Chapter 10: Sigh! Raincoat & Capitalism

The library remained silent.

As Lin Zhiyan and Le Mans left, Aiwen hurriedly gathered the books and smart devices on the table, wanting to chase after them. Or rather, she should have followed the moment Lin Zhiyan left—but with Le Mans beside her, she hadn’t dared.

What she hadn’t expected was that after Le Mans left, Li Siheng was still there.

He watched her coldly as she packed up. Just as she was about to leave, he said, “Aiwen.”

Irritation flared in Aiwen’s chest, but she didn’t dare show it. She could only stop with a stiff expression.

“You and her are very close, but don’t you think you’re not people from the same world?” Li Siheng’s voice was light. His gray-black eyes slowly lifted toward her, studying her from below before finally fixing on her gaze. “Don’t you think her existence itself is annoying?”

Aiwen felt chilled under his stare. She suddenly realized that Li Siheng was showing a sharpness completely unlike his usual silent dullness. Her voice trembled slightly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I don’t think judging people by birth is right. She’s a good person.”

As she spoke, her heart gradually steadied.

“And what you and Senior Zephi did to her was already unfair enough. Are you saying she’s not even allowed to have friends?”

Li Siheng smiled faintly. Golden sunlight streamed through the glass, falling over his gray-black hair and beautiful face. Maybe it was the lighting, but the usually dull-looking boy suddenly became impossible to look away from.

“You misunderstood me,” he said.

The moment the words fell, the dazzling warmth vanished.

Li Siheng stood up. “If you want to find her, I’ll take you there.”

Aiwen froze. “How do you know where she is? And why are you helping me? You clearly…”

Realizing she’d misspoken, she immediately shut up.

“Someone just told me she got into Le Mans’ car,” Li Siheng said again. “She’s probably at Le Mans’ house. But you can’t get in there alone, even if you’re cousins.”

Aiwen tightened her grip on her books without speaking.

She could hear the hidden mockery in his words, but she couldn’t refute them. It was true. Her parents depended on the Le Mans family, and even her mother’s position as a court etiquette instructor had been recommended by Le Mans’ mother. Normally, only during family banquets would she and her parents visit that estate.

In the end, she silently got into Li Siheng’s car.

Not long after, the car stopped before Le Mans’ mansion.

The moment it stopped, Aiwen noticed several other cars slowly pulling up behind them in the rearview mirror. Her hands pressed nervously against her knees. She suspected it might be her aunt’s car.

Very quickly, her premonition came true.

A butler walked over to the car and looked toward Li Siheng.

“Lady Essera said it’s been a long time since she last saw you. She misses you very much.”

Only after speaking did she seem to notice Aiwen.

“Miss Aiwen, you’re here too.”

Li Siheng smiled politely and stepped out of the car.

Aiwen nervously tugged at her skirt before following him out.

The first thing she saw was Aunt Essera’s reddish-brown hair—the same color Le Mans had inherited—glowing beneath the sunlight like flame tinged with orange. At her chest rested the emerald insignia worn only by the imperial chief etiquette officers, matching her green eyes perfectly.

Aiwen lowered her gaze to her own red hair and suddenly felt that compared to Aunt Essera’s, its color looked especially dull and ugly.

Some differences were decided from the moment one was born.

When Essera saw Li Siheng, she embraced him first before smiling. “Le Mans came back earlier? Why didn’t he wait for you?”

Then she looked toward Aiwen with a smile. “Aiwen’s here too. Send my greetings to your parents.”

Aiwen only smiled, not daring to answer.

Li Siheng said, “I had something to deal with, so I told Le Mans not to wait for me.”

Then he added, “Is Le Mans in the lounge or his room?”

The butler beside them looked awkward and paused briefly.

“He’s in the garden with a classmate.”

The smile on Essera’s face vanished immediately.

“Perfect. I have something to discuss with Le Mans too. I’ll go with you.”

***

Le Mans’ car stopped in front of an extremely luxurious villa. Servants immediately hurried over in perfect formation—some opening the car doors, others helping Le Mans remove his coat.

When Lin Zhiyan stepped out from the other side, she saw the almost absurdly extravagant mansion and display of wealth. She was genuinely shocked.

Why did he bring her to his house?

Had their relationship somehow progressed beyond what she’d imagined?

She only wanted to earn some textbook money. Surely she wouldn’t end up becoming someone’s kept lover after just a few days of school?

Her face revealed nothing, but inwardly she had already made up her mind. If it really came to that, she would half-heartedly resist before curling up and crying quietly. That way she could earn even more money than expected, and it would be easier to cut ties with him afterward.

“All right, stay away from me!” Le Mans seemed unable to bear being served in front of her. He quickly dodged away before looking at her. “Stop spacing out and come with me.”

Lin Zhiyan obediently followed him through building after building filled with extravagant decorations, inwardly stunned.

There were many rich people in the world, but wealth had always felt abstract to her. Every time she saw what money could become in physical form, it felt like looking at some kind of monster.

By the time Le Mans finally stopped walking, her brain still hadn’t stopped working. It was busily generating multiple criminal schemes.

District Sixteen’s poverty really had raised her badly.

She sighed inwardly.

Le Mans led her to a vast garden filled with dazzling flowers. He guided her deep into the woods, where a small cabin stood hidden. He entered the cabin and came back out carrying a toolbox.

Click.

Inside were several exquisitely crafted axes.

Le Mans weighed one in his hand before handing another to her.

“Chop trees with me.”

Lin Zhiyan: “…Huh?”

So your Chinese name is actually Wu Gang?

Ugh. Why did it have to be manual labor?

Might as well become a sugar baby instead.

Lin Zhiyan felt dead inside.

Le Mans shrugged off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, gripped the axe with both hands, and started hacking at a tree. He looked like he was venting enormous resentment. His green eyes gleamed while his red hair whipped through the air.

Wood chips exploded everywhere.

As he chopped, he shouted:

“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Li Siheng, bastard! How dare he play me! Serves him right for getting treated like Zephi’s dog! Serves him right! Go die!”

Lin Zhiyan froze before realizing something.

“You’re venting?”

“Yeah!” Le Mans panted heavily after several swings and glared at her. “What are you standing there for? Chop with me! Don’t you still want money?”

Lin Zhiyan paused a few seconds. “Do I have to shout like you too?”

Le Mans blinked. “Uh… was I shouting?”

“Very loudly. Loud enough to make me go deaf. If you keep shouting, I won’t be able to hear anything.” Lin Zhiyan smiled and picked up her axe. “But Li Siheng really is kind of awful.”

Le Mans let out a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and hacked harder into the trunk.

After several more swings, he said hatefully, “All he knows how to do is disgust people.”

You’re not much better at that yourself.

But at least you’re not actually harmful.

Lin Zhiyan smiled silently and joined him in chopping trees.

But after only a few swings, she suddenly felt a surge of furious energy rush from her heart into her arms. The more she chopped, the more exhilarated she became, as if the trees were the Celestial Dragons from school.

For a moment, the two of them became like savages, mindlessly hacking away at the tree.

More than ten minutes later, both collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.

Sweat covered Le Mans’ face. His red hair clung to his cheeks, and his pale skin was flushed red. Wood chips stuck to his face and hair, making him look like some red-haired tin woodsman from a fairy tale.

Lin Zhiyan’s entire brain felt numb. Every cell in her body trembled as the tingling sensation spread from her hands to her shoulders and temples.

Le Mans looked at her, first noticing the thin sheen of sweat on her nose and the redness in her cheeks.

“What? Finished chopping trees and now you want to chop me too?” she asked.

Le Mans lifted his gaze and met her dark eyes.

His lips moved slightly. His voice came out hoarse.

“You were having fun chopping too. You’re angry at Li Siheng as well, right?”

“I’m not angry.” Lin Zhiyan thought for a moment. “I’ve become numb to so many things that it’s hard for me to get angry anymore.”

“Liar.” Le Mans looked genuinely unable to understand. “You obviously get angry all the time. You’re always talking back.”

Lin Zhiyan raised a hand toward him.

“If someone’s truly angry, they actually stop saying so much.”

It’s all just maintaining a persona. You think I’d really challenge rich masters head-on?

Le Mans instinctively tilted his head away. Realizing what he’d done, he immediately said, “I’m not used to people touching me.”

“It’s okay.” Lin Zhiyan withdrew her hand. Her gaze moved to his red hair, then his face. “There are wood chips everywhere.”

Her voice was light, carrying a trace of amusement.

Le Mans didn’t know whether it was her gaze or her tone making him uncomfortable. It felt like fire was burning in his chest all the way to his head. He suddenly jumped up, still breathless from exhaustion, his speech stumbling.

“O-okay already! I like having wood chips on me! Y-you should leave now!”

After speaking, he fumbled around himself with trembling hands, growing more frustrated the longer he searched. He bent down, grabbed his coat, and started digging through it.

“Hurry up and go. You’re annoying to look at.”

Brother, my money! Where’s the money?!

Do Celestial Dragons dine and dash too?!

Lin Zhiyan panicked internally and stared at him.

But being stared at only made Le Mans more flustered. The fire seemed to spread through his entire body, leaving him restless. Finally, he threw aside the coat, looked around himself, bit his lip, removed the watch from his wrist, and tossed it toward the seated Lin Zhiyan.

“This is your pay. Hurry up and leave!”

The moment he finished, Le Mans suddenly realized something felt very wrong.

The smile on Lin Zhiyan’s face had vanished.

She looked at him calmly, her dark eyes reflecting his figure.

…No, that’s not…

…Ah. Poker cards.

The strange word suddenly flashed through Le Mans’ mind.

His brows twitched. “I—”

Every word clogged in his throat.

He couldn’t apologize. Couldn’t lower his head. His whole life, he’d been used to being rude and offensive toward others. After all, he enjoyed looking down on people.

If he enjoyed it, then naturally he also had to bear the stone now lodged in his throat.

Le Mans stood there stiffly.

Lin Zhiyan picked up the watch from the grass and stood.

Le Mans’ eyes trembled.

“If you don’t want it, just throw it away. That’s all I have on me right now.”

He wanted to explain, but the words came out wrong again.

It’s over.

Only those two words remained in Le Mans’ mind.

He didn’t even understand what exactly was over, but suddenly his whole body felt cold. The sweat from earlier became damp and clammy against his skin.

Lin Zhiyan said, “It looks very expensive. But unfortunately, I don’t know luxury goods, and I don’t know anyone who does.”

She examined the delicate gem-studded watch, considering whether she should act out a scene of swallowing humiliation and accepting it before leaving.

But the next second, she noticed Le Mans’ curled fingers and abandoned the idea. She realized maybe this line could be drawn out even longer.

Le Mans sounded almost unable to bear her words anymore. “Can’t you just take the watch and go already? Seeing you right now is annoying! Go away, go!”

Even as he said it, he himself turned around to leave, forgetting he was the owner of this place.

Le Mans’ rationality was close to zero. He only wanted to hide somewhere. But after only two steps, warmth suddenly wrapped around his wrist.

His heart jumped violently. He turned around.

“What are you trying to—”

His words cut off.

Lin Zhiyan was putting the watch back onto his wrist, her head lowered as she carefully fastened it.

Le Mans’ voice trembled as his heart rose and fell.

“Why are you giving it back?”

“My pay isn’t worth that much.” Lin Zhiyan released his wrist. “You can just pay me the standard hourly wage for Central District. Ask Aiwen for my terminal ID. I’ll accept the transfer this time.”

“Or not paying is okay too.” She paused briefly. “Chopping trees with you was actually pretty fun.”

In an instant, Le Mans looked as if he’d come back to life. His nose felt sore. Every strand of hair on his scalp relaxed with prickling numbness. He opened his mouth, his voice so soft it sounded like a pen gliding across paper.

“Why didn’t you throw it in my face?”

“Maybe because I think you’re different from them.” Lin Zhiyan smiled. “If you don’t want to see me, I’ll go back now. See you at school.”

“I—I’m not—” Le Mans froze before finally managing, “See you at school.”

Before Lin Zhiyan could reply, a dignified female voice suddenly sounded nearby.

“Looks like your conversation is over.”

Le Mans’ body stiffened.

He looked over.

—His mother. Li Siheng. Aiwen.

They had been there for a while already.

Lin Zhiyan realized this too, her body stiffening—not because she’d been caught in some romantic moment, but because she’d expected someone to throw money at her and tell her to stay away from Le Mans.

Reality disappointed her.

Essera pulled a long gleaming disciplinary cane from her pocket and walked before Le Mans. The cane sliced through the air with sharp swishing sounds before raining down on his shoulders, arms, and waist.

“Where are your manners? Your posture?” Essera’s voice was icy. “Ill-bred thing!”

Anger appeared on Le Mans’ handsome face. “Mom!”

Essera replied coldly, “Come see me later.”

Then she turned toward Li Siheng and Aiwen with a smile.

“You two continue chatting.”

From beginning to end, Lin Zhiyan standing nearby was treated like air—naturally ignored by her.

After Essera left, Li Siheng sighed.

“You should really fix this habit of yours.”

“What’s it to you?!” Le Mans shouted. Red marks still lingered on his face, while his entire face and neck flushed an even deeper pink. He practically didn’t dare look at Lin Zhiyan.

“All of you stay away from me! Get lost! Especially you, Li Siheng—I don’t want to see you! Why are you even at my house?!”

He grabbed at his red hair. It felt so hot it seemed steam would rise from it.

Le Mans thought bitterly that it would’ve been better if Lin Zhiyan had gotten angry and stormed off than for her to see his mother hit him.

“I’m leaving first,” Lin Zhiyan said.

Le Mans turned away and sat on the ground with his back to them.

Right now, he wanted to chop down a few more trees.

“Ah, wait for me! I actually came to find you.” Aiwen hurried to Lin Zhiyan’s side. “I just called a driver too. I can take you home. Ah—wait, are you still working tonight?”

Lin Zhiyan smiled faintly. “Just finished. Then thank you in advance.”

As she and Aiwen walked away, her answer clearly reached Le Mans’ ears.

He buried his face in his knees, his eyes slightly damp.

Standing behind him, Li Siheng said, “I thought Essera would stay at Mode Palace for a few more days.”

Mode Palace was the official residence of the Ringstar royal family.

“Get lost,” Le Mans replied.

Li Siheng looked down at Le Mans’ red hair, still full of wood chips.

“Sorry.”

Clouds at the horizon were dyed red by the sunset before gradually turning gray with nightfall.

A car slowly stopped by the roadside beside piles of trash.

“Thanks for bringing me back,” Lin Zhiyan said to Aiwen with a smile. “But did I delay you? You seemed upset the whole ride. Did Li Siheng threaten you again?”

“No, I just…” Aiwen bit her lip. After a long pause, she finally said, “Seeing your relationship with Le Mans improve made me really happy. But… it feels like I don’t know anything.”

The words came out with difficulty.

Lin Zhiyan suddenly understood.

A few seconds later, she said, “Actually, I only just realized today that my relationship with him improved too.”

Aiwen blinked. “What?”

Lin Zhiyan smiled. “Maybe because you’re such a good person, I always feel like red-haired people can’t be that bad. So I couldn’t really hate Le Mans. Unexpectedly, I found out he’s actually pretty fun.”

She felt the line was somewhat cheesy, but it should work well enough.

Sure enough, Aiwen smiled after hearing it. She looked happy—but only for a few seconds before the smile faded again.

“Mm. Their family members are all very good people.”

Just… not entirely good.

Aiwen didn’t say the contradictory thought aloud. She simply watched Lin Zhiyan step out of the car.

After walking a few steps, Lin Zhiyan suddenly turned around as if she knew Aiwen was still watching her, smiling brightly as she waved.

Bzzzt—

The vibration from her terminal interrupted Aiwen’s thoughts.

[Le Mans: Give me Lin Zhiyan’s ID.]
[Le Mans: Hurry.]

Aiwen bit her lip.

***

The night deepened. Fine rain seeped into the shabby little house with the wind.

Inside her tiny room barely four steps wide, Lin Zhiyan had already paced nearly forty thousand steps in despair.

Damn it, why hasn’t Le Mans added her and transferred the money yet?!

Did she overdo the whole pretending-to-be-cool thing?

Did he seriously think chopping trees together counted as a sweet memory, so payment was unnecessary now?!

f*ck, she should’ve just taken the watch and run!

I’m screwed, screwed! Classes start in two or three days—everything’s ruined!

Lin Zhiyan’s face remained calm, but internally she was about to explode. Hugging her head, she rolled silently across the bed several times while screaming internally.

After ten thousand despairing thoughts flashed through her mind, she began mass-downloading social apps.

At this point, she needed backup plans.

As Lin Zhiyan wondered whether becoming both an online tutor and an online “goddess” could earn her enough money within two days, her terminal suddenly vibrated.

A friend request popped up.

[Verification message: If you still want your pay then approve already!]

Lin Zhiyan immediately let out a huge sigh of relief and quickly accepted.

The moment she did, several messages flooded in.

[Le Mans: Come to where you got out of the car earlier.]
[Le Mans: Come pick me up!]
[Le Mans: Hurry! This weather is terrifying!]

…I want money, not you delivering yourself to me from miles away!

Lin Zhiyan nearly collapsed.

…Patience. Patience. Patience.

It’s okay. You’ll figure something out.

After calming herself for a bit, she grabbed a raincoat and headed out.

The fine rain resembled silver threads while fog quietly invaded the night, making every building look like a monstrous shadow. No wonder Le Mans said he was scared—it really was unsettling.

Lin Zhiyan hurried to the place where she’d gotten out of the car last time. From far away, she first spotted the bright headlights. A figure darted through the light and stepped before the car. Rain and mist soaked his red hair and sharply defined face, while his green eyes gleamed brightly.

Afraid she wouldn’t notice him, he jumped and waved at her energetically.

“Over here! Here! Hurry up!”

His voice carried excitement and pride as his red hair fluttered wildly.

Lin Zhiyan hurried over, but Le Mans reached her first, grabbing her wrist and pulling her along. His clothes were darkened by rain and mist, tiny droplets clinging to his neck and hair.

He dragged her all the way to the back of the car and flung open the trunk with a loud click.

Le Mans looked both excited and smug, brimming with satisfaction.

“This is your salary! Now you can’t complain anymore!”

Lin Zhiyan looked inside.

The trunk was completely full of books.

The books still smelled of fresh ink and hadn’t even been unwrapped yet. Every single one was for her elective courses.

She fell silent for several seconds.

Le Mans suddenly grabbed her shoulders and shook her hard, sounding both panicked and angry.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?! What did I do wrong this time?! Lin Zhiyan, don’t push your luck, I’m telling you, you—”

His voice stopped abruptly.

Because she had risen onto her tiptoes, looking up at him.

Le Mans’ pupils contracted sharply as he stared at her.

The next second, she grabbed the edge of her raincoat and tore it off with a rustling sound before placing it over his head.

Water droplets slid across the transparent plastic. Le Mans froze for several seconds, his vision blurred.

“What are you doing?!”

Her hand pressed against his head through the raincoat, warmth seeming to seep directly into his hair.

Through the overlapping transparent plastic, Le Mans could only vaguely make out her distorted face.

Then, amid the soft sound of rainfall, her voice became so quiet it was almost impossible to hear.

“Have you been standing in the rain for a long time?”

Le Mans’ throat bobbed.

At that moment, it felt like he could no longer say anything stubborn or unreasonable.

Only a trembling little “Mm” escaped him.

Lin Zhiyan smiled.

“Then come to my house and take a shower and change clothes. Don’t catch a cold.”

Then she seemed to remember something.

“Ah, no, never mind—”

Le Mans instantly ripped the raincoat off his head and shouted:

“No take-backs! You’re not allowed to change your mind!”