What do people in love usually talk about when they’re together? Life? Dreams?
The answer is harsh—most of it is just nonsense. But it’s this very nonsense that Zeng Yu and Jiang Nan find so delightful.
Honestly, what they talk about doesn’t really matter; what matters is that they’re together, and that’s enough.
It was already ten o’clock at night, but they seemed to have forgotten the time. Just then, the phone rang. Jiang Nan found her phone, glanced at it, and answered, “Yeah, it’s me.”
Yuan Lei was sitting on the sofa, applying nail polish. “So late, and you’re still not home? Planning to spend the long night together?”
“Sounds more like you’re talking about yourself.” Jiang Nan replied.
Yuan Lei snorted, “I used to be just as foolish as you back then. Lessons learned, painful lessons learned!”
While Jiang Nan was on the phone, Zeng Yu sensibly moved to a chair across from her, avoiding overhearing the conversation.
Jiang Nan knew Yuan Lei was looking out for her. “Alright, alright, I know what you’re going to say.”
Only then did Yuan Lei laugh, “Okay, I’ll hang up now.”
After Jiang Nan hung up, Zeng Yu stood up. “It’s late, let me take you home.”
Jiang Nan stood up, and Zeng Yu opened the door to see her out.
When they reached the parking spot downstairs, Jiang Nan suddenly stopped, looked up at him, and said, “How about a goodbye?”
Zeng Yu opened his arms, not expecting Jiang Nan to tiptoe and offer him a kiss.
After a moment of entanglement, they parted. Jiang Nan turned and got into her car, driving away. In the rearview mirror, Zeng Yu stood still until she turned a corner and he disappeared from sight.
Zeng Yu’s face was always adorned with a happy smile. Love had come so suddenly, and it was so sweet. Zeng Yu was very content with the current situation.
On Sunday morning, a sudden downpour woke Zeng Yu with urgent knocking on the door.
When he opened the door, he saw Xiao Xiao standing there, drenched. She was hugging herself, shivering, her lips blue, staring at him with a blank expression, like a kitten caught in the rain, pleading at his doorstep.
Moved by compassion, Zeng Yu turned to grab a large towel and handed it to her. “Dry off.”
Xiao Xiao mechanically wiped the rain from her head and face with the towel.
Zeng Yu figured she must have run into some trouble, his heart softening. “Go take a hot shower, I’ll get you some clothes.”
Xiao Xiao nodded and slowly walked into the bathroom.
At that moment, Zeng Yu’s phone rang. Seeing it was Jiang Nan, he quickly answered, “Morning, did you sleep well last night?”
“Not well, I missed you.” Jiang Nan replied, surprisingly coquettish.
“Yeah, I missed you too…”
They chatted for a while, and Xiao Xiao peeked her head out of the bathroom. Zeng Yu quickly made a gesture to keep quiet and said into the phone, “Let’s talk later, I’ll call you back.”
After hanging up, Zeng Yu grabbed some clothes he didn’t wear and slipped them through the bathroom door. “Clothes.”
Zeng Yu was relieved that Xiao Xiao didn’t speak out like last time. If she had, he would have been in big trouble.
Xiao Xiao came out wearing Zeng Yu’s shirt and large shorts. “Sorry for the trouble.” she said.
“Don’t mention it. What happened to you?” Zeng Yu asked with concern.
Xiao Xiao’s most vulnerable spot was hit, and she began to sob uncontrollably.
Zeng Yu glanced at the door, relieved it was closed. “Sit down and rest, don’t get too worked up. I’ll make you some ginger tea.”
A short while later, Xiao Xiao sat in a chair, drinking a bowl of ginger tea that Zeng Yu had brought her. She put down the bowl and smiled bitterly. “You only realize what you had after you lose it.”
Zeng Yu didn’t say anything, taking the bowl to put it away. When he returned, Xiao Xiao was already standing. “The rain’s stopped, I should get going. Consider the clothes borrowed.”
From what Zeng Yu knew about Xiao Xiao, combined with her behavior earlier, it was clear she was really going through something.
At the door, Zeng Yu picked up his car keys. “Wait a minute, let me give you a ride.”
“No need, I’ve already caused you enough trouble.” Xiao Xiao firmly declined.
Zeng Yu hesitated for a moment. “It’s Sunday, I’ve got nothing to do. Let me drive you back.”
“I can’t go back. Just take me to a friend’s place.”
“Alright then.” Zeng Yu didn’t press further, closing the door and heading downstairs.
The rain had come quickly and gone just as fast, clearing the heat and giving Zeng Yu’s second-hand Ford a fresh wash.
Zeng Yu focused on driving, staying silent the whole way.
The car pulled up to a residential area where a woman was waiting downstairs.
“What kind of boyfriend are you? Xiao Xiao went through such a big thing, and you’re dropping her off at my place? Take a look at the bruises on her, so you don’t think I’m accusing you unfairly.” The woman, who looked to be in her early twenties, spoke quickly, giving Zeng Yu no chance to explain.
She rolled up Xiao Xiao’s sleeve, and only then did Zeng Yu notice the bruises on her arm.
Xiao Xiao quickly held her back. “A Ying, don’t make a scene. He’s just a regular friend.”
“Really? Sorry, my mistake.” A Ying apologized immediately.
Zeng Yu shook his head. “It’s fine. If there’s nothing else, I’ll get going.” He said, turning back to his car. Xiao Xiao and A Ying didn’t rush upstairs but watched him from the side.
Zeng Yu hesitated for a moment, then took out a bank card from his wallet and handed it to Xiao Xiao. “Take it. The password is your birthday. I never changed it.”
“No, I can’t take your money.”
Zeng Yu firmly placed the card in her hand and drove away.
Xiao Xiao stood there, with Ah Ying beside her, unaware of the situation. Seeing Xiao Xiao’s tears flowing like rain, Ah Ying was confused.
“Didn’t you say he was just a regular friend? How come the bank card password is your birthday?”
Back at his place, Zeng Yu didn’t regret it. Even though they had broken up, Xiao Xiao wouldn’t have come to him unless she had nowhere else to turn. He had forgotten to change the card’s password, and there was still over thirty thousand yuan in it. He hoped it could help Xiao Xiao.
Zeng Yu picked up his phone, intending to call Jiang Nan back, but then he received a long message on WeChat.
“I’ll definitely pay you back. Thank you. I’ve never really wanted to talk to you about my family, not because I didn’t want to, but because I just couldn’t bring myself to. Now, I’m not afraid to tell you. My family’s situation is a bit special. My parents are still around, and I have a younger brother. When I was eighteen, I dropped out of school to work because my brother was about to enter high school. My father said he couldn’t afford to send me to college anymore. It’s been eight years, and I’ve given my family about 250,000 yuan, covering all of my brother’s education costs. After my brother graduated from university, he got a girlfriend, and they’re planning to get married soon. But my family can’t afford the money for the house, car, or dowry. Last night, my parents and brother came to me, saying they needed 300,000 yuan. I told them I didn’t have that much, so my parents hit me and called me a worthless burden. That’s the gist of it. Sorry for making you laugh at my situation. I plan to use your money to hire a lawyer and cut ties with this family once and for all. Lastly, I want to express my deep gratitude again and apologize for any trouble and pain I’ve caused you.”
Zeng Yu read the message and remained silent for a long time. After thinking it over, he called Jiang Nan. “How about lunch together? I did something this morning that I need to confess to the boss and hope for leniency.”
Jiang Nan was momentarily surprised but then laughed. “Sure, what should we eat? Or should we cook?”
Jiang Nan was a bit nostalgic for Zeng Yu’s cooking, but Zeng Yu was troubled. His kitchen and balcony were connected, and closing the door turned the kitchen into a steamer—too much of a hassle.
“Let’s eat out.” Zeng Yu said.
Jiang Nan understood and smiled. “Then let’s order takeout. I’ll place the order now, and by the time I get to your place, the food should have arrived.”
“Okay, sounds good.” Zeng Yu agreed.
Jiang Nan added, “Wait for me, I’m on my way.”
After hanging up, Zeng Yu immediately started tidying up the place, taking nearly an hour to get everything in order.
As he paused to wipe his sweat, there was a knock on the door. Zeng Yu thought to himself, “Perfect timing.” When he opened the door, there stood Jiang Nan, smiling brightly.
“Not bad! From now on, cleaning the place is your responsibility.” Jiang Nan quickly noticed the changes in the room, which hadn’t been so tidy the night before.
“No problem, whatever the boss says goes.” Zeng Yu promptly pledged his loyalty.
Seeing him like this, Jiang Nan couldn’t help but laugh even more. “Alright, then confess your sins.”
Zeng Yu sat on the bed, looking at her without speaking.
Just then, the phone rang, and Jiang Nan clapped her hands. “The takeout’s here.”
Zeng Yu went out to get the food and laid it out on the table. He opened the boxes and handed one to Jiang Nan.
“Come on, let’s eat first. I’ll tell you about it after we’ve eaten.”
Jiang Nan took the box. “Let’s talk while we eat.”
Zeng Yu nodded, took a bite from his box first. Jiang Nan had ordered spicy boiled frog, stir-fried kale, and two boxes of rice. Zeng Yu noticed that Jiang Nan had chosen the spicy dish to suit his taste.
“This morning, Xiao Xiao came by…” As soon as Zeng Yu started speaking, Jiang Nan’s eyes widened.
As Zeng Yu continued, Jiang Nan’s expression gradually relaxed. She ate and listened, and by the end, Zeng Yu sighed. “I know I could have ignored her situation, but I couldn’t. I didn’t discuss it with you beforehand, so I decided to come clean with you, especially since it was a significant amount of money.”
“Yeah? Three thousand yuan is a lot.” Jiang Nan nodded, responding without much conviction.
In reality, what she focused on wasn’t the money but Xiao Xiao’s story.
With a serious expression, Jiang Nan said, “That’s really infuriating. Xiao Xiao’s situation is pretty tragic, being forced to such an extent. Did you really see her parents hit her?”
Zeng Yu nodded. “Yes, I saw the bruises. It’s unbelievable how they could do that—aren’t daughters also their children?”
Jiang Nan put down her box and grabbed Zeng Yu’s hand. “You’re a trustworthy person, a kind person. What you did for Xiao Xiao was right. I don’t blame you at all. Even if it were a stranger, we should step in when something like this happens, let alone your ex-girlfriend. By the way, tell Xiao Xiao that I can help her find a good lawyer. She doesn’t need to worry about the cost; I can get her a discount through someone I know.”
Zeng Yu listened and said, “If there are any thanks to be given, let Xiao Xiao say them herself. When I was young, my dad often told me that in life, we should always carry goodwill in our hearts. But when I stepped into society, I realized the world is filled with malice. When I worked at the bar, I never got into conflicts because I believed that deep down, everyone still had some goodwill.”
“My dad told me something similar.” Jiang Nan added. “He said, you shouldn’t have malicious intentions, but you also shouldn’t be naive about those who do. If someone harbors ill intent and does bad things, and then benefits from it, they’ll get used to harming others for their own gain.”
When Xiao Xiao received Zeng Yu’s call, she felt a bit nervous.
After going through such a family upheaval that left her afraid to even return to her home, Xiao Xiao had only received help from Zeng Yu and her hometown friend, Ah Ying. The whole ordeal had taken a heavy toll on her, and thinking back on some of her past actions, Xiao Xiao felt both amused and ashamed.
“Xiao Xiao, I just talked to Jiang Nan about your situation. She said she can help you find a good lawyer, and the fees can be significantly reduced.” Zeng Yu said over the phone while nodding toward Jiang Nan.
“Isn’t that too much trouble? I don’t want to impose.” Xiao Xiao hesitated to accept Jiang Nan’s kindness.
Zeng Yu reassured her, “Don’t overthink it, Jiang Nan genuinely wants to help. How about this, are you still staying at Ah Ying’s place? Jiang Nan and I can come over, and we can discuss what to do next.”
Xiao Xiao hesitated for a moment and then agreed. “Alright.” At this point, she really needed the help.
Zeng Yu and Jiang Nan drove to Xiao Xiao’s place, where she was waiting at the entrance of the residential area.
“The place upstairs is too small and messy. Let’s find somewhere outside to talk.” Xiao Xiao said with a forced smile. But when she saw Jiang Nan sitting in the passenger seat, her heart ached.
That seat used to be hers, but she had ruined it herself.
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