Romance
Ancheng Children's Welfare Institute is located in the northern suburbs of the city, away from the bustling city and in a spacious and quiet environment.
An early morning bus arrived. When it stopped, it rolled up the fallen dead leaves that had been swept from the roadside. The leaves swirled around and clattered against the rear of the bus, as if urging it to hurry to its appointment.
Ye Yuanyin sat in the last row of the car out of habit. He opened the notebook, which recorded in detail the basic information of several autistic children.
She majored in fine arts as an undergraduate, with a minor in psychology. To apply for a master's degree in art therapy, in addition to the required academic performance, she also required at least 1,000 hours of volunteer service. To make up for the time, she joined a nonprofit organization in her sophomore year and began her social practice.
Now it is the sixth year.
Zhou Youda, the leader of the public welfare organization, is two years her senior. They were admitted to Ancheng from the same province. When they met old friends in a foreign place, they felt psychologically close to each other, so they can be considered fellow villagers with whom they have more frequent contact.
Zhou You was waiting for someone at the bus stop as usual. When she got off the bus, the gentleman took the painting supplies from her hand.
He asked, "How is your mother's health?"
"It's the same as always. I always cough every time the season changes."
"We should take him to the hospital in Ancheng for a checkup. Don't delay."
"Yes, thank you, brother."
"What about the wound on your forehead? Does it still hurt?"
Ye Yuanyin's expression was gloomy, and he forced a smile and said, "It doesn't hurt anymore, thank you."
The two walked up the mountain road for a while. Zhou You considered it and finally advised, "Next time you meet You Jing, be humble and talk to him nicely. Don't hurt yourself again."
Ye Yuanyin smiled bitterly and said, "He won't listen."
Zhou You looked at her, quiet and frail. Her father had died young, her mother had been ill for a long time, and she had come all the way from the mountains. Like countless children from ordinary families, she had achieved this point today through excellent grades and extraordinary diligence, and had put in a lot of effort. Such a person should not sink into the river and fail, achieving nothing.
Zhou You knew that her relationship with You Jing was strained, and that she had been forced into a desperate situation because of her job search a while ago, so he asked worriedly, "Where are you living now?"
"I have a place to stay, don't worry."
She married Chen Dian, and apart from the man's family, no more than five people knew about it.
Fate is like duckweed, and we may not separate at any time. He should think so too, so Ye Yuanyin feels that there is no need to let more people know.
Seeing that she was unwilling to talk in depth and understanding her difficulties, Zhou You said, "Let's go. Aunt Su and the children are waiting."
*
Aunt Su, the director of the welfare home, was an old acquaintance. Knowing they were coming, she had brought a few children and was waiting at the door early.
When a few children saw her, they rushed over like a flood.
Aunt Su smiled and said, "The children here all have a deep affection for you."
One of them was Qingqing, a child with Down syndrome who was still receiving nebulization. She took off her mask and grabbed her clothes.
Ye Yuanyin squatted down and stroked Qingqing's soft hair soothingly. Seeing many people standing in the yard, some were adjusting camera equipment, some were lighting, and some were holding microphones, he asked Aunt Su curiously, "Is there any filming today?"
Before Aunt Su could answer, someone walked out of the yard slowly, holding his trouser pockets.
He wore a black trench coat, a tall figure with a tough demeanor. His hair was barely an inch short, but his eye sockets were as deep as the ocean. His bony features, sculpted to make his gaunt, bony face appear as if carved by a knife. At that moment, his cold, piercing eyes glared at him, and he exuded an aura of unapproachability.
Ye Yuanyin involuntarily took two steps back.
You Jing stared at her with a gloomy expression, but he said to Zhou You, "I've asked a TV station to come interview you. You and Aunt Su take the children in first."
"You Jing," Zhou You reminded, "Don't quarrel—look at A Yin's forehead. If you have something to say, talk it over nicely."
He didn't answer, and waited until everyone had left, then walked towards her with his long legs.
Ye Yuanyin was still retreating when You Jing's gloomy voice came over him, making him furious. "Why are you hiding? Can I eat you?!"
She stopped suddenly.
A month ago, You Jing, a leading Chinese avant-garde painter, traveled to Paris for an event. Upon his return, he learned from his sister, Dian Shi'an's stepmother, that Ye Yuanyin was married. He was furious, but Ye Yuanyin had resolved not to answer his calls. When they finally met, he accidentally hurt her during a heated argument.
You Jing looked at her forehead, the redness and swelling still not gone away. His heart ached, and he softened his voice to coax her, "Come here, let me see."
Seeing that she didn't move, You Jing strode over.
Ye Yuanyin turned and ran, but the man caught up with her from behind and put his arm around her waist.
There was a huge disparity in strength between men and women, and she couldn't escape his control. In anger, she lowered her head and bit the back of his hand. You Jing let go in pain.
The two men stood face to face, glaring at each other, looking disheveled.
You Jing's anger flared up instantly, and he yelled at her: "Are you born in the Year of the Dog? You've grown up and you still dare to bite me?!"
Ye Yuanyin frowned and looked at him, his expression full of grief and anger. "I hope that in your eyes, I can be a human being first."
"Of course not! I buy you beautiful clothes, pretty bags, and the most expensive cosmetics... You have everything other women have. You also have things they don't have. You are such a precious person."
She smiled, and an expression of infinite boredom appeared on her tired and lifeless face.
You Jing continued to accuse her: "But how did you repay me? How dare you marry another man without telling me? You've only met a few times? Do you know him well enough to marry him? Are you crazy? How can you be worthy of me?"
Her stubborn eyes were revealed through her messy hair. Ye Yuanyin was wary of his next move. "You already said the lesson yesterday and touched me. Isn't that enough? What else do you want today?"
"What do I want?!" You Jing was so angry that he was no longer angry. He smiled contemptuously and said word by word: "Divorce him."
"I won't get a divorce." There was no room for maneuver in her stubborn expression.
The wind was blowing outside, and You Jing felt as if something had entered his eyes. He blinked desperately, his voice devoid of warmth. "Say it again."
"I don't want to divorce him."
He suddenly reached out, grabbed the back of her neck with one hand, and pulled her into his arms.
The girl in his arms had a soft oval face and bright eyes, as if the sun, moon, and stars were flowing in them. Her nose was straight and her mouth was tightly pursed, giving her the look of someone who was stubborn and refused to give in.
You Jing lowered his head, his mouth just about to hit hers.
Ye Yuanyin did not hide, but the hatred in his eyes was deep.
"Xiaoye." Someone suddenly spoke, like raindrops hitting the surface of a lake, scattering water droplets and creating ripples. "What are you doing?"
Ye Yuanyin turned around and saw Chen Yanan standing not far away. She was tall and graceful, as handsome as a bamboo, but her expression was filled with uncontrollable irritation. Like someone caught cheating by the teacher, she pushed You Jing away and looked at him with annoyance and anxiety, "I—I—"
She hesitated for a long time but couldn't explain it clearly.
Secretary Ma, who was accompanying him, received a call and whispered in his ear to urge him to start the dinner.
Chen Yan nodded and said he understood. His eyes fell on her. He extended his hand and asked slowly, "Shall we go?"
As if afraid that he would go back on his word, Ye Yuanyin quickly reached out and grasped his palm, like a drowning man grabbing a life-saving piece of driftwood.
Chen Yan clenched his hands and pulled her while instructing Secretary Ma, "Go buy clothes first, there's no time left."
You Jing came across and blocked the two men's way. Secretary Ma stood in front and stretched out his arm to stop him.
Chen Yan'an's face was gloomy, and his expression was full of disdain. Ye Yuanyin could sense his displeasure and felt his hand being held so hard that it hurt.
Secretary Ma tried to persuade him kindly, "Professor You, the TV station staff are still inside. If we make a scene, everyone will lose face. Please go ahead."
You Jing was very concerned about his reputation, especially in front of Shen Ji'an, his pitiful self-esteem would be infinitely inflated. He couldn't say anything to keep her, and could only watch her walk away.
The driver drove the car over. Secretary Ma looked at the two people's hands that were still clasped together, and quickly decided whether it would be enough to open only one door.
The next second, Chen Di'an let go of her hand and walked to the other side.
There was still some warmth in his palm. Ye Yuanyin felt the sudden loss of pressure on his palm and wondered if he had made him angry.
*
In the large shopping mall in the city center, there are dazzling brand stores, and the huge and transparent glass windows reflect the young woman's cramped face.
Yan Dian took her into a very reputable, high-quality women's clothing store. The clothes in it were basically made of pure natural materials such as cashmere, wool, linen and silk. They looked plain and clean, without any fancy elements. Only the tailoring was one in a million.
He didn't say a word in the car just now. Ye Yuanyin couldn't guess what he was thinking and couldn't find any topic to talk about, so he remained silent all the way.
Shen Yan had a sharp eye and his own preferred tastes. After taking a quick look, he picked out a black silk low-necked sleeveless long dress with a light beige open-necked cashmere sweater as the accessory, and asked her to go into the fitting room to change.
After a while, the curtain opened and she walked out.
The shopping guide manager standing by was suddenly amazed by this completely transformed person, and was stunned for a long time before he remembered to praise him.
"You, sir, are really—very discerning."
The young woman was beautiful and innocent, looking flawless, except for the pair of cheap white sneakers on her feet that didn't match her clothes.
Sediment An was about to pick out shoes again, but she refused to change.
His good taste, cultivated since childhood, finally got in the way and he spoke. "Who wears an evening dress with sneakers?"
Ye Yuanyin stubbornly retorted, "Our family."
She has a slim figure and is not short, so she can hold up the dress well even with her flat shoes.
Seeing her determined to never obey, Chen Yan'an felt as if he had bullied a decent girl. He didn't have the patience to deal with her and simply said, "Whatever you say."
Ye Yuanyin speculated that her arguing with You Jing earlier was indeed inappropriate. Regardless of whether she and Chen Dian'an had feelings for each other, they were still husband and wife in name only, so she should apologize to him.
But his attitude was so serious, cold and distant that she lost the courage to explain.
After entering the fitting room and changing out of his clothes, Ye Yuanyin leaned over and solemnly stroked the pair of sneakers she had brushed until they were pale, as if protecting the last city. But then he thought, why bother with this extra effort? In his eyes, his own weakness was clearly visible.
Just as Xiandi was about to take her away, he suddenly received another call and picked it up. There was a female voice on the other end, but only the first sentence was audible. She called his name, and it sounded very gentle.
Ye Yuanyin thought, it must be Ji Quan.
After listening to this, Chen Yan hung up the phone and turned to her and said, "I have something to do and need to go back to the company. Let Secretary Ma take you there."
Ye Yuanyin suddenly reached out and grabbed the clothes on his back, looking up with an expression that seemed to be asking for help, "Will you come over again?"
Yan Chen'an paused for a moment with a complex expression on her clean, fair face. It was indeed a bit difficult for her to deal with such a difficult family. But he still didn't even bother to say a word of comfort to her.
"Not necessarily. You can stay there if it's late."
Ye Yuanyin's heart stagnated and he let go of his hand awkwardly.
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