Chapter 396: Give me money!
Seated at a corner table, Qin Yan and Zhuang Yu indulged in animated conversation, their laughter mingling with the vibrant ambiance. However, their tranquil interlude was abruptly shattered by the abrupt entrance of a disheveled figure. Zhuang Yu’s face drained of color, her breath catching in her throat as she recognized the intruder – her boyfriend, Wen Li. His eyes were wild with desperation, and his voice pierced the air as he called out Zhuang Yu’s name, drawing the attention of the entire cafe.
"Zhuang Yu!" Wen Li’s voice echoed through the coffee shop, filled with a desperate plea. The once-charming smile that Zhuang Yu had fallen for seemed replaced by a worn and haggard expression, betraying the struggles he had succumbed to as a gambler. With hurried steps, he made his way towards their table, his anxiety palpable.
A mixture of fear and apprehension gripped Zhuang Yu, but she summoned the strength to face Wen Li, her voice betraying both vulnerability and determination. "What is it, Wen Li?" she asked, her voice quivering with a hint of fear.
Wen Li’s gaze darted between them, his voice fraught with desperation. "I need money, Zhuang Yu," he pleaded, his tone revealing the depths of his troubles. "I’ve found myself in yet another bind, and I have nowhere else to turn."
Tears welled up in Zhuang Yu’s eyes, her emotions warring within her. The weight of her own sacrifices, the countless times she had bailed him out, threatened to crush her spirit. She sobbed softly, her voice filled with both sadness and frustration.
"Wen Li, I gave you money just yesterday," she managed to say through her tears. "I don’t have much left with me. I can’t keep giving you money like this."
The desperation etched on Wen Li’s face gave way to a bitter sneer as he lashed out, his words dripping with disdain.
"You never cared about me," he spat, his anger directed towards the woman who had supported him in his darkest moments. "If you don’t have money, then how can you afford to sit here and enjoy coffee?"
A profound sense of shame washed over Zhuang Yu as she hung her head, her tears cascading onto the tablecloth. The anguish of being humiliated in a public setting further wounded her already fragile spirit. In that vulnerable moment, Qin Yan, a witness to this emotional exchange, was filled with a potent mixture of anger and compassion. She extended a comforting hand, placing it gently over Zhuang Yu’s trembling one, offering solace and solidarity.
Around them, the other patrons had turned their attention to the unfolding scene. Curiosity and concern painted their faces as they observed this intimate yet heart-wrenching confrontation. The background chatter subsided, replaced by a hushed silence that magnified the emotions swirling within the coffee shop.
Despite the harsh words and the humiliation she endured, Zhuang Yu summoned the last vestiges of her courage. She looked up at Wen Li, her eyes shining with a newfound determination. "This is the last time, Wen Li," she whispered, her voice a blend of sorrow and resilience. "I can’t keep sacrificing my own happiness for your mistakes."