It was evening in a certain market street in the UK.
This city had a significant Chinese population, and this particular street was the most densely populated with Chinese residents nearby.
In a corner, a young girl wearing a gray shirt and a white mask stood in front of her barbecue stall, constantly shouting to attract customers. Unfortunately, despite the dense crowd around, it was too difficult for anyone to notice this corner.
Shen Tong, feeling a bit frustrated, brushed her forehead. If she had known, she wouldn't have rented this spot just because it was cheap. After a whole day of hard work, too few people had visited her stall. If this continued, she would end up losing money. Thinking of this, her slender eyebrows visible above the mask slightly furrowed.
Shen Tong sat on the stool she had brought, pondering how to solve her livelihood problems. If this continued, she wouldn't even be able to afford a ticket back home. Yes, she was studying in the UK and was about to graduate.
"If I just keep waiting like this, even until dark, no one will notice my stall! No, I have to take action!" With this thought, Shen Tong quickly pushed her stall forward a bit .
Feeling satisfied, Shen Tong put her hands on her hips and glanced around. "Now my stall is more noticeable! But, if I move it a bit more forward, it would be even better! For the love of my little money, I'll do it!" With this thought, she happily continued pushing her stall forward, not noticing a car approaching from a distance.
At that moment, the car driving forward collided with Shen Tong's barbecue stall with a 'boom'. Despite her countless prayers, the barbecue grill toppled over.
With a heart full of anger, she glared at the car that had completely ruined her livelihood. A man in a dark blue suit jacket stepped out of the car. He was tall, with eyes as black as obsidian that showed a bit of nervousness, and he quickly walked toward Shen Tong.
He spoke a long string of English, but Shen Tong didn't catch a single word; she just focused on her fallen grill. She mumbled, "I haven't even earned any money yet, and now this happens. Oh, England, please don't express your reluctance for me to leave in such a way. I can't afford it"
Seeing that the woman was ignoring him, the car owner decided to help her lift the grill to show his apology.
At that moment, Shen Tong accidentally touched the hottest part of the grill and quickly withdrew her hand. Despite studying in the UK for more than two years, she instinctively cried out in her mother tongue, "F**k, that hurts!"
"You're Chinese?" The car owner seemed surprised and, with concern, took Shen Tong's injured hand and asked in Chinese, "Is it serious?"
Uncomfortable with the close contact with a stranger, Shen Tong pulled back her injured hand.
At this moment, Liang Xiaoyuan finally got a clear look at the Chinese girl his car had hit. Even though half her face was covered by a white mask, her eyes were still very endearing.
"I'm sorry, let me take you to the hospital first," the man's gentle voice sounded in her ear.
Shen Tong mumbled to herself, "This guy is quite a gentleman and good-looking too, not embarrassing China at all! But being handsome and gentlemanly isn't the point, the point is he's rich! Looking at his outfit, he must be loaded! I get it, this must be a surprise from heaven seeing me working so hard here. Who knows how long it would take to earn the money for a plane ticket home just by selling skewers! If I don't get some compensation out of him, it would be a waste of this well-orchestrated accident by heaven!"
"Do you need to go to the hospital?" Liang Xiaoyuan carefully asked again, seeing that Shen Tong was lost in thought.
Shen Tong took off her mask, revealing her fair, petite face. She was still immersed in her little calculations, with a slight smile on her lips. Looking at the smiling girl in front of him, the phrase "a beauty without equal" came to Liang Xiaoyuan's mind. No matter how ordinary her attire was, it couldn't hide her outstanding temperament and sweet smile.
Facing such a situation, the girl could still smile like this; she must be very strong! Liang Xiaoyuan silently praised her in his heart.
Just as Liang Xiaoyuan was admiring her, Shen Tong instantly retracted her smile and switched to a pitiful look. "My barbecue stallā¦ just like thatā¦ you know, we peopleā¦"
Liang Xiaoyuan, unable to withstand such a beautiful girl looking so pitiful, felt a deep sense of pity. "I will compensate you for your losses, but I think you should let me take you to the hospital. Your hand looksā¦"
"The injury is not serious, you should understand what I valueā¦" In front of a handsome guy, one should always be reserved, Shen Tong continued to subtly hint about the compensation.
"Indeed, although this encounter is a bit unconventional, it's still a kind of fate. Let's take this opportunity to become friends! My name is Liang Xiaoyuan, what about you?" Liang Xiaoyuan misunderstood Shen Tong's hints as a desire to make friends.
"Shen Tong."
"Huh?" Liang Xiaoyuan was momentarily confused.
"My name is Shen Tong." Shen Tong impatiently glanced at Liang Xiaoyuan, "Please pay the compensation now. Also, I will take care of my hand myself."
Seeing that Liang Xiaoyuan was so clueless, Shen Tong had to make things clear.
"Shen Tong, but your handā¦ You should go to the hospital as soon as possible." Liang Xiaoyuan, looking at the petite and fragile girl in front of him, couldn't bear to see her continue working with a burn.
"Liang Xiaoyuan, as long as you give me the compensation, I will be fine. I'll take care of my injury with the compensation money, no need to worry about it." Shen Tong coldly interrupted Liang Xiaoyuan.
It was the first time Liang Xiaoyuan heard her call his name, and he was stunned for a moment. Her voice was pleasant to hear, especially when she called his name; it had a rhythmic quality. Liang Xiaoyuan suddenly felt like he was bewitched. He had never focused so intently on someone's voice before.
"Liang Xiaoyuan, hey don't stay silent!" Shen Tong decided to press her advantage, not letting the atmosphere cool down at this moment.
"I don't have any compensation money on me right now," Liang Xiaoyuan said innocently.
"Youā" Shen Tong glared at Liang Xiaoyuan, and the last bit of guilt she had instantly vanished, "You scoundrel!"
Liang Xiaoyuan smiled. Even when Shen Tong was angry, she looked beautiful; the phrase 'a beauty with eyebrows like a painting' suited her perfectly.
Seeing Liang Xiaoyuan smiling, Shen Tong was even more furious. "How dare you laugh?"
Seeing Shen Tong so annoyed, Liang Xiaoyuan quickly tried to calm her down, "I'm not saying I won't pay. It's just that I don't have cash on me."
This little trick wouldn't fool even his sister! He dressed so decently, but when he hit someone, he didn't want to pay compensation! Shen Tong cursed him in her heart.