NOVPUBChapter 102: Chapter 102 Rejection
Chapter 102 -102 Rejection
Bai Xiao wiped her hands on her apron and opened the envelope to find 500 yuan inside, which surprised her; it seemed An Zhiyuan had quite a bit of savings. Then she stuffed it back and handed it back to An Zhiyuan.
“I don’t want this money! Take it back. Have you forgotten the thank-you gift Wang Han’s family gave us? It was a big envelope. I’m not short on money, and besides, when I get to the city, I can find some odd jobs to do. I won’t be idly sitting around consuming everything I have, so I don’t need this.” She declined with a gentle, not too intense attitude. In fact, she was grateful to An Zhiyuan. After all, An Zhiyuan, as she knew him, was warm-hearted and stubborn, upright without losing subtlety. Such a person treated his fiancée very much as his own responsibility, not just as a burden. She couldn’t just oppose everyone and everything just because of her own thoughts.
An Zhiyuan’s large hand pushed the envelope back, “Keep it. Studying isn’t easy, especially in university. Forget about odd jobs; working while studying! If you do that for a long time, it’ll take a toll on your health. Besides, you can’t earn much that way. I’m your man; if I can’t even support my own wife, then I don’t deserve to be called a man, nor to be your husband.
“Don’t they all say that marrying a good husband means being provided with food and clothing? Since you’re my fiancée, it’s my duty to do more for you and ensure you live a worry-free life. In this respect, I don’t think I’m wrong. If you’re bothered by what my second sister said that day, then let me tell you, I am a man. A man should ensure that his wife doesn’t have to worry about making ends meet or fret over money. If you were on your own, I wouldn’t say anything more—we respect your freedom! But now you have me, so I can’t just stand by and watch you suffer. I receive a generous allowance every month, and if nothing unexpected happens, I should get a promotion next year which will increase it even more. In the future, I will hand my allowance to you for safekeeping. Don’t hesitate to get what you need, and remember, you have someone behind you to support you. You’re not alone.”
Anyone would be moved by those words. An Zhiyuan really was a man who knew how to touch someone’s heart.
Bai Xiao would be lying if she said she wasn’t moved. In her previous life, the people who cared about her had passed away early, and everyone who came after had a utilitarian purpose; no one dared to offend her, nor could they afford to. But when it came to sincerity, she doubted she would see it. Everything that followed served only to prove that aside from being used by others, no one had truly cherished her.
But in this life, what she gained the most was that her relatives were still by her side, and she had gained a man who wore his heart on his sleeve for her. That was truly precious. Perhaps An Zhiyuan was a man of integrity, with a distinct aura and attire that earned people’s trust and gave a sense of security.
In that moment, she believed that An Zhiyuan really wanted to take care of her—it was not just lip service, but a serious sense of responsibility and commitment. She also believed that this man was likely to do whatever he said he would.
Bai Xiao shoved the envelope forcibly into An Zhiyuan’s pocket and even patted it, then continued washing the dishes. “Instructor An, I know you’re someone with an overwhelming sense of responsibility, and you probably don’t make promises lightly. Once you say something, you’re committed to doing it, but this isn’t about responsibility. I’m not yet your wife, just a fiancée. As long as we’re not married, anything is possible. Didn’t we agree that if one day you find a suitable girl, someone you truly like, we will go our separate ways? So, to be precise, we can only be considered business partners now, not lovers or an engaged couple.
“With that said, your money shouldn’t be given to me. To you, this is a risky investment, very likely a lost cause, so this kind of capital input is something I can’t bear to see. I don’t see myself in any relationship with you, so all the more I can’t spend your money. It’s not about pride or dignity; we simply haven’t reached that stage. I wouldn’t casually spend a man’s money.”
“Of course, if one day we suddenly see eye to eye and truly want to get married, that’s another story. At that time, I will certainly claim my rights. But for now, I won’t take it, and it’s not possible for me to take it. Don’t waste your breath. You have your convictions, and I have my bottom line. No one can persuade the other, so it’s better to be clear and straightforward, don’t you think?” Bai Xiao genuinely did not regard her relationship with An Zhiyuan as that of an engaged couple.
An Zhiyuan stood quietly there, his gaze fixed ahead, not knowing what he was thinking. Bai Xiao waved her hand in front of him—she didn’t stun him with her words, did she?
An Zhiyuan silently picked up the cloth next to Bai Xiao and began to dry the dishes with a diligence that made one wonder if he had heard her words at all.
Bai Xiao shook her head; when this man didn’t speak, she really couldn’t guess his thoughts.
After the two of them finished tidying up the kitchen, Li Chunmei, Liu Baoguo, and Liu Hong had already said their goodbyes and left. They didn’t want to be in the way, especially since An Zhiyuan was Bai Xiao’s fiancé in name. It would be awkward for their family of three to stay, so they found an excuse to leave early. As they were leaving, Liu Hong even winked at Bai Xiao, making her want to punch her.
This little girl had become cheekier since she started claiming to be her friend.
“You’re going to your sister’s house tomorrow. Let me take you there,” said An Zhiyuan.
Bai Xiao shook her head, “No need! I know how strict your academy is; you must have used up your leave by now. The day after coming back from town, and now asking for leave again—that’s not good. Besides, it wouldn’t look good to your students. I’m just going to my sister’s house, not to an alien planet; there’s no need for you to worry so much. There aren’t any monsters waiting to devour me.” Seeing An Zhiyuan wanting to do something for her, Bai Xiao still refused; she couldn’t allow him to get the wrong idea, it was for the best for both of them.
An Zhiyuan didn’t insist further. He helped Bai Xiao with the water and swept the yard before leaving. He nodded slightly, pursed his thin lips, said nothing else, and turned to go. His upright figure, as on his arrival, disappeared around the corner.
Bai Xiao wondered—what was that look in his eyes? It was as if he was accusing her of being an extremely irresponsible betrayer. But she couldn’t recall doing anything to deserve it.
She was just telling some hard truths.
She didn’t want to think about it anymore; she had things to do. She was eager to see her elder sister tomorrow.
Nothing could outweigh her urgent desire to see her family. In her previous life, her elder sister had fallen off a cliff while searching for her. This time, she wanted to see her sister living well; she hoped her family would all have a happy life.
After Bai Xiao packed her things, as night fell, Liu Hong specifically made a trip to bring her two steamed buns and a bowl of vegetables. In Liu Hong’s words, since Bai Xiao was going out tomorrow, it would be wasteful to cook. Bai Xiao didn’t reject this kindness. She ate, washed up, and then went to bed.
