Chapter 230: What Kind of Confession Can Be Remembered for Life?
About what happened after with that company. Lin Yibai didn’t really want to keep paying attention to it.
What else could she do anyway?
Was she supposed to bring down a big company just like that?
Or make the school kneel and admit they were wrong?
All Lin Yibai wanted was a proper response. Now that the school had kicked out the recruitment company, she didn’t care whether it was permanent or whether they’d be back next year.
What mattered was something had been done.
Also, the arrogant recruiter had already paid a heavy price. She was so deep in thought, she didn’t even notice Xia Changyu walk up beside her.
He asked curiously, “You seem distracted, what are you thinking about?”
Lin Yibai shook her head and said with a hint of bitterness, “It’s nothing big. I was just thinking… if we're simply slaves to the grind, and what then? Are we truly unable to escape the rules of this endless cycle?”
At the end of the day, wasn’t she just another piece of labor?
If she hadn’t changed into a girl and had a few lucky fortunes, she probably would’ve applied to a company like that, and then just wasted away her youth after graduation.
Xia Changyu couldn’t help but feel bad for her. He gently pinched her cute cheek and smiled.
“But that’s just part of how the world works. Instead of feeling lost in the chaos, why not go enjoy something fun? Like reading a silly story, or watching short videos?”
Lin Yibai thought for a moment. “I get it.”
Xia Changyu was surprised. “You really got it?”
Lin Yibai spread her hands and said, “Didn’t you tell me to go read some silly stories or whatever?”
Xia Changyu laughed and nodded, “Yeah, but do you know which kind of silly stories are the most satisfying? Want me to recommend a few?”
Lin Yibai waved her hand and said proudly, “What do you know about silly stories? You’re some rich boy, how could you understand them better than an ordinary young girl like me?”
Xia Changyu: “…Huh?”
Lin Yibai gave him a glance and said with meaning, “For us at the bottom, the most satisfying stories are the ones where big real estate companies go bankrupt, or where this year’s birth rate drops again. Now that’s satisfying!”
Xia Changyu scratched his head awkwardly.
You know what? From the perspective of someone at the bottom of society, those really are the most satisfying stories.
Forget fantasy novels or web fiction, what could beat the thrill of seeing housing markets crash or birth rates plummet? Now that’s a story that hits deep.
Seeing Lin Yibai back in high spirits, Xia Changyu didn’t say anything more.
He had come today to help her move. Her rental at the previous place had ended, and things hadn’t gone well with the landlord, so it was time to move out.
Her new place, a small apartment in a building called “Nest,” wasn’t too bad, but not exactly great either. First, it was all the way near the edge of the city.
And the room was small.
In less than 20 square meters, the space was packed with a kitchen hood, stove, washing machine, fridge, bed, single sofa, computer desk, and a small bathroom behind a glass door.
Opening the front door led to a narrow hallway, and all the other rooms along it were laid out just the same.
It looked extremely crowded.
Xia Changyu couldn’t help but frown. The place felt tiny and suffocating. He could hardly imagine how uncomfortable it would be to live there long-term.
He gently said, “Living in a place like this for too long… must be really hard, right?”
He swore, what he really meant to do was convince Lin Yibai to just move in with him.
His own place was a 160-square-meter luxury apartment. It was spacious and comfortable.
Why wouldn’t she want to live there?
Lin Yibai walked over to help carry some things, then put her hands on her hips and let out a long breath. She said, “That’s exactly what I mean! People like you, or should I say rich guys like you, have been away from the life of regular working people for too long.”
Xia Changyu quickly explained, “Baiyi, please believe me, I really didn’t mean anything bad!”
Lin Yibai gave a little smile and shrugged. “I’m not blaming you. What I’m trying to say is, living in a place with bad conditions and small space isn’t the real problem. After all, college dorms weren’t any better, we even had four people in one room! So living in a place like this, the problem isn’t really the small or cramped space.”
Xia Changyu asked, “Then… what is the real problem?”
Lin Yibai tucked some hair behind her ear. She looked so gentle and beautiful. After thinking for a while, she said softly,
“It’s loneliness, I guess. It’s the kind of loneliness you feel when you’re in a strange city all by yourself. We’re all facing the world for the first time as young adults, and no one’s heart is really that much stronger than anyone else’s.”
Xia Changyu asked, “So… how do you deal with it?”
Lin Yibai smiled and gave her answer, “Just get a roommate! As long as you have someone around, it helps take away some of that loneliness.”
After hearing that, Xia Changyu suddenly felt nervous. Was Lin Yibai really going to live with someone else?
Definitely not a guy, that was impossible. But even a girl roommate could still be a problem!
As if she could read his thoughts, Lin Yibai covered her rosy lips and giggled even more, saying, “Relax! I don’t think I need that kind of roommate.”
Oh? Could it be because her heart was stronger than other girls’?
Now that he thought about it, maybe that was the real reason.
But usually, the same question can have more than one answer. Sure, Lin Yibai had a tougher heart than most girls. But could there be another reason too?
Let’s just say...
Lin Yibai glanced at her “love rival.” She didn’t know how much longer she could call him that.
But she still took a deep breath and offered another answer.
“Because I already have you. If you don’t mind, if it’s not too much trouble, you could come over more often when you have time. This place might not be as nice as the last one, the stove is much smaller... but the red yeast rice braised pork you love? It still works fine over low heat. As long as you’re willing to visit often?”
As she finished speaking, Xia Changyu felt like he had misheard her, or like his head was buzzing.
She had said a lot, so much meaning hidden in her words. It felt like the moment was finally here.
He imagined Lin Yibai smiling at him, saying, ‘Aren’t you going to confess already?’
But! Hold it in!!
Now is not the time. He had to stay calm. So Xia Changyu answered her last question first, with excitement in his voice.
“Of course I don’t mind! It’s no trouble at all. I’m free every day. I love your red yeast pork the most, I also love all the dishes you cook. And if you don’t kick me out… I’d be happy to stay here!”
Perfect answer.
But...
Lin Yibai still looked confused. Was her hint still not clear enough?
If it were any other guy, wouldn’t he have confessed a hundred times by now?
But this guy? This annoying love rival?
At this point, Xia Changyu was starting to panic too.
He used to think all those “romantic setups” were kind of annoying, and Lin Yibai probably didn’t care about stuff like that either.
But now...
For the first time in his life, he really wanted to confess properly, with meaning.
He told himself, ‘Hold it in. Just a little longer!’
He wanted to decorate the place with flowers, candles, and balloons. But would that be too cheesy?
Maybe take her on a trip instead? But that sounded too old-fashioned too!
He thought, ‘Someone help me! What kind of confession is the most beautiful?’
His heart was full of excitement and nervousness.
He couldn’t wait, he wanted to confess already!