Chapter 3

Lin Xiran quickly ran to his side and said softly, “It was Miss An who accidentally knocked over the porridge, don’t blame her.”

Jiang Huaixu didn’t listen to her, instead he turned to me and said, “Apologize.”

I stared at him, stunned, “I didn’t…”

“An Qin, apologize.”

His tone was heavier, a sternness that left no room for me to argue.

I lowered my head, “Sorry, Miss Lin…”

“Alright, Huaixu, don’t be so harsh on everyone else except me. She’s burned too, let her apply some ointment.”

“She doesn’t need to apply ointment.” Jiang Huaixu’s gaze fell lightly on me, like a reminder, yet also like a mockery.

“In the slums, what kind of injury hasn’t she suffered?”

I froze.

But said nothing, fleeing back to my room.

He was right.

Children unwanted in the slums have it the hardest, this kind of injury really isn’t much.

The day I saved Jiang Huaixu from the mouths of several stray dogs, my knees were covered in blood, and I merely gritted my teeth and rinsed them with clean water.

At that time, I didn’t know he was the Young Master of the Jiang Family, one of the giants of Hai City, nor did I know that taking him home would later be seen by others as a scheming girl trying to repay kindness and climb the social ladder.

I stopped at that alleyway simply because Jiang Huaixu, lying beside a pile of garbage, reached out a hand to me full of pleading.

It was so much like when I escaped from my father, fragile and helpless, yet with no one to help.

A shabby little house, having one more person living in it wasn’t much.

It was just a few more basins of dishes washed in the restaurant’s kitchen every day, and half of the meal money taken away.

Jiang Huaixu had nothing, and could only offer me the last of his possessions.

I refused, and he would always say, “An Qin, once my parents deal with the enemies and take me back, I’ll repay you.”

In the end, the young man had red eyes, each word precious and sincere, “An Qin, I like you.”

“Come home with me, and never suffer here again.”

He kept his promise.

After going back to Hai City with him, there was a big house, endless food, and no need to endure injuries alone anymore.

Yet, I could never fit in here.

A tube of ointment was pressed into my hand, and I stared at it blankly.

After a while, I managed a smile at Aunt Zhang beside me.

“No need.”

“I’ll be moving out tomorrow, please let Young Master Jiang know.”