Chapter 6, Lighting

The car drove away, yet Jian Si did not dare to look back. She did not know what kind of expression she should wear in case Xi Ji Huan had not turned around and left.

She did not speak; taking a taxi was too extravagant for her

"Xi ... ... General Xi." As he approached, he called out to him in a state of confusion.

Jian Si was not unfamiliar with his tone; he spoke to Zhang Rou in the same manner. Tonight, he indeed seemed a bit strange, as if he had finally regarded her as one of his own, rather than a temporary worker or a mere assistant. Could it be that he had drunk too much

Xi Jihuan took it gloomily, twisted it open and took a sip, then quietly complained: "I am the one drinking the wine, what does it have to do with my stomach?"

He waved to hail a taxi for her, and she seemed a bit anxious: "No need, Mr. Xi. I often take this route, it's fine." He ignored her, and when he pulled her over, it was almost a bit rough as he shoved her into the car and tossed the fare to the driver. Jin Si, feeling uneasy, wanted to say something, but he stopped her with a wave of his hand, sternly warning the driver, "I have noted your license plate number."

"Usually, you buy me breakfast, so I occasionally reciprocate," Xi Jihuan said casually. "These are all the dishes I ordered later, clean ones. I heard from Zhang Rou about your family's situation..." He skillfully paused, and Jian Si habitually lowered her head

Jian Si followed everyone out of the restaurant. The sky was already dark, and the surrounding neon lights began to illuminate one after another, creating a scene of vibrant nightlife. A few colleagues who were walking behind her politely offered to see her off, but she graciously shook her head in thanks. They did not insist further and each got into their cars to leave.

Liang said with the seriousness of a work report: "Cold drinks are not good for a stomach that has just consumed alcohol"

Xi Jihuan has already taken a seat on the bench, and she handed over the green tea, expressing her gratitude solemnly

Jian Si looked at the food in her hands, unsure of what to say. It was strange and awkward that President Xi personally delivered the takeout box to her. She never expected someone who usually called her "What Si" would do something like this

He is not serious at all when he is angry; rather, he is somewhat willful, relying on his appearance, and is adorably arrogant

The phone suddenly vibrated, and she trembled all over. Could it be that her mother was becoming impatient? Her sick mother was like a willful and unreasonable child; she could not move her legs, but as long as everything was prepared, she could still take care of her daily needs. She had not yet reached the point of being unable to live without assistance, yet she was constantly bound by her mother's demands.

Jian Si felt a bit uneasy, and before long, she saw Xi Jihuan, dressed in an elegant suit, walking towards her with a bag of takeout boxes, his expression cold. Jian Si was taken aback; the scene was quite incongruous.

I... I am across from the Aolen Department Store. " Jian Si frowned, unsure of what he intended to do.

"Where are you?" Xi Ji Huan's tone is always so arrogant

His phone rang continuously, and he impatiently glanced at it, pressed the mute button, and urged her: "You should hurry home."

Jian Si found his words inexplicable, yet the driver was unfazed and smiled, saying not to worry

Hey! His sudden increase in volume startled Jian Si. "Although I am a good boss, I also keep my word! Look up!"

She was eager to end this unexpected situation; this was the most he had ever spoken to her. Usually, he would issue instructions in a brief and indifferent manner, to which she would simply respond with "yes." She said goodbye and hurried towards the bus stop, but after just a few steps, he unexpectedly caught up from behind and grabbed her arm

Jian Si nodded, noticing that his lips were somewhat dry. He had also consumed quite a bit of alcohol earlier, so he must be very thirsty. Not far away, there was a beverage stall. She said to wait a moment and ran over to buy him a bottle of green tea, specifically requesting it at room temperature.

He cleared his throat, turned his gaze away somewhat unhappily, and said in an official tone: "You need to work hard; Zhang Rou has a very good opinion of you and has come to praise you several times."

He stuffed the packaging box into her hand and frowned as he asked her, "After walking for so long, you've only made it this far?" Parking is not allowed here; it would be faster to walk back around.

Jian Si walked along the street for a while, and a large shopping mall was just across the road. In the evening, shoppers entered and exited through the luxurious entrance adorned with decorations. Jian Si sat down on a bench, squinting her eyes to gaze at the grand building that was embellished like a mirage. Below, the cars in the parking lot seemed to be coated with a layer of enchanting shimmer, and just watching it like this, she found it pleasing.

She realized her rudeness: "I am sorry... I was startled, and I thought..."

She understands her mother with compassion, regardless of what her mother has done or said, she has never blamed her. If it weren't for her, how would her mother be living such a life? Her mother loves shopping so much, yet now she spends all day lying at home watching television. She has tried taking her mother out for a breath of fresh air in a wheelchair, but after returning home, her mother's mood worsened, and she shattered the only remaining crystal vase in the house on the floor.

Five years later, Jian Si smiled faintly, wondering why the passion of the future far surpassed that fleeting kiss from that night, yet she had forgotten it all. The boy's face, her own appearance at the time, she had forgotten everything, except for that first kiss in the night. Memory was a pain she could not bear; she had long learned to numb herself and bury it deep within her heart, yet she could not bear to seal away that kiss. Perhaps all misfortunes began with that excessively beautiful kiss, and although she had forgotten the person she kissed, she could not forget the happiness and satisfaction of that moment. Memory was a pain she could not bear; she had long learned to numb herself and bury it deep within her heart, yet she could not bear to seal away that kiss. Perhaps all misfortunes began with that excessively beautiful kiss, and although she had forgotten the person she kissed, she could not forget the happiness and satisfaction of that moment

She did not have caller ID, so she was quite surprised to hear Xi Jihuan's voice coming from her phone. She knew that Xi Jihuan had both her and Qian Ruina's numbers, but she had not expected him to call at this moment

Countless evenings after school, when she did not want to return home immediately but could not linger outside for too long, she enjoyed sitting silently on a bench by the street, staring at the night scenery that seemed to belong to a world other than her own, feeling a sense of beauty. In her life, beautiful things were almost extinct, leaving only this free night view.

He did not press further, but only furrowed his brow again: "What bus is there to take this late?!"

Once, she was also a part of a beautiful night, when that boy gently kissed her lips beneath a tree adorned with colorful lights, she felt that every lamp in the vast night was lit just for her

It was too sudden; she abruptly shook off his hand, and he seemed taken aback by her reaction, momentarily stunned

Is life flat? Her life is destined to be anything but flat, yet she still hesitated. When that old, balding man reeked of alcohol and rubbed her shoulder, she had already collapsed. After all, her life still had choices; she could endure some hardship, finish her studies, and as long as there was a path to take, she did not want to take this step. She also knew that many girls did the same, enduring a little, completing their education, and then finding a good job. It was her senior who introduced her to that nightclub, and when she was applying makeup on her, Jian Si could hardly bear to look at herself in the mirror. The senior smiled, patted her chest, and said to her: All the problems are right here. She also knew that many girls did the same, enduring a little, completing their education, and then finding a good job. It was her senior who introduced her to that nightclub, and when she was applying makeup on her, Jian Si could hardly bear to look at herself in the mirror. The senior smiled, patted her chest, and said to her: All the problems are right here.

This was her first clear view of Xi Jihuan's appearance. He was indeed young, with a hint of unworldly arrogance in his brows and eyes. No wonder Zhang Rou, who was of similar age, regarded him as a younger brother. She had always known he was good-looking; the soft light illuminating his profile fully highlighted the advantages of his features.

He pretended not to hear and merely complained disdainfully, "Isn't it cool?"

Xi Jihuan fell silent for a moment and simply instructed: "Wait."

Jian Si raised her eyes in a bit of a panic, only to see a somewhat childish face.

Indeed, her problem lies in her inability to overcome the psychological barrier. The reason the plucked phoenix is inferior to the chicken is that she can never forget that she once was a phoenix, even until her death. Consequently, she grows increasingly disdainful of herself.

She tried to go to the nightclub... As a result, on the first day, she was slapped by her mother several times and couldn't leave the house for two days. Her mouth was all bruised, and she couldn't even eat. Her mother said that the hardships they endured were all to support her education, hoping she would take the right path. If her father didn't wish for her life to be a bit smoother, why would he beg others, and how could he have died?