Disabled Childhood Sweetheart: A Humble Puppy Begs for the Young Lady's Pity

That night, Wenxi finally couldn't escape Jiang Qi's "torture and interrogation".

She didn't intend to hide anything and proactively explained her relationship with Zhou Jingchen in detail.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qi was so shocked she almost jumped out of bed, screaming, "Holy crap! You and the CEO of Xingyao? You two are childhood sweethearts?!"

"No wonder his assistant was so attentive to you, no wonder I always felt that President Zhou's gaze towards you was off, all sticky and insipid!"

Jiang Qi grabbed her arm and shook it vigorously, her voice full of excitement, "My God! Wenxi, when you become successful in the future, don't forget your good sister!"

Wenxi gave a wry smile and said softly, "We... will only date for a month."

"Why?" Jiang Qi was stunned, completely puzzled.

Wenxi unconsciously picked at her nails, her gaze drifting to the deep night outside the window, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, but she did not answer.

-

The next day, Wenxi got up very early. Thinking that Jiang Qi was still asleep at this time, she took advantage of the fresh air and strolled around the village alone.

The village is quite large. On the way, you can meet groups of two or three villagers, some of whom are going up the mountain to pick tea, and others are going to work in the fields.

Passing by a stilted house, Wenxi noticed a dozen or so villagers gathered at the entrance. Curious, he stopped to watch for a while.

She couldn't understand the dialect they were speaking, but she happened to run into the translator from that day, and the two of them stood in a corner and chatted.

The translator said, "Something happened at this house."

Wenxi asked, "What is it?"

"His son was bitten by a poisonous snake in the mountain."

"A poisonous snake?!"

"Yes, you should also be careful. Springtime is the season when snakes are rampant here, especially in the She Mountains, where there are many kinds of venomous snakes. One bite and you're dead."

"Yeah, we don't usually go up the mountain."

Wenxi realized she hadn't contacted her mother for several days, so she found a secluded corner and called her to remind her to take her medicine.

He then sent a text message to Song Xianglin before putting away his phone and leisurely strolling to the restaurant.

Zhou Jingchen got up very early and stood in the yard chatting with the auntie who was cooking.

For breakfast, they cooked noodles. When the auntie who was cooking saw that Wenxi had also arrived, she immediately served them two bowls of noodles.

Just as Wenxi was about to take them, Zhou Jingchen said, "It's hot, let me take it for you." He quickly carried the two bowls of noodles to the dining table.

He pinched her cheek. "Why are you up so early?"

Wenxi glanced at the doorway and pouted, saying, "Don't you dare lay a hand on me."

A layer of finely chopped scallions floated in the bowl. She picked up a mouthful of noodles with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth.

Zhou Jingchen asked, "Don't you not eat scallions?"

"People change," she murmured casually.

Wenxi has been able to accept the taste of scallions since childhood, but doesn't like eating scallions.

After seven difficult years, things I didn't like now seem acceptable.

She was no longer a pampered princess who could have everything done for her. No one would cut the scallions into large pieces like her mother did; and no one would patiently pick out the scallions from her bowl like young Zhou Jingchen did.

She eats quickly to avoid affecting her work; as long as she's full, she's fine and won't be picky about whether she likes it or not.

Zhou Jingchen paused for a moment, watching her stuff the scallions and noodles into her mouth, a sharp pain flashing in his eyes.

He suddenly remembered a time from his childhood when he couldn't help but say, "Why do you have such a princess complex?"

Wenxi held her swan-like neck high and looked at him: "Because I was born a princess."

"If you don't eat scallions, then don't let Aunt Xiang put scallions in your food."

"No! I'll feel like it's missing something of its fragrance."

"So what if it lacks a bit of fragrance?"

She turned her head away and snorted, "I'm not going to settle! Hurry up and get rid of the scallions for me!"

The proud Wenxi would never compromise on anything. She would never eat a bite more than she wanted, and no one could force her to do anything she didn't want to do. She would do whatever she wanted.

When she's happy, she'll laugh and say, "Zhou Jingchen, I'm so happy right now!"

When she's unhappy, she'll kick him with her foot: "Zhou Jingchen, comfort me."

If she were injured, she wouldn't have endured it for so long like she did yesterday at the tea plantation.

When she was 19, they were playing in Haizhou. She cut her calf on a rock and walked to him from afar, wiping away tears, to show him the injury.

In short, she is definitely not as forbearing as she is now, hiding a lot of secrets, ready to cut ties with him completely in a month, and ready to leave at any time.

She's like a gentle breeze; she seems to be safely by his side now, but in reality, he can't hold onto her at all.

Zhou Jingchen asked the aunt for a small spoon, scooped out all the scallions that were neatly floating on his bowl of noodles, moved the bowl without scallions to her, and then moved the bowl of noodles that she had eaten a couple of bites of to his own and started eating.

Wenxi stared blankly for a moment with her mouth agape, saying nothing, a shallow dimple appearing on her cheek, before lowering her head to continue eating.

Noodles that have the aroma of scallions even without them are delicious.

......

Their trip coincided with the She ethnic group's "Fengji Festival".

On this day, the village slaughters pigs and cattle, and there is a bonfire party in the evening.

The village chief specially gave each of them a set of local clothing. The boys wore headscarves, and the girls wore shiny silver ornaments and pleated skirts embroidered with colorful threads.

During the day, while everyone was filming, they also enjoyed a feast in the village.

There was a dish of cold pig's blood salad that Wenxi loved to eat, but Zhou Jingchen couldn't stand it.

After she finished eating, when no one was around, she mischievously leaned over and kissed him on the lips.

She rarely took the initiative, so he frowned and kissed her.

After the kiss, she deliberately pouted and said haughtily, "Hmph, look at how furrowed your brow. If you don't want to kiss me, fine, but don't kiss me again."

"Honey, I don't not want to kiss you..." He finished speaking and then vomited, his eyes filled with tears.

Wenxi laughed heartily from the side.

Seeing her smile, he smiled too.

It seems that the mischievous young lady has returned.

As evening fell, a huge bonfire was lit in the open space in the center of the village.

The men of the tribe play bamboo flutes and beat wooden drums, while the women rise to the rhythm of the music and dance the traditional She ethnic dance.

As they danced, they tried to get the group of young people to join in, but everyone was still a bit shy and reserved. They weren't very good at dancing and were afraid of embarrassing themselves, so they all waved their hands and refused.

Only Wenxi accepted the invitation.

She has been learning to dance since she was a child, and these dance moves are not difficult for her; she can learn them after watching them for a few times.

She wore a dark blue jacket with a right-fastening front, the body of which was embroidered with vibrant butterfly patterns in colorful thread, and a purple satin pleated skirt adorned with vermilion maple wood totems.

Amidst the bright music, she stood among the group of She women, wearing a beautiful and intricate silver crown on her head, a multi-layered silver necklace around her neck, and silver bells at her waist jingling lightly with her steps, radiant and lively.

Like a fairy who stepped out of an ancient village legend, she possesses both the fresh and ethereal beauty of the mountains and the magnificent and radiant elegance of her finery, making her captivating.

Xiao Zhe sat to the side, silently drinking his barley wine. Looking at that beautiful face, he felt a little uneasy.

After publicly revealing her relationship with Wenxi, Ms. Zhou added that she didn't want to involve other people in her work and wanted everyone to pretend they knew nothing.

He had secretly taken many photos of Wenxi with his camera these past few days, intending to develop some of them and give them to her later, as a way of preparing for their next meeting.

Unexpectedly, He Li found him last night, exported all the photos of Wenxi from his camera, and even deleted the original images from his camera.

I didn't leave him even the slightest hope.

However, these equipment originally belonged to the company, so he couldn't say anything. He could only bury this small flutter of emotion deep within him from then on.

As night fell, the campfire flickered in the wind. Wenxi's traditional ethnic clothing made her look even more like a She person than the She people themselves.

With a supple waist and exquisite dance moves, her eyes gently upturned at the corners, her gaze carrying a captivating charm. Her dance steps were sometimes slow and gentle, sometimes joyful and passionate, mesmerizing everyone's eyes.

Zhou Jingchen sat in the crowd, his dark eyes filled with a soft smile as he gazed at her intently.

She saw his gaze, a bright smile spreading across her face, and she raised an eyebrow at him triumphantly.

He pursed his lips slightly, put his hand to his mouth, and laughed until his chest trembled.

A moment later, Li Wei leaned over and asked curiously, "Did Wenxi study dance? She dances really well."

"Yes, she studied folk dance since she was a child."

Zhou Jingchen gazed at the cheerful, graceful figure in the crowd, then suddenly remembered something and asked Li Wei:

"We'll be launching a new section on our website homepage that will feature promotional photos and videos. Don't you need models?"

He raised his chin, his gaze sweeping over Wenxi. "Isn't this a ready-made model?"

Li Wei slapped her forehead. "That's right, how come I didn't think of that? She looks perfectly natural in this ethnic costume, so pure and lively, even prettier than those models that were sent to my office before."

Zhou Jingchen's gaze turned distant. After a few seconds of contemplation, he said, "However, she probably wouldn't agree."

"Why? Our website gets so much traffic. If her photo appears on the homepage, it might go viral."

"She doesn't want to be famous." Zhou Jingchen knew she was hiding from debt collectors, so naturally she wouldn't expose her whereabouts or photos online.

He kept thinking about how to give her some financial assistance indirectly. She didn't want the money; she was proud and wanted to earn money through her own abilities.

Moreover, she now feels distant from him and will not spend his money; she wants to keep things clearly separate from him.

Although he doesn't yet know the reason for that barrier, he will definitely find out.

Zhou Jingchen stared at the girl dancing by the campfire for a few seconds, pondered for a long time, and then whispered to Li Wei:

"So, tomorrow..."

After listening, Li Wei nodded, "Okay, I understand."

The villagers formed a circle around the bonfire and pulled the young people into the dance.

Wenxi got tired of dancing and quietly withdrew from the crowd. As soon as she stepped off the field, her hand was grasped by a pair of warm, large hands, and she was pulled into a dark corner.

A barrage of kisses, accompanied by the familiar scent of a man, landed on her lips.

He kissed her urgently, gripping her chin with his thumb and forefinger, his breath quickening as he pressed her against the dimly lit corner of the wall.

As she moved, the tassels on Wenxi's headdress and the small bells at her waist jingled.

This feeling is exciting, like having an affair.

A few meters away, the bonfire party was lively and noisy, but they seemed to be isolated from the whole world, and the only thing they could see in the small red light was each other's faces.

When the kiss ended, her face was flushed, and she muttered a curse at him, "A rogue like you would have been thrown into the sinkhole in the back mountain in ancient times."

He chuckled, "And what about you? Dressed so beautifully to seduce unmarried young men, you'll have to come with me into the sinkhole too."

Wen Xi slapped his chest angrily, "You...you say I seduce you every day, you really know how to flatter yourself. Would I ever seduce you?"

"You were flirting with me while you were dancing."

"Bullshit! That's not flirting!"

"So what does it mean to flirt?" He lowered his head and kissed her pink lips again, his voice low and husky: "Demonstrate one for me."

She kicked his shin and said in a coquettish voice, "You wish."

Finally, she glanced down at his trousers and added, "Are you flirting with a eunuch?"

After saying that, she winked and stuck out her tongue mischievously, then darted like a little elf into the crowd gathered around the campfire.

-

The day after the bonfire party, Li Wei called out to her.

"You danced really well last night. Have you studied dance?"

"Yes, I've studied folk dance."

Li Wei replied sincerely, "It's like this, we've run into a bit of a problem right now and would like to ask for your help."

"Before we came to the village, we had arranged to meet a model to take some pictures and videos for material, but the model had a family emergency and couldn't come."

"After seeing you dance last night, I instantly felt you were more suitable than that model. Now the situation is urgent, and I can't find anyone else on my end. Could you perhaps help me out?"

Wenxi thought for a moment, then cautiously asked, "Sister Wei, are these photos going to be uploaded to your website?"

"Yes, that's right."

Putting her photo online would allow loan sharks to easily find her, which is no different from issuing their own arrest warrant.

Wenxi shook her head and decisively refused, "I'm sorry, Sister Wei, I..."

"Don't rush to refuse, take your time to think it over. The price I negotiated with that model was 400,000, which includes all photos and videos. If you're willing to help, I can give you an additional 100,000."

"Five hundred thousand?" Wenxi's pupils widened. How long would it take her to earn five hundred thousand?

"Yes, 500,000. This is the payment for the photoshoot and the one-year collaboration period. We will pay you extra for each year we use your photos thereafter."

"Sister Wei, is this Zhou Jing... um... did President Zhou send you to talk to me?"

Li Wei looked surprised and shook her head: "No, I'm solely responsible for operating this section. What does it have to do with President Zhou?"

Wenxi frowned: "This amount is too much..."

"Are you saying it's too low? We can discuss the price further. However, even top models only get a few hundred thousand for endorsements these days..."

"No, no, that's not what I meant." Wenxi waved her hand, her heart pounding, feeling as if she had been hit by a windfall.

"Please think it over carefully. I really had no other choice but to ask for your help. Consider it an emergency."

"Okay, I'll think about it."

Wenxi first told Zhou Jingchen about it, and he looked a little surprised. "If you don't want to help, you can refuse her."

"Li Wei is a workaholic. She values ​​this project highly and wouldn't easily hire someone as a model. She probably saw your dance last night and thought you were suitable, which is why she approached you."

Wenxi observed his facial expression, trying to discern whether he was telling the truth or lying. "Wasn't this... something you told her to do?"

Zhou Jingchen held her in his arms and firmly said no, emphasizing again, "If you don't want to film, then don't film. If you want money, I can give it to you directly. Why do you want to work yourself to death with them?"

Hearing this, Wenxi finally felt relieved.

Of course, she couldn't possibly ask Zhou Jingchen for money directly; she wouldn't take a single penny.

Upon hearing the news, Jiang Qi jumped for joy: "Holy crap, so this is how you become a spokesperson? Sister, you absolutely can do it!"

Wenxi had her own concerns. She had been hiding from debt collectors for so many years and never dared to easily reveal her whereabouts.

But how long would it take her to earn four or five hundred thousand yuan? That reward is too tempting.

Jiang Qi said, "If you become popular on their website's homepage, more people might ask you to take photos, do promotional videos, and endorse products... You'll never have to worry about money again."

"I didn't think that far ahead." Wenxi's expression was somewhat unfocused.

That night, she thought about many things: her month-long relationship with Zhou Jingchen, her mother's illness, the heavy debt...

Finally, she made up her mind: after filming, she would settle her payment and run away, deleting everyone from the site.

She will take her mother away from Linshen to another city for chemotherapy.

Because of my mother's surgery, we've stayed in Linshen long enough this time. Judging by how fast that group usually goes, we should find them soon.

She had to leave Lin Shen before they found her.