The fragile, pitiful demeanor is not something everyone appreciates; at least Shu Jiao, who is sitting in the passenger seat, doesnât.
Today, Ruan Jiaojiao is trying on dresses, and of course Shu Jiao couldnât miss this event. She had known about it from Ruan Hao last night, but she had to handle some urgent matters early this morning, thus she went out early and rushed to be here now.
The car windows are tinted, so people outside canât see inside. Shu Jiao looks at the shivering girl outside with a calm expression, and she rolls down the window, discreetly glancing at Ruan Hao beside her.
Zhou Yun never expected the window to be rolled down by an attractive woman. Even though she looks evidently not young anymore, Zhou Yun instinctively pauses, with her eyes involuntarily showing traces of hostility.
"Who are you?" Shu Jiao notices Ruan Hao isnât planning to speak, so she takes the initiative to ask.
Zhou Yun bites her lip, glances at her, then at Ruan Hao. After exchanging silent looks for several seconds, she decides to ignore Shu Jiao and instead, with a more pitiful expression, says to Ruan Hao: "Mr. Ruan, my... my mother is ill and urgently needs money. Regarding the money I repaid last time... could you return it to me? I promise... I promise to pay you back double in the future, okay?"
After speaking, she bows her head, too afraid to meet Ruan Haoâs eyes, as if afraid to see something unbearable within them.
This matter dates back to more than three months ago when Ruan Jiaojiao went shopping with Ruan Hao to buy a present for Duan Xi. In a watch store, they encountered Zhou Yun, who was working a summer job and nervously spilled water on Ruan Haoâs trousers, leading Jiang Xun to misunderstand and think Ruan Jiaojiao and Ruan Hao were bullying Zhou Yun.
Though this misunderstanding was later cleared up, Ruan Hao wasnât concerned and left a business card for the store, intending for them to bill him since he couldnât carry so much cash with him.
Unexpectedly, Zhou Yun was the one to settle the bill at the hotel. Ruan Hao didnât mind, although he was curious because Zhou Yun was merely a temporary worker; such orders wouldnât typically fall to her. But he didnât think much of it, confirmed there were no issues, and instructed his finance department to settle the account.
Surprisingly, after settling the account, Zhou Yun didnât leave but waited in the hotel lobby until Ruan Hao finished work. Then she rushed out with a flushed face, saying she wanted to repay him for his trousers.
To someone wealthy, Ruan Haoâs trousers were nothing, but for ordinary people, it equated to a monthâs salary, especially for Zhou Yun, who couldnât repay it even after working two months of summer jobs.
Ruan Hao had no intention of making a fuss over it, especially since the trousers werenât damaged, just wet at the time. But Zhou Yun was stubborn, insisting on repaying him as if failing to do so was a form of humiliation.
Ruan Hao dislikes trouble, and seeing her insist, he let her do as she pleased.
Unexpectedly, over the three months following, Zhou Yun would frequently come to the hotel to find Ruan Hao, claiming each time she came to repay him, albeit the amount each time was only around ten yuan.
Ruan Hao was busy, juggling his job and lectures at the school with constant traveling between the two places, so she rarely saw him. Thus, she was directed to the hotel front desk instead.