"It's actually quite funny when you think about it, isn't it?"
"Back then, I was always looking for you in the audience," A-Ling said. "I was always looking."
"I saw you turn and walk away. At the time, I still held onto a final shred of naivety. I thought you were just going to earn money and that you’d come back soon to redeem me."
"I waited day after day, year after year. My value kept dropping. I went from being the ringleader to a prostitute who couldn't even pay someone to take her; I went from a young, beautiful girl to an old, faded woman."
"I watched the seasons pass outside the window, from spring to summer, and then to winter."
"It wasn't until not long ago, when I fell gravely ill, that I truly gave up hope."
"But..."
With tears in her eyes, the woman continued:
"Now, you've finally come, but I can no longer leave."
"Why..."
"Why couldn't you have come just a little bit sooner?"
These words completely shattered the man's pride. This man, who appeared so magnificent to the outside world—the leader of a underworld group respected by countless lions—was now left with nothing but wretchedness.
His tears fell onto the fresh flowers he had bought, onto his expensive suit, and onto his polished leather shoes.
He stood up, choking back sobs. Apologies were stuck in his throat, impossible to voice no matter how hard he tried. He turned and walked toward the door.
"Are you going to run away again?" the woman asked.
"No... I will find a way to make it up to you."
The deer-man spoke as he pushed open the door, leaving without looking back.
..........
The woman's room became empty once more. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at a bracelet.
Suddenly, she began to cough dryly. She coughed until her face turned pale and her breathing grew shallow.
It was as if everything that had just happened was only possible because she had been forcing herself to hold on.
"Don't just stand outside, little girl. Come in," she said.
The door was slowly pushed open, and the blonde girl walked in.
"What is it?" the woman asked.
Xu Xiaoyou’s gaze was complex as she stood before her. The woman’s weathered eyes seemed as though they could see right through her.
"You're here for him, aren't you?"
"Following someone secretly like that... it's surely for no good reason."
The woman chuckled, then began to cough violently again. Xu Xiaoyou stepped forward and offered a bowl of warm water, but the woman refused it.
She leaned against the headboard, her gaze kind and gentle. The candle flame flickered, as if many scenes were flashing through her eyes.
"Really, why bother struggling with myself? To find a bit of leisure in these last few days... isn't that nice too?" The woman laughed softly, though it was unclear if she was mocking herself.
"He owes money," Xu Xiaoyou said.
"How much?" the woman asked. "A guy like him would actually owe money and not pay it back?"
"I always thought he was very strong-willed, someone who cared deeply about his dignity and reputation."
"Over a hundred thousand credit points."
"He owes you the money?"
"No... the company. He owes the company. I'm responsible for getting it back for them."
"If you can't get the money back, little girl, you'll be punished by the company, won't you?"
"Yes," Xu Xiaoyou whispered. "I might even die."
What happened to Xu Nian didn't seem like an accident. Over the past few days, she had checked many records of employee transfers. Most employees who were transferred ended up meeting with some kind of 'accident.'
Especially for security department employees like them who were responsible for debt collection; being fired for failing to meet performance targets was no different from having one foot in the grave. The company and the enemies they had made were always watching.
"It hasn't been easy, has it? Supporting yourself in this city until now?"
"No."
"Really, I can't stand seeing a young girl suffer. It's like I'm looking at my younger self..."
"Suffering is a terrible feeling."
"How about I tell you a bit about him?"
"Okay." Xu Xiaoyou nodded gently.
"He loved to brag. I knew it all along, of course. How could he have had any money? He was a guy who couldn't even afford a meal, picking up scraps in the theater every day."
"But when he told me those tall tales, his eyes were so earnest, sparkling with a kind of light. I've lived underground for so long, and I'd never seen a look like that before. It was so determined."
"From then on, I knew he would succeed. I knew he would eventually achieve the things he boasted about."
"That's why I chose to believe in him..."
"See? That suit he's wearing, those leather shoes... they're all luxury brands he used to brag to me about. How is he doing now?"
"He's in charge of a gang now," Xu Xiaoyou said.
"So, how was my judgment?" the woman asked.
Xu Xiaoyou remained silent.
Seeing the woman start to cough again, Xu Xiaoyou looked worried, but the woman simply took her hand and shook her head gently.
"He did it all..." A glimmer of relief flashed in her clouded vision.
"Do you hate him?"
"I hate him to death," the woman said. "How could I not? What girl in the world, having gone through that at that age, could possibly forgive it?"
"I knew from the time I was a child what kind of dark, lightless environment I lived in. I knew what the fate of the girls around me—and my own fate—would be."
"Flower Pavilion... ah, Flower Pavilion..."
"So while other girls were still crying and begging people not to touch their mothers, I started practicing hard. I practiced the zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting. I studied poetry and prose, and I practiced stagecraft with the master in the courtyard."
"That master was very strict. If a single movement wasn't perfect, I’d be beaten. Because of that, I was often covered in injuries. At night, I’d pick some leaves from the courtyard, crush them, sprinkle some brown sugar on them, and apply them to the swellings. The next day, I’d continue practicing."
"I don't know how many years I spent living like that. In the blink of an eye, I grew up."
"The people here all thought I was some kind of refined talent, but only I knew how much effort I’d put in. My debut dazzled everyone. I became the ringleader of Flower Pavilion. Usually, when girls here reach adulthood, they take over their mother's work, but I was different. Until he appeared, I was still a virgin."
"A ringleader of a moon shop who was still a virgin... what a novel and remarkable thing. my fame spread instantly. Before long, I noticed that as long as I was performing, the audience was always packed. Some people even brought their own stools just to crowd around the edges and see me."
"That was the most glorious time of my life."
The woman let out a long sigh. "I was naive enough to think that those days could last forever."
A moment of silence passed.
"I need to think of how I can help you. Knowing his temper as I do, I'm sure it will be very difficult for you to get the money back."
"Here, take this bracelet, little girl," the woman said, handing it to her. "Don't wear it. You just need to hold it in your hand when the time is right. I think it will help you."
Xu Xiaoyou wanted to refuse, but the woman suddenly found a surge of strength. As if in a final burst of life, she tightly gripped the girl's hand and pressed the bracelet into her palm.
Her gaze was sincere. "This is a peace bracelet. Keep it on you to stay safe."
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