TYH-DCI | Chapter 29 – She Was Afraid, But She Didn’t Dare Say It

Li Zhaodi stared at the casually produced 300 yuan from the worn cloth bundle and clicked her tongue in disbelief.

“Jiang Lai… you just keep that much money in your bag so casually? Aren’t you afraid it’ll get stolen?”

Jiang Lai smiled slyly. “Would you steal this ragged bag?”

Li Zhaodi thought about it for a moment, then gave her a thumbs-up. “High-level.”

Xi’er didn’t immediately take the money. She wasn’t short on cash herself, but there was still Li Zhaodi and Wang Shengnan to consider.

If she accepted it and didn’t let them contribute, it would look bad—like she was being unfair or taking advantage.

She couldn’t quite put it into words, but she knew it wouldn’t feel right. It might even backfire despite her good intentions.

Sensing her hesitation, Wang Shengnan stepped in and took the money first. She then pulled out 100 yuan and handed it back.

“Jiang Lai got hurt saving me. I’ll cover her hospital and care expenses.”

Xi’er didn’t want to accept it, but when she saw Li Zhaodi’s expression, she ultimately took the money.

She worried that if she refused, Li Zhaodi might feel too uncomfortable to accept anything either.

But if Li Zhaodi could hear her thoughts, she would only say: You’re overthinking it.

That was two years of her hard-earned savings—money she had secretly scraped together bit by bit every month.

Of course she wouldn’t feel embarrassed to take it back. She had been counting on that money to improve her life after going to the countryside.

In the same manner, Wang Shengnan also took out 20 yuan to round things out and handed it to Li Zhaodi.

But to everyone’s surprise, Li Zhaodi only took 17.5 yuan.

“I’ll only take what belongs to me,” she said calmly. “Don’t treat me differently just because you think I’m pitiful. I’m afraid that if I get used to this, I’ll start taking your kindness for granted.”

Her words revealed a completely different side of her.

Wang Shengnan smiled at her gently. “Alright.”

Li Zhaodi’s eyes reddened, and she quickly lowered her head to hide her emotion.

At that moment, she suddenly felt there was no gap between them anymore—no difference in status, background, or anything else.

Xi’er quickly broke the slightly emotional atmosphere.

“I’m starving! Are you really not going to let me eat?”

She looked at them pitifully.

Xi’er immediately grabbed the money and picked up the lunch box, rushing out like a gust of wind.

“Wait for me! I’ll be right back!”

“Slow down!” Li Zhaodi called after her. “It’s not that urgent.”

“I know~” Xi’er’s voice faded down the corridor.

Wang Shengnan sighed helplessly at Jiang Lai.

Jiang Lai just shrugged—there was nothing they could do.

Li Zhaodi suddenly thought of something and became worried.

“How long are we supposed to stay in Lin County? What if we miss the reporting deadline for going to the countryside?”

At that, Jiang Lai also became uneasy.

Wang Shengnan quickly reassured them, “It’s fine. I already called my family. They’ll handle it.”

Li Zhaodi looked at her in slight surprise but didn’t ask further.

“Then that’s good… that’s good.”

“Oh, right,” Wang Shengnan added. “I also asked my family to try and assign us to the same production team. Is that okay?”

She looked apologetic. “Sorry, I should’ve discussed it with you first. If you don’t agree, I can call and change it.”

Then she looked at Jiang Lai.

“But you and I have to be together. You got injured saving me—I need to repay you.”

Li Zhaodi understood very well the value of having powerful connections. She immediately nodded.

“I agree. I’d feel safer staying with you too.”

As for Jiang Lai, she didn’t particularly care where she was assigned. With her abilities, she could live well anywhere.

Still, she didn’t refuse.

Having familiar people nearby in an unfamiliar place was definitely better.

And these three were genuinely good people—especially Li Zhaodi, who kept surprising her.

She hadn’t expected Li Zhaodi to contribute money for her hospital bill.

Li Zhaodi was a truly ordinary person—no background, no advantages, no “special fate.”

If Jiang Lai hadn’t transmigrated into this body and gained her system, her situation might not be any better than Li Zhaodi’s.

She didn’t know how long it had taken her to save those 17.5 yuan, but she knew it must have been extremely difficult.

And yet she still gave it.

That kindness would not be forgotten.

While they waited for Xi’er to return with food, there was a knock at the door.

A young man in a military uniform, two police officers, and a middle-aged man in a black Zhongshan suit stood outside.

“Hello, is Jiang Lai here?” one of the officers asked.

Li Zhaodi immediately tensed and shrank back slightly.

Jiang Lai noticed and gently held her hand in silent reassurance. Only then did she relax a little.

Wang Shengnan stood up. “Who are you? What’s this about?”

The officers quickly explained, “We’re from Lin County Public Security Bureau. We’re here to take statements about the human trafficking case.”

Before they could continue, the man in military uniform spoke.

“My name is Dongfang Jibai. I’m Dongfang Xi’er’s older brother. Why isn’t she with you?”

As if on cue—

Xi’er rushed back into the room carrying a lunch box.

“Quick, quick! The porridge is freshly made—it’s burning hot!”

Li Zhaodi quickly took it from her. “Are you stupid? It’s that hot and you still carry it like that?”

Xi’er stuck out her tongue. “I was worried about Jiang Lai! What if she didn’t die from the traffickers but starved because of me? That would be unfair!”

“Are you burned? Let me see,” Jiang Lai asked immediately.

Li Zhaodi checked her hands carefully. Xi’er obediently held them out.

“Don’t worry, I wrapped it with my sleeve. I’m not that dumb.”

Only slight redness—no burns.

Everyone finally relaxed.

A cough broke the moment.

Only then did Xi’er notice the man standing in the room.

“!! Third Brother! Why are you here?!”

She ran over excitedly, grabbing his arm and shaking it.

“You little ungrateful thing,” Dongfang Jibai complained. “I rushed over as soon as I got Dad’s call, and you didn’t even notice me.”

Xi’er pouted. “Dad said I was almost beaten to death and told you to come collect my body!”

Dongfang Jibai rolled his eyes. “And yet you look perfectly alive.”

He sighed in relief.

Then he looked around and finally realized—

there were a lot of people in the room.