Xu Zheng invited Zhan Jingrui to a lavish dinner, during which he shared all the gossip he had gathered about He Yao.
Talk of her being dark and rebellious, a "taimei," or working in the same profession as her mother...
None of it aligned with Zhan Jingrui's perception of her, yet the rumors were spread with vivid detail.
Zhan Jingrui found the people around him increasingly dull.
They seemed to possess the most coveted resources in Su City, attended the best schools, presenting themselves as vibrant, hopeful young people to the outside world.
But in reality?
Two hours later, they arrived at He Yao's workplace and settled into a corner booth.
After several performances, they finally witnessed the scene that had been so hyped.
It was undeniably He Yao.
She wore clothes unbefitting her age, makeup that was too mature, and performed actions that were uniform but out of place for her years, yet she drew cheers from the audience.
Xu Zheng was stunned.
He Yao's image in his mind shattered.
"It's true, then. Rumors aren't always baseless. He Yao has disappointed me so much. I liked her so much before."
"It's impressive that she and her mother can support their family this way. Why bother going to school?"
Zhan Jingrui offered no comment, watching her on stage trying to appear older, and the judging eyes of the audience below.
A silent frustration gnawed at him.
Xu Zheng, thoroughly disappointed in He Yao, decided to leave halfway through the performance.
Zhan Jingrui accompanied him to the entrance but did not hail a taxi to leave.
He waited for nearly an hour. A group of somewhat familiar-looking girls emerged from the venue, chattering excitedly, and immediately caught his eye.
Someone exclaimed in surprise.
"Zhan Jingrui? What's he doing here? Am I hallucinating?"
"Is he looking at us? He seems to be looking at us. Should someone go talk to him?"
Noticing Zhan Jingrui's gaze fixed on them, the class representative mustered the courage to approach him.
Zhan Jingrui cut straight to the chase: "I heard you all came to see He Yao tonight?"
The group faltered.
"And you took videos, planning to submit them tomorrow?"
Zhan Jingrui adopted a casual, yet undeniably firm, demeanor.
"Allow me to remind you that He Yao's actual residence is Building 3, Unit 21, No. 7 Mansion. Do you know who lives there?"
"Her biological father's background isn't remarkable, but her stepfather's influence is not to be underestimated."
"What she chooses to do is her freedom. Even if her actions are wild, people will eventually find out without your intervention."
"Why would you want to infringe on her privacy and get yourself into trouble?"
His words stunned them.
Recalling the incident where their front-row classmate was forced to apologize and pay compensation by He Yao, they felt a sense of unease.
"No, we were just talking. We didn't actually plan to submit anything."
Zhan Jingrui remained silent.
The class representative, unable to contain her curiosity, asked, "Can I ask you..."
Zhan Jingrui, anticipating her question, had his answer ready.
"A neighbor. Her stepfather is friends with my family."
The class representative and her group left sheepishly. He waited by He Yao's home until she finally returned at four in the morning.
Working so late every day, standing for hours in high heels, He Yao's body ached, and her eyelids felt heavy.
Seeing Zhan Jingrui suddenly at the door startled her.
"Why haven't you gone home? You scared me."
"You're scared?" Zhan Jingrui looked at her expressionlessly. "I thought you were fearless."
He Yao detected the sarcasm in his words. After a two-second exchange of glances, she gave a self-deprecating laugh.
"Did you hear what others were saying?"
Zhan Jingrui maintained his indifferent facade. "Whether I heard what others were saying isn't important. What's important is what you're doing now."
"What am I doing?"
He Yao stared at him, suddenly raising her voice.
"Tell me, what am I doing? Did I steal? Did I rob? Is there something I'm hiding that makes you all look down on me like this?"
Zhan Jingrui couldn't deny that he had reservations about her profession.
He hadn't voiced it, but he harbored such thoughts.
He didn't know why he had come here to wait for her, nor on what grounds he was questioning her.
They stared at each other for a few seconds, then He Yao let out a cold laugh.
"I thought you were different from others. But in the end, all crows are equally black."
With that, she took out her keys from her bag and handed them to him.
"Since you look down on me, and living in your house would dirty it, I won't stay anymore. Here are your keys."
"I'll transfer the rent and living expenses to you in a couple of days... You don't think my money is dirty too, do you?"
He Yao would never know Zhan Jingrui's worry when he learned others planned to take videos and get her expelled from school.
She would never know the discomfort in Zhan Jingrui's heart as he watched her on stage, striking various poses and forcing smiles amidst the dazzling spectacle.
She would certainly never know the anxiety and anticipation he felt waiting for hours in the cold hallway.
This was the first time Zhan Jingrui had shown such earnest concern for someone, and this was the attitude he received in return.
He did not take the keys, looking at her with disappointment. He Yao returned his gaze with equal disappointment.
The air hung heavy with their silent standoff. After more than ten seconds, He Yao's hand could no longer hold steady.
With a "clatter," the keys dropped to the floor.
"You won't take them when they're offered, so pick them up yourself."
Then, she turned and walked away.
Zhan Jingrui's anger, his pride and self-esteem cultivated since childhood, were pushed to their limit by He Yao's action.
Without a second thought, he reached out and stopped her.
"Do you know what you're doing?"
It was late October, past midnight, and the air was quite chilly.
He Yao, dressed in a sparkly little leather slip dress, was admittedly suffering from the cold.
As Zhan Jingrui's hand grasped her wrist, even though it covered only a small patch of skin, it instantly brought her considerable warmth.
She knew he meant well and didn't want to upset him.
However, Zhan Jingrui was perhaps the only person who had managed to penetrate her dark life. She had always believed he understood her.
Now, seeing him look at her like this, He Yao couldn't let it pass.
"Does it have anything to do with you what I know? You're all high-and-mighty young ladies and lords, living above the common folk. Our perceptions have always been different."
As she tried to leave again, Zhan Jingrui held her with one hand, picked up the keys with the other, opened the door, pushed her inside, locked the door, and turned on the light.
"Where's the remote? Turn on the air conditioning."
Truly a rich young master, turning on the air conditioning in early October.
He Yao, being poor, couldn't afford such luxuries.
"You're cold? If you're cold, hurry home. I can't afford to run the air conditioning or pay the expensive electricity bill."
As if fearing she would slip away, Zhan Jingrui pocketed the keys and turned to look for the remote.
"Tell me, how much money do you need to get through the rest of the year?"
"Fifty thousand? One hundred thousand? One hundred fifty thousand? I can give you two hundred thousand, just don't go to that place anymore, and turn on the air conditioning as much as you want."