**41**

The stack of money in his hand weighed over a thousand pounds, carrying the sincere and brave heart of a young boy.

Ruan Yinmeng never expected Chi Sheng to go this far. A sudden wave of soreness hit her, and tears fell unexpectedly, landing on the stack of money still warm from Chi Sheng’s palm.

Chi Sheng’s hands reacted before his brain, hurriedly rummaging through his pockets for a tissue. After searching through once, he realized he had used them all to wipe her sweat.

She stood stiffly as if she had done something wrong, unable to find her own voice. After a long moment, she softly said, “Don’t cry, I didn’t force you…”

Only then did she realize that she had only thought about getting her to leave that place and stop doing that job, without considering her difficulties. She must have her own reasons for being there, reasons she was forced into.

Thinking this way, Chi Sheng’s eyes also grew warm, but she was unwilling to give in, so she kept repeating, “That place is really bad, please change your job.”

Ruan Yinmeng wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand. Her eyes were bloodshot, reddened from holding back tears, and her eyelashes were still wet as she looked at Chi Sheng in front of her.

She had done nothing improper. Seeing her cry, clearly distressed, yet remembering what she said last time, she respected her wishes and stood properly outside the door, not daring to come closer.

That sourness surged up again, but Ruan Yinmeng held it back and looked down at the wound on Chi Sheng’s hand, saying, “Come in.”

Ruan Yinmeng’s home was just as it had been before, still spotless and immaculate. The mimosa plant on the windowsill had grown much taller than when Chi Sheng had brought it back, its leaves denser. The pattern on the white enamel cup was still brand new, without a trace of fading.

After not coming for a month, everything here remained familiar.

This put Chi Sheng a little more at ease.

Ruan Yinmeng went to the bedroom, and when she came out, she was holding a bottle, a bag of cotton swabs, and a few band-aids.

Chi Sheng knew what she was going to do and quickly shook his hand: “No need, it’s just a small wound, it will be fine in a couple of days…”

Her refusal died down after Ruan Yinmeng gave him a cold glance, and he only dared to finish his sentence in a voice so soft that only he could hear: “…fine.”

A trace of a smile flashed in Ruan Yinmeng’s eyes, but it quickly disappeared. She looked at this still immature young man with almost affectionate tenderness, gazing at the small swirl of hair on the top of his head.

She suddenly felt a bit regretful; she shouldn’t have let her in. She should have refused her once more at the door. After this time, Chi Sheng would probably give up for good, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

That day, when they met in the hallway, Chi Sheng didn’t say a word. They just passed each other by like that. Ruan Yinmeng comforted herself, thinking that he was probably completely disappointed in her, but that comfort was quickly overwhelmed by a heart-wrenching, unbearable reluctance.

It was as if a bone was being forcibly torn from her body. She endured the hollow longing and could only keep telling herself that this was for the best, that this was exactly what she wanted.

And now, Chi Sheng has returned, carrying the future supported by her tender shoulders.

Ruan Yinmeng knew rationally that she should drive her away, but she really couldn’t bring herself to do it.

She tried hard to ignore the greedy desire to have Chi Sheng, telling herself with both restraint and indulgence that at least she would treat the wounds on her hands, and once the wounds were treated, she would let her go.

She brought Chi Sheng to the window and moved a chair over for her to sit.

Ruan Yinmeng sat on another chair beside her and asked her to raise her hand.

Chi Sheng was hiding it, not wanting her to see. Ruan Yinmeng glanced at her with pursed lips, and she didn’t dare to hide anymore, afraid of making her unhappy.

The wounds were all caused by bricks hitting and steel wires scratching, far from being severe injuries to muscles or bones, but there were so many cuts that it looked a bit frightening.

Chi Sheng hadn’t treated them before, only washing her hands each time; after all, they would heal sooner or later.

Ruan Yinmeng selected a few particularly deep ones to disinfect. The sting of the disinfectant soaking into flesh made Chi Sheng gasp sharply. Ruan Yinmeng’s hand trembled as she lifted it, the pressure on the cotton swab so strong her fingertips turned white. She couldn’t bring herself to continue.

Chi Sheng hurriedly comforted her, “It’s okay, this kind of cut heals very quickly, in at most a week it will basically be unnoticeable.”

“What did you go to do?” Ruan Yinmeng asked, lowering her head.

Chi Sheng hesitated for a moment before saying, “I went to the construction site to move bricks.” It wasn’t that he looked down on moving bricks as undignified—there’s nothing shameful about earning money with your own hands—but the money earned this way was indeed hard to come by, making him seem less capable.

Because many places don’t hire minors,” he explained. “In a couple of years, when I grow up a bit more, I’ll be able to earn more. Just hang in there for these two years, okay?

Ruan Yinmeng answered irrelevantly, “Doesn’t your grandmother feel sorry for you?”

Of course, she felt heartache, but Chi Sheng would hide it. She raised her eyebrows with a bit of pride: “I didn’t let grandma see it.”

She left early and came home late, so it was easy to avoid being noticed. If grandma saw it, no matter how old and visually impaired she was, she wouldn’t believe that this was the result of studying sculpture.

As Chi Sheng said, they were all small wounds that healed quickly, except for one particularly deep spot on the back of her hand.

“It might leave a scar,” Ruan Yinmeng said, lowering her head.

Chi Sheng wanted to say that having scars didn’t matter, but she knew Ruan Yinmeng would feel hurt, so she didn’t say it.

If she didn’t make things clear to her, she didn’t know what else she might do. Ruan Yinmeng thought it over and over, then said, “Don’t do these things anymore, just focus on your studies.”

Chi Sheng remained silent, stubbornly looking at her, insisting on getting a promise from her.

Ruan Yinmeng sighed inwardly, wondering how there could be someone so pure and innocent. How much sincerity could there be among those who wallow in the world of pleasure? If Chi Sheng hadn’t met her, he would probably have been deceived until he had nothing left.

Yet just the thought of Chi Sheng meeting someone else made Ruan Yinmeng feel a tightness in her chest.

She wanted to advise him to be more guarded in the future, not to bare his heart so openly to others, but she couldn’t find the right position to say such words.

Before she could speak, Chi Sheng broke the silence. He said gloomily, “Do you think I’m stupid, that I’m easy to deceive?”

Ruan Yinmeng hesitated, then nodded.

Chi Sheng looked at her somewhat angrily: “Because it’s you.”

She got angry, her cheeks puffed up slightly, but her gaze was heavy, both annoyed and like a fire gone out with nowhere to vent. Ruan Yinmeng didn’t know how to react to her straightforward words, the heaviness in her chest was driven away by warmth, only to be replaced by an even greater wave of soreness and weakness.

Why did she have to meet someone so good?

Chi Sheng didn’t know what she was thinking, but he was very resentful. She said, “I know what kind of person you are.” After saying this, she recalled what Ruan Yinmeng had said that day, and she suddenly felt powerless, but still solemnly said, “I really know.”

At first, you only had a slight liking for me. It was only when I started to have feelings that you felt things had gone off track and became anxious. You don’t like me, I know.

“Later, you also felt moved. When I recited that poem to you, I understood your gaze. You, like me, wanted to immerse yourself in this dream. You like me, I felt it.”

“You are unwilling to live the life you have now. You said you never went to school, but you have a bookshelf full of books. When you go out, you like walking under the sunlight; you’d rather hold an umbrella than not walk in the sun. You like my eyes because they are pure. Your cleanliness obsession is more severe than anyone I’ve ever met. One night when you came home, I was waiting for you in the hallway. You were wearing such heavy makeup, very beautiful, but the exhaustion in your eyes was so intense, like a helpless narcissus flower—clearly proud, clearly unwilling, yet forced to sink in the mire.”

“I saw it and couldn’t pretend I didn’t.” Chi Sheng looked at her a bit embarrassed, “I was being sentimental, so just consider it you asking me for help. You like brightness, and I want to share my light with you.”

“So, it’s not that I’m gullible or easily fooled; it’s that you told me you’re unwilling to live this kind of life. You want to go to a place of light and warmth.”

The high walls of defense crumbled instantly within a few sentences. Ruan Yinmeng’s eyelids blurred with tears; she could no longer say the words that would make him leave. She could no longer drive Chi Sheng away or say anything cruel to him.

Why did she have to meet such a good person?

Because she came to save her, with her obsession, with her solitary courage, with her unwavering and unyielding love, to rescue her from that boundless darkness.