Chapter 15: Good Girl

The midnight streets were silent.

She didn’t really want to go out, but Gao Minglang sent her a location for a place that looked like a restaurant—Tinqi Yakitori.

Xu Yin was very hungry.

“We’re out of the billiard hall now, going to grab some late-night food. Do you have time to come over? I’m really worried about you.”

Xu Yin touched her rumbling stomach and replied: “With you and your friends, I might not fit in well.”

“Nothing wrong with that!” Seeing her relent, he quickly said, “You know everyone: Su Wan’an, Duan Sili, and a few others are from the Student Union. That… the interview is coming soon. It’s good for you to get to know more people from the Student Union.”

“If you put it that way, I guess there’s no reason to refuse.”

“Hurry over! Waiting for you!”

After making sure Xu Yuting was asleep, Xu Yin went downstairs in her slippers and took a taxi to the Japanese restaurant.

A Japanese garden lay quietly in a hidden corner of the bustling city.

Gray tiled eaves hung low, with a bamboo lantern suspended beneath them.

As the wind blew, light and shadow flickered, making the entire restaurant seem to float in a hazy mist.

Xu Yin pushed aside the curtain and immediately saw Duan Sili’s back.

At the same time, two made-up women by the bar beside him stared at him incessantly, only to be glared back by Su Wan’an, who was sitting next to him.

Su Wan’an sat close to Duan Sili, as close as possible, yet still somewhat cautiously…

Duan Sili was using a tablet to order, and Su Wan’an sweetly said, “I’ll just have a vegetable salad. Master Si, please order for me.”

Gao Minglang spotted Xu Yin and quickly waved at her.

A few boys looked over at the same time; only Duan Sili remained buried in his ordering, not even lifting an eyelid.

This made Su Wan’an feel quite pleased inside, so she enthusiastically invited Xu Yin to sit over: “What would you like to eat? I’ll order for you.”

“It’s okay, I’m not picky. You can just order.”

Xu Yin sat down in the conveniently empty seat next to Gao Minglang.

Su Wan’an was very excited and said to Duan Sili: “Just get Xu Yin a pork cutlet donburi, with Tiramisu. For drinks, a can of Coke, see if that’s enough. Oh right, right, this place’s fish balls are also highly recommended, a must-order! Get Xu Yin a serving too!”

“Whoever eats, orders,” Duan Sili said, putting down the tablet.

Su Wan’an playfully complained: “I can’t even boss Master Si around.”

Gao Minglang picked up the conversation, chuckling: “If you want to boss our president around, you’d have to become the president’s wife first.”

The other two boys joined in the teasing: “It’s only a matter of time.”

Su Wan’an blushed but was also smiling, in a good mood.

Xu Yin silently took the tablet and ordered a grilled steak.

While eating, she didn’t speak, but listened to them chat, complaining about the bizarre answers they saw on the Student Union’s preliminary exam paper.

The atmosphere among them was good; it was clear they were long-time friends.

Duan Sili interjected occasionally, chuckling sometimes.
Although he wasn’t the main speaker, whenever he spoke, regardless of whether it was a boy or a girl, all eyes would certainly fall on him.

Except for Gao Minglang.

At this moment, Gao Minglang’s full attention was on the girl beside him: “Yinyin, when I called you earlier, your voice sounded off. What happened? Were you crying?”

Duan Sili put down his teacup and looked over.

Su Wan’an also perked up her curious ears.

Xu Yin said lightly, “My dad came. He was checking my piano playing. I haven’t practiced in a while, so I was a bit rusty and he scolded me a few times.”

Being scolded by one’s father was fairly normal, so Su Wan’an immediately lost interest, only saying, “My dad would never scold me for things like that.”

“Because your dad doesn’t care about you at all,” another boy joked, “Your dad’s entire mind is focused on how to send money to the Ao City casino…”

Everyone knew Su Wan’an’s dad was a gambling addict.

“Tang Shen, are you sick!” Su Wan’an immediately got annoyed.
“Did I provoke you?”

“Just joking, young lady,” Tang Shen, whose family was also well-off, wasn’t afraid to offend Su Wan’an at all.
“Why are you suddenly getting so angry?”

“That’s not funny at all. Talking about my dad, your dad keeps mistresses and side chicks number three, four, and five outside… isn’t he just an old lech?”

“Even if my dad supports other women, it’s with money he earned himself; he can afford it. But every penny your dad gambles away is blood money from someone else…”

“What nonsense are you talking about!” Su Wan’an slapped the table and stood up.

“In all of Ao Gang Wan, who doesn’t know your dad’s history of getting rich by stepping over his brother…”

“Enough.” Duan Sili briefly interrupted them.

Although it was only two words, both parties instantly ceased their arguments, not daring to say another word.
Even if they were still angry inside, they could only glare at each other.

Xu Yin knew very well that no matter how they exposed each other’s flaws and insulted each other, they belonged to the same circle.

And she was an outsider.

Clearly, Duan Sili was the axis, no matter how rotten things became internally.

Xu Yin remained silent, eating her food.
She had no choice.

Gao Minglang was very E (emotionally sensitive or high-energy) and spoke in a way that made her feel awkward.
He absolutely had to find something to say: “Yinyin, the Student Union interview is next Monday evening. Have you decided—”

Xu Yin put down her chopsticks, feeling the fullness in her stomach: “I’ve decided. I’m applying for the Presidium.”

At these words, the atmosphere instantly froze.

“Really?!”
“What!”
Gao Minglang and Su Wan’an exclaimed simultaneously.

Xu Yin was expressionless.

Duan Sili, however, was calm.
He pulled a tissue to wipe his mouth.

“You, you really—” Gao Minglang looked like he couldn’t believe his own ears.

Xu Yin smiled and said, “Didn’t you recommend it?”

“Yes, yes.” He was flattered.
“I thought you’d want to go to the Propaganda Department since you can paint. Also, the External Relations Department isn’t bad; it suits you.”

“The External Relations Department has a lot of dirty work, best not to go there. The Presidium is great, you get directly into the core leadership group,” said another boy who seemed a bit aloof.

Su Wan’an’s expression actually… softened slightly after hearing Xu Yin and Gao Minglang’s conversation.

As long as she wasn’t coming for Duan Sili, it was fine.

“Gao Minglang, what, you want to put Xu Yin under your wing?” She drew out her words, asking teasingly.

Gao Minglang had a bit of a boyish shyness: “If I could, that would of course be the best.”

“Tsk, the interview isn’t like the written test where you can just memorize things and get a high score. Wait until she actually gets in before you get happy, won’t you?”

Even knowing Xu Yin wanted to join the Presidium because of Gao Minglang, Su Wan’an was still displeased.

Because the Presidium was the closest place to Duan Sili…

Gao Minglang introduced Xu Yin to several members of the Presidium.
Duan Sili, of course, was one; Tang Shen was also in the Presidium, along with two other boys.

“Add us all on WeChat,” Gao Minglang was working very hard to help Xu Yin get into the Presidium, diligently smoothing things over for her.
“You can ask us anything directly.”

Several boys quickly pulled out their WeChat QR codes and held them out to Xu Yin.

Few people would refuse to add a beautiful girl on WeChat.

Xu Yin opened WeChat, ready to add them, but Duan Sili spoke indifferently—

“Openly trying to use connections and back channels in front of me? Do you think your positions are very secure?”

At these words, Tang Shen immediately pulled his phone back, and the other boy quickly followed suit, not daring to add Xu Yin on WeChat anymore.

Although Duan Sili’s tone seemed to contain a hint of a joke, he was also calling them out.

Gao Minglang tried to lighten the awkward atmosphere: “It’s not about back channels, just getting to know each other.”

Duan Sili glanced at Gao Minglang, his look…
Clearly disdainful.

The person he wanted to pursue, he was eagerly pushing towards his buddies to add as friends.
Was he stupid?

Because of Duan Sili’s blunt words, Su Wan’an felt relieved inside.
She stepped forward to smooth things over: “It’s not too late to add friends once she passes the interview round. You know Sili wants to reorganize the Student Union, and he tolerates no nonsense. Just follow the proper procedure, Yinyin, good luck, I believe in you!”

Xu Yin nodded, but placed her phone under the table and sent a WeChat message to Duan Sili, who had just accepted her friend request but hadn’t had a chance to speak yet—

‘Don’t worry, I’ll prepare well for the interview and won’t do anything you dislike.’

“Ding-dong,” a green bubble message popped up on Duan Sili’s phone screen.
Su Wan’an’s head instinctively leaned over.

But in the second before she could see it, he had calmly placed his phone screen face down on the table.

The dinner gathering ended at one in the morning.
A few night owls wanted to go for another round at the bar, but Duan Sili yawned: “Heading back.”

He was disinclined, so naturally, no one else’s plans for further entertainment could be formed, and they all went home.

A black Maybach pulled up by the roadside, waiting for Duan Sili.

Su Wan’an intended to ride back with Duan Sili.
Seeing this, Gao Minglang quickly pulled Xu Yin along to hitch a ride with Duan Sili as well: “Hehe, after dropping off Young Miss Su, my house is just along the way. Master Si, where are you heading back to? Nan Jun or…?”

“Huguangyu,” Duan Sili said, directly getting into the back seat.

“Perfect then, Yinyin can come along too.”

Xu Yin was the first to take the front passenger seat.

Gao Minglang actually wanted to sit with Xu Yin, but Su Wan’an definitely wouldn’t be happy sitting in the front, and Xu Yin had anticipated this.

Ultimately, Su Wan’an sat between Gao Minglang and Duan Sili.

She knew Duan Sili had drunk a bit, so she kept reminding the driver to drive slower, even slower.

But no matter how slow the driver went, she was ultimately the first to get off, waving goodbye with reluctance, watching the car drive away.

Meanwhile, Xu Yin looked at the gradually fading European-style mansion in the distance.

In the sky, a cold moon hung high.

“Yinyin, what are you reciting?” Gao Minglang noticed Xu Yin’s very subtle voice and asked curiously.

“A poem. Seeing this moon suddenly inspired me.”

“Huh? I didn’t realize you were a great poet.”

“It’s a line from a poem by Wang Anshi that an old Chinese teacher in Shanbang taught me. I like it very much.”

“What is it? Recite it for me.”

“The spring breeze has turned the south of the Yangtze green again. When will the bright moon… shine upon my return?”

Gao Minglang suddenly didn’t know how to respond, only chuckling to play along: “Good poem, good poem. I like this one the most too.”

Duan Sili, who had been looking down at his phone, raised his slightly tipsy eyes and glanced at her.

Moonlight fell on the young girl’s fair skin.
She was as cool and pure as the moon, untouched by dust.

This was the first time, through her masked facade, he saw a very faint… melancholy in the depths of her eyes.

Gao Minglang’s house was not far from the Su residence, a ten-minute drive away.

When he got out of the car, Xu Yin also followed him out, which surprised him and made him feel particularly appreciated.

Gao Minglang kept reminding Xu Yin to send him a message as soon as she got home.

“Are you going or not?” Duan Sili grew impatient.
“If you’re not going, I’m leaving.”

Xu Yin quickly waved at Gao Minglang and got into the back seat, sitting in the same row as Duan Sili, with a person’s distance between them.

Duan Sili glanced at her.

She was quite composed, seemingly not at all afraid of him seeing through her little trick.

The car door closed, cutting off the outside noise.
Xu Yin’s posture also relaxed considerably.
She rested her head on the soft headrest of the seat.
“Normally at this hour, I’d be asleep.”

“Isn’t your family strict? How did your dad let you out?”

“I snuck out,” Xu Yin turned her head to him and smiled, with a touch of a mischievous fox.
“My brother helps me keep watch.”

“A good girl, sneaking out in the middle of the night, completely breaking character,” he said, drawing out his words.

“Because even good girls have someone they want to see.”

Duan Sili glanced at her.
Her gaze met his openly.
A few seconds later, she slowly added, “Gao Minglang is a very good person. He cares about me a lot.”

The young man scoffed softly, turning his head to look at the bright moon outside the window.

His eyes were cool and detached, like the snow on a high mountain, impossibly distant.

“Duan Sili, I’ve noticed that the Presidium is entirely made up of your own people. I also want to join the Presidium.”

The unspoken next sentence was, ‘I want to become one of your “own people.”’

Duan Sili understood the hidden meaning in her words.
He only asked back disdainfully, “Through Gao Minglang?”

“Through my own efforts.”

“I don’t keep trash around me,” Duan Sili didn’t directly refuse her, just as he hadn’t refused her WeChat friend request.
“Show me your efforts.”

The car drove onto Lakefront Road.
In the distance, the Huguangyu building stood tall under the moonlight.

As they passed through a crossroads, the streetlights came on.
The driver started the engine, but unexpectedly, a speeding Ferrari suddenly ran a red light and rushed towards them.

The driver slammed on the brakes, narrowly avoiding a collision.

The violent inertia threw Xu Yin forward towards the front seat.
She hadn’t fastened her seatbelt in the back!

In that split second, a pair of strong hands suddenly seized her, forcefully yanking her back.

Her back heavily collided into a firm embrace.

This sudden accident instantly triggered the deeply buried fear in Xu Yin’s memory.

Seawater pouring in, chaotic screams, a world turned upside down, desperate cries, the suffocating feeling of being submerged…

Fragments of a childhood nightmare reappeared.

Xu Yin’s body trembled violently in Duan Sili’s arms, not crying, but letting out a hysterical scream erupting from the depths of her soul.

A scream for her lost loved ones.

Her face was ashen, like someone drowning, instinctively calling for help.

But she couldn’t make any sound.

Her hands unconsciously gripped everything she could, her fingernails almost digging into Duan Sili’s skin.

Her entire being plunged into a state of complete breakdown and shock.

“Father… Mother…”
“Save me, save me…”
…

She called out to her dearest ones in a very low voice, but they were no longer there… they couldn’t protect her anymore…

Outside the window, the driver of the Ferrari who had run the red light was a young man with yellow hair, reeking of alcohol.
He got out of the car, cursing and shouting—

“Damn it, are you blind! You dare to hit your grandpa!”

The driver immediately got out to handle the not-so-serious “car accident.”

Duan Sili frowned, looking down at the trembling young girl in his arms.

Had she suddenly shed all her armor? Was this her true self?

So fragile.
Simply… unable to withstand a single blow.

He felt like making a sarcastic remark, but she was clinging to him like a small kitten, cowering in his arms.

A moment later, Duan Sili pressed a button.

The car window slowly closed, completely cutting off the outside noise and commotion.