Chapter 79: Chapter 79 I am Afraid
He pushed the door open and entered a one-bedroom apartment with a living room and a bathroom. The entire place was less than fifty square meters, with peeling paint on the walls. Even the wooden floor looked ancient, as if it had been used for a very long time.
He placed Xi Yiqian on the only sofa in the living room. For some reason, Xi Yiqian saw no trace of disdain in Xia Liang’s eyes and quietly let out a sigh of relief.
"Um, thank you..."
Watching Xi Yiqian apologize yet again, Xia Liang felt exasperated. "Can’t you say something else?"
"Ah? Something else?" Clearly, Xi Yiqian was taken aback. She cautiously watched his expression and asked, "Um... what do you want me to say?"
The corner of Xia Liang’s mouth twitched. What an interesting character.
The room fell silent once more, and Xia Liang began to feel uncomfortable. "Well, since you’re home safe now, I’ll be leaving." With that, he turned to leave.
"Wait!" Xi Yiqian called out.
Xia Liang turned his head. "Is there something?"
Only then did she seem to snap out of it, pulling a cell phone from her bag. "Um, could you leave me your number? For today... thank you. I’ll repay you," she said, lowering her head as she handed the phone to Xia Liang.
Xia Liang stared at the phone she offered, momentarily stunned. This phone... even my mom doesn’t use one of these anymore. It’s basically a feature phone for seniors. It’s hard to imagine a college student still using something like this in this day and age. This apartment, this phone... Her family’s financial situation probably isn’t very good.
Xia Liang said nothing. He simply took the phone, dialed his own number, and saved his name in the contacts. "There," he said, handing the phone back to her.
"Alright, I’m off then," Xia Liang said.
Xi Yiqian moved to see him out, but he just gave a casual wave. "No need. I’ll see myself out." With that, he walked out the door.
Closing the door behind him, Xia Liang shook his head as he headed downstairs. What kind of girl is she? Still, it’s a shame I didn’t get to see her real face. A 99-point rating... she must be gorgeous.
Lost in thought, Xia Liang reached the ground floor and froze. Huh? Where the hell is my scooter?! What is this crap! He felt a major headache coming on.
"Whatever! Just my damn luck," Xia Liang muttered, preparing to walk out and hail a cab.
Suddenly, a voice called out from behind him. "Wait a moment!"
Huh? Hearing the familiar voice, Xia Liang turned to find Xi Yiqian had run up and was grabbing his sleeve.
Her face was filled with guilt. She had only meant to run down and tell him he’d forgotten his helmet, but then she overheard that his scooter had been stolen.
"I’m so sorry! You lost your scooter because of me! How much was it?"
"Huh?" Xia Liang turned to look at her.
Xi Yiqian was already pulling a handful of cash from her pocket. The loose change didn’t even add up to three units.
"You don’t have to," Xia Liang said, waving a hand dismissively.
Xi Yiqian grew anxious, her voice rising. "No! I’ve already troubled you so much today. If you hadn’t brought me home, your scooter wouldn’t have been stolen."
As she spoke, she pulled out two one-unit bills, then hesitated before adding a fifty-milliliter note. Even so, she was still terribly nervous. She had already sent this month’s thirty-unit allowance home, and this was all she had saved from last month. She knew an electric scooter cost around eight units, but this was all the money she had. For the rest of the month, she had already resigned herself to eating steamed buns and pickled vegetables until she got paid again.
Xia Liang didn’t take it. Instead, he gestured toward the money in her hand. "This is probably everything you have, isn’t it? If you give this to me, what will you eat for the rest of the month?"
Xi Yiqian didn’t answer. She just lowered her head and stubbornly held the money out to him.
Xia Liang sighed, then snatched the loose change from her other hand. While she watched in confusion, he picked out two milliliters. "Just two milliliters. We’ll call it payment for my help and the lost scooter. That makes us even."
He then solemnly put the two milliliters into his pocket and handed the rest of the money back to Xi Yiqian.
"You..." Xi Yiqian started to protest, but Xia Liang shot her a glare, and she instinctively flinched.
He pressed the money into her hand. "Take it."
Hearing his indisputable tone, Xi Yiqian looked up at him pitifully. Even with the ugly makeup, she looked utterly adorable.
"Alright," Xia Liang said, waving his hand. "I’m really going home this time."
But he hadn’t taken more than a few steps before he felt a tug on his clothes again. For crying out loud!
Xia Liang turned, and Xi Yiqian immediately let go, lowering her head again. He was speechless. "Lady, what is it now?"
Xi Yiqian didn’t speak, just stubbornly held out the two hundred and fifty milliliters he had returned.
That’s it! My patience is wearing thin! Why won’t she just listen?
"I told you to put that away! I already took payment, do you hear me?!"
This time, feeling the pressure from his stern voice, Xi Yiqian finally put the money away. Xia Liang let out a breath, the corner of his mouth twitching.
First time I’ve met a girl like this. You talk nicely and she doesn’t listen; you have to get harsh. Seeing she had finally complied, Xia Liang turned to leave again. "Alright, I’m going."
Xi Yiqian lowered her head, her voice extremely small. "Um... could you not leave? It’s very late, and it’s not safe."
"What?" Xia Liang’s eyes widened, thinking he had misheard.
Xi Yiqian bit her lip lightly. "I... I’m scared. Every night a drunk man comes knocking at my door."
Xi Yiqian herself didn’t know why she was asking this of a boy she had just met. Maybe it was because he’d helped her, or because he’d brought her home. But most likely, it was because he was still willing to help her even after seeing her in this state.
Seeing Xia Liang’s silence, Xi Yiqian quickly waved her hands, forcing herself to appear brave. "Actually... I was just kidding."
Xia Liang let out a long sigh. "Forget it. If you’re not afraid of me, a guy you just met, then what’s the harm in me staying for one night?"
As Xia Liang’s words fell, a flicker of excitement flashed in Xi Yiqian’s eyes. The two of them went back upstairs.
Xia Liang glanced at the room and asked casually, "So, where do I sleep?"
Xi Yiqian immediately pointed to the bed and began to straighten it.
"Hmm?" Xia Liang’s brow furrowed. No way... Did I misjudge her?
"What about you?" he asked.
Xi Yiqian, seemingly oblivious to his suspicion, picked up a very thin sheet and walked over to the sofa. "I’ll just sleep here tonight."
Looking at the thin sheet, Xia Liang felt a complex mix of emotions.
Next, Xi Yiqian took out a new bath towel and handed it to him. "I... I don’t have any pajamas for you. You can go take a shower first."
Xia Liang took it without giving it much thought.