Xue Yang understood this was her first time running away from home. Since it was only the first day, returning now would surely earn her a two-on-one verbal assault from her parents.
If a few more days had passed, things would have been different. Her family would have been scared to death. Who would have the heart to scold her then? They'd be too busy smothering her with hugs and kisses in relief.
Fortunately, she ran into me. If it had been someone else, she really might have been sold off to the mountains to bear children for some stranger, or worse, she might have lost her life. Oh well, it's just a few more days of rent. If worse comes to worst, I can just go hand out flyers with that guy Cui Hao. Like he said, two broke dogs make for good company.
Wait, that's not right. It seems like I'm the only one who's truly broke. Cui Hao just needs to make one phone call home, swallow his pride, and he'd be a fine fellow again. Why is the gap between people so huge?
"Um... I'm hungry..." she whined softly.
Lin Xi's big, watery eyes stared at Xue Yang, like a Xiao Naimao that had been waiting all day for its owner to come home.
Involuntarily, Xue Yang's mind flashed back to the pulse-pounding scene from when he'd first walked in, and a hint of pink crept up his ears.
The Xiao Naimao didn't seem to notice his unease. She clutched her growling stomach, looking so pitiful it seemed she might burst into tears at any moment.
Who could possibly resist a Xiao Naimao begging for affection?
Xue Yang's heart immediately softened.
"Didn't I give you one hundred yuan this morning?" he asked. "Even if you didn't go home, you could have used that money to eat. You didn't have to starve all day."
There was only one pack of instant noodles left in the rental unit, and she had eaten it that morning. It looked like she'd eaten it raw, too, since Xue Yang saw no signs that the kettle had been used.
Don't tell me she ate a single pack of dry noodles all day without even drinking any water? Does she not have even the most basic life skills?
"I don't know where to get food around here," she explained. "Besides, I don't have a key or a phone. If I went out, I... I wouldn't be able to get back in."
She hadn't wanted to wait outside all day. It would have been a disaster if someone recognized her; she didn't want to go home.
Xue Yang sighed heavily. He had assumed she would leave, which was why he hadn't given her a key. He never imagined...
For a moment, he wasn't sure whether to be angry or to laugh.
"Come on, I'll take you out to get something to eat."
Fortunately, the place he rented wasn't far from a food street. It was just a short walk away; otherwise, she would have had to keep starving.
"Since you don't want to go home for now, shouldn't we at least exchange names? I'm Xue Yang, a Yanbei University first year from Hui City. And you?"
"I'm Lin Xi, from Yanjing. As for the rest... I'd like to keep that a secret for now, if that's okay."
Xue Yang didn't see anything wrong with that. If she didn't want to say, he couldn't very well force her.
"Ling Xi?"
Hearing Xue Yang say her name, Lin Xi's heart leaped into her throat. Her disappearance has been all over the news these past few days. He couldn't possibly know who I am, could he?
"Your name is quite nice. Is it the 'Ling Xi' from that idiom about two hearts having a tacit understanding?"
Lin Xi's tense heart finally settled. Thank goodness he hadn't recognized her. Otherwise...
Lin Xi felt torn. Part of her hoped he would recognize her and still treat her normally. But she was also terrified that if he did, he'd be tempted by the one hundred million yuan reward to forcefully send her back to that cold house.
"Yes, that's the one. Your name is nice, too. It has a very sunny feeling."
Xue Yang was a little surprised. His name did indeed come from the word for "sun," but after chasing Chen Ying for so many years, he had almost forgotten his own name.
He went back to his room to change, then found a pair of sweatpants for Lin Xi. "Make do with these for now," he said. "We can see about buying you an outfit when we're out. You can wear them for the next few days until you go home."
I'm broke, yet here I am worried about someone else not having clothes. I really am a good person.
Lin Xi's eyes went wide. A man's pants!
He actually wanted her to wear a man's pants!
But other than Xue Yang's pants, she really didn't have anything else to wear. The bottoms she had on were actually the safety shorts that went under a Lolita-style dress. They were fine for wearing around the house, but if she wore them outside, she would turn every head on the street. The more attention she drew, the greater the chance of being exposed. That was absolutely not an option.
"But I've never worn a man's pants in my entire life."
Her inner turmoil was killing her, making her seem even more like a helpless Xiao Naimao.
"You can also choose not to wear them," Xue Yang stated flatly.
"That's not an option."
"Then wear them."
"..."
"Aren't you hungry? Hurry up and change."
"Can't you just get takeout and bring it back for me?"
"You can also choose not to eat."
"..."
Lin Xi reluctantly took the pants and went to the restroom to change. He had a point. She was already staying in his home; it would be too much to ask him to bring food back for her.
Soon, Lin Xi emerged wearing Xue Yang's sweatpants. The loose white T-shirt and baggy pants gave her a unique charm. Since the waistband was far too big, she came out holding the pants up. After searching for a moment, she found a stray piece of string and used it to tie the waistband tight. With the pants secured, she tucked in her baggy shirt, and her incredible figure was suddenly on full display...
Xue Yang felt that strange sensation shoot straight to his head again, crashing around inside as if desperate for an outlet.
He abruptly averted his gaze and turned away.
"Don't... don't tuck your shirt in."
Lin Xi looked down at herself, completely baffled. She didn't see a problem.
"What's wrong?"
"Just let your shirt hang loose, or we're not going out."
Does she have any idea how alluring she looks like that?
In the end, Lin Xi did as Xue Yang said and untucked her shirt. Before they left, she found a black face mask and put it on. Only after she was certain no one would recognize her did she follow him out the door.
Xue Yang found it strange, but he didn't say anything.
「...」
It was past five in the evening, and the pedestrian street was gradually growing crowded. In October, the sun set shortly after six, and the neon lights of the shops were already beginning to flicker on, painting the street in stunning colors.
The calls of hawkers selling their wares filled the air, painting a picture of the bustling prosperity of the Yanbei University Town. This scene was just a small glimpse of life in Yanjing.
Xue Yang and Lin Xi walked side by side down the street. Even with the mask on, she still seemed extremely cautious.
"Here, something to tide you over."
Xue Yang emerged from a bakery and handed a sandwich to Lin Xi.
"Thank you!"
"Don't thank me. I've put it on your tab."
"..."
This guy really knew how to kill the mood.
"They have bubble tea! Xue Yang, I haven't had anything to drink all day."
Xue Yang was about to say she could just buy a two-yuan bottle of water, but her pitiful tone made his heart soften once again.
"Go on, buy one."
Lin Xi suddenly burst into tears, her face a beautiful, tragic sight. "SOB... Xue Yang, you're the first stranger who's ever been this nice to me. Thank you."
"..."