Su Qinghe held the cup of water in both hands and kept her head lowered for a long time, as if gathering the courage to speak.
Jiang Che was patient. He knew some things were not easy to say and needed time. So he simply waited quietly.
After a long while, Su Qinghe’s eyes turned red. She spoke in a broken, trembling voice, “My family… went bankrupt.”
“My parents… I don’t know where they are. I can’t reach them.”
“Our relatives… sold our house and threw me out…”
“I went to argue with them. They… they hired people to beat me… and then… my eyes…”
She didn’t finish the sentence, but Jiang Che already understood everything.
What kind of animals were those people? What relatives would do something like that?
His fists clenched instantly, and anger shot straight to his head.
He had seen shameless people before, but never this shameless.
It wasn’t enough that they seized her property. They even beat her blind and threw her out?
He looked at the girl curled up on the sofa, not even daring to raise her head. The frustration he had felt because of Lin Wanwan was completely replaced by overwhelming rage toward those beasts.
“You’ll live here from now on.”
Jiang Che wasn’t asking. His tone was firm. It was a decision, not a suggestion.
Su Qinghe suddenly lifted her head. Her empty eyes faced in his direction, her face filled with panic. She waved her hands repeatedly. “No, no, how could that be? It’s too much trouble for you!”
As she spoke, she wobbled as if trying to stand. “I… I’ll leave right now.”
To her, the fact that Jiang Che had saved her from those thugs and even brought her back to bathe was already a huge kindness.
How could she continue to burden him?
“Leave? Where would you go?”
Jiang Che immediately pressed her shoulders and gently pushed her back onto the sofa. “Back to that alley to dig through trash again? Or wait for those thugs to come looking for you?”
His tone wasn’t gentle. His words were sharp like blades. Su Qinghe trembled, her face turning even paler.
She bit her lip and stammered, “But… but I shouldn’t cause you more trouble…”
“Whether it’s trouble or not is up to me.”
Jiang Che cut her off, his tone firm. “Since I brought you back, I’m responsible to the end.”
“If you really feel bad about it, then think of a way to repay me in the future.”
Though he said that, he never truly meant it.
Helping Su Qinghe was nothing to him. Besides, they were at least half friends. Friends should help each other.
Su Qinghe was overwhelmed by his forceful attitude. She didn’t dare argue anymore. She simply sat there, gripping the hem of her shirt, looking lost.
Seeing how fragile she looked, Jiang Che realized his tone had been too harsh.
He softened his voice. “Alright, it’s settled.”
“You’re sick, and you’re blind. If you wander outside, it’s practically a death sentence.”
“My apartment is big enough. One more person won’t make a difference. Just stay here peacefully and stop overthinking.”
Su Qinghe knew that if she continued to refuse, it would seem ungrateful.
And she truly had nowhere to go. She couldn’t see, she had no money, no phone, and even the clothes she wore were borrowed from him.
If she returned outside to wander again, those thugs would definitely find her.
She reached out and touched the leather sofa beside her. The soft texture made her reluctant to let go.
Then… she would stay with Jiang Che.
One day, when she had the chance, she would repay him properly.
With that thought, Su Qinghe gave him a gentle smile. “Then… thank you, Jiang Che.”
After a pause, she seemed to remember something and asked cautiously, “If I stay here… will it disturb your uncle and aunt?”
“If it does, then I should—”
“Don’t worry,” Jiang Che interrupted immediately. “My parents don’t live with me. I live here alone.”
“So just stay here and don’t think too much.”
“Oh… alright.” Su Qinghe nodded shyly.
With the housing issue settled, Jiang Che finally felt a weight lift off his chest.
He noticed her hair was still damp and got up to find a hairdryer.
As he watched her carefully dry her hair, he found himself staring at her face again in a daze.
Until his stomach growled loudly.
Only then did he remember that he hadn’t eaten properly all day.
And judging by how thin she was, she probably hadn’t eaten well for a month either.
He took out his phone and opened a food delivery app. “What do you want to eat?”
Su Qinghe didn’t hear him at first. Only when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder did she quickly turn off the hairdryer. “What is it?”
He repeated the question. She froze for a moment and shook her head. “Anything… is fine.”
Again, anything.
Jiang Che didn’t bother asking further. He ordered from a well-rated local restaurant, choosing a light preserved egg and lean pork porridge along with a few small dishes.
While waiting for the food, the living room was eerily quiet. Only the sound of their uneven breathing filled the space.
After drying her hair, Su Qinghe sat quietly in the corner of the sofa. She didn’t speak, sitting as still as a cotton doll.
Jiang Che felt awkward. He scratched his head, trying to think of something to say, but nothing came to mind.
He picked up his phone and pretended to scroll, though the corner of his eye kept drifting toward her.
She seemed tired and shifted her posture, hugging her knees in the corner of the sofa. She remained motionless.
Like a small animal abandoned by the world. Pitiful.
Soon, the doorbell rang.
Jiang Che jumped up in relief, hurried to collect the delivery, and set the food on the dining table.
“Come eat.”
He called out. Su Qinghe responded softly and slowly stood up, feeling her way toward his voice.
Watching her stretch out her hands cautiously, afraid of bumping into anything, Jiang Che sighed again.
He walked over and gently took her wrist. “This way.”
Her wrist was slender and soft, her skin smooth.
He guided her to the table and placed chopsticks and a spoon in her hands.
“I ordered porridge for you. You can manage, right?”
She held the utensils obediently and smiled faintly. “I can.”
Still uneasy, Jiang Che watched her for a moment. After confirming she could eat on her own, he sat opposite her and began eating.
The meal was silent.
Jiang Che ate quickly, finishing his bowl in just a few bites.
When he looked up, he saw Su Qinghe still taking small, careful spoonfuls of porridge. After quite some time, she had barely made progress.
She ate slowly and cautiously, likely afraid of making a mess and causing him trouble.
The spoon lightly clinked against the bowl.
Jiang Che watched her careful movements, feeling a mixture of emotions.
Just as he was silently lamenting the unfairness of fate, a voice as soft as a mosquito reached him.
“Um… Jiang Che.”
“Yeah?” He raised his chin slightly.
Su Qinghe stopped eating, holding the bowl of porridge in both hands. Facing his direction, she spoke very softly.
“Thank you.”