Dazzling

Huang Mao even wondered if he was hallucinating. Had Xing Wu kissed anyone else, he might have been shocked but not to the point of losing control. However, upon clearly seeing Qing Ye's face, his brain practically short-circuited, leaving him utterly dumbfounded. This was completely beyond his comprehension.

Qing Ye's face instantly turned pale, her entire body stiff as she leaned against the wall. The quiet alley suddenly fell into an eerie silence. Xing Wu broke the stalemate first, pulling Qing Ye over and brushing off her back as he said to her, "Go back first. I need to talk with Huang Mao."

Huang Mao remained practically petrified. Qing Ye's face was now flushed bright red, filled with an urge to jump down a manhole out of sheer embarrassment. She felt so mortified she could explode. Xing Wu squeezed her hand and said, "It's fine. Go."

Only then did Qing Ye walk uneasily toward the alley's exit, too embarrassed to even glance at Huang Mao as she passed him.

Even after leaving the alley, Qing Ye's heart continued to race wildly. It was only at this moment that she realized how insane she and Xing Wu had been—engaging in such an intense kiss in broad daylight in an alley. Luckily, it was Huang Mao who had stumbled upon them. What if it had been Li Lanfang? Or Director Gu? Wouldn't those people have been so shocked they'd need to pinch their philtrums a hundred times to recover?

Frustrated, she patted her head, her heart filled with regret and anxiety. After walking a short distance, she suddenly remembered she had forgotten to tell Xing Wu about going to Du Qiyan's mother's factory that afternoon, so she turned back.

However, as soon as she reached the alley entrance, she heard Huang Mao's astonished voice: "Damn, so Qing Ye isn't actually related to you at all?"

Qing Ye paused at the alley entrance, thinking it might not be the best time to interrupt, and decided to wait there until they finished talking.

Huang Mao asked in confusion, "Then why does she call your mom 'aunt'? I just don't get it. What exactly is the relationship between your mom and her mom?"

Xing Wu handed him a cigarette, lit his own, took a drag, and said, "Her grandfather's family runs a business in Changshi, and they're pretty well-off. But Qing Ye's mom has had poor health since childhood, often sick, and even hospitals couldn't cure her. Back then, someone suggested to her grandfather that adopting a girl with a compatible birth chart could help prolong her life or some superstitious nonsense like that. So they found my mom through connections in the countryside."

"My mom had an older brother and five younger siblings below her. Rural folks favor sons over daughters, so they were more than happy to give my mom away, especially since they offered some money."

"Then my mom went back to Changshi with Qing Ye's grandfather, calling her grandparents 'mom and dad' and referring to her mom as 'sister.' The family treated my mom quite well, and not long after she moved in, Qing Ye's mom's health actually improved."

"But you know my mom—she's vain and loves to nitpick. She always felt they treated their biological daughter better than her. Later, she became pretty rebellious, often running away from home in her teens, which strained the family relationship. Her grandfather's family was respectable and cared about face. When my mom got pregnant at nineteen, they completely disowned her."

Qing Ye pressed her body against the wall, her large eyes trembling slightly, as if even her breathing grew quieter as she listened intently.

Huang Mao took a deep drag of his cigarette and asked, "So your mom was with your dad since her teens? She just married him and came straight here?"Silence. Qing Ye didn't hear Xing Wu answer Huang Mao's question, only vaguely catching the words: "Anyway, after leaving Changshi she came here, and all these years she hasn't been in contact with anyone from there."

Qing Ye's hands gradually clenched into fists. Something wasn't right. Xing Wu had omitted an important detail. Perhaps Huang Mao hadn't noticed, but combined with Qing Ye's earlier suspicions, she was almost certain Xing Wu had deliberately concealed a crucial contradiction—the reason why Li Lanfang frequently ran away from home as a teenager. And behind that reason, if Qing Ye wasn't mistaken, he had intentionally left out that person, the one who was too difficult for him to mention.

Qing Ye's brow furrowed tightly as she slowly crouched down, hugging her arms and quietly staring at the ground.

Huang Mao let out a long sigh. "Bro, give me a moment to process this. I really need to process it. Honestly, I always thought... Ah, never mind. I think your mom has been really good to Qing Ye. Considering her own family disowned her, it's remarkable she's still willing to take Qing Ye in. Does Qing Ye know about the history between her family and your mom?"

"Probably not."

Xing Wu took a deep drag of his cigarette, his gaze heavy as he said calmly, "How would you feel if you knew your own family had kicked someone out years ago, cut off all contact, and now you had to live under their roof?"

Huang Mao suddenly understood. With Qing Ye's proud nature, if she knew her mother and grandfather had forbidden Li Lanfang from returning home and severed all ties, she would never willingly impose on their family now. Huang Mao glanced up at Xing Wu, suddenly realizing with startling clarity how much Xing Wu had always been considering Qing Ye—her feelings, her situation, everything.

He'd always assumed Xing Wu was related to Qing Ye by blood, that all this care was natural and expected. But now, learning their true relationship, Huang Mao felt deeply ashamed. Compared to Xing Wu's devotion and protection, what did his own admiration amount to? He suddenly smiled bitterly.

Meanwhile, Qing Ye remained crouched, hugging herself and staring blankly at her own shadow.

Just as she was lost in thought, several classmates from Anzhong Middle School passed by the alley entrance on their way home from the marathon. "Qing Ye, you're still here?" one called out.

Both Xing Wu and Huang Mao started, exchanging a glance before striding toward the alley entrance. Before they could reach it, Qing Ye had already turned and appeared before them, her eyes complex as she gazed at Xing Wu, offering a bitter smile.

Xing Wu's brow furrowed, his jaw tightening. Qing Ye stepped closer until she stood directly before him, meeting his gaze squarely. Huang Mao stubbed out his cigarette, picked up the trophy from the ground, and said, "I'm tired from running. Heading home to rest. See you Monday."

He turned and waved before disappearing down the alley.

The long alley returned to silence. Xing Wu looked down at her, his voice low and magnetic. "You heard everything?"

Qing Ye answered honestly, "Mm."

Xing Wu's eyes lowered slightly, his expression growing stern. After a long pause, he exhaled deeply. "Since you've heard, then remember this: you're living in my home now not just because of my mom, but because you're my girlfriend."Qing Ye's previously gloomy mood suddenly eased because of Xing Wu's words. To be honest, she wasn't someone who liked owing favors. Had she known from the beginning that her family had cut ties with Li Lanfang during her most difficult times, she would never have had the nerve to seek refuge with her. Perhaps because of this very reason, her mother had never told her any of this.

Then she tugged sadly at Xing Wu's clothes and asked, "How could my grandparents be so heartless? They kicked your mom out while she was still pregnant with you?"

Xing Wu looked down at her for a long moment before saying, "Actually, they did give her a choice. My grandfather said at the time that if my mother was willing to terminate the pregnancy, they would still acknowledge her. This was my mother's own decision—you can't blame anyone else."

Qing Ye released her grip on his clothes. A few seconds later, she suddenly froze, looked up at him, and stared. "So... the child my grandfather wanted your mother to abort back then was... you?"

Xing Wu didn't respond. Instead, he once again pressed Qing Ye's head against his chest. He knew she would feel upset after learning the truth. If not for today's unexpected incident, he would never have brought it up in front of her.

Truth be told, Qing Ye wasn't very familiar with her grandparents. After her mother married and moved to Beijing, she would only return to her hometown once a year at most. When Qing Ye was very young, her parents wouldn't take her along on such exhausting trips, so the number of times she visited her hometown could be counted on one hand. Her grandfather passed away when she was in kindergarten, and she had no real memory of him.

The only memory she had was of her grandmother, who passed away three years after her grandfather. Her parents took her back to their hometown for the funeral. On the way, her father kept telling her, "If your mother cries later, you need to comfort her." But young Qing Ye didn't understand how her father could predict that her mother would cry.

At the funeral, when she saw all the adults crying, she was utterly confused. Why were they crying and singing at the same time?

Then her father told her to cry as well. Little Qing Ye tried to squeeze out a few tears to fit in, but the roles of "grandma" and "grandpa" were too unfamiliar in her life. She knew she would never see her grandmother again, but she simply couldn't cry.

So, in truth, she had no deep impression of her grandparents and had always assumed her mother was their only child. Her mother had never mentioned Li Lanfang's existence, as if everyone were deliberately erasing this shameful part of their past.

And what they found shameful was the child in Li Lanfang's womb—the child of unknown origin. Qing Ye's emotions were now in turmoil. If she hadn't come to Zhazha Pavilion, hadn't met Xing Wu, and hadn't experienced all this, she might have shared her grandparents' view that Li Lanfang's actions were not worthy of pity. But now, she suddenly felt deeply troubled by her mother's family's decision—because the child that brought them shame, the one in Li Lanfang's womb, was Xing Wu!

He was the boy who had brought her comfort in her darkest moments, the one who made her smile again when she was downcast and lonely, the one who could share warmth with her in the darkness. If it hadn't been for Xing Wu—constantly bickering with her yet repeatedly helping her adapt to life here—she might not have lasted even a month in Zhazha Pavilion.But the thought that her own family had nearly taken his life made her clutch Xing Wu's clothes tightly—this feeling was truly unbearable.

Xing Wu patted the back of her head and said with a laugh, "You can hug me as much as you want when we get home. Aren't you hungry?"

Qing Ye quickly released him, looked up, and said, "Let's eat out. After we finish, you can come with me to a place this afternoon."

Xing Wu and Qing Ye didn't return to school. Instead, they went back to that slightly upscale casual dining spot to treat themselves, and Qing Ye insisted on paying the bill. Why? Perhaps she'd suddenly had a pang of conscience.

After their meal, they still went home to change clothes because Qing Ye didn't want to wear her school uniform for even a second longer—it felt like something rented from a two-yuan store. Besides, wearing that outfit to discuss cooperation would be foolish, right? They'd probably be dismissed as kids and kicked out.

So, Qing Ye intended to take the other party seriously in strategy, dominate in presence, and pressure them psychologically. That way, even before the negotiation began, she'd already have a certain degree of control.

To make herself look more mature, she even put on a bit of makeup. Xing Wu, already changed into his leather jacket and black pants, had been waiting for her in the living room for what felt like ages before she was finally ready.

When Qing Ye appeared before him in a flared coat and ankle boots with heels, he froze for a moment, stood up, and stared intently at her, giving her a once-over: "You... put on makeup?"

Qing Ye tousled her loose, wavy hair, her lips glossy, and asked, "How do I look?"

Xing Wu watched her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

As they headed downstairs, Li Lanfang even rushed from the backyard to exclaim in front of Qing Ye, "I was wondering where this beauty came from—her back looked so familiar. Qing Ye, I almost didn't recognize you like this."

Qing Ye's features were naturally well-proportioned. Without makeup, she appeared clear and delicate, but with just a touch of eyeliner and eyeshadow, they became strikingly defined and refined, exuding an air of high-class elegance, like a wealthy heiress.

Even Liu Nian and the others gathered around. Xing Wu stood at the entrance of Dazzle Island, lighting a cigarette, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he waited for them.

Qing Ye hadn't brought many winter clothes with her when she came here, so this was her only battle-ready outfit. After calling Du Qiyan, the three of them headed to the factory run by Du Qiyan's mother. It wasn't far, located in the Fourth District of the shooting range.

Who would have thought that after a sunny morning, a fierce wind would pick up as soon as they stepped out? The hem of Qing Ye's coat fluttered in the wind, and she remarked in surprise, "How did the weather change so suddenly?"

Du Qiyan said, "There's a sandstorm forecast for this evening."

Qing Ye thought it'd be best to go and return quickly.

On the way, Xing Wu teased her, "You're not really planning to resell sweet potato jerky, are you?"

Xing Wu was utterly baffled by Qing Ye dressing up so elaborately to discuss a sweet potato jerky deal. But Qing Ye brushed it off, saying, "Can you not use the word 'resell'? It makes it sound like I'm engaging in speculation. I'm seriously going to negotiate for the national general distributor."

"General what?" Xing Wu immediately burst out laughing and ruffled her hair. "Has anyone ever told you that you look a bit silly when you're being serious?"

Qing Ye shook her long hair. "Don't mess up my hairstyle."

Du Qiyan stole a glance at them, feeling that Qing Ye and Xing Wu had been getting along well lately, but she didn't dare let her imagination run wild.