After getting paid, Shen Yue transferred half of her salary to Xie Jiangsheng's card, leaving her with the other half.
Shen Yan's school was quite far from home. Shi Juan was alone at home, and her health wasn't very good, with minor ailments. Not being literate, Shen Yan worried that if he lived at school, Shi Juan would be alone at home and might encounter problems. Thus, he applied for day attendance.
Moreover, day attendance was cheaper.
Day students did not have evening study sessions. As soon as Shen Yan finished school, he would go to his part-time job, usually returning very late.
The lights in the old district flickered precariously, shrouded in gloom.
The late night was quiet, the tree shadows desolate, the streetlights dim and yellow, and the biting cold wind whistled, stretching out shadows.
Shen Yan carried his schoolbag on one shoulder. The lights on the stairs flickered, as if they might give out at any moment.
Only his own footsteps echoed on the silent stairs.
Upon reaching the apartment door, Shen Yan's steps faltered.
A slender figure in a grey sweater stood facing away from him. Her pale face and vivid lips suggested she had been waiting for a long time, her complexion turned ashen from the cold.
Shen Yue turned her head and saw Shen Yan. The dim light made the narrow staircase seem even more cramped, yet the fair and handsome youth seemed to brighten the grimy space considerably.
His brow furrowed, his eyes unconsciously turning fierce.
His tone was anything but pleasant as he said coldly, "What are you doing here?"
Shen Yue was taken aback at first, paying no mind to the boy's indifferent expression and tone. Her vivid lips curved gently, a shallow dimple revealing a tender smile.
"I just came to see you. Why are you back so late?"
The boy tugged at the zipper of his school uniform, his face as cold as ice, his brow furrowed in annoyance. "You've seen me now. Can you go?"
His expression revealed little, but his voice was somewhat cold, as if he intensely disliked seeing the person in front of him.
Shen Yue clutched the paper envelope in her hand. Her lashes were long and dark, her eyes slightly reddened at the corners, her face pale from the cold, and the smile on her lips seemed strained.
"...I'll leave right away. This is for you."
She handed him the paper envelope, her head lowered, hesitant to look at the boy's face.
Shen Yan glanced at it. "What is this?"
"You're studying now, so your expenses must be high. And you're growing, so take this money. Don't be too thrifty. My salary isn't low, and you can come to me if you have any difficulties."
Shen Yan did not reach out to take it. Instead, a mocking smile appeared on his face.
Even though Shen Yue had lost her memory, it could not erase the excessive things she had done before. Shen Yan hated Shen Yue, wishing he had never had such a sister.
What did Shen Yue's actions represent now?
Late remorse?
Or just pity?
Shen Yan didn't need it.
Shen Yan pursed his lips. The boy's immature face showed impatience and frustration, but he ultimately suppressed those emotions. "I don't need it."
Shen Yue's fingers stiffened, her eyelashes quivered, and her voice remained gentle as she pushed the paper envelope into his hand.
"Just take it, Shen Yan..."
"..."
Shen Yan took a deep breath, then threw the paper envelope containing the money directly onto the ground. In the dim light, the boy's face looked fierce, and his voice was chilling, "Shen Yue, I don't need it! Take your money and get out."
The atmosphere instantly turned frigid.
Shen Yan lowered his voice, but in the empty, quiet space, it still sounded deafening.
Shen Yan glanced at Shen Yue, who seemed stunned. His expression was far from pleasant, and he no longer paid attention to Shen Yue. He pulled a key from his pocket, opened the door, and closed it with a bang, not glancing at the woman outside.
The slamming door was loud, and Shi Juan came over to ask, "What's wrong?"
Shen Yan replied with a scowl, "Nothing."
He left those words and went into his room.
Shi Juan sighed softly, feeling that the child's temper was growing.
Senior year studies were demanding. Shen Yan would wake up before dawn every day. He never slept in; as soon as the alarm went off, he would sit up straight, finish his simple ablutions, and pack his schoolbag.
As he closed the door, Shen Yan saw the paper envelope stuffed into the gap.
He stared at it for several seconds before picking up the envelope.
He opened it and found a stack of money, estimated to be several thousand.
Shen Yan clutched it in his hand, feeling annoyed, his eyebrows furrowed tightly in anger.
But he had no other choice. He stuffed the money into his schoolbag. He had no intention of using it and would only return it when Shen Yue came.
---
Shen Yue had no friends, and her family no longer liked her.
She was afraid to see Shen Yan's disgusted gaze.
Her day was simple: work, then go home. She really didn't know how to cook, only how to boil noodles.
Lately, Shen Yue had been having dreams every night. It felt like many things had happened in her dreams, but she couldn't remember anything upon waking.
They were nightmares.
Because when she woke up, her pillow was soaked with tears.
She really didn't know how to cook, boiling noodles every day.
Beef noodles were delicious, so why did Mr. Xie hate them so much?
Shen Yue lowered her eyelashes. She warned herself not to think about it anymore, not to debase herself like this.
Dreaming too much made her feel so tired.
Sometimes, she couldn't even distinguish between dreams and reality.
It had been raining these past few days, and the roof was leaking.
Shen Yue curled up in a corner of the bed. Perhaps it was the heavy rain outside that kept her from sleeping.
She would never admit that she was afraid to sleep because she feared having nightmares.
Lu Jin always came to see her. Shen Yue didn't like it, but she didn't neglect him out of politeness.
Lu Jin said, "Let's have dinner after work."
Shen Yue refused.
Lu Jin's face immediately darkened, and he said sarcastically, "Shen Yue, you really don't know what's good for you."
Shen Yue lowered her head, ignoring him.
A tall shadow enveloped her. Lu Jin looked down at her, his hand gripping Shen Yue's cheek, forcing her to look up.
"Shen Yue, do you know that guy named Luo?"
Shen Yue's eyes snapped up sharply. Her dark, clear eyes stared directly at the man, making her inexplicably nervous.
Her delicate and beautiful eyebrows were soft, like a dodder flower that could only live by clinging to others.
Lu Jin felt the softness under his hand. "Those who offend me never have a good ending."
Shen Yue immediately understood Lu Jin's meaning. Her face rapidly turned pale, devoid of all color.
Lu Jin's thin lips brushed against her earlobe, and he said maliciously, "With just a word from me, he won't even have a place to beg."
Lu Jin was telling the truth. With his influence, dealing with Luo Kai would be incredibly easy.
Luo Kai was an ordinary person. How could he fight Lu Jin?
Lu Jin was never a patient hunter. He was now eager to possess the prey before him.
He would resort to any means necessary for it.