Chapter 42: Demanding Wages

Wang Jiexiang wiped her tears with her hand and lay down.

He didn’t respond to her. She couldn’t tell if he had fallen asleep.

—He probably found her an eyesore.

Facing that shadowy silhouette, she spoke softly.

“I won’t cry next time. Don’t hate me.”

Yin Xian replied quickly.

“I don’t hate you.”

Wang Jiexiang closed her eyes, her voice muffled. “Really?”

He sighed.

The bed creaked as Yin Xian turned over, seemingly facing her.

“Tell me, why were you crying?”

Wang Jiexiang shrank into the quilt, leaving only half her head visible. In the darkness where nothing could be seen, neither of them could make out the other’s expression.

Both the scene and the man gave her a sense of security.

So Wang Jiexiang began recounting her experiences working odd jobs.

Yin Xian didn’t interrupt her once.

Only her voice filled the room, stopping and starting.

She spoke until she got to the part where the shop manager said she was just on trial, that she got into trouble because she couldn’t talk properly, that her whole month’s wages went up in smoke, and when she got home after work, the landlord came knocking…

Wang Jiexiang finally finished telling her story.

Yin Xian understood.

He had thought she was crying over the lost money. But by the end, he realized her greater sorrow was over her friends.

Why did things turn out this way? She didn’t think she had done anything wrong, yet she wasn’t liked and was distanced by people she once called friends.

The girl curled up on the floor next to the bed, like an unwanted little dog.

Yin Xian chose not to comfort her.

“People are like that—relationships are shallow. Your hometown friend didn’t want to lose her job or cause trouble. It’s normal for her to treat you like that. You insisted on being the good person, insisted on helping her. Then that’s on you.”

Wang Jiexiang was stung by his words.

She had been wallowing in frustration. He yanked her back to reality, dousing her in cold water from head to toe.

—You want to be the good guy? Then you deserve it.

You offer goodwill, hoping others will understand your kindness. But others are under no obligation to accept it, nor to repay it. In the end, the one trying to be good ends up the most foolish. You made your choice; now bear the consequences.

Wang Jiexiang didn’t want to be a fool.

Looking at her own pathetic self now, even she felt contempt.

She fell into deep self-loathing and began to reflect.

The two didn’t speak again.

Yin Xian fell asleep quickly. Wang Jiexiang lay awake the whole night, her mind churning.

The next morning, he called her just as she had barely fallen asleep.

“I’m not working this morning. I work in the afternoon, won’t come back tonight.”

Yin Xian spoke quickly. Wang Jiexiang struggled to open her crusty eyes and comprehend.

He didn’t care whether she was fully awake—he just said what he needed to say.

“Change clothes. We’re going out.”

Wang Jiexiang became fully alert when she heard the door slam shut behind her.

With messy hair, she sat up.

Yin Xian waited outside. She didn’t dawdle—five minutes later, she came out dressed.

He had her walk in front.

Wang Jiexiang was confused. “Where are we going?”

“Hair salon,” he said.

Hair salons are usually slow in the mornings. Only a couple of customers sat scattered inside, and the rest of the staff idled around.

Wang Jiexiang and Yin Xian stood outside the shop.

She saw a few familiar faces through the glass door and felt a wave of dread.

“No need to come in. Wait outside,” Yin Xian said, turning to her.

He never intended for her to go in.

Just as he was about to step forward, someone tugged on his sleeve from behind.

Wang Jiexiang shook her head at him.

“Don’t go.”

Her eyes were timid, wide and drooping. She added another hand to pull him back.

“Are you going to fight them? You’ll get hurt.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

Yin Xian’s usually stern face actually showed a rare smile.

He patted her hand reassuringly.

Still, Wang Jiexiang wouldn’t let go. She looked toward the men inside. Though not as tall or strong as Yin Xian, they outnumbered him. And this was a hair salon—there were plenty of sharp tools inside.

Their delay caught the attention of the shop staff.

Before Wang Jiexiang could persuade Yin Xian to leave, someone had gone to get the shop manager.

“Jiexiang!”

The shop manager came out, pushing the door open, his expression warm and natural, as if nothing had happened.

“What brings you back to our shop?”

Wang Jiexiang still vividly remembered how he bullied her, how he told her she owed him money. She couldn’t manage a friendly face.

“Shop manager…”

Yin Xian took her hand and moved her behind him.

“Hello, Shop Manager.”

He stood between them, reaching out to greet him.

The shop manager didn’t shake his hand.

“And you are?”

Yin Xian and Wang Jiexiang spoke at the same time.

“Her brother.”

“My boyfriend.”

The shop manager looked at them.

Wang Jiexiang quickly spoke, gently taking Yin Xian’s right hand with both of hers.

“Boyfriend. I just call him Brother Xian.”

She didn’t dare meet his eyes, her head lowered.

“Oh, I see. So…”

The shop manager smiled, pretending to be clueless. “What brings you two here?”

Yin Xian turned around, pulled a banknote from his pocket, and stuffed it into Wang Jiexiang’s.

“Go to the breakfast shop across the street. Get something you like. Eat there. Then pack some for us and bring it back. I’ll have a chat with your shop manager.”

She was reluctant.

He softened his tone. “Be good, go on.”

Wang Jiexiang finally did as told.

…

The breakfast shop was crowded. She ordered a bag of buns and waited a long time.

She rushed back to the hair salon. The shop manager and Yin Xian were no longer by the door. Through the glass, she saw them sitting inside, talking calmly—no fighting.

Jiang Bingbing opened the door for her and asked if she wanted to come in and sit.

But before she could answer, the shop manager had already come out with Yin Xian.

Yin Xian winked at her. Wang Jiexiang didn’t understand what it meant.

He took the bag of buns from her and handed it to the shop manager.

“Thanks, Shop Manager. You all work hard—have breakfast together.”

The shop manager accepted the small gift with a laugh. “You’re too kind. Come back next time for a haircut—we’ll give you a discount.”

“Sure. I’ll definitely come back next time.”

Though she hadn’t spent much time with Yin Xian, this talkative, smiling man before her was very different from the Yin Xian she knew.

Every time she saw him, he was stone-faced and barely spoke.

Watching him silently now, Wang Jiexiang zoned out a little.

“Let’s go home.” Yin Xian wrapped an arm around her shoulder, still smiling.

“Okay.” Wang Jiexiang let him lead her away.

After walking a while, he let her go.

She glanced his way.

The familiar version of him was back.

His expression cold again, he tugged at his collar and cursed under his breath.

“That damn shop manager’s a piece of shit.”

Pulling out the money from his pocket, Yin Xian handed it all to Wang Jiexiang.

“Count it. Make sure it’s right.”

Her eyes went wide with shock and joy.

“You actually got it back? I thought…”

He raised an eyebrow. “Thought what?”

“Oh. Brother Xian, thank you. Really, thank you!”

Wang Jiexiang bounced with excitement, overwhelmed with gratitude, unsure how to express it.

Yin Xian, however, was calm. “Hurry up and count it.”

“Oh! Right!”

She took a deep breath and counted each bill carefully, three times over.

“No mistake—it’s exactly what was promised. Not a single cent missing.”

Wang Jiexiang was over the moon.

If Yin Xian weren’t so unapproachable, she might’ve rushed over to hug him.

He nodded and walked off, ignoring her excitement.

Little tail Wang Jiexiang scampered after her boss.

“Brother Xian, can I treat you to breakfast?”

“Mm.”

He didn’t turn his head. “Noodles?”

“Yes!”

Wang Jiexiang replied loudly,
“Noodles with chili!”