Two Paths

On the streets of the Capital City late at night, members of the Green Bud Literary Society stumbled along together, some loudly reciting inexplicable poems, drawing curious glances from passersby.

Poets after drinking are unrestrained, free, and don't care what others think!

Lu Jingyao had also had some wine today, her head swimming, her legs feeling unsteady as she walked, but she felt no unrestrained joy in her heart.

Although she didn't end up having to pay for the dinner today, it felt worse than if she had paid herself.

She had originally planned to borrow money from classmates she was close to, like He Xue, and gather the funds to pay the bill, but He Xue had "accidentally" let slip the news.

Qian Shun from the literary society immediately and generously paid the bill, even holding Lu Jingyao's hand and offering many words of comfort.

"We're all sisters, so don't hesitate to ask if you have any difficulties in the future. Money and possessions are external things; friendship and feelings are what last."

Qian Shun's words were sincere and full of emotion, but at that moment, Lu Jingyao only felt the caress on her palm, saw the heat in Qian Shun's eyes, and smelled the unpleasant alcohol on his breath.

Disgusted, Lu Jingyao immediately made it clear that she considered the money a loan from Qian Shun and would definitely repay it.

But He Xue and the others took the opportunity to tease her, laughing and asking Lu Jingyao "How will you repay it?" suggesting she could just offer herself in return.

Later, when Lu Jingyao almost left on the spot, everyone calmed down and claimed they were just "joking."

However, Lu Jingyao had already secretly decided to repay Qian Shun's money as soon as possible and avoid any further entanglement with him.

But just as she feared, when everyone returned to the Foreign Languages Institute and prepared to part ways for their dorms, Qian Shun stopped Lu Jingyao.

"Jingyao, come for a walk with me!"

"..."

In the deep night of the eighties, a man and a woman walking together was essentially equivalent to dating.

After all, there was a saying back then called "paving the road," which specifically referred to the intimate actions of couples.

Lu Jingyao certainly wouldn't fall for it. She was certain that if she went for a "casual walk" with Qian Shun tonight, rumors would spread throughout the school tomorrow that they were a couple.

In this era where gossip was so potent, falsehoods could quickly become truth.

"I'd better not. Senior Qian, it's very late now, it's not very convenient."

Lu Jingyao refused Qian Shun with neither subservience nor arrogance, turning to walk towards the girls' dormitory building.

But Qian Shun chased after her, saying, "Jingyao, don't overthink it. I just have a lot of inspiration right now and hope to find someone to discuss it with.

You are the most talented among us, and only you are qualified to resonate with me spiritually."

Lu Jingyao walked quickly, and Qian Shun chased her urgently. The two went one after another, arriving at the bottom of the girls' dormitory building, and Qian Shun still hadn't given up.

This is a joke, nearly thirty yuan!

He spent a worker's monthly salary and couldn't even hold her hand, and he's just supposed to give up after a little push? Is he, Qian Shun, an idiot?

Qian Shun wasn't an idiot, but Lu Jingyao was even less of one.

Every girl who was beautiful from childhood must have faced harassment a few times during her growth. Lu Jingyao could see through Qian Shun's direct and eager lustful intentions at a glance.

She said sternly, "I'm truly sorry, Senior Qian. I have no interest in spending time alone with you. As for the money I owe you, I will repay it next month."

"..."

Qian Shun froze on the spot. He never imagined that Lu Jingyao, who usually appeared soft and easy to bully, would be so ungracious.

Judging by her attitude now, it was as good as her shouting, "You scoundrel, get lost!"

Qian Shun's face turned from red to black, gradually becoming ferocious.

"Repay it next month? How will you repay it? By starving for a month?"

"Do you really think you're some valuable commodity? Do you know it was me who smoothed things over with the school newspaper to get your work published?"

"You country girl, do you know how precious the kindness of a Capital City person is? Do you know how inviolable the pride of a Capital City person is?"

Fueled by alcohol, Qian Shun finally couldn't hold back and poured out the rage in his heart, uncontrollably.

Lu Jingyao first took a few steps back in shock, then quickly turned and fled in a panic up the girls' dormitory building.

She was afraid that if she was a moment slower, the drunkard would pounce on her like a hungry wolf.

Lu Jingyao ran all the way into the dormitory, and the fear in her heart gradually subsided, replaced by growing resentment and grievance.

"Money, money, money, why is it always money? Must my entire life be bound by money and lose my freedom?"

Lu Jingyao shed tears of grievance.

Ever since she could remember, her family had been plagued by "money."

Her father was only a primary school graduate and a private school teacher. His meager monthly salary barely sustained a family of five.

If it weren't for her father's tenacious dedication to education, Lu Jingyao, the "money-losing girl," would have been pulled out of school after junior high.

Even if they saved every penny, the cost for one year of high school was still dozens of yuan, a significant burden for the impoverished Lu family.

But last winter, their house collapsed under the heavy snow, and her mother's lung disease relapsed. It felt like they would never get past that hardship. If it weren't for Li Ye...

Thinking of this, Lu Jingyao suddenly swayed, almost falling.

Li Ye back then was very much like Qian Shun.

He also came from a well-off family, always had pocket money, and had expressed his admiration for Lu Jingyao.

But Li Ye wasn't the prince charming Lu Jingyao had envisioned.

He didn't understand poetry or literature, his studies weren't good, and he always gave her a goofy, silly grin. That youthful awkwardness always embarrassed Lu Jingyao.

It could be said that besides being tall and handsome, Li Ye was utterly useless.

However, when the Li family came to propose with one hundred and twenty yuan and a half cartload of betrothal gifts, Lu Jingyao helplessly accepted reality.

The roof of their house was replaced, her mother's lung disease was cured, and Li Ye's pocket money swept away the years of gloom from the impoverished Lu family, filling it with laughter and joy.

During that period, Lu Jingyao felt both happy and suppressed. She didn't know what her family status would be in the future, burdened with such a huge debt.

Was she destined to be like the vines in poetry, able to grow only by clinging to a tree, forever becoming its appendage?

But a turning point did appear.

During that year or so, Lu Jingyao no longer had to frequently skip class to help her mother with labor. She even hired an English tutor for extra lessons, and her academic performance improved by leaps and bounds, finally allowing her to get into university.

As for Li Ye, he remained the same handsome young man with a goofy grin and average studies.

The night she received her university acceptance letter, Lu Jingyao's father presented her with two paths.

A father knows his daughter best. He didn't want to restrict her soaring thoughts and gave her the choice.

One path was to return to their hometown to work after graduating from university and live a stable life with Li Ye.

The other was to soar like an eagle, break free from its cage, and fly freely in the sky, never to return.

Lu Jingyao, who already felt inferior and suppressed due to their mismatched backgrounds, chose the latter.

Her father silently agreed, went to break off the engagement, and took all the blame.

As Lu Jingyao left Qinghe County, she felt as if she had finally escaped a sea of suffering.

But why was university another cycle?

And compared to Li Ye, this Qian Shun was so disgusting?