You deserve someone better

The old district where Duan Sifan lived was not far from the hospital. A wall separated the two; prosperity and decay were only a wall apart, yet they seemed like two different worlds.

On the hospital side, traffic bustled and everything was orderly. Once they entered the old district, things were noticeably more chaotic. It was nighttime now, and the streets of the old district were deserted.

Holding Ye Xunzhi's hand, Qian Li hurried with her through the out-of-the-way streets.

"Sweetie, make sure you hold my hand tightly. Things can get pretty rough around here, especially at night. If you ever want to come here again, make sure someone comes with you, or you could easily get into danger."

Pulled along at a run, Ye Xunzhi panted, "Okay, okay."

This girl has way too much stamina.

Ye Xunzhi, a lazy layabout who normally refused to budge, was running so hard she was about to cough up her soul.

Finally, before she exhausted her strength and flopped down on the spot like a flattened cat, they reached their destination.

Qian Li patted the dust off her clothes, smiling brightly and cheerfully:

"We're here! Sifan lives on the ground floor. Come on, I'll take you to knock on his door and give him a surprise."

That won't do!

Ye Xunzhi hurriedly held Qian Li back and said shyly, her cheeks flushed:

"There's no need, big sis. If we visit, he'll have to go out of his way to entertain us. I just want to see him. Since he lives on the ground floor, why don't we go around to the side of the house? I'll just take a quick look through the window from a distance."

Seriously, if we tip him off, wouldn't I have come all this way for nothing?

The request was a little odd. Besides, as far as Qian Li knew, Duan Sifan usually kept his curtains closed because the old district was so rough. They probably would not see anything.

But seeing how embarrassed the little girl was about troubling him, Qian Li could not bring herself to refuse.

"All right, I'll take you around the back. Follow me. The path is narrow, so watch your step." Holding Ye Xunzhi's soft hand, Qian Li headed toward the other end of the house.

She figured that if Ye Xunzhi did not get to see him, she could take her to knock on the door afterward. At most, they would walk a little farther. It was no big deal.

The window of Duan Sifan's home faced a particularly narrow wall.

The gap between the walls was only wide enough for one person. The two carefully edged along the corner of the wall. The curtains were tightly closed, and the light from inside shone onto the wall.

It was very quiet inside.

Qian Li spoke softly, in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"See, the curtains are closed. Let me take you to knock on the door instead. Don't be shy. He's really nice. He won't mind something this small."

Outwardly, Ye Xunzhi betrayed nothing, but inwardly she was deeply disappointed as she nodded. "Then let's go."

What a shame. What's up with this future jailbird couple? After the woman got out of prison, they managed to sneak around together five days a week. Now that they're younger, they're this reserved? What happened to being young and hot-blooded?

Or is my luck just so bad that I can't even hit a five-in-seven chance?

Even Ye Xunzhi's retreating figure exuded "dejection," making Qian Li want to laugh. It seemed a social butterfly like her was destined never to understand the world of the socially anxious.

Looks like I can only go inside and look for evidence now. Damn it, my luck is awful. How could circumstantial evidence be as convincing as direct evidence?

"That outfit's nice. Come here." Just then, a condescending female voice came from inside the house, speaking in a commanding tone.

The smile on Qian Li's face abruptly froze the moment she heard that voice. Then she looked toward the window in disbelief.

Ye Xunzhi's disappointed eyes suddenly lit up. Qian Li's attention was entirely focused on what lay beyond the window, so she did not notice.

Ye Xunzhi declared that, at this moment, that voice was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard!

The people inside clearly had not noticed them. In the middle of the room, a girl with dyed red hair in big waves sat on the edge of the bed and haughtily raised her chin at the person opposite her.

"Did you get the three million I told you to ask Qian Li for?"

Qian Li's fists clenched abruptly. She heard a voice that could not have been more familiar to her.

It was Duan Sifan.

"Qian Li has already agreed to give it to me, but since it's still a pretty large sum, she needs some time. She said she can only give it to me the day after tomorrow."

The girl curled her lips in displeasure. "With Qian Li's family background, isn't three million just a few outfits and a few pairs of trousers to her? I think the main problem is that you're not important enough to her."

"I'm telling you, keep her firmly wrapped around your finger. I don't care what methods you use. Don't disappoint me, understand?"

"I understand. Then, since I've done what you asked, what you promised me..."

"Heh, of course I won't go back on my word. I promised you my first time, and I'll keep that promise."

Restrained sounds soon came from inside, accompanied by the girl's encouraging voice.

"...From now on... ah... keep being good and doing things for me... mm..."

Outside the window, Qian Li's face was thunderous. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined that her perfectly devoted boyfriend was actually someone like this in private.

His approach to her had all been premeditated...

In fact, at first, Qian Li had only stepped in to defend him because she could not stand watching what was happening. She had not had feelings for him.

It was only because Duan Sifan had persistently approached her again and again that she had gotten together with him.

If Ye Xunzhi had not been curious today, she would never have suddenly decided to come over so late at night. She dared not imagine how long that shameless pair would have kept her in the dark without Ye Xunzhi!

The sounds in Qian Li's ears grew louder and louder. It was easy to imagine how heated things were getting inside.

She stood outside, trembling all over with anger.

Ye Xunzhi knew Qian Li needed time to process all this information and these emotions, but she should not do it here.

She tugged Qian Li's hand. Qian Li did not resist and followed her, looking utterly lost.

Without realizing it, the two reached the street. Only when a cool breeze blew over them did Qian Li finally come back to her senses.

She looked at the silent Ye Xunzhi beside her. Not wanting to take her bad mood out on the little girl, she forced her lips to curve into a smile that looked worse than crying.

She stroked Ye Xunzhi's head and said gently, "I'm sorry I gave you such a bad memory today..."

Before she could finish, Ye Xunzhi wrapped her arms around her. Qian Li froze, and a soft, gentle voice sounded by her ear:

"Don't punish yourself for someone else's mistakes. You deserve someone better."

"Ah..." Qian Li opened her mouth, but her throat felt as though a stone had lodged in it.

People were always strange. When alone, they could grit their teeth through anything, and no hardship could knock them down. Yet if someone said a single gentle word at a time like this, all their pretended strength would collapse like a breached dam, the flood sweeping everything away.

Tears slid down her fair cheeks. Choking up, Qian Li hugged Ye Xunzhi tightly.

"Wah... this is so... embarrassing... being comforted by a little girl..."