Chapter 17

Her fridge was cleaner than her face.

She didn't like cooking and rarely bought ingredients.

Most of the time she ate at the school cafeteria. On weekends she sometimes didn't eat, and sometimes ordered takeout to last the whole day.

Because of this, her stomach had developed problems from how she had mistreated it.

Yu Na stared blankly at the fridge that only contained two eggs, at a loss for what to do.

Xiao Chen walked in from the living room. Seeing the empty fridge, he curiously asked, "You...don't cook?"

"I usually," Yu Na said embarrassedly, "eat at the school cafeteria."

"What about weekends?"

"......Takeout, or I don't eat."

Xiao Chen: "......"

Leaning against the counter, he finally couldn't help but ask, "What on earth is going on with you?"

Yu Na stared blankly at him. "What do you mean what's going on?" "How did you end up here? Did your parents agree? What play are you trying to act out here?" The questions spilled out of him in quick succession. Yu Na didn't know how to answer.

The kitchen was deathly still. Yu Na tapped her fingers on the countertop. Occasionally there was the cry of a morning bird cutting through the sky.

Seeing that she wasn't speaking, Xiao Chen didn't ask anything more. "Never mind, I'll take you out to eat."

Once in the car, she picked up where she had left off with his earlier questions, slowly recounting why she had come here - "When I was studying in America, my dad ordered me that after I graduated, I had to marry the heir of the KL Group. I didn't want to, but my dad didn't consider my feelings at all. Without my knowledge, he arranged for me to meet that heir...."

Xiao Chen didn't start the car. He just listened quietly.

"I didn't go."

"They were very angry, but didn't say anything because of my dad's reputation. My dad scolded me fiercely, then personally brought me to meet him again," Yu Na gave a helpless laugh here, "The bodyguards came along too, afraid I would run away. So you see, I'm not just protected by the bodyguards, they're on guard against me too."

"Some people probably think that having a bunch of people waiting on me hand and foot is a blessing, but they just work for money. They're all my dad's spies."

"My parents can't be by my side to take care of me since they have their own matters, so it's these annoying spies who have to look after me."

"Everything I do and say each day has to be reported to my dad. Even talking in my sleep - they listen in on that too. How could I stand such an awful environment?"

"My dad and the bodyguards brought me to meet that heir. He was a playboy. He liked me a lot, but he was very...," Yu Na suddenly stopped, then continued, "Relying on his family's backing, he would touch me inappropriately, but I always managed to get away. He claimed it was fine since we would get married sooner or later anyway, but I didn't want to. In my eyes, it was harassment. So I never let him have his way."

"My dad made me date him for a year, then we would marry after I graduated."

"He was very chauvinistic. I really couldn't accept him. Once, he tricked me to his house because he wanted to....I got so angry I kicked him hard and ran away."

"It was after that day that I told my dad there was no way I could marry him."

"My dad was furious, but I didn't back down anymore. I fasted for a week, drinking only water, until my stomach condition flared up. My mom is the only one who treats me like her real daughter. She scolded and beat my dad until he finally agreed to talk to me properly."

"During that time, my psychological state was very poor. I was treated like my dad's business tool. I had no thoughts of my own. I had a bunch of disgusting leeches following me everywhere I went."

"When I was hospitalized, I begged my dad to call the bodyguards here to just beat me to death. I couldn't go on living anyway."

"My mom felt there was something off with me psychologically, so she got me a psychologist." Just then, the traffic light turned red. Upon hearing the words "psychologist", Xiao Chen's expression subtly changed. He turned his head, a complex gaze falling upon her.

Oblivious, Yu Na continued, "It was because of the psychologist that my dad was willing to listen to my true feelings. I told him that after graduating I wanted to return to China to live, without those people following me. At first my dad disagreed. But the doctor told him to pay attention to his attitude and way of speaking to me. With my mom speaking up for me too, my dad reluctantly compromised, but he said there was a condition for me to return to China by myself."

"He said that if I returned to China alone, he would cancel my credit cards and not give me a single cent anymore. I would have to find my own job in China, and he wouldn't help or provide me with a place to stay. In short, everything would rely on myself."

Yu Na softly added, "So I came to Changwan with the money I had saved up myself. I didn't have much in my savings since I usually used my card. Housing in Changwan is expensive so this was the best I could rent."

"My dad cut off my financial resources to force me to concede defeat. He was certain I wouldn't be able to stand living without money, and would ask to go back so I could dutifully enter into the arranged marriage."

"But I refused. Although I don't have money now, at least I'm free."

She sneakily glanced at Xiao Chen who was driving beside her, meaningfully saying, "Even falling in love, I can choose who I like now. Whether he likes me back or not, at least I'm not constrained by my family anymore...right?"

Xiao Chen had one hand on the steering wheel. Hearing this, his movements stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Seeing his lack of reaction, Yu Na self-deprecatingly continued, "Anyway, that's why I'm here. I know you guys think I'm ungrateful, giving up a good life to come here and struggle by myself."

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard the man beside her lightly retort, a barely detectable mocking lilt in his tone, "Are you being sarcastic towards me?"

Yu Na's heart gave a little jump. "......No."

"Alright—" The corner of his mouth tilted up. His tone was the same as always when coaxing her like a little sister, "I don't think you're ungrateful. Life belongs to the person living it, no one else has the right to interfere."

Yu Na turned to look at him, her gaze obscure.

After a long pause, she withdrew her gaze, responding with a faint "Mm".

"What would you like for breakfast?"

"Anything is fine."

Xiao Chen gave an acknowledging "Mm".

He parked the car in the outdoor parking lot. Just then, several smartly dressed staff members walked over. "Good morning, President Xiao."