Chapter – 03
Taking Shelter
“Sister,” the young man said unhurriedly, “you know what kind of person he is. When he sees a chance to extort money, he won’t let it go.”
“Besides, I beat him that badly. Even if we go through legal channels, we won’t get away with paying much less.”
“I’m in my third year of high school now. If the school finds out I got into a fight…”
Jiang Yan didn’t finish his sentence.
He was currently attending a prestigious school in the district.
Li Yang understood what he meant. If Li Guobang went to his school to cause a scene, then the student registration that had been so difficult to transfer there in the first place would likely be in jeopardy.
Li Yang could only start the car with a frustrated grumble, unable to resist complaining:
“Now you remember you’re in your third year of high school? When you were hitting him, why didn’t you hold back a little?”
Jiang Yan looked at her, his expression serious. “Just tell meâdidn’t it feel good seeing him beaten like that?”
Li Yang pressed her lips together.
After a moment, she let out a soft sigh, a sly smile spreading across her fair, radiant face. “It actually did feel pretty good.”
Because of her mother, she would never forgive Li Guobang.
But unfortunately, she was his daughter, and she couldn’t lay a hand on him.
Now, Jiang Yan had vented years of pent-up resentment on her behalf.
Seeing her smile, Jiang Yan let out a low chuckle as well.
The young man’s smile was like fresh snow after a clearing storm.
For a moment, the awkwardness and formality between them melted away.
Li Yang couldn’t help teasing him, “I didn’t expect someone so skinny to be so good at fighting.”
Jiang Yan’s smile faded. He looked down at his own lean arm and said quietly, “I didn’t eat well growing up, and I grew too fast. I am skinny now, but I’ll fill out over time.”
Li Yang hadn’t expected him to be so sensitive about being “skinny.” She paused for a moment, then quickly backtracked: “I didn’t mean it in a bad wayâjust stating a fact. Honestly, being lean gives you that youthful, boyish charm.”
It wasn’t just boyish charm.
He was handsome. Really, really handsome.
Of course, Li Yang felt too embarrassed to say that out loud.
Jiang Yan’s phoenix eyes dropped, his emotions unreadable. “So then… you’re not put off by skinny guys, are you?”
“Of course not!”
Li Yang denied it immediately.
She didn’t pick up on the probing undertone in his words and started complimenting him instead. “I heard from Aunt Chen that you’re also a great student. Top of your class and a fighter tooâyou must have lots of girls liking you at school!”
Seeing her look so gossipy and curious, Jiang Yan’s expression turned a little cold. “No.”
“…”
The newly thawed atmosphere froze over again.
Li Yang hadn’t expected that at twenty-four years old, she still couldn’t manage to appease a seventeen-year-old boy.
She could only turn her gaze back to the road and focus on driving.
The late-summer breeze blew in through the half-open window, light and shadow drifting across their faces.
It was an incredibly pleasing sight.
Li Yang’s long hair accidentally brushed against Jiang Yan’s fingers.
Jiang Yan casually pinched a strand of that black hair, his face betraying nothing.
—
Li Yang’s place was on the first floor of an old residential compound within the Third Ring Roadâa house left to her by her grandfather.
Her grandfather had long seen that Li Guobang was unreliable and had made a will early on, transferring the property to Li Yang’s name.
If it weren’t for that, Li Yang wouldn’t even have a place to live.
It was an old sixty-square-meter apartment with two bedrooms and a living room. After Li Yang started working and earning money, she had renovated it into a cozy, warm cream-colored style.
The moment she stepped through the door, the aroma of home-cooked food wafted toward her.
The small white dining table was already laden with dishes. Chen Hongfeng carefully carried out a clay pot of fish head soup and set it down.
She wiped her hands and said, “Yangyang, you’re back? Go wash up and come eat!”
Li Yang walked over and took a look, exclaiming, “Wow, this is so lavish! Thank you, Aunt Chen.”
Chen Hongfeng said apologetically, “You’ve helped us so muchâcooking a meal is the least I can do. I should be the one thanking you.”
Li Yang said seriously, “Like I said, we’re family. No need to be so formal.”
She felt deeply moved inside.
For all these years, this was the first time she had come home to a hot, fragrant meal waiting for her.
It finally made her feel what it was like to have a real home.
The three of them sat down.
While eating, Li Yang told Chen Hongfeng about Li Guobang demanding two hundred thousand in compensation.
Seeing Chen Hongfeng’s face fall, she quickly reassured her, “I have some savings. Don’t worry.”
Chen Hongfeng shook her head and said bitterly, “Yangyang, it’s not that I don’t have the moneyâit’s that I happen to have exactly two hundred thousand in savings. Li Guobang must have known that all along and deliberately named that amount.”
Jiang Yan ate in silence, not saying a word.
Li Yang also thought Li Guobang was despicable. “Aunt Chen, after everything that’s happened, you can see my father is no good. You really can’t keep getting tangled up with him anymore.”
“Think of it as paying money to avoid disaster. It’s still not too late to start a new life.”
Chen Hongfeng nodded. “You’re right. Actually, a few days ago, my former employer asked if I’d be willing to work as a housekeeper for a family in Haichengâtwenty thousand a month. I was hesitating, but now I’ve decided to take it.”
Li Yang’s chopsticks paused. She caught the key detail immediately. “Haicheng? Then what about Jiang Yan…”
Chen Hongfeng lowered her head a little sheepishly. “Yangyang, I’m hoping you might let Jiang Yan stay with you for a while. Once I get paid, I’ll find him a place to rent nearby. I won’t impose on you for long.”
Li Yang hesitated.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to helpâif Chen Hongfeng were staying here too, she wouldn’t have minded.
But having just Jiang Yan stay here felt a bit awkward to her.
After all, he was already such a big boy.
For a moment, the air fell silent.
Jiang Yan finally looked up, his narrow phoenix eyes glancing indifferently at Chen Hongfeng. “It’s okay, Mom. I can find a group rental room somewhere. It won’t be too expensive.”
Chen Hongfeng glared at him. “That won’t do. Group rentals are so chaoticâand you’re about to start your third year of high school. Your studies can’t be taken lightly.”
Jiang Yan popped a piece of beef into his mouth and said nothing.
With the mother and son laying out their dilemma so plainly, Li Yang couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. She interjected, “Jiang Yan, you can stay with me for now.”
Jiang Yan said indifferently, “Won’t that be a bother for you?”
“Of course not.”
The corner of Jiang Yan’s mouth curved slightly, as if he wasn’t ready to let the topic go. “And what about when your boyfriend comes over?”
Li Yang’s face flushed. She understood what Jiang Yan was implying.
“You little brat, what are you thinking! When Wenjing comes over, it’s just to drop things off or sit for a while. We… we don’t do anything.”
Jiang Yan: “Oh.”
His response was cold.
Perhaps it was her imagination, but Li Yang seemed to catch a flicker of a smile quickly passing through his eyes.
Chen Hongfeng scolded, “You child, so grown-up for your age. Why are you prying into adult matters?”
Jiang Yan wiped his mouth unhurriedly. “I’m asking in advance to avoid awkwardness later. I see the two bedrooms are right next to each other. Old houses probably have thin walls tooâwhat if I hear certain soundsâ”
Even the back of Li Yang’s ears burned. She said exasperatedly, “Don’t worryâyou won’t hear a single sound!”
Kids these days knew way too much.
Chen Hongfeng glared at Jiang Yan. “Can you just shut up?”
