Reborn and awakened, this time I won't be a love-struck fool.

The kitchen was dimly lit.

A man and a woman were standing there.

The girl was just over twenty years old and very pretty, but she looked a bit disheveled, sweating a lot and her hair sticking to her skin.

"Didn't we agree on 1,500 at the beginning?"

"Just a thousand dollars, take it or leave it." The boss scoffed dismissively and tossed a thin stack of red banknotes onto the table.

Lin Wu: "…………"

Don't act impulsively, please don't act impulsively.

A thousand dollars should be enough to last a while.

Impulse is the devil.

She kept trying to convince herself, and couldn't resist the urge to pin the blame on the boss, so she took the money and left.

The small county town is not very lively at night, and the streetlights have been out of service for ages.

On the way back to my rented room, there were all kinds of food stalls, and the smell of gutter oil and cheap perfumes mixed together to make my mouth water.

Hold on, hold on.

Lin Wu returned to his basement without looking to the side.

As soon as I arrived at the door, I saw a familiar couple.

Lin Wu was taken aback. "Why are you here?"

Lin Si said somewhat awkwardly, "I'd like to invite you to dinner."

Lin Wu glanced at him, then at He Wensi.

Since starting university, He Wensi has become increasingly stylish. Now she wears a dress from a luxury brand, jewelry on her wrists and neck, and exquisite makeup.

Lin Wu suddenly realized that the young couple might be planning to take their relationship to the next level.

After all, Ms. Jiang is currently imprisoned, Lin Chuanqiong is in jail, her grandfather has passed away, and her grandmother is in poor health and has been recuperating.

At this point, she was the only one who could barely be considered a parent.

"Let's go then."

Lin Wu said, "It just so happens that I haven't eaten yet."

This small county town is very close to Beijing. He Wensi usually has to go to school, but now that summer vacation has just started, she'll probably have time to have a meal together.

Unfortunately, her clothes are all quite worn out now, and there's not much she can clean up.

My wallet is empty.

The three of them went to a nearby food stall.

The waiter handed the menu to Lin Si. "What would the three of you like to eat?"

Lin Si placed it directly in front of Lin Wu, "You order."

He was concise and to the point.

Lin Wu felt that her younger brother was a bit silly; how could anyone date like that?

Although she felt that He Wensi was not a good person, Lin Si liked her after all.

Even though their family is in such dire straits now, He Wensi is still willing to be with Lin Si, and Lin Wu really can't find anything wrong with that.

"I'm fine with anything, Sisi, you can choose." Lin Wu quickly placed the menu in front of He Wensi.

He Wensi glanced at Lin Si subconsciously, "Then I'll order a few things first, I'm not very hungry anyway."

After ordering, the three of them fell silent, and an awkward silence fell once again.

The noisier the surrounding tables were, the stranger their table seemed.

It wasn't until the dishes and rice were served that the meal was ready.

Lin Wu used to look down on these things.

Now, even the aroma of stir-fried shredded potatoes with chili peppers is irresistible to her, and she eats her meal in silence.

Halfway through the meal, He Wensi received a phone call and got up to leave.

Watching her retreating figure, Lin Wu quickly pulled out the still-warm salary from her pocket and handed it to Lin Si under the table, saying, "Take these for now."

Lin Si lowered his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Here's the money. After all, expenses are high when you're dating." Lin Wu waved her hand. "I don't have many expenses, this is half a month's salary for me."

"don't want."

He coldly refused, ruthlessly pushing Lin Wu's hand away.

Lin Wu began to persuade, "Just consider it a gift from me to Sisi."

"She wouldn't even look at your money," Lin Si said calmly, his tone even a little sarcastic. "It's not even enough for one of her clothes."

"...That's true."

Lin Wu sheepishly took the money back.

She should save up more money and then just give Lin Si tens of thousands of yuan; he'll definitely accept it.

Don't overthink it.

Lin Si said, "We just came to have a meal with you."

"……good."

Lin Wu buried his head in his food.

When it came time to pay, she was about to call the waiter when Lin Si stopped her, saying, "You don't need to pay."

"Of course I should pay. There's no reason for my brother to pay." Lin Wu frowned.

"Let's not put on this sibling-like act between us," Lin Si said calmly. "There's no need."

He was wearing a thin black T-shirt, and his black hair was slightly messy from the wind.

"……Oh well."

Lin Wu was indeed not as familiar with his employer as he was with his workplace.

After paying, she wisely left.

Lin Si watched her retreating figure, his fingers gripping his phone so tightly they turned white.

He Wensi whispered, "You had to drag me along to have dinner with your sister, and now that we've finally gotten to eat together, you're ignoring her... Why do I feel like you're even harder to read than I am?"

Lin Si didn't say anything, took out a cigarette, and lit it.

It was a hot and dry summer night, and his voice was a little hoarse. "Thank you for today."

"You're welcome, I didn't do anything." He Wensi took out her phone and glanced at the time. "I'm going back now, my boyfriend is waiting for me at home."

"it is good."

Lin Si flicked his cigarette ash.

He Wensi looked at him, hesitant to speak.

Actually, she quite liked Lin Si at first; he was rich and handsome.

In particular, Lin Si even spent several years in prison for her sake.

But now he has no education, his family is bankrupt, and he's like a rat in the street.

He Wensi naturally ended up in someone else's arms.

But she still thought of Lin Si.

It's like there's a hook.

He Wensi couldn't let go, but she didn't want to be together with him.

More importantly, Lin Si doesn't seem to have any romantic feelings for her right now.

Every time I contact her for help, it's because she's having dinner with my sister.

After finishing the meal, I completely forgot about her.

However, ever since Lin Si was released from prison, she really couldn't understand him anymore.

Forget it.

He Wensi swallowed her words and hailed a taxi.

the other side.

Lin Wu returned to the dilapidated and cramped basement.

She turned on the desk lamp, lay down on the mattress, and took out her old, worn-out cell phone to look at it.

She lost her phone while she was on the run.

Phone numbers and all contact information for everyone are gone.

Now, my phone only has some job-related groups and He Wensi and Lin Si's contact information.

The owner of this shop is a rip-off, and she's been working there for a month now. It's not safe, so she needs to find another job.

Lin Wu scrolled through the part-time job group.

All the good jobs have been taken.

She roused herself and continued to keep watch.

It wasn't until midnight that someone sent a message.

—【Wailing at a grave, 100 yuan a day for that, requires a girl in her early twenties.】

A bunch of people chimed in, clearly dissatisfied.

The men accused sexism, while the women accused ageism.

The person who sent the message was dismissive: "With these terms, if you're not satisfied, you can be the boss yourself."

Lin Wu's conditions were just right.

She was afraid it was a scam, so she cautiously opened the WeChat account of the person who sent the message.

The profile picture is a white image with black text, containing only three words: "Don't mess with me."

His nickname is: Your Uncle Zou.

"..."

It seems a bit cringey.

Lin Wu thought.

But it's quite tempting for 100 yuan.

It was just crying at the grave.

With that in mind, Lin Wu added this person on WeChat.

The other side quickly agreed.

Your father, Zou: [Are you sure you meet the requirements?]

Melancholy Sweetie: [OK, I can show you my ID.]

Your father, Zou: [No need. Come to Central Square tomorrow afternoon. Remember the script. You're my sister, so you absolutely have to cry, understand? Otherwise, the employer won't pay you.]

Melancholy Sweetheart: [Leave it to me.]

The next afternoon.

Because it was a grave-crying ceremony, Lin Wu wore all black, a T-shirt and sweatpants, which made it very convenient for her to move around.

She lived far from the central square; it took her half an hour to get there by bicycle.

Two o'clock in the afternoon is when the sun is at its strongest.

Lin Wu was covered in sweat.

Upon arriving at her destination, she glanced down and texted: "I've arrived."

Your father, Zou: [Come find me, the most handsome one in the crowd.]

Melancholy Sweetheart: [?]

Your father, Zou: [? What are you questioning?]

Melancholy Sweetheart: [No.]

Lin Wu sighed, put away her phone, and walked on, looking for a handsome guy.

She had only taken a few steps when she looked at the person sitting on the stone bench with suspicion.

The person was very young, looking to be only eighteen or nineteen years old. He had dyed his hair a very flamboyant green and was wearing a black mask.

It looks pretty good from the eyes and eyebrows.

"...Hello?" she asked tentatively.

The boy turned off his phone, looked up, and squinted. "Are you that... Little Sweetie?"

"Yes, it's me."

Zou Xun stood up, extended his hand, and said, "Hello, my name is Zou Dafa."

Lin Wu: "…………"

She paused for a few seconds, then said, "Hello, Lin Tiantian."

"Okay, come with me." Zou Xun waved the car keys in his hand, a little smug. "I told you, he's the most handsome one in the crowd."

Lin Wu: "...Hmm."

Actually, it was because the surrounding area was full of elderly people, and after searching for a long time, she found only this young man in front of her.

More importantly, when she contacted him yesterday, she had a feeling that he was probably a spirited young man.

It makes perfect sense for him to have a head full of green hair.

Lin Wu initially thought he was driving a car, but after following the man around for a while, it turned out to be a dilapidated motorcycle.

She took a step back. "How about I unlock an electric scooter?"

Zou Xun glanced at her. "Whatever. You'd better be able to keep up with my pace."

"Can."

Lin Wu was really worried, fearing that this person was part of a human trafficking gang.

I feel more at ease having my own car.

Moreover, these young motorcyclists are reckless when they ride motorcycles.

Lin Wu spent two yuan to unlock a public electric stove. She checked the battery level carefully, worried that she might not be able to keep up with Zou Dafa.

Five minutes later.

Zou Xun said with a grim expression, "My motorcycle might be malfunctioning."

Lin Wu rode alongside him on her electric scooter, saying understandingly, "I understand, I understand."

Zou Xun: "…………"

hateful.

Why did it have to happen at this time of year?

It made him lose face!