Chapter 28: A Great Favor Can Be a Great Grudge

The canal, the night, the thin moonlight filtering through the tree branches, casting dappled, jagged shadows. In the interplay of light and dark, it is easiest to be overwhelmed by memories reborn. The same place, the same Yu Yan, walking side by side as they once did.

Lin Cheng seemed to be talking to himself: "When we were kids, everyone loved to tease the pretty girls."

Yu Yan remained silent.

"You were the main target. They loved to hide your notebooks, pull your hair, and then run away at full speed..."

"I looked down on their childishness. Unlike them, I always acted with deliberation!"

"That day during nap time, I secretly tied your shoelaces to the leg of your desk."

"The bell for the end of class rang, and then—'thump!' A loud sound! The classmates were silent for a moment before bursting into laughter..."

"You ran into the girls' restroom with tears in your eyes, and I just stood there, staring at your lonely silhouette..."

At this point, Lin Cheng faltered. Yu Yan continued to walk in silence, like a graceful flower swaying gently in the breeze.

Lin Cheng gathered his memories: "I remember it was raining heavily that day, pelting against the glass..."

"I felt like the heavens were reminding me: 'Lin Cheng, you’re a jerk.'"

How could Yu Yan forget? She had cried in the restroom for the entire period!

"...The class monitor found you in the restroom and came back asking, 'Who did it?!' Everyone had been napping when I tied your laces. If I hadn't spoken up, no one would have ever known it was me."

"When I thought about how you ran out with tears in your eyes, my heart softened, and I confessed."

"That was also my first time entering the girls' restroom. I knocked on the stall door to apologize, and when other girls walked by, they all giggled at me."

"I cursed, 'Laugh, laugh, laugh—what the hell are you laughing at?'"

"I was so furious! I thought: 'I’m a boy in the girls' restroom, what right does a girl have to laugh?'"

"...I said everything I could to make amends, and you finally came out. Your eyes were red from crying. You snatched the tissues from my hand and went back to the classroom."

"Leaving me alone in the girls' restroom... Hey, don't tell anyone, but I actually thought to myself: the girls' restroom seems cleaner than the boys', not as stinky!"

Lin Cheng glanced sideways at Yu Yan, noticing her pursed lips as she fought to keep her expression contained. For a moment, time seemed to stretch.

From that day on, Lin Cheng never teased Yu Yan again. Whenever he saw other boys acting cocky in front of her, he would mock them with an air of maturity.

It wasn't until the "Dragon Ball" incident that the ice between the two finally broke—Yu Yan slowly began to talk to Lin Cheng again. If any boy came to pester her, she would turn and talk to Lin Cheng, ignoring everyone else. This made those boys feel bored, and they gradually stopped bothering her.

Thinking of this, Yu Yan fluttered her eyelashes. In truth, Lin Cheng was a bad boy who always kept her guessing. Yet, even after four years of coldness, he felt so familiar.

The floodgates of Lin Cheng's memory seemed stuck open: "Once, you asked me, 'Why did you tie my shoelaces that day?'"

He had said: "Just for fun. I didn't expect to be forced to go to the girls' restroom to apologize on the same day."

Yu Yan’s face flushed red. She covered her face with a book, leaving only her eyes visible as she chuckled softly. This time, she didn't look down.

In that moment, Lin Cheng felt as if he had been struck by something—those eyes were truly beautiful! Like a lake reflecting the starry sky!

As she laughed, Yu Yan noticed Lin Cheng staring at her blankly, as if under a spell cast by Sun Wukong, and she tapped his head lightly with her book. That tap was all it took; Lin Cheng’s heart was opened for the first time.

After that, everything seemed to change. Whenever something funny happened in class, they would always look at each other first before bursting into unrestrained laughter. It was as if they needed to confirm the joy was shared before they could truly enjoy it.

The summer of graduation was sunny, filled with seas of flowers, the scent of jasmine, and white windmills... After that summer, there were three years of complete silence.

The bond between seatmates is a magical thing. Two children, in their innocence, constantly testing each other's boundaries, slowly and unconsciously accepting and responding to one another. Lin Cheng was the only one who made her let down her guard.

When Yu Yan saw Lin Cheng again in high school, her heart raced uncontrollably. In this city, one wonders how many people miss each other every day, only to glance at a street corner now and then, hoping to encounter someone from years ago.

Lin Cheng, reborn and walking side-by-side with her once more, saw that she didn't run away. As they parted, she said softly:

"Thank you."

...

Lin Yaoming returned home, excitedly searching for his son. During today's banquet, some provincial and municipal leaders had revealed information that thrilled him: 300 million would be invested in the renovation of Wuzhou’s old city this year.

This was only the beginning; the project would span at least a decade. As for Lin Cheng getting "beaten up" yesterday, the butler, Cao Yunping, had handled it perfectly. To see his son possess such a fierce side made him ecstatic!

Seeing his father in such high spirits, Lin Cheng mentioned his idea of helping Yu Yan's father solve his problems.

"Absolutely not!" Lin Yaoming’s mood soured instantly.

Lin Cheng was startled by his father's ability to turn cold as quickly as flipping a page. Truly, a ruthless capitalist! When Yu Yan's father was doing well, hadn't they worked on projects together?

"Fine, if you won't help, that's okay! I'll use my own money to get it started!"

"I said no, and I mean it!" Lin Yaoming was adamant.

"Why? Yu Yan is my friend! I’m willing to do it!"

"Did Yu Yan ask you to?"

"Of course not, I just want to help her!"

"Son, do you know that a great favor can become a great grudge? If you do him a huge favor, whether you intend it or not, Yu Yan's father will feel you are looking down on him! If he lacks the ability to repay it, over time, it will become a burden on you, on him, and even on Yu Yan..."

"Huh? Isn't that a bit exaggerated?"

"People have pride. Who wants to face someone who makes them feel inferior? I sympathize with the girl, but regardless of what she might be to you in the future, if you help her father, you will lose the chance to even be ordinary friends."

Lin Cheng was speechless. His father was right, but he still wanted to help.

"Only by being ruthless can you see the big picture. Find another way!"

In his previous life, Lin Cheng would never have listened to his father's twisted logic. But a father is still a father; there was a wisdom in him that commanded respect. As a second-generation heir waiting to inherit his empire, this was the first time Lin Cheng truly looked up to his father.