Chapter 59: The Meaning of Life

"Kid, I advise you to mind your own business, or I'll beat you up along with them!"

The three thugs wore fierce expressions, their bodies reeking of alcohol.

Ye Feng sneered, said nothing more, and charged straight at them.

He landed a heavy punch on the face of the nearest thug, who collapsed to the ground without even a groan.

Before the second thug could react, Ye Feng kicked him flying, and he slammed heavily into the wall.

Seeing this, the last thug pulled out a switchblade, but Ye Feng was faster.

He grabbed the man's wrist and gave it a hard twist; the switchblade clattered to the ground, followed by an elbow strike that sent the final thug down as well.

"Brother..."

Ye Linger threw herself into Ye Feng's arms, shivering all over, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

Ye Feng took off his jacket to wrap around his sister and comforted her softly: "It's okay now, Brother is here."

Just then, the sound of police sirens approached from the distance.

Only then did Ye Feng notice that Xiaomei had brought the police over.

After the police arrived, they handcuffed the three thugs and asked Ye Feng and Ye Linger to go to the police station to give statements.

By the time they finished their statements, it was nearly dawn.

Ye Feng drove Ye Linger home; the whole way, she clutched her brother's sleeve tightly, like a frightened little kitten.

"Brother..."

Ye Linger spoke suddenly, her voice still trembling: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone to a place like that..."

Ye Feng ruffled her hair, his tone gentle yet reproachful: "Don't go to places like that again. If something had happened, how worried would Mom be all by herself?"

Ye Linger nodded, then suddenly seemed to remember something; she blinked, her tone turning playful: "By the way, Brother, why do you smell like perfume? And it's women's perfume... Could it be from Sister Gu Ran?"

Ye Feng was taken aback, his earlobes turning slightly hot, and he feigned seriousness: "Don't ask about such things, you're just a kid."

Ye Linger, however, wouldn't let it go and smiled slyly: "Oh~ looks like I guessed right. Brother, you move pretty fast!"

Ye Feng was teased into a state of embarrassed anger and deliberately stiffened his face: "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tell Mom about what happened tonight!"

Ye Linger immediately covered her mouth, but her eyes still sparkled with gossip.

After returning home, Ye Feng sent Ye Linger back to her room, but he couldn't fall asleep himself.

He stood on the balcony, gazing at the night view in the distance, and Gu Ran's figure involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

What is that stubborn little woman doing right now?

On the other side...

Inside the Gu Family Villa...

Gu Ran was facing a war without smoke...

"Ranran..."

Gu Mother took an elegant sip of black tea, her tone calm yet carrying unquestionable authority: "I heard you've been getting very close to that driver lately?"

Gu Ran gripped the teacup in her hand, her tone firm: "He is just an ordinary driver of mine!"

Gu Mother sneered: "An ordinary driver?"

"How come I heard from Xiao Li that he is your boyfriend?"

Gu Father interrupted her, his voice cold and hard: "If he's just an ordinary driver, then fire him. Stay away from him from now on; I have already arranged your engagement with the Li Family."

Gu Ran raised her head and looked straight into her father's eyes: "That was arranged by you; I never agreed to it!"

"Nonsense!"

Gu Father slammed the table and stood up, his face livid: "The Li Family is a prestigious clan, and Young Master Li is young and promising. In what way is he not good enough for you?"

"I don't like him."

Gu Ran's voice was very soft, yet carried an unquestionable strength: "Besides, I already have someone I like!"

The teacup in Gu Mother's hand fell to the floor with a "clatter," and her face turned pale instantly: "You... what did you say?"

"That little driver?"

Gu Ran took a deep breath, her tone calm yet firm: "So what if it is? Although he may not have a prominent family background, he is more reliable than anyone else!"

"If it weren't for him last night..."

"Enough!"

Gu Father roared, cutting off Gu Ran's words: "I absolutely will not allow you to associate with that kind of person!"

"From today on, you are not allowed to see him again!"

Gu Ran stood up, tears shimmering in her eyes, but her voice remained firm: "Dad, Mom, I am no longer a child. I will make my own decisions about my feelings!"

After saying this, she turned and ran out of the living room, leaving Gu Father and Gu Mother staring at each other with ugly expressions.

Gu Ran walked aimlessly down the street; the night breeze brushed her face, but it could not blow away the frustration in her heart.

Passing a convenience store, she stopped, went inside, and bought a six-pack of beer.

Carrying the beer, Gu Ran walked to the Moat without realizing it.

The river water shimmered under the moonlight, and the willow trees on the bank swayed gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound.

Gu Ran found a deserted spot to sit down, opened a can of beer, and tilted her head back to take a large gulp.

The cold liquid slid down her throat, but it could not extinguish the agitation in her heart.

She opened another can and drank it mouthful after mouthful.

The alcohol gradually went to her head, and her thoughts began to drift.

The scene from last night uncontrollably surfaced in her mind—Ye Feng's warm embrace, his low voice, and that reassuring scent.

Gu Ran's face felt slightly hot; she shook her head, trying to chase these images away, but the more she wanted to forget, the clearer the memories became.

Immediately after, her parents' words rang in her ears again: "Your engagement with the Li Family was settled long ago; it is not up to you to act recklessly!"

"That driver of yours is simply not worthy of you!"

Gu Ran suddenly crushed the empty can in her hand and threw it fiercely into the river.

She did not understand why her life had to be arranged by others.

Why did she not even have the right to choose the person she loved?

She opened another can of alcohol and tilted her head back to gulp it down.

Under the influence of the alcohol, her vision began to blur, and tears flowed down uncontrollably.

"Ye Feng..."

She murmured this name and took out her phone to dial his number.

The call was answered quickly, and Ye Feng's deep voice came through: "Gu Ran?"

"Ye Feng..."

Gu Ran's voice was choked with sobs: "I want to see you."

"Where are you?"

Ye Feng's tone immediately became tense.

"By the Moat..."

Gu Ran gave a specific location.

"Wait for me, don't go anywhere."

Ye Feng hung up the phone after saying that.

Gu Ran gripped her phone, tears falling incessantly.

She did not know why she had called Ye Feng, but she just wanted to see him very much, very, very much.

Twenty minutes later, Ye Feng's car pulled over to the side of the road.

He walked quickly to Gu Ran's side, and seeing the empty alcohol cans scattered at her feet, his brows furrowed tightly.

"Why did you drink so much?"

He sat down beside Gu Ran, his tone filled with reproach and heartache.

Gu Ran turned her head to look at him, and tears welled up again: "Ye Feng, tell me, what is the meaning of life, really?"

Ye Feng was stunned for a moment, then asked softly: "Why do you ask that?"

Gu Ran lowered her head, her voice choked with emotion: "Everything has been arranged for me by my parents since I was little."

"Which school to attend, what major to study, and even who to marry... I am just like a marionette, completely lacking a life of my own!"

Ye Feng was silent for a while, then said softly: "Gu Ran, your life is your own; no one can decide for you!"