For a full hour, Yue Xiye idly stared at the beggar girl opposite him, who not only ate her own portion but also finished his.
Yu Yelan ate enthusiastically, while Yue Xiye’s anger was accumulating. Looking at his watch, he realized he had completely missed his part-time job tonight. “Are you done eating?” he asked with a voice rough with anger.
“Sorry…” Yu Yelan raised her head, looking at the furious Yue Xiye, “I… I…” She was eating Yue Xiye’s herb-roasted lamb chops, thinking he was angry about that. “I thought you didn’t want to eat since you hadn’t touched it,” Yu Yelan explained timidly, making Yue Xiye feel frustrated.
“I mean, are you full? Can I leave now?” Yue Xiye asked impatiently, thinking about the missed income for the night, which made his mood even worse.
“Oh, I’m full…” Yu Yelan patted her full stomach to confirm, but her eyes never left the dessert just brought to the table.
“You can stay and eat slowly. I’m leaving,” Yue Xiye gritted out before leaving.
Yu Yelan quickly swallowed the dessert and ran after him. Yue Xiye strode along the street, preparing to take a bus home, since he had already missed his part-time job.
The street was crowded with couples walking hand in hand, except for him and the small tail following behind him. Since leaving Nalice, the girl had been closely trailing him. He tried to ignore her, but she followed so closely that he had to stop. “What do you want?”
Yu Yelan hung her head, looking everywhere but at Yue Xiye.
“Why are you following me?” Yue Xiye’s voice grew even colder.
“I, I’m not…” Yu Yelan kept her head down, only daring to look at Yue Xiye’s feet. “Sorry… sorry…”
“Stop following me. Go home. The night in Changxi isn’t safe,” Yue Xiye withdrew his gaze from Yu Yelan’s head. What kind of life had this girl lived before, so timid and easily frightened? But… Yue Xiye dismissed the thought. This was none of his business!
“I… I don’t have a home…” Yu Yelan swallowed the rest of her words. “Sorry… sorry. I’m not following you. I’m turning here…” Yu Yelan hung her head like a robot, quickly turning and walking away to prove she wasn’t following him.
