Chapter 34 – Spiraling Out of Control

That night, Zhan Nanhui had a strange dream.

In the dream, the woman had her hair tied up in a high ponytail, revealing her slender, fair neck. On top of her head was a bright red butterfly ribbon. She was wearing his white dress shirt, the collar slipping off one shoulder, her delicate, glowing face raised in a flirtatious, wild smile. Somehow, she’d acquired his little pig-driving whip, swinging it through the air with crisp snapping sounds.

Lying on the bed, Zhan Nanhui looked at her, and to his own disbelief, wanted that little whip to land on him—just like when she had smacked his behind during the day…

Even though he knew it was a dream, Zhan Nanhui still felt utterly humiliated. But the more he tried to suppress those thoughts, the more uncontrollable they became.

When he opened his eyes, despair washed over him.

He had actually…

He turned to look at the woman sleeping beside him. At some point, her leg had slipped over him, her toes delicate, pink, and glistening in the moonlight.

Zhan Nanhui quickly got up, face flushed with embarrassment and anger, and fled the room in a panic.

This time, not only did he need a cold shower—he had to do laundry too!

Hearing the sound of running water, Yi An’an stirred in her sleep, turned over, and missed the entire scene.

After taking two consecutive cold showers, even with Zhan Nanhui’s strong constitution, he couldn’t handle it anymore. When he woke up in the morning, he had a runny nose and was sneezing.

“Got a cold?” Yi An’an came out of the kitchen after hearing the noise and glanced at him. “You better not fall sick. The college entrance exam is just days away. You barely have time to review—how would you have time to be sick?”

Zhan Nanhui understood that perfectly well, but he’d been sleeping terribly for the past few days—especially last night’s chaotic dream. Even now, when he looked at Yi An’an’s fair and charming face, his forehead would flush with heat. After hesitating for a moment, he went inside to grab his bedding and said in a low voice, “A sow in the pigsty is about to give birth. I need to keep an eye on it. I won’t be staying here for now. It’s quiet over there—no people. I can study in peace.”

He left in a hurry, not even bothering to eat breakfast.

Yi An’an frowned. With over twenty pigs grunting in the sty, how quiet could it possibly be? And with that stench, how was he supposed to study?

“Eat breakfast first at least!” she called after him.

Zhan Nanhui walked even faster, as if he’d seen a ghost.

Yi An’an snorted. Fine—if he won’t eat, he won’t eat. With him out of the house, she could finally go into town and earn money, continuing with her life plan.

Right now, she’d made 3,000 yuan from selling books—not counting her earnings from giving perms. She no longer had to worry about food and clothing. Once Zhan Nanhui got into college and the heat around the bookstore died down, she could find a way to leave this strict Yan family village.

Remembering that the bookstore was still looking for her, she decided to dress up and change her appearance. But when she looked at the few clothes she’d brought from home, they were all too plain. So she planned to stop by the supply and marketing co-op before heading to the hair salon to buy some decent clothes.

At the co-op, standing in front of the ready-to-wear section, she frowned at the selection.

The town was small, with only this one co-op, and the clothing styles were limited—mostly military green, blue cotton-padded jackets, or large floral patterns.

After a while, she finally spotted a red wool coat with a large lapel. At least it was bearable to look at.

Smiling, she asked the staff member selling the clothes, “How much is this wool coat?”

The woman glanced at Yi An’an’s padded jacket, cracked a couple of sunflower seeds, and said condescendingly, “Don’t bother asking—you can’t afford it. Save yourself the disappointment.”

She then glanced over toward Yi Jixiang.

Yi Jixiang covered her mouth and snickered.

Yi An’an caught the exchange and instantly understood—this staff member was helping Yi Jixiang vent some frustration.

“Yeah, a girl who sells pickled vegetables thinks she can wear something this nice?” another fabric counter employee chimed in.

“What? Sold a couple jars of pickles and forgot who you are?” Yi Jixiang stepped up too.

Yi An’an glanced at the three of them, then slowly pulled ten “big unity” bills (100 yuan total) from her pocket, along with over ten fabric ration coupons. She looked straight at the saleswoman. “Is that enough?”

Each year, administrative staff in Wen City were only issued 1.7 meters of fabric coupons. Factory workers got 1.2 meters. What Yi An’an took out was more than enough to buy that red wool coat.

The moment they saw the money and coupons, the three women fell silent.

“I’d like to try it on,” Yi An’an said, pointing to the coat.

The staffer looked at Yi Jixiang.

Yi Jixiang awkwardly looked away.

The clerk hesitated, then unwillingly took the coat down and placed it on the counter.

Yi An’an removed her outer jacket and tried on the red coat over her white shirt. It fit nicely.

She also bought a black skirt and a pair of leather shoes, spending all the money and coupons she’d brought.

When Yi Jixiang saw her trying on the coat, she nearly exploded.

That wool coat cost fifty yuan—almost an entire month’s salary with nothing left over. And Yi An’an didn’t even blink before buying it.

Then she picked out a black skirt and leather shoes—exactly the items Yi Jixiang had dreamed of buying one day, after saving for a year, to wear when she found a boyfriend.

But now, just like that, they were casually worn by Yi An’an.

And the worst part? They looked damn good on her.

Yi An’an was very satisfied. Although not the warmest, this new look would make it hard for anyone at the bookstore to recognize her.

She walked out, ponytail swinging high, tied with a red silk ribbon that perfectly matched her red wool coat. The look brought out the glow of her delicate, charming face—seductive and full of flair.

Yi Jixiang was so furious she stomped her feet, but there was nothing she could do.

At that moment, the ready-to-wear staffer came over and said, “Jixiang, your family must be loaded. Look at your sister—just pulled out all that cash like it was nothing. Yet you’re stingy with us and always mooch off our lunches. Isn’t that a bit much?”

Yi Jixiang froze.

Everyone at the co-op came from better-off families than hers. Yi Jixiang, with her greedy appetite, often sweet-talked them to sneak bites of their lunches—red-braised pork, fish, and the like.

But now, her sister had just casually bought the most expensive items in the store.

And hadn’t even blinked.