Chapter 115: The New Home

Sister Li gently wiped away my tears and said, “Little brother, we have to face reality and forget those unrealistic fantasies.”

I thought to myself, if even Jin Yulian is unattainable, then dreaming of winning over A-Yun and Ling Xue was nothing but wishful thinking.

Jin Yulian herself couldn’t decide her own heart, so A-Yun and Ling Xue were even less likely to. Perhaps Ling Xue’s schemes were just a game to her, and I was merely a pawn in her play.

If Ling Xue truly cared about me, she wouldn’t have gone over three years without seeing me even once. Of course, she did care—but it was the kind of care one gives to a game piece, since I was an important piece in her hands.

My mind involuntarily recalled Jia Rui’s futile obsession with Wang Xifeng in “Dream of the Red Chamber.” In the end, Wang Xifeng set a trap of longing that ensnared Jia Rui so deeply he couldn’t escape, ultimately driving him mad and to his death.

Ling Xue’s game was far more formidable than Wang Xifeng’s. Perhaps she was testing me, to see if I had any self-awareness. If I lacked it and dared to disturb her, I would be courting my own demise.

Jin Baoqiang was a cautionary tale—he was toyed with by Ling Xue without even realizing it. If I tried to pursue her, I might end up as the second Jin Baoqiang.

Having realized this, I felt completely freed. Sometimes giving up is the best choice. Things that don’t belong to you are not worth chasing after—they will only lead to ruin, even death.

I said, “Sister, where are you planning to go now?” She replied, “Little brother, I bought Jin Yulian’s villa. Would you like to see it?”

I shook my head, “No need.” Sister Li smiled, “Be brave, little brother. Since you’ve decided to forget the past, don’t overthink it, or you’ll never truly let go.”

I nodded, “Alright, sister. I’ll listen to you.” Sister Li smiled again, “Then come with me. We’ll shop for some daily necessities, and you can help me move things.”

Suddenly, she noticed the bandages wrapped around my head and awkwardly said, “Little brother, I forgot you just got out of the hospital. You shouldn’t tire yourself out.”

I laughed, “Sister, I’m fine now. I have plenty of strength—I could even lift you up…” As soon as I said it, I felt the joke was a little inappropriate.

Sister Li said, “Little brother, now that you’re better, I’m relieved. Let’s go! I’ll take you shopping and show you the villa I just bought.”

Sister Li drove, and together we bought some necessities on the street before she took me to the new home in Nanshan.

This was a newly delivered housing development just a year and a half old, with less than a third of the units occupied. Sister Li parked in front of Villa 26. I got out and saw that the villas all had quite large plots, each with a courtyard of about a hundred square meters.

Each courtyard had rockeries, fish ponds, and flourishing flowers and trees—the environment was truly pleasant.

Sister Li opened the courtyard gate so the car could be driven inside. I noticed there were already a dozen or so goldfish swimming in the pond.

Seeing this stirred something in me. I thought, Jin Yulian must have wanted to decorate this place into a home she loved, but unfortunately, her unreliable brother had mortgaged it.

Seeing me stare blankly at the pond, Sister Li asked, “Little brother, do you like it here?”

I replied casually, “This villa is indeed nice.”

Sister Li said, “Little brother, if you like it, you can live here from now on. How about that?”

I said, “Sister, this is your house. How could I possibly take over your nest?”

Sister Li gently placed her hands on my shoulders and said, “Little brother, you’re the only one I can rely on. If I don’t let you live here, then who did I buy this villa for?”

Her tone was a little wistful, and I felt a flutter in my heart. Could it be that she had truly forgotten that scoundrel?

Sister Li opened the front door. I saw the villa was nearly fully renovated. Everything was new. Perhaps because no one had lived here before, the ventilation wasn’t perfect and a faint smell of paint lingered inside.

She led me on a tour, opening the windows as we went. The villa had three floors: the first floor contained the living room, kitchen, maid’s room, and a game room.

The second floor had a small lounge, gym, study, and three bedrooms. Sister Li opened one bedroom and said, “Little brother, pick whichever room you like.”

I thought to myself: it’s inconvenient to stay with Sister Yang now, Jin Yulian has severed ties with me, and the apartment she gave me is currently occupied by Aunt Lin’s family and Fatty—I don’t want to disturb them, either.

Looks like I can only live with Sister Li. I smiled and said, “Sister, I don’t mind. Any room will do.”

Sister Li smiled, “Little brother, I’ll choose for you. You’re a man, so you get the bedroom at the front; I’ll live right next door. If anyone bullies me, you can protect me.”

I laughed, “Alright, I’ll follow your arrangement.”

Sister Li smiled, “Little brother, look around and see if you need anything else. Later, I’ll take you out shopping.”

I smiled, “Sister, I think this should be enough.”

She laughed, “Little brother, don’t be shy. You need plenty of things! Clothes, pants, a computer... Oh, I’ll take you to Mingzhou City to buy them.”

I smiled, “Sister, with my head wrapped like this, I’d be embarrassed to go out.”

Sister Li nodded, “If you’re shy and don’t want to come, I’ll go alone to buy your things. I need to measure your waist first.”

With that, she somehow produced a soft measuring tape and bent down to measure my waist. As she crouched in front of me, hands on my waist, I couldn’t help but have a fleeting, improper thought.

I scolded myself silently for being shameless… Fortunately, Sister Li finished measuring quickly, then said, “Little brother, rest well here! Sister will go buy clothes and bring back dinner.” With that, she drove off.