"She could give her a sum of money, find her a good job, and guarantee her a life free from worry about food and clothing for the rest of her days. But neither of us agreed. She was very disappointed."
Hearing this, Tian Tian could understand.
"Hui Hui is going through so much. Just the other day I was thinking so negatively about her, I was so narrow-minded."
"It's not your fault, you're already doing great."
Chen Dongyang glanced at her slender hands resting on her knees and couldn't help but reach out and hold them.
"Actually, I guessed your true identity a long time ago. You are a very low-key and good person. Don't talk about yourself like that."
Looking at the hand resting on hers, rough, with calluses on the palm.
Tian Tian felt a pang of sadness.
"I think Hui Hui has fallen for you, are you really not planning to marry her?"
Chen Dongyang sighed, "I've always seen her as a friend, even a creditor. I feel like I owe her and need to make amends for the rest of my life, but I never thought of developing into that kind of relationship. I'm very troubled by it now."
For a moment, Tian Tian's mind raced.
Although she liked Chen Dongyang's hand holding hers very much, it was unfair to Hui Hui.
She slowly withdrew her hand.
"She has already lost the person she loved the most. Her entire life now revolves around you and Dou Bao. If you are taken away by another woman, I think she will go mad."
Chen Dongyang understood her unspoken meaning and after a pause, also withdrew his hand.
"I know what I'm doing now is scummy, I'm sorry to you, and also sorry to Hui Hui, but I can't help it."
"Really. For the first week I didn't contact you, I felt like I was going crazy. Every moment, no matter what I was doing, I was thinking of you."
"I'm not saying this to gain your sympathy, nor do I expect anything from you, I just want to express myself honestly. Even if we can't be together in the future, can we cherish the present? Cherish every moment we can be together, don't push me away, just let me follow my heart one last time and find some sweetness in life. Otherwise, I truly feel life is meaningless."
His words seemed to imply a proposal for them to be lovers for a week.
Tian Tian didn't want that.
A week was too short for her.
A week of sweetness would require a long time of healing afterwards, it wasn't worth it.
But after years of living cautiously and hesitantly, she hadn't experienced the joys and sorrows of love. Now that she had finally met someone she liked, she didn't want to let it go just like that.
After much thought, she said.
"A few days ago, I read something online that said if two people start a relationship with the intention of making themselves happy, then they shouldn't do or think about anything that makes them unhappy."
"If I agree to be with you properly for this week, and we don't talk about what we owe each other, nor about anything else in the future, and just genuinely live this week well, okay?"
Chen Dongyang was overjoyed and immediately pulled the car over to the side.
"You agreed? Tian Tian, you agreed?"
Tian Tian voluntarily extended her hand, and Chen Dongyang took it. She shyly fidgeted for a few seconds.
"To be honest, I've never been in a relationship before. This is also the first time in my life I've held hands with a man other than my father or brother. If we start, you'll be my first love."
Chen Dongyang's emotional burden suddenly became very heavy, and his expression immediately sagged.
Tian Tian said, "I don't mean to burden you with that. Remember what I just said, no talk of debts. I'm an adult, and I can take responsibility for my choices. From this second on, we will only do things that make us happy."
The two went to a restaurant and ordered some down-to-earth barbecue.
Chen Dongyang pulled Tian Tian's wheelchair next to him, "Can I feed you?"
"Perhaps it's because I'm older and understand how to take care of people, or perhaps it's because you're so endearing that I just want to feed you."
Tian Tian asked him, "Have you never fed anyone else before?"
"No. I'm proud and independent, even when people spend money on me, they have to coax me into accepting it."
"Scumbag."
"Yes. That's why I'm facing retribution now by meeting you. I plan to make up for all my past debts to you."
Tian Tian accepted it, closed her eyes and leaned back in her wheelchair.
"Alright then. Since fate has bestowed this upon me, I will accept it gracefully. Feed me."
They ate and joked, and it was almost two in the morning by the time they returned to the base.
To their surprise, everyone was still very energetic. Although they were in their own rooms, their voices could be heard; no one was asleep.
As Chen Dongyang pushed Tian Tian to her doorway, a girl from the room next door opened her door.
"You're still up?"
"Not yet, why aren't you asleep?"
The girl hesitated for a few seconds before pulling her door open completely.
A tall boy, with whom she had played games earlier that evening, appeared behind her.
So late, with an unmarried man and woman together, anyone could see what had happened.
Chen Dongyang smiled, "Are you guys going out?"
The girl said, "No. Anyway, we're all adults, so we're not afraid of you knowing. I've decided to date him. How about this? To avoid disturbing Tian Tian's rest tonight, why don't you go and stay with your boyfriend? That way, he can take care of you, and we won't have any psychological burdens."
"I know this request is unreasonable, so I've prepared a small gift for you. Please accept it."
So she had come out to discuss this with Tian Tian. It seemed they had big plans for the night.
Tian Tian's face flushed red, but she still caught the gift.
"As the saying goes, helping others achieve their desires."
"Then you guys have fun, we're leaving."
The boy lived on the floor above. Chen Dongyang pushed her to her room and then squatted down, smiling, "Why are you so kind, throwing yourself into a wolf's den? Aren't you scared?"
Tian Tian said she wasn't afraid, "I'm disabled, do you still have wicked thoughts?"
Of course, he wouldn't have wicked thoughts.
Since there would be no outcome, Chen Dongyang wouldn't touch her.
He pinched her cheek, "I'll help you get ready for bed."
As before, he carried Tian Tian to wash up. When he was about to take her back, Tian Tian said she wanted to shower.
"I smell like barbecue, I don't want to be laughed at tomorrow."
"Can you manage by yourself?"
"I can wash while sitting."
"Then I'll help you get your things ready."
Chen Dongyang brought a small stool into the bathroom for her, adjusted the water temperature, helped Tian Tian in, and waited at the door.
After she finished, he carried her to the bed, tucked her in, and covered her with the blanket.
"You sleep first, I'll go wash up too."
There was only one bed in the room, and the two of them were going to share it. Tian Tian's heart couldn't help but pound.
She closed her eyes, trying to sleep, but couldn't.
Soon, Chen Dongyang returned.
He turned off the light in the room, made some rustling sounds, and lay down beside her.
There was a large distance between them, neither touching the other. After lying quietly for tens of seconds, Chen Dongyang asked Tian Tian.
"Are you asleep?"
Hearing his voice in the dark night was exceptionally captivating.
Tian Tian half-covered her face with the blanket, "Not yet."
"Can't sleep?"
"Mmm."
"Then I'll hold you to sleep, and pat you."