Xu Zheng treated Zhan Jingrui to a lavish meal after inviting him to fight. During the meal, he kept sharing the news he had gathered about He Yao.
Talk of her being dark, a delinquent, or having the same profession as her mother…
None of it aligned with Zhan Jingrui’s perception, yet the rumors were vividly spread.
Zhan Jingrui increasingly found the people around him rather dull.
On the surface, they possessed all of Su City’s finest resources, attended the best schools, and presented themselves as a group of vibrant, hopeful young people to the outside world.
But what was the reality?
Two hours later, they went to He Yao’s workplace and found a corner table.
After several performances, they finally witnessed the legendary scene.
It was indeed He Yao.
She wore clothes unsuited for her age, makeup unsuited for her age, and performed synchronized actions unsuited for her age, yet she drew cheers from the audience.
Xu Zheng was stunned.
He Yao’s image in his mind shattered.
“It’s really like that. Rumors don’t just appear out of thin air. He Yao has disappointed me so much; I liked her so much before.”
“It’s impressive that she and her mother can support their family this way. Why even bother going to school?”
Zhan Jingrui didn’t respond. He watched her on stage, feigning maturity, and the judgmental eyes of the audience below.
He felt a silent, oppressive frustration.
Xu Zheng was utterly disappointed in He Yao and decided to leave halfway through the performance.
Zhan Jingrui accompanied him to the entrance but didn’t hail a taxi to leave.
After waiting for nearly an hour, a few familiar-looking girls emerged from inside, chattering excitedly, and immediately caught his eye.
Someone was instantly surprised.
“Zhan Jingrui? What’s he doing here? Am I hallucinating?”
“Is he looking at us? He seems to be looking at us. Should someone go say hello?”
Noticing Zhan Jingrui’s gaze fixed on them, the class monitor mustered the courage to approach him.
Zhan Jingrui got straight to the point: “I heard you were here tonight to watch He Yao?”
Everyone froze.
“And you took videos to submit tomorrow?”
Zhan Jingrui appeared relaxed but spoke with an undeniable authority.
“Allow me to remind you, He Yao’s real home is in Building 3, Unit 21 of Gongguan No. 7. Do you know who lives there?”
“Her biological father’s status isn’t much, but her stepfather’s influence is not to be underestimated.”
“It’s her freedom to do what she wants. Even if her actions are wild, people will find out eventually without you saying anything.”
“Why do you need to invade her privacy and get yourself into trouble?”
His words startled everyone.
Recalling how He Yao had previously made their deskmate apologize and pay compensation, everyone felt a sense of unease.
“No, we were just talking. We didn’t plan to actually submit anything.”
Zhan Jingrui said no more.
The class monitor couldn’t help but ask, “Can I ask you…”
Zhan Jingrui, anticipating her question, had his answer ready.
“A neighbor. Her stepfather is friends with my family.”
The class monitor and her group left sheepishly. He waited by He Yao’s door until she returned at four in the morning.
He Yao’s body ached from staying up so late every day and standing for hours in high heels. She was so tired her eyelids felt heavy.
Seeing Zhan Jingrui at the door suddenly startled her.
“Why haven’t you gone home? You scared me.”
“You’re scared?” Zhan Jingrui looked at her expressionlessly. “I thought you were fearless.”
He Yao detected the sarcasm in his words. She met his gaze for two seconds and gave a self-deprecating laugh.
“Did you hear what others were saying?”
Zhan Jingrui maintained his indifferent expression. “Whether I heard what others were saying isn’t important. What’s important is what you are doing now.”
“What am I doing?”
He Yao stared at him and suddenly raised her voice.
“Say it, what am I doing? Did I steal, did I rob, or do I have something shameful? Why do you all look down on me so much?”
Zhan Jingrui couldn’t deny that he had reservations about her profession.
Though he didn’t say it aloud, he harbored such thoughts.
He didn’t know why he had come here to wait for her, nor did he know why he was questioning her.
They stared at each other. After a few seconds, He Yao let out a cold laugh.
“I thought you were different from others, but in the end, all crows are black.”
With that, she took out her key from her bag and handed it to him.
“Since you look down on me, and living in your house would dirty it, I won’t stay anymore. Here’s your key back.”
“I’ll transfer the rent and living expenses to you in a couple of days… You won’t find my money dirty too, will you?”
He Yao would never know Zhan Jingrui’s concern when he learned others intended to film her and get her expelled from school.
She would never know the discomfort Zhan Jingrui felt watching her strike various poses and force smiles on stage, beneath the dazzling lights.
She would certainly never know the anxiety and anticipation he felt waiting for hours in the cold hallway.
Zhan Jingrui had been enthusiastic about someone for the first time in his life, and this was the attitude he received.
He didn’t take the key. He looked at her with disappointment, and He Yao returned his gaze with equal disappointment.
The air hung in a tense silence. After more than ten seconds, He Yao’s hand could no longer bear the weight.
With a clatter, the key dropped to the floor.
“You don’t want it when it’s right in front of you, then pick it up yourself.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
Zhan Jingrui’s anger, his lifelong pride and self-esteem, were pushed to the limit by He Yao’s action.
Almost without thinking, he reached out and grabbed her.
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
The weather in late October, in the early morning, was quite cold.
He Yao, wearing a sparkly mini leather dress, was honestly finding it unbearable.
When Zhan Jingrui’s hand grasped her wrist, though it covered only a small patch of skin, it instantly brought her considerable warmth.
She knew he meant well, and she didn’t want to anger him.
However, Zhan Jingrui was perhaps the only person who had penetrated her dark life. She had always believed he understood her.
Now, seeing him look at her like this, He Yao couldn’t let it slide.
“Does it matter to you what I know? You are all young masters and ladies who live above the clouds. Our perceptions have always been different.”
As she tried to leave again, Zhan Jingrui held her with one hand, picked up the key with the other, opened the door, pushed her inside, locked the door, and then turned on the light.
“Where’s the remote? Turn on the air conditioning.”
Truly a young master from a wealthy family, turning on the air conditioning in October.
Someone poor like He Yao couldn’t afford it.
“You’re cold? If you’re cold, go home quickly. I can’t afford to run the air conditioning or pay the expensive electricity bill.”
As if afraid she would slip away, Zhan Jingrui put the key in his pocket and turned to look for the remote.
“Tell me, how much money do you need to get through the rest of this year?”
“Fifty thousand? One hundred thousand? One hundred fifty thousand? I’ll give you two hundred thousand, too. Just don’t go to that place, and turn on the air conditioning as much as you want.”