Chapter 31

  On the way back, it was still those few people. Yuan Shuyun saw Yuan Zhi with a face that wanted to speak but stopped, as if afraid of provoking him, and in the end didn't say anything.

  The car drove back to the villa group from earlier, and one by one got out of the car. Only Zhu Meiyan was sitting in the front, while Yuan Chongyang had other engagements and hadn't returned yet.

  Wearing a golden long gown, with a pure white fur cloak draped over her shoulders, she still had that noble and untouchable demeanor. As they gazed at each other from afar, their eyes were cold enough to seem like they could shatter ice. She called out to Yuan Shu Yun and led the way inside first.

  Yuan Zhi stroked his lips and chuckled: "This woman is not someone to be trifled with, miss. Don't be afraid when the time comes."

  Pinch He Sheng's ear, then followed him into the house. The house was very large, with a luxurious and complex interior structure. Yuan Zhi directly led them to an attic on the third floor at the far west, where the household appliances were complete, but anyone with discerning eyes could see that they were far inferior to the luxury outside, as if this was a forgotten corner, covered in dust.

  "There's nothing left here." He opened a small cabinet, empty inside, "They took everything when they left."

  "I lived here for three years and never came back." He opened all the drawers, nostalgic or searching for something.

  "Oh, there's still something here." Yuan Zhi pulled out a tattered plastic box from under the bed, dusting off the dirt on top. "I reckon no one has come after I left, otherwise this box would have been gone long ago."

  Open the lid, and there are several yellowish undershirts inside, with a strong musty smell, and clear stains on them. There are even some places where the hem is coming loose.

  "I was wearing this very same outfit when I first entered this household." He poked at the loose threads with his finger, then looked up at He Song with a hint of a smile, "Does it match the you from back then? Though I didn't have your darkness back then."

  Two people sat cross-legged facing each other, not caring about the dirt on the ground. The sunset's fiery red light spilled in through the small attic window, making even their shabby and tattered clothes seem warm.

  He Sheng stretched out his hand and pinched the collar, which felt very stiff, worse than what she used to wear, or maybe it was just a matter of time.

  "Wasn't it tough for you before?" she asked softly.

  "If people didn't compare with each other, then so be it!" He scratched his ear and smiled somewhat awkwardly. "I was small back then, I didn't understand many things. The adults told me what to do and I did it. My mom hung out with all sorts of men every day, my task was to carry box after box of beer over to them."

  "A woman who has given birth to a child is greatly devalued, and the nightly earnings will also differ greatly. So my mom always did business in secret, while I could only call her 'auntie' in front of outsiders, and after calling her that for so long, it seemed like she really wasn't my mom anymore."

  He shrugged and said indifferently, "I can still get some tips by giving some men a cigarette or a lighter, but if something goes wrong, it'll be terrible. For example, my mom brings someone home to work, and I unknowingly barge in, that night will be enough for me to suffer. Lightly, the door will be closed outside for a whole night, and seriously, I'll probably get beaten up."

  He gestured with both hands, "A stick as thick as this has broken two times before, isn't that ruthless? Now thinking about it, it's really quite ruthless."

  "Life is cheap, mine is cheaper to the point of being a loss."

  When saying these words, Yuan Zhi always hung his head down. With the gradually darkening light outside, He Sheng could only see his pretended indifferent half face, but that incredibly beautiful chin was constantly trembling, as if suppressing something with great effort.

  He Sheng rubbed his hands hard, warming them up before holding Yuan Zhi's face and lifting his head. Those enchanting eyes were shrouded in a thick layer of mist, protecting what was inside.

  The two of them stared at each other, and then He Song suddenly opened her mouth wide, her two eyes curved like crescent moons. She said: "You're really great, I love you so much! If others came to me with anything in exchange for you, I wouldn't trade!"

  Yuan Zhi was taken aback, then pursed his lips, and his eyes darted around erratically. "Who would believe me? You might just sell me out for a meal box."

  "No way! I said no exchange, so no exchange."

  "What you said doesn't make sense."

  "Really! No swap."

  Yuan Zhi's mouth twitched, and his eyes had already regained their clarity. He smiled and said, "My ears are cold, cover them for me."

  He Sheng rubbed his hands again and covered his ears, whispering: "I don't believe anything, really."

  The two of them sat in the attic until nightfall, and finally Yuan Shuyun came to find him. She stood at the door, leaning against the door frame, looking at Yuan Zhi and said: "Brother, dinner is ready."

  He was very cautious and didn't know whether he didn't dare or felt embarrassed to come in.

  Yuan Zhi faintly responded, covered the box and stuffed it back under the bed, pulled up He Sheng, patted the dust off her skirt, and then led her out.

  When Yuan Shuyun passed by, she didn't even give her a glance, and the other person's expression suddenly looked very disheartened.

  At the restaurant downstairs, Zhu Meiyan was already seated in the main seat, eating slowly and elegantly. She didn't react much when she knew they were coming, only lifting her head after everyone had sat down, looking at them with a hint of a smile.

  "It's been a long time since we've sat together like this." She picked up the napkin beside her and dabbed at the corner of her mouth, "Yuan Zhi, how have you been lately?"

  "It's fine."

  "It's also, topping a Yuan surname is not much different. Her gaze was like a snake's tongue licking around Yuan Zhi's body, "Do you feel at ease using these stolen things?"

  Yuan Zhi took a sip of the bone soup, smiled and said, "What's called stealing? I already have Yuan family genes in me, staying here is perfectly legitimate. By bloodline, I'm more qualified to stay than you."

  Zhu Meiyan slammed down her napkin, and the dishes made a clattering sound. "Indeed, she's grown up, this mouth of hers has become as sharp as a knife."

  "It's okay." He helped He Sheng who was stunned and picked up the chopsticks, "At least you won't be stupidly beaten!"

  Yuan Shuyun furrowed her brow tightly and glanced back and forth between the two of them several times, finally following He Song's lead by lowering her head, as if she hadn't seen anything.

  Zhu Meiyan said sternly, "Yuan Zhi, don't forget that you were sold into the Yuan family by your mother who was a mistress. Even though you have the Yuan family's blood in you, it's mixed with filthy and unrecognizable things. Do you think you still have the qualifications to speak loudly here?"

  "Mom!" Yuan Shuyun shouted.

  "Shut up!"

  Yuan Zhi's profile, still smiling slightly, had turned somewhat pale. He raised his head and looked calmly at the rich lady who had lost her composure, "Since my neck isn't broken, I can naturally hold up my head to speak. As for those old, hackneyed things you said, I've heard them so many times that my ears are numb. After all these years, how is it that you haven't made any progress at all? Don't you know that those words can no longer hurt me?"

  Zhu Meiyan's face turned extremely ugly, she felt that yelling at a fifteen-year-old boy was really unbecoming of her, but as soon as she thought about the past, she couldn't help but want to stab him, make him uncomfortable, and make him suffer. The twisted expression on his demonic face due to her words would give her a perverted sense of excitement, unfortunately, her goal was not achieved today, and the violent congestion in her chest seemed to be about to erupt.

  She stared coldly at Yuan Zhi, the other's smiling and indifferent face making her palms ache, finally her hands moved with her heart, picking up the cup and splashing it on his face.

  "Mom!" Yuanshuyun exclaimed and quickly got up and ran into the kitchen.

  A drop of red high-end liquor trickled down Yuan Zhi's brow, slowly gathering along the sharp lines of his jaw and falling off one by one.

  He stuck out his tongue and licked his lips, a corner of his mouth curled up, "Tastes good."

  He Sheng, who had been staring blankly at the scene, seemed to have just come back to his senses. His body shook and he looked at Yuan Zhi's hands under the table in shock, which were shaking violently. His eyes felt like they had been pricked by a needle. He then turned his head to look at that woman who had lost her noble demeanor and was now looking ferocious.

  She clutched the bowl with both hands, suddenly got up and scooped the thick soup from the large plate in the middle. Unfortunately, her feet slipped and she fell on the table. The bowls filled with ingredients instantly ran towards the noble woman in an orderly manner. Zhu Meiyan couldn't avoid getting splashed with some water stains, and her clothes were messed up again.

  Yuan Shuyun let out a startled cry and hastily said: "Mom, I'll go get you a towel." She turned around and ran in the direction of the bathroom.

  The ear-piercing crash was followed by an oppressive silence, accompanied by a strong smell of food. Zhu Meiyan slowly turned to He Song, her voice cold and unfeeling, "It's you again, this is the second time!"