Dazzling

The wheels rolled over a deep pothole, splashing muddy water onto the glass. Qing Ye, jolted by the bump, pulled off her earphones and frowned at the mud splatters on the window. Her gaze shifted to the scene outside: dilapidated streets, a three-wheeled electric cart laden with garlic and onions being hawked by its owner, and a neighboring fried skewer stall where an elderly man in a tattered apron, hands covered in black grime, worked. A few scruffy stray dogs occasionally darted across the road. The utility poles leaned crookedly, the mailbox’s green paint had mostly faded, and in the distance, crisscrossing clotheslines hung haphazardly outside cement-walled houses. Though the heavy rain had just ceased, the entire county still felt shrouded in a dusty, gray haze.

Qing Ye irritably turned to Sun Hai, who was driving. "Sun Shu, didn’t my father tell you anything before he went in?"

Sun Hai glanced at her sideways and sighed softly. "You’re still young. This isn’t something you should worry about."

Qing Ye clenched her jaw, her eyes narrowing as she stared intently at this place so alien to her. Since exiting the highway, her expression had been guarded. This small town was utterly different from the capital where she’d lived for eighteen years. Beyond the buildings and streets, the entire county gave her a grimy, dust-covered impression.

It wasn’t until the car entered the street that she realized what felt off: there were no trees—not a single towering tree in sight. The few scrawny saplings along the roadside grew twisted and malformed, rendering the concept of greenery nonexistent. Trash was piled haphazardly by the road, feral cats huddled in groups amid the refuse, and collapsed walls stood neglected, as if the town had been frozen in time from the last century.

And she was supposed to live in such a place—a living hell.

Five minutes later, Sun Hai slowly pulled over by the roadside, scratching his head in confusion as he fiddled with the navigation. "Strange, why does it keep telling me to loop around on this road?"

Qing Ye sneered coldly. "What’s strange? It’s a miracle the navigation even recognizes this place."

Sun Hai sighed helplessly. "Forget it, I’ll get out and ask for directions."

He opened the car door and hurried across the street to a small shop. Qing Ye stepped out as well, the air gritty with dust under a gloomy, overcast sky. Her spotless patent leather shoes stepped onto the curb as she looked around, the light blue gradient dress fluttering in the wind to reveal her smooth calves—perhaps the only splash of color on the ashen street.

The sound of basketballs echoed from nearby. She walked a few steps behind the car and peered over to see a shabby outdoor court, where several motorcycles were parked and a group of Slam-cut youths with brightly dyed hair stood.

They seemed to notice her from afar, and one waved in her direction. Qing Ye muttered under her breath, "Idiots."

She averted her gaze, waiting for Sun Hai, but the roar of motorcycles approached from the court. The Slam-cut youths rode toward her, their modified exhaust pipes rumbling like tractors. From a distance, they shouted, "Hey, beautiful!"

Qing Ye fixed them with a sharp, stern glare, her expression icy. She noticed one Little Angel model motorcycle adorned with a Doraemon sticker, crammed with three people—the last one, a chubby guy, half his butt hanging precariously off the seat. How utterly absurd.Several motorcycles sped toward her, and Huang Mao, squeezed in the middle, whistled excitedly at her. The motorcycles suddenly accelerated, charging straight at her. Qing Ye was startled and instinctively stepped back, only to plant her foot in the mud. Her polished leather shoes were instantly coated with a layer of grime.

The motorcycles brushed past her without actually touching her. The group of troublemakers burst into mischievous laughter, with Huang Mao shouting, "Hey, beauty, your shoes are dirty."

Qing Ye looked up and met the gaze of the man riding the Little Angel. He was wearing black-and-white athletic wear, with a crew cut. When he turned his head, she could clearly see a shaved line along his temple. His features were sharp, and his eyes held a teasing glint.

Furious, Qing Ye was about to yell at them, but the group of troublemakers had already ridden off in a boisterous crowd. Their laughter could still be heard echoing from far away.

...

"Wu, Wu-ge, that girl just now... she's not from our Zhazha Pavilion, right?" Pang Hu, sitting at the back, stammered.

Huang Mao chimed in loudly, "Our place is so dry and rough—when have we ever had a girl with such delicate skin? Didn't you see the Beijing-plated Mercedes parked nearby? She must be visiting relatives. Right, Wu-ge?"

"How the hell would I know," Xing Wu replied nonchalantly, glancing at the rearview mirror. In the distance, the figure in light blue seemed to still be angrily shaking the mud off her shoes. He raised an eyebrow and sped up.

Huang Mao laughed and said, "Let's go to my place for hot pot. I just got my hands on a few Japanese movies. The female lead looks a lot like that girl just now."

The group burst into laughter again, and Huang Mao patted Xing Wu. "You coming or not?"

"Whatever," Xing Wu said, turning his handlebars toward Huang Mao's house.

...

Sun Hai hurried out of the small shop and said to Qing Ye, "I've got the directions. It's not far. Let's get in the car."

But Qing Ye stood by the car, staring blankly at her dirty shoes. The pent-up anger in her chest had reached its peak. The nightmare-like experiences of the past few months had finally pushed her to the edge. She hated this godforsaken place, she hated those Scenesters from earlier, and she didn't want to stay in this dump—not even for a second!

Sun Hai noticed her distress and called out to her, "Xiao Ye?"

Qing Ye clenched her skirt tightly, lifted her head, and fixed an aggressive stare on Sun Hai. "My dad is such a shrewd man. How could he not have left himself a way out? Sun Shu, tell me—can my dad really get out? He must have told you something, didn't he?"

Sun Hai lowered his head and sighed. "Can we not discuss this right now? Xiao Ye, the situation is complicated, far beyond what you can imagine. I'm trying my best to navigate it, but there are many obstacles. Some things won't be resolved quickly. Do you understand?"

"I don't understand!" Qing Ye nearly snarled, her eyes red as she stared intently at Sun Hai, as if clutching at her last lifeline. "You all always called him 'President Qing,' but he was just a vice president—a vice president! Above him were the board of directors and the legal representative. When things went wrong, why weren't they held accountable? Why was he the one taken away?"

Sun Hai quickly motioned for her to lower her voice. "Keep it down. News travels fast in a small place like this. Don't panic. Listen to your parents' arrangements and settle here for now. His case is still under investigation—it's not hopeless. Your father isn't the big fish, but he's key. Someone wants to extract information from him, so it's very possible they might come after you too. You have to leave, Qing Ye. You need to stay calm."For a few seconds, the wind blew across Qing Ye's dry eyes. She raised her hand to rub them and murmured in a daze, "My parents' arrangements... do I still have a mom?"

After saying this, she pulled the car door open and got in. Sun Hai looked down at her suddenly subdued demeanor, his heart aching with discomfort.

Having watched Qing Ye grow up, he knew she was just a girl who had recently turned eighteen. Three months ago, she lost her biological mother to illness, and now her father had been suddenly arrested. Sun Hai couldn't imagine the collapse her world was experiencing or how difficult the life ahead would be. The only thing he could do was send her away from the storm's center, personally deliver her to her aunt, and then return to gamble everything on one desperate attempt.

The rest of the journey was silent. Qing Ye leaned back in the seat with her eyes closed, no longer wanting to look at the streets outside. A heavy atmosphere enveloped her, making Sun Hai equally uneasy.

The county town was small, and after asking for directions, they found Dazzle Island Hair Salon within minutes. Sun Hai parked the car but didn't get out immediately. Qing Ye slowly opened her eyes and looked at the small salon exuding strong rural vibes. The red, white, and blue barber pole at the entrance spun incessantly. The shopfront was modest, with a man and a woman chatting outside—one sporting an outdated Firework Perm, the other wearing what they considered fashionable wide-leg pants with a chain dangling from the waist like a dog leash. One more person, and they could debut as a group called Wash, Cut and Blow-Dry.

Qing Ye sat silently in the passenger seat, watching the salon with unusual quietness. After much deliberation, Sun Hai couldn't help but speak up: "Xiao Ye, even in the worst-case scenario, your situation isn't entirely bleak. At least compared to staying in Beijing, you won't be disturbed here. No classmates will look at you differently because of your father's situation, and you can focus on preparing for the college entrance exam. How your future unfolds depends on you, right?"

Qing Ye didn't respond, simply opening the car door. Sun Hai retrieved her suitcase. Hearing the commotion, elderly folks inside the salon peeked out, and just then, a woman rushed out.

Hmm... how to describe it? Her first impression on Qing Ye was as surreal as this small county town. Despite being in her forties, she wore blue glitter eyeshadow, dyed red hair, and ran toward Qing Ye in five-centimeter platform heels. Stopping in front of her, she scrutinized Qing Ye and confirmed, "You must be Qing Ye, right?"

Qing Ye remained silent. Sun Hai hurriedly replied, "Are you Qing Ye's aunt, Li Lanfang?"

Before Qing Ye could get a clear look at Li Lanfang's face, she suddenly embraced Qing Ye enthusiastically. The overwhelming scent of cheap perfume hit her as Li Lanfang exclaimed excitedly, "You've grown so big! I visited you in Beijing when you were one year old. You don't remember me, do you?"

"..." Thank you, but who remembers people from when they were one?

Li Lanfang's face was caked with layers of powder. When she released Qing Ye, the reflection in the salon's glass showed a pale patch on her right cheek. Qing Ye quickly wiped it off. Li Lanfang eagerly pulled Qing Ye inside. Upon entering the salon, Qing Ye was stunned—someone had actually set up a mahjong table inside the hair salon. This person was none other than her legendary aunt.The mahjong players all stood up to gather around, and Li Lanfang introduced cheerfully, "This is my niece, she's from Beijing. Look, isn't she pretty?"

The players chimed in, "Sister Li, you have relatives in the capital? You never mentioned it before."

Li Lanfang puffed out her chest, "Her family runs a big business. They're very impressive."

Qing Ye frowned and pulled her arm away. Li Lanfang should know about her father's situation, yet she was still showing off like this, which made Qing Ye somewhat disgusted.

Sun Hai carried Qing Ye's luggage inside and pulled Li Lanfang aside to briefly talk with her. Qing Ye stood in the middle of the shop while the two Wash, Cut and Blow-Dry guys from the entrance earlier had now come inside, their eyes fixed on her as if they had never seen a woman before, staring blankly.

When the Little Angel turned the corner, Pang Hu pointed dumbly, "Huh? Isn't... isn't that the same Mercedes from earlier? Why is it parked at your... your doorstep?"

Xing Wu was also surprised. He stopped the Little Angel and said to Pang Hu, "I'll go in and take a look."

...

Qing Ye glanced sideways and saw Sun Hai handing a stack of money to Li Lanfang. Li Lanfang pretended to refuse for a moment before accepting it, her face beaming with a smile. Qing Ye didn't know what Sun Hai had said to Li Lanfang, but she heard Li Lanfang repeatedly saying, "Don't worry, don't worry."

Behind her, the mahjong players pointed at Qing Ye and whispered among themselves. The air was thick with the pungent smell of hair dye, and she was standing on a pile of freshly cut hair. Qing Ye furrowed her brows, and suddenly, an inexplicable anger surged within her. In all her life, she had never heard her mother mention having a sister? What kind of relative is this? A relative bought with money?

Just then, the barbershop door was suddenly pushed open. Qing Ye turned her head and met a pair of sharp eyes.

Author's Note:

Hey, Lao Yuan is here, as promised. I never expected that when we meet again, such significant changes would have occurred across the nation. The world is unpredictable. This morning, I thought about how just over a month ago, we could freely enter shopping malls and happily eat at Haidilao. Looking back now, it doesn't feel like it happened last month—it seems like a long time ago.

Such carefree outings now seem like a luxury, but we must persist because the light is waiting for us.

Special Announcement:

Due to the impact of the pandemic on daily life, the manuscript for "Child Bride," which was originally scheduled for release, has been delayed. Therefore, I've temporarily switched to this book, which has a relatively sufficient manuscript, to start publishing first.

This one will be more interesting, more down-to-earth, and it'll get really fun later on. You'll see once you keep reading. Lock it in.

I hope my words can accompany everyone through these difficult times, and then we can welcome the dawn of victory together.

Lao Yuan is with you all. Feel free to leave comments. As usual, there will be daily red packet showers. Let's keep riding the wave~