The floor was paved with black marble, and the tiles gleamed like a mirror. A magnificent crystal chandelier illuminated every corner, and the paintings on the walls were ornate and expensive.
A woman, dressed impeccably and wearing delicate makeup, looked remarkably well-preserved despite being in her forties.
She sat on a high-fashion French sofa, a laptop open on her lap.
A sound came from outside, followed by the distinct click of footsteps.
The woman's expression hardened. She closed her laptop and looked towards the door with a cold gaze.
A young man strolled in with a swagger. Spotting the woman on the sofa, he grinned cheekily. "Hey, still up?"
The woman's expression was icy. "You're back this late? Look at the time!"
The young man stood in a slouch, his short red hair as fiery as a flame. He wore a patterned shirt, stylish yet with a hint of wildness. He was tall and lean, with handsome facial features. A diagonal scar cut through the middle of his right eyebrow, giving him a rebellious and sharp look.
He frowned impatiently, turning to head upstairs.
"Stop!"
The woman's voice was sharp.
"Qi Rui, listen to me. Do you know how much effort I put into smoothing things over after you got suspended this time? You were almost sent to jail, do you understand? Didn't I tell you to stay home and reflect? It seems you haven't taken my words to heart."
Qi Rui had heard this all before. He casually picked at his ear, leaning back against the sofa with one leg bent.
Frankly, he found the woman's feigned concern utterly hypocritical and disgusting. It made him want to vomit.
He said dismissively, "You could choose not to bother."
This nonchalant attitude infuriated the woman. She stared coldly at the young man, trying to control her temper. "If I didn't bother with you, do you think you'd be standing here talking to me right now?"
The woman was usually rational, but with her only son, she felt helpless and disappointed.
She couldn't understand how he had become this way: fighting, indulging in decadent pleasures, skipping classes, and disrespecting teachers. He seemed utterly lawless, as if there was nothing he wouldn't dare to do.
The young man sneered, "If that's what you think, then you shouldn't have given birth to me in the first place."
"Qi Rui!"
The young man exaggeratedly covered his ears, a smile still on his face. "Are you going through menopause?"
"Good! Good! Good!"
The woman was so enraged she could have bitten through her teeth. Her expression was grim, her eyes filled with disappointment.
"Since that's the case, I won't bother with you anymore. Tomorrow, you'll pack your things and go to the countryside."
The young man snorted, seemingly unfazed by his mother's words. He turned and walked upstairs.
—
A light rain was falling on the mountain. The dirt path was slick, and one wrong step could lead to a nasty fall.
The sky was overcast and oppressive, with no sign of sunlight. Dark clouds seemed to loom overhead.
Yet, it was the height of summer, and the air was muggy and stifling.
Qi Rui held an umbrella, taking each step carefully. His expensive designer sneakers were splattered with brown mud, and the cuffs of his clean black trousers were streaked with dirt.
He carried a suitcase, his brow furrowed, his eyes betraying a deep-seated hostility.
The mountain path was extremely narrow and slippery. Qi Rui’s face was exceptionally grim.
Having finally descended the mountain, Qi Rui scraped the mud off his shoes against a large rock. Once the thick layer of dirt was removed, his feet felt considerably lighter.
The road below the mountain was still unpaved. After walking a few steps, Qi Rui reached the village entrance. All he could see were vast fields, golden rice paddies, and people working in them.
This village was called "Ban Po Village".
The wind that greeted him felt like a blast furnace. Qi Rui waited for a minute, his impatience mounting to the point of murderous rage.
He was hot and agitated.
After walking for over an hour up the mountain, the driver had told him someone would meet him at the village entrance. But there was no one in sight.
Qi Rui had never waited for anyone before; it was always others who waited for him. And this poor, remote place didn't even have a proper road.
Everything about this place was unacceptable to him. He longed to turn back with his suitcase, but he managed to suppress the impulse.
The suitcase was heavy. Qi Rui panted slightly, his face dark, like a thundercloud.
He held an umbrella in one hand and scrolled through his phone, his fingers jabbing aggressively at the screen.
"Uh, hello?"
A soft voice inquired.
The young man looked up, his gaze defiant and sharp, giving the impression of someone not to be trifled with.
A girl stood before him. She wasn't holding an umbrella, only a straw hat, which revealed a small, delicate face.
Qi Rui's first thought was:
Grass, she's so damn pale.
Her face was as clear and translucent as fine jade, softening and becoming transparent like solidified milk.
The girl appeared gentle and demure, her voice soft. "You're Qi Rui, aren't you?"
The rain had been light and stopped shortly after it began.
The girl took off her hat, her hair tied up. Her perfectly rounded, beautiful ears were highlighted by a translucent, pearly white.
The young man's defiant eyes were subtly upturned at the corners, his brow furrowed. Anyone could see the annoyance swirling around him. He glanced impatiently at the girl.
"It's me. I've been waiting for you for a long time."
In reality, it hadn't been long, perhaps three minutes at most, but in this young master's eyes, it felt like three hours.
A faint smile touched the girl's lips, exuding a serene, gentle aura. She said apologetically, "I'm sorry. My name is Shen Yue. Let's go back, or it might start raining again."
Qi Rui remained displeased. He strode forward with his suitcase.
Shen Yue watched the boy, who seemed difficult to converse with, and fell silent. She followed him somewhat shyly.
Qi Rui didn't look very old, but he carried himself with a significant presence. From head to toe, he was dressed in designer brands, creating a stark contrast with this remote, impoverished village.
The small path disappeared into lush green trees. The verdant foliage swayed in the wind, making rustling sounds.
Qi Rui stopped. There were two paths ahead.
Shen Yue noticed and said softly, "Go left."
The only sounds on the path were the rolling of the suitcase wheels and the footsteps crunching on the mud.
At the very end of the village was Shen Yue's home.
It was a simple wooden house, no more than thirty square meters. The walls were heavily corroded, and weeds grew in abundance at the corners.
Qi Rui stared, a vein throbbing on his forehead, his face subtly turning a darkened hue.
As he approached the dilapidated wooden house, his frown was so deep it could have trapped a fly.
The wooden tables and chairs looked neglected and rickety, as if they would collapse under the slightest pressure.
In this dilapidated hut, there wasn't even a single lamp. The sky was overcast, and the inside of the house was completely dark, both dim and miserable.
Qi Rui stood there motionlessly, watching the girl pick up a candle and light it.