Since Xiao Yu wasn't close to his family, Xu Qingsong often joked that his dad's face looked like a shoe insole—long and smelly.
So with Xiao Qu's current infatuation, his mom was bound to be dumped sooner or later.
But still, on the other hand.
Was Ye Qingli thinking he was dirt poor? She didn't like spending his money before, and now she must like it even less.
Xiao Yu lowered his eyes, her small face reflected in his pupils. His expression suddenly turned serious: "I know you're a thoughtful girl, but I'm not that destitute. I can't even afford to pay for a meal for my girlfriend."
"Most importantly, if you spend my money, I would be really happy."
He said it so frankly; it should have been a happy thing, but Ye Qingli looked troubled.
After a long while, she said, "Xiao Yu, I'm really glad you can tell me this. I can feel how much you value me and how serious you are about this relationship. So I will never regret the decision I made tonight to ask you to be with me."
She pressed her lips together: "But I have to admit to you, before I texted you, I went to see Huang Xu."
"I didn't want to talk to him. He said he needed to see me about something. I never forgot what you told me, never." Ye Qingli started to assure him again, afraid that Xiao Yu would be angry and think she had ignored his words, so she spoke with particular sincerity.
After all, they were in a relationship now. She didn't want to hide anything from him or keep secrets. Some things were different if they came out voluntarily versus being uncovered. She hoped their relationship would be pure, untouched by any filth.
Xiao Yu stared at her. He hadn't trusted her much before, and he regretted that. This girl had known his intentions from the start, but she had only tried to dissuade him, sincerely telling him not to waste money on someone who had no future.
Xiao Yu's eyelashes trembled: "Mm, I believe you."
Sensing that he truly wasn't angry, Ye Qingli breathed a sigh of relief and dared to continue: "He asked me what I thought of him. I said nothing—not good, not bad. I didn't see him as a friend. Then he got angry. Actually, I was kind of glad I made him angry. He told me a bunch of things about you, which helped me understand you a bit better."
"Back then, you said your family only had you, so I thought maybe you just didn't get along with your parents, but they still loved you. You beat Huang Xu twice and still came back to school like nothing happened, which proved they had your back. But I never expected it to be the way he described."
The way it was—both of them understood, so she didn't want to elaborate. But the more Ye Qingli avoided the topic, the more her heart ached.
"Before, when we were friends, it was fine if you didn't tell me these things; there's always a barrier that can't be crossed. But now we're lovers. You know I take relationships seriously—that's why I kept rejecting you before. I thought you changed girlfriends too quickly, and I wouldn't get the sincerity I wanted from you. But now I like you. I've taken a step toward you. I hope that no matter what happens in the future, your first thought will be of me, and you'll see me as someone you can confide in."
Her voice grew softer and softer until it was barely audible. Xiao Yu had to lean in slightly to hear her. Ye Qingli's eyes burned: "Because I truly like you."
"And just now, you kept bringing up money. You should understand that if I really cared about that, I wouldn't have confessed to you under these circumstances."
She lifted her head, her pupils clear like grapes: "Do you understand now? I think in a relationship, men and women are equal. I don't need you to take me to eat fancy things. Mixed rice has its own charm, and a big meal has its luxury. What I'm trying to say is, I hope the meaning of our meeting is happiness."
No matter how bitter your life was before, it doesn't matter. Hardship doesn't circle around one person. You have to understand, the world has two sides: bad and good, sadness and joy. Where there is darkness, there must be light.
When the sun sets, there's still moonlight.
A truth no one had taught him in twenty years of life was now spoken by a girl he had known for only three months.
This was the first time Xiao Yu felt loved. The people who came close to him didn't care about money or benefits; they cared about his happiness.
This love was too passionate, like a blazing sun.
After a long, long time, Xiao Yu finally pulled himself away from her gentle eyes. He smiled and nodded.
"It's pretty easy to find."
That came out of nowhere, and Ye Qingli didn't understand: "What?"
He patted her face: "The meaning of our meeting."