550: 539 550: 539 “Tell me what you’re thinking, and if it’s something I can do for you, I’ll definitely help!” Mo Yuyao said earnestly, but right after she finished speaking, she suddenly got nervous.
Sitting in front of her was a convicted criminal sentenced to life.
What if he asked for something inappropriate, or made that kind of request?
She’d already offered her help, could she still refuse?
“Well…
okay…” Song Yun saw the hint of regret in Mo Yuyao’s eyes, so he didn’t dwell on it any longer.
If he hesitated, Mo Yuyao might just bail on him.
“I was wondering…
if we could be friends,” Song Yun mustered all his courage to say.
Upon hearing Song Yun agree, Mo Yuyao’s heart clenched, and her palms immediately began to sweat.
But then, after hearing what Song Yun actually said, Mo Yuyao was taken aback, and her heart tightened again.
All he wanted was to be friends with her, where had her mind wandered off to?
She had actually doubted such a simple construction worker, taking a dim view of his intentions.
She had really been mistrustful of an honorable person.
“Is that not okay?
Ah, I understand you.
After all, there’s a vast gap between our statuses,” Song Yun said with a self-deprecating smile.
Within that self-mockery, there was also a hint of sadness that Mo Yuyao could see.
Mo Yuyao felt as if her hesitation had already deeply hurt such a pure person, which made her feel an inexplicable sense of guilt.
“It’s okay, of course it’s okay!” Mo Yuyao revealed a sunny smile.
“Actually, we are already friends right now!”
“Really?
Are you really willing to be my friend?” Song Yun asked excitedly.
“Of course it’s true.
It’s not just that I’m willing to be your friend, but that we are making friends with each other!” Mo Yuyao said earnestly.
“I, Mo Yuyao, have made a new friend today named Song Yun.”
After hearing that, Song Yun did the same.
“I, Song Yun, have also made a new friend today, named Mo Yuyao.”
After speaking, the two of them looked at each other and then laughed together.
“Alright, Song Yun, since we are friends, I must tell you to reform yourself.
The Prison Chief is my uncle.
If you reform well, I might be able to put in a good word for you.
Even though you’re sentenced to life, if you keep getting sentence reductions, you could be released before I get married,” Mo Yuyao said with a smile.
“You getting married?
Are you planning on getting married?” Song Yun asked in surprise.
“Not yet, there’s still time.
Don’t you understand what I’m saying?
Even with reductions, you’ll still have to stay here for about ten more years.
I’m only 24 this year, and my goal is to get married at 35.
So, hehe, you might even be able to attend my wedding,” Mo Yuyao said playfully.
Having heard this, Song Yun breathed a sigh of relief.
He had thought that this woman was engaged to someone else, but it seemed like she was firm about being single.
This actually gave Song Yun more of a chance.
A smile crossed Song Yun’s face—this girl definitely needed some work.
“Yuyao…
I’ll call you Yuyao, you don’t mind?” Song Yun said shyly.
“Not at all, of course not,” Mo Yuyao replied with a laugh.
“That’s what my family calls me.”
“Yuyao, what do your parents do?” Song Yun asked curiously.
“My father is the chief physician at our local Second Hospital, and my mother works for the Industrial and Commercial Bureau.
The Prison Chief is my uncle.
I just graduated from university last year, and just when they needed someone here, my uncle arranged for me to come,” she explained.
“Oh?
So you’re a nepotism hire?
Sigh, I envy you for having such a good family,” Song Yun said, full of envy.
But if Mo Yuyao knew that the envious guy in front of her was the primary heir of one of the country’s foremost families, she might well want to stab this pretentious bastard with a syringe.
“I actually envy those of you who are self-reliant.
I intended to go out and struggle on my own, but my parents were worried about me.
They said it’s safer to be where there are relatives and acquaintances, and where others can take care of you.
Pff, I think young people should venture out more,” Mo Yuyao said, frowning slightly with a mix of dissatisfaction and regret.
“Actually, you’re not aware of the blessings you have,” Song Yun sighed.
“The children of wealthy families, accustomed to a life of ease, naturally need the so-called self-challenges.
But for us poor folk, all we ask is that we can keep ourselves fed and warm.
Our ‘aspirations’ are nothing but reasons to keep us from crumbling under the weight of such a life, even though everyone knows it’s self-deception.
But…
how should I put it, sometimes self-deception is better than despair.”
“But isn’t it said that people need to challenge themselves in order to achieve greater success?” Mo Yuyao asked.
“That’s for the rich who can afford to relax.
Life is different for everyone.
The wealthy, used to delicacies, might find rustic dishes appealing now and then, and then envy us who can eat such untainted natural food every day.”
“In truth, if you really had to eat simple meals for a week, no matter how healthy or green, I guarantee you’d turn green in the face.
While we struggle just to eat, you’re already eating meat every day.
By the time we can have meat occasionally, you’ve grown tired of it.
And when we can eat meat every day, you’ve become bored with all delicacies and turn to our plain food.”
“I always feel that we can’t keep up with your way of life,” Song Yun sighed, his eyes flicking subtly to Mo Yuyao, because according to his observations, Mo Yuyao was a naive girl, just 24 years old, barely a year out in society.
What cunning could she have?
So, Song Yun’s strategy toward Mo Yuyao was to play a different card.
What’s the opposite tactic?
Simply put, it’s to occasionally disagree with your target or to show a side of yourself that’s different from others.
Because a woman like Mo Yuyao certainly wouldn’t lack suitors, and the general suitors would spoil a girl when chasing her.
Thus, Song Yun planned to do the opposite, but he had to be careful with the extent—to show he was different, yet not be too contrary to Mo Yuyao’s views.
Being fully opposed could easily breed dislike.
Song Yun observed Mo Yuyao and was delighted to find that her face showed a thoughtful expression.
From this, it was clear that Mo Yuyao was mostly in agreement with what Song Yun said and was combining it with her past knowledge to make her own judgment.