Chapter 4

Thinking that I still owed Wang Li three thousand yuan, I was even more afraid to spend money in the hospital.

The silly girl tried to persuade me for a long time but found it useless, so she didn't insist anymore. Sister Ling had already helped us ask for leave. To thank me, the silly girl wanted to treat me to a meal.

I didn't really want to agree to eat, but thinking about it, it was better to be clear, so I took it as a thank-you gift for her, and after that, I didn't really want to have any more interaction with her.

Through our conversation, I learned that this silly girl was named Su Xueyan and was actually still a student, but she was already an adult, otherwise, Sister Ling probably wouldn't have dared to hire her. Her family situation wasn't very good, so she would work part-time when she was free, mainly because the KTV salary was higher and there were tips. What she didn't expect was that the water in the KTV was sometimes very deep, especially in our small place, far from the emperor's reach.

However, I heard Su Xueyan say that Sister Ling was quite strict about this, not allowing guests or others to bully people in her shop. It was precisely because of Sister Ling's existence that Su Xueyan dared to work part-time at this KTV.

"What are your plans for the future?" We sat opposite each other in a restaurant, and I spoke first.

"What plans can I have? You already understand my family situation. I really need this job, and my sister's grades are very good now. If I went elsewhere, I wouldn't be able to earn this much money at all!" Su Xueyan said helplessly.

"But with what happened with Wang Li today, I'm afraid it won't be easy in the future!" I was a bit worried inside. Honestly, I even thought about running away, but Wang Li could find where I lived, so even if I ran, there was no way. But this silly girl was different.

"It's fine, I have Sister Ling to protect me, and I have you!" When Su Xueyan mentioned me, her face flushed slightly. She looked at me and then hurriedly lowered her head.

Because we were sitting directly opposite each other, it was convenient for me to look at Su Xueyan. I only then realized that Su Xueyan was actually quite pretty. Although she didn't have the temperament of Sister Ling, she was also very pure and cute. Comparing the two, I felt even more inferior.

"Me? Protect you? You're overthinking it. It's good enough if I don't cause trouble. I'm just a useless piece of trash!" I said self-deprecatingly. Thinking of Wang Li's matter, I felt very desperate. I couldn't imagine that the days ahead would probably be even more miserable.

"No, I believe in you, you definitely can!" Su Xueyan gave me confidence, looking at me firmly, while reaching out to grab my hand.

I suddenly subconsciously pulled away from Su Xueyan's hand as if I had been electrocuted. My face was burning, and my heart was even more timid. I gritted my teeth and shouted, "I don't believe it, you'd better pray for yourself in the future, don't come bother me again!"

After saying this, I ignored Su Xueyan's reaction and ran out quickly.

I returned to the place where I lived. This place was left behind by Sister Shuang years ago. The house wasn't big, only two rooms, very narrow. But now only I was left. After Sister Shuang left, she never came back. During this time, I occasionally sent text messages and called, but no one replied. Sister Shuang had disappeared as if she had evaporated from the world.

As usual, I took out the Nokia phone I had used for many years and sent a text message to Sister Shuang, asking when she would be back.

But unlike usual, this time I actually received a reply. Seeing the reply, I was extremely excited and surprised. I stared at the phone carefully for a long time before clicking on it.

However, seeing the content of the message, my heart was even more surprised. Sister Shuang said she would be back in a while, telling me to take good care of myself and study hard.

Seeing "study," I was very panicked. Originally, I should have been in my third year of high school like Su Xueyan, but the tuition and living expenses Sister Shuang gave me had long been squandered by me. Now I was not a student at all.

I looked at the message for a long time, but I didn't dare to reply. I didn't know how to tell Sister Shuang.

After thinking for a whole night, I decided to make something of myself. Since I couldn't go to school, if I still acted like an ordinary bottom-of-the-society thug, Sister Shuang would definitely look down on me. I decided to become strong, to make a name for myself, so that when Sister Shuang came back, she would look at me with admiration.

Early the next morning, as if I had been injected with adrenaline, I arrived at the KTV early. Because it was the weekend, there would be more guests, so the shop opened earlier. Just as I reached the entrance, I saw Su Xueyan. Su Xueyan was dressed the same as before today. Logically speaking, KTV hostesses should dress a bit sexier and more enchanting, but Sister Ling didn't think so. Sister Ling said that some pure ones were also good; some people just liked this type.

Seeing me, Su Xueyan felt a bit nervous, but I took the initiative to greet her, and Su Xueyan responded happily.

If it were before, after what happened yesterday, I definitely would have ignored Su Xueyan today, but today I was in a good mood, and with the previous confidence, I took the initiative to greet her.

"Yesterday, I'm sorry, I was too abrupt!" Su Xueyan apologized for yesterday's matter.

"It's not your problem, you don't need to apologize. It was my fault. As compensation, I'll treat you to a meal after work today!" I smiled and said to Su Xueyan.

Su Xueyan was clearly not used to my sudden change. She looked at me and said, "I find that you've become a bit different today compared to yesterday?"

"Oh? Is that so? Have I become uglier?" I asked jokingly.

"No, you've become more charming!" Su Xueyan smiled slightly.

I chatted with Su Xueyan for a few words and then went back. Although Sister Ling didn't manage us very strictly, I was afraid that because of me, Wang Li and the others would hold an even greater grudge against Su Xueyan, which wouldn't be good.

Returning to our base, I found that Wang Li and the others didn't have much of a reaction to my arrival. I had been prepared to face a storm, but there wasn't even a breeze, which made me very strange.

However, I could see the obvious hatred in Wang Li's eyes when he looked at me, but he hadn't made a move yet. I guessed there might be some reason, or he was planning something else.

They were like usual, asking me to go out and buy cigarettes and food, and of course, the money was the same as before, making me pay a portion.

"The money isn't enough. Even hard-pack Zhonghua cigarettes cost forty-five a pack!" My sudden, blunt remark shocked all of them.

"Screw your mother!" Wang Li was so angry he slapped the table and was about to move, clearly full of anger.

"Brother Li, don't, don't, have you forgotten Brother Tao's words?" San Mao on the side quickly stopped him.