Ye Cheng’s pupils suddenly contracted.
For money, is it? Hmph, she really hasn’t changed at all!
"I’m staying here tonight. You sleep on the sofa, I’ll take the bedroom. Good night."
Zimei said this and had already turned around, casually waving her hand behind her. Her movements were free and unrestrained. But what Ye Cheng couldn’t see was that despite her cheerful tone, there wasn’t a trace of joy on her face.
Ye Cheng, if I didn’t say it like that, you’d never feel comfortable accepting my help.
The following morning.
Ji Wei opened the door to see an elderly grandmother in the yard, boiling water to prepare for slaughtering a chicken.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, the busy grandmother cast her a kind smile and gestured toward a small table under the eaves. On it sat a bowl of porridge and a few small dishes.
Ji Wei offered her thanks with gratitude and walked over to sit down.
She had just taken a few sips of porridge when cheerful voices rang out from the gate: "Oba-san!"
The grandmother quickly wiped her hands and stood up, her hunched frame jogging toward the yard’s entrance.
Ji Wei saw a young, beautiful girl appear at the gate. She embraced the grandmother warmly, chatting with her in Japanese. They looked overjoyed.
When the grandmother suddenly pointed in Ji Wei’s direction and said something to the young girl, Ji Wei couldn’t help but set down her bowl and stand up.
The young girl walked over to Ji Wei and stopped in front of her. She tilted her lively face upward, curiously examining her.
The girl first greeted her in Japanese but, seeing Ji Wei’s stunned expression, suddenly covered her mouth with a smile and switched to English: "Hello, I’m Nami. Grandma told me you stayed at our house last night. Are you... Chinese?"
Nami wasn’t certain and spoke with a slightly hesitant, speculative tone.
Beside her was a small suitcase, and her face looked a bit travel-worn. From her stylish appearance, it was apparent she’d just come back from the city.
Ji Wei didn’t expect a girl from the countryside to speak fluent English and was taken aback for a few seconds. Then she smiled and said, "Yes, I am. Nice to meet you, Nami."
As she spoke, Ji Wei glanced at the grandmother standing quietly nearby, listening to their conversation. She said gratefully, "Please thank your grandmother for me. She has been so kind to me. If she hadn’t taken me in last night, I would have had to sleep on the street."
They were both young and could speak English, which made it easy for them to strike up a conversation.
Ji Wei learned from Nami that her parents had passed away when she was very young, and she’d been raised by Grandma Zhizi. Today was her birthday, so she had rushed back from Tokyo to celebrate with her grandmother.
Ji Wei understood now—no wonder Grandma Zhizi was preparing to kill a chicken.
"Nami, did you just say you work in Tokyo?" Ji Wei asked, kneeling on the soft mat with a surprised expression.
Just moments ago, Ji Wei had been troubled about how to return to Tokyo from here. She hadn’t expected to meet Nami so soon. Since Nami was from Tokyo, she would surely know how to catch the right bus.
On the little table were two cups of hot tea brewed by Grandma Zhizi. Nami picked up her teacup, smiled shyly, and said, "I work as a customer service staff member at a five-star hotel in Ginza. Honestly, it’s just an ordinary position. I chose it because the salary in Ginza is high. But... I don’t really want to be so far from my grandmother."
As she spoke, Nami glanced at Grandma Zhizi, who was busy in the yard, her eyes tinged with guilt. "Grandma is getting older, and I want to spend more time with her."
Ji Wei looked at Nami across from her. On the young girl’s face was a hint of sadness. To still have such a pure heart while working in a place as extravagant as Tokyo Ginza was truly admirable. Googlᴇ search NoveI★Fire.net