An hour later.
Jinn Xiu looked at the young girl appearing in front of him, taking several deep breaths to make sure he wasn’t mistaken.
The park where the middle-aged folks were dancing had already cleared out, leaving it desolate and quiet.
In April, the nights still carried a chill.
Chuzheng shoved her hands into her coat pockets and casually sat down next to him.
A few days apart, and Jinn Xiu looked even more disheveled, like soone who had just failed in starting a business.
Nevertheless, his face was cleanly grood, and his features complented this worn-out deanor.
Jinn Xiu clutched his phone: "You didn’t have to co..."
"Running out of money?"
"...Yeah."
A CEO who could spend a million in minutes, but had been made to live on a thousand for days—it was actually an impressive feat.
He originally had set aside money for the trip back today, but then a pickpocket got his wallet.
So, with just five bucks left, CEO Jinn decided to call Chuzheng after sitting in the park for several hours.
He didn’t have any numbers in his phone, except the one Chuzheng had given him earlier.
"Five bucks can get you back on the subway, and you’ll still have one left." It only costs four from here to the stop near his apartnt.
CEO Jinn looked at Chuzheng, bewildered.
CEO Jinn claid he had never taken the subway.
Chuzheng observed his deanor and sighed internally: "...Let’s go."
Chuzheng led Jinn Xiu out of the park to catch a cab outside.
"Can you take on the subway instead?" Jinn Xiu asked.
"Why?"
"I don’t want to owe you too much and be unable to repay it. I’m really poor now," Jinn Xiu explained.
The taxi fare was too high, and if he traveled too far, the daily cost would be over two hundred. He needed to save.
"I don’t—"
Chuzheng thought better of saying "don’t worry about paying back," nodded, and led him towards the subway.
It was the evening rush hour after overti work in the city, and this was a transfer hub, so the subway was crowded.
Jinn Xiu was not used to such noisy and crowded crowds.
Chuzheng walked in front with hands in pockets, unhurriedly, standing out against the hurried crowd.
Jinn Xiu, who was used to having bodyguards clear the way, lost sight of Chuzheng in the crowd for a mont.
Just when Jinn Xiu was looking around, his wrist was suddenly grasped.
The girl stood beside him, holding his wrist, her clear dark eyes looking at him calmly: "Don’t get lost. With so many people, it’s troubleso for to find you."
Jinn Xiu apologized politely: "Sorry."
"I’ll hold your hand," Chuzheng said.
"??"
Chuzheng’s fingers slid down to his palm, holding his hand.
Jinn Xiu’s eyes flickered with a hint of surprise, and it took him several ters to react as Chuzheng led him forward.
A strange warmth radiated from his palm.
His breath stopped for several seconds.
He had never taken the subway or held a girl’s hand as he grew up.
He never realized a girl’s hand could be so soft... it felt like it could break with a little force.
Chuzheng held Jinn Xiu’s hand all the way to the ticket machine, where there was a queue.
A schoolgirl with a kawaii backpack stood in front, constantly peeking back at Chuzheng and Jinn Xiu.
Chuzheng was pretty, and Jinn Xiu, though looking worn out, was still handso. These two standing together caught everyone’s attention.
"You can let go of now," Jinn Xiu told Chuzheng.
"There are a lot of people," Chuzheng justified: "What if you get lost again?"
"..."
He wasn’t really bad with directions.
And he even had ten thousand of call credit on his phone.
But Chuzheng clearly wasn’t planning on letting him go. Jinn Xiu surveyed the surrounding crowd and glanced at Chuzheng; if he shook her off now, it would embarrass the girl...
So, Jinn Xiu convinced himself to continue letting Chuzheng hold his hand.
In front was already the schoolgirl, who fumbled for a long ti but couldn’t get the ticket.
Seemingly out of funds, she searched her pockets but couldn’t find any cash.
As the girl panicked, a hand reached over from behind and tapped the screen a few tis before scanning a QR code with a phone.
The schoolgirl looked wide-eyed at the person who helped her buy a ticket.
Chuzheng impatiently said, "Take the ticket."
"Oh, oh, oh..."
The girl quickly grabbed the ticket and stepped aside.
Chuzheng adeptly tapped the screen a few tis, and the paynt code popped up quickly.
While scanning the code, Chuzheng said to Jinn Xiu: "The subway has several lines. You need to find where you’re going before buying."
Jinn Xiu asked, "How do I know which line to take?"
"Check it online."
"..."
After getting her ticket, Chuzheng left, and the schoolgirl lingered nearby.
After seeing her done, she quickly ca over and smiled sweetly: "Thank you, big sister."
[Congratulations, Miss, on receiving a Thank-You Card ×1]
"No need."
I just thought you were taking too long.
Schoolgirl: "Um, can I add you on WeChat? I’ll pay you back when I get ho."
"No need."
The schoolgirl pestered a few more tis, but Chuzheng refused, leaving her disappointed with an "Oh" without insisting further.
It was just a few bucks, after all. If she didn’t want to add, forcing the issue would just be annoying, right?
She glanced at Jinn Xiu: "Sister, is he your boyfriend?"
Chuzheng looked at her.
The schoolgirl gushed: "You guys are a perfect match, the cutest height difference, and your looks match so well, you’re the best..."
"No," Jinn Xiu interjected, dampening the girl’s enthusiasm: "I’m not her boyfriend."
"Huh?" The girl’s gaze fell on their joined hands: "Then why are you like that?"
Jinn Xiu: "..."
Chuzheng tilted her head: "Your ride’s here."
The girl was headed in a different direction, and her train had arrived.
She left reluctantly, pressing against the glass with puppy eyes as the doors closed.
Chuzheng: "..."
Jinn Xiu said softly, "Hey, little friend, isn’t it ti you let go? This is bound to cause misunderstandings."
"Are you afraid?"
"Aren’t you worried about being misunderstood?" he asked, considering her reputation.
"Fine by ." Misunderstandings are good, it proves you’re mine!
Jinn Xiu was taken aback.
The train rumbled in, and Jinn Xiu stopped questioning as Chuzheng led him aboard.
The train was crowded, a bit cramped.
Chuzheng stood along the edge, while people brushed past constantly.
She squinted at the man nearest her.
Despite more space on the other side, this man kept pressing towards her.
What’s his plan?
Aiming to take advantage?
Chuzheng noticed the man’s hand moving improperly...
"Sir, watch where you’re putting your hand!"
Before Chuzheng could act, Jinn Xiu grabbed the man’s reaching hand.
Even in the packed train, it wasn’t too loud, enabling Jinn Xiu’s voice to be heard by everyone around.
Heads turned to look at the detained man.
The man flushed, protested loudly against their stares: "I didn’t put it anywhere."
"Is my little friend the one who wanted to brush up against you?"
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