Girls like me, to put it nicely, are pure; to put it bluntly, we’re easy to manipulate.”

Qiao Liangze laughed out loud. “That’s true.”

He admitted it so readily that I was at a loss.

“Actually, I saw you a long time ago. Last summer, I came to the Convenience Store to buy water. I left my wallet on the counter, and you chased me for three blocks to return it. If it hadn’t been for a red light, you probably would’ve kept chasing.”

Qiao Liangze fell into reminiscence, speaking gently. “It was hot that day. Your cheeks were flushed, you were sweating and out of breath when you handed me the wallet, scolded me for being careless, rolled your eyes, and left.”

I was stunned. It did sound vaguely familiar…

“I thought then, ‘What an interesting girl.'”

Oh no! That line sounded so familiar.

I couldn’t help but think of those melodramatic novels I read years ago, where the domineering male lead would smirk and say, ‘Woman, you’ve successfully caught my attention.’

“But I didn’t think much of it at the time. Until one day, the housekeeper brought me a photo, said it was her neighbor’s daughter and wanted to introduce us. I was going to refuse, but when I saw it was you, I agreed.”

At this, Qiao Liangze sighed. “We really are fated.”

I smiled. “But you didn’t choose me because you thought I was interesting or because of fate.”

Qiao Liangze didn’t deny it and nodded. “That’s right. At my age, it’s hard to fall for someone anymore. Ye Ran, let’s be honest. Yaoyao is still young. When she hits puberty, there will be many things I can’t be involved in. Having a woman at home would make things much easier. You’re sincere and kind, and I’d feel at ease leaving my child with you. Of course, this is unfair to you, so I’ll buy you a car and give you two hundred thousand as compensation, clearly stating it’s a voluntary gift.”

What a despicable man, yet what an excellent father.

At that moment, I was deeply envious of Yaoyao.

After a moment of silence, I said, “Mr. Qiao, I’m not as good as you think. Everyone has a dark side. Mine is wanting a home-a complete home that belongs to me, with a loving husband and adorable children. Even if we lived in a village in the city or squeezed into a basement, I wouldn’t care. But if I married you, that ‘home’ would always be incomplete for me. I wouldn’t have my own child, and my husband wouldn’t love me. I can’t accept that kind of life, and I wouldn’t be able to treat Yaoyao wholeheartedly. I wouldn’t even want to pretend.”
Qiao Liangze tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, lost in thought for a while before saying, “I understand how you feel. Maybe it has something to do with the environment you grew up in, which is why you have such a deep and strong attachment to family. But Ye Ran, sometimes pursuing material things is much easier than pursuing other things, because the desire to be loved is inherently dangerous. It means you lack confidence in yourself, and sooner or later, you’ll get hurt.”

I didn’t say anything.

Qiao Liangze didn’t continue the topic either.

After we finished eating, it was four in the morning. The sky was on the verge of dawn, yet not quite bright, like a canvas of deep, mysterious blue.

After paying the bill, I didn’t let Qiao Liangze see me off. I just took a taxi back to school by myself.

On the way, I rolled down the window, letting the cool breeze hit my face, but no matter how hard it blew, it couldn’t dispel the melancholy in my heart.

Qiao Liangze’s words still echoed in my mind, and the endless arguments lately had left me physically and mentally exhausted-whether it was with Sun Hui or Zhang Yue, the conflicts always erupted so inexplicably.

The former did it for my own good, the latter out of jealousy.

Either way, it was equally ridiculous.

The cold wind made my head spin, my whole body uncomfortable. I couldn’t wait to find a bed to lie down on. But the school gate was still closed at this hour, so I decided to splurge a little and headed straight to a nearby guesthouse to get a single room.

Crawling under the covers, I couldn’t help but feel resentful, a sense of defeat as if I’d been abandoned by the whole world.

Just as I was wallowing in self-pity, my phone suddenly rang.

I glanced at it but ignored it.

But the caller was persistent, the ringtone pounding at my temples like a heavy hammer.

I sighed, hesitated for a few seconds, then picked up.

“Hey, why did you go get a room?”

I froze, then shot upright. “Are you following me?!”

Chen Ye was silent for a moment, then snorted coldly, “Are you crazy? Why would I follow you? I’ve been waiting for you at the school gate.”

Waiting for me?

My heart started pounding wildly.

Chen Ye asked again, “Your voice sounds a little hoarse. Did you catch a cold?”

“…Maybe.”

“Which room? I’ll come over now.”

“307.”

Soon, there was a knock at the door. Chen Ye stood there holding a plastic bag with two boxes of medicine inside.

I hugged my arms, leaning against the bed, pretending to be calm. “Why didn’t you contact me after you came to Shenzhen?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Weren’t you the one who told me to get as far away from you as possible? Why would I contact you?”

I pouted. “Then why are you here now?”

“I had a feeling you weren’t doing well, so I came to laugh at you.”

When Chen Ye said this, his eyes narrowed and the corners of his mouth curled up, like a proud, cunning old fox.

So annoyingly cheeky.

But this cheekiness was exactly what I liked about him.

After taking the medicine, I wrapped myself tightly in the quilt, leaving only my eyes exposed, blinking at him.

Chen Ye tilted his head and chuckled softly, “Aren’t you sleepy?”

Maybe it was the cold, or maybe I was just too tired today, but I felt especially fragile at that moment. I reached out and tugged at Chen Ye’s sleeve. “I’m a little sleepy, but I don’t want to sleep yet. Will you stay with me for a while?”

Even I was startled by my own words.

My tone was gentle, almost pitiful, with a hint of coquettishness.

Chen Ye was stunned too, and after a long while, he softly replied, “Mm.”

“You’re right, I’m really not doing well.”

My chest felt heavy, as if a large stone was pressing down on it.

He sat down by the bed, looking down at me, his dark eyes unexpectedly gentle.

I gave a bitter smile. “My mom is desperate to marry me off, afraid that if I can’t find a job after graduation, I’ll become a burden to her. But all these years, she never cared about me. So what’s there to worry about in the future? Sometimes I really regret coming to Shenzhen to find her. If I hadn’t, at least in my memory, she would still be a good mother. Not like now, where everything is so ugly.”

Chen Ye asked, “Do you want to stay in Shenzhen?”

“No. Shenzhen is great, but it has nothing to do with me. There’s a kind of magnetic resonance between people, and also between people and cities. Shenzhen doesn’t like me, and I don’t feel anything for it either.”

“Then do you want to go back to Chunshui Town?”

I shook my head again. “When I lived there before, I didn’t feel anything. But after being away for a while, going back is unbearable… The barbecue stalls near home, the shaved ice shop at the school gate, the salty sea smell in the air… These scenes make me think of my dad uncontrollably… I wonder, if he were still alive and saw me go to college, would he worry about me meeting a jerk like other fathers do? Or would he still ignore me like when I was a kid? Or maybe, like my mom, he just wants me to get married as soon as possible? The more I think about it, the more I want to cry.”
“Actually, I really hate the New Year. Going back to Chunshui Town is a kind of torment, and staying in Shenzhen isn’t any better. My Stepfather never says it out loud, but I can feel that he doesn’t welcome me. My younger brother is even worse-he’s just short of pushing me out the door. As for my mom… that’s even harder to explain. So, instead of enduring all those cold stares, I’d rather come out and work. At least I get paid.”

Hearing this, Chen Ye frowned slightly. “Why have you never told me?”

My heart skipped a heavy beat.

Crap, why am I rambling about all this to Chen Ye?

He asked again, “Have you talked to Aunt Sun about it?”

“No. She’d just think I’m being melodramatic. In her eyes, I’m just a withdrawn, talentless loser.” I gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Of course, my mom isn’t wrong.”

“Not at all. I think Ye Ran is great. She’s independent, brave, has her own opinions, and won’t just let others arrange her life for her.”

Chen Ye gently rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb, his tone very serious. “I really admire her. And you’re not allowed to look down on her, got it?”

I was stunned.

Chen Ye is actually praising me?

Did a dog just spit out ivory?

My ears burned instantly, heat crackling from head to toe like firecrackers.

Chen Ye put my hand back under the covers and touched my forehead. “It’s just that Ranran is used to bottling things up. That’s exhausting, and it makes the people who care about her feel bad. Let’s not do that anymore, okay? We need to learn to communicate, to talk things out, alright?”

I’d never seen Chen Ye so gentle before-smiling eyes, a soft voice, speaking to me with the patience of coaxing a child.

It felt like delicate feathers were floating in the air, brushing against my skin, sending my heartbeat into chaos.

“…Okay.”

“Mm.” He was very satisfied, and continued, “Our country is vast, with over three hundred cities. There’s bound to be one that suits you. Before that, don’t think about anything else. Focus on your studies. Don’t go back to the Convenience Store. Leave tuition and living expenses to me. Of course, I’m not telling you to waste your youth like Zhang Yue, just idling away your days. You can find a meaningful job, something that builds experience or expands your network.”

As he spoke, Chen Ye took out a bank card. “It’s not much, thirty thousand, but it should last you a while. Once you’re better, go buy yourself some new clothes. Dress up nicely, and you’ll feel better. When you’re in a good mood, everything goes smoother. When you run out, just let me know.”

If it were before, I would have taken it without hesitation. But after working myself, I know how hard it is to earn money.

Forget thirty thousand-even three thousand took me half a year to save. I can’t imagine how long it took Chen Ye to save this much, earning just a few cents at a time.

Seeing me hesitate, Chen Ye smiled. “Don’t worry, I kept some for myself. Besides, I came here to take care of you. You can’t let me come for nothing.”

I was a bit dazed.

He said he came here for me? Did I hear that right?

I pursed my lips. “Are you really that nice?”

Chen Ye laughed. “Haven’t I always been good to you? You’re so ungrateful.”

I had to admit, it felt like the heart that had been suspended in my chest for so long was finally being filled, my drifting soul returning to my body, the once-bleak future now lit up, and my stagnant blood flowing again… How should I put it? A spark rekindled in dead ashes? Forgive me, my mind is a mess right now, and that’s the only phrase I can think of.

To find emotional value in someone I once hated so much is a strange and ironic thing. But even more strange and ironic is that I don’t feel any resistance-instead, there’s an indescribable joy.

I took the bank card and slipped it into my pocket. “Then I won’t be polite. Thank you.”

God, I’m actually being so polite.

“Good girl, go to sleep.”

My eyelids grew heavy, and as I drifted into sleep, his palm was still pressed to my forehead-warm, almost burning.