Chapter Twenty-One: Kindness Has Nothing to Do with Money

Chapter 21: Kindness Has Nothing to Do with Money

I didn't have to wait long before I saw Su Xuefei through the window, wearing my oversized down jacket and waving at me gleefully. I quickly called the little girl and stepped outside. Without a word, I jumped into the passenger seat, ignoring the look of bewilderment from the driver, who clearly thought I was a fool.

Unlike my urgency, Su Xuefei took the little girl’s hand, opened the car door, sat in the back, and looked at me with a smile, saying nothing.

As the car started, Su Xuefei gently cupped the little girl’s freezing, rosy cheeks with her hands and whispered, "Little one, where is your home?"

"My home..." The little girl bowed her head, repeating the simple question softly, but she couldn't come up with an answer. The taxi driver, unconcerned with our plight, continued to drive aimlessly forward.

"If you can't remember the name, try to think if there are any distinctive buildings or trees nearby?" Su Xuefei didn't give up, continuing to guide the girl to recall her home.

Looking at Su Xuefei’s fair, angelic face, the girl seemed anxious, yet she still couldn't explain anything. Her eyes began to redden.

"It’s okay... don't worry if you can't remember..." Su Xuefei pulled the girl into her arms and tapped my shoulder, looking at me with an expression of helplessness.

I rubbed my head, feeling a bit frustrated. I thought to myself, I’m not a map—how would I know? Besides, if she doesn't remember the name, a map is useless anyway. However, sticking to the principle that one must never say "I can't" in front of a beauty, I tried my best to think of a feasible solution.

A moment later, I turned around and asked, "Little girl, what is your name?"

"My name is Li Xiaoya." She looked at me, enunciating each word as if afraid of making a mistake.

I repeated it under my breath, committing her name to memory, and then turned away in silence.

"Yang Chen?" Su Xuefei’s voice sounded skeptical. "Is that all you could come up with after thinking for so long?"

"Yeah, what else?" I looked at her, feigning innocence, seeing nothing wrong with that.

Su Xuefei sighed softly, gave me a helpless look, and whispered, "Even though you've grown up, your brain is still the same as it was in high school."

"Don't speak so carelessly if you don't know the truth!" I pretended to be indignant, looking back at her nearly flawless face. "It's not the same; I've actually gotten dumber, okay? I’ve forgotten almost everything from high school!"

"You still have the heart to joke... Tell me, have you given up on finding a solution?" I had intended to tease the "Goddess," but since she had seen through me, there was no need to continue the act.

I cleared my throat to soothe my ticklish airway and turned to her. "Goddess sister, what era do you think this is? If we can't find it now, it doesn't mean she can't go home. We still have us, don't we? Tomorrow, when her parents can't find her, they’ll surely report it to the police station. Why don't we just drop her off there tomorrow morning? Problem solved."

"What if she gets taken by bad people?" Su Xuefei seemed displeased with my tone and pouted.

"She’s not stupid. She knows who her own family is, doesn't she?" I rolled my eyes at her. I thought to myself that women with an overflow of maternal instinct are all the same, and goddesses are no exception—love tends to lower their IQ.

"Fine, you win." Su Xuefei pouted, then said softly to Li Xiaoya in her arms, "See that? This big brother is a bad person. You must stay away from people like him in the future. He’s just too mean!"

"Hey, hey, don't corrupt the child. How am I a bad person?" I turned around, looking at Su Xuefei, who seemed to be sulking. "When she grows up, she might be grateful to me. What if she becomes a female tycoon in the future and rewards me with a hundred or two hundred thousand for my help?"

"Your head is full of nothing but money!" Su Xuefei tightened her hold on Li Xiaoya and said softly, "Kindness has nothing to do with money."

"A fine sentiment—kindness has nothing to do with money. That’s easy for you to say because you have money. When you’re as broke and debt-ridden as I am, you wouldn't be able to afford even a shred of maternal overflow." Generally, I dislike debating logic with women because I find it an exercise in futility. But this was different; it involved my own values. To concede to her was to negate myself, so I had to argue my point.

Before Su Xuefei could retort, the driver spoke up: "Young man, I think your girlfriend is more in the right here."

"What logic? Anyone can preach, but what’s the point? Reality is reality. If you have no money, you’ll starve regardless of how much 'logic' you have! What good is that?" I didn't care who it was—goddess or driver—they were my opponents now.

"No, young man, if you say kindness is linked to money, can it even be called kindness?" The driver’s voice was heavy, seemingly affected by the weight of the topic.

I didn't answer. He wasn't wrong. Kindness is a human instinct, the core of every normal person. It is pure, even sacred. Once it is tainted by worldly cynicism, it ceases to be kindness.

"Speechless, are you?" Su Xuefei smiled and tapped my shoulder with her slender finger, her tone devoid of mockery. "Our abilities are limited, but our love is infinite. Giving infinite love within a limited space—that is the meaning of kindness."

I looked at Su Xuefei’s gentle, smiling face in the rearview mirror and sighed inwardly. A goddess is a goddess indeed. Although I hadn't known her long, I could see her purity and kindness in her every action. Yet, in this environment, does such great love really have a place? Perhaps, on the contrary, such sentiment would only become a stumbling block on her path.

"Young man..."

"Stop! I yield, I admit defeat, you two win this round!" I interrupted the driver. It was rude, but I felt restless. I felt that, as time marched on, I was becoming someone I didn't recognize.

"No, young man, listen to me..."

"Don't say anything else. Just focus on driving. Distraction leads to accidents. I don't matter, but don't forget there’s a goddess in the back. Even a scratch on her would be a loss to this era!" I interrupted him again. I didn't want to discuss this anymore because I realized I was afraid. This wasn't just a simple debate; it felt like a choice, a fundamental shift in my approach to life.

"I just wanted to ask, where exactly are you going?" the driver said quickly, then gave me a helpless look.

Hearing this, Su Xuefei couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, and even little Li Xiaoya giggled along.

In the end, we decided to head back to the hotel. Since we couldn't find her home, she could stay with Su Xuefei for the night, and we would check with the police station in the morning.

Before getting out of the car, the driver actually pulled out a notebook and asked Su Xuefei for an autograph. This gesture struck me as bizarre. Could Su Xuefei be some kind of celebrity I didn't know about?

What surprised me even more was that she didn't refuse, signing it fluently. I didn't see what she wrote, but I assumed it was one of those fancy, high-profile celebrity signatures.

After walking Su Xuefei to her place, I asked out of curiosity, "Feifei, tell me the truth, are you famous?"

Su Xuefei shook her head innocently and led Li Xiaoya inside. I followed, refusing to give up. "It's fine, being famous is a good thing! Are you afraid I'll borrow money from you? Besides, you said it yourself—kindness has nothing to do with money. Would I really scam you for sympathy?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm really not involved in that." Su Xuefei took off my coat, hung it up, and led Li Xiaoya to the bathroom to wash up.

"Oh," I replied, feeling disappointed. I had hoped I knew a big star, someone I could brag about later.

Seeming to sense my disappointment, Su Xuefei peeked out and said softly, "What's wrong? Do you really like those female stars?"

"Any man likes those beautiful, wealthy stars, but I just appreciate them; I'm not obsessed." Personally, I prefer girls who can sing well; I don't really care for screen stars—we’re just not on the same path. Or rather, even if I wanted to be, would they even look at me? They wouldn't even bother to roll their eyes.

"It's a pity I can't sing well," Su Xuefei said, then went back to help Li Xiaoya.

"What's the pity in that? You're already so beautiful. If you were also a polymath, would you even let others live? Are you trying to walk your own path so others have nowhere to go?" I sat on the sofa and checked the time. It was nine o'clock; I should get back to sleep, or Yang Xiaoyu would mock me for waking up late tomorrow.

"Am I very beautiful?" Su Xuefei’s voice drifted over again, soft and melodious.

"Of course. Goddess Su, you are the third most beautiful woman I have ever met."

"So far down the list..." Her mood seemed to drop instantly. "Then I'm not beautiful enough..."

"The first is my mother, the second is my girlfriend, and the third is you." I heard her unhappy tone and explained with a smile.

"Your girlfriend?" Su Xuefei walked out, sat on the edge of the bed, and looked into my eyes, puzzled.

"Yes..." Mentioning my girlfriend, I thought of Luo Qing. Even if she and Su Xuefei were on the same level of beauty, no one could replace Luo Qing in my heart. I missed her every moment, for she was already my faith in love.