Chapter 109: Worn Inside Out

Xin Mu’s greatest worry was that Xin Gan was too soft-hearted and kind to everyone. Back when Mrs. He had jokingly asked her to take care of He Cheng in London as if he were her own brother, Xin Gan had truly put her heart into helping him. Whenever her family sent her local specialties, she would always ask Xin Mu to prepare an extra portion so she could take it to He Cheng.

Recalling these things, Xin Mu felt a sense of melancholy.

Xin Gan said nothing to her mother about the things He Cheng had done. Mentioning them would only worry her, so she kept it entirely to herself.

However, toward the end of their conversation, Xin Mu brought up the topic of children.

Xin Gan remembered that she and Cheng Jiu had always been careful; they had no plans to have children in the near future. Mrs. Cheng was more anxious about it and had mentioned it once or twice, but fortunately, she hadn't given Xin Gan too hard a time. This was largely because Cheng Jiu was managing his mother's expectations.

Xin Gan, however, had a secret concern: Cheng Jiu’s health. He had suffered an accident during an operation in Beiyu, and the doctors had advised against having children for several years, as his condition could potentially affect the baby.

Naturally, she hadn't told Cheng Jiu. She had consulted doctors on her own, fearing that knowing this would crush his pride. She was also terrified of what might happen if they had a child now and the child was affected—the suffering would be unbearable for both the child and herself. If that day ever came, she feared Cheng Jiu would…

After being together for so long, she understood his character well enough to know that he would rather bear the entire burden himself than let her suffer even a little bit.

Apart from Xin Gan and Mr. Cheng, no one else knew about that accident. Even Xin Mu was unaware. She stood by her daughter, agreeing that if she didn't want children for the time being, she shouldn't have them; there was plenty of time in a few years.

Still, she offered a gentle reminder that twenty-seven or twenty-eight was the best age to give birth, and in a few more years, she would be considered an older mother, with less physical strength and energy.

After dinner at the Xin residence, Xin Gan prepared to head home. Before leaving, she called Cheng Jiu to ask if he was finished with work. He said he was on his way home, hadn't eaten yet, and asked if she had.

"I'll pack some food for you," Xin Gan said. "Mom made sticky rice cakes."

"All right, bring them. I'll wait for you downstairs."

"Okay."

While waiting for her, Cheng Jiu smoked a few cigarettes. Mr. Cheng called him to report that Cheng Hui had driven out late last night and crashed the car. Fortunately, she was physically unharmed, though the front of the car was damaged.

"Why did she go out last night?" Cheng Jiu asked.

"I have no idea. I asked her, but she wouldn't say, just claimed she went out for a drive to clear her head." Mr. Cheng wasn't a fool; he didn't believe her.

"As long as she's okay, that's what matters. Don't give her the car keys. I'll talk to her later," Cheng Jiu said.

"It's my and your mother's fault for spoiling her so much," Mr. Cheng sighed.

"She's old enough now; even if she acts out, it won't be too extreme. It's fine." Cheng Jiu knew more than his father. Having heard that He Chuan had driven Cheng Hui home last night, he had a rough idea of what was going on.

Mr. Cheng warned, "He Chuan and He Cheng are fighting over the family inheritance. I know you and He Chuan are close, but let me remind you: this is their family business. Stay out of it."

"He Chuan won't ask me for help. Based on what I know of him, he's not that kind of person," Cheng Jiu replied.

"Family affairs are notoriously difficult to judge, and those predatory relatives of the He family are no small players. Be careful."

"I know."

After hanging up, Cheng Jiu waited another ten minutes until Xin Gan’s car appeared. Once she parked, he walked over, opened the door, took the keys from her, and lifted her out of the car.

Fearing she might trip, Xin Gan hugged his shoulders. "Did you wait long?"

"Not at all."

"I have the sticky rice cakes in the car," she said.

Back home, they closed the door, and Cheng Jiu pressed her against the panel, kissing her for a while before reluctantly pulling away. "Did Mom and Dad say anything to you?"

"About what?" Xin Gan didn't immediately recall.

"About the He family."

"Oh, right. Yes, my mother said Mr. He is paralyzed and hospitalized, and He Cheng is fighting He Chuan for the inheritance. You already knew?"

"Yes. It's too big a matter to hide."

"What do you plan to do? Help He Chuan?"

Cheng Jiu caressed her lips with his thumb, speaking slowly and deliberately. "What do you think?"

"The He family company is no small firm. They had projects with my brother-in-law's company, and He Chuan and my brother-in-law are on good terms. If He Chuan wants help, he'll likely turn to him. My brother-in-law is a decent man; I think he'll help."

"And what about me?"

Xin Gan spoke impartially. "Your position isn't suitable for getting involved. I don't suggest you step forward."

Cheng Jiu tapped her nose. Thinking of something, she added, "But I can."

"Oh?"

"My brother-in-law is likely willing to help. Just in case, I can help gather some information."

Cheng Jiu laughed aloud. "You really do understand what I mean."

...

After returning home, Cheng Hui was scolded by Mrs. Cheng, who ranted about how she had been too indulgent and had spoiled her rotten. In a fit of rage, Mrs. Cheng confiscated all her pocket money, providing only enough for daily living expenses.

Fortunately, Cheng Hui still had money she had borrowed from Xin Gan, but that had to be paid back. Her finances were already tight, and this only made things worse. Still, she was relieved that her involvement with He Chuan hadn't been exposed—neither of them knew yet.

She thought that after tonight, her relationship with He Chuan had softened a little, but before she could feel happy, Tang Que reached out.

After Tang Que was discharged from the hospital, he invited her to dinner, and since Cheng Hui had things to say to him, she agreed.

When they met, Tang Que seemed to be trying to please her. His every move was like a different person compared to before, and she couldn't adapt, so she acted cold and unresponsive.

She felt awkward, especially sitting there with him. She wasn't hungry and kept thinking about He Chuan.

Noticing her distraction, Tang Que asked with feigned concern, "You look pale. Didn't you sleep well last night?"

"No, I'm fine." She bit into a mushroom, wondering why it tasted so fishy. She couldn't eat it but couldn't spit it out in front of him, so she just sat there feeling incredibly embarrassed.

Sensing her coldness, Tang Que asked, "Have you started to hate me?"

"That's not what I meant..." She thought about how hard it was for him to come all the way back from City A just to see her. She had things to discuss, but he clearly wasn't interested in business; he wanted to rekindle their relationship.

"Cheng Hui, do you have someone else you like?" Tang Que smiled, his eyes unfocused, as if looking through her at someone else.

Cheng Hui almost choked on the mushroom. Feeling guilty as she recalled the kiss with He Chuan from a few nights ago, she averted her gaze, afraid he would see through her. Since answering 'no' would be a lie, she simply avoided the question.

Tang Que smiled as if he understood. "Your silence says it all."

Cheng Hui felt conflicted. She didn't want to become someone like him—someone who played with feelings while keeping Tang Yao on the side. If it weren't for the fact that she had liked him so much in the past and that he had just undergone surgery, she wouldn't have met him at all.

"It hasn't reached the point of 'liking' yet," she finally managed to say.

Tang Que was silent for a long time.

They ate the meal with their own hidden agendas. Tang Que had ulterior motives and needed to get close to her; he didn't really care who she liked or why she rejected him.

While Cheng Hui was in the restroom, he paid the bill. As they walked out of the restaurant, the sun was blinding. Cheng Hui didn't have an umbrella, so she shielded her forehead with her hand, the glare making it hard to keep her eyes open.

"Wait here," Tang Que said. "I'll go buy something."

He returned shortly with an umbrella and held it over her. "It's so sunny; you should remember to bring an umbrella when you go out."

Cheng Hui thanked him repeatedly. "It's okay, really. It won't hurt to be in the sun for a bit. You should hold it for yourself."

Sharing an umbrella felt strange, especially since Cheng Hui felt so guilty; she didn't want to be too close to him.

Tang Que remained seemingly normal. "Cheng Hui, you don't have to be so polite with me. I was the one who let you down in the past. Now, I just hope you'll give me a chance to make it up to you."

Cheng Hui paused. "There's no need. As long as you and Tang Yao are doing well, that's enough. I wanted to tell you this, too—you don't need to dwell on the past. It's all over, and I understand now that feelings can't be forced. I can finally empathize with how you felt back then. That's all I wanted to say."

Tang Que hadn't expected her to let go so quickly. He froze for a moment, then his gaze flickered to a spot not far behind Cheng Hui. He narrowed his eyes, suddenly leaned in close to her, and placed his hand on her head. When she started to move away, he said, "Don't move. You have something in your hair."

Cheng Hui was confused. "What is it?"

"It looks like a bug. Don't move; I can't see it clearly."

"Okay..." Cheng Hui got goosebumps at the mention of a bug and dared not move.

...

He Chuan saw Cheng Hui’s back, and the next second, he saw the person standing next to her: Tang Que. They were sharing an umbrella, standing by the entrance, seemingly very close. From his angle, it looked like they were kissing.

Before he could see clearly, Tang Que used the umbrella to block their upper bodies, making the scene appear even more ambiguous.

"Mr. He?" Seeing He Chuan suddenly stop, the assistant looked in the direction of his gaze. Seeing what looked like a young couple acting passionately in broad daylight, he chuckled. "Mr. He, there's nothing to see. Young people today are just like that—very bold."

He Chuan’s face darkened, looking as if it could drip water. "When did it become your turn to speak?"

The assistant immediately fell silent, not daring to breathe.

He Chuan walked away, pretending he hadn't seen anything.

The assistant took another look and recognized the girl's back as Cheng Hui. No wonder the boss's expression had been so terrifying—he had caught Cheng Hui kissing a young man in the street, and he had just blabbered on about how "bold" young people were in front of the boss...

Cold sweat began to trickle down the assistant's spine.

He Chuan had arranged to meet Song Chen. Once they met, he didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point about the company. He wanted to ask Song Chen for a favor, to get involved in this muddy water.

However, Song Chen didn't seem particularly enthusiastic and didn't immediately offer to help. Instead, he asked, "I can help you, that's no problem. But He Chuan, I'm not running a charity. I have conditions."

He Chuan had expected this and was mentally prepared.

Song Chen said bluntly, "The company your father built from scratch is indeed worth respecting. Let's do this: my conditions aren't high."

...

Cheng Hui realized they were too close and quickly stepped back, looking down at the floor tiles. "I'm going to be late. I can't talk anymore. I'm leaving. Goodbye."

Tang Que didn't chase after her. He stood there for a long time clutching the umbrella, watching her run away in a panic, before finally calling Tang Huaihuai. "Cheng Hui doesn't seem to like me anymore. She's distancing herself and doesn't want me near her."

He assumed it was because of Tang Yao, knowing that she was the one he had always loved, and that was why Cheng Hui acted this way.

Tang Huaihuai said, "Then listen to me: if the soft approach doesn't work, go for the hard one. Little brother, Cheng Hui isn't bad at all. It wouldn't be a loss for you to sleep with her."

"Sis, are you sure?"

"What's wrong? Can't bring yourself to do it?"

Tang Que said, "She was my classmate, after all. We shared a classroom together."

"Classmates? Think about it—who is responsible for us being where we are today? The good life Cheng Hui enjoys was built by stepping on us. When we were hungry and couldn't sleep, she was living in luxury, well-fed and well-cared for." Tang Huaihuai’s voice was sharp. "Tang Que, don't be a saint. If you aren't ruthless, anyone can bully you."

Tang Que frowned, his head aching, perhaps from the sun. "I know."

Hearing him agree, Tang Huaihuai’s voice softened. "Tang Que, there’s only the two of us left now. We have to rely on ourselves to get back what we want. You don't need to feel any guilt toward Cheng Hui; the Cheng family owes us everything."

"Enough. I'm going home to rest. My head hurts."

"Go ahead, then."

Tang Que took a taxi home. Before he even got through the door, his headache was excruciating; he had to lean against the wall to rest for a while before he felt better.

He unlocked the door and stepped inside. It was pitch black, the windows were tightly shut, and the curtains were drawn. No light entered, and the air felt stagnant and foul. He hurriedly opened the windows to ventilate the place and went upstairs. He saw a woman with disheveled hair sitting on the stairs, singing—or rather, making sounds that didn't resemble a song and couldn't be understood.

Tang Que walked up and silently picked her up. She didn't struggle, just babbled when she saw him. "You're back? You’re finally back."

Tang Que nodded. "Yes, I'm back."

"Mom is hungry, so hungry... Huaihuai doesn't look at Mom, doesn't cook, Mom is hungry..."

"You know you're our mother," Tang Que said. "We've been taking care of you all this time. When have you ever fulfilled the responsibilities of a mother?"

She was thin, suffering from years of malnutrition, nothing but skin and bones. She couldn't understand what Tang Que was saying; she was only focused on her own hunger. Seeing him back, she began to wail, her voice growing louder and louder.

Tang Que carried her to bed and said, "Rest for a while, I'll go get some food."

He went to the kitchen downstairs, wandered around, and returned upstairs with a box of pizza. It was cold and had been in the fridge for who knew how long. "Eat this."

The woman was starving. She grabbed it immediately and took huge bites, stuffing her mouth until she couldn't fit any more, not even knowing how to chew or swallow, just shoving it all in.

"Finish what's in your mouth before taking another bite," Tang Que said. "If you don't listen, I'll have to lock you in the dark room."

Tang Que knew she wouldn't listen to anything else, but she understood the mention of the dark room.

Not wanting to go to the dark room, the woman obeyed, eating slowly, one bite at a time. But halfway through, she choked, spitting the food all over the floor—a disgusting, unsightly mess.

Tang Que took a deep breath, suppressing his temper, and said in a gentle voice, "It's not good to waste food. You have to eat what you spat out. Pick it up, or I’ll have to lock you in the dark room. Mom, I don't want to do that, but you aren't listening."

The woman bent down, crouched by the mess of food remnants, and without a word, picked them up and shoved them back into her mouth, not even bothered by the filth.

Tang Que had grown weary of this scene. He felt increasingly annoyed and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

...

It was past three in the afternoon when he finished talking with Song Chen. The assistant was drenched in sweat, though it was unclear if it was from nerves or the heat.

"Is it really that hot today?" He Chuan glanced at him coldly.

"It's the heat," the assistant replied hurriedly. "I'm afraid of the heat; I sweat a lot."

"Go home and change your clothes before coming back to the office."

"Yes, Mr. He."

He Chuan drove away himself, no longer needing the assistant. Only after He Chuan left did the assistant let out a breath and wipe his forehead, realizing he had been overly tense.

...

Cheng Hui wanted to contact He Chuan, but she was afraid he wouldn't answer, leading to another awkward situation. Truth be told, his kiss that night had been quite tender; after initially ignoring her comfort, he had asked if it hurt because he had bitten her.

She still felt he must be angry, and the reason for his anger was her past behavior toward him.

Thinking this, she was distracted even during class. A classmate poked her several times, asking if she wanted to go out for dinner, but she didn't react.

When class ended, the classmate asked again, and she finally said she couldn't go, she had something to do.

"What do you have to do? You've been so busy lately. What's going on? Are you dating someone?"

She shook her head, looking unenthusiastic.

"What's wrong with you? It's one thing not to hang out with us, but you won't even talk about what's bothering you?"

"It's nothing," Cheng Hui said. "Aren't you all going to dinner? Go ahead. I'm going back to the dorm to lie down."

"All right then. What do you want to eat? I'll bring you something."

"Don't worry about me. You guys go."

Cheng Hui returned to the dorm, lay on her bed, and repeatedly checked her phone for missed calls or unread messages. She checked it several times—nothing. He hadn't reached out.

She felt lost and anxious, finding it hard to breathe while lying down, so she sat up.

A roommate returned and, seeing her looking half-dead, teased, "Heartbroken again? What's going on? Why do you look like that?"

Cheng Hui asked directly, "How do you coax a guy?"

"..." The roommate was speechless. "You're asking me, a single dog? Damn, Cheng Hui, don't tell me you've never had a boyfriend, being as pretty as you are?"

"..." She didn't want to mention her string of bad luck with men.

"I don't need to date to know: you flirt, you say things he wants to hear. If that doesn't work, you kiss him. There's nothing a kiss can't solve. If one isn't enough, then kiss him a few more times."

Cheng Hui: "..."

But he didn't even want to see her, let alone let her flirt or kiss him. If He Chuan weren't angry, he would have contacted her, but it had been so long without a single call or text.

Roommate: "Then just be thick-skinned and pester him. You don't know how? Should I teach you? Cheng Hui, I'm disappointed in you."

Cheng Hui took a deep breath and decided to take the initiative. If he was still angry, she deserved it—it was her own fault.

She ran to the rooftop and called him. She expected it to be difficult to get through, but he answered immediately, asking simply, "What is it?"

The cold tone shattered her fragile heart. She said tremulously, "It's... it's nothing. Just checking in on you."

"Checking in on what?"

"Have you eaten yet?"

"..." He Chuan stared at his computer screen, expressionless.

"I haven't eaten either. Can I invite you to dinner?"

He Chuan: "Fine."

Cheng Hui couldn't believe it, terrified she had misheard, so she confirmed, "Where... where should we meet?"

"Up to you. You pick the place."

Cheng Hui beamed. "I'll send you the address. I go to this place often, it's very good. Check your messages later, please."

"Yeah." His tone remained deathly cold. Cheng Hui felt a little stung, but since he hadn't refused, she didn't care. After hanging up, she immediately sent him the address.

It was a Japanese restaurant near her school that she had visited with classmates a few times. It was delicious and the price was acceptable—though Japanese cuisine was never exactly cheap.

She carefully calculated her money, worried it wouldn't be enough, and brought all her cash. Since Mrs. Cheng had confiscated her pocket money, every cent had to be budgeted carefully.

She was putting her all into this dinner, prepared to bleed her wallet dry.

Her roommate reminded her to dress up, saying men were visual creatures and needed to see that she had made an effort. "You're a grown woman; wearing cartoon pajamas will be a joke."

Cheng Hui obediently changed, pulling out her best black camisole dress—it was quite short. Her roommates agreed she looked good and pushed her out the door before she could hesitate.

The dress was very revealing, unlike her usual style, so she felt uncomfortable, but for He Chuan’s sake, she endured it. She even applied lipstick to brighten her complexion.

When she arrived, He Chuan wasn't there yet, so she sat inside and waited. She sent him the private room number and asked when he would arrive.

He Chuan saw the message but didn't reply. When Cheng Hui arrived, he hadn't even left the office—he was still in a meeting. He hadn't told her, intentionally leaving her waiting and giving her the cold shoulder.

He had been swamped lately and didn't have time for her, but he had agreed to dinner. Whether he would actually go, he hadn't decided.

He had never stood her up before—not once. This was the exception.

Cheng Hui waited happily. The waiter came by several times to ask if she wanted to order. "My friend hasn't arrived yet; can I wait a bit?"

"But it's been forty minutes. Is your friend really coming?"

The smile on Cheng Hui’s face froze. "He's coming. Well, okay, I'll order now. Please start serving."

"All right, here's the menu."

Cheng Hui ordered a sushi platter, ramen, and crab sashimi—she remembered he liked crab sashimi. After ordering, she texted him again: *I've ordered the food. Are you stuck in traffic? You're so late, but I won't eat yet, I'll wait for you.*

Her message disappeared into the void.

The food arrived, but He Chuan hadn't replied, hadn't called, and hadn't shown up.

She waited in silence until, in the end, she felt numb. She couldn't eat a single bite, her mood plummeting. Even the effort she had put into dressing up felt like a joke.

Cheng Hui called him again. He picked up. "Sorry, something came up. I can't make it."

Cheng Hui gave a dry laugh. "It's okay. I know you're busy. If you can't come, I'll head back. They're about to close anyway."

He Chuan: "..."

Cheng Hui grabbed her bag, paid the bill, and walked out to head back to school.

He Chuan said nothing. She spoke in a tone she forced to be light. "Remember to eat. I'm leaving now. If you don't have anything to say, I'll hang up. Bye."

He Chuan stared at his phone for a while. She really had hung up, didn't send another message, didn't ask why he didn't come, and didn't get angry at him for standing her up.

Cheng Hui returned to the dorm feeling hollow. Her roommates were watching a drama and hadn't slept yet. Seeing her return, they teased, "How was the date? Did your handsome boy fall for your little black dress?"

Cheng Hui couldn't say a word. She grabbed one of her roommates and hugged her, her bag dropping to the floor. Another roommate helped pick it up. "What's wrong?"

Cheng Hui shook her head and then nodded, her throat tight; she couldn't say anything.

"What's going on?"

The next second, Cheng Hui couldn't hold it in and began to cry, silent tears falling, her eyes bloodshot. Seeing this, they knew something bad had happened.

Her roommates hurriedly comforted her, wiping away her tears while cursing the "scum" of a man.

"It's not his fault," Cheng Hui sobbed. "It's my fault. I was being difficult. He didn't come, he didn't want to see me—that's normal. If I were him, I wouldn't want to deal with me either."

It was nearly midnight. Cheng Hui didn't change her clothes, not wanting to move. The lights in the other dorms were already out.

After a roommate came out of the shower and told her to go, she finally got up, picked up her bag, and took out her phone. She looked at it without unlocking the screen and set it aside.

She looked at herself in the mirror, gave a self-deprecating smile, took off the dress, and took a thorough shower, washing the lipstick off her face. She felt miserable throughout. When she came out, her eyes were even redder, like a rabbit’s.

She gathered herself a little. "I'm so sorry, I was really out of it just now."

"It's nothing. Just a breakup; everyone goes through it."

As soon as they said that, the other roommates stopped them.

"Sorry, Cheng Hui, I didn't mean it..."

"It's okay, it's a small thing. I can handle it. It doesn't matter."

"Oh, right, Cheng Hui, someone called your phone earlier. I saw the screen light up."

Cheng Hui picked up the phone, unlocked it, and saw it was Tang Que. She felt deeply disappointed and didn't return the call.

...

A few days later, classmates were gossiping about a film crew coming to school to shoot scenes. One of the stars was He Cheng. Cheng Hui was only attracted by the mention of his name. A few days later, the crew really arrived; the cafeteria and library were blocked off, temporarily closed to students for filming.

Cheng Hui had no feelings for He Cheng. Many of her classmates were his fans, so they went to watch the filming together. They were blocked off and could only watch from the perimeter.

Sure enough, He Cheng appeared inside. Cheng Hui felt utter disdain for him, especially since he was fighting He Chuan for the inheritance—it was what she found most repulsive. Mr. He had always valued He Chuan the most, and now that he was critically ill, seeing He Cheng stir up family members to go against He Chuan was truly disgusting.

Now that He Cheng was filming at school, she wondered how Mr. He was doing in the hospital.

With no classes in the afternoon, Cheng Hui went home. As soon as she entered, she saw He Chuan sitting in the living room, drinking tea with Mr. Cheng. Caught off guard, her heart twisted with pain when she saw him. She didn't know why, but she just felt terrible. Just as Mr. Cheng was about to call out to her, she turned and bolted up the stairs as if fleeing for her life.

He Chuan definitely didn't want to see her, so why should she impose herself? If he didn't want to see her, she wouldn't look. Her heart ached for him, but if he didn't want to deal with her, she would stay far away.

Mr. Cheng had invited He Chuan over to chat out of respect for He Wei. Only a short while later, Cheng Hui had run in. Mr. Cheng hadn't expected her to come home in the afternoon, and just as he was about to ask her something, she had already disappeared upstairs.

Mr. Cheng shook his head. "This girl is getting more and more impolite. She didn't even greet anyone before running off. College didn't磨平 her temper; she's only become more willful and rude."

He Chuan just smiled, not saying a word.

"Cheng Jiu wasn't in Yongcheng before, so I didn't have time to look after her. Fortunately, you were there to keep an eye on her all these years. I understand. If you ever need me to help you with something, just tell me. If I can help, I will."

"Thank you, Mr. Cheng," He Chuan said.

...

Cheng Hui hid in her room and didn't go downstairs, but she listened for any movement. It was all her fault for not checking if He Chuan's car was outside—she hadn't known he was there. Seeing him in the living room had been mortifying.

The housekeeper came up with a plate of fruit, asking if she wanted any.

Cheng Hui shook her head vigorously. "No, no. Housekeeper, has He Chuan left yet?"

"No, he's still here."

"How long has he been here?"

"Not long. He just arrived."

Cheng Hui bit her lip. "..."

The housekeeper placed the fruit on the table. "Cheng Hui, did you put your clothes on inside out? Why is the seam on the outside?"