Chapter 16: The Person I’m Afraid Of

This… is it really true?

The girl from yesterday — meeting again, and at the very place where I just found a job.

For a moment, Su Xiaoxiao’s gaze was unconsciously drawn to her figure, reluctant to look away.

So lucky…

Beep.

Unlike herself, the girl showed no reaction at all, silently taking out her phone and scanning the QR code on the counter.

“Can you get me a bag to put this in?”

Her tone was very flat, and she looked like she was in a bad mood today.

She had smiled at me just yesterday, though.

Huh.

“Mm, sure.”

Su Xiaoxiao’s hand trembled a little as she picked up a plastic bag to pack the items, nearly dropping them on the floor.

“Here…”

She deliberately placed the bagged items in front of her.

“Thanks.”

The girl dressed in black then walked toward the automatic sliding door, ready to leave.

But Su Xiaoxiao kept watching, a little unwilling to see her go so quickly, though there was nothing she could do.

But…

“Um…”

Gathering courage, Su Xiaoxiao finally called out to her.

This was the first time she had ever initiated a conversation with a stranger girl.

Without some strong willpower, this would never have happened.

“Hmm?”

The girl turned around upon hearing Su Xiaoxiao’s voice, a hint of confusion appearing on her face.

“Well… you look kind of sad. I was a bit worried…”

“…”

The girl seemed captivated by those words, staring intently.

Ugh,

“No matter what you’re facing, there’s always a way. Keep going!”

This was the only encouraging sentence Su Xiaoxiao’s limited brain could come up with.

“…”

Still no reply.

She just stood quietly, looking on.

“Uh… did I say something wrong? Sorry for wasting your time.”

Su Xiaoxiao felt a bit apologetic.

They didn’t even know each other; suddenly saying something so strange would definitely confuse her.

Sigh… it’s all my fault for meddling.

The way the girl looked at her now had changed — probably categorizing her as some kind of troublemaker.

“It’s nothing. Thank you.”

After staring at Su Xiaoxiao for a while, the girl finally replied.

Then she took her things and left, her slender figure gradually disappearing into the bustling crowd outside the door.

Su Xiaoxiao felt they probably wouldn’t meet again, and her heart sank a little.

“Has she become so bold after changing?”

Su Xiaoxiao, still unsettled, regretfully ran her hand through her hair.

Such an awkward feeling—what was I even saying just now?

But she really wanted her to cheer up…

“I really want to know what happened. I want to help in any way I can…”

Recalling the girl’s gloomy expression, Su Xiaoxiao felt uneasy inside.

She was completely different from the girl who had smiled at her yesterday.

Although she wanted to help, how could a complete stranger possibly agree?

“How much is it?”

A voice interrupted her thoughts.

Time to work again.

Beep.

Picking up an item, Su Xiaoxiao mechanically scanned it.

“Twelve yuan.”

“Okay!”

A little boy hurriedly pulled some paper money out of his pocket and handed Su Xiaoxiao exactly twelve.

“Bye, sister.”

Surprisingly, the boy even said goodbye as he left.

“…Bye.”

A stranger saying goodbye—this experience really was quite strange.

“…….”

After he left, Su Xiaoxiao looked around the store, which was temporarily empty.

Time to restock.

She went to the backroom and started the task of finding and restocking goods.

In short, moving bricks.

For her own future, it was worth it.

***

“Good work.”

Around ten-twenty, a woman in a red top leisurely returned from outside, looking in a pretty good mood.

“Not bad, not too hard.”

Seeing the boss come back, Su Xiaoxiao immediately adopted a respectful demeanor.

Today’s four-hour shift was almost over; she felt a little relieved.

This frail girl had been standing for so long—it was really a bit much… her legs were starting to hurt, maybe because she hadn’t eaten properly for days.

“All done, it’s about time. You can go home now.”

“Thank you, got it.”

Su Xiaoxiao said her thanks and slowly stepped away from the counter.

It’s over, now to take the money and get something to eat…

“My favorite eggplant, where are you~”

After the sensor door opened, Su Xiaoxiao happily walked out.

Outside, there were fewer people than in the afternoon or at noon—just some overtime workers grabbing skewers for a late-night snack or young people hanging out with friends.

Was she working overtime?

Not really—it was only four hours.

Should she go to that place she visited last winter break?

Although it was a bit far…

“Whatever, let’s eat!”

At the mention of food, Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t hold back.

Now that she had money, she could eat whatever she wanted.

Then she retraced the route she took to school in the morning, switching halfway to the street she used to take home in her previous life.

***

“Great, it’s still open.”

After walking more than ten minutes, Su Xiaoxiao saw the small stir-fry shop still operating and felt excited, hurrying inside.

“Um, minced meat eggplant, for here.”

“Okay.”

After ordering, Su Xiaoxiao sat in the same corner seat as before.

This shop was the same as before—though not as fancy or new as those near the school, she liked it better this way.

It felt warm and cozy here, maybe that was the bottom-tier understanding of a girl from the very bottom herself.

She wouldn’t dare to enter those too flashy or high-end places.

“Maybe I’m starting to feel the hardships of life…”

Staring blankly around, Su Xiaoxiao pondered the future.

First was money.

Fifty a day, five days a week, 250 a week, about a thousand a month.

Rent?

She wasn’t sure, probably around 300-400, given the old, shabby paint and the small size.

Food, if she ate a little each day, averaged thirteen a day, about 400 a month.

That left around 200.

But the school expenses for a semester came close to 900… that was cutting it close.

“Looks like I can’t rest on weekends either.”

“Boss, fish, same as before!”

While lost in thought, a rough male voice came from the entrance—didn’t sound friendly.

“Uh…”

Seeing his face, Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened in fear.

He held a bottle of liquor, swaying and drinking it, his beard messy, hair unkempt, drunk like a total drunkard—very scary.

“Ugh.”

The petite girl instinctively hugged herself, almost toppling off the chair from the sudden movement in her legs.

This man was none other than her father.

“Boss, hurry up… got stuff to do after eating.”

His voice was slurred, probably from drinking too much.

Right… he didn’t recognize her now, so naturally he wouldn’t come waving the bottle at her back…

“Phew…”

Su Xiaoxiao nervously resettled herself, small beads of sweat dripping from her forehead.

“Oh, you’re also from that high school?”

Su Zhikang put down the bottle, looking mean.

Now whenever he saw students from Xiamo No. 3 High School, he got angry.

“Yes…”

Su Xiaoxiao’s body trembled slightly.

He probably hadn’t recognized her.

“The eggplant is ready.”

Just as the atmosphere grew tense, the shop owner brought a steaming bowl of eggplant to Su Xiaoxiao’s table.

Oh no, Dad knew she liked eggplant before…

“……”

But luckily, Su Zhikang didn’t say anything after the owner approached—he just kept drinking Rain Jin Beer.

“Can you pack it for me?”

“Sure.”

In the end, Su Xiaoxiao decided to take it home to eat.

Even if it got cold, eating here might be a death sentence…

So she paid an extra one yuan for packaging.

After the food was packed, Su Xiaoxiao tiptoed out with the boxed meal, walking slowly to the door.

Only when she was about ten meters away from the shop did she finally feel a little relieved.

He hadn’t followed.

From a distance, she could still see his bear-like back.

“Made it out.”

Her heart was racing, faster than after running a thousand-meter race.

She had even changed gender—there was no way he could recognize her now.

Thank goodness…