Chapter 332: Sweet for a Few Years, Bitter for a Lifetime

Shen Qingning wanted to earn money to pay Su Ran back.

Xie Yiren, on the other hand, didn’t want to keep using Su Ran’s money.

She had her principles. She didn’t want to feel like she was getting a free ride or being kept by someone. Even though it wasn’t like that, he was still just giving her money, so it was basically the same thing. Anyway, Xie Yiren couldn’t quite explain it.

Still, she had it a little better than Shen Qingning. Qingning was only good at studying. Xie Yiren wasn’t great with academics, but she was an art student! She could dance, sing, and even cast hexes—it should have been easy for her to find a part-time job.

But reality gave Xie Yiren a harsh beating. She applied for a job at a company, but the moment they heard she was still a student, they rejected her outright. ‘Recent graduates are still lining up outside. What’s a current student like you doing trying to get in on the action?’

‘I can’t believe even finding a part-time job is this hard.’

‘The pressure to find a job is immense.’

Xie Yiren returned, crestfallen. She had wanted to eat one of her favorite grilled sausages, but it tasted completely bland. It was just miserable.

She used to go on and on about finding a boyfriend to support her. But now that she had the super-rich Su Ran, she didn’t want to be supported by him. She just had to be difficult and insist on relying on herself. And now, all she wanted to do was call Su Ran, sobbing pitifully, and tell him that besides having big boobs, she was a completely useless piece of trash.

She gnawed on the sausage with puffed cheeks, as if venting her frustration with society’s unfairness toward university students!

‘Sigh… I should just go back to the dorm and hole up.’

After finishing the sausage, she scanned the code to pay. “I paid, boss.”

“Wait, miss. They’re five yuan each now. You’re short one yuan.”

“Five yuan? It’s only been one New Year, and now a sausage costs five yuan?”

“Prices have gone up.”

“Alright.” She scanned another yuan, thinking, ‘No, I have to find a job. If I don’t, I won’t even be able to afford sausages soon. I’ll go back and sleep on it, then ask the girls if they know any ways to make money.’

Subconsciously, the ‘Saintess’ still didn’t want to look for a job.

Lost in thought, she started to walk across the street. Suddenly, a hand grabbed her arm and yanked her back. Only then did Xie Yiren see the red light. Scared to death, she turned to the kind person beside her and thanked them profusely.

“You’re welcome. Be more careful when you cross the street.”

An elegant and dignified old woman was looking at Xie Yiren.

Xie Yiren looked back at her. She thought the old woman had such a graceful air about her. Her clothes were beautiful, and she didn’t look her age at all. Xie Yiren couldn’t help but say, “Ma’am, you’re so beautiful.”

“Beautiful? Hehehe, what’s so beautiful about an old woman like me? Youth like yours is what’s truly beautiful. You’re a student at the dance academy across the street, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Oh… And what is your major?”

“Folk dance.”

“Not bad.”

At that moment, the light turned green, and the two walked across the street side by side.

“I’m heading to your school as well.”

“Are you going to meet someone?”

“Just taking a look around.”

“Then let me be your guide. It’s the least I can do since you just saved me.”

The woman looked at the pretty young girl and nodded. “Alright. What’s your name?”

“Xie Yiren. And you, ma’am?”

“Me? …Luo Shumin.”

The two walked onto the campus. School hadn’t started yet, so there weren’t many people around. One old and one young, they strolled along a lush, green path as one or two bicycles occasionally rode past, the very picture of youth.

Luo Shumin—Aunt Luo—looked around, seemingly lost in old memories. Stirred by the familiar scene, she murmured, “I used to be a student at this school, too. But unlike you, I studied ballet.”

She said, a hint of pride in her voice.

“Really?”

she asked curiously.

“Mhm, that was decades ago. Later, I was even among the first batch of students from this school to go to the United Kingdom for advanced studies…” As she spoke, a smile like that of a first love appeared on her lips. “I met my husband in the United Kingdom. He was also from China. We came back together, and right here…” She pointed excitedly at a weathered old locust tree. “This is where he proposed to me.”

“Oh, now that you mention it, I remember! I’ve heard this story before.”

“You’ve heard it?”

“Mhm! Ever since your successful proposal under this old locust tree, for decades now, any couple at our school will confess their feelings here. The success rate is as high as 95%.”

“Hehe, is that so? That’s quite nice. Have you ever been confessed to here? Hehe…”

“Of course!” Xie Yiren said proudly. “Countless times! Do you know why the success rate is only 95%? Because I’m the one who created the other 5% failure rate! Hahaha…”

For a girl, being confessed to and pursued by others was actually something to be proud of. It meant she was pretty. It would be illogical if someone who was said to be as beautiful as a goddess had no one confessing to or pursuing them.

But Xie Yiren felt no spark with any of them. The only one she felt a spark with was Su Ran.

“Ma’am, after you and your husband’s successful proposal here, you must have had a very happy and sweet life together, right?”

Young girls love hearing these kinds of love stories, so she couldn’t stop herself from asking for the rest of the story.

“Sweet for a few years, bitter for a lifetime.”

Aunt Luo gave a bitter smile.

Xie Yiren asked, “What do you mean?”

“He died in the war.” She sighed softly, her voice filled with endless sorrow.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. It’s all in the past.” She patted the back of Xie Yiren’s hand. “At my age, I’ve come to terms with it. It’s all fate. The day I die will be the day I’m reunited with my husband.”

Xie Yiren naively tried to comfort her, “Don’t say that. Think about your children. They’d be heartbroken if they knew you thought that way.”

“Heartbroken? My only son is dead, too. Who is there to be heartbroken for me?”

“Huh?”

“They’re all dead!”

A look of indignation crossed Aunt Luo’s face. “He was driven to his death by those stubborn, obstinate people.”

“There, there, don’t be sad.” Xie Yiren patted her back comfortingly. “Don’t think about it.” Perhaps because they were kindred spirits in suffering, Xie Yiren could deeply empathize with the old woman’s feelings.