Sun Chan was carrying a basin to the washroom to wash some towels.
As soon as she stepped out, someone blocked her path: "Hey! I finally found you."
Sun Chan looked up at the person in front of her, and cautiously took a few steps back: "What do you want?"
Han Dong was trying to act cool, wearing a floral shirt and bell-bottom pants, with a pair of sunglasses hanging around his neck. Ever since seeing Sun Chan that day, he couldn't forget her. Seeing her now, his face lit up with a smile; she truly is beautiful!
"Don't get mad, I just want to chat with you."
Sun Chan said coldly, "Chat about what? I don't know you."
Han Dong stepped closer: "Lin Hongmei's friend is my friend. Isn't it normal for us to get to know each other? Let's connect."
"I'm not friends with her, go find someone else to connect with." She finished speaking and headed towards the washroom with her basin.
Not giving up, Han Dong took out a watch and waved it in front of her: "Isn't it pretty? It's a Shanghai-made watch, I bought it when I went to the provincial capital. If you like it, I'll give it to you now. Later I'll treat you to dinner. Do you like hotpot? I'll put the watch on you, and then we'll go eat." He said, reaching out to grab Sun Chan's hand.
He had pursued many city girls before, and when they saw the watch he gave, the excitement and envy in their eyes couldn't be hidden—and they were city dwellers. How about someone from the countryside?
Before he could touch Sun Chan, she suddenly pushed Han Dong aside: "Get away, who cares about your stuff! Stop harassing me, or I won't be polite!"
What kind of person is this? Thinking a watch could buy her off? Just like Lin Hongmei, willing to give herself?
Han Dong was stunned, unable to believe it for a moment: "You actually pushed me?"
"Please show some respect." Sun Chan glared coldly at him and entered the washroom, closing the door heavily.
Standing to the side, Han Dong wasn't angry; instead, he laughed, finding it very amusing. This girl has character, spicy and intriguing, quite interesting.
He had found his goal to strive for during this time, and walked away whistling.
Han Dong started buying her things every few days, all trendy clothes and shoes, but Sun Chan didn't accept them, nor did she pay him any attention. Han Dong wasn't the type of thug who would force himself upon someone; he just followed her around, finding her more attractive with each passing moment.
So virtuous—if she were to marry into his family, his parents would probably be overjoyed. They'd definitely be pleased.
Then he was startled by his own thought: No way, for the first time he wanted to marry a woman, and the woman turned out to be a village girl?
But this girl was indeed special. Han Dong saw her joking with patients, eyes squinting, corners of her mouth turned up, and his mood improved as well. He walked over, but as soon as Sun Chan saw Han Dong appear again, her face changed swiftly, her brows furrowing slightly, biting her bright red lips as if tasting the hawthorn candy he bought in the provincial capital.
"What exactly do you want?"
"I don't want anything, I just came to see a patient."
Sun Chan said nothing, glared at him, and turned to leave, while Han Dong watched her retreating figure, finding her truly adorable.
That morning, Han Dong came over again with a cloth bag to find Sun Chan.
At that time, there were no plastic bags; people used flower cloth to sew bags, so nothing inside could be seen. The contents made the bag bulging, but its contents couldn't be seen.
Seeing Sun Chan coming out, looking displeased, he smiled: "What's up? Is it because you saw me? You shouldn't be ."
"It has nothing to do with you." She wasn't unhappy because of him; she had taken a job yesterday but was dismissed after only one day. Although no reason was given, Sun Chan knew Bai Fanglan was behind it, feeling very upset.
"This is for you; it will cheer you up." Han Dong handed the bag to her.
Sun Chan was very resistant: "What is this?"
"Don't worry, I'm not trying to lure you with anything valuable. It's some fruit my big brother brought back from the south, which we don't have here yet. I wanted you to try it." He opened the bag for Sun Chan to see; it was filled with mangoes, lemons, and two small dragon fruits.
These fruits she hadn't eaten in her previous life. For Northern locals, they were too luxurious. So occasionally, Zhou Jinzhu would buy some and eat them himself. Later, when she returned home to work, she would see Sun Lijuan and Zhao Xiuxia eating them but wouldn't get any herself. She pretended not to see and never asked.
Seeing these things reminded Sun Chan of her previous life's miserable days. She said nothing, her eyes turning red.
Han Dong froze; Sun Chan had always been very tough and distant in front of him, and he never expected her reaction to these fruits to be this sad. Her expression revealed an extraordinary sadness, as if she had endured the hardships of the world, yet she was only seventeen years old—how could she be so unhappy?
Suddenly, a surge of emotion rushed to Han Dong's heart: "Tell me, who bullied you? I'll help you teach them a lesson!"
Sun Chan realized her inappropriate behavior and wiped her eyes, saying: "It's not that, I'm just worried about not having work. These things are rare, so keep them for yourself."
Yet Han Dong insisted on putting them in her hand: "How can you be ? You don't want valuable things or free fruits, how can we be friends?"
"But I don't want to be friends with you. Just respect me; I don't want your food."
"Take it. I guarantee once you accept it, I won't pester you anymore."
Sun Chan was taken aback; his request was quite odd.
Han Dong continued: "Don't worry, you are different in my heart from those other women. I won't let you be bullied." He said this quickly and left, not even looking directly at Sun Chan.
Because seeing Sun Chan made him uncomfortable, with a vague ache in his heart. He went to the mall to inquire tactfully, learning from Lin Hongmei's colleagues that Sun Chan's adoptive mother and sister treated her badly, and she had run away from home.
In her life, she probably hadn't eaten anything delicious, not even a proper meal.
No way! I want to give her the best food in the world, so she won't be this unhappy!
Not long after, Han Dong returned, not of his own will, because he hurried too much while coming down the mall steps and twisted his ankle.
Limping back to find Sun Chan, he was drenched in sweat.
Sun Chan was dazing at the hospital entrance, having contacted several aunts about work but none wanted her; Yang Bailan was determined not to let her remain here.
Seeing him return again, Sun Chan felt a bit helpless: "What happened to you?"
"My foot... hurts... I fell down the steps." He looked at Sun Chan pitifully.
Sun Chan noticed the problem and quickly walked over to grab his arm: "You should be more careful. Wait, I'll register you for an appointment!" She handed the cloth bag back to Han Dong and quickly ran downstairs.