396: Give me money!

Give me money!

Seated at a corner table, Qin Yan and Zhuang Yu indulged in animated conversation, their laughter mingling with the vibrant ambiance. However, their tranquil interlude was abruptly shattered by the abrupt entrance of a disheveled figure. Zhuang Yu's face drained of color, her breath catching in her throat as she recognized the intruder – her boyfriend, Wen Li. His eyes were wild with desperation, and his voice pierced the air as he called out Zhuang Yu's name, drawing the attention of the entire cafe.0

"Zhuang Yu!" Wen Li's voice echoed through the coffee shop, filled with a desperate plea. The once-charming smile that Zhuang Yu had fallen for seemed replaced by a worn and haggard expression, betraying the struggles he had succumbed to as a gambler. With hurried steps, he made his way towards their table, his anxiety palpable.

A mixture of fear and apprehension gripped Zhuang Yu, but she summoned the strength to face Wen Li, her voice betraying both vulnerability and determination. "What is it, Wen Li?" she asked, her voice quivering with a hint of fear.

Wen Li's gaze darted between them, his voice fraught with desperation. "I need money, Zhuang Yu," he pleaded, his tone revealing the depths of his troubles. "I've found myself in yet another bind, and I have nowhere else to turn."

Tears welled up in Zhuang Yu's eyes, her emotions warring within her. The weight of her own sacrifices, the countless times she had bailed him out, threatened to crush her spirit. She sobbed softly, her voice filled with both sadness and frustration.

"Wen Li, I gave you money just yesterday," she managed to say through her tears. "I don't have much left with me. I can't keep giving you money like this."

The desperation etched on Wen Li's face gave way to a bitter sneer as he lashed out, his words dripping with disdain.

"You never cared about me," he spat, his anger directed towards the woman who had supported him in his darkest moments. "If you don't have money, then how can you afford to sit here and enjoy coffee?"

A profound sense of shame washed over Zhuang Yu as she hung her head, her tears cascading onto the tablecloth. The anguish of being humiliated in a public setting further wounded her already fragile spirit. In that vulnerable moment, Qin Yan, a witness to this emotional exchange, was filled with a potent mixture of anger and compassion. She extended a comforting hand, placing it gently over Zhuang Yu's trembling one, offering solace and solidarity.

Around them, the other patrons had turned their attention to the unfolding scene. Curiosity and concern painted their faces as they observed this intimate yet heart-wrenching confrontation. The background chatter subsided, replaced by a hushed silence that magnified the emotions swirling within the coffee shop.

Despite the harsh words and the humiliation she endured, Zhuang Yu summoned the last vestiges of her courage. She looked up at Wen Li, her eyes shining with a newfound determination. "This is the last time, Wen Li," she whispered, her voice a blend of sorrow and resilience. "I can't keep sacrificing my own happiness for your mistakes."

Wen Li's expression wavered, a flicker of realization crossing his face. He recognized the toll his actions had taken on Zhuang Yu and the profound damage he had inflicted upon their relationship. His anger dissipated, giving way to a sense of resignation. Without uttering another word, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the coffee shop, leaving behind a trail of tension and unresolved emotions.

Slowly, the room began to regain its familiar buzz. Conversations picked up, cups clinked, and the air resumed its usual rhythm. Qin Yan and Zhuang Yu, however, remained rooted in their seats, their coffee forgotten. They sat in silence, seeking solace in each other's presence, their intertwined hands offering mutual support and understanding.

"I am sorry that you had to witness all this," Zhuang Yu wiped her tears and said to Qin Yan.

Qin Yan shook her head, "It's fine. But if he treats you like this, why don't you leave him?"

"I love him. We have come a long way and I trust that my love will bring a positive change in him," Zhuang Yu was still optimistic about her relationship.

Zhuang Yu then shared the details of her relationship with Qin Yan. The latter listened quietly.

She and Wen Li were lovers from a small mountain village. They had escaped from families that valued sons over daughters. When she got together with Wen Li, who had entered university, Zhuang Yu thought that their suffering was only temporary and that they would have a sweet future together. After he graduated, he would marry her, have a child with her, and have a family of their own. These dreams made Zhuang Yu endure through her part-time job in the hospital as a caretaker. 

However, Wen Li soon became addicted to gambling. Although he attended the university, he would regularly go to the gambling den after his classes. 

Zhuang Yu felt that the reason why Wen Li was so irritable was that the pressure from studying at university was too great. She thought that as long as she earned more money, everything would be better. She gave all her money to Wen Li, she also paid for his education. She was afraid that Wen Li would be looked down upon at school, so she bought him clothes and shoes worth a few hundred dollars, and bought him a new phone.

However, whatever she did, Zhuang Yu didn't compromise on her studies and got into the Beijing University's medical department. She worked extremely hard to manage everything.

Zhuang Yu's eyes were filled with tears as she recounted everything to Qin Yan. Her emotions lingered, like fragments of shattered glass. 

Qin Yan listened attentively without saying anything. She wanted to advise Zhuang Yu to end the relationship but she knew that Zhuang Yu would not listen to her, atleast for now.

*

After getting out of the coffee shop and bidding goodbye to Zhuang Yu, Qin Yan was about to call for a cab when she heard an annoying voice.

"Yan Yan, is that you?" Xi Yaohua walked towards Qin Yan with a smile. 

Qin Yan sighed. It seemed that today was a day of encountering scumbags. As she didn't want to spoil her mood further, she chose to ignore Xi Yaohua.

However, now that Song Mei was of no use to Xi Yaohua and he saw the woman of his dreams, he couldn't let Qin Yan go. He put on a gentle and affectionate expression. He called Qin Yan's name softly, "Yan Yan, I didn't expect to meet you here. I have something to say to you. Can we find a place to have a good talk?"

"Mr. Xi, I don't have anything to say to you. So, I advise you to leave quickly. I am already in a bad mood," Qin Yan looked at Xi Yaohua with a cold face.

"Yan Yan, wait," Xi Yaohua blocked Qin Yan's way. 

"I know I hurt you, Yan Yan," he admitted, "I was foolish, and I regret what I did. I want to apologize and make things right."

Qin Yan's patience had run out. 

"Xi Yaohua," Qin Yan suddenly changed the way she addressed him, "Don't pester me anymore, and don't think that I still have feelings for you. I'm very happy now. I have a boyfriend and I love him very much."

"I think the president of Global World Entertainment doesn't lack women around him. It's too ugly for you to cling onto me like this."

"Yes, I don't lack women around me." Xi Yaohua suddenly became agitated. He took a step forward and grabbed Qin Yan's hand. "But Qin Yan, I only want you. The only woman I want to marry is you. Please give me another chance, please don't give up on me. Yan Yan, I love you. I can't..."

Before Xi Yaohua could finish his sentence, a cold voice came from behind. "Mr. Xi, don't you think you're being too shameless by harassing someone else's girlfriend? Did you ask for my girlfriend's permission?"

Xi Yaohua stiffened.

Qin Yan looked up and saw Xi Ting walking towards her. She was stunned for a moment before pushing Xi Yaohua away and walking towards him quickly.

Before she reached Xi Ting, the man reached out and pulled her over, wrapping his arm around her waist possessively.

Qin Yan was obedient too. She tugged at the corner of his shirt and asked softly, "Why are you here?"

Xi Ting looked down at her, and his gaze softened, "I came to pick you up."

Xi Yaohua looked at their intimate actions and his expression darkened. Although he had long guessed that Qin Yan was with another man by now, it was a lot easier to deal with it when he hadn't seen the man himself.

Now that he saw him in person, he felt a stab to his heart realizing that it was a young, handsome man who looked so good with her, and not an old fogey.

Even breathing became a chore. 

pqdm.com