The boy's words, "I'm sorry," choked in his throat.
The girl didn't give him a chance to apologize. With nearly all her strength, she stared directly at Jiang Sui with her crimson eyes.
Every word was clear and distinct.
"You've made the distinction clearly. I just feel so insignificant. I can't bear what you've given me."
"Jiang Sui, don't you think our minds aren't on the same wavelength?"
"I'll think about how I can compensate you for the money you gave me. I've tried everything, but I've found no way to make up for it."
"I'm an extremely ordinary girl. I've never been to any fancy restaurants or amusement parks. In my life, there's nothing else I can do except study, to change my destiny. I don't have any friends either. May be there's something wrong with me, so I don't have any friends."
"Even only one, I think my academic level is acceptable, but it's not the best, and it's not even as good as yours."
The girl, with her self-esteem mired in the mud, stood in the shadows in the cramped air. Her expression of pain and helplessness turned to indifference as she recounted the facts.
Jiang Sui stood helplessly to the side, quietly watching the girl not far away.
The bright, sunny day suddenly turned to thunder and lightning.
Heavy rain poured down from the sky.
The rain instantly soaked their clothes.
Jiang Sui tried to grab Su Qing's wrist, but was shaken off.
"I'll take every word you say seriously. Become a police officer, or eat what. I'll do it all."
"I'm not smart, Jiang Sui. I'm just exhausted."
"I'm an extremely passive person. I don't care about anything. What you need is someone who cares and loves you."
"Any slight will be a reason for me to give up on you. That's just how I am. I can't afford to lose."
Su Qing turned away, not wanting to see the pain in the boy's eyes.
"You probably don't know, but I spent a long time choosing that steak restaurant last time, even buying coupons in the app."
After she finished speaking, Su Qing's eyes were filled with a sense of complete devastation. She felt her face damp, as if it had rained.
Su Qing pursed her lips and smiled. Fortunately, it was raining.
It wouldn't be too embarrassing, right?
Her prickly pride was completely swept away.
She and he were so different from before. Su Qing's mind was in a tizzy. She felt completely exhausted, and the pain in her hips and legs was even worse.
She just wanted to leave.
But her wrist was gripped tightly.
Su Qing paused beside the boy's tall body.
The sound of a light, pattering raindrops fell, showing no sign of stopping.
Su Qing looked up. The street was now pitifully empty and quiet. The traffic slashed the road, leaving a high streak of water, splashing up and then drifting down.
Just like her heart right now, it felt empty and numb.
"Are you really very tired?"
The boy's voice was thick with reluctance, even helplessness. He didn't know how to start, but he still didn't want the person in front him to leave like this.
Su Qing pursed her lips and gritted her teeth.
"Yes, yes, it's tiring."
Quick and decisive, cutting through thorns with unwavering determination.
In the rain, their fingers intertwined, Su Qing's fingers pried the boy's wrists apart one by one.
Without even looking back.
No goodbyes.
She just walked away.
He remained standing, looking at the spot where Su Qing had stood, as if the girl hadn't left.
His mind replayed those scenes.
Her reservedness in the restaurant, her shyness at the amusement park.
And telling him, "Let's give it a try."
Is she really tired?
Why doesn't he feel tired?
After a long moment, an unidentified amount of time had passed since the rain began, the phone in his trouser pocket rang, and the young man answered.
"I have a private job tonight. Take it? Match-fixing. 3,000 per match."
The boy agreed without a second thought, "Take it."
"Good boy, straightforward!"
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Sui lowered his head and casually got into a taxi.
It was nine o'clock in the evening, inside a basketball arena on Yongdong Avenue.
Jiang Sui changed into his jersey familiarly. His seemingly lean frame revealed abs that made many of the players in the locker room envious.
"Brother Sui, you have a great body."
The young man nearby changed his clothes, blew a whistle, and tried to put his arm around Jiang Sui's shoulders, but was stopped by another player.
"No, Brother Sui's a germaphobe."
The young man didn't make the next move, but a grimace escaped him.
This guy has been here for quite some time now, taking on any and every situation, facilitating match-fixing and playing recklessly to win. He may not look young, but he's made a ton of money.
Tonight's match is another one of those rigged matches, but the owner demands a loss that's not too rigged, and the opposing team is incredibly powerful, so he summoned the capable Jiang Sui.
Some people, however, were inevitably jealous.
But since they were the owner's agents, they didn't dare act too recklessly. After all, everyone came here to make money, and no one wanted to lose their source of income.
Though they felt a deep grudge, they maintained a very harmonious facade.
On the other hand, during the match, the man made numerous mistakes.
Either his hand slipped, or he claimed he hadn't seen it. He apologized repeatedly, but Jiang Sui clearly didn't care.
Jiang Sui's body was covered in numerous bruises and purple marks from the blows, some light and some heavy.
He pursed his lips and looked at himself in the mirror. There were no injuries on his face, and it wouldn't be noticeable.
But at this thought, the boy couldn't help but curl his lips into a mocking smile.
She seemed to no longer want to look at him.
The boy drank his water dejectedly, dumped the bottle in the trash, changed his clothes, and prepared to leave.
The owner of the court at the door glared at Jiang Sui and placed the money he had prepared on the table.
The boy raised his eyelids and counted. There was an extra five hundred, and he couldn't help but look up at the owner.
"Use the extra money to buy some medicine for your injuries."
"With a healthy body, you can make more money."
The court owner, a man of countless experiences, immediately sensed something unusual about the young man in front him. How did he discern that unusualness? He had once been fortunate enough to enter the glittering, extravagant world of high society.
The noble young master felt this way the moment he laid eyes on Jiang Sui.
He was particularly short of money, and despite his young age, he was incredibly courageous.
He quite liked the boldness in him.
"Thank you."
Jiang Sui, ever so frugal with words, uttered two words.
Those were the only two words he uttered that night.