Chapter Sixty: Enduring All the Pain

After sending Miss Su back to the hotel, I hailed a cab and rushed to the ice cream shop. After all, hours would pass once more before I could return. I truly hadn’t done much to benefit my small shop.

Stepping inside, the warm atmosphere greeted me, easing my heavy heart just a little. Although I had lost so much, I still had goals to strive for and a group of people who continued to support and help me.

“How did it go? Did you have a good chat with the boss lady?” Yang Xiaoyu greeted me with a smile, her earlier cold expression melting away upon seeing me.

Her words stabbed at my heart... the boss lady...

Not responding for a long moment, I stood frozen. Yang Xiaoyu seemed to sense something was wrong and leaned in quietly, asking, “What’s wrong... did you two argue again?”

I shook my head, forcing a gentle but somewhat stiff smile. “You’ve been busy all day. Did you eat lunch?”

She looked at me skeptically but nodded. “I ordered takeout.”

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll manage the three main meals—morning, noon, and night. You need to eat properly. You’re still just a little girl; you can’t keep eating like this.” My mood gradually steadied, though a subtle sadness lingered.

Maybe that was just who I was—always selfishly thinking about what I should do, never noticing what others sacrificed for the sake of my dreams. Complaining in my mind while my body kept working tirelessly. This was a kind of sickness. In the prime of life, I had unknowingly owed so many people so much.

Whether in work or love, I was a failure.

“Argue all you want. You’ll be back here soon enough, eating ice cream together again,” Yang Xiaoyu said casually as she turned toward the counter, occasionally glancing at me out of the corner of her eye.

“I won’t...” I began.

Yang Xiaoyu stopped, turning with a puzzled look.

“I won’t come back,” I said, brushing past her and settling into a soft swivel chair, staring blankly at the still-enthusiastic customers.

The afternoon passed quickly. Before long, it was closing time. After seeing off the last guest and putting on my coat, Yang Xiaoyu and I walked along the commercial street in the eastern part of the city, heading toward her home.

Since leaving Luo Qing at noon, my heart had been tightening in spasms, as if I had lost something incredibly precious. It was no longer just simple love; Luo Qing was a part of my life itself.

“Don’t be sad...” Yang Xiaoyu kicked at little patches of snow with her nimble feet as she walked beside me.

“I’m fine. You should get some rest when you get home. Don’t come early tomorrow morning. I’ll head over first,” I said, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. I paused, staring at the pink packaging meant for women, then quickly put it away.

Yang Xiaoyu lowered her head in silence, obediently following me. Then she looked ahead at the sky, hazy with falling snowflakes, lost in thought.

In that moment, the world seemed to freeze. Between us, all shared topics vanished simultaneously. We walked in relative silence, stiff on a sidewalk with few passersby. For some reason, I suddenly recalled Su Xuefei once telling me the name of this road was “Fateful Beginning.” I remembered holding Luo Qing and running along this very street.

Unconsciously, we arrived beneath the building where Yang Xiaoyu rented her apartment—a place only slightly better than mine. My heart ached. This strong girl worked so hard, striving for a future I had spoken of that was utterly baseless. And what was I doing?

I wanted her to live better, to have a happier life in the future—nothing more.

My phone rang. I saw it was Sister Kewen. Only then did I remember our plan to have a good talk today after dropping Yang Xiaoyu off.

As expected, when I answered, Zhao Kewen unleashed a fierce wave of disdain. I could only stall with the excuse of being too busy today, promising to come immediately to her bar after seeing Yang Xiaoyu home.

But Yang Xiaoyu was no fool. Before I could think of how to coax her home, she spoke first. “Is that Sister Fox’s invitation? I want to go too. I haven’t seen her in ages. I really miss her.”

I sighed inwardly at her sharp ears and how she completely ignored my “get some rest early” advice. Whenever she heard Kewen’s voice, good or bad, she wanted to get involved.

Resigned, though we had reached her building, I had no way to persuade this stubborn girl and had to take a cab to the Other Shore Bar.

Ten minutes later, we arrived at the bar’s entrance. I considered calling Miss Su to join us and finally make up for the song I owed her. But it was already late, and since Xiaoya’s mood had been low ever since Xiaoya left, it seemed better to let her rest alone. I dismissed the thought.

Pushing open the door, a blast of heavy metal rock immediately assaulted my ears. I couldn’t help but think, it really is true—you get a bar that suits the personality.

“Brother, over here.”

Following the voice, I found Sister Kewen sitting at a relatively quiet four-person booth, dressed flamboyantly.

I sat casually beside her. Zhao Kewen noticed Yang Xiaoyu trailing me and said kindly, “Xiaoyu’s here to play! Come sit next to sister. It’s been so long, let sister give you a good hug.”

“No,” Yang Xiaoyu quickly sat beside me, mumbling, “Sister Fox has too big a chest. Hugging her is uncomfortable.”

Hearing Xiaoyu’s teasing, Kewen covered her mouth and laughed heartily. “Then let me hug Yang Chen.”

I was utterly speechless at these two women’s banter, quickly waving off the offer. Then I asked, “Sister Kewen, what’s so urgent that you had to call me?”

“Of course, I missed you. I wanted to surprise you last night, but that stupid girl was in your place. She wasn’t here today, so I get to love on you properly,” Zhao Kewen said, leaning in earnestly.

“Stop it, Sister. You woke me up last night,” I said, feeling a bit uncomfortable but determined not to show it.

“Wow, what a racket to wake up Foxy while she’s sleeping,” Yang Xiaoyu, who had been quietly listening, perked up instantly when she heard these low-class stories.

Before I could explain, Kewen suddenly leaned forward and grabbed Yang Xiaoyu’s little ear, scolding, “Little girl, are you calling me lazy?”

“Sister Fox, listen carefully,” Xiaoyu begged for mercy, covering her ear when Kewen let go. “What I meant was Boss Yang and...”

She suddenly fell silent and shyly stuck out her tongue at me. I smiled bitterly. Let it be. Facts speak louder than words. Besides, I wasn’t that fragile.

“Seriously, Sister Kewen, what is it?”

Zhao Kewen didn’t answer immediately but opened two bottles of beer. She handed me one; Yang Xiaoyu clamored for a drink, so Kewen opened another.

Clinking our bottles, Kewen took a small sip and said, “Has Li Huixin come looking for you before?”

I was stunned she knew, but there was no time to wonder. I nodded.

Unlike what I imagined, she didn’t blame me. She just took another sip and smiled, “That girl’s alright, right?”

I wasn’t sure what Kewen had in mind, but since she brought it up, I had to ask.

“She... wasn’t in a good state. Mentally, she was hit hard by this... Actually, I’d known her for some time before. I always thought Li Huixin was an honest, straightforward girl. But that day, I even thought she might have some mental illness,” I recalled her state, toning down my voice.

Kewen nodded, then looked down and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offering one to me and lighting one for herself.

“Fox, you should smoke less—it’s bad for your health,” Yang Xiaoyu, completely oblivious to our conversation, said boredly.

“I can smoke; you can’t, little girl,” Kewen said elegantly, smiling at me. “Brother, did I make a mistake this time?”

“What mistake?” I had some idea what she meant but couldn’t fully grasp it.

“I, Zhao Kewen, never regret my actions. But this time, just this once...” She smiled helplessly. “Maybe I shouldn’t have been so self-righteous, meddling in other people’s relationships because of my own twisted games. I certainly shouldn’t have hurt those who had nothing to do with me.”

“Sister Kewen,” I grabbed her hand holding the cigarette. “Don’t think like that. There’s no knot in this world that can’t be untied. The world’s always been unfair—to you, to me. No matter what choices you make, I, Yang Chen, will always stand by your side.”

Kewen looked at me in surprise, tried to pull her wrist back, but I held firm. Then she smiled seductively, “Brother, don’t say that, or I might really fall in love with you... Haha. Besides, I’m just someone who’s good at playing with feelings. Don’t be too good to me, or you’ll regret it.”

“What nonsense...” I snatched the cigarette from between her fingers and crushed it in my palm until it was extinguished. “I can endure any pain, but I cannot bear to see someone I care about suffer.”

(Nine-headed Bird Academy)