ebookland Chapter 339: When there is hope, there is dignity
Chapter 339: When there is hope, there is dignity
After coming out of the women's clothing store, Shen Lan and the others went straight to the hot pot restaurant on the fifth floor.
After ordering the dishes, Shen Lan leaned back in his chair and looked at the people coming and going outside through the glass window, his expression dazed.
Jin Yu sighed softly and held her hand on the table. "Niannian, don't think too much. Zhao Yue has ill intentions towards you, and her words are harsh. You haven't hurt anyone or damaged anyone's feelings. If you really want to count, you are the victim, with no choice."
"Although you and Xiao Yun have that bullshit agreement, you are different from those vain women who use their bodies to gain power."
Shen Lan curled his lips: "What's the difference? They are after money and power, I am after Xiao Yun's protection, I want to use his power to find my brother and avenge my parents. In essence, I am after his money and power."
The seats for the two of them were relatively secluded, with few people around. Jin Yu was the person she trusted the most, so Shen Lan couldn't help but want to tell her her heartfelt words.
"Jin Yu, I used a lot of excuses to whitewash things, thinking that Xiao Yun and I were just getting what we wanted. He wanted my beauty, and I wanted his power... But in fact, I know very well that this relationship is shameful and unacceptable, and it was achieved by trampling on my dignity."
Shen Lan covered her face and took a deep breath before continuing, "Zhao Yue's words directly tore off the veil, forcing me to face it."
"Do you regret exposing your appearance at the holiday villa?" Jin Yu asked softly.
Shen Lan shook her head. "No regrets. Being pushed into the lake by Liang Qiu was an accident. Not having a spare powder was just a trigger. I've been hiding my appearance for so many years, suppressing it for so many years. It's a rare opportunity to not care about other people's eyes, not disguise my personality, not be timid, and be able to appear in front of everyone with my face. I don't regret it at all."
"I don't even regret making this deal with Xiao Yun. If it weren't for him, I would have been bullied to death by the Lu family and would never have found out where my brother is. I'm very grateful to him."
Jin Yu was puzzled: "Then what are you struggling with now?"
Shen Lan smiled bitterly: "When people are at their most desperate, they don't care about anything. Reputation is the most worthless thing. But once people have hope, all kinds of concerns arise. They want dignity and want others to respect them."
After she said that, Jin Yu understood.
Although she has been humble and pretending to be dull for more than ten years, Shen Lan is still the little daughter of the Shen family at heart, and she has a proud character.
Following a man without any name or status and exchanging your body for what you want is a humiliation for any proud person.
When she first learned about that crappy deal, she couldn't help but feel angry and felt sorry for Shen Lan, not to mention herself.
"Jin Yu, just wait and see. It won't be long before the whole city is in turmoil over what happened between Xiao Yun and me. If I had no family, I wouldn't mind whatever public opinion escalated. I'm all alone, so it wouldn't matter. But now I'm a little scared. If my brother comes back and finds out about this, will he be disappointed in me?"
Shen Lan's eyes flushed, and her voice trembled a little: "Will he think I'm willing to be degraded? I don't even dare to dream about my parents now, for fear that they will think I've brought shame to the Shen family, that I'm unworthy of being their daughter, and that I've brought shame upon them..."
Before she could finish her words, Jin Yu quickly stood up and sat over, holding her in his arms, his voice gentle yet firm.
"No, they won't. Your uncle and aunt love you the most, and your brother holds you in his arms. If they knew what you've been going through these years, they would only feel sorry for you, sorry for letting you face so many ups and downs alone."
"You are their little princess. Even if everyone in the world denies you, laughs at you, and attacks you, they are the only ones who won't. They will only stand in front of you to protect you and stand behind you to encourage you. And me too."
Jin Yu held Shen Lan's little face in his hands, and looked at her with eyes as bright as the sun: "I will always be with you. No matter what happens in the future, we will face it together, and it will pass."
Shen Lan felt a lump in his throat and hugged her tightly.
Jin Yu felt the heat and moisture on her collarbone. Her eyes softened, and she deliberately said in a relaxed tone, "Niannian, don't hug me so tightly. There are so many people watching us. They probably think we are a couple."
Shen Lan nuzzled her neck, her voice muffled and cute, crying: "A pair is a pair, you are much better than those stinky men."
But she let go after a while because the waiter started serving the food.
After eating the hot and spicy hot pot, Shen Lan felt much more relaxed.
She looked at the time. It was almost eight o'clock in the evening. Logically, she should go back to the Xiao family.
but……
Shen Lan frowned. She was a little reluctant to go back.
"Jin Yu, have you ever been to a bar?"