Chapter 9 I Will Foot The Bill

• Yulian was indeed very busy at the moment, his mind a tumultuous mix of emotions, complex beyond measure. His argument with Selena had left him feeling somewhat weary, with a touch of homesickness creeping in.
• Having left the Salvatore residence, he walked the streets of the old Hofcaster district. The night wind blew past, illuminating the long-abandoned orphanage in front of him with a dim light. The old, peeling walls of the building seemed somewhat shaky, stirring up Yulian's memories.
• That was his “home.”
• Yulian was an orphan, raised from a young age by Antonio of the orphanage. Antonio treated Yulian as if he were his own child, showering him with love and affection. However, in those days, he repeatedly disappointed the old man.
• Growing up without the protection of his parents, coupled with the poverty-stricken household of Antonio, Yulian, who had no power or influence, was often subjected to schoolyard bullying. To protect himself, he was forced to raise his fists, resorting to violence to counter violence. Once his fists were raised, they never came down again.
• From elementary school to high school, Yulian had always been the undisputed leader of the school, a figure no one dared to cross.
• After graduation, Yulian, who had accomplished nothing, disregarded Antonio's repeated dissuasions and ventured into society. His pair of iron fists, coupled with his loyal and forthright personality, allowed him to rise in the underworld quickly. He befriended many who would take a knife for him. At the age of eighteen, he even overthrew the mobster of the old town district and established Nightclaw Gang, amassing nearly a hundred followers under his command!
• In his youthful folly, he reveled in endless glory!
• However, only he himself knew that violence was never about bullying others. It was merely to prevent being bullied.
• When Yulian, brimming with joy, shared his life's achievement with Antonio, the old man, with tears in his eyes, slapped him hard and scolded him fiercely. The incident was so upsetting that it triggered a recurrence of Antonio's heart disease, and he passed away.
• At that point, Yulian had a sudden realization that he had taken the wrong path.
• The day after Antonio's funeral, Yulian bid farewell to his buddies in Nightclaw Gang. He resolutely joined the army, determined to change himself.
• From then on, an invincible weapon emerged in the army — the notorious Astral.
• Five years had passed, the once bustling orphanage had long been abandoned, and Yulian's “home” no longer existed. Facing the office where Antonio once worked, Yulian respectfully saluted in a military style, and his voice choked with emotion. “Mr. Antonio, I didn't let you down. I am now a soldier, a hero! May you rest in peace in heaven!”
• The night wind was bitterly cold, his home was destroyed, and his only kin had passed away. In that vast city, Yulian felt a sense of desolation. However, what was comforting was that deep within Yulian's heart, there was always a gentle shadow occupying the softest chamber.
• Once upon a time, he had a childhood sweetheart, the girl next door, Ruby.
• She was the only person who, since his enlistment, had consistently written him letters every month.
• “People often say that a girl changes a lot when she turns eighteen. Five years have passed. I wonder how Ruby has been doing recently?” With a knowing smile, Yulian collected his emotions, boarded the public bus, and headed straight for the address Ruby had given him.
• In the depth of the night, when people were few and far between, the bus sped along like a bolt of lightning, mirroring Yulian's state of excited anticipation. Soon, the bus came to a halt in the southern suburbs of the city. One after another, quaint houses came into view. Yulian's gaze instantly focused on the delicate white figure standing beneath one of the buildings.
• At the tender age of twenty, the woman was elegantly dressed in a simple white dress that accentuated her graceful figure. Her long, waterfall-like black hair framed an incredibly pure and gentle face.
• Surrounded by a few stray cats, she gently crouched down. As she scattered a handful of cat food from her palm, the kittens all rushed forward. Their soft meowing melted hearts.
• “Little kitty, eat slowly. There's still plenty left.”
• The young woman gave a sweet smile, her dimples surfacing on her cheeks. Her skin was as smooth as cream, her eyes as clear as water. This single smile of hers was like a warm spring breeze stirring the heart.
• Without a doubt, she was a woman of utmost kindness and innocence, yet so beautifully simple.
• Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Yulian gazed at the woman who had haunted his dreams for the past five years and murmured, “Ruby, I have returned.”
• The young woman suddenly stiffened in surprise, her delicate frame pausing momentarily. Slowly, she turned around, her face lighting up with ecstatic joy. She quickly rushed into Yulian's embrace.
• “Yul? Is it really you? You've truly returned!” Tears welled up in Ruby's eyes, clear as spring water. A blush of peachy pink bloomed on her cheeks, radiating with joy.
• Yulian took a deep breath, gazing at the beautiful woman before him. He earnestly said, “It's me. I've returned from my military service. This time, I'm not leaving again.”
• “That's wonderful. Yul, I've missed you so much these past five years, I really have,” Ruby said, tears of joy streaming down her face like a shower of golden beads. Just like when they were children, she clung tightly to Yulian, fearing that if she let go, he would disappear as if it were all just a dream.
• Ruby clung to him like an octopus, leaving Yulian with a bitter smile. Particularly, the two soft and towering peaks pressed against his chest made his breath hitch. As a vigorous man, he naturally found it a bit hard to bear.
• Who would have thought that in just five years, Ruby would undergo such a drastic transformation, not only in her demeanor but also in her physical development? She truly had a lot of potential.
• “No matter how old you get, you still act like a child.” Yulian chuckled.
• “I'm always a child.” Ruby pouted, let out a coquettish huff, and finally, with some reluctance, let go of Yulian. She smiled happily and said, “Let's go home.”
• “All right. Um, your mother isn't home, is she?” Yulian responded as he came down, then somewhat awkwardly halted his steps to ask.
• Ruby pursed her lips, letting out a soft giggle. She playfully asked, “What's the matter? Do you think my mother is a monster? Are you, a dignified ex-mobster, afraid she might eat you?”
• “She is far more formidable than any monster—” Overwhelmed with emotion, Yulian sighed, “I still remember when we were kids. I merely held your hand, and she chased me down five streets with a rolling pin, almost running my legs off.”
• Ruby burst into laughter, pointing a finger at Yulian's forehead. “Isn't it all because you were being a rascal, sneakily taking advantage of me? Hmph, you brought this on yourself!”
• “What?” Yulian widened his eyes, speaking irritably. “It was clearly you who initiated it. You even schemed to have me kiss you. Have you forgotten all about that?”
• “Oh dear, just drop dead, will you?” A blush of embarrassment and anger burned on Ruby's cheeks.
• She pinched the soft flesh around Yulian's waist fiercely, threatening him to skip the topic.
• With a hearty laugh, Yulian disregarded any concerns and let the young woman lead him by the arm into the house.
• From their childhood to adulthood, their relationship had always been like that. They were childhood friends, akin to siblings, yet not quite siblings.
• Upon entering Ruby's home, Yulian saw most of the furnishings appeared the same as they were five years ago. The old furniture, the television set, the refrigerator. It seemed that her family hadn't been doing too well over the past few years.
• “Please, have a seat. I'll make you a cup of coffee,” Ruby cheerfully greeted Yulian. Then she called into the bedroom, “Mom, we have a guest.”
• “A guest? Your boyfriend? Oh my, my dear daughter, you've finally come to your senses, understanding how to snag a golden bachelor, allowing your mother to bask in the glory of wealth and prosperity. I always said my daughter is destined to marry into a wealthy family!” Inside the bedroom, Ruby's mother, dressed in loose pajamas, excitedly ripped off the facial mask from her face and dashed out of the room.
• However, her excitement quickly faded when she saw Yulian's shabby appearance that day. “Ruby, is this the boyfriend?”
• “Mom, what are you saying?” Ruby's cheeks flushed red, her eyes darting towards Yulian from time to time. She hurriedly said, “This is Yulian, our neighbor from when we were kids. It's Yulian.”
• Yulian also stood up, somewhat awkwardly he said, “Hello, Mrs. Martinez.”
• “Yulian?” Georgina furrowed her brow, pondering for a good ten seconds before finally recalling. With an indifferent grunt, she said, “Oh, you mean that little ruffian who infuriated his foster father to death, right?”
• “Mom, how could you say such a thing?” Ruby was instantly anxious.
• “What? Did I say something wrong? Wasn't he a petty thug? Didn't Antonio die because of him? If a man doesn't even have the courage to take responsibility, can he still be considered a man?” Georgina spoke sharply and bluntly, not giving any face, leaving Ruby speechless in rebuttal.
• “Ruby, your mother is right in her admonishment. I was naive back then. I had taken the wrong path.” In response to these taunts, Yulian accepted them with an open and sincere heart, saying, “In order to make amends for my mistakes, I joined the army to better myself.”
• “You joined the army?” A glint sparked in Georgina's eyes as she asked aloud, “Yulian, I've heard that the military has been treating its members quite well these past few years. You've been in it for almost a decade now. What's your current rank? Have you reached the level of Deputy Battalion? Is your salary over ten thousand?”
• Recalling the sacrifices of Tigris and members of Astral Clan, Yulian frowned. He said, “Mrs. Martinez, I voluntarily discharged from the military. Apart from the twenty thousand severance pay, I have nothing else.”
• “Oh, I see. I'm feeling tired. You young folks continue chatting.” Georgina suddenly lost interest, her face full of disappointment. She stretched lazily and went back to her bedroom without care, muttering under her breath as she left. “Street thugs will always be street thugs. They will never amount to anything.”
• Her voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of Yulian and Ruby.
• Ruby, somewhat angered, stood up, wanting to argue on Yulian's behalf, but was held back by Yulian himself. He shook his head with a smile. His five years of life-and-death battlefield experiences had broadened his mind immensely. How could he possibly be angered by Georgina, a woman of the marketplace?
• Ruby apologized somewhat sheepishly. She was, however, quite enthusiastic in entertaining Yulian. With one hand propped on her cheek and her large eyes blinking like a child's, she listened to Yulian recount amusing anecdotes from his time in the military.
• Peals of laughter and cheerful chatter echoed from the living room as the two engaged in a lively conversation. It was as if they were children again, innocent and carefree.
• Time swiftly passed, and soon dusk descended. The night was deep.
• A hearty conversation with Ruby had significantly eased Yulian's troubled mind. His resentment toward his betrothed, Selena, had also considerably subsided. Just as he was about to bid farewell and return to the Salvatore residence, Ruby abruptly held him back.
• “Yul, it's so late. Where could you possibly go after just returning to Hofcaster? Listen to me, stay here. Although our house is small, we can still manage to tidy up a guest room for you.”
• Yulian shook his head and said, “This isn't appropriate—”
• “If I say it's appropriate, then it's appropriate!” Ruby's beautiful eyes widened, speaking without hesitation. “Ruby, are you treating me like an outsider? You're staying here tonight. Mom, could you please tidy up the guest room upstairs? Let Yul stay for the night.”
• “That's no good.” Georgina rushed out of her bedroom, fuming with anger.
• She exclaimed, “You reckless woman, that room was prepared for your future bridal chamber. How could you just let anyone stay there?”
• Ruby's face flushed a deep red as she retorted, “What's all this fuss about a bridal chamber? Isn't it just a room? What's the big deal if Yulian stays for one night?”
• “That won't do either. We are but a mother and child left alone. How would it look if we let an unrelated man stay overnight? What would people say? Have we no shame?” Georgina's face tightened, her expression extremely stern.
• The atmosphere in the room, in an instant, became oppressively awkward to the extreme.
• “Forget it. Mrs. Martinez, Ruby, thank you for your hospitality. I have a place to stay, so I won't trouble you further,” Yulian said to Georgina, his tone casual, as he had long grown accustomed to her ways.
• “Look at Yulian and how sensible he is. Unlike you, a young lady with no manners at all.” Georgina glared at her daughter, then turned to Yulian as if shooing away a plague. “Yulian, it's not safe to travel at night. You should head home early.”
• “Mom!” Ruby stomped her foot, saying, “Even if you don't want to keep Yulian, he came all the way here. We should at least invite him for a meal. It's not right to send him away like this.”
• “You insolent girl. Do you think you've grown wings now that you're in college, daring to talk back to your mother?” Georgina scolded angrily. “Does rice cost nothing? Are vegetables free? Your father has been unemployed for over a decade, selling snacks at the night market, and he barely makes three thousand a month, even with all his toil. If he continues to eat out today and treat others tomorrow, how do you expect us to survive?”
• “Mom, you... You've really gone too far!” Ruby finally couldn't hold back anymore, she shouted angrily, tears welling up in her eyes.
• “I said no means no. You're not the one calling the shots in this house!” Georgina, however, scoffed indifferently and, with a stern face, returned to her bedroom.
• In her heart, Yulian was such a worthless person that even drinking an extra cup of her water was a waste.
• Upon seeing that, Yulian immediately stood up, gently wiped away the tears from Ruby's eyes, and said with a smile, “Never mind, I should go now. I'll come to see you again when I have the chance.”
• “Yul, I'm sorry. That's just how my mother is. Please don't take it personally.” Ruby apologized, her face full of guilt and regret as she saw Yulian out of her house.
• “I don't mind,” Yulian said with an easy smile, gently pinching Ruby's nose tip. “As long as you care about me, that's enough.”
• Ruby's cheeks flushed a rosy hue, a sweet sensation just beginning to bloom in her heart. Suddenly, with a loud bang, Georgina burst through the door, clutching her mobile phone, her face ashen. She cried out.
• “Disaster has struck! Ruby, someone has been poisoned by the food from your father's stall. They're demanding fifty thousand for medical expenses or they'll beat your father to death! Oh heavens, what on earth have I done to deserve this? Why am I stuck with this d*mned scoundrel? Fifty thousand! It's as if they're asking for my life.” Georgina had already collapsed on the ground, wailing like a shrew.
• “What?” Ruby suddenly felt as if the sky had collapsed, her hands and feet icy cold.
• Fifty thousand, for a family like theirs, was practically a matter of life and death!
• “Don't worry, we're heading to the night market soon. Mrs. Martinez, Ruby, I'll cover the expenses for you. Leave your father's matter to me, Ruby.” Yulian gripped Ruby's small hand tightly.
• His voice was not loud, but it resonated with conviction. Georgina was stunned as if she was seeing the young man standing before her, who dared to shoulder everything, for the first time. “Y-You're going to pay for us?”