C14 This Is What I Owe You!

As the door swung open, Lee Chang'an glanced around cautiously before approaching Faang Xinrann and taking her hand.

"Xinrann, I'm sorry for what you went through. That night, I didn't mean to not show up. My parents locked me in, and I couldn't get out. Please forgive me?"

In the darkness, Lee Chang'an couldn't see the faint smile that flickered across Faang Xinrann's lips. She coolly withdrew her hand from his grasp.

"It's all in the past. After that night, we owe each other nothing. Don't come looking for me again. I came out tonight just to tell you that the old Faang Xinrann is gone. She has nothing to do with Lee Chang'an anymore."

With that, Faang Xinrann turned to leave. Lee Chang'an knew he was in the wrong, but that night he truly was locked in, with even the windows sealed. No matter how strong he was, he couldn't have torn down a house overnight.

In desperation, he quickly hugged Faang Xinrann, pleading, "Xinrann, please don't go. You're the only one in my heart. You can't be so cruel to me. I have money. I'll give you $150 to pay back Fann Jian tomorrow, and then we can be together."

"Let go of me, Lee Chang'an! Are you trying to be a creep?" Faang Xinrann exclaimed, stomping hard on his foot and breaking free from his embrace.

"Lee Chang'an, can you be realistic? Even if you want to marry me, would your mom let me in the door? No matter how you feel right now, I'm not interested in romance. You see, my family is poor. We barely have enough to eat. Don't bother me anymore. Just go."

Faang Xinrann was a practical person. In her past life, no one gave her the chance to live in a fairy tale, and she never expected to. She knew her current situation didn't allow her to prioritize romance. What mattered to her now was figuring out how to repay the $150 to Fann Jian.

The money from Lee Chang'an was absolutely out of the question. If his mother found out, life would become even more unbearable for her.

Matters of the heart shouldn't be taken lightly. The original person had feelings for Lee Chang'an, but she had just arrived here and knew nothing about the people or things around her. She had no interest in thinking about anything else.

It made sense, though. Lee Chang'an seemed gentle and clean-cut, and being a high school graduate teaching at the village elementary school made him quite popular among the girls in the village. But just because he was popular didn't mean Faang Xinrann had to like him.

Right now, she was so broke she could barely scrape by. Who had the time to think about such things?

"Xinrann, what's going on with you? Didn't we agree to leave together?"

Leave together? Was that even possible? Even if she managed to escape, what about her benefactor's family?

As Lee Chang'an tried to get closer, Faang Xinrann quickly stepped back.

"Lee Chang'an, stop right there. If you want me to have any peace in this village, don't come looking for me again. We'll talk about the future when it comes. After everything that's happened, there's no chance for us. Let's keep our distance."

Under the dim moonlight, Faang Xinrann couldn't see Lee Chang'an's face clearly, but she could feel the atmosphere around them turn cold and silent.

"Xinrann, I'm not letting go. Take this money; it's what I owe you."

Lee Chang'an knew she was still upset with him for not showing up that night, leaving her at the village entrance. Even the warmest heart could turn cold after that.