Chapter 37: Sigh! Division & Capitalism

Zefi’s fingers clenched tightly around the blanket.

His mother’s voice and the sounds coming from the surveillance feed overlapped, tangling together with countless emotions in his mind. There was the humiliation of becoming a topic of intimate conversation between Li Siheng and Lin Zhiyan, the irritation of being compared to Li Siheng, and the frustration brought on by his mother’s joking remark.

His usually clear mind once again sank into a haze.

The sharp ringing in his ears created a dreamlike sense of unreality.

His eyes remained fixed on the surveillance screen. It was as if Li Siheng were doing it deliberately, turning his face toward the camera so that Zefi could clearly see how a face so similar to his own could wear such vulgar, wanton expressions.

The ringing, the conversation, the sounds of movement, the questions…

Too many noises crashed over him all at once.

His head began to throb violently, and the same dizziness that had accompanied his blood loss returned.

Zefi tried to untangle the countless threads of thought, searching for the one at the center of it all.

But before he could find it, he lost his way.

The pain in his neck became numb. Heat drained from his body, only to surge back from his head, back, and hands.

For a moment, he became Li Siheng.

Lost in some fragment of memory.

The medical equipment began beeping frantically, warning that his emotional state was interfering with treatment.

A mechanical announcement immediately followed:

“Mr. Zefi, please stabilize your emotions. Due to last night’s severe blood loss, your head was affected. Excessive emotional agitation may cause pain, fainting, or even shock. Medical personnel are on their way.”

Zefi instantly snapped back to reality.

He cut off all electronic devices at once, pressing a hand against his head as he took several deep breaths.

Gradually, the stabbing pain subsided.

Exhausted, he ran his fingers through his hair.

Then his body froze.

And nausea flooded through him.

He remembered again.

The hospital room door opened.

Medical staff rushed inside.

Before they could say anything, they saw Zefi hurl something violently against the wall.

A loud crash echoed through the room.

When the noise settled, they saw shattered glass, crushed fruit, and the broken remains of a monitoring headset scattered across the floor.

That afternoon, another hospital room was equally chaotic.

The sound of running water from the bathroom finally ceased.

A short while later, Lin Zhiyan emerged and sat on the edge of the bed to get dressed.

Li Siheng lay on the bed watching her.

Pink flushed through the shadows beneath his eyes.

He lifted a finger and began tracing patterns across her back.

Lin Zhiyan’s slender back trembled.

Turning around, her half-dry hair fell around her face, accentuating her pointed chin.

“Stop playing around.”

Li Siheng rested his head on one arm while grabbing the edge of her clothing with the other.

“Don’t leave, okay?”

“Who’s leaving?”

Lin Zhiyan laughed and turned sideways to look at him.

“Although Le Mans and I have broken up, if you’re not there keeping an eye on him, he’ll still come looking for me.”

She sighed and ran a hand through his damp hair.

“Whether it’s for me, for Le Mans, or for our future, you need to go to District Four with him. That way, when our relationship becomes public someday, he won’t resent you for it or damage your friendship.”

Li Siheng grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.

The thin blanket slid down, revealing bruises and red marks across his skin.

“What if it damages our relationship?” he asked quietly. “Why can’t we just tell Le Mans we’re together?”

He looked up.

The redness around his eyes spread toward their corners.

“Why can’t we make it public?”

Because I’m lying to you and if we keep it secret, it’ll be easier to break up later…

The thought flashed through Lin Zhiyan’s mind.

Instead, she patted his head.

“If I break up with Le Mans today and start dating you tomorrow, do you think that will make things easier or harder? What do you think people will say about me? About you?”

Li Siheng lowered his eyes.

“What does that matter? Zefi and the others already know I can’t stay away from you. Even if they don’t want us together now, they’ll agree eventually.”

His expression grew stubborn.

“When that happens, we can get engaged immediately. Nobody will care about your relationship with Le Mans anymore.”

“And after we’re engaged?”

Lin Zhiyan cut him off.

She looked at him seriously.

“Won’t you have to obey your family even more closely? Because you’ve chosen a partner they don’t approve of, you’ll have to make compromises elsewhere until you’re powerful enough to stand on your own.”

A faint smile appeared on her face.

Yet her eyes seemed fixed on distant mountains.

“And what about me? I’d have to give up my studies and my future plans. I’d become your girlfriend, fiancée, wife, secretary, subordinate, caretaker, and therapist.”

She paused.

“If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t necessarily refuse. I know disappearing for years hurt you, and I’d be willing to make up for it.”

Her smile softened.

“But sooner or later, you’d get tired of that version of me.”

“I… wouldn’t.”

Li Siheng fell silent.

After a long time, he lowered his head.

His muffled voice brushed against her back.

“But… I can’t let you give those things up. You shouldn’t have to. Just like you shouldn’t have stayed in District Sixteen forever.”

He kissed her neck lightly.

“You’re so intelligent. So hardworking. So capable. You deserve a much greater future.”

His voice drifted into something almost dreamy.

“Maybe I really should have a child for you. Then there’d be no way out. Then I could stay at home and…”

Oh, for heaven’s sake.

Can we stop circling back to pregnancy?!

Lin Zhiyan’s heart nearly stopped.

She spun around and slapped a hand over his face.

“I couldn’t bear that.”

Li Siheng blinked in surprise.

Lin Zhiyan smiled.

Then she changed the subject.

“Let’s take things slowly. If I work hard enough, Zefi and the others will eventually accept us. I believe our relationship will be public one day. I believe everyone will bless us. Before that—”

“I know.”

Li Siheng interrupted immediately.

Like an eager student answering a question, he kissed her cheek.

“Before then, I won’t let Le Mans or anyone else know about us. I won’t mention you around him. I’ll handle my relationship with him and your relationship with my family properly.”

A smile appeared at the mention of blessings.

Lin Zhiyan kissed his cheek.

“I’ll come see you.”

Then she whispered:

“Secretly.”

The last three words were soft as melting sugar.

Li Siheng’s breathing hitched.

“Okay.”

He smiled.

“Secretly.”

“I’ll protect this secret.”

Li Siheng sighed and pulled a card from a drawer.

He slipped it into her pocket.

“Don’t refuse. I wanted to give this to you at the beginning of the semester. I never thought it’d take until now.”

Lin Zhiyan immediately felt like she’d just finished a night shift and been tipped by a customer.

Awkward.

Very awkward.

She thought for several seconds and deliberately put on a troubled expression.

Li Siheng immediately grabbed her hand.

“Don’t give it back. This isn’t charity or pity.”

He looked at her seriously.

“I know you’ll achieve things far more valuable than money one day. I know your abilities will impress everyone.”

“I don’t want you worrying about money.”

Then he added:

“It’s for our future.”

Lin Zhiyan looked at him with complicated emotions.

Tears welled in her eyes.

She nodded solemnly.

“Okay.”

“I will.”

Li Siheng smiled.

After collecting the money and saying a great many sweet words, Lin Zhiyan finally prepared to leave.

Just before she reached the door, Li Siheng called out:

“Will you come see me off?”

She turned around.

“You’re leaving with Le Mans. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to.”

Li Siheng sat on the bed.

His gray-black hair draped across his handsome face and broad shoulders.

Backlit by the window, sunlight flowed across the smooth lines of his body like a divine sculpture.

Yet he looked up at her almost like a worshipper.

“Secretly?”

…Well.

I’ve already accepted the money.

Lin Zhiyan pretended to struggle with the decision.

Then she smiled.

“Okay.”

“Secretly.”

His pupils trembled like a moth touching light.

Excited.

Nervous.

Happy.

Lin Zhiyan finally let out a long breath and left.

As she walked away, she repeatedly reminded herself not to get carried away.

Unfortunately, she was getting very carried away.

The suffering she’d endured in Central District suddenly felt completely worthwhile.

She now owned a house.

More than a million in savings.

Over a hundred thousand in cash.

And now another card.

Honestly, it felt less like she had come to university and more like she’d started a business.

Now that the business was doing so well…

Maybe she should just drop out and retire?

The more she thought about it, the more inflated her ego became.

Feeling rather pleased with herself, she opened her terminal.

Logging into Ringstar’s short-video platform, she posted screenshots of her account balances and property ownership documents, censoring only the sensitive information.

Then she encountered a problem.

She was excellent at writing anti-rich slogans.

But when it came to showing off wealth, she was practically illiterate.

Eventually, she copied someone else’s caption.

User: CunningVillageGirl66

“I don’t want a lot of money. I just want a lot of love.”

Lin Zhiyan was extremely satisfied.

At last, she had transcended the unsophisticated peasants back in District Sixteen.

She left the building in high spirits.

Outside, she noticed several medical staff surrounding a wheelchair.

One of them spoke gently.

“The weather is nice today. Fresh air and sunlight will help your recovery. If you become tired, we’ll bring you back upstairs and reconnect the equipment.”

Curious, Lin Zhiyan approached.

Then she saw Zefi.

His gray-white hair gleamed silver beneath the sunlight.

Combined with his ice-gray eyes, his beautiful features seemed almost radiant.

Even expressionless, he looked like some holy, emotionless divine messenger sculpted from light itself.

Ah.

No wonder Le Mans said Li Siheng hated sunny days.

Zefi really was shockingly beautiful under sunlight.

Unable to suppress her appreciation for attractive people, she looked a little longer.

The gaze was immediately noticed.

Zefi’s pale eyelashes trembled.

His eyes shifted toward her.

Though they stood over ten meters apart, she could clearly see the flash of disgust in his gaze.

“You’re still angry?”

Lin Zhiyan raised an eyebrow.

Her black hair framed her ivory skin.

She smiled lightly.

“That’s hardly fair. I only repeated your own words back to you.”

Zefi let out a cold laugh and looked away.

Lin Zhiyan continued.

“He agreed. I think my task is complete now. Unless you have another job and another payment for me, I’ll follow our original agreement.”

Still no response.

The wind lifted a few strands of his hair as he stared into the flowerbeds.

“Silence means yes. Bye.”

She turned to leave.

After several steps, his voice sounded behind her.

Hoarse.

Cold.

Like winter fog.

“Why were you looking at me just now?”

Lin Zhiyan turned around, puzzled.

Zefi watched her calmly.

Waiting.

What kind of question is that?

Did he somehow not know what he looked like?

For one absurd moment she imagined some romantic-novel scenario where he genuinely didn’t realize how attractive he was.

Then she immediately dismissed the thought.

Too many novels had clearly damaged her brain.

Smiling, she answered honestly:

“Because you’re good-looking.”

“I wanted to look a little longer.”

She thought it was a perfectly neutral answer.

Neither flattering nor mocking.

Yet Zefi suddenly laughed.

Not his usual polite smile.

A cold, bitter laugh.

A winter blizzard.

The sound made her shiver.

Then he said:

“How can something without life be beautiful?”

Lin Zhiyan froze.

Her eyes widened.

But Zefi had already looked away.

Leaning back against the wheelchair, he looked exhausted.

“Take me upstairs.”

The medical staff obeyed.

As they wheeled him past her, he glanced at her briefly.

The smile on his lips looked even colder than before.

Only after they disappeared did Lin Zhiyan start moving again.

Then she immediately opened her terminal and searched:

How to apply for university withdrawal.

Dear heavens.

That had definitely been a warning.

He knew.

He knew everything.

Was he planning to come after her now?

Seriously, who takes pillow talk literally?!

Maybe she really should drop out.

The sooner she withdrew, the sooner she could take the money and run.

Three days passed.

Lin Zhiyan attended classes.

Life continued normally.

Her food wasn’t poisoned.

No vehicles ran her over.

Nothing unusual happened except for the absurd number of messages arriving on her terminal.

Late one night, after washing up, she noticed dozens of notifications.

They were all from the short-video app.

Opening it, she discovered that her wealth-posting video had gone viral.

Thousands of comments.

Some accused her of obtaining the money illegally.

Some wished ruin upon her family.

Others spammed “give me your luck.”

Jealousy.

Envy.

Bitterness.

Every comment felt like sweet spring rain nourishing her soul.

It was incredible.

Unbelievably satisfying.

Showing off wealth was amazing.

Lin Zhiyan spun in circles around her room before sitting down to read comments.

A moment later, a new one appeared.

“Damn. Poor-country bumpkin.”

Only six words.

Yet they radiated pure resentment.

Lin Zhiyan immediately prepared for battle.

Then several messages popped up.

Li Siheng: Tomorrow I’m leaving.

Li Siheng: You’ll come, right?

yzy: Of course. I told you I’d accompany you to the car and see you off at the airport.

After all, Li Siheng and Le Mans weren’t traveling in the same vehicle.

She had already confirmed that.

Li Siheng: I wish we could just keep walking together until we died on the road and never reached the point where we had to separate.

yzy: Is that what you used to think when you walked me home?

Li Siheng: Are you angry? I didn’t mean anything else. I’m just upset.

yzy: No.

yzy: I was just thinking the road wasn’t actually very long.

Li Siheng: …

Lin Zhiyan had long since grown accustomed to his shocking statements.

She soothed him automatically.

Within seconds, the ellipsis was followed by an explosion of messages.

Video calls.

Voice calls.

“I miss you.”

“I don’t want to leave.”

“It hurts.”

Her terminal nearly overheated.

She had to keep tossing it from hand to hand.

Eventually Li Siheng calmed down.

Just as she was about to reply, another notification appeared.

From Le Mans.

She blinked in surprise.

After that night, he’d practically been under house arrest.

Apparently his family had finally returned his terminal before departure.

She opened the messages.

lemon: Annoying annoying annoying.

lemon: Reply to me.

lemon: I listened to lectures for three hours before they gave me my terminal back.

lemon: Where are you? Asleep?

yzy: No. I’m calming down.

yzy: I thought we’d have to communicate by carrier pigeon from now on.

lemon: That’s not that bad!

lemon: I don’t want to go to District Four. I heard it’s a mess.

lemon: Li Siheng came to see me these past few days and said everything would be okay, but I don’t think it will.

yzy: Is District Four really that terrible? If it is, I won’t dare visit you.

lemon: You!

lemon: It can’t be THAT terrible.

lemon: So…

lemon: You have to come visit me.

yzy: Of course.

lemon: Remember tomorrow.

yzy: Remember what?

lemon: Don’t tell me you forgot! I told you that day! You promised you’d see me off!

Lin Zhiyan stared at the screen in horror.

Wait.

When had she agreed to that?!

She grabbed her head and tried to remember.

Then it hit her.

The nonsense he’d rambled about before leaving that day.

Her eyes widened.

Her mouth slowly fell open.

“…”

Damn it.

How was anyone supposed to understand that?!

Le Mans continued sending messages.

Li Siheng continued sending messages.

Lin Zhiyan suddenly laughed.

Then she opened the short-video app and searched:

How to perform mitosis.

At this point, unless she could split into two people, she had no idea how she was supposed to get into two different cars at the same time.

Actually…

If she really tried, maybe she could manage five cars.

Humans couldn’t undergo mitosis.

But they could be torn into four or five pieces.

Lin Zhiyan smiled despairingly.