"What she desires, I can provide. I'll prove that I can afford everything she wishes for, but I'll never give it to her. She doesn't deserve it!" Every day, he reminded himself that Tian Youyou wasn't worthy of his love.
He wanted her indebted to him forever, forever unable to repay her debt.
At nine in the morning, Tian Youyou received a call from an unknown number.
"Sis! Sis! I'm out!" Han Chong's voice was urgent as soon as he spoke.
Tian Youyou thought to herself about Mr. Li's efficiency, his survival instincts were indeed strong.
"I'm at work now. Meet me at a restaurant near my office for lunch; we can eat together. I have some things to discuss with you," she told him, knowing she needed to help Han Chong change his ways and stop living like a delinquent. During lunch, they could plan his future.
After work, she went straight to the agreed location.
"Sis!" Han Chong was already there waiting, excitedly standing up to greet her as she entered.
He was neatly dressed today, in sneakers, blue jeans, and a black T-shirt, his tall and lean frame looking slightly frail but at least not as sloppy as before.
"Right, just keep dressing like you are today. It will give a good impression, make you seem more reliable," Tian Youyou affirmed, and he shyly scratched his head and smiled.
"It's trouble, I know! But sis, I promise this is the last time. I won't act impulsively anymore!"
Tian Youyou let Han Chong order his favorite dishes, which he hesitated to do. She realized he probably didn't have any money right after getting out.
"Alright, then I'll order for you."
Han Chong was initially reserved, but soon relaxed and began eating and drinking heartily.
Watching him eat, Tian Youyou recalled Zhou Moyan often criticizing how she had no image when eating. This resemblance must be in their blood.
Since acknowledging each other, aside from Hou Xiaomei intermittently asking for money, she hadn't had much contact with that family. This situation actually made her relationship with Han Chong more natural, which was something positive.
"What are your plans? You can't keep drifting like this. It's time for you to be more ambitious," Tian Youyou asked.
"Sis, I've thought it over. I don't want to go back. I'd like to find a job near your company. I trained as a chef before, but it's different here, I can't be a head chef right away. I'll start in a hotel that offers room and board and work my way up, I'm sure I can do well!" Han Chong spoke confidently while chewing his food.
"That sounds good. I happen to know someone who owns a hotel nearby. Why don't you try there this afternoon?"
"Okay! Don't worry, I won't embarrass you again. Sometimes I really feel like I'm dreaming, how did I get a sister like you? If you weren't my sister, I'd definitely think you were a goddess!"
Han Chong blushed. He wasn't very eloquent, but Tian Youyou chose to believe him.
"Oh, so you mean you're disappointed I'm your sister?" Tian Youyou teased.
"How could I be! Sis, you..." Han Chong got so excited he started hiccupping.
Tian Youyou laughed and handed him a glass of water. "Alright, enough teasing." She had already spoken to Linda.
With no educational background, Han Chong would start off doing simple tasks or waiting tables in the hotel. Since he had a skill, it would be even easier to discuss.
After they finished their meal, Han Chong insisted on walking Tian Youyou to her company's building, looking part servant, part bodyguard. Tian Youyou found it both amusing and endearing.
Unexpectedly, they saw Tian Sheng's car at the company building.
Seeing Tian Sheng's car made Tian Youyou's heart thump, her intuition telling her it wasn't anything good.
She went straight to her office, unsurprised to find Tian Sheng in Zhou Moyan's office, unexpectedly with Han Miaomiao there as well.
"Youyou!" Tian Sheng's face was all smiles, "I say, such a big event, Mr. Zhou coming back, and you didn't mention a word?"
"What are you doing here?" Tian Youyou was already on edge, unable to imagine why Tian Sheng would seek out Zhou Moyan.
Zhou Moyan remained unfazed, which only added to her astonishment.
"I just found out you're working for Mr. Zhou; thought I'd come see how you are, hehe. See if there's a chance for you two to get back together?"
The shamelessness of Tian Sheng knew no bounds.
"Get back together? Do you think everyone is as bottomless as you? You think after selling me over and over again, I'd still have any value?" Tian Youyou's anger reached its peak.
She blurted out the harshest words, unaware of the pain that flickered through Zhou Moyan's eyes beside her.
"Youyou, those words are harsh. After all, Mr. Zhou was your first boyfriend..."
"Shut up! A misunderstanding? That's not what you said back then."
"Tian Youyou, don't push it. You really don't have any value left, just a foster daughter in your family's home, thinking you can climb up the social ladder?"
Han Miaomiao taunted, her elaborate appearance making her look cheap and vulgar, her behavior unchanged after three years.
"Really, you're everywhere! Then tell me, what are you doing in my boss's office? Don't tell me Tian Sheng is introducing his own daughter to Mr. Zhou!"
"You..." Tian Youyou's words left Han Miaomiao speechless, then raising her hand to strike Tian Youyou.
Tian Youyou caught her hand and forcefully pushed her away; Han Miaomiao nearly fell due to her high heels.
Zhou Moyan's mouth twitched up briefly, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Then, it's up to Mr. Zhou if he considers me..." Han Miaomiao quickly acted coy, her eyes clinging to Zhou Moyan.
Tian Youyou shuddered in disgust.
Zhou Moyan chuckled coldly, offering no response.
He leaned back in his chair, watching the drama unfold. Tian Youyou couldn't fathom what he was thinking.
"Mr. Zhou, what exactly is your relationship with Youyou?" Tian Sheng's face showed a hint of urgency.
"What relationship? You've seen it, the kind where we share everything," Zhou Moyan pointed towards Tian Youyou's lounge, his face playful.
Zhou Moyan, what do you mean by saying this in front of Tian Sheng and Han Miaomiao? Are you trying to humiliate me? Tian Youyou glared at him.
Zhou Moyan stood and approached Tian Sheng.
"If you had come to me three years ago to discuss a 20 million guarantee, I would have helped. But she chose my brother then. Now, even that insignificant Mr. Li isn't willing to spend on her, do you think I would?"
Tian Youyou understood; Tian Sheng was here to sell her out again, but unfortunately, he overestimated her value.
"Dad, really, I told you Mr. Zhou would never look twice at a woman like Tian Youyou, unclean, with a bad background. Why do you insist on subjecting her to this humiliation?"
Han Miaomiao criticized Tian Sheng, likely because he hadn't managed to marry her off to Zhou Moyan, missing out on a chance to climb the social ladder.
"So, Mr. Zhou, could you help me with this?" Tian Sheng was straightforward.
"Tian Sheng, as I've said, it depends on what you have to offer in exchange, how much your foster daughter is worth in your eyes, let alone in mine. After all, I am a businessman."