Chapter 17: Before Una came to Long Bay.

Chapter 17

Her fridge was cleaner than her face.

She didn't like cooking and rarely bought ingredients. Fịndd new updates at novelhall.com

Most of the time she ate at the school cafeteria. On weekends she sometimes didn't eat, and sometimes ordered takeout to last the whole day.

Because of this, her stomach had developed problems from how she had mistreated it.

Yu Na stared blankly at the fridge that only contained two eggs, at a loss for what to do.

Xiao Chen walked in from the living room. Seeing the empty fridge, he curiously asked, "You...don't cook?"

"I usually," Yu Na said embarrassedly, "eat at the school cafeteria."

"What about weekends?"

"......Takeout, or I don't eat."

Xiao Chen: "......"

Leaning against the counter, he finally couldn't help but ask, "What on earth is going on with you?"

Yu Na stared blankly at him. "What do you mean what's going on?"

"How did you end up here? Did your parents agree? What play are you trying to act out here?" The questions spilled out of him in quick succession. Yu Na didn't know how to answer.

The kitchen was deathly still. Yu Na tapped her fingers on the countertop. Occasionally there was the cry of a morning bird cutting through the sky.

Seeing that she wasn't speaking, Xiao Chen didn't ask anything more. "Never mind, I'll take you out to eat."

Once in the car, she picked up where she had left off with his earlier questions, slowly recounting why she had come here - "When I was studying in America, my dad ordered me that after I graduated, I had to marry the heir of the KL Group. I didn't want to, but my dad didn't consider my feelings at all. Without my knowledge, he arranged for me to meet that heir...."

"He said that if I returned to China alone, he would cancel my credit cards and not give me a single cent anymore. I would have to find my own job in China, and he wouldn't help or provide me with a place to stay. In short, everything would rely on myself."

Yu Na softly added, "So I came to Changwan with the money I had saved up myself. I didn't have much in my savings since I usually used my card. Housing in Changwan is expensive so this was the best I could rent."

"My dad cut off my financial resources to force me to concede defeat. He was certain I wouldn't be able to stand living without money, and would ask to go back so I could dutifully enter into the arranged marriage."

"But I refused. Although I don't have money now, at least I'm free."

She sneakily glanced at Xiao Chen who was driving beside her, meaningfully saying, "Even falling in love, I can choose who I like now. Whether he likes me back or not, at least I'm not constrained by my family anymore...right?"

Xiao Chen had one hand on the steering wheel. Hearing this, his movements stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Seeing his lack of reaction, Yu Na self-deprecatingly continued, "Anyway, that's why I'm here. I know you guys think I'm ungrateful, giving up a good life to come here and struggle by myself."

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard the man beside her lightly retort, a barely detectable mocking lilt in his tone, "Are you being sarcastic towards me?"

Yu Na's heart gave a little jump. "......No."

"Alright—" The corner of his mouth tilted up. His tone was the same as always when coaxing her like a little sister, "I don't think you're ungrateful. Life belongs to the person living it, no one else has the right to interfere."

Yu Na turned to look at him, her gaze obscure.

After a long pause, she withdrew her gaze, responding with a faint "Mm".

"What would you like for breakfast?"

"Anything is fine."

Xiao Chen gave an acknowledging "Mm".

He parked the car in the outdoor parking lot. Just then, several smartly dressed staff members walked over. "Good morning, President Xiao."