Lan Yixian stared at the hundred-yuan bill in surprise.
She hesitated for a mont before taking it from Gu Xiyu’s hands and holding it up to the light for inspection.
Hmm? Are counterfeit bills this realistic nowadays?
Lan Yixian wasn’t sure. The bill in her hands looked real enough, but…
She glanced toward the entrance, where Chen Dafu stood.
At that mont, he was standing with one hand in his pocket, the other picking at his teeth.
After successfully getting sothing out, he flicked it away with his fingers and then rubbed them together.
“……”
Lan Yixian imdiately handed the bill back to Gu Xiyu.
"Go return this to him. Tell him to give you a five-yuan bill instead. I’ll find him the right change."
"Got it!"
Gu Xiyu responded like she was taking on an important mission, her expression serious as she turned toward Chen Dafu.
anwhile, Chen Dafu sucked his teeth, still bothered by that small piece of dough stuck there from the pan-fried buns earlier.
When he saw Gu Xiyu approaching, he quickly put on a polite smile and straightened up.
"I already said you don’t need to give change—"
"Uh… can you exchange this for a five-yuan bill instead?"
"Why? I already told you to keep the change."
Chen Dafu frowned, confused, as he looked at the bill she was handing back.
Then, he noticed that Gu Xiyu’s face showed a hint of awkwardness.
A glint flashed in his eyes.
Ah, I see…
His expression shifted—first pleased, then helpless, before he let out a long sigh and shook his head.
"Another woman falling for , huh?"
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
Gu Xiyu heard his shaless mumbling and imdiately took a step back.
This guy was getting weirder by the second!
Forcing the bill into his hand, she put one hand on her hip while the other reached out expectantly.
"Either give exact change, or a real bill!"
"Huh?"
Chen Dafu blinked.
He glanced down at the hundred-yuan bill in his hand, his expression one of pure shock.
"But… this is real money!"
"Stop lying!"
Gu Xiyu’s voice rose slightly.
She looked him up and down.
She couldn’t tell what brand his clothes were, but the way they hung loosely on him scread cheap knockoff market.
And besides…
No matter how she looked at him, he just didn’t seem like the kind of person who would casually throw around hundred-yuan bills.
If he had seed like a regular, honest custor, she wouldn’t have thought much of it.
But the way he insisted on acting like he had money just made her mad.
Her grandfather had always told her—
“A person can be poor, but they can’t lack dignity.”
A good life is built with one’s own hands, not by pretending to be sothing you’re not.
People like this?
She looked down on them.
Chen Dafu was stunned.
He looked at the irritated young girl in front of him, then down at his outfit.
Finally, he sighed in resignation.
He reached into his wallet, put the hundred-yuan bill back, and pulled out a five-yuan note.
"Here. Happy now? Keep the extra one-fifty."
"Wait a minute!"
Taking the five-yuan bill, Gu Xiyu quickly ran back inside.
Chen Dafu watched her as she whispered sothing to the shop owner.
A mont later, she ran back out and handed him his change.
"Here’s your one-fifty."
Silently taking the coins, Chen Dafu studied her face for a mont.
For so reason, his gaze made Gu Xiyu uncomfortable.
Not wanting to linger, she quickly turned and hurried back into the shop.
Chen Dafu stood there for a mont longer, then sighed, shoved his wallet back into his pocket, and strolled off at a leisurely pace.
"That Guy’s Definitely Suspicious!"
Back inside, Gu Xiyu couldn’t shake the unease she felt.
She stood next to Lan Yixian, stealing another glance at Chen Dafu as he walked away.
Still feeling rattled, she muttered,
"That guy is so creepy… Sis, do you think he’s…"
She tapped her finger against her temple.
"A little… off?"
"I’m not sure… But, Xiyu, you shouldn’t assu the worst about custors. Maybe he’s just been through so things and acts a little strange."
"…Fine."
Sighing, Gu Xiyu handed the change to Lan Yixian and went back to cleaning up the tables.
After clearing the dishes from the other custors, she reached the table where Chen Dafu had been sitting.
She wiped it down, then noticed sothing on the chair beside it.
A jade pendant.
Blinking, she bent down to pick it up.
Before she could even get a good look at the engravings on it—
A loud shout echoed from outside.
"PUT THAT JADE DOWN!!"
Gu Xiyu jumped in fright.
She whirled around and saw a figure sprinting toward her.
It was that creepy guy!
Eyes widening, she barely had ti to react before Chen Dafu stord back into the shop.
He nearly crashed into a few people along the way, earning a chorus of curses from passersby.
But he didn’t seem to hear a word of it.
He only had one goal—
Gu Xiyu.
Or rather—
The jade in her hands.
Panting, he finally reached her and stretched out his hand, his face tense.
"Give it back!"
Seeing how desperate he looked, Gu Xiyu was even more confused.
She didn’t know what was going on, but…
He seed way too concerned about this piece of jade.
And his expression was terrifying.
Not daring to say anything, she quickly handed it over.
Chen Dafu snatched it back and imdiately began inspecting it.
He turned it over in his hands, checking for scratches, his expression full of worry.
Then, with great care, he wiped the dust off with his sleeve.
Watching this unfold, Gu Xiyu suddenly felt like she was watching a child who had just found his lost toy.
The anxious look from before was completely gone, replaced by visible relief.
As if this jade was the most precious thing in the world to him.
A new thought popped into her head.
Was this a gift from a deceased loved one?
That would explain why he looked so heartbroken when he lost it…
Gu Xiyu sniffled slightly.
Her tone softened as she gently said,
"You don’t have to be so worried. You got it back, didn’t you? Life… still has to go on."
"…Huh?"
Chen Dafu looked up, bewildered.
What the hell was she talking about?
But Gu Xiyu mistook his reaction for confirmation that she had guessed correctly.
Her heart ached for him.
Clenching her cleaning rag into a tight ball, she looked at him with determined encouragent.
"Work hard, okay? Things will get better. You got this!"
"……"
Chen Dafu fell silent.
Gu Xiyu, satisfied with her little motivational speech, smiled and turned to continue cleaning.
As he stood there at the entrance of the shop, Chen Dafu felt utterly dumbfounded.
What the hell…
Just happened?
After a long pause, he sighed and finally left.
"Stay at My Place Tonight"
Once Chen Dafu was completely out of sight, Lan Yixian turned to Gu Xiyu with a serious expression.
She rembered that lunatic who had attacked her daughter before.
The more she thought about it, the more worried she beca.
"Xiyu… Co to my place tonight."
"Huh? Why?"
"I don’t trust that guy. Didn’t you see the way he was looking at you just now?"
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