"She could give her a sum of money, secure a good job for her, and guarantee she would be well-provided for the rest of her life. But neither of us agreed. She was very disappointed."
Hearing this, Tian Tian could understand.
"Huihui has it so hard. Just a few days ago, I was thinking so poorly of her. I was truly narrow-minded."
"It's not your fault. You're already very good."
Chen Dongyang glanced at her slender hands resting on her lap and couldn't help but reach out and hold them.
"Actually, I guessed your true identity a long time ago. You are a very low-key and good person. Don't speak of yourself like that."
Looking at the hand resting on hers, rough and calloused,
Tian Tian's heart ached.
"I think Huihui has fallen for you. Are you really not planning to marry her?"
Chen Dongyang sighed, "I've always seen her as a friend, even a creditor. I feel I owe her and need to make amends for a lifetime, but I never thought of developing our relationship further. I'm troubled by it now."
For a moment, Tian Tian's mind raced.
Although she liked Chen Dongyang's hand on hers, it was unfair to Huihui.
She slowly withdrew her hand.
"She has already lost the person she loved most. Her entire life now revolves around you and Dou Bao. If you are taken away by another woman, I think she will go mad."
Chen Dongyang understood her unspoken meaning and, after a pause, also withdrew his hand.
"I know what I'm doing now is very scummy, and I'm sorry to you and to Huihui, but I can't help myself."
"Really. The week I didn't contact you, I felt like I was going crazy. Every moment, no matter what I was doing, you were on my mind."
"I'm not saying this to gain your sympathy, nor do I expect anything from you. I just want to be honest with myself. Even if we can't be together in the future, can we cherish the present? Cherish every moment we can be together, don't push me away. Just let me follow my heart one last time and find some sweetness in life. Otherwise, I truly feel that life is meaningless."
What he said seemed to imply they should be a couple for a week.
Tian Tian didn't want that.
A week was too short for her.
A week of sweetness would require a long time of healing in the future, which wasn't worth it.
But she had been living cautiously and hesitantly for so many years, never experiencing the joys and sorrows of love. Now that she had finally met someone she liked, she didn't want to let him go so easily.
After thinking for a long time, she said,
"A few days ago, I read something online that said if two people start a relationship with the initial intention of making each other happy, then they shouldn't do or think about things that make them unhappy."
"If I agree to be with you for this week, and we don't talk about debts or anything else in the future, can we just live this week earnestly?"
Chen Dongyang was overjoyed and immediately pulled the car over.
"You agreed? Tian Tian, you agreed?"
Tian Tian proactively extended her hand, and Chen Dongyang took it. She fidgeted shyly for a few seconds.
"To tell you the truth, I've never been in a relationship before, and this is the first time in my life I've held hands with a man other than my father or brother. If we start this, you'll be my first love."
Chen Dongyang's emotional burden suddenly became heavy, and his expression immediately fell.
Tian Tian said, "I don't mean to burden you. Remember what I just said, no talk of debts. I'm an adult, and I can take responsibility for my choices. From this second on, we will only do things that make us happy."
The two went to a restaurant and ordered some down-to-earth barbecue.
Chen Dongyang pulled Tian Tian's wheelchair closer to him. "Can I feed you?"
"Perhaps it's because I'm older and understand how to care for others, or perhaps you're so endearing that I just want to feed you."
Tian Tian asked him, "Haven't you fed anyone else before?"
"No. I'm proud and self-reliant. People had to coax me even when they spent money on me."
"Scumbag."
"Yes. That's why I'm facing retribution now and met you. I plan to compensate you for everything I owe others."
Tian Tian accepted, closed her eyes, and leaned back in her wheelchair.
"Alright then. Since fate has gifted me this, I'll accept it gracefully. Feed me."
They ate and joked, and by the time they returned to the base, it was almost 2 AM.
To their surprise, everyone was still awake and energetic. Although they were in their respective rooms, their voices could be heard; no one was asleep.
As Chen Dongyang pushed Tian Tian to her room door, a girl from the next room opened her door.
"You guys aren't asleep yet?"
"No, why aren't you asleep either?"
The girl hesitated for a few seconds, then opened her door completely.
A tall boy they had played games with that evening appeared behind her.
It was late, and the two of them were alone together. Anyone could see what had likely happened.
Chen Dongyang smiled, "Are you two going out?"
The girl said, "No. We're all adults, so we're not afraid you'll know. I'm planning to date him. Is that okay? To avoid disturbing Tian Tian's rest tonight, why don't you go and stay with your boyfriend? That way, he can take care of you, and we won't have any psychological burden."
"I know this request is unreasonable, so I've prepared a small gift for you. Please accept it."
It turned out she had come out to discuss this with Tian Tian. It seemed they had big plans for the night.
Tian Tian blushed upon hearing this but still accepted the gift.
It was about facilitating happiness.
"Then you two enjoy yourselves. We're leaving."
The boy lived on the floor above. Chen Dongyang pushed her to her room and then squatted down, smiling, "Why are you so kind, throwing yourself into the wolf's den? Aren't you scared?"
Tian Tian said she wasn't scared. "I'm disabled. Do you think I'm going to have any ulterior motives?"
Of course, he wouldn't have any ulterior motives.
Since there would be no outcome, Chen Dongyang wouldn't dare to touch her.
He pinched her cheek. "I'll take you to get cleaned up."
As before, he carried Tian Tian to wash up. When he was about to take her back, Tian Tian said she wanted to take a bath.
"I smell like barbecue. I don't want to be laughed at tomorrow."
"Can you manage on your own?"
"I can wash while sitting."
"Then I'll help you get your things ready."
Chen Dongyang brought a small stool into the bathroom, adjusted the water temperature, helped Tian Tian in, and waited by the door.
After she finished bathing, he carried her to the bed, tucked her in, and covered her with the blanket.
"You sleep first. I'll go wash up too."
There was only one bed in the room, and they were going to share it. Tian Tian's heart couldn't help but pound.
She closed her eyes, trying to sleep, but couldn't.
Soon, Chen Dongyang returned.
He turned off the room light, rustled for a moment, and lay down beside her.
A significant distance separated them. Neither touched the other. They lay quietly for dozens of seconds before Chen Dongyang asked Tian Tian,
"Are you asleep?"
His voice in the dark night was exceptionally moving.
Tian Tian covered half her face with the blanket. "Not yet."
"Can't sleep?"
"Mmm."
"Then I'll hold you while you sleep and pat you."