Why should I get money?
Jiang Mianmian was a little taken aback by her question.
"Don't misunderstand, I didn't mean anything by it..."
"I'm asking you, why are you giving me money!"
The girl spoke clearly, and although her voice was soft, the firmness in her tone was unlike anything one would expect from someone her age.
“Because…” Jiang Mianmian took a deep breath, “I want to thank you. You helped me out of that awkward situation in the restroom last time.”
The girl remained silent, but then stubbornly shoved the money back into Jiang Mianmian's hand.
"You're welcome."
After saying that, she turned to leave.
Jiang Mianmian wanted to call her back, but after taking a few steps, she turned back.
A gust of wind blew her hat brim up, and this time Jiang Mianmian finally saw her face clearly—a pretty girl with a childlike look in her brows, and a pair of large, clear eyes that revealed a sense of vicissitude that did not match her age.
"If you encounter any problems in the future, you can always ask me for help."
“But…” Jiang Mianmian paused, “You have to let me know your name, and how can I contact you?”
"Heh..." The girl seemed to know everything. "After our last meeting, didn't you investigate me? And you said you didn't know my name?"
Jiang Mianmian and Huo Junyu exchanged a glance, thinking that they had finally met their match.
When faced with a tough opponent, the best approach is to be direct.
So Jiang Mianmian said frankly, "I did investigate you, mainly because I was curious why you helped me. Also... I didn't find anything out, except that I know your name is Niannian, I know nothing else."
The girl paused for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
Her smile was innocent and playful, like a child who had just succeeded in playing a prank.
"I never thought that people like you would be unable to find out about others! I thought you had connections everywhere!"
Jiang Mianmian: "..."
"My name is Pei Nian." The girl pulled down her hat brim. "If you need anything, come find me at that bar."
"you……"
Before Jiang Mianmian could say anything, Pei Nian left with a smile and quickly departed.
"What a strange person," Huo Junyu chuckled softly, "but he's probably not a bad one."
"Yes, if she were targeting me, she would have done it already."
"Today was not bad," Huo Junyu said, glancing at her. "We know her name now. I'll have someone investigate further and make sure they find out everything about her!"
*
Pei Nian returned to her simple rented room, took off her hat and her sweat-soaked T-shirt, then processed the fish and threw it into the pot.
She took a can of ice-cold beer from the refrigerator, and the sound of opening the can seemed to release a cool breeze, adding a touch of freshness to the small house.
Pei Nian took a sip of the beer. It was a bit bitter, and she frowned, still unable to fully get used to the taste.
“Jiang Mianmian…” she murmured the name, a slight smile playing on her lips. Then she put down the beer can and pulled a diary from the drawer.
On the last page, she wrote the name carefully and neatly, stroke by stroke.
The fish soup in the pot was bubbling away. She went over to check on it, added some salt, and turned down the heat to continue cooking.
Then she sat in the kitchen doorway and flipped through the diary again.
She had read this diary countless times, and could recite many of the sentences by heart. But she still couldn't get enough of it. Reading this diary every day had become an essential part of her routine. Her fingers brushing over the familiar handwriting felt like touching that person's face.
Only then did she realize that she had not been abandoned by the world and that she had family.
This is despite the fact that the relative is already in prison and even awaiting the death penalty for human trafficking.
The diary's pages are yellowed, and the stories inside are from a long time ago.
Pei Nian read aloud line by line: "Tonight at the nightclub, I was harassed by several men. I was there to sell alcohol, but they insisted that I drink with them... They outnumbered me, and I couldn't fight them off at all. Just when I thought I had no hope left, he appeared..."
"Today, I saw him again. This time, I was cornered by debt collectors, and he was like a warrior who descended from the sky, protecting me from everything. He paid off my debts and gave me some money so I could live a good life..."
"Today, I sold a girl. I know I've embarked on a path of no return. This path is incredibly dangerous, but I have no other choice... I remember someone telling me to live a good life, but I'm sorry, I can't do that anymore..."
“I sent my daughter to the countryside and send money regularly. I know I'm not a good mother, but I hope my daughter can live the peaceful life I never had. That way, I won't have let you down…”
"Lu Lishan".
Pei Nian let out a long breath and slowly closed the notebook.
The name Lu Lishan appeared many times in my mother's diary.
Is that her father?
It must be.
Pei Nian smiled slightly, though she was happy, her smile was restrained. Over the years, she had learned to hide her emotions, even when she was alone.
We drank most of a can of beer, and the fish soup was ready.
There was leftover rice from the previous day in the kitchen.
Pei Nian ate the fish soup with rice, quickly filled her stomach, then wiped her mouth and wrote a few words in the blank space at the back of her diary—something she did every day.
Her turbulent childhood fostered her withdrawn personality. Yet, she also longed for her father's affection, her mother's care, and the warmth and happiness of family reunion.
Unable to obtain these things, she wrote them down.
When she couldn't see Pei Hong, she would write in her diary, as if she were talking to her mother.
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