Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 594: Chapter 595: It's No Big Deal

Rose's "protest" against her new nickname from Yang Chen didn't achieve much. As they drove to the restaurant, Yang Chen seemed to have gotten addicted to calling her "Clumsy."

Eventually, Rose's cheeks flushed red with frustration, and she said angrily, "That name sounds like calling me a 'puppy.' If you keep calling me that, I'll really get mad!"

Yang Chen suddenly realized that "Clumsy" did indeed sound more like a pet name than a person's name, so he finally smiled and vowed not to call Rose that anymore.

Rose didn't particularly care about what to eat, so she didn't have a strong opinion. Yang Chen simply chose a clean-looking farmhouse-style restaurant. They casually ordered four dishes and a soup, sitting by the window and enjoying their meal with laughter.

It was only then that Yang Chen brought up the matter of the Qinglong Association. Because of Gao Yue's involvement, Yang Chen hoped that Rose would stop collaborating with his father-in-law Liu Qingshan and refrain from giving the Qinglong Association too much freedom in Zhonghai.

Rose was surprised to hear about Gao Yue forcing female college students into prostitution. Her brows furrowed in thought.

Yang Chen said, "I know this is hard to hear, so I didn't mention it earlier to avoid ruining our day out. Now that I've told you, the decision is yours. No matter what you choose, I'll support you."

Rose smiled and said, "I'll do whatever my dear husband wants. Didn't you say what's mine is yours and vice versa? The Red Thorn Society is mine, which means it's yours too. If you don't want me to work with the Qinglong Association, I'll accept that. Besides, as a woman, I despise men who force women to sell their dignity. Gao Yue deserves to go to jail."

With that decision made, Yang Chen didn't need to say more. There was no need for lengthy discussions between them.

Next, Yang Chen brought up the topic of his mother-in-law Ma Guifang living with Rose and asked if she felt uncomfortable with the sudden presence of an unfamiliar elder.

Rose shook her head decisively. "No, not at all. She's Qianqian's mother, not a stranger. Besides, Ma Ayi has been very kind to me. She cooks a lot of delicious food for us and even teaches me how to cook. She's a good person."

"That makes sense. You and Qianqian living alone in such a big house can feel a bit empty," Yang Chen said, then added with a hint of frustration, "But it makes things tough for me. If I want to sneak over to your place at night, I'll have to be extra careful not to get caught."

Rose giggled. "So, you and Qianqian haven't come clean with Ma Ayi? I thought she had already accepted it!"

Yang Chen smiled wryly. "We plan to come clean. My mom has agreed to meet with my mother-in-law, so we'll have to explain everything then. But I'm worried. Although my mother-in-law seems kind, I have a feeling she's not easy to deal with. It might take some time to work things out, but I'm sure we'll find a way."

Rose pouted and said, "Hmph, you attract so many women. When I first came back to the country, I tried so hard to get close to you, and you acted all aloof. Who knew that once you opened your arms, you'd embrace so many. I almost feel like I misjudged you. If I had known being your woman was so stressful, I might have preferred being alone."

"Tsk, tsk, Rose darling, that's not right," Yang Chen chuckled. "Look at Qianqian. She's under a lot of pressure but still tries hard. No one's controlling you. You're free and don't have to worry about elders interfering. Compared to her, you're much luckier."

Rose's expression darkened. "Yes, I'm the only one without elders. No one cares who I'm with."

Yang Chen froze, mentally cursing himself for being a fool. He had brought up the one thing he shouldn't have. Rose had personally sent her father, Situ Mingze, abroad and was alone in China. To mention her lack of family was insensitive. He was the real "Clumsy" here. How could anyone be happy about that?

"Although Lin Ruoxi lost her grandmother and mother, she still has Wang Ma to care for her. Qianqian has Ma Ayi, and even you, once an orphan, found your biological mother. It seems I'm the only one left alone," Rose murmured, her eyes filled with sorrow.

Yang Chen waved a hand in front of her eyes to get her attention and then softly said, "I was wrong. I shouldn't have said that. Rose darling, even if you don't have elders to care for you, you have a man who loves you."

Rose smiled faintly. "I'm not that fragile. Don't treat me like a little girl. Let's eat."

Yang Chen felt a bit better and noticed the food was getting cold, so he started eating heartily.

After finishing their meal and paying the bill, they walked out of the restaurant. The pedestrian street outside was lit up with neon lights, the sky brightened to a pale white by the lights, with no stars in sight, just a crescent moon hanging in the sky.

"Let's walk around the street for a bit. It's still early," Yang Chen suggested, wanting to spend more time with Rose.

Rose immediately nodded in agreement, cherishing the time she could spend alone with Yang Chen.

The two of them held hands like an ordinary couple, strolling leisurely along the spacious street. Occasionally, they would step into small shops selling knick-knacks or visit some boutique stores.

When they reached a crossroads leading to a street lined with food stalls, Yang Chen paused, his gaze fixed on a charcoal grill snack stand at the corner.

Noticing Yang Chen's sudden interest, Rose looked over as well. She saw a middle-aged man running the stand, busy grilling various snacks.

"Honey, who is that? Is he a friend of yours?" Rose asked.

Yang Chen nodded, "Sort of. Remember the old man Li and his family I often mentioned when I was selling lamb skewers and visiting your bar? That's him."

"Oh, I see," Rose understood, "He's Li Jingjing's father, right? Why is he here selling snacks? It's quite far from his home."

Yang Chen shook his head, puzzled as well. Old Li was busy grilling a variety of snacks, sweating profusely and looking quite disheveled. It was evident he wasn't doing well recently.

Logically, since Li Jingjing went to the United States on a public scholarship, Old Li and his wife shouldn't have to work as hard as they did when they were supporting their daughter through school.

With a nod from Yang Chen, they walked up to Old Li's stand. Yang Chen looked at his old acquaintance with a complex expression.

Old Li had just finished grilling some octopus skewers and sprinkled them with spices. He looked up and habitually asked, "What would you like, sir?"

But as soon as he looked up, Old Li was taken aback to see Yang Chen standing in front of him. He was at a loss for words.

In the past, Yang Chen and Old Li had been close friends despite the age difference. But ever since the incident with Li Jingjing, Old Li knew their relationship could never return to its former intimacy.

"Yang Chen, what brings you here? It's been a long time," Old Li said with an awkward smile. He glanced at Rose beside Yang Chen and nodded in greeting.

Yang Chen felt a mix of emotions. The man he once chatted and joked with outside the market now felt like a stranger due to a romance that never amounted to anything. It was truly ironic.

"Old Li, why are you setting up a stand here? It's quite far from your home," Yang Chen asked with concern.

Old Li continued grilling while smiling wryly, "Competition is fierce. There are fewer customers over there, and I heard business is better here. Walking a few extra streets isn't too much trouble."

Yang Chen was no longer familiar with the street vendor scene, so he nodded and hesitated before asking, "Has Jingjing contacted home recently? I haven't heard anything since she went to the States. She should be doing well, right?"

Deep down, Yang Chen still cared about the girl he considered a sister. Although she had made some foolish mistakes, she was the first person he opened up to after returning to China. How could he forget her?

Old Li spoke proudly about his daughter, "She called and said she's settled in well. Her English is quite good, and I heard the professors praised her and want her to be a teaching assistant. She might even stay in the States."

Yang Chen smiled, "That's great. If she can become a teaching assistant there, you and your wife won't have to work so hard anymore."

"Yes, we're lucky she's doing well," Old Li said with satisfaction. Then he remembered something and added, "By the way, Yang Chen, we still owe you that hundred thousand yuan for my wife's medical expenses. I will pay you back when I can, but we don't have extra money right now. I'm really sorry."

Yang Chen had almost forgotten that the Li family owed him money. He had given all his savings to Old Li back then, leaving him no choice but to sell lamb skewers.

But a hundred thousand yuan meant nothing to him now. He casually replied, "No rush. Pay it back when you can. Just take care of yourselves and don't overwork. You don't want to be too exhausted when Jingjing can finally take care of you."

Old Li laughed heartily, "Don't worry about it. I'm still strong. How about some octopus skewers for you and this young lady? It's a rare occasion, let me treat you as a welcome gift."

As they conversed, it seemed as if the old camaraderie between them was starting to rekindle. Yang Chen, feeling at ease, reached out to take the octopus skewers from Old Li.

But just then, the cheerful expression on Old Li's face vanished, replaced by a look of panic. His face turned pale, and his eyes darted to a point behind Yang Chen. In his sudden fright, he dropped the skewers he was holding.