Chapter 865: IOU
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Half an hour later, inside a café in the mall, Murong Yumeng and Zhou Cui’an sat facing each other, each with a different demeanor.
Murong Yumeng appeared calm as if it were merely a trivial matter, hardly worth mentioning. She leisurely sipped her coffee, exuding an air of contentment.
However, upon closer observation, occasional flashes of impatience could be discerned in her eyes.
In contrast, Zhou Cui’an seemed notably uneasy, not even daring to meet the gaze of the person across from her.
In truth, if she could avoid it, she wouldn’t have sought out Senior Sister Murong. After all, she had inconvenienced her numerous times lately. Now, continuously seeking Senior Sister Murong’s assistance, she feared the other might grow weary of her.
Observing Zhou Cui’an’s silence, though Murong Yumeng’s eyes betrayed hints of impatience, her demeanor remained gentle and calm. She made no effort to urge conversation, merely sitting quietly.
After a considerable time, Zhou Cui’an finally summoned the courage to lift her gaze. She met Murong Yumeng’s gentle smile, causing her eyes to well up with tears. Voice trembling, she expressed, “Senior Sister Murong, I truly appreciate your help today. Without you, I wouldn’t have known what to do.”
She could almost envision the repercussions had she failed to produce the 300,000 yuan compensation today. Surely, the school would have become aware. In that case, her university life for the next few years would be spent under constant scrutiny.
Contemplating this, her future seemed bleak. She questioned her ability to endure such scrutiny. If she couldn’t, her prospects would be ruined.
Thus, she harbored immense gratitude towards Murong Yumeng. Simultaneously, she harbored resentment towards Ye Leng’an, who had abandoned her.
“It’s merely a trifle; there’s no need to dwell on it.” Murong Yumeng smiled, shaking her head. “Moreover, I’m glad to have been of assistance.”
The gentler Murong Yumeng’s demeanor, the more touched Zhou Cui’an felt. She couldn’t help but lament, “Senior Sister Murong, you’re truly kind. Conversely, there are some individuals who, despite being roommates, refuse to lend a hand when it counts. They’re quite callous.”
Hearing Zhou Cui’an’s words, Murong Yumeng’s eyes glinted briefly. Then, nonchalantly, she asked, “How did it go? Was there any trouble before I arrived?
Though unsure of whom Zhou Cui’an referenced, intuition suggested the matter involved Ye Leng’an.
Facing Murong Yumeng, Zhou Cui’an concealed nothing, recounting the recent events in full.
Naturally, she tailored her narrative to favor herself, omitting any unfavorable remarks.
After all, she had gleaned Ye Leng’an’s misdeeds from Murong Yumeng. Revealing them now would be self-defeating and jeopardize their trust.
Murong Yumeng listened quietly, withholding comment. She wasn’t naive; she detected Zhou Cui’an’s deceit. However, this didn’t obscure the depth of Zhou Cui’an’s hatred for Ye Leng’an.
This served Murong Yumeng’s interests.
When Zhou Cui’an finished, she turned to Murong Yumeng, earnestly stating, “So, Senior Sister Murong, Ye Leng’an truly isn’t a good person. Please be cautious. Don’t give her the chance to harm you.”
Frowning, Murong Yumeng hesitated. “Junior Sister Zhou, I doubt Leng’an is as you describe. Is there perhaps a misunderstanding between you two?”
“There’s no misunderstanding.” Zhou Cui’an’s voice rose abruptly before she realized the inappropriateness of her volume. Hastily, she lowered her tone and continued, “Senior Sister Murong, I’ve experienced it firsthand today. I wouldn’t lie to you. That Ye Leng’an is truly untrustworthy. You must be wary of her.”
Murong Yumeng smiled and nodded resignedly. “Very well, I understand. I’ll be cautious.”
Observing Murong Yumeng’s apparent indifference, Zhou Cui’an grew anxious but refrained from further comment. She feared excessive complaints might worsen Murong Yumeng’s opinion of her.
However, she wouldn’t let Ye Leng’an’s behavior slide. If Ye Leng’an looked down on her, she’d show Ye Leng’an she wasn’t one to be trifled with.
With this resolve, Zhou Cui’an’s eyes flashed with determination.
Murong Yumeng, observing Zhou Cui’an’s change in demeanor, couldn’t help but smile subtly.
“Oh, Senior Sister Murong!” Zhou Cui’an looked at Murong Yumeng sheepishly, troubled. “Thank you for today. Regarding the money, I’ll find a way to repay you.”
Facing Murong Yumeng, she couldn’t bring herself to request assistance with the gown. After all, Murong Yumeng had already helped her immensely. She felt too embarrassed to ask.
Murong Yumeng shook her head, smiling. “There’s no need. It’s a trifling sum. Let’s not dwell on it.”
“How could that be!” Zhou Cui’an retrieved a paper from her bag and pushed it towards Murong Yumeng, insisting, “Senio Sister, I’m already grateful for your loan today. I can’t possibly expect you to help compensate! This is an IOU. I’ll work hard and repay you.”
Murong Yumeng’s eyes flickered with an unknown glint. She sighed and accepted the IOU reluctantly. “Very well! If you insist, I’ll accept this IOU.”
With that, she took the IOU reluctantly. However, she continued to advise, “Junior Sister, there’s no rush to repay me. Focus on managing your finances. As a student, you have many expenses. Your priority is self-care.”