Chapter 18: I Hope You Live a More Relaxed Life

The next day, Jian Li went out as usual to give Sheng Ying extra lessons. As she stepped out of the dormitory, a cold wind rushed toward her neck. After hesitating for a few seconds, she turned back and tied the fishnet needle scarf around her neck, wrapping it twice.

Sheng Ying looked at the scarf on the sofa. “Sister Jian Li, your scarf is so pretty. Where did you buy it?”

“Near the hospital,” Jian Li replied.

She wasn’t sure which specific store, though.

Perhaps feeling guilty about what happened the day before, Sheng Ying was very active that morning. During the break between classes, she ran downstairs to bring up two bowls of freshly made bird’s nest soup.

Jian Li sighed. “Xiaoxiao, it’s just a small scratch, it’s nothing.”

Sheng Ying sat on the heated mat. “Even so, you should take care of it properly. Sister Jian Li, you’re so thin, thinner than my mom. If you’re too thin, you’ll get sick.” She stirred the bowl with her spoon, then suddenly added, “Yesterday was the first time I saw Shu Bei Ge angry. His cold face was really scary. He seems to care about you a lot.”

Jian Li choked on her water, coughing a few times before she could calm herself. She exhaled deeply. “He’s just worried about the situation.”

“Really?” Sheng Ying tilted her head, thinking for a while. She still felt something was off. “A while ago, my classmate’s sister liked him too. They also played an escape room together, but he didn’t go. He just told me to pay attention to safety.” Sheng Ying nodded with certainty, “He treats you differently.”

Jian Li felt the need to explain, but she just smiled. “It doesn’t mean anything. Maybe it’s just because we’ve interacted a little before.”

“Is that so?” Sheng Ying took a large spoonful of bird’s nest.

“That’s right.”

Jian Li said it as much to convince Sheng Ying as to convince herself.

The morning’s lessons ended, and neither Zhou Shubei nor Cotton Candy appeared. As she was leaving, Jian Li glanced toward the Su-style garden building, remembering what Sheng Ying had said. She couldn’t help but wonder:

Could Zhou Shubei have a little bit of affection for her?

The group had been informed to meet at the business hall at 5:30 PM, and by the time Jian Li arrived, there were already several people there, most of whom she didn’t recognize.

“What happened to your hand?” Feng Yutao noticed her left hand was freshly bandaged, looking like a steamed bun. “If it’s inconvenient for you, you can go rest.”

“It’s nothing,” Jian Li replied.

Feng Yutao gave her a satisfied nod. As he turned to leave, he kicked the guy who was sitting like a cripple on a chair, “You just stayed up late, and you’re uncomfortable? Jian Li’s left hand looks like that, and she didn’t say a word.”

The moment Feng Yutao spoke, dozens of pairs of eyes immediately turned to Jian Li.

There were curious glances, some admiration and curiosity, and even some disdain. Jian Li immediately felt uncomfortable, lowering her head and trying to ignore the stares.

Thankfully, Feng Yutao quickly pulled everyone’s attention back and started distributing the tasks for the evening.

A few art clubs organized a performance, and they were in charge of providing bottled water and chairs. The bottles were stacked into small mountains, occupying half of the business hall, with piles of chairs near the door.

“Don’t just watch the show, hand out flyers, add people on WeChat, it’s not much trouble, just one business question per person,” Feng Yutao said. “Next month is the telecom company’s award ceremony. Our school team has been an outstanding team for the past two years. This year, we must keep up the performance. I applied to the boss, and if we win, we’ll go skiing for New Year’s team building, with roasted lamb, all expenses paid by the boss.”

As soon as they heard free food, drinks, and entertainment, the others instantly became interested, shedding their previous silence, asking questions, and the atmosphere became lively.

Jian Li stood to the side, quietly listening to their chatter.

The meeting ended, and Jian Li carried a large stack of chairs toward the playground. Since her left hand couldn’t carry too much for long, she had to stop and rest every now and then.

“If you’re injured, don’t come and delay things. Who are you showing off for?” A guy carrying a stack of chairs looked at her, the same one Feng Yutao had kicked earlier. “Maybe someone will help you because you’re pretty, but if you’re just average-looking, you won’t get this treatment. You’re acting like this, and now I’ve been branded as someone who overreacted.”

Jian Li didn’t react, not bothering to argue with him. She just rested when needed, then continued carrying the chairs.

“I’m serious. If your hand is so badly hurt, you should go rest. Are you really that short on money?” The guy followed her, sizing her up. “How many cards have you signed up for? Weren’t you talking earlier? Now you’re suddenly shy? You’re really the type to act.”

Jian Li quickened her pace, but the guy kept up with her. Whenever she stopped, he stopped too, as if he was determined to make her say something or admit that she was pretending.

“If you really need money, I have some business for you to handle later.”

“I don’t need it,” Jian Li said calmly.

“You don’t need it? You really don’t know how hard it is to get a card. Feng Yutao made it sound easy, one card per person, but even after a whole night, getting five cards is pretty good. You believe it when he says it, huh?” The guy set his chair down and tried to advise her, “Aside from the business at the beginning of the semester, the rest of the time it’s just free labor. If it were that easy, there wouldn’t be only a few of us here.”

Jian Li looked at him. “So?”

“So, you should just send the chairs over, rest if you need to, and if you have a date, go ahead and go. Stop doing these thankless tasks. I’m telling you this because I think you’re honest. I wouldn’t say this to anyone else.”

Jian Li smiled. If it were really that thankless, would he be coming here without sleep?

When nothing could convince her, the guy muttered “Ungrateful” and walked toward the playground.

The people wearing the same green work uniforms passed her one by one. When the streetlights turned on, Jian Li walked through the badminton court to the playground, arranging the chairs in order, placing flyers on them. While waiting for the event to start, many people were looking at the flyers, some throwing them away after a quick glance, others looking down at their phones.

Jian Li distributed water to the people in her assigned area.

When she reached the last person, she saw a pair of familiar hands.

Looking up, Zhou Shubei’s face came into view.

Zhou Shubei took the water she handed him, his gaze briefly lingering on her scarf, before he lazily smiled. “Thanks.”

His tone was casual, as if they didn’t know each other. When someone came over to talk to him, Jian Li quietly stepped back, but she couldn’t help but glance in their direction.

“My god, it’s really Zhou Shubei. If I’d known he’d come, I’d have put on full makeup.”

“Why is he here for this? Doesn’t he usually avoid these events?”

“Who knows, maybe he’s bored.”

“No, I think it’s because of someone. The host tonight is the broadcasting and hosting department’s campus belle. She’s beautiful and has a sweet voice. I bet two cups of milk tea that he came for her.”

“I also bet two cups. That girl really is gorgeous and has so much charisma.”

“…”

Around her, people whispered. Like everyone else who admired him, Jian Li watched him, observing as people came and went, until after a couple of failed attempts, no one else approached. He sat there, doing nothing, naturally becoming the center of attention.

The event officially began, and the host, dressed in a black tailcoat, gracefully walked on stage. Her pleasant voice echoed through the microphone, and Jian Li saw Zhou Shubei, who had been looking down at his phone, lift his head, seemingly drawn to the girl on stage.

She really was beautiful. Standing confidently in the center of the stage, her hosting style was witty and charming.

Meanwhile, Jian Li was just another face in the crowd.

Suddenly, she felt uncomfortable. This discomfort didn’t come from Zhou Shubei possibly liking the girl on stage—maybe it did, but more than that, she couldn’t stand the thought of standing in the crowd, just a few meters away from him, watching him, and then living an insignificant life.

She didn’t want to spend her whole life as a mere bystander, just flashing her name at the end.

Zhou Shubei looked back down at his phone, possibly messaging someone.

Three seconds later—

Jian Li’s phone buzzed twice.

She hesitated before opening it. Cotton Candy’s profile picture popped up first.

[What time will you be done?]

Jian Li’s heart skipped a beat, feeling like a thief who had just found a diamond. She dimmed the screen and, after confirming that the crowd’s attention was on the stage, let out a sigh of relief. [Not sure yet.]

After sending the message, Zhou Shubei unlocked his phone, got up, and walked out.

As he left, the previously lively atmosphere quieted down a little. The singer on stage, holding a guitar, invited everyone to join in for a chorus.

“Is he really leaving? Wasn’t he here for the campus belle?”

“Looks like the milk tea is gone.”

Meanwhile, Jian Li’s phone screen lit up again.

[Come to the tennis court.]

Jian Li was confused. [Is something happening?]

She had to stay here in case someone showed interest in the campus network.

[Won’t take much of your time.]

Jian Li glanced at the group singing and told Feng Yutao she was heading out. Then she squeezed through the crowd and jogged toward the tennis court.

When she arrived, Jian Li immediately saw him standing under a tree. The streetlight’s glow was blocked by the leaves, casting a shadow over him, making him appear as though he was embedded in the deepening night.

Hearing the sound, Zhou Shubei looked up.

Out of breath from running, Jian Li’s green work uniform was a bit oversized, and even worn over her clothes, it hung loosely on her. Her left hand, wrapped in fresh bandages, had a corner dampened.

“What’s wrong?” She asked as she reached him.

Zhou Shubei stood up straight, his voice neutral, “Does your hand still hurt?”

“It’s better,” Jian Li said. “I went to change the bandages today. It’s much better than yesterday.”

Zhou Shubei looked at her, remembering the poverty aid application she had filled out, and how she worked part-time tutoring and at the campus network, seemingly trying to spend every waking hour working.

He lowered his gaze, his voice softer, “Are you really that short on money?”

That same day, two people had asked her the same question, but Zhou Shubei’s eyes held no mockery or ridicule. He was genuinely asking.

Jian Li nodded. “Yes.”

Zhou Shubei didn’t ask why. He only asked, “How much do you need?”

“I don’t know. Maybe fifty or sixty thousand, or maybe a bit more.”

She hadn’t considered this a difficult thing to talk about, but saying it to Zhou Shubei made the walls she had built around herself crash down. She felt embarrassed and inferior. She admitted that, deep down, she was still a vain person who wanted to maintain dignity in front of him, rather than appearing like a beggar waiting for help. She didn’t want to see pity in his eyes.

“How are you going to earn it?”

“I don’t know. I’ll just earn it slowly,” she smiled. “I have hands and feet, I won’t starve.”

Zhou Shubei frowned as he saw her forcing a smile. “Do you have paper and a pen?”

Jian Li was confused by the question, but still took out her notebook and pen from her bag, flipping to a blank page. “What for?”

Zhou Shubei didn’t take the pen. He said simply, “You write.”

Jian Li didn’t move. He seemed to remember something, and took the pen, laughing casually. “Forget it, your left hand is inconvenient.”

He unscrewed the pen cap and wrote something on the page, his wrist clearly straining as he wrote.

He finished quickly, then handed it to her, asking her to sign at the bottom right and put the date.

Jian Li hesitantly took the paper and read the content, her pupils widening in shock.

[This is to certify that ________ (name), with ID number: ____________ has borrowed 200,000 RMB from Zhou Shubei, free of interest, to be used for tuition and living expenses. Repayment will start after graduation, with installments.]

In the middle, there was a blank space for her to fill in.

Two hundred thousand. She had never seen so much money in eighteen years, and yet he was offering it to her as easily as buying candy at a store.

“Why?” She asked.

Zhou Shubei set the pen, almost empty, on the notebook, along with a bank card. In the distance, the light flickered as she heard the chorus of “I see hope shining between the rainbow, the light gathering in the sky above you and me.”

Zhou Shubei smiled faintly, his dark eyes like ink spreading out, like a deep pool of water. “I hope you live a more relaxed life.”