Chapter 108: The Price

Kang Ning returned to the car carrying a shopping bag. With one hand, he handed it to Shuyi, then turned his head to the other side to spare her the embarrassment of their similar build. “Just put it on for now,” he said.

Flustered, Shuyi took the white shopping bag and quickly pulled out a white crew-neck short-sleeve T-shirt, hastily putting it on. Afterward, she noticed there was also a white lace bra inside the bag. Suddenly recalling something, she glanced at Kang Ning, who was still looking out the window, then took off the T-shirt, put on the bra, and slipped the T-shirt back on. Blushing, she tidied her hair before stealing a glance at Kang Ning.

“All set,” Shuyi said, lowering her head awkwardly and nervously rubbing her hands together in front of her.

Kang Ning turned his head, giving her a once-over, then smiled slightly. “Not bad! Alright, let me take you home. Where do you live?”

Shuyi whispered, “Not far from the countryside inn where we just left, diagonally across the street. Walk down the small lane on the right for about two miles, and my house is at the village entrance.”

Kang Ning paused, thinking for a moment. “How about this: wait for me up ahead for a bit. I need to return the car we’re currently in. I’ll bring my own car out and then drive you home, okay?”

“Okay.”

Kang Ning turned the car onto the food street and stopped by the familiar white rabbit barbecue shop. Calling out to the owner as Shuyi got out with him, he said, “Uncle, could you bring a pot of tea, a plate of white rabbit barbecue, and two cold dishes, please?”

The owner, happy to see Kang Ning after a long absence, greeted him warmly. “Sure thing! Little brother, you’ve been busy lately, haven’t seen you for a while. Hey! Who’s this fresh-faced young lady?”

“She’s my sister. Uncle, please look after her for a bit. I’ll be right back,” Kang Ning said, motioning for Shuyi to sit down before quickly leaving.

Driving into his neighborhood at half past eleven, Kang Ning greeted the security guard and headed straight to his garage under his building. After parking and locking the garage, he waited until a couple from the adjacent unit entered the stairwell, then swiftly circled around the building’s corner. Sticking close to the row of waist-high holly bushes, he moved cautiously, scanning his surroundings. Near the fence, he leapt skillfully over and landed silently on a dim path, striding confidently toward his Jeep.

Twenty minutes later, Kang Ning, driving a Jeep with Chongqing license plates, stopped at the food street entrance, got out, and sat beside Shuyi in the small shop. He looked at the untouched dishes and said, “Go ahead, I’m hungry too... Uncle, bring a bottle of beer!”

“Right away!”

The owner quickly brought the beer, carefully placing it on the table before turning away.

Shuyi avoided Kang Ning’s gaze, shaking her head slightly and whispering, “I can’t eat.”

Kang Ning poured half a cup of tea for her, then scooped half a spoonful of rabbit meat into her bowl with a small spoon. “Just a little. It tastes good. By the way, how did your college entrance exams go? What schools are you thinking of applying to?”

Shuyi hadn’t expected Kang Ning, who had just fiercely dealt with two villains, to suddenly ask about her exam results so gently. The stark contrast overwhelmed her. She looked at Kang Ning’s handsome smile and, almost instinctively, shyly shared her situation. “My father died of illness four years ago, leaving many debts. My brother has been working in Wenzhou for two years and hasn’t come back. My mother farms at home. We’re poor, so I probably won’t make it to college. I want to start working early to ease the family’s burden.”

Kang Ning put down his chopsticks and softly said, “When I was studying in Shanghai, there was a girl in my class in a similar situation. But she was determined—she gritted her teeth and got into university. She was one of three students in our class to receive the top scholarship. She tutored others in her spare time and worked during vacations. She graduated with honors and was even recommended to Yale University in the US for further study. She called me two years ago, saying she received a $40,000 annual scholarship and should finish her doctorate next year and return home. So, I hope you don’t give up.”

Kang Ning’s words deeply moved Shuyi. Seeing the spark of hope in her eyes, he encouraged her further. “I heard from Luo Ming that your grades are very good. You probably won’t be worse than anyone else. As long as you have confidence, there’s no hurdle you can’t overcome!”

Grateful, Shuyi looked at Kang Ning. “I really want to go to university. After the exam, the teachers estimated I might be in the top three of the school. But, but...”

Kang Ning smiled kindly. “No buts. The key is whether you have confidence. Now, eat quickly. I’ll take you home after.”

Hope swelling in her heart, Shuyi forgot the earlier danger and quietly began eating. Kang Ning finished a bottle of beer, and when Shuyi was done, he paid the bill. Side by side, they left the shop, walked to the car, and drove off slowly toward the southern outskirts.

“Shuyi, my surname is Wu—Wu Xiaohua. I work at an auto repair shop. What’s your last name? I don’t know yet,” Kang Ning chatted while driving.

Shuyi seemed to have accepted him. “My surname is Yao. Brother Xiaohua, which university did you attend?”

Kang Ning smiled. “Shanghai Medical University. Haha, you might ask why I’m not a doctor. It’s not that I didn’t want to be one, but I like playing with and fixing cars, so I changed careers. What about you? What major do you like?”

“The teachers say I’m good at foreign languages and suggested I apply to the Foreign Language Institutes in Nanjing or Luoyang. They don’t charge tuition and even offer monthly subsidies. I’m thinking the same. Otherwise, I’d go to the Military Medical University. My family can’t afford college,” Shuyi said, lowering her head and nervously fiddling with her slender fingers.

Kang Ning was slightly taken aback. He knew well the nature of the foreign language institutes Shuyi mentioned. Thinking about this beautiful, shy girl beside him, he found the idea of her attending one of those schools quite intriguing.

After a moment, Kang Ning casually asked, “What happened today? Why did that man say he’d buy you for two thousand yuan?”

Shuyi fell silent for a long while, secretly wiping tears from her eyes before whispering, “My mother borrowed two thousand yuan from that boss to treat my father’s illness. The boss is from our village; his brother is the village head. Seeing my family couldn’t repay him, he forced my mother to make me work at his countryside inn to pay off the debt. But just within a week of me working there, he... he...”

“I understand.”

Kang Ning interrupted gently. Seeing the countryside inn built in the middle of a vast fishpond, now quiet and deserted, he asked Shuyi, “Are we close? Is this the little road?”

“Yes, this is the road. Not far in is my house. We’re at the village entrance.” Shuyi glanced anxiously at the inn for a moment, then looked toward the lane.

Entering the lane, Kang Ning slowed the car and earnestly warned, “Shuyi, don’t mention anything that happened tonight to anyone. Understand?”

“Okay! But... what if someone asks me?” Shuyi looked at Kang Ning with worried, frightened eyes.

Kang Ning smiled reassuringly. “That’s easy. I saw your coworkers leave around ten o’clock. Just say you finished up shortly after ten and left. If they ask again, say you bought some clothes at the night market and took a taxi home. Don’t say anything else. Got it? Repeat it to me.”

Shuyi stammered as she repeated the instructions. Kang Ning wasn’t satisfied and had her repeat it two more times. After the third time, he smiled and said, “That’s right! Don’t panic. No one will make things hard for you. Hey, we’re at the village entrance. This is your place, right?”

“Yes.”

Kang Ning slowly parked the car. Under the bright moonlight, about ten meters to the left was a low tiled house. Inside the broken low wall sat a men’s motorcycle, which puzzled Kang Ning. He looked at Shuyi in the passenger seat. She sat motionless, tears filling her eyes as she stared at her home’s door, her expression complicated.

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Do you all know what kind of schools the Foreign Language Institutes in Nanjing and Luoyang are? Heh, a new week has begun—please continue to support by voting!

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