Chapter 31: Chapter 030: Changing Women

“Sir, I think this set looks great. Would you like me to pick out a few more?” The salesgirl was delighted—judging by Ye Chen’s expression, he seemed quite fond of the clothes, and it looked like this deal was about to go through. She was downright giddy inside. If she could manage to get them to take a few more sets, they might really buy them all.

“Alright!” Ye Chen nodded. As long as Mo Mo looked good in them, that was all that mattered.

“Chen, maybe we should forget it.” Liu Momo quickly tugged at Ye Chen’s arm, leaning close to his ear, whispering, “These clothes are so expensive. Just one pair of denim shorts costs over a thousand, and the top is more than two thousand. Let’s not get them, okay?”

“How can that be? Today is your birthday!” Ye Chen frowned. “How could I not give you a gift?”

“Then… just this one set?” Liu Momo blinked her large eyes hopefully.

“Pick two more!” Ye Chen waved his hand with no room for argument. In the end, Liu Momo was ushered into the fitting room by the enthusiastic salesgirl.

Nearby, a rotund man with a pockmarked face sidled closer, excitement written all over his expression. “Hey, brother, which university does she go to?”

“Jianghuai University. Why?” Ye Chen turned to look at the man’s freckled face.

“Oh, that’s a prestigious one!” the man exclaimed. “I heard the girls there charge at least ten thousand a month? A year’s contract would be over a hundred thousand. Didn’t expect you to be so well off, brother. Where do you work?”

Ye Chen was puzzled but answered casually, “Tianya Group.”

“Impressive! One of the big companies in Z Province, too. No wonder!” The pockmarked man grinned. “I run an electronics business myself. I was hoping to discuss something with you.”

“Go on,” Ye Chen nodded.

“Would you… would you give that girl to me?” The man leaned in, smiling slyly. “As long as you agree, I’ll pay you thirty thousand on the spot. You won’t lose out, I promise!”

Ye Chen was stunned.

“And I’ll throw in the one in the other fitting room for you too!” The man pointed toward another fitting room.

Ye Chen’s fist shot out, landing squarely on the man’s face. The guy hadn’t expected Ye Chen to be so violent—he’d barely spoken a few words before getting knocked flat by a steel-hard punch. He dropped to the floor, dazed. Before he could react, Ye Chen stomped on his chest, pinning him down.

“Listen well. Don’t ever set your sights on her again, or I’ll show you what your face and guts look like on the outside!”

The commotion frightened the shop assistants, who shrank into the corners, not daring to move.

“I—I understand!” The man’s face was ashen, his bulky frame pinned by Ye Chen’s foot, barely able to breathe. When Ye Chen finally let go, he rolled over and struggled to his feet.

“Honey, what happened to you?” A flamboyant woman emerged from the fitting room, dressed provocatively in a pink outfit that was more strips of cloth than a dress, leaving little to the imagination.

“Nothing!” The man wiped the blood from his nose and snapped at her, “Damn it, hurry up! Don’t embarrass me any further!”

With that, he hurriedly dragged her away.

“Chen, what happened?” Liu Momo emerged, wearing a beautiful dress. Her tall, slender figure made anything she wore look stunning. Ye Chen had always thought she was pretty, even in her usual plain clothes; but now, in something exquisite, she was utterly transformed. It was true what they said—a person is judged by their attire, as a Buddha is by his golden robes.

“Nothing.” Ye Chen shook his head. “We’ll take all three sets.”

“Absolutely!” The salesgirl was over the moon. These three sets cost more than ten thousand at the least—her commission for one day was higher than her entire monthly salary. She hurried to the register to ring them up and package everything.

When it came time to pay, she handed Ye Chen the bill with a beaming smile. “Sir, the total is ten thousand eight hundred. I’ve rounded down the change, so it’s just ten thousand. Will you be paying by card or cash?”

“Cash.” Ye Chen pulled out a stack of bills from his pocket, exactly ten thousand, and handed it over.

“Thank you so much!” The salesgirl could barely contain her joy.

Carrying the shopping bags, Liu Momo was thrilled—not because Ye Chen had spent so much money on her, but because she knew he genuinely cared for her. At least now, she was certain she occupied a place in his heart.

“Chen, can we walk back?” She took his hand.

“Why? What about the car?” Ye Chen was puzzled. Why walk when you had a car?

“Hmph, it’s my birthday. You have to listen to me!” She turned away with a slight pout.

“Alright, alright,” Ye Chen relented. For her birthday, he could play the fool for once.

He tossed all the bags into the old Alto. No one would bother stealing from such a beat-up car—he felt safer leaving things there than in a luxury sedan. Liu Momo linked her arm through his, and the two strolled leisurely down the road.

It was already night. The lights near the university district were aglow—neon signs flickered, marquee lights shimmered, and all manner of dazzling displays filled the streets. Around the university, drowsy young toughs were just beginning their nightly escapades.

“Chen… do you think the first time will hurt?” Liu Momo kept her head down, occasionally kicking little stones along the sidewalk.

“What first time?” Ye Chen was caught off guard.

“You know… the first time.” She bit her lip. If it wasn’t for the darkness, Ye Chen would have seen her cheeks flushed a deep red. “My roommate says it hurts a lot for a woman the first time. Do you think that’s true?”

“Well…” Ye Chen was at a loss. In his whole life—if not for his ID, he wouldn’t even know his own age—and in the memories of the past two years, he’d never been with a woman. As for the two decades before that, who could say? As far as he knew, he was still a virgin.

He swallowed and replied, “Well, you’ll find out eventually.”

“But I want to know now!” Liu Momo tugged at his arm, stopping in front of a small motel.

“Why?” Ye Chen looked at her in surprise.

“Chen, I’m eighteen now—an adult. On my eighteenth birthday, I want to give my first time to you!” She bit her lip, unmoving at the motel door.

“No,” Ye Chen refused instantly.

“Why not?” She looked up at him, her eyes pleading.

“Because you’re still young. Once you’ve joined the real world, you’ll see there are many men out there better than me.” He gently placed his hands on her shoulders. “If you trust me, don’t think about this anymore.”

“But you’re the only one in my heart!” Tears welled up in her big eyes.

“Mo Mo, I like you too, but I can’t jeopardize your future.” He embraced her gently. “You still have your mother. You’ll need to earn money to support her one day. You should focus on your studies and keep your mind clear.”

“Alright.” She seemed to understand a little, tears glistening as she asked, “Will you wait until I graduate?”

“As long as I’m still in Jianghuai when you graduate, I’ll be the one to have your first time.” Ye Chen smiled. It was just a comforting promise—who knew if he’d still be in Jianghuai in four years? He was just a drifting leaf, after all—he might vanish tomorrow.

“Let’s pinky swear!” With tears in her eyes, she held out her little finger.

“Alright.” Ye Chen hooked his finger around hers.

They turned back, fetched the car, and Ye Chen drove Liu Momo back to her university. Then he headed toward Xinhai Community.

At the entrance of Xinhai, Feng Zhixiao was standing with three lackeys, giving them a rousing pep talk.

“Damn it, if they dare lay a finger on us, we’ll send them straight to hell!” Feng stood hands on hips, spitting as he barked.

“That’s right, Brother Zhi, we should really teach them a lesson!” Red Scarf wiped his nose, waving a three-inch knife. “We’ll fight them to the end!”

“Fight them? Don’t be stupid.” Feng shot him a glare. “Er, didn’t I tell you to go to class? Why are you here again?”

“What’s the point? All the teachers are dead!” Er rolled his eyes. “School isn’t safe these days, even riding a school bus can get you killed. I’d rather follow you.”

“Damn it!” Feng spat. “Even a hoodlum needs to be educated, you know?”

“Sure!” Er nodded. “Isn’t Brother Zhi just an educated hoodlum?”

Feng was so exasperated by this that he looked up just in time to see Ye Chen’s little Alto pulling in. He immediately brightened and greeted him. “Chen, you’re back? Where have you been so late?”

“Why are you out here lecturing your boys again?” Ye Chen handed him a pack of Double Happiness cigarettes.

“Wow, Chen’s cigarettes!” Feng took them happily, grinning. “There’s a little gathering tonight. Zhang Bold is hiring hands for a turf war with Brother Tiger from the west side. So, I brought a few guys to help out. They say each person gets two hundred and a pack of Furongwang.”

“Be careful and don’t get your head bashed in!” Ye Chen shot him a look and drove on.

Feng’s little crew didn’t have much of a future. In Jianghuai, without capital or territory, you couldn’t make a name for yourself. All you could do was be a hired hand, cause a bit of trouble, or pull petty thefts—sooner or later, trouble would find you. Thinking of this, Ye Chen couldn’t help but want to help him out. After all, they were neighbors—people who saw each other every day.