Ye Qianxuan looked at Chu Yuan, who stood before him with graceful poise; she was truly even more beautiful than she had been five years ago.
"How have you been these past five years?" Ye Qianxuan asked with a smile.
Chu Yuan’s face reddened slightly. "Afterward, I got into Zhonghai University and moved to the suburbs. Zhao Zhiheng and his group didn't bother me anymore." She paused, her expression turning somber. "Brother Ye, I heard that you went to prison because of what happened back then. I..."
Ye Qianxuan waved his hand dismissively and chuckled. "That's all in the past now!" He switched topics, not wanting the shy young woman to harbor any guilt over that old incident. "Zhonghai University is one of the top-tier prestigious universities in the country. You’re truly impressive! Are you here to eat as well?"
Chu Yuan shook her head. "No, I don't have class today. I’m here working a part-time job to support myself."
"Chu Yuan, the noodles are ready! Take them to the customer!" a voice called out from the kitchen.
Chu Yuan immediately ran over, returned with a steaming bowl of ramen, and set it in front of Ye Qianxuan.
"Why are you working a part-time job so far away?" Ye Qianxuan asked curiously. Zhonghai University was in the suburbs; it took two hours by bus to get here. Was it really necessary to come all the way to the city center just to work as a server?
Chu Yuan hesitated, her face flushing as she struggled to find words. Ye Qianxuan decided not to press further. He figured the young girl was likely sensitive about her pride and didn't want to work at a restaurant near her university for fear of running into classmates.
"Brother Ye, when were you released? Are you still in school?" Chu Yuan asked, chatting with him whenever she could find a spare moment between tasks.
Ye Qianxuan shook his head. "I was released two days ago. I'm not in school anymore; I found a rich woman to marry."
Chu Yuan let out an "Ah," her face filled with surprise, followed by a look of indescribable disappointment. "I’m sorry, Brother Ye..."
"Sorry for what? You should be happy for me that I found a wealthy woman!" Ye Qianxuan laughed. "What about you? Do you have a boyfriend?"
Chu Yuan shook her head vigorously. "No, I still want to pursue my master's and doctoral degrees. I'm not in a hurry."
Ye Qianxuan nodded. "That's right, academics should be your priority. Has anyone at school been pursuing you?"
No sooner had Ye Qianxuan finished his playful remark than a group of thugs burst into the shop! Upon seeing them, Chu Yuan’s face turned pale with terror and despair. "You... how did you track me down here?"
The leader, a punk with bleached yellow hair, sneered. "Did you think I wouldn't be able to find you just because you stopped working near your school? Ha! Wifey, even if you run to the ends of the earth, I’ll still find you!"
Chu Yuan’s face flushed deep red. "I don't know you at all! Stop spouting nonsense!"
The shop owner, a middle-aged woman, emerged after hearing the commotion. Her expression shifted the moment she saw the thugs. She forced a smile and asked, "Gentlemen, are you here to eat, or...?"
The yellow-haired thug grinned. "Owner, this has nothing to do with you. I’m here for my wife!"
Chu Yuan’s complexion alternated between pale and flushed. She hurriedly explained, "Owner! I don't even know these people! I only saw them once when I was working at a barbecue stall near my school. They’ve been pestering me ever since! It got so bad I didn't dare work near campus anymore. I never thought they would follow me all the way here!"
The yellow-haired thug continued, "Wifey, why are you being so cold? When you were serving skewers, you deliberately touched my hand—that clearly meant you were interested in me! Why be so shy?"
Chu Yuan’s face burned with indignation. "Liar! You grabbed my hand by force!"
The middle-aged owner understood the situation. Looking at Chu Yuan, who was about the same age as her own daughter, she felt a surge of righteous anger. She forced another smile. "Gentlemen! Chu Yuan is working for me right now. Why don't you talk about this after her shift is over?" She decided to appease the thugs for now and then sneak the student out through the back door.
*Clang!*
The yellow-haired punk kicked over a chair and snarled, "Shut up, you old hag! I’m taking my wife away right now! Consider her wages for the day a gift to you!"
The owner kept smiling, though it was strained. "Gentlemen, it’s not about the money. We’re busy at the shop right now; you can't take her..."
"Enough talk!" The thug kicked another table over. "If you dare nag again, see if I don't smash this place to pieces!"
Seeing the scene turn ugly, the few customers in the shop quickly paid and fled. Chu Yuan was trembling with anger and fear, but she was too timid to fight back; she could only stand there, wiping away tears. "I... I’m going to call the police!"
The thugs laughed viciously. The yellow-haired man stepped forward and grabbed Chu Yuan’s wrist. "Wifey, stop struggling! What’s the point of calling the police? They’ll just lecture us and lock us up for a few days! Once I’m out, I’ll come find you again! Unless you plan to never work a part-time job ever again!"
The other thugs chimed in, "That's right, sister-in-law! Just give in to Brother Jin! Be with him, and you'll live a life of luxury. Why bother with this crummy part-time job?"
Despite her terror, Chu Yuan shouted back, "Impossible! Give up on that idea!"
The yellow-haired thug chuckled. "Fine! Then I’ll smash this shop today! Every place you work, I’ll smash it! I’ll make you so famous in Zhonghai that no one will dare hire you. Once you're out of money, won't you come crawling to me on your knees anyway? Hahaha!"
He gestured for his men to start wrecking the shop. "Today, I’m collecting some interest! Wifey, come here and let your husband have a feel!" He let out a sinister cackle, his hand reaching toward Chu Yuan.
The owner shrank back in fear. Chu Yuan instinctively looked at Ye Qianxuan, a desperate, irrational thought crossing her mind—*if only Brother Ye could step in like a hero, just as he did five years ago.*
But she quickly shook her head. She had already burdened him enough. He had spent five years in prison just to save her. She hoped only that he would leave quickly and not get dragged into this again. Perhaps this was just her fate. For a poor girl, beauty was not a gift, but a disaster. She had endured too many such disasters throughout her life. She was tired; she even felt a sense of helplessness that made her want to give up on everything.
Just as the yellow-haired thug’s hand was about to reach into Chu Yuan’s collar without any resistance, an iron grip clamped down, firmly catching the thug's wrist.