Half an hour later, Ruan Xingyao and You Huan came out of the room.
You Huan looked a little downcast.
She stole glances at Ruan Xingyao several times, wanting to say something, but Ruan Xingyao’s stern expression intimidated her into silence.
Ruan Xingyao walked her to the door, still wearing that serious look, and said, “Remember our agreement, otherwise next time during the livestream, I’ll kick you out.”
You Huan puffed her cheeks, reached out to hold Ruan Xingyao’s hand, and shook it back and forth, acting coy: “Xingxing, don’t be mad at me, okay?”
Ruan Xingyao raised her hand and tapped You Huan’s forehead.
“I already said I’m not mad. I just don’t want you doing reckless things again.”
You Huan: “Fine, then I’ll come find you tomorrow to hang out.”
Ruan Xingyao nodded. “Be careful on your way back, and text me when you get home.”
Grinning, You Huan leaned closer to her, teasing: “Xingxing, you sound just like my boyfriend right now.”
Ruan Xingyao was stunned. “If I were your boyfriend, I’d be the one sending you home.”
You Huan replied, “No way, then I’d have to bring you back again.”
Just then, Ruan Xingzhuo walked over.
He grabbed his sneakers from the shoe rack, quickly put them on, and said to Ruan Xingyao, “I’ll walk her home.”
The moment he said that, not only did You Huan jump in surprise, even Ruan Xingyao immediately raised her head to stare at him, completely unsure what he was up to.
But Ruan Xingzhuo didn’t explain anything.
He simply stepped outside.
You Huan froze, staring blankly at his back, until Ruan Xingyao poked her to snap her out of it.
Ruan Xingyao said, “Go on, if Xiao Zhuo takes you back, I’ll feel more at ease.”
You Huan nodded, waved at Ruan Xingyao, then ran to catch up with Ruan Xingzhuo.
Just in time—the elevator had arrived, and the two of them stepped inside together.
As the elevator doors closed, You Huan nervously twisted the hem of her clothes with both hands, sneaking glances at Ruan Xingzhuo in the reflection.
“So handsome!”
“No matter how many years pass, seeing this face still makes me swoon!”
She didn’t realize that she had accidentally mumbled her thoughts out loud.
Ruan Xingzhuo lifted his gaze, meeting hers in the reflection of the elevator door, his eyes full of helplessness.
Soon, the elevator doors opened and the two stepped out one after the other.
You Huan’s driver had already parked the car by the roadside.
Quickly, You Huan pulled out her phone and sent a message telling the driver not to come over.
Ruan Xingzhuo stopped and looked at her. “Taking a cab, then?”
At this hour, the buses and subway had long since stopped running, and his family’s car had already been sold off to pay debts.
For a moment, he forgot that You Huan had her own car and a driver.
You Huan put her phone away, lifted her head to look at Ruan Xingzhuo, her eyes full of laughter, and said, “Anything works, walking home is fine too.”
Ruan Xingzhuo was a little speechless.
He asked, “Do you still live in the same place as before?”
You Huan’s eyes lit up even brighter.
She couldn’t help but take a step closer to him, asking excitedly, “You still remember where my home is?”
Ruan Xingzhuo replied, “Ning City’s earliest rich district—hard not to remember.”
You Huan let out an “oh,” sounding a bit disappointed.
She stepped back to her original spot, tapping her foot against the ground, and said, “Too bad, I don’t live there anymore. I’ve got my own place now.”
Ruan Xingzhuo: “Address.”
You Huan quickly went through her properties in her head.
Actually, she had one nearby—half an hour’s walk at most.
But instead, she picked the farthest one.
“Minghai International. I live there,” You Huan said.
Ruan Xingzhuo looked at her with a deep gaze but didn’t say anything.
He pulled out his phone to call a car.
Watching his expression, You Huan suddenly felt a pang of regret.
She didn’t know exactly how much a ride from here to Minghai International would cost, but it definitely wouldn’t be cheap.
And she couldn’t bear to let Ruan Xingzhuo pay.
So, she snatched his phone from his hand and canceled the order.
You Huan said, “I’ve got another place nearby. Just walk me there, we can go on foot.”
Ruan Xingzhuo pressed his lips together, gave a small nod, and asked, “Which direction?”
You Huan pointed with her hand, and Ruan Xingzhuo started walking that way.
You Huan stood in place for quite a while before jogging to catch up.
“Ruan Xingzhuo, are you mad at me?”
Ruan Xingzhuo: “No.”
For a moment, You Huan didn’t know what to do.
She drooped her head and followed behind him, feeling terribly frustrated inside.
Suddenly, her forehead bumped into his back.
Dazed, she lifted her head.
Ruan Xingzhuo had already turned around. “You Huan, let’s talk.”
You Huan nodded, glanced at a bench not far away, and said, “Let’s sit there and chat.”
Ruan Xingzhuo had no objections and strode over.
After sitting down on the bench, he clasped his hands together, resting them on his legs, his eyes fixed on the river ahead.
Several minutes of silence passed before Ruan Xingzhuo finally spoke.
“You Huan, I know you’re tipping in my sister’s livestream to help us, but for us, it’s also an invisible pressure.”
Hearing this, You Huan’s fingers curled tightly, and she hurried to explain, flustered.
“I…”
Ruan Xingzhuo cut her off and continued,
“I don’t know what arrangement you and my sister have, but I want to sign an agreement with you.”
You Huan asked, “What kind of agreement?”
Ruan Xingzhuo said, “I’ll talk to my sister. If you want to tip, she won’t refuse you anymore. Just treat that money as if I’m borrowing it from you. Within five years, I’ll pay it back.”
This was a decision Ruan Xingzhuo made after careful thought.
He was now a senior in high school, and preparing for the college entrance exam had to come first.
But his grades were never a concern—he could get into any top university at home or abroad.
And after the exam, he could start earning money.
Within five years, he was confident he could pay her back in full.
You Huan said, “With the money you earn, you can pay back those other people first.”
Ruan Xingzhuo replied, “I don’t want my sister to suffer too much.”
You Huan couldn’t quite understand. “But if you insist on paying me back, how is that any different from those other people?”
Ruan Xingzhuo turned his head toward her and said, “It’s different. Borrowing from you is a private matter between us. You also need to keep it secret—don’t tell my sister. That way, she’ll think the money’s already been paid back, and she’ll feel less pressure.”
You Huan suddenly understood, her eyes curving unconsciously into a smile.
She said, “Ruan Xingzhuo, you’re still as kind as when you were little.”
Ruan Xingzhuo was speechless for a moment, then let out a short laugh.
“This is a family matter—it’s my responsibility to shoulder it. What does kindness have to do with it?”
You Huan wagged a finger and said, “That’s not true at all.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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