Chapter 75: What to do with the money transfer to her after rethinking it?

Zhu Liu stared intently at the "typing..." message above the chat box, her eyes burning with a intensity that seemed to pierce the screen. Her fingers unconsciously gripped the edge of the screen; she held her breath, her eyes darting about, afraid to miss a single message.

But the person on the other side of the screen seemed completely oblivious to her anxiety. Half a minute later, the notification above the chat box stopped. Zhu Liushuang stared blankly at the chat interface; the anticipation and secret joy that had been building up were quickly overwhelmed by endless disappointment.

"Liu Shuang, are you listening? By the way, who are you going to Yunhe with?"

"Ah? Sister Zhuang..." She turned her head slightly, taking the time to respond to Zhuang Xiaoqian.

"After all this time, you haven't been listening to me at all! You look so distracted..." Zhuang Xiaoqian said suspiciously.

Zhu Liushuang pinched her slightly trembling fingertips, her lips unconsciously tightening: "I'm sorry, Sister Zhuang, I was thinking about the financial statements and my mind wandered for a moment."

“Okay, then you go ahead and get busy…” Zhuang Xiaoqian showed full understanding, “Hurry up and get things sorted out before the holiday so you can have a peaceful holiday.”

The phone screen gradually dimmed, and just before it went completely black, the chat window started moving again.

Zhu Liu quickly tapped the screen, her heart pounding wildly with the "typing..." message at the top.

The person on the other end of the screen wrote intermittently, and the intermittent prompts were like a thin thread, gently tugging at her sensitive and fragile nerves.

What exactly is he considering?

In just two minutes, countless thoughts flashed through Zhu Liushuang's mind: Should he thank her for her comfort? Or should he pour cold water on her wishful thinking? Or perhaps... coldly tell her that their brief "marital relationship" was over?

Her finger hovered over the screen several times; she desperately wanted to ask him what he wanted to say, yet she was also afraid of disturbing him and pushing him further away.

She could only wait silently, filled with unease, waiting for him to find the right words and reply.

Time stretched out infinitely at that moment, and she truly experienced what it meant for "every second to feel like a year".

"Buzz—" The phone vibrated.

[Liu Shuang, I'm currently on a business trip in Yunhe and will be stationed there for a while. Thank you for your concern and comfort, but I may not be able to properly respond to anyone right now. So... I hope you can understand.]

With her heart clenched tightly, Zhu Liushuang stared at her phone screen with a solemn expression.

"Sizzle—"

"Sizzle—"

One after another, vibrations rang out.

Please don't go to the stall this weekend. I promised to help you with any unexpected situations, but I'm sorry I can't keep that promise.

[WeChat transfer: ¥20,000]

Why should I transfer money to her?

With her mouth slightly agape, Zhu Liushuang stared in astonishment at the orange transfer box that suddenly popped up in the chat window, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Is this... compensation he gave her for her earnings from her street vending?

She thought she was seeing things, so she raised her hand and counted again and again.

It's 20,000, not 2,000!

She would have to set up a stall at least dozens of times to earn 20,000 yuan.

So... is he planning to stay in Yunhe for a year or two and not come back?

Everything before her seemed to lose its color in an instant, and Zhu Liushuang felt a mix of emotions. But reason told her that He Ming's current avoidance and indifference were instinctive reactions to trauma, and she shouldn't be so anxious about it.

She should give him time and space to bury his pain, and not push him too hard.

Taking a deep breath, she typed a line with a heavy heart.

Okay, if you need to talk or get help, I'm always here. Remember to take care of yourself while you're away on business.

That night, she waited until late into the night, but He Ming did not reply.

Restless and unable to sleep, Zhu Liushuang took out her long-sealed notebook and began to plan her next move.

Step 3: Open the door to the heart.

The black pen scratched softly across the paper.

[Appropriate companionship: Send him 1-2 short greetings each week to remind him to take care of his health. Occasionally share interesting things that happen in your life to bring him joy.]

Adjust your mindset: Respect his silence and avoidance; don't be discouraged or saddened regardless of whether he replies to your messages.

Sincerity can move mountains.

...

The moonlight shone brightly outside the window, and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms was carried by the gentle night breeze, softly caressing her nose. Holding the pen to her ear, she scratched her head with the pen after each line she wrote.

His brows furrowed and relaxed intermittently. Zhu Liushuang's expression gradually shifted from seriousness to relief, and then to an unwavering determination and focus.

————

It rained for three days straight, and the temperature plummeted. On the fourth day of the National Day holiday, the sun finally came out.

The Strawberry Music Festival was held for two consecutive days at the Gucheng Shuixiyang Wetland Park. As early as half a month ago, Zhu Liushuang managed to snag a 500 yuan daily ticket to set up a stall thanks to her incredibly fast egg-whipping skills.

In early spring, she had also set up a stall outside a music festival. Because she couldn't afford the 20,000 yuan three-day indoor stall fee, she had to sneak off to set up her stall on a small path leading to the entrance. That day it started to rain, and when the city management officers came to chase people away, she didn't even have time to put on a raincoat. She and several other girls who were also setting up stalls were desperately pushing their makeshift carts and dodging each other.

This music festival was sponsored by the government, and with an indoor booth, she at least didn't have to worry about being chased away by the urban management officers.

Early in the morning, Zhu Liushuang asked Tian Xingyu to help her. The two of them spent half the day in the kitchen preparing several large boxes of food. There were large, filling sandwiches, beautifully decorated tiramisu perfect for photos, refreshing lemonade, and pretty fruit tea.

At noon, she drove her stylish and unique street vendor cart to the designated area. On the lush green lawn, many stalls were already bustling with activity. Around her were vendors selling grilled sausages, ice cream, lamb skewers, moisture-proof mats, raincoats…

Zhu Liushuang jumped out of the car and helped Tian Xingyu along the way.

"Let's set up the stall first. The audience will enter around three o'clock. We'll try to sell out as soon as possible and go home early."

"Yes, sir. Shouldn't the menu on this blackboard be written bigger?" Tian Xingyu neatly tied her long curly hair into a bun.

“Yes, Ayu, you can set up the string lights and balloons first. I’ll write the menu myself in a bit,” Zhu Liushuang said, glancing at the food while busy plating it.

...

The afternoon sun was not glaring; half of it was hidden behind the clouds. The autumn wind, carrying coolness and the aroma of various foods, blew in and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

After fiddling around the stall cart for a while, Zhu Liushuang finally managed to set up the area in a decent manner. She walked a short distance away and snapped a bunch of photos of the newly renovated stall, then selected a few satisfactory ones and posted them to her customers' group chat.

[Welcome to the Strawberry Music Festival! /Sprinkle flowers/Sprinkle flowers]

Soon, the "ding-dong" sound rang out continuously.

[Baby, please send your location.]

[Ugh! I haven't set up my stall in ages, and now that I'm finally able to, it just so happens to coincide with my trip. So annoying!]

[I just bought tickets for the music festival, see you this afternoon!]

[Sister Xiaoshuang, wait for me! Your loyal fan is on her way at top speed.]

The last group message was sent by Gu Xuting, and Zhu Liushuang could feel her excitement and joy even through the screen.

[Today's special: Regular customers get a free lemonade with every tiramisu purchase!]

Glancing at the bustling crowd of customers, Zhu Liushuang walked back to her stall with satisfaction.

"Ye Xingzhi is such a jerk! He promised to come and help, but he secretly went on vacation..." Tian Xingyu sat on a plastic stool and complained angrily.

"You asked him to come and help?" Zhu Liushuang leaned over and glanced at her friend. "There are only two work permits in total. Even if he comes, he won't be able to get in."

"If we can't get in, we can buy tickets!" Tian Xingyu pouted. "Besides, the government has plenty of free tickets! I hate people who cancel at the last minute..."

Zhu Liushuang took out a glass of lemonade, thoughtfully inserted a straw, and handed it to her friend: "Here, calm down."

Tian Xingyu casually took it, gulped it down, and finally felt refreshed: "Shuangshuang, the lemonade you make is even better than the ones from the milk tea shops! With your skills, it's a real shame you don't open a dessert shop."

"It takes capital..." Zhu Liu rested his chin on his hands and said dreamily, "When I've saved enough capital, I'll open one."

"Then I'll invest!" Tian Xingyu raised her arm and patted her best friend's shoulder, saying enthusiastically, "Let's try to make the store bigger and stronger..."

A gentle breeze ruffled her hair, and Zhu Liushuang's heart stirred. The floodgates of memory opened, and she suddenly recalled the scene outside the ICU that day: she sat in a chair watching He Ming eat the bagels she had made, enthusiastically telling him about her dreams for the future. She vividly remembered that he was in a good mood, patiently listening to her rambling, and even offering her gentle encouragement at the end.

"Zhu... Zhu Liushuang?" My thoughts were interrupted by the sudden voice.

She suddenly looked up, and when she met the gaze of the person who came up to her, there was a hint of bewilderment in her eyes.

"Dr. Yue... Dr. Yue, you're here for the music festival?"

"Yes, I happen to have a favorite singer." Yue Lin was dressed in a clean and casual outfit. When he spoke, he opened his mouth to reveal his neat and white teeth.

"What's going on?" Tian Xingyu suddenly became excited, shrugged her friend's elbow, and asked in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

Zhu Liushuang awkwardly turned her head away, silently opening her mouth: "It's nothing."

Unfortunately, Tian Xingyu clearly didn't believe her. She raised her bright smile and asked, "This handsome guy looks unfamiliar. Are you Shuangshuang's friend?"

With a smile in his eyes, Yue Lin said frankly, "We can't really be considered friends yet. I've treated her for a medical condition... Hello, my name is Yue Lin. Yue as in the Five Sacred Mountains, and Lin as in Donglin Jieshi."

Tian Xingyu's eyes darted back and forth between the two of them: "Oh—Dr. Yue, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Zhu Liushuang watched silently as her friend and Yue Lin chatted happily, feeling a bit overwhelmed. She figured out that her friend was probably trying to get close to Yue Lin, and as for her purpose, it was naturally related to her.

Sure enough, Tian Xingyu changed the subject: "Dr. Yue, are you thirsty after standing here talking for so long? Would you like a glass of lemonade? Or some fruit tea? These were all made by Shuangshuang, and the taste is definitely as good as the desserts from outside shops!"

Yue Lin glanced at Zhu Liushuang in surprise, then fixed his gaze on the freezer, asking in an exaggerated tone, "So many things, did Miss Zhu make them all? She must have been working herself to the bone! I thought you bought them wholesale from somewhere..."

"This guy has a really interesting way of talking," Tian Xingyu whispered to Zhu Liushuang. "He's not bad-looking either!"

Zhu Liushuang became increasingly reserved as her friend's tone became ambiguous.

"Then give me a glass of lemonade and a sandwich, please. I didn't eat much for lunch, and I'm quite hungry," Yue Lin said with a gentle smile after the two girls at the stall finished their whispered conversation.

"Oh... okay, just a moment." Zhu Liushuang was a beat slow to react, but she came to her senses and started packing for Yue Lin.

"How much?"

"No money required."

“How can that be?” Yue Lin raised an eyebrow. “I can’t just freeload.”

Zhu Liushuang pursed her lips and, under the gossipy gaze of her friend, slowly said, "I received your help last time, so consider this a return gift."

Taking the paper bag handed to him, Yue Lin leaned against the stall cart and pondered for a few seconds before saying seriously, "It was just a small favor that day, nothing much. How about this... there will be a lot of people later, and I see that the other stalls have plenty of manpower. Do you need an assistant here?"

Tian Xingyu's eyes lit up, and she readily agreed: "Sure! We're short-handed!"

"That's not a good idea..." Zhu Liushuang was about to refuse, "Won't helping us interfere with your performance?"

"My favorite singer doesn't perform until 8 PM, and I'm just killing time anyway..." Yue Lin said casually, one hand in his pocket.

"Then it's settled! Dr. Yue, you should finish what you're doing first, eat and drink your fill so you can get back to work..." Tian Xingyu said happily, "The main force will be coming in in half an hour."

Yue Lin gave an "OK" sign: "No problem, I'll go browse the surrounding stalls first, and then come back to help later."

The man in the white shirt and gray pants took out a sandwich from the paper bag and ate it as he walked away. Watching his receding figure, Zhu Liushuang suddenly felt dazed; for a moment, she thought that figure was He Ming.

Yue Lin's private attire is very similar to He Ming's, but they have completely different appearances and temperaments.

"Does this Dr. Yue... have a crush on you?" After everyone had walked away, Tian Xingyu squinted and teased her friend.

"Ah Yu, don't tease me... I've only met him twice in total. Oh, today is the third time." Zhu Liushuang gave her best friend a speechless wink.

"When he was talking, he was so focused on looking at you, and the way he looked at you..." Tian Xingyu scoffed, "He was practically glued to you."

Zhu Liushuang lowered her head and remained silent for a long time before finally complaining, "You know perfectly well that I only have He Ming in my heart, yet..."

"Still what..." Tian Xingyu pressed with a mischievous grin, "Still deliberately cause you trouble?"

Zhu Liushuang nodded to her best friend with a wronged expression.

Tian Xingyu chuckled and sighed, "Honey, I'm just worried about you! Senior He went to Yunhe without a word and ignored you completely. Why don't we find someone else? Why give up the whole forest for one tree? I think that Dr. Yue from earlier is pretty good. He's handsome, perceptive, and humorous. Most importantly, his peach blossom eyes are so beautiful when he smiles; he even looks at dogs with affection..."

"If you like her, then go for it!" Zhu Liushuang retorted sullenly.

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Author's note: [Milk tea][Milk tea] Senior He, you need to be more aware of the crisis!