Chapter 21

Although it was quite expensive, the Japanese restaurant was truly excellent. The salmon was incredibly fresh, and even Ruan Miao, who wasn't fond of raw food, couldn't resist eating several pieces. When he accidentally added too much wasabi, it made his eyes water and his head ache.

However, when the bill came, Ruan Miao reached for his phone to pay, only to be told by the smiling kimono-clad cashier that it had already been settled. Ruan Miao looked back at Jian Fanyu, who calmly said, "I have a membership at this restaurant."

Ruan Miao felt a bit embarrassed and said, "But I was supposed to treat you. This isn't right."

"The milk tea was very good," Jian Fanyu said softly. "You treated, and I paid."

Ruan Miao almost forgot that in the original novel, Jian Fanyu was a gentle and considerate person. Maybe now, even if he was reborn, some of his intrinsic qualities couldn't change.

"How can milk tea compare to your Japanese food?" Ruan Miao thought about how he had hypocritically wanted to monopolize both cups of milk tea earlier and instantly felt his character was a few notches lower.

Jian Fanyu didn't care about that. He pulled out a few flyers from Ruan Miao's hand and looked at them again. "Do you still want to keep looking?"

"Yes, yes," Ruan Miao snapped back to reality, nodding hastily. "But you don't need to accompany me. I can manage on my own. Sorry to waste your time."

Jian Fanyu, however, didn't return the flyers. "I have nothing to do today. Let's go together."

Thus, two people who weren't particularly close ended up having lunch together and spent the entire afternoon visiting several tutoring centers. Ruan Miao couldn't understand Jian Fanyu but felt that he meant no harm.

Yesterday, they were still ordinary classmates who had little to say to each other. Ruan Miao turned to sneak a peek at Jian Fanyu, who was quietly following him. Actually, Jian Fanyu was quite loyal, occasionally giving advice such as which place had better prices and which teachers were famous.

"How about this one?" Ruan Miao hesitated. "But it's a bit expensive, two hundred yuan per hour. I need tutoring for at least three subjects, which would be over six thousand yuan a month..."

After deducting his monthly food expenses, Ruan Miao's ten thousand yuan pocket money would barely cover the tutoring fees, leaving little left. Even if he didn't buy clothes or anything else, the cost of supplementary books, materials, and class fees each month would be tight.

Jian Fanyu stood by silently, not interfering with his decision. Bored, he turned to look out the window, occasionally listening to the tutoring center's teacher extol their advantages. He glanced back at the young man who was still frowning in deep thought.

Ruan Miao's face was white and soft, plump and rosy, much better looking than his previous thin appearance. Even with a messy buzz cut, he still looked cute, especially when he smiled.

Jian Fanyu had always liked small, cute, and seemingly harmless animals. He had raised many before, but none had died of old age. He used to find these animals beautiful and gentle, and he still liked them now.

Because they were easier to control.

He slowly curled his lips, lost in thought.

Ruan Miao finally made up his mind. Since he had decided to live well in this world, the only way was through education. It was worth spending more money for better teachers rather than finding cheaper alternatives that wouldn't yield good results.

He haggled with the promotional teacher for a long time, finally getting a discount before paying the fees. From now on, he would attend classes every Saturday, Sunday, and holiday, with the schedule set by him. He also got the WeChat contacts of several teachers to add later.

Leaving the tutoring center, Ruan Miao breathed a huge sigh of relief. Fortunately, the payment was due next month, or his remaining living expenses for this month wouldn't be enough.

"Have you decided?" Jian Fanyu asked.

"Yes," Ruan Miao said with a bright smile. "With good teachers, I believe I can quickly improve my grades!"

Jian Fanyu was silent for a moment, then asked, "Why are you so determined?"

"Huh?" Ruan Miao, having just put away the flyers, heard Jian Fanyu's question and replied instinctively, "Because I want to become self-sufficient as soon as possible! To get a good job, you need to get into a good school, and to get into a good school, you have to study hard."

Jian Fanyu was puzzled. "Why do you think a good school guarantees a good job?"

Ruan Miao was taken aback. "Isn't that common sense?"

"Do you know how many elite returnees there are every year? Do you know their salaries? Do you know how many of them end up being mediocre despite their qualifications? And how far do you think you can go compared to them?"

Ruan Miao was stunned by his barrage of questions, then found his voice. "But I… never intended to be elite. I'm working hard just to be a normal person."

"A good school may not guarantee a good job, but if I don't try, what then? I'm not like you. I don't have a safety net. I have to face everything on my own eventually. I have to create the best path for myself."

"Besides, isn't getting good grades, getting into a good school, and finding a good job the biggest goal for ordinary people?"

Jian Fanyu looked deeply at Ruan Miao. This version of him was unlike anyone he had met. His words were unwavering, his eyes bright, knowing he was an ordinary person with no special talents, even though he had the He family's background. Yet, he didn't see this as a disadvantage.

In reality, Ruan Miao's statement wasn't entirely accurate. Most people strive to prove they are not ordinary; it's the dissatisfaction with being average that drives them. However, many still refuse to admit their ordinariness, as if it were a sin. Everyone wants to shake it off.

But Ruan Miao belonged to the few who were clear-headed, knowing they might never stand shoulder to shoulder with the gifted ones but not feeling discouraged by it. Life's worth lies in self-awareness, and even more so in not being held back by it, striving to live well.

How could a seventeen-year-old be so enlightened?

Jian Fanyu couldn't figure it out. Many truths took him over thirty years to understand, yet how did Ruan Miao see things so clearly?

"Are you tired?" Ruan Miao, seeing Jian Fanyu silent for a long time, thought his previous words were too presumptuous and added, "You're right, actually. The competition out there is fierce. I'd probably get washed away like a small fish. But people need dreams, right? What if they come true?"

"Besides, I'm a top student. I believe with my abilities, it won't be hard to find a job to support myself and... my mom."

At that moment, Jian Fanyu suddenly realized how ignorant and shallow he had been in his past life, trapped in the mire of "love." How weak must one be to believe that love is the only beautiful thing in life, to live solely for another's moods, and to ultimately commit suicide in despair?

He was certain that if Ruan Miao were in that situation, he wouldn't have ended up the same way.

"You're right," Jian Fanyu said softly. "People need dreams."

Ruan Miao, being shorter than Jian Fanyu, looked up to see his expression but said nothing.

Under the dim streetlights on a cold, dark night, he could vaguely see tears in Jian Fanyu's eyes.

He... must really love Yan Yang.

Ruan Miao felt a pang of sadness. As a reader, he had sympathized with Jian Fanyu, and now, facing him directly, he still felt sad for him. Jian Fanyu must be determined to push Yan Yang away this time because he had lost hope, right?

Not knowing what else to do, Ruan Miao hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and asking cautiously, "Do you want a hug?"

Jian Fanyu lowered his head slightly to look at Ruan Miao. He saw many emotions on his face—worry, sadness, reluctance, and a hint of... sympathy.

Sympathy might not be a pleasant word, but Jian Fanyu didn't get angry. In the most desperate times, even sympathy could be a small flame to light up a cold night.

He opened his arms and gently hugged Ruan Miao.

Jian Fanyu wasn't someone who liked to show weakness to others. Maybe he was just too tired after struggling for over twenty years, and Yan Yang had never given him a hug like this.

Warm.

Ruan Miao was like a small furnace, wearing a fluffy coat, round and soft, with a body temperature higher than average, perfectly countering Jian Fanyu's coldness.

The two stood quietly under the streetlights, hugging each other. There was no ambiguity between them; they weren't even friends, but at that moment, they both felt it was a good thing.

Perhaps it was because they both knew each other's secrets, even though they didn't speak them aloud, allowing them to let down their guard a bit.

After a while, Jian Fanyu released Ruan Miao, reverting to his usual aloof and enigmatic self, as if nothing had changed. He looked at Ruan Miao and suddenly smiled slightly, saying, "You'd be even better if you were a bit fatter."

Ruan Miao blushed and retorted, "I'm not here just for you to hug. Don't be so picky!"

Just then, an inappropriate voice cut in, full of shock.

"What are you two doing!?"

Ruan Miao turned to see He Shanglu, dressed in shabby jeans, looking at them incredulously. In the next moment, he rushed forward and scolded, "Can't you behave for once?"

"What did I do wrong?" Ruan Miao explained. "Jian Fanyu wasn't feeling well, so I let him hug me."

"Hug you?" He Shanglu was furious. "Are you a panda with healing powers? Who in their right mind goes around hugging people? And you just let him?"

Ruan Miao, confused by his anger, retorted, "I didn't do anything to embarrass you. Why are you so upset?"

"You!" He Shanglu was livid. He pushed Ruan Miao aside and coldly faced Jian Fanyu, saying, "I apologize for my family member's behavior. He doesn't know better."

"No need," Jian Fanyu replied calmly. "It was my fault in the first place."

He Shanglu, still somewhat polite to Jian Fanyu, grabbed Ruan Miao's sleeve and dragged him away. Ruan Miao only had time to wave goodbye to Jian Fanyu.

Jian Fanyu stood alone under the streetlights, his expression unreadable as Ruan Miao walked away.