Chapter 7

Jiang Ye called me, asking where I was and why I hadn’t come back yet.

I told him I went downstairs to take out the trash and would be back up soon.

He simply replied, “Hmm.”

“Then I’ll go to sleep first!”

By the time I went upstairs, Jiang Ye was already fast asleep, facing the left side and leaning against the edge of the bed, leaving more than half the space for me.

I didn’t get into bed; I just sat at the edge.

I spent the whole night staring at Jiang Ye’s back.

The year I met him, he was eighteen and had just been accepted into this city.

A rebellious teenager, he filled out his college application against his parents’ wishes, and as soon as he got the acceptance letter, he ran off without even bringing any luggage, just a backpack.

His brother, Jiang Heng, was worried about him and asked me to help, to pick him up from the station.

“He doesn’t have any money on him, and the school hasn’t opened yet. Let him stay at your place for a while. He’s a stubborn kid, so if he says or does anything to upset you, just give him a good scolding!”

I thought Jiang Heng was out of his mind.

Even if he was just a young boy, I couldn’t let him stay with me.

I was already prepared to rent another place for him.

But he looked so pitiful and was so well-behaved.

When I went to pick him up at the station, he was squatting under a big tree, hugging his bag like an abandoned puppy.

He followed me home obediently.

Before I could even suggest he find another place to stay, he was already tugging at my sleeve, pleading.

“Sister, I’ll be good. I’ll cook for you, clean the house. Please don’t kick me out!”

I couldn’t help but laugh, thinking he was just saying whatever came to mind.

But he really did cook for me every day and even rode his electric bike to pick me up from work.

Because of his presence, my once lonely rented apartment became lively.

The daily commute didn’t seem so rushed anymore.

We lived under the same roof for a month.

Later, I was the one who helped him get his belongings and sent him off to school.

At first, I thought it was just a brief period of living together.

But then he told me he had chosen that university because of me.

He said he had seen me once when he was sixteen.

Since then, all his hopes had been tied to me.

This man, when he was still a boy, came to me with pure sincerity.

I fell for him.

But now he wants to take it back.

I must quickly pull myself out of this mire.