Anan

007 Young Nan (1)

Li Xinyuan slowly rose to her feet, and Zhang Yanan said, "Are you all right? Is there anything I can assist you with?"

Li Xinyuan spoke softly, "My sister has passed away. She was only 30 years old, her life shattered by someone's malevolence."

Yet, the man before her, meticulous even down to the buttons on his shirt, showed no surprise or sympathy. His dark eyes remained calm and unruffled. He merely tilted the umbrella above her head slightly, his voice low and serene, "May you find solace."

It seemed as if he had witnessed enough of the world's sorrows, while she was just an ordinary soul among many.

Tears welled up in Li Xinyuan's eyes once again as she bowed her head, wiping them away with her sleeve.

The man beside her remained silent, the umbrella steadfastly sheltering them both.

As Li Xinyuan's sobbing gradually subsided, she said, "Thank you."

Zhang Yanan's voice, as light as drizzling rain, inquired, "Have you cried your fill?"

Li Xinyuan nodded.

"Do you have any family or friends in Xiangcheng? Can they come to pick you up?" Zhang Yanan asked, observing her complexion. Then he added, "With this heavy rain, it might be difficult to find a taxi. If you trust me, tell me your address, and I'll drive you home."

Li Xinyuan had no other options. With public transportation halted due to the rain, she whispered, "Thank you, Mr. Zhang." Then she provided her address.

Zhang Yanan glanced at her.

"I work as a financial officer at the subsidiary of Mu Chen Group. I saw you at headquarters last time and heard your name from colleagues," Li Xinyuan said softly.

Zhang Yanan smiled, a smile tinged with self-deprecation, yet exuding an air of indifference—unperturbed even by the thought of others gossiping about him behind his back.

The two walked towards the parking area.

"I'm Li Xinyuan," she said softly.

He remained noncommittal.

Fortunately, the umbrella was large enough to maintain a comfortable distance between the two strangers, preventing any awkwardness.

As Li Xinyuan's emotions gradually calmed, the icy rain crept in from the edge of the umbrella, leaving her mind empty and cold. Yet, the man beside her continued to walk unhurriedly, his posture always straight, even in such harsh conditions.

"Why did you help me?" Li Xinyuan asked.

To her, he was from a completely different world, even if burdened with debt, the people he met were at the level of her conglomerate's big boss. Moreover, he didn't seem like someone who meddled in others' affairs.

Zhang Yanan looked ahead, his lips twitching slightly, "Perhaps because... I too lost a loved one today."

Li Xinyuan's heart trembled slightly, "Who did you lose?"

"My father. Since you've heard of me, you must have heard of him. He passed away this morning, drinking a bottle of pesticide, beyond rescue. But you see, I'm here to have dinner with the investors' big boss tonight, discussing cooperation," he said with no expression, his face clear under the streetlight, his neck buried in the crisp collar of his suit, the Adam's apple gently rolling.

Although he didn't utter a word of sorrow, Li Xinyuan felt a deep empathy.

"May you find solace," she said.

"Everyone is still alive," Zhang Yanan said slowly. "He owed a lot of debts—banks, business partners, employees, relatives... He left everyone out in the cold, bearing all the debts alone. Now, everyone is still alive, creditors, adversaries, executives who borrowed money with him—some ended up in jail for corruption, released just three days ago, and he kindly gave them a thousand yuan; and some are already worth tens of billions. Now, with him gone, it's just desserts."

Li Xinyuan didn't expect him to say this to her. Perhaps it was because the rainy night was bone-chilling, or perhaps because there were only the two of them on this road.

"Will you continue to repay his remaining debts?" Li Xinyuan asked.

Zhang Yanan glanced at her, "Yes."

Li Xinyuan was shaken.

The two had reached the car. Li Xinyuan was soaked through, hesitating as she looked at the car in front of her. Zhang Yanan handed her the umbrella. "How can I take it? You should hold it..." she said.

He replied, "Keep it."

He opened the trunk, and Li Xinyuan hurried over, holding the umbrella for him. He said nothing, taking out a handbag and a small blanket, the blanket soft and delicate, in a goose-yellow hue.

"My mother occasionally used this blanket in the car, and it's been washed," he said, stuffing both items into her arms before taking the umbrella back. "Put your coat in the bag, use the blanket to wipe off the water."

Li Xinyuan nodded eagerly, "Thank you, thank you!"

The two got into the car.

Zhang Yanan started the car, turning the heater to the maximum. As Li Xinyuan folded her wet coat and used the blanket to wipe off the water from her head and body, Zhang Yanan took off his coat and tossed it to her, "Put it on."

Li Xinyuan saw that the black cashmere coat must be very expensive, "No need, I'm not cold."

Zhang Yanan glanced at her through the rearview mirror, her close-fitting sweater soaked through, outlining her graceful figure. He looked ahead, loosening his tie and tossing it on the passenger seat, "It's just a piece of clothing, wear it."

In a moment of silence, Li Xinyuan put on his coat. He was much taller than her, and the coat enveloped her legs, making her feel less uncomfortable. The coat smelled clean, unlike anything Li Xinyuan had worn before, completely different yet strangely comforting.

"Thank you."

He remained silent.

The night grew late, the rain subsiding. There were scarcely any people on the road. Li Xinyuan watched the raindrops flickering and the streaks of water on the window, feeling alternately hot and cold, her head throbbing. She knew she was coming down with a cold, possibly even a fever.

The carriage was too warm and quiet, shielding her from the cold, rain, and pain, inducing drowsiness. She leaned her head against the car door.

"In fact, I was dumped by my boyfriend a few days ago. Today, I lost my job too," she said.

Zhang Yanan drove the car into the Jiangdi Tunnel, surrounded by gray walls and soft lights. Li Xinyuan watched his hands on the steering wheel, the black suit fabric accentuating his strong, pale hands, much like their owner, possessing the strength of mountains.

Only then did Zhang Yanan speak, "I too, once experienced a day where I went from heaven to hell. Actually, I don't have anything now."

A tear slowly slid from Li Xinyuan's eyes, but at this moment, she felt no despair, only a sense of tranquility within the car.

"Mm!" She suddenly sat up straighter, wrapping herself more securely in his coat, sniffing hard and said, "Thank you for your encouragement and help! I won't give up. Tomorrow morning, I'll return to my hometown to bid my sister farewell. Then, I'll join my parents and fight for custody of my niece together. I'll gather evidence of that beast's domestic violence, expose it to the public, and let him bear the infamy even in death. Let his accomplice parents never hold their heads up again! May my sister rest in peace! I'll also find a new job. Being fired by Mu Chen is their loss! I'm sure I can find a job that matches or even surpasses theirs. There's always a way out, and my talents will surely be put to good use!"

Li Xinyuan reached out and lightly patted his shoulder, "Mr. Zhang, after I finish these things, I'll treat you to a big meal to thank you! I'll even compensate you with a new coat!"

She finished her bold declaration, and the interior of the car fell silent. Zhang Yanan seemed not to have heard anything, driving steadily and swiftly. Only the sound of raindrops hitting the glass could be heard.