Toxic Love

During Jiang Chen's freshman year of college, his mother suddenly fell ill and was hospitalized. The family's savings were quickly depleted, and his father, in a desperate attempt to gather enough money for the surgery, ran around borrowing money, rapidly deteriorating in health.

Jiang Chen's world crumbled in an instant. His dreams of college life were shattered by the harsh reality. To ease the family's burden, he began searching for part-time jobs during his free time.

Near the school, Jiang Chen found a job as a waiter at a small, cozy café filled with the aroma of coffee.

One afternoon, when the café was relatively quiet, Jiang Chen was wiping down the tables. The door opened, and a woman walked in. She wore a light blue dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes revealing a hint of exhaustion and melancholy.

"A latte, please," the woman's voice was soft and slightly hoarse.

Jiang Chen acknowledged her order and went to prepare the coffee. As he brought the coffee to her, he inadvertently noticed the wedding ring on her left hand. The ring looked dull, as if it hadn't been polished in a long time.

The woman seemed to notice Jiang Chen's gaze and subtly withdrew her hand. Feeling awkward, Jiang Chen quickly said, "Enjoy your coffee."

The woman nodded slightly, took a sip of the coffee, and gazed out the window, her eyes empty and lost.

From then on, the woman came to the café almost every day at the same time, ordering a latte and sitting quietly for a while. Jiang Chen gradually got used to her presence and found himself paying more attention to her each time. Despite her constant sorrow, there was a unique aura about her that drew Jiang Chen in.

One day, by chance, Jiang Chen saw the woman being pulled and yelled at by a man on the street outside the café. The man was furious, his voice sharp and piercing.

"You're always wandering around outside, not caring about the family at all. What do you want?" the man shouted.

The woman tried to break free, her eyes filled with grievance. "I just want a quiet place. Don't do this."

"Quiet? Isn't the home quiet enough for you?" The man pulled her harder, and she stumbled, almost falling.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen felt a surge of anger. He quickly stepped forward, shielding the woman. "Don't treat her like that!"

The man was taken aback, then glared at Jiang Chen. "Who the hell are you? Mind your own business!"

"I work here. You're causing a scene in front of the café, disturbing our business," Jiang Chen tried to keep his voice steady.

The man snorted and let go of the woman. "I'll deal with you later," he said before walking away.

The woman looked at Jiang Chen gratefully. "Thank you, young man."

Jiang Chen noticed the red marks on her wrist. "Are you okay? Is he your husband? How could he treat you like that?"

The woman sighed softly. "Yes, we've been having a lot of problems lately, always arguing."

Jiang Chen felt a pang of sadness seeing her so distressed. "If you're feeling down, you can come to the café more often. At least here, you can have some peace."

The woman nodded slightly, a hint of gratitude in her eyes.

From then on, the woman and Jiang Chen began to talk more. Jiang Chen learned that her name was Lin Yue, married for many years, but her husband's growing career had left their relationship strained, with frequent arguments over trivial matters.

Jiang Chen sympathized with Lin Yue's plight, always listening patiently and offering comfort and encouragement. Lin Yue, in turn, found a sense of warmth and care in Jiang Chen that she hadn't felt in a long time. Though young and inexperienced, his sincerity and kindness made her feel safe and at ease.

To Be Continued