200. Late Night
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Chen Yao had been fed up with Lin Nan’s father for a long time.
Since the start of middle school, he often saw Lin Nan wandering alone in class, getting bullied, but he had never heard of her parents stepping in to complain.
Eventually, unable to stand it any longer, Chen Yao stepped up to defend Lin Nan. It was then he learned that she had mentioned the bullying, but her father couldn’t care less.
The 1000 yuan monthly allowance was sufficient for Lin Nan to eat during middle and high school, but just barely. School medical exam fees, insurance, textbooks, and uniforms all came out of that allowance. As a result, Lin Nan, who was still growing, was a bit undernourished and skinnier than her peers, which also contributed to her money-loving personality.
There were times when Chen Yao would occasionally “borrow” food from Lin Nan because he spent too much money on games. But he usually made it up to her with a lavish late-night snack afterward.
Chen Yao had never seen Lin Nan’s parents and even thought she might be an orphan.
Sure, his own parents were busy running a restaurant and hardly had time for him, but at least they provided a basic education and would spend some time with him during the evenings to bond. Meanwhile, he had never seen or heard from Lin Nan’s parents.
Until the last time he accompanied Lin Nan home, when her parents shattered Chen Yao’s worldview once again.
There are people like this in the world? It’s a policy failure that you can have kids without a license!
Chen Yao originally planned to visit Lin Nan the next day, but her messages on QQ went unanswered. After wavering for a long time, he decided to go to Lin Nan’s house.
He thought he could keep his cool, but he didn’t expect things to turn out like this…
The winter in the southern coastal region was not particularly cold, but the late-night chill was still unbearable. The two of them, tall and short, stepped out of the building and onto the narrow path in the urban village, facing each other under the streetlight.
“Why are you here?” Lin Nan asked, holding her coat, looking up disinterestedly.
Chen Yao turned to look at her. It had only been a few hours since they parted that afternoon, but Lin Nan seemed like a different person. The vigilance in her eyes had morphed into indifference and numbness, radiating a “keep out” vibe.
His heart twisted slightly. If he had known it would come to this, he should have just mustered up the courage to take a suitcase and moved in with Lin Nan.
“Did your dad say something outrageous again?” Chen Yao didn’t know how to comfort her, so he took a few steps closer, trying to show he cared, but Lin Nan immediately backed away a few steps.
“No, living with him is fine; it seems like he can accept me now,” she replied, staring at the slippers she hastily put on before rushing out.
The shadow under the light trembled, and Chen Yao couldn’t control his anger, questioning loudly, “And that’s called acceptance?!”
“He just thinks it’s not good to stay in the house all the time,” Lin Nan said, not willing to meet his gaze, “My family’s matters are none of your business.”
“You’re really something!” Chen Yao was furious and punched the lamp post, cursing, “We’re adults! Why push yourself to be accepted by him? Why put up with this? Is it necessary? Do you think you can’t live without a dad or something?”
Lin Nan remained silent.
All she wanted was to be accepted… Not expecting her parents to love her, but at least to be accepted and have parents; instead of being kicked out and cut off.
She had hardly ever felt parental love growing up. You might think she’d resent them for it, but since becoming a woman, her first thought had been of her parents. She just hoped to be accepted, cared for, and liked… hoping that during her low moments, she could receive the comforting words like other kids did from their parents.
She wasn’t asking for much; she just wanted to watch the New Year’s gala and have a meal with her parents like before.
“You’re really infuriating when you don’t talk!”
Chen Yao was too scared to vent his anger at her, so he just hated himself for being so foolish, his whole body shaking with frustration.
“Let’s go! We’re having barbecue!” he grumbled as he started to walk away, but after a few steps, he turned back and saw Lin Nan still standing there, frozen.
“Are you deaf? It’s on me!”
He strode up, grabbed her soft wrist, and continued grumbling, “If your parents don’t want you, you still have me, right? We’ve been buddies for years; am I really going to let you suffer without a place to stay or food to eat?”
“Come on, as adults, if they don’t like you, just move out and live independently! Isn’t it better not to have anyone to bother you? Living under their thumbs is torture! Why do you have to get their acceptance, are you out of your mind?”
“Hmm…” Lin Nan murmured in response.
“Go on, be mad at me; giving me a heart attack would be the best outcome.”
Chen Yao glanced at Lin Nan, who still had her head down, her face hidden, and his anger slowly dissipated, replaced by helplessness. “Haven’t we known each other for like six or seven years? You definitely don’t see me as a brother! Back when I asked about the medical exam results, you wouldn’t tell me. No matter what happened after that, you were tight-lipped, and I had to wring it out of you like toothpaste!”
“I’m not a mind reader; without you saying anything, I can’t help you…”
He forced a bitter smile, not knowing what to do, regretting having spoken so harshly a moment ago.
“Let’s stay at an inn tonight?” After calming down, Chen Yao started regretting his impulsivity. “I pushed your dad earlier… If you go back, he might just take it out on you; maybe I made things worse?”
“Tomorrow, I’ll go back with you to get your things. In the meantime, how about I find you a place to stay?”
Lin Nan continued to be silent, her indifferent gaze fixed on the cobblestone path in the urban village. When the cobblestones turned into concrete road, Chen Yao also came to a halt.
She looked up at the street outside. It was only eight or nine o’clock, but the county was still bustling with activity—people, signage, streetlights, car lights—all the bright colors clashed on the not-so-wide street, piercing through her heart like arrows.
She felt out of place, as if she couldn’t meld with the world at all.
“Let’s go; if we keep holding hands, people might think you’re my girlfriend.”
Chen Yao’s voice broke her reverie. Lin Nan lowered her head again, quickly falling into step beside him.
Chen Yao’s sudden arrival had indeed disrupted Lin Nan’s original plan—or rather, she had no plan at all, as she had intended to endure any humiliation just to win her father’s acceptance.
If her father had reacted with anger at the first sight of her, it would have been one thing, but clearly, during this last meeting, he… at least didn’t use harsh words—just a poor tone.
When they finally sat down at the roadside barbecue stall, Chen Yao rushed to the stall to order skewers and beer while Lin Nan perched quietly, staring down at her legs.
“Let’s eat some barbecue and drink a little; a few drinks will lighten your mood.” Chen Yao placed a few bottles of beer and peanuts in front of her, sitting across from her. “The barbecue will take about twenty minutes; let’s drink some beer with peanuts for now.”
Seeing her unresponsive, Chen Yao opened a bottle and poured a few sips down his throat. “When I’m feeling down, I just drink; you’re welcome to join me or not.”
“Drink!”
