110: So difficult (bonus chapter)

Time flew by, and it was already five in the evening.

Jiang Ye stood under the rain awning at the Qingnian Avenue subway entrance. He glanced at the row of shared e-bikes nearby, then looked toward the entrance of the MixC City not far away, and silently sighed.

Damn it, I'm really out of ideas.

After a whole day of 'practical observation,' he had come to fully recognize a harsh reality:

This woman, Lin Wanxing, was quite strong, agile, independent, and very opinionated.

This... it was practically like she had 'I can do it myself' written on her face! What kind of 'emergency assistance' is even possible here?

Jiang Ye looked up at the gloomy sky and the drifting mix of snowflakes and raindrops. His mood, which had been stifled all day, finally improved just a tiny bit.

It seemed even the heavens couldn't stand it anymore and were creating an opportunity for him!

This sleet had come suddenly; the weather forecast hadn't mentioned it at all.

He didn't believe that a sporty girl like Lin Wanxing, who ran to work, would have an umbrella pre-packed in her bag.

Furthermore, during the rush hour at a place like MixC City, hailing a cab was about as difficult as winning the lottery. Her most likely course of action was to simply dash through the sleet to the subway station and take the train home.

Well, wasn't the opportunity right there?

A classic that never goes out of style—a beauty caught in the rain without an umbrella, a gentleman offers warmth by sharing his!

Just as Jiang Ye was pondering what expression to wear and what lines to say later, Lin Wanxing's figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of MixC City.

She stood under the glass canopy at the mall entrance, looking out at the drifting snowflakes and raindrops, seemingly torn between charging out directly or continuing to wait for that distant, uncertain ride-hailing car.

Jiang Ye's heart leaped with joy. He quickly turned to look at a middle-aged woman nearby who was carrying a large bag and selling umbrellas to passersby:

"Sis, give me an umbrella."

The umbrella-selling woman had long noticed this young man who had been standing in the windy spot for over twenty minutes, occasionally glancing toward the mall entrance.

Following Jiang Ye's gaze to the mall entrance, she gave a knowing smile. She rummaged in her large bag, pulled out a long-handled umbrella, and said:

"80."

Jiang Ye: "???"

He thought he misheard: "How much? I clearly heard you selling them for 15 just now!"

The woman's expression didn't change. She pulled out a folding umbrella and shook it: "The 15 ones are this piece of junk. Wholesale online for 3 kuai each, shipping included. Poor quality, flips inside out with a gust of wind."

Then, she shook the long-handled umbrella again: "This one, a good umbrella! Sells for 78 online. Sis is selling it to you for 80, just making a 2-kuai service fee."

Jiang Ye's temple twitched. Pointing at the small umbrella, he said: "So you make 12 on this 15 one?"

The woman nodded frankly: "Mhm, sis has it tough, just making a bit from the weather."

Jiang Ye pointed at the large umbrella again: "This one you sell for 80 and make 2?"

The woman nodded again, looking utterly sincere: "Sis sees you're having a hard time too, standing here for so long. Sis feels a connection with you, can't bring myself to overcharge you."

Jiang Ye: "..."

Seriously? A profiteer like you is talking to me about connections?!

On this 80 one, you'd be showing a conscience if you weren't making at least 60. Are you really trying to rip off this Buddy like I'm some sucker?

Seeing his speechless expression, the woman motioned with her chin toward the girls under the mall's rain canopy and said earnestly:

"Young man, stingy about the money? Then don't buy it. If that girl gets picked up by another helpful young fellow, and they end up getting married, won't you still have to give a wedding gift? And for the wedding of a girl you like yourself, wouldn't you have to give at least a thousand or two? Still stingy about this 80?"

Stunned by this formidable logic, Jiang Ye was momentarily speechless. He instinctively glanced toward the mall entrance—

Lin Wanxing had taken a few more steps outward. It looked like she was preparing to sprint directly to the subway station.

Well, for most Northeasterners, as long as it wasn't a downpour, running a short distance through a bit of light snow or drizzle was no big deal.

Jiang Ye gritted his teeth, his face expressionless as he pulled out his phone: "Fine, fine, fine, scan the code!"

"Ai, that's more like it!"

The woman cheerfully displayed her payment QR code, not forgetting to offer some guidance: "Young man, you have to take the initiative with things like fate. Being stingy with money won't get you the girl!"

A "ding" sound—payment successful.

Jiang Ye took the "good umbrella" with a grudge, feeling its weight in his hand wasn't from the umbrella itself, but from the overwhelming aura of being a "sucker."

Forget it, expensive is expensive. As long as it helps complete the task. The umbrella did look quite sturdy and large.

Adjusting his expression and steeling himself for the upcoming display of "gentlemanly demeanor," Jiang Ye took a deep breath, pushed open the umbrella in his hand, and prepared to walk toward Lin Wanxing, who was dozens of meters away.

But the very second his foot stepped out from under the awning—

"Huh? The snow seems to have stopped?"

"Hey, got all worked up for nothing. I told you winter sleet doesn't last long. The ground isn't even white."

"It really stopped! Should've waited a bit longer. I'm all wet now."

"Honey, look, I said it would only last a little while. Good thing we didn't buy an umbrella, saved 15 again."

The chatter of surrounding pedestrians drifted into his ears.

Jiang Ye: "..."

His face dark, he moved the umbrella held over his head aside and looked up at the sky.

The previously dense snowflakes had become sparse, and the raindrops had almost vanished. The dark clouds seemed to be dispersing, revealing the gray-white sky behind them.

The snow... really was almost stopped.

The rain... was basically gone too.

He stiffly turned his head to look at the umbrella-selling woman.

The woman shrugged innocently, pointed at the umbrella in Jiang Ye's hand already dotted with a few snowflakes, and said matter-of-factly:

"Young man, you've already used the umbrella. Can't return it now."

Jiang Ye felt like he was about to grind his molars to dust. He turned to look at the mall entrance again.

Lin Wanxing had also noticed the change in weather. She stretched her hand out from under the canopy to confirm, a hint of delight appearing on her face.

She adjusted the backpack on her shoulder, hopped in place a couple of times to loosen up her legs, and then... directly set off, jogging onto the path home.

"..."

A vein pulsed at Jiang Ye's temple. He quickly turned to look beside the subway station—the row of e-bikes that had been parked there moments ago had, with the cessation of sleet, instantly been scanned and ridden away by the crowd pouring out of the station. Only a few regular bicycles were left waiting for him, as if saying:

"You rascal~! In the end, you still need us sisters, huh? Just 1.5 kuai! Come ride us~"

"..."

Heaven's timing (the sudden weather change), geographical advantage (the e-bikes all snatched), human harmony (Lin Wanxing ran away damn fast)... every factor seemed to be working against him.

Jiang Ye watched Lin Wanxing's figure gradually running farther away, then looked at the expensive, now superfluous umbrella in his hand, and finally... completely, utterly, broke... "Damn it! This woman runs so damn fast!"

Before the last character of 'defense' could even form in his mind, a somewhat familiar-looking man suddenly hurried past him, muttering a low curse, and jogged to catch up with the woman not far ahead.

"...Holy shit? N...NPC?"