Zhang Xinxin's eyes widened, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears. Despite the burning pain on her face, she said nothing, bent down, and began picking up the scattered items on the ground.
Seeing this, a trace of regret and heartache flashed across Zhang Jian Country's face. He stepped forward to stop her, saying, "Oh dear, what are you doing? You don't need to pick these up. Go back to your company quickly!"
Zhang Xinxin forcefully shook off his hand, and stubbornly continued picking up the water bottles and fruits on the ground, putting them back into the basket, and holding it tightly.
"What are you doing? Are you planning to help me carry them home??"
Zhang Jian Country anxiously and angrily said, "It's still two or three kilometers to go back. How can you, a young girl, manage that? Put it down quickly! Put it down!"
Zhang Jian Country tried hard to pull Zhang Xinxin's hand, but somewhere from within, Zhang Xinxin found the strength to shake him off and clenched her teeth as she walked forward.
The onlookers around watched the fashionable and beautiful Zhang Xinxin carrying a shabby basket, followed by an anxious and angry middle-aged man, and they all looked on curiously, whispering among themselves.
Noticing his daughter being the topic of gossip, Zhang Jian Country became increasingly anxious and was about to snatch the basket from Zhang Xinxin when he was suddenly interrupted by a sharp horn sound beside him.
Neither of them initially wanted to pay attention to the horn, but the sound kept blaring, which was quite irritating, so they frowned and turned to look.
"Li..."
Zhang Xinxin's expression changed when she saw, and just as she was about to speak, she realized her father was beside her and forced the words back down her throat.
Li Jing was sitting in an SUV by the roadside, reaching from the passenger seat to press the horn on the driver's side, repeatedly honking it despite the driver's speechless expression.
"Boss, doing this with the horn isn't quite..."
"Add money."
"It's not about the money, it's that doing this..."
"Add a hundred."
"Alright then, you go ahead and honk, I'll adjust my seat back a bit."
Seeing Zhang Xinxin notice him, Li Jing released his grip on the horn and said to the two, "Get in the car."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xinxin's expression slightly changed, and she was momentarily indecisive.
Her already unstable emotions were completely thrown into turmoil with Li Jing's sudden appearance.
Zhang Jian Country, full of confusion, frowned and asked Zhang Xinxin, "Who is this?"
"He..."
Zhang Xinxin clasped her hands tightly, her thoughts in a mess, not knowing how to respond at this moment.
Li Jing in the car took the initiative to explain, "Uncle Zhang, I'm Xinxin's friend. I just booked a car and can give you both a ride back."
"Oh, so a friend!"
As the words fell, Zhang Jian Country was surprised, then immediately stepped forward with a warm smile, "You're Xinxin's friend here in TS City, right? It's just that we are in a bit of an inconvenient situation, so please, if you would..."
"Dad..."
Seeing her father agree immediately, Zhang Xinxin hurriedly cried out in a rush to dissuade him, but was quickly cut off as Zhang Jian Country turned and frowned, whispering sternly, "Don't you think you're not embarrassing enough, letting Old Li and the others laugh at us? Luckily, your friend is here, get in the car and let's go home!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xinxin turned to look at the porters ahead who were turning back to watch the scene unfold, hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and got into Li Jing's car.
"Oh dear, boss, with all this stuff in the baskets, it's going to be a challenge to fit it in."
Seeing Zhang Jian Country picking up a pile of things to put in the car, the driver looked troubled and unwillingly said to Li Jing, "You didn't mention beforehand that you'll be loading so much..."
"Add money."
"It's not about the money, it's just that putting these items in the car might..."
"Add a thousand."
"Uncle, take it easy! I'll get out right now to help you with the stuff!"
A moment later, after Zhang Jian Country and his daughter got into the car, the driver, full of enthusiasm and proudly displaying what he thought was his most professional service attitude, loudly said, "Please take your seats, everyone, I'm about to drive off!"
As the car started and the night wind breezed into the carriage.
Zhang Xinxin, after getting in the car, found her mind in a turmoil. The side of herself that she least wanted Li Jing to see had been completely exposed to him today without any filter.
Beneath the bright exterior she had worked hard to maintain lay wounds wrought by poverty, all now exposed under the spotlight she dreaded, leaving her feeling extremely uncomfortable.
"Li..."
"Let's talk about it later if there's anything."
Li Jing could see that she was in turmoil at the moment and directly interrupted her.
Yet, Zhang Jian Country, very curious about the two's relationship, couldn't help but cautiously ask Li Jing in the passenger seat, "Young man, are you and Xinxin here to have fun?"
Seeing Zhang Jian Country's face, dark and genuine, Li Jing turned back with a smile and nodded, "Yes, Xinxin said her hometown is beautiful and invited me to come for a trip..."
Before he finished his sentence, Zhang Xinxin immediately lifted her head, surprised as she looked at Li Jing's profile.
This was indeed her hometown, and it was precisely because she was familiar with it that she recommended Li Jing to come and visit, allowing her to seize the opportunity to be his guide.
But she had never told Li Jing that this was her hometown. Little did she expect that he not only figured it out but also helped diffuse the situation in front of her father.
Seeing Li Jing smoothing things over for her, Zhang Xinxin, who had already felt wronged, couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat. She had barely withdrawn her tears when her eyes turned red again.
"So that's how it is. No wonder Xinxin didn't tell me."
Zhang Jian Country realized, genuinely thinking the other was a great friend, so he couldn't help but start talking about his family's matters: "Ah, Xinxin works in the big city, thanks to friends like you taking care of her.
I'm useless. I haven't given her a good growing environment since she was little. Her mom remarried, and I don't have any proper job. Not only can't I help Xinxin, but I also drag her down..."
"Dad..."
Seeing the other talk about family matters in front of Li Jing, Zhang Xinxin was startled and worried, quickly preparing to intervene.
But Li Jing had already spoken: "I have a friend who opened a factory in the suburb of TS City. Some time ago, I heard they were hiring security guards. I wonder if you have any thoughts, Uncle Zhang."
"Going to your place to be a security guard?"
Zhang Jian Country was first stunned, then immediately excited: "Good, good, good! Young man, if such an opportunity truly exists, then Uncle Zhang really appreciates it."
And Zhang Xinxin immediately turned her head, looking at Li Jing in surprise, her gaze constantly changing.
"Let me ask."
When Li Jing was a project manager before, he knew quite a few companies and factories, especially some with relatively good personal relations, so he picked up his phone and made a call.
After the call, Li Jing smiled: "Looks like luck is on our side. The newly hired security guard was let go for theft, and they're looking to recruit someone new. It's just a job sitting in the factory's guard room, not requiring much activity.
The position is rather remote, far from the city, and the daily work hours are long. The salary is six thousand a month. Can you accept it?"
"I can, I can! That's already better than working back home!"
Zhang Jian Country was full of excitement, couldn't help but want to shake Li Jing's hand, but Zhang Xinxin discreetly stopped him.
In Zhang Xinxin's heart, Li Jing was a wealthy second generation, impossible to empathize with ordinary people of the lower classes like herself.
Not being disliked was already Zhang Xinxin's greatest hope for Li Jing, but she never expected that he would take the initiative to help her father find a job.
"I'll send Xinxin the contact number. You can just reach out yourself when the time comes."
After Li Jing said this, the vehicle had already driven into an open area. The driver turned and asked: "Uncle, is it this house?"
"Oh, already here? The car really is quick!"
Upon seeing the familiar, old rural self-built house outside the car window, Zhang Jian Country quickly got out of the car, helping the driver move the items from the trunk.
While Zhang Xinxin hesitated for a moment before getting out, she finally mustered the courage to softly say to Li Jing before doing so, "Brother Jing, thank you."
Seeing Zhang Xinxin, who used to be lively and cheerful, become quiet and withdrawn, Li Jing said: "It's just a small thing. Today, you should just stay home with your dad."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xinxin's expression changed slightly. She wanted to speak, but seeing Li Jing had already turned away, a hint of disappointment flashed in her heart, and she silently nodded and got off the car.
After the busy driver finished at the back of the car, prepared to drive Li Jing back, Li Jing lowered the window, bid farewell to Zhang Jian Country, then looked at Zhang Xinxin standing not far away in silence, smiled: "What, not going to say goodbye to me?"
Seeing this, Zhang Jian Country immediately pulled his daughter over and urged: "What's wrong with you, girl? Xiaoli helped us so much, how can you stay silent, quickly say something to Xiaoli."
After saying this, Zhang Jian Country sensibly moved away to continue moving items, no longer interrupting them.
Li Jing looked at Zhang Xinxin biting her lip with her head down, calmly smiled and said: "Are you feeling embarrassed because I've seen your family's situation? Or are you worried I'll look down on you?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xinxin's expression changed slightly. Her tightly interlocked hands exerted more force, but she still remained silent.
Seeing this, Li Jing couldn't help but shake his head, smiled and said: "Don't worry, I won't look down on you. To be honest, my family's situation is not much better than yours, so you shouldn't feel inferior because of this.
You must remember, whether others respect you or not depends on what you do for yourself.
If you had ignored your dad today and followed me back to the hotel, that's when I would truly look down on you."
After saying that, without waiting for a response, Li Jing signaled the driver to start the car and leave.
Watching the car's taillights gradually disappear into the already dim twilight night, Zhang Xinxin looked blankly at the direction it left. The words just spoken echoed in her ears, causing endless waves within, her nose gradually souring.
At this moment, Zhang Jian Country walked out from the house, feeling complicated, said: "This young man is nice. You've always been quirky and lively, how can you become mute today?"
Seeing Zhang Xinxin pout and remain silent, Zhang Jian Country patted her head: "Silly child, do you like Xiaoli?"
"Dad, don't talk nonsense!" Hearing this, Zhang Xinxin was startled, finally opened her mouth, and quickly refuted.
"Stop pretending. You're my daughter, do you think I can't tell?"
Zhang Jian Country shook his head with concern, said: "Do you feel your family's situation doesn't match up to him? It's because I'm a useless father..."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xinxin's mouth pouted, unable to suppress the emotions in her heart, the grievances burst forth, she hugged Zhang Jian Country's somewhat stooped body tightly, tears streaming down her face, and cried loudly.
"Cry, you'll feel better after crying."
Zhang Jian Country gently patted Zhang Xinxin's trembling back, softly encouraged: "If you like him, bravely pursue it."
"But... we can't really... be together."
"What if it's impossible to truly be together? Your mom and I got married, she hated me for being poor, didn't she divorce me anyway?"
Zhang Jian Country mused deeply, said: "So, no matter what happens in the future, as long as you don't regret it now, that's enough.
You're still young, being young means not needing to overthink, that's what being young is about..."