Soon enough, they were getting off the car.

Xu Xuan carried her grandmother once again and led the way through a narrow alley.

Qin Jing surveyed their surroundings and instantly knew where they were. These slums were among the poorest areas inCity A.

But it also had the cheapest rents anyone could find, with a vegetable market stationed nearby. It was a good enough place for those who struggled to get by.

Still, this was quite a distance from No. 1 High School.

Xu Xuan’s family certainly couldn’t afford the daily bus fare back and forth. Even if they could, Xu Xuanwould probably refuse to take the bus, seeing how frugal she was. She didn’t have a bicycle, either.

So, how exactly was she getting to and from school?

And to think, on top of their financial situation, she also had a debt to pay off with Yao Ran.Qin JingknewYao Ranenough to know that she had probably taken advantage ofXu Xuanin their arrangements.

Her brows furrowed at the thought. She just couldn’t understand it.

“Xu Xuan, how come you’re still blindly following Yao Randespite your living conditions? Are you an idiot or something? Not only is she no help to you, but she even makes things more difficult.”

Xu Xuan didn’t acknowledgeQin Jingand focused on meandering through the alley with her precious cargo on her back. A while later, she halted in front of a dingy apartment building.

She turned to the two other girls and asked, “Are you coming upstairs? I should warn you, it’s very messy in there.”

Qin Jing nodded emphatically. “Of course! We’re here, anyway. There’s no reason for us to just up and leave.”

Xu Xuan led them up to the third floor and retrieved a key from the top of the door frame.

She unlocked the door and held it wide for them.

Inside, they were greeted by a tiny living room.

It was just about ten square meters all in all, but everything was spot clean. The only furniture they had were a handful of stools and an old dining table.

Xu Xuan motioned for them to take a seat while she carried her grandmother to the latter’s bedroom.

After setting the old woman comfortably on the bed, she went and took out some old-fashioned, enamel cups and poured water for her guests.

Qin Jing stared at the cup in her hands, feeling like they had traveled back in time to the last century.

Even so, she refrained from voicing out her opinions and quietly sipped her water.

Xu Xuan sat with them, looking lost and restless. Then, as though she had a sudden epiphany, she perked up and turned toYao Tang. “Hang on, when Grandma wakes up, can you help me explain the whole situation back there?”

She knew that her grandmother had been furious with her back at the club.

Qin Jing bobbed her head in earnest, but her expression soon turned somber. “Don’t go back to that place anymore,” she toldXu Xuan. “It isn’t safe.”

Xu Xuan took a deep breath, her shoulders drooping.

That simple reaction told Qin Jingall she needed to know.

“Don’t you understand?” she insisted. “That man has already marked you in his mind. If you keep working there, he will only come and bother you again and again.”

She might not know the events that had led to this, but Qin Jingcould clearly see the dangerXu Xuanwas in. The girl had only managed to escape earlier becauseQin Jing and Yao Tangwere also there.

Xu Xuan could only be so lucky so many times.

As for Xu Xuanherself, she only wanted to explain her side to her grandmother. She didn’t exactly want to lose her job at the club.

“It’s no big deal. He’s only targeting me on a whim. He’ll forget me soon enough.”

Rich young men were always like that, after all. They did whatever they wanted with whomever they wanted, and never remembered a name.

Xu Xuan told herself that she was just one of those nameless parties.

Qin Jing was indignant at this point. She gaped atXu Xuan, her eyes wide with exasperation.

“Do you honestly believe that? Your situation is different! He suffered humiliation under your watch, so you’re sure to be on his blacklist. I’m pretty sure he’s nursing a grudge over today’s incident.”

“It’s fine. I’ll come up with a solution.”

“What are you talking about?” Qin Jingburst out, genuinely angry. “Do you even hear yourself?”

If today’s encounter were to repeat itself, it just might ruin Xu Xuan’s life for good. She couldn’t afford to let her guard down, especially not when she had Grandma Xu to think of.

No, Qin Jingfelt the need to do something to helpXu Xuan.

It took her a while to rack her brains for possible scenarios, but an idea finally came to her. “Say, my uncle recently opened a fine dining restaurant. You can work as a server there. Mind you, I’m not doing this for charity or anything. That man has provoked me as well. This is just my way to mess with whatever twisted plans he might have.”