(The top 100 on the fan list are all disciples, and the total reward ranking has advanced to 69! Many thanks to all the brothers who have rewarded!

PS: Whispering, you guys are too wicked, the "Collect All Virgins" tag was just harmonized, and the new "Collect All Firsts" has jumped to third place... Let's keep a low profile, folks, but go all out on the monthly pass! Like the undercover emperor in "The Great Bodyguard," let's shout out: I am the emperor! Well, let's call it "I cast a monthly pass!" (*^__^*)

Seeing his sincere praise, Huang Ying was comforted. She originally wanted to politely say, "If you like eating it, I'll cook it for you often," but thinking of his recent words, her face turned red and she held back.

As they ate together, Li Yan had a good appetite and ate a lot, while Huang Ying didn't eat much. As they talked about cooking, she mentioned that her father passed away early, so the economic pressure of the household fell on her mother. At that time, she was young, and what she could do was help take care of her younger brother and do daily chores, so she got involved in cooking very early. Finally, when she graduated from college and could help support her brother's education, the pressure was off her mother, but then her mother was diagnosed with a serious illness, which was due to years of overwork.

Talking about her mother made Huang Ying a bit emotional. However, having gone through the initial helpless period, she now felt fortunate. She was not only a filial girl but also grateful. Mentioning this, she thanked Li Yan again, saying that if it weren't for him, the outcome would have been completely different.

"Here we go again! I really didn't do anything, and you've thanked me numerous times."

To Huang Ying, her mother's serious illness was probably the biggest hurdle. Having talked about this topic, it would be easier to open up about other issues, right? Thinking of this, Li Yan continued to ask, "By the way, is there anything else on your mind? Even if I can't help, two people thinking together are better than one."

Upon hearing this, Huang Ying was stunned for a moment, then quickly lowered her head and continued to eat her rice, grain by grain.

Li Yan didn't rush her. It was her own matter, and whether to speak or not was her choice. If she truly didn't want to speak, urging her would only make her more anxious and pressured. The topic had already opened, now it was up to her to get past her own mental barrier.

He had almost finished eating, so he sipped his tea quietly and waited.

After a few minutes, Huang Ying spoke up, still not raising her head, but quickly saying in a low voice.

"Does what you said before still count?"

Since it was just the two of them and there was no sound except for the fan, Li Yan heard her but didn't understand what she was referring to.

"Can you be a bit clearer? Everything I've said to you counts; I just don't know which part you're referring to?"

"You said... you were willing... to support me..." Huang Ying lowered her head further, her voice even softer.

But these words were like a bolt from the blue for Li Yan!

This girl had not even thought of selling herself to save her mother in her most difficult times. How come she was now in such a bind again? Could it be something more troublesome?

Li Yan extended his hand and lifted her head that was almost dipping into her bowl.

But the gesture of holding up her chin, in Huang Ying's eyes, who just talked about seeking support, felt like teasing or like the examination of a product by a feudal landlord, which filled her with intense shame, and she closed her eyes tightly, her body trembling slightly.

Li Yan was speechless; he was merely helping her face him to communicate directly. Why did she look panicked and ready to be tasted? Do I really look like a patron?

He let go of her chin and asked softly, "Did your brother get involved in drug trafficking?"

Huang Ying was in agony, fearing that Li Yan would "inspect the goods" after "viewing the goods." Her heart was filled with conflict, nervousness, helplessness, and a hint of expectation that if he really wanted to inspect, she'd let him kiss her!

Unexpectedly, her tense scenario didn't happen, as Li Yan released her without making any move.

Could it be that he doesn't fancy me?

A wave of sorrow flooded her heart, indeed, as he had exemplified previously, if he truly craved women, with thirty thousand, one could find a thousand cheap girls, three hundred slightly upscale ones, even tens of virgins... Even if he wanted to support someone, many pleasure-seeking college girls wouldn't be expensive to support, so why would he willingly take on someone like me, who is a real burden?

Bringing up the matter of seeking support again, for Huang Ying, it has already crossed the ultimate line, practically equating to selling herself. Such words, even over the phone, were originally something she couldn't bring herself to say, which exhausted all her courage and strength. What made it worse was Li Yan's reaction, which showed neither agreement nor consideration, but disdain! This made her feel as if she had been struck in the heart by a massive hammer when she was already powerless, almost driving her to collapse!

"Did your brother start dealing drugs?"

This sudden and inexplicable question caused Huang Ying's mind to freeze for a moment and pulled her back from the brink of collapse.

"Why... are you asking this? Of course not!" Curiosity temporarily alleviated the sadness and shame in her heart.

"When there wasn't much hope for your mother's massive medical expenses, you never considered that; saying it now suddenly makes me think there must be more troubling issues, something more serious than your mother's life-saving situation. For you, it certainly isn't your own trouble, so I guessed whether your brother was taking risks to raise money..."

Seeing that she had opened her eyes, Li Yan looked at her without blinking, trying to soften his gaze and slow down his voice, attempting to ease her pressure.

Huang Ying smiled bitterly and shook her head slightly.

"Alright, I've said my words, and I will keep my promise. But I want to know what happened. Since you could even say the words about me supporting you, everything else should be easier to talk about, right?" Li Yan grabbed her frail shoulders and squeezed them firmly, encouraging her to speak up.

Huang Ying unconsciously lowered her head a bit again, and after pursing her lips and pondering for a while, she finally spoke softly: "You remember this matter, and you also remember what I said, right?"

Li Yan recalled for a moment, at the time, to prevent her from ending up on or being misled into the path of selling herself, so he used this more direct way to make her understand that selling herself wouldn't help. At that time, she finally said she knew he didn't have much money either, thirty thousand was probably all the savings, and might even require mortgaging the house. She couldn't let him use his bride price to help...

"At that time, I said... it's not that bad yet, I'll think about it, if I can get past my own barriers, I will indeed let you support me..." This counts as a compensatory promise of devotion.

"Hmm." Li Yan didn't comment, waiting for her to finish.

"Later things started because of you, leading to a very good development, both the process and the result you know. I haven't encountered any bigger troubles now, just after thorough contemplation during this period, I've come to realize some things..." Huang Ying seemed to have calmed down a bit by this point, daring to look up at him.

Li Yan had to admit that pressure makes people grow, compared to when Huang Ying first entered the company, now she had matured quite a lot.

"Because of luck, the biggest difficulty has been resolved. But for my family, it's still severe... Others can help my mom with the surgery fees, for the follow-up treatment fees, care, etc., we'll have to bear it ourselves. My brother is currently willing but unable to help much. My salary, apart from fixed daily expenses, and living expenses for the two of us, after deducting tuition fees, really doesn't leave much left. When mom comes back, it might just barely cover expenses, but then there's no way to support follow-up treatment fees, medical care, etc..."

Huang Ying seemed to be confiding in Li Yan, yet also speaking to herself, giving herself confidence: "Just like hospitalization before, as long as there's a sliver of hope, I'll put forth my greatest effort..."

Li Yan understood her mindset, people are like this, if the gap between ideals and reality is too large, they can only feel forced to abandon their ideals, but if even by trying their best there's a chance of realizing it, many are willing to abandon a part to exchange for the realization of ideals.

A mother's life, a brother's future, these were more important to Huang Ying than ideals now. If high treatments costs were previously unaffordable no matter what, she could only endure step by step, only to resent her own uselessness. Now it's different, as it's only caring for her family's life she can handle, while拼 her mother's follow-up treatment fees, it's still possible, so she won't give up.

In harsher terms, selling herself was of no use before, but now selling herself could solve the problem.

Li Yan could immediately think of this point, so naturally, the deeply contemplative Huang Ying understood it too, but compared to truly selling herself, she would of course rather sell to Li Yan alone.

Seeing Li Yan not speaking, Huang Ying took a deep breath, tried to smile, "Li Yan, you probably think I've already reached the brink of degradation, but it's not like that. I'm not trying to sell myself, I'm trying to find someone to share the burden with me. But this isn't something that can be found quickly, and the men these days may not necessarily want to take on a problem. So..."

She paused a bit, hesitated for a moment, then spoke the final key!

"Though the online speculation you did last time, not many people are following it now, its aftermath hasn't dissipated. A man managed to contact the hospital, and finally found me, saying he's willing to take care of my mother with me..."

So that's what happened! Li Yan sighed, "Have you met him? Do you know him? His understanding of you is just that little bit, maybe it's because you're beautiful?"

Huang Ying shook her head, biting her lips tightly, and only after a while did she say, "I haven't met him, nor do I know him. It's just that his words made it seem feasible to me, if there's a suitable person willing to help me, finding someone to marry is a more viable solution... I also know he might be a fraudster, or the conditions might not be good, or our personalities might not match at all. So... I asked if what you said before still counts... at least I know you, I understand you, and these past days, I also feel you are a man I like... Maybe you only sympathize with me, but you surely won't deceive or hurt me... However, I know you wouldn't like me, just kindly helping me, but you're not very wealthy, I can't have you help for nothing, what I can give... is only myself, and I'm willing. You surely won't marry me, and I can't cause you future troubles, so..."

(Thanks to the brothers who rewarded yesterday: マスク┊Cass,╰☆Golden Lion,Melancholy Little Fool,Eagle's Wind,True Jian Jia Gentleman,CP Pampas,Shopkeeper B,Wandering Aimlessly,Northwest & A Wolf,Yagami Light 2nd Gen,Book Friend 100125192830461,Celestial Bookworm,I Love Washing My Feet,Book Friend 100406144849005,jys0022,Feng Yiren,dongmin8061,Ancient Dragon*Ranger,~~Update~~,Book Friend 817124530,Never Suicide,Cold Team Leader,Rainy Night Butterfly Ah) (To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support legitimate reading!)

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