He'd thought that after sitting together for so long, she was just too shy to speak. He never expected that the first thing she'd say was that she would definitely pay him back.
'Was he, Shen Yi, the kind of person who'd miss twenty yuan?!'
'If this were his usual self, he would have shot back with a sarcastic remark or simply stormed off in anger.'
'But now...'
Shen Yi's tone was calm. "It's fine if you don't. It's not much money."
Qin Jiao froze. She wracked her brain, trying to remember. For the eighteen-year-old Shen Yi, words like that basically meant that such a paltry sum wasn't even worth a second thought to the great Young Master Shen.
The sting of class difference hit Qin Jiao hard. 'I have to work hard in this life,' she vowed to herself. 'I'll make a lot of money so Mom, Dad, and my sister can live well. I'll never let anyone look down on our family again!'
After he spoke, Shen Yi turned to look into the girl's eyes. Her beautiful dark pupils were now filled with a steely resolve, as if she'd suddenly been spurred on by something.
He frowned slightly.
Just then, the door opened, and Mr. Du emerged, supported by a doctor. Shen Yi moved to help his grandfather, but Qin Jiao, who was beside him, was faster.
By the time Qin Jiao realized what she was doing, she was already holding Mr. Du's arm!
She looked up to find Mr. Du frozen in surprise. The doctor beside him seemed unfazed, but Shen Yi, who had been a half-step behind her, had a strange look on his face.
Qin Jiao: "..."
'Oh, crap! A habit from my past life. I acted on instinct!'
Back then, she and Shen Yi had just gotten married. They were both too young and clueless, with no feelings for each other, and Shen Yi had such a short fuse.
Their life together had been utter chaos.
Fortunately, Mr. Du had lived with them back then. He had been a university professor in his younger years and was exceptionally gentle. Whenever Shen Yi bullied Qin Jiao, Mr. Du would always scold his grandson.
Shen Yi might have had a terrible temper, but he never lost it with Mr. Du. As soon as his grandfather said a word, he would immediately back down.
But this beloved old man was plagued by a chronic illness, and his health declined day by day.
He needed a wheelchair or a cane just to get around, which was why Qin Jiao had developed the habit of always helping him.
Shen Yi's mother, Du Liya, had once offered to take Mr. Du to the provincial capital, arguing that the medical facilities there were better, but Mr. Du had just shaken his head.
He said he didn't have much time left and wanted to spend his final days with Xiao Mei.
Xiao Mei was Shen Yi's maternal grandmother and Mr. Du's wife. She had passed away many years ago, and Ping'an Town was the last place she had lived.
Qin Jiao snapped out of her reverie and awkwardly let go of his arm. She gave a strained laugh. "S-Sorry, I thought you were someone else."
Mr. Du looked at her and smiled kindly. "Young lady, you look a bit familiar."
Seeing the old man's kind smile, Qin Jiao was suddenly reminded of how he looked right before he died in her past life, and the bridge of her nose began to sting with unshed tears.
She took a deep breath, pushing down the sorrow in her heart, and managed a smile. "Really? I was thinking you seem very kind and familiar too, sir."
Standing to the side, Shen Yi watched the old man and the young woman chat. A flicker of warmth crossed his handsome, cool features.
Just as Qin Jiao finished speaking, he spoke up. "Grandpa, this is my friend, Qin Jiao."
Qin Jiao froze. 'I thought if Shen Yi introduced me, he'd say we were classmates. After all, that's the truth—it's the only connection we have right now.'
'But how are we friends?'
'Is it because we were framed by Lin Nian together?'
Just then, Qin Zhonghui came out of a nearby examination room. Qin Jiao breathed a sigh of relief, quickly said her goodbyes to Mr. Du and his grandson, and hurried over to her father.
Mr. Du looked up and noticed his grandson's eyes following the young woman until she was out of sight.
The old man smiled. "Xiao Yi, is she the first friend you've made since coming to Ping'an Town? The grapes at home are almost ripe. You should invite her over to visit."
"Okay." He would do his best.