Fourteen-carat diamond ring

Sister Ye said, "You've already been with other women, so let's forget about repaying me with your body." Hearing this, I replied with a hint of disappointment, "So you don't want to anymore." She said, "If it were your first time, I would have agreed. But if you're already experienced, I'd rather not. I don't want to let a tainted man touch me."

All I could do was respond awkwardly, "If you don't want to, that's fine. Let's just have some instant noodles."

She looked at the instant noodles, seeming uninterested. That was hardly surprising—someone who drives a luxury car wouldn't care for instant noodles!

I said, "If you don't like it, that's fine. I'll eat it myself." After all, the noodles came with a spicy packet, which could help drive away the cold, and I'd already biked over twenty kilometers, leaving me quite hungry.

Seeing my downcast expression, she said, "Watching you eat so heartily, I feel hungry now too." With that, she began to eat the noodles with me.

I was a bit surprised. Judging from her demeanor and her car, I had thought she must come from wealth or privilege. I never expected she would be willing to eat instant noodles.

Noticing my surprise, she said, "Don't be so shocked. I won't eat your noodles for nothing. I don't have any money on me at the moment, but this ring should be worth a few bucks. I'll give it to you now as payment for the noodles." With that, she slipped a diamond ring off her ring finger and handed it to me.

Looking at the sparkling diamond, I suddenly understood how she managed to break the car window with her fist. With the hardness of a diamond ring, shattering a car window wouldn't be difficult.

But what puzzled me most was: who was the driver of the BMW who knocked her into the reservoir? Why did he do it? Was it a drunken accident, or was it deliberate? Why was she so unwilling to talk about the incident? There were too many mysteries here!

I had wanted to remind her, but from her expression, it was clear she already knew, so I decided not to meddle.

I took the ring, thinking that she had no lack of money, while I was dirt poor—there was no need to be polite, especially since I risked my life to save her.

Glancing at the ring, I noticed something engraved inside, so I looked closer. Inside the band were the words "Snow on the Cold River."

I asked, "Is that your name engraved here?" She nodded. I asked, "How much is this ring worth?" She replied, "It's hard to say—depends on the situation, but it should be worth at least tens of thousands." I laughed, "Then I won't be shy, Sister Ye. If I ever run out of money, I can pawn it for some cash."

She said, "Xiaofeng, I hope you'll keep this ring safe. Of course, if you really want to cash it in, that's up to you. I've given it to you, so you can decide."

I laughed, "Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't sell it, but if it comes to starving, I'd have no choice but to part with it."

She looked at my playful grin. Suddenly, she smiled gently and said, "How about this—keep the ring safe. If fate allows us to meet again, I'll buy it back from you, either with money or... with my body."

My heart stirred at her words. That would be wonderful. To be honest, her body was a strong temptation for me. I couldn't get her out of my mind, but since she wasn't willing, I couldn't force her. I wasn't that shameless.

Then I thought again, and it seemed pointless. Jin Yulian once promised to marry me, but in the end, didn't she go back on her word all the same?

So I said, "Sister Ye, if you can't bear to part with this ring, you might as well pay me with your body now."

She gave me a sly smile and said, "What’s the rush?" I smiled wryly, "I don't trust women's promises anymore, so I prefer straightforward transactions."

She laughed, "Remember, you can’t eat hot tofu in a hurry. If you rush, you might burn your mouth."

I sighed, "If you don't want to, then never mind." She said, "Are you disappointed?"

I replied, "I've been disappointed so many times, I don't feel it anymore." She said, "Seems you have a story to tell! Will you share it with me?"

I said, "Sister Ye, if you give me a little interest, I'll tell you my story." She looked at me curiously, "What kind of interest?"

My gaze wandered to her snow-white cleavage. "Sister Ye, you're smart enough to know what kind of interest I want."

A faint blush colored her face. "You've already seen other women, haven't you? Women are all the same—what's there to look at?"

I chuckled, "Different women have their own charm. It's like eating pork—braised and boiled taste nothing alike."

She laughed, "I didn't think you'd come up with such nonsense. But let me tell you, no matter how you cook it, too much pork will make you sick."

I said, "Some beauty never grows old, just like eating—once you've had your fill, you always want more. Admiring women is the same."

She suddenly chided me with a laugh, "You little rascal, stop daydreaming. Idle thoughts will get you nowhere. Go get some rest."

I said, dejected, "If you don't want to, that's fine. I won't force you."

By then, I truly was tired, so I went to find a quilt.

At last, I found one in a chest of drawers. The quilt looked new—certainly not something Granny Li left behind.

When I unfolded the quilt, a faint fragrance drifted out, as though a woman had slept under it.

Who left this quilt here? Could it have been Jin Yulian? Did she stay here after I went to prison? If so, it would make sense for her to have left behind some bedding and clothes.

If Jin Yulian did stay here, it must have been to keep Granny Li company. When Granny Li was dying, I was in prison; Jin Yulian was the only one who could have kept her company. If Granny Li spent her last days with her... Suddenly, I felt grateful to Jin Yulian.