"You—! How many times have I told you? I told you not to work at a nightclub, but you just wouldn't listen!"
"And now look what happened. You offended gangsters! If I hadn't rushed over in time today, do I even need to tell you what would've happened to you?!"
Cao Yang started lecturing Li Yan nonstop.
Li Yan lowered her head, not saying a word, looking pitiful and fragile.
Seeing her like this didn't make Cao Yang soften at all—rare chance to lecture her, he had to take it.
He rambled on and on for a long while. Li Yan didn't refute a single word.
Just when Cao Yang started wondering if she was mentally overwhelmed, Li Yan suddenly threw herself into his arms, hugging him tight.
"Sob… Cao Yang… I really thought I was going to die today…"
"I-I was so scared…!"
Seeing her cry like this, Cao Yang's heart softened. He patted her gently on the back.
"Alright, alright… it's over now. You're fine. We're out of there."
…
By the time they got home, Li Yan's sobbing finally stopped.
"Are you really planning to follow that scumbag?" she asked, worried he might get pulled into gang life.
"No. I look down on people like him," Cao Yang scoffed.
"Then why did you give him your number…" Li Yan paused—realizing something. Cao Yang didn't even have a phone. That number wasn't his.
"Whose number did you give him?"
"No idea. I just made it up."
Li Yan's mouth twitched. "Maybe we should move again… If we run into them later, it'll be bad."
Cao Yang lit a cigarette and sat beside her.
"We ran after offending the Henan Gang, and now we run after offending the Hunan Gang? Then what next?"
Li Yan fell silent.
After a while, she asked softly, "How did you know I was in trouble?"
"I didn't. I went to look for you, saw a crowd, and asked the waiter. Luckily I came when I did, or I wouldn't know what to do either."
"That bastard told me to kneel and apologize… then wanted to drag me off to sell me! And he had the nerve to call himself my fellow villager—f*ck his whole family!"
Li Yan was furious but helpless.
Cao Yang nodded silently. He made a note of this—he would remember Tie Xiong.
"Right, what did you come find me for today?"
"I called my mom. She said you sent two thousand yuan home."
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
"When I asked you to lend me money, you said you didn't have any…"
"I didn't. I'd already planned to send it to my mom."
"But when I asked, you hadn't sent it yet."
"I was going to send it, so I didn't have money."
"…Do you have any money now?"
"No. I sent it all."
…
Cao Yang stared at her. She clearly wasn't telling the truth. She definitely had money—she was just too stingy to lend it.
"Sis Yan, I just saved you today. Shouldn't you repay me a little?"
Li Yan bit her lip. "How… how do you want me to repay you?"
"I want to borrow some money."
"No money."
"You're no fun."
"Are you mad?"
Cao Yang ignored her, changed clothes in front of her, and went to Room 213 to find the guys for a drink.
Li Yan called after him twice, but he didn't look back.
"Stingy brat…" she muttered, then fell into deep thought.
Was she really too stingy?
Cao Yang had just saved her life, and she couldn't even lend him a little money…
She had saved some money over the years—even after sending money home, she still had a bit. A few thousand wasn't impossible. But she really was a hoarder—only saved, never spent.
She thought and thought, and concluded not lending was right. Cao Yang would only use it for slot machines anyway, and then he'd stir up trouble again.
She sighed.
She undressed and changed into her black silk nightdress.
She threw her clothes into the wash bucket—along with Cao Yang's clothes, planning to wash his too.
Before washing, she checked his pockets and unexpectedly pulled out three 100-yuan bills.
Li Yan froze. Where did he get money?
She only gave him ten yuan a day. How could he have three hundred?
Did he… do something bad?
…
In Room 213, Cao Yang found that Lei Dian was already asleep; only Ah Liang, who had just sent Ah Mei home, was awake.
Ah Liang asked him what was wrong.
Cao Yang shook his head. "Nothing."
He headed for the stairs, but the moment he left the room, Li Yan dragged him back.
"Where did this money come from?" she questioned, holding the three hundred yuan.
"You went through my stuff?" Cao Yang frowned.
"What do you mean 'went through your stuff'? I was washing your clothes and found it."
Cao Yang glanced at the bucket and believed her. His irritation faded.
"I earned it myself. Give it back." He reached out.
Li Yan quickly hid the money behind her back. "Tell me clearly—how did you earn this? If you don't explain, I won't give it to you!"
"None of your business." He didn't want to say it—stealing was embarrassing.
"If you won't say it, then forget about getting it back!"
"Li Yan! I just saved your life! And you do this to me?!"
"I am grateful! But I won't let you go astray. You tell me where this money came from or I'll call your mother!"
"You and your damn phone calls…"
"Heh…" Li Yan sneered. "Who do you think taught me that?"
"Fine…" Cao Yang sighed. He had no choice and admitted everything.
After hearing it, Li Yan was furious."How could you steal?! I told you those guys were bad news! Stay away from them. If you ever steal with them again, I swear I'll tell your mother!"
Cao Yang nodded. "I told you the truth. Now give me my money."
Li Yan smiled. "I'll keep it for you. I'm afraid you'll waste it. It's for your own good."
"Li Yan, can you have some integrity? You've said this a thousand times!"
"Go to sleep. If you need money, ask me." She tucked the bills away.
This time, Cao Yang wasn't letting her win. He grabbed for his money.
He caught her left hand. She quickly switched the money to her right.
Cao Yang held her left arm with one hand, reaching for her right.
In panic, Li Yan stuffed the money straight into her bra, then looked at him proudly and winked.
"Give. Me. The money."
"No."
"Fine, I'll get it myself!"
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Cao Yang, you bastard!" Her face burned red. She thought he'd back off—But not only did he dare, he actually looked eager.