Chapter 70: The Lady of the Fruit Shop

The owner’s wife of the fruit shop was sitting at the entrance. Upon seeing Wang Wenyu’s radiant complexion, she greeted her warmly, “Girl, why are you still up so late?”

Wang Wenyu, touched by her enthusiasm, replied affectionately, “No, I was just a bit thirsty and came down to buy some water.”

Hearing that Wang Wenyu was thirsty, the owner’s wife eagerly said, “I made some red date and snow pear soup tonight, it’s just the thing to quench your thirst. Let me get you a bowl.”

Not wanting to impose, Wang Wenyu waved her hand. “No need to trouble yourself. A bottle of water will do.”

The owner’s wife handed her the stool she’d been sitting on. “It’s no trouble at all—just a scoop from the pot. Sit down for a moment, I’ll bring it out for you.”

Seeing the owner’s wife so hospitable, Wang Wenyu didn’t have the heart to refuse again, so she sat down and gently said, “Thank you, sister.”

The owner’s wife fetched a small stool and, after handing Wang Wenyu a bowl of snow fungus soup, remarked, “You’re so beautiful, coming downstairs alone in the dead of night. Doesn’t your boyfriend worry about you?”

Wang Wenyu took a sip and replied, “He’s already asleep. Why are you still open so late?”

“It's the wealthy bosses who come for late-night snacks. Business is better at night, so I stay open longer.”

Just as she finished speaking and sat beside Wang Wenyu, a Santana car pulled up in front of the shop. Out stepped a chubby, short man with thinning gray hair, at least two hundred pounds, his arm around a girl of seventeen or eighteen. Walking to the entrance, he called out, “Ah Xin, get me a box of mangoes, a few pounds of grapes, and some apples. After you close, bring them to my rented place. My wife loves fruit—buy her a bit extra.”

The girl in his arms pouted sweetly, “You don’t have to buy so much just because I like fruit. Why not give me the cash instead and add a bit more each month?”

The fat man smacked the girl on her bottom, laughing, “As long as you’re obedient, I can give you extra even after buying the fruit.”

The owner’s wife ignored their flirting and greeted him warmly, “Boss Zeng, wait downstairs. I’ll weigh them and bring them over right away.”

The fat man leered at Wang Wenyu for a few moments, then left with the girl and drove away.

Watching the Santana disappear, Wang Wenyu muttered, “Dirty old man.”

The owner’s wife heard the indignation in Wang Wenyu’s voice, smiled quietly, and said nothing. After weighing the fruit, she picked up two bags with one hand and a box of mangoes with the other, turning to Wang Wenyu, “Girl, watch the shop for me a moment. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Wang Wenyu stood up. “How far is it? Let me help you carry some.”

“It’s fine, just sit here. I’ll be right back.”

Seven or eight minutes later, the owner’s wife returned, out of breath.

Puzzled, Wang Wenyu asked, “Doesn’t he have a driver? Why make a woman carry all that heavy stuff?”

The owner’s wife sat down, catching her breath. “That driver is the girl’s brother. He used to drive a truck at the Dahua Printing Factory. Once his sister got close to Mr. Zeng, he became Zeng’s driver. With men like that, do you really expect a touch of chivalry?”

Wang Wenyu, righteously indignant, said, “That Mr. Zeng is old enough to be her grandfather. I really can’t understand what she’s thinking.”

The owner’s wife paused, then sighed, “Who among us hasn’t been lost in youth?”

Then she changed the subject, “You and your boyfriend just got together, haven’t you?”

“How do you know?” Wang Wenyu, sensing the owner’s wife didn’t want to linger on the previous topic, didn’t press further.

With a knowing smile, the owner’s wife teased, “I saw your rosy cheeks when you came downstairs. Only girls newly living together have that kind of shyness.”

Wang Wenyu’s face had flushed because she’d helped Jiang Fan change his underwear and witnessed something awkward, but hearing the teasing, she blushed even deeper and protested, “Xin-jie, you’re terrible! We haven’t gone that far yet!”

Addressing the owner’s wife by name, Wang Wenyu felt a newfound intimacy.

After a moment of silence, the owner’s wife said, “Girl, I shouldn’t say this, but seeing how polite and principled you are, I can’t help but give you a word of advice.

I can tell your boyfriend cares for you deeply, but there’s a big gap between you two. Love like this rarely has a happy ending. If nothing’s happened yet, it’s best to keep it that way—so that if you part ways, there’ll be fewer regrets and more fond memories.”

“How do you know there’s a big gap between us? And how can you be sure we won’t last? Besides, you barely know me—how can you say I’m a principled person?”

Seeing the owner’s wife, who was practically a stranger, speak such candid yet intimate words, Wang Wenyu voiced her doubts directly.

The owner’s wife looked into her eyes and explained, “Though we just met, it’s clear you’re well-bred. Even when you didn’t call Zeng that ‘old pervert,’ I saw the disgust and righteous indignation in your eyes—it’s not hard to see you’re a person of principle.

With your looks, people notice you wherever you go. Your shyness shows you haven’t been hardened by reality, but your natural confidence, bearing, and manners show you’re not from an ordinary family.

Not to mention your boyfriend’s attire—when he came in to buy fruit, he bought only one of each, confirming my guess. I’m certain your family backgrounds are worlds apart.”

Wang Wenyu hadn’t expected the young owner’s wife to be so perceptive.

She felt she’d found a kindred spirit. After a long moment’s thought, she confided in her about her past with Jiang Fan and all the ways he’d moved her.

The owner’s wife asked in astonishment, “So the other day, when the security team was thrown into chaos, that was your boyfriend?”

Wang Wenyu nodded, “He was already injured, and when he saw I might be bullied, the look in his eyes—I’ll never forget it. It’s exactly because of things like that, I thought long and hard about living together, and finally decided that even if loving a man like him leads to ruin, at least my feelings will have blossomed fully. I’m prepared to go against my family. No external force could break us apart.”

Seeing the determination in Wang Wenyu’s eyes, the owner’s wife affectionately patted her shoulder. “You’re braver and more decisive than I am. I wouldn’t have guessed your slender boyfriend is actually such a man. I’m Xiao Yixin. When you two have time, you’re always welcome here.”

Wang Wenyu reached out and shook her hand. “I’m Wang Wenyu. I’m sure we’ll trouble you often, Xin-jie. Don’t get tired of us!”

Back at her rented room, Wang Wenyu saw Jiang Fan sleeping soundly, mumbling about his dreams. She leaned in and heard him say, “Whoever touches my woman, I’ll kill them.”

She recalled the security team—Jiang Fan, heedless of the others, attacking the one who’d tried to bully her, shouting those very words.

Wang Wenyu smiled, slipped off her nightgown, and lay beside him, pulling his hand around her and mischievously placing it on her softness, scolding with joy, “It’s been days, and you’re still dreaming about that?”

The next morning, Wang Wenyu got up, dressed, and kissed Jiang Fan on the lips before leaving for work. Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around her waist.

She hugged him back, ruffling his messy hair indulgently. “You rascal, you’re awake?”

Jiang Fan, clinging shamelessly, stroked her a few more times. “How could I sleep when my woman’s about to leave? Help me get dressed, I’ll walk you to the bus.”

As they headed downstairs, Wang Wenyu saw, across the street at a breakfast stall, Boss Zeng and a burly man sitting together, their table empty. Yet Boss Zeng’s eyes were fixed intently on the entrance to her building.