Yang Jinxia stared at Chen Xu's face until he grew a little uncomfortable and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing."
She broke into a smile, one filled with genuine joy. "I just think you're really a good person."
Chen Xu felt somewhat awkward hearing that. "Hiss, it sounds like you're complimenting me, but somehow, those words always feel strange."
"I mean it."
Resting her chin on both hands, she said, "I know that when people lose the restraints of law and morality and fall into hardship, they can become utterly shameless. They can really do anything. I've always felt fortunate that I met you. If it had been another man, things definitely wouldn't have ended well for me."
"This has nothing to do with whether someone is a good person or not."
Chen Xu shook his head. Perhaps he had held it in for too long, but he was especially talkative today. "Let me tell you a story."
"I had an older cousin, two years older than me. When I was in fourth or fifth grade, he was the person I envied most."
"His mother spoiled him terribly and gave him lots of spending money. Every day, he bought all kinds of snacks and toys, skipped class to go online at internet cafés, and played games. He lived a very carefree life. His mother never disciplined him. Whenever his father tried to, she stopped him. With his mother backing him up, he became even more brazen about skipping class."
"Back then, whenever school was out, I'd tag along with him for free food and fun. One weekend night, we stayed out very late. It was almost midnight, and I wanted to go home, but he wouldn't let me. Then he suddenly suggested lighting a fire for