The setting sun slowly sank toward the horizon, its orange-yellow halo coloring half the sky.
The clouds were burned into uneven shades of red, like crumbled cotton candy spread across a glass pane.
After retrieving her phone, Su Li didn’t linger long outside the MOKA’s apartment complex.
It was already nearing nightfall, and even if she went back to School, there were no more classes to attend.
So Su Li quickly dismissed the idea of returning to School.
She remembered the sturdy figure that had been following her before, and didn’t go back the same way she came.
Although Su Li felt that even if she ran into that person, nothing much would happen, she still preferred to avoid trouble.
If she really ran into the other party, even wasting a little time would be annoying.
Su Li hated trouble.
Just like, if MOKA could simply pay her the proper compensation for their transaction, she wouldn’t have had to use more forceful means with MOKA.
After all, Su Li never saw herself as someone who had an issue with money.
The only reason she distanced herself from Jin Ke’er was because their deal had ended.
A repeat customer like that, if she took them on again, would be much more troublesome than a new one.
Sometimes, for no reason, they’d nitpick over the first deal—even if there was no real difference between the first and second time.
Even if the issue at the end of the first deal wasn’t her fault, some customers, having paid, would pin the blame on her.
She hated trouble, and hated even more those who always found various reasons to demand compensation.
Feeling her phone vibrating constantly, Su Li finally pulled it out for a glance.
[Cute Yuyu Roll: Log on!]
[Cute Yuyu Roll: Log on!]
[Cute Yuyu Roll: Log on!]
Messages from Xiao Yuyu, sent nonstop from before their transaction up until now.
Su Li scanned through Xiao Yuyu’s messages—they were all the same, with nothing substantial.
Hundreds of messages, all just “Log on.”
[I’m on my way now]
Su Li simply replied to Xiao Yuyu.
She didn’t have much planned for the evening.
Playing games with Xiao Yuyu for a while wouldn’t be a problem.
[Cute Yuyu Roll: What were you doing just now? Why didn’t you reply to my messages?]
Xiao Yuyu immediately noticed Su Li’s message, since she was staring at her screen at that very moment.
Looking at the accusatory tone, Su Li didn’t really care.
[Sorry, I was busy with work and didn’t have time to reply.]
[Being a game companion is just my side job.]
[I can’t make a living just by being a game companion.]
Su Li patiently typed. It was true, after all, that it was only a side job.
If she really pinched and saved, getting by wouldn’t be that hard.
But Su Li would never devote all her time and energy to Xiao Yuyu.
Her main job paid more.
[Side job?]
[Why?]
[Are you that short on money?]
[If you need money, I can support you!]
On the other end of the phone, Xiao Yuyu was sitting on a bench in the Park.
She was staring intently at the screen in front of her, wishing she could appear by Su Li’s side that very instant.
The image of Su Li walking away with that unfamiliar woman flashed in her mind. She didn’t dare to imagine what Su Li’s main job actually was!
She clearly knew Su Li was a student!
She knew it!
Su Li was a student!
How could a student have a main job?
She had no idea how much Su Li was keeping from her.
But Xiao Yuyu knew that the dress Su Li wore wasn’t worth much.
So Su Li’s family situation probably wasn’t very good.
Very likely, Su Li paid for her school expenses with her own earnings.
Xiao Yuyu sat in silence for a long time, nervously waiting for Su Li’s reply.
She could support Su Li!
Su Li had no money, but she did!
Two people who love each other shouldn’t be separated because of money.
She could give Su Li a happy and fulfilling life.
Su Li wouldn’t even need to do anything, just stay by her side!
Xiao Yuyu leaned back on the wooden bench, breathing heavily.
Even now, her throat felt like it was stuck with a clump of red-hot iron sand, every breath scraping it painfully raw.
Sweat dripped from the ends of her hair onto the ground, her tracksuit soaked through at the back, sticky against her skin like a layer of hot glue.
Her calves throbbed with soreness, every step like someone hammering her muscles.
Her knees buckled, and she almost collapsed into the bushes by the roadside.
Her lungs felt stuffed with a broken bellows, the wheezing sounds mixing with her pounding heartbeat and making her eardrums numb.
Even swallowing made her throat burn and twitch.
Her damp bangs stuck to her forehead. When sweat slid into her mouth, she tasted the salty tang of iron, as if she’d just swallowed a handful of sea salt.
Staring at her phone and enduring the discomfort in her body, Xiao Yuyu gazed into the distance, hoping for Su Li’s arrival.
Su Li was beautiful and kind—if she saw Xiao Yuyu in this state, she definitely wouldn’t have the heart to refuse her request.
This was just an encounter she had arranged for herself and Su Li.
She hadn’t left yet, partly because her feet hurt too much, and partly because she was waiting for Su Li.
She didn’t need to leave Su Li with a perfect impression. Maybe Su Li would think she didn’t like exercise, or that she’d become overweight for other reasons.
But it didn’t matter!
When she broke out of her cocoon and transformed, she’d definitely shock Su Li.
She’d let Su Li know she was someone who worked hard!
The memory of not being able to protect Su Li flashed through Xiao Yuyu’s mind.
She stared at the cracked rubber sole of her shoe, her throat burning with an acidic taste, worse than when she’d retched earlier.
That woman in business attire taking Su Li away looked no different from casually picking goods at the supermarket.
And her?
She’d chased into the Park, panting like a broken bellows, watching the two figures disappear into the crowd.
Her fingernails dug deep into old scars on her palm—the pain brought her a little clarity.
She wouldn’t allow such a thing to happen again in front of her.
She would protect Su Li!
[Sorry, baby, I don’t want to be a canary.]
[I want to rely on my own effort to live a better life in the future.]
Her phone vibrated so hard it nearly slipped from her hand. Her heart pounded as she nervously read the message Su Li sent.
Su Li was always like this!
Independent!
Strong!
Radiating endless light!
But the more she was like that, the more guilty Xiao Yuyu felt inside, and the stronger her desire to protect Su Li grew.
She looked at Su Li’s message and slowly asked:
[Am I in your future?]
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