Chapter 4: The Rift

“What nonsense are you talking about? What shameful secret do I have?”
“Then why don’t you dare tell me your address?”

Li Yan took a deep breath, clearly annoyed by Cao Yang. “I’m at the Crown Nightclub. Come get it yourself!”

Hearing the busy tone on the other end, Cao Yang finally hung up and turned to the phone booth owner. “Boss, do you know where the Crown Nightclub is? Is it far from here?”

“Not far. Just walk east about eight hundred meters after leaving the village.” The owner lazily fanned himself with a palm leaf fan.

“Thanks.” Cao Yang thanked him and was about to leave.

“Hey kid, you haven’t paid yet!” the owner called after him.

Cao Yang patted his empty pockets and smiled awkwardly. “Boss, I don’t have any money on me. I’ll go find my sister, and once I get the money, I’ll pay you back.”

“Don’t give me that crap. No money, no leaving today!” The owner’s attitude was anything but friendly, as if daring Cao Yang to try.

Cao Yang was speechless. It was just a one-yuan phone call, not like he was asking for thousands.

“Boss, I really won’t run away without paying you. Just wait till my sister gets back, and I’ll settle up.” He softened his tone, feeling guilty.

“Go to hell! Don’t try to stall me—you gotta pay up right now!” The owner cursed, spitting so much that some landed on Cao Yang’s face.

Cao Yang wasn’t known for a good temper—otherwise, he wouldn’t have caused trouble back home.

Add to that being inexplicably fired from the factory today, getting scolded by Li Yan just now, and now being berated by the owner, his true nature flared. He threw the bucket down to the ground.

“I’ve got no money. What are you gonna do about it?”

“If you won’t let me leave, then I’m not leaving. I’ll go home with you!”

Suddenly defiant, the owner was furious but, seeing Cao Yang’s tall, burly frame, realized he wasn’t a match.

For just one yuan, it wasn’t worth it.

Waving his hand impatiently, the owner said, “Go on then, don’t want your money.”

...

Cao Yang carried his bucket and dragged his woven bag, asking a few passersby before finally finding the Crown Nightclub.

The name sounded grand, but it was actually quite small—more like a modest nightclub.

“What’s this place?”

Cao Yang wanted to enter, but the handsome bouncer eyed the items in his hands and sized him up as a factory worker, promptly blocking his way.

“Bro, I’m looking for someone. My sister works inside.”

“What’s her name?”

“My sister’s name is Li Yan. Can you call her for me?”

“Wait a moment.”

The security guard pulled out a walkie-talkie and spoke into it. “Li Yan, Li Yan, your brother from the countryside is here at the door. Come out for a moment.”

After a short while, Li Yan appeared. She wore an ultra-short skirt, her long, fair legs catching everyone’s gaze.

Seeing Cao Yang’s shabby appearance, she felt embarrassed and immediately launched into a harsh reprimand.

Cao Yang was already in a foul mood. Nothing had gone smoothly since arriving in Dongguan, especially with Li Yan’s profession and her attitude toward him.

He had once idolized her as his childhood goddess, but now she had fallen from grace and treated him coldly—completely shattering his earlier hopes.

“Here’s the key! Go home quickly!” Li Yan didn’t hand the key to Cao Yang but threw it at him. He didn’t catch it; the key fell to the ground.

“Pick it up! What are you standing there for?”

Cao Yang was furious, almost wanting to hit her!

“I don’t want the key anymore. I’m not going to your place! Give me my money back. From now on, we’re done—each goes their own way!”

He suddenly spoke as if severing all ties.

Li Yan was stunned, then sneered coldly. “Why didn’t you say that earlier? If it weren’t for your mom asking my mom to look after you, do you think I’d bother with you?”

“Give me the money!” Cao Yang didn’t want to listen to her nonsense.

“You took 125 yuan from me. You spent 10 yuan on the bus that day, gave me 5 plus 30 yuan, so you still owe me 80. Even if you stayed at my place for one day, deduct 20 yuan; you just need to give me 60.”

Cao Yang’s face darkened as he started calculating.

“You’re really good at math! So calculating at such a young age—what a schemer!”

“Give me the money!” Cao Yang demanded again, refusing to argue.

Li Yan lost her temper as well. She pulled out two hundred-yuan bills from her bag, crumpled them into a ball, and threw them at Cao Yang!

“Here, take it! Take it! Don’t ever come looking for me again!”

The money hit Cao Yang’s forehead, bounced off, and fell to the ground. He didn’t pick it up—partly out of insult, but mostly because he didn’t want the extra hundred or so.

“I only want my sixty yuan. I don’t need more from you!”

“You think I want to give you extra? It’s just ‘cause we’re from the same village. I gave you a little more so you wouldn’t starve and could buy a ticket home. That’s pure pity, got it?”

“Do I need your pity? I, Cao Yang, have hands and feet—I don’t believe I’ll starve to death!”

“But you, doing those shady jobs, no wonder you make more than others! Truly bringing disgrace to your parents and our Langlang Village!”

“Who’s doing shady jobs?” Li Yan was furious, trembling as she pointed at Cao Yang.

“Whoever’s a lady of the night would know!”

“Who are you calling a lady of the night?! I’m a waitress!”

“Heh… do you take me for a fool? What waitress dresses like you—showing cleavage, legs, heavy makeup, shameless!”

“Go to hell, you bumpkin! What do you know? That’s how it is in big cities!”

“Enough. I don’t want to hear your nonsense. I’m leaving—never want to see you again!”

Cao Yang turned and walked off, leaving the key and the money on the ground.

“Stop right there!” Li Yan shouted after him. “You can misunderstand me all you want here, but if you go back spreading lies, I won’t let you off!”

“What? What can you do to me? I’ll call your mom right now and tell her you’re working as a lady of the night!”

“You…”

“I’m not just telling your mom—I’m telling the village chief too. I’ll make them hold a meeting to criticize you for bringing shame to Langlang Village!”

With that, Cao Yang strode away, thinking he looked calm and collected.

Li Yan watched his back, trembling with rage, tears streaming down her face.

She bent down, picked up the key and the money, composed herself, and returned to the nightclub.

...

Cao Yang wandered aimlessly. With no money and only Li Yan as a familiar face in this city—and now she had turned against him—he truly had nowhere to go.

Unconsciously, he reached a park and decided to stop walking. He spread the cool mat from his bucket onto the grass, took out a blanket, and lay down, preparing to sleep.

But he couldn’t fall asleep. His eyes were wide open, wanting to see the stars, but the city’s bright lights drowned them out.

Soon, his stomach began to growl. Swallowing hard, he cursed himself silently for being so stubborn—refusing money and acting tough. Now, he finally understood hunger.