CH 2

Come with me, and the price is yours to decide

Having known Jiang Huaixi for six years, indeed, during these six years, Jiang Huaixi had shown her a lot of care and warmth. However, Lu Zizheng also remembered vividly one of the most humiliating experiences in her life, which was caused by Jiang Huaixi.

Their first encounter did not resemble the instant bond of kindred spirits as depicted in novels.

It happened shortly after the start of university, just over a week after the freshman welcome party. The September evening sun set late, casting a crimson hue across the sky. The evening breeze was refreshing, a rare moment of tranquility.

As Lu Zizheng descended the grand steps of the library, she noticed a flashy red Lamborghini parked by the side of the road. Standing next to it was a tall woman, dressed in a navy blue three-quarter-sleeved sweater and black slim trousers. Her remarkable height and evident elegance were accentuated by the twilight glow, creating a picturesque scene straight out of a movie.

Inwardly, Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but admire, “How fortunate one must be to possess both wealth and beauty.”

As Lu Zizheng passed by the woman at close proximity, she took a brief, scrutinizing glance. Her flowing ink-black hair, unnaturally pale complexion, and exquisitely cold countenance exuded a classical nobility. In all these years, no one’s beauty had ever made Lu Zizheng feel that it could rival Lian Xuan’s, except for this woman who stood out even more, devoid of any trace of worldly allure.

However, Lu Zizheng merely admired her silently for a moment. Her steps did not hesitate or pause; she walked straight past the car and the woman. Yet, unexpectedly, something happened…

The woman reached out and firmly grasped Lu Zizheng’s wrist, catching her off guard, and it was intense…

Before Lu Zizheng could even utter a cry of surprise, she heard a melodic yet chilling voice arrogantly whisper in her ear, “Come with me, and the price is yours to decide.”

Lu Zizheng was momentarily both angry and amused, utterly bewildered. She turned around, straightened her posture, and stared directly at the woman with an icy indifference, coldly stating, “Let go.”

But then, she heard the woman laugh coldly, “Whatever you want, I can afford it. Your reputation precedes you, and there’s no need to pretend with me. Will this car serve as a sufficient down payment for one month?”

People who had just come out of the library stood at the entrance, observing the commotion, whispering and pointing fingers, discussing the two of them in hushed tones. Lu Zizheng felt a throbbing headache, and for a moment, everything seemed blurry and surreal. The current scene slowly overlapped with certain images from her memories. Dizzy and unsteady, she swayed for a moment, but the woman holding her hand tightly steadied her.

Once she regained her balance, Lu Zizheng clenched her lips and forcefully shook off the woman’s grip. She took out a tissue from her bag and stood in front of her, meticulously wiping her wrist as if it were smeared with repugnant mud.

Jiang Huaixi, taken aback by her dazed state, also became somewhat stunned.

After finishing wiping her hand, Lu Zizheng raised her head and glanced at the crowd behind her, still murmuring and gossiping. She then looked at the temporarily motionless woman beside her, who seemed to have lost her composure. Lu Zizheng let out a cold, disdainful laugh, turned around, and walked away.

The rare moment of happiness had long been shattered, leaving no trace.

On her way back to the dormitory, tears threatened to spill several times. She bit her lip, telling herself, “Lu Zizheng, what’s the use of crying? Don’t you already know how malicious this world can be?” So, she forced herself to hold back the tears.

Later on, as the story spread, the versions became increasingly distorted, with none of them coming close to the truth. Her hand ached for three days, but even after the red marks on her hand disappeared, the scars in her heart couldn’t heal, just like the increasingly derogatory reputation she acquired.

In the days that followed, she came to know that the woman’s name was Jiang Huaixi, and the library where it all happened was built by her father. She was the daughter of a wealthy individual.

Did that give her the right to act so recklessly and trample upon Lu Zizheng’s dignity?

Did being wealthy automatically grant someone the privilege of arrogance?

Lu Zizheng couldn’t comprehend that the once gentle and pure Lian Xuan turned out this way, and now the beautiful and noble Jiang Huaixi was no different.

Lu Zizheng suddenly spoke up and asked Jiang Huaixi, “Why were you so…” Pausing for a moment, she carefully chose a slightly more euphemistic phrasing, “…unreasonable when we first met?”

Jiang Huaixi didn’t answer immediately.

Silence filled the car as it continued to distance itself. Only after a while did Jiang Huaixi casually utter six words from her beautiful, thin lips, “Because, with wealth comes caprice.”

In that moment, Lu Zizheng had the strong urge to raise her hand and give her a resounding slap!

Sometimes, she couldn’t have a heart-to-heart talk with Jiang Huaixi because she couldn’t grasp her thoughts.

The car quickly arrived at the place where Lu Zizheng’s mother lived. Jiang Huaixi skillfully parked the car and then opened the trunk, pulling out bags after bags of fruits, vegetables, and meat. She reached out without hesitation and handed two bags to Lu Zizheng, saying, “Those who don’t work shouldn’t eat.”

Lu Zizheng silently took the bags, unusually refraining from retorting.

Every time Jiang Huaixi came, she would bring bags, meticulously prepared. Occasionally, Lu Zizheng would hear her mother say, “Last time, I mentioned that the rice cooker wasn’t working well, and asked you to help me choose one. The next day, Huaixi brought it.” Similar remarks would come up. In terms of daily life, Jiang Huaixi truly helped her a lot. Every time Lu Zizheng went on business trips, she would hear her mother say, “Zheng Zheng, don’t worry. Huaixi said she’ll come and keep me company often. If you need anything, just ask her.”

The cold and sarcastic Jiang Huaixi, unexpectedly, appeared obedient and thoughtful in front of her mother. In Jiang Huaixi’s words, “Your mother is much cuter and easier to get along with. Plus, she cooks delicious food. Actions speak louder than words. Can you do it? If not, don’t ask me why I treat you differently.”

Lu Zizheng was unexpectedly left speechless.

It was clear that Jiang Huaixi lacked physical stamina. It was just a short distance of a hundred meters from the parking lot to Building B, yet Lu Zizheng could hear Jiang Huaixi panting as she carried a few bags. She reached out and took two more bags from Jiang Huaixi, smiling and saying, “How long has it been since you exercised? Just a few steps and you’re already out of breath.”

Unexpectedly, Jiang Huaixi remarked, “I think it would be better if you didn’t stand so upright while walking.”

Confused, Lu Zizheng asked, “What do you mean?”

Jiang Huaixi chuckled and said, “It’s been so long since you exercised that I can see your little potbelly even when you stand up straight. It’s like layers of flesh.”

For a moment, Lu Zizheng had the urge to use the bags in her hand to smash Jiang Huaixi to death.

Finally, they arrived at the doorstep of her home. Lu Zizheng had just inserted the key into the keyhole when Mother Lu swiftly opened the door. As soon as Mother Lu saw Lu Zizheng and Jiang Huaixi, her face lit up with a smile. She reached out and took the bags from Jiang Huaixi’s hands, saying, “Huaixi, come in quickly. Oh, you always bring so many things, and it makes me feel guilty. Auntie doesn’t dare to invite you for meals anymore.”

Jiang Huaixi, while changing her shoes, responded, “Auntie, I always come here to freeload on meals. If I don’t bring anything, how can I face you?”

Lu Zizheng stood at the doorway, looking at the delicate and fair hands of Jiang Huaixi as she changed her shoes. They were covered with red marks, one after another, leaving her heart feeling a bit damp.

After entering the house, Jiang Huaixi immediately went to the bathroom, while Lu Zizheng followed her mother into the kitchen, helping her with vegetable preparation and enjoying the rare warm moments with her mother.

Lu Zizheng and her mother were originally from the city of Juzhou in their province. They had few relatives and their family was small. When Lu Zizheng was in middle school, her father unexpectedly passed away, leaving only Lu Zizheng and her mother to rely on each other. After Lu Zizheng entered university, she came to Linzhou. In her sophomore year, her mother bought a house here for the convenience of taking care of Lu Zizheng and they moved to Linzhou. Later, Mother Lu opened a breakfast shop in this city. Their life was not affluent, but it was stable. After graduating from university, Lu Zizheng’s workplace was too far from home, so her mother suggested she rent an apartment nearby and come back on weekends to have meals together.

As Mother Lu cut vegetables, she casually chatted with Lu Zizheng about daily life. Lu Zizheng was not young anymore, so inevitably, the conversation turned to her personal matters. Mother Lu asked, “Zheng Zheng, what kind of person would you like to find? It’s been so many years, and I haven’t seen you bring anyone home.”

Lu Zizheng organized the fruits bought by Jiang Huaixi into the refrigerator, then washed a small basket of grapes and put them next to the stove. She peeled one and stuffed it into her mother’s mouth to keep her quiet, saying, “Mom, didn’t you used to say that you’re not in a hurry, and I should just do what makes me happy?”

Mother Lu chuckled, “That’s true, but I’m afraid you have too high standards and might miss out on good opportunities around you.”

Lu Zizheng carefully caught the grape seeds her mother spit out, then smiled, “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m paying attention. Ah, here’s another one.” With that, she stuffed another grape into her mother’s mouth.

Jiang Huaixi approached the kitchen from outside and reached out to take a grape, offering it to Lu Zizheng and gesturing for her to peel it for her.

Lu Zizheng pretended not to notice, unwilling to comply.

Mother Lu noticed and gave a command, “Zheng Zheng, peel a few grapes for Huaixi.”

Lu Zizheng: “…”

Jiang Huaixi happily ate the grape fed by Lu Zizheng and then grabbed an apron, standing next to Mother Lu and obediently saying, “Auntie, let me do it. Since Zizheng just fed me a grape, let’s cook her favorite dish, spicy chicken legs.”

Mother Lu smiled and said, “Great! Let Auntie see if your culinary skills have improved, Huaixi.”

Jiang Huaixi tied up her long, straight hair at the waist, rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, revealing her jade-like forearm. A faint smile graced her lips, a rare sight that captivated everyone’s attention.

Lu Zizheng, however, couldn’t help but roll her eyes and pour cold water, saying, “You’ve certainly got the looks down.”

Jiang Huaixi immersed herself in washing the pot, not even bothering to retaliate. “You better not eat it later,” she warned.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Lu Zizheng had to admit that Jiang Huaixi’s movements were skillful and precise. It was hard for her to believe that just a few years ago, when Jiang Huaixi first stepped into her kitchen, she was pointing at oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, curiously asking what each one was.

Seeing that Jiang Huaixi was putting effort into cooking, Lu Zizheng peeled a few grapes for her and handed them to her, but she noticed something peculiar—why were there no seeds?

“Mom, the grapes you ate had seeds, right? Why don’t Jiang Huaixi’s grapes have any seeds?”

Mother Lu nodded. “Yes, they did.”

Jiang Huaixi replied nonchalantly, “Oh, I swallowed them. Spitting them out would have been quite ungraceful.”

“Mama, she says you looked really ungraceful spitting out the grape seeds!” Lu Zizheng seized the opportunity to tease Jiang Huaixi in front of her mother, grabbing a small stool and sitting behind Jiang Huaixi.

Jiang Huaixi responded coldly, “If you keep talking nonsense, you won’t be eating the dishes I cooked later.”

Lu Zizheng grumbled, “Just because you can cook a couple of small dishes, look at how proud you are…”

Mother Lu patted Lu Zizheng’s head and chuckled, “Don’t be resentful. Huaixi is just more skilled than you. Otherwise, why don’t you try cooking a couple of dishes to show off?”

Lu Zizheng blinked her eyes and fell silent.

At the dinner table that evening, Lu Zizheng ate an extra half bowl of rice and nearly finished all the dishes, especially the ones made by Jiang Huaixi. After eating, she slumped back in her chair, unable to move.

Jiang Huaixi glanced at Lu Zizheng and got up to help with the dishes. Mother Lu felt a little embarrassed and said, “Huaixi, I’m sure your parents wouldn’t let you lift a finger at home. Every time you come here, Zheng Zheng takes advantage and lets you help with the chores.”

Jiang Huaixi carried the dishes to the kitchen and replied, “It’s okay, Auntie. I should thank you for giving me the opportunity to experience everyday life. Otherwise, I would have become clueless about life.”

Lu Zizheng leaned against the chair, squinting her eyes, watching the figures of the older and younger person washing dishes and chatting in the kitchen. Warmth surged in her heart, yet it also stirred a hint of melancholy and loneliness.

Love is like a blown bubble. While blowing it, you’re amazed by its beauty under the sunlight, its dreamlike fluttering. But once you’re done blowing, you realize that the more the sunlight shines and the wind blows, the more beautiful the bubble becomes, and consequently, the faster it bursts. All the beauty fades away in an instant.

So, if you don’t want the bubble to disappear, hold the water of the bubble in your hands and refrain from blowing it away.