Yang Sisi's silence made Cao Xiaobei even more anxious. He seemed particularly afraid that Yang Sisi would leave. He grabbed Yang Sisi's arm, his words filled with barely concealed excitement, and said, "Let me go with you. I have plenty of time. Once your dad is feeling better, I'll take you back to Dali. I've already thought it all out. My dad has a really big shop in the old town, enough to open an internet cafe... Then, my dad and I will take that shop, and we'll open an internet cafe together. If you like bars, we can open one too... Anyway, there's no rent, so we can make money no matter what!"
"What do I have to offer you in a partnership?"
"You only need to provide one person... It would be best to open an internet cafe. We can play games together during the day and ride our motorcycles around at night... I'll split all the profits with you, and I guarantee you won't feel any pressure."
Yang Sisi seemed to have matured a lot in an instant. She replied in a low voice, "Xiao Bei, I'm already preparing to improve. How long do you plan to stay in the same place? ... Ask yourself, can you really get dignity from the kind of life you just described? ... Maybe you feel it's only right, but I feel ashamed... Because everything you have now is given to you by your father, but what is my relationship with your father? ... Why should I live off the wealth he has accumulated?"
In a near-out-of-control state, Cao Xiaobei shouted at Yang Sisi, "Then marry me! You'll be my dad's daughter-in-law. What else is there that you can't take?"
Without hesitation, Yang Sisi replied, "I wouldn't like a man who's no different from who I used to be... because I especially dislike who I used to be."
"So what kind of man do you like?... Don't tell me about Michael, he's nowhere near as good as me, Cao Xiaobei..."
This time, Yang Sisi interrupted Cao Xiaobei. She said coldly, "You can't even be independent... What makes you think others are worse than you?... Wake up! Nobody has a smooth life forever! Don't make me feel like you're nothing without your dad, just like I am now... I don't want you to experience the pain I'm going through!"
Cao Xiaobei stared at Yang Sisi in astonishment.
Yang Sisi ignored it and placed the key she hadn't been able to return to Cao Xiaobei in the corridor. Then she dragged her suitcase out of the corridor.
Cao Xiaobei wiped his face hard with both hands, then chased after them along the stairwell.
Admittedly, Yang Sisi's words were a bit harsh, but they were also a fact... At the very least, she was using her own experience to make Cao Xiaobei face reality... And from their conversation just now, I could also sense that Cao Xiaobei's attitude towards life was indeed somewhat improper. He was too dependent on Cao Jinbo, and he himself practiced a very thorough hedonism, so all his plans for the future were inseparable from the word "enjoyment."
...
I also walked outside the building. At this time, Yang Sisi was already standing outside the community, waiting for the ride-hailing car she had ordered online. Cao Xiaobei was standing next to her.
I felt inexplicably sad.
A moment later, a white Volkswagen Lavida sped towards us. The driver helped Yang Sisi put her luggage in the trunk, and as Yang Sisi opened the car door, she glanced back at me.
I gestured to her to make a phone call, and she nodded before getting into the car.
The driver was busy making money and naturally didn't care about other people's feelings at parting, so after everything was settled, he stepped on the gas and drove Yang Sisi away from my sight.
I closed my eyes, feeling the scorching sun, but my heart felt as if a cold wind had blown through it. My sunshine was gone, and from now on I could only live a life where I knew the cold and warmth of life on my own... But I'm not afraid. When the cold wind passes, a warm wind will surely come, and flowers will bloom everywhere!
I suddenly realized that she really needed to change her name, because longing is truly painful, while living in the painting is the only way to be free and comfortable. Therefore, the "Yang Ruhua" that Nie Dangdang gave her is truly the most beautiful symbol!
...
Cao Xiaobei came up to me and said in a questioning tone, "Tell me, am I really that bad?...What is it about me that I can't compare to you?"
I calmly replied, "If your father, Cao Jinbo, can continue to be so rich and powerful, then you don't need to ask me this question... If one day your father follows in Sisi's father's footsteps, then you can ask me again... By then, you won't need me to answer; you'll already know the answer in your heart."
Cao Xiaobei glared at me.
I said to him again, "Give yourself a sense of urgency... Although what Sisi just said wasn't very pleasant, anyone who understands can tell that she has expectations for you. She hopes you can become an independent person."
"I don't need you to tell me that."
I glanced at him, then handed him the bunch of keys I'd picked up in the hallway; after that, I lost my composure and didn't respond to anything Cao Xiaobei said until he left.
...
About half an hour later, Lao Huang sent me a WeChat message, telling me that he and Yang Ruhua had boarded a ride to Kunming. He would go back to Shanghai first to continue dealing with that pile of things, while Yang Ruhua would fly directly from Kunming to an overseas destination... Lao Huang thanked me again for this.
But I don't think he should be grateful, because helping him find Yang Ruhua and Yang Ruhua voluntarily going abroad were things we had a responsibility to do.
I will also silently wish her well in Dali, hoping that she can stay with her father and get through this difficult time soon.
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