When Worlds Apart Collide

"Are you crazy?"

A strong force rushed toward me. It turned out that while I was looking at Joey, I had subconsciously taken a few steps toward her.

I ended up bumping into a security guard and stepping onto his polished leather shoes.

I staggered a little, then finally fell onto the ground from the heavy shove.

With a loud crash, the soda cans in my woven sack all rolled out.

The security guard I had bumped into saw the footprint on his polished shoes and kicked me in a fit of rage.

I curled up helplessly, guarding the most fragile part of my body.

The commotion on our side drew everyone's attention. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Joey and Marcus looking in my direction as well.

I quickly wrapped my arms around my head, covering my face. I was afraid that Joey would recognize me. I didn't want her to see how I had become a beggar, someone anyone could bully.

The security guard's kick landed on my soft abdomen, and the pain made me break out in cold sweat. A cry of agony escaped my lips, but I quickly bit my lips together to silence myself.

As Joey saw this scene, her brows furrowed and she strode toward me with the little girl in her arms.

My heart was in my throat. Did Joey recognize me? The thought alone made me feel uncomfortable, and a sudden feeling of inferiority washed over me.

The sound of Joey's footsteps came closer, and the unease in my heart grew along with it. An overwhelming sense of humiliation engulfed me, filling me with the urge to escape.

However, the moment I tried to get up, a crushing pain spread throughout my body, as if I had just been run over by a car.

While I was still figuring out what to do, Joey had appeared in front of me.

Joey looked at the security guard sternly. "How could you hit someone?"

Under Joey's sharp gaze, the security guard's face turned bright red, and he apologized repeatedly.

After warning the security guard not to let it happen again, she reached out her hand, wanting to help me up.

I stayed on the ground, burying my face deep in my arms. Those were the hands I had once longed for so desperately, yet I didn't dare touch them.

At that moment, Marcus had finished giving his instructions and walked over to Joey, breaking the tension. "What happened?"

The security guard quickly explained everything.

Marcus furrowed his brows as he looked at me. His eyes were filled with disgust and disdain, as if looking at plain trash.

He said to Joey, "You shouldn't blame the security guard. This is a luxury five-star hotel, so having a beggar here would only hurt the hotel's reputation."

Hearing Marcus' words, Joey frowned. The little girl in her arms suddenly said in a childish tone, "Mom, this person is so weird! His whole body is trembling. He's so pitiful."

It was at that moment that I realized my body couldn't help but tremble.

Joey seemed like she still wanted to say something, but Marcus interrupted her. "The weather is cold, so bring Nina in. She only recovered from her cold. I'll handle things over here, okay?

"Although this person is affecting the hotel's image, hitting someone is never acceptable… I'll give him proper compensation."

Hearing Marcus' words, Joey finally felt at ease and left with the little girl in her arms.

Once Joey left, Marcus put away the warm expression on his face. He took out two 100-dollar bills and lightly tossed them to me, then turned around and left.

These two light bills weighed like two mountains, suffocating me.

My hands trembled as I picked up the 200 dollars, then stuffed them into my pocket.

… I had nothing left, so pride was no longer important.

Joey didn't walk into the hotel as the little girl in her arms was attracted by the two potted plants by the entrance. Joey held the little girl patiently with a gentle smile on her face.

I stared at her in silence, the wind carrying away the tears on my face.

I suddenly remembered the first time I saw Joey.

She was out under the blazing sun, wearing a heavy mascot costume. She sat in a corner of the mall, her hair soaked with sweat, gulping down bottle after bottle of water. Although she was exhausted, the light in her eyes shone like stars.

I was captivated by the starlight in that girl's eyes. I watched her put her headpiece back on, then continued interacting with passing customers.

As the mall was about to close, she suddenly walked up to me and gave me a lollipop.

I took it anyway, and instinctively peeled away the brightly colored wrapper.

The weather was hot, so the lollipop had melted a little, yet it still had the usual cheap taste as it hit my tongue. It was cloyingly sweet, yet strangely intoxicating.

I later learned that Joey was a university freshman, a poor student who had just left the mountains. Her father had died early, and she had a sick mother at home. The tuition fees and her mother's medical bills had all landed on Joey's frail shoulders.

Nonetheless, she always had a smile on her face and never complained about the unfairness of the world. She quietly accepted society's prejudices and injustices.

I gradually started to have feelings for her. I would visit her part-time workplace and act as if I were also a hardworking student.

However, I had grown up without worry and lived a life of comfort, so I naturally couldn't get used to this type of work.

When I accidentally broke a plate, Joey looked at me with worry. At first, I thought she was afraid of being dragged down by my mistake since we were on the same team. Surprisingly, she quietly cleaned up the mess and even paid the fine for me.

Joey even comforted me and said, "It's alright. Just be careful next time."

Her clean, gentle smile touched a soft spot in my heart.

I never told her that I was the sole heir of the Smiths. I was scared that she would treat me like everyone else, flattering me because of my background and wealth.

As we spent more time together day after day, I found myself caring for her even more. Until one day, I realized that just hearing the name "Joey Taylor" would bring an inexplicable sweetness to my heart. I knew that I had fallen for this pure, friendly girl.

However, I saw her hugging a boy in a plain white shirt and sharing a small cake when I arrived at her dormitory one day. It was only then that I learned that she had a childhood friend.

He was her first love, the one she liked. They had promised they would start dating after graduation, once they could support themselves.

Seeing the happiness and ment on Joey's face, I forced a bitter smile, quietly left, and quit my part-time job.

I thought our connection had ended there. Yet, when I passed by a hospital one day, I heard Joey's heart-wrenching cries.

I followed the sound of her cries, walked into the hospital, and found her at a corner. Joey was hugging her knees and wailing on the floor.

In her hands were a critical illness notice and a medical bill. Her face was pale, and her lips were tightly pursed. The light in her eyes was long gone, completely replaced by despair.

The way she was crying so miserably did not look good at all.

Seeing how sad Joey was made me feel really uncomfortable.

Her mother's critical illness needed a large sum of money. What was worse was that she didn't have any connections.

Joey cried so hard that she was shaking and retching. Her hands trembled as she took out her phone and called a loan shark.

I heard her say that she was willing to do anything, even if it meant becoming a collateral or selling her body. As long as she could get the money, she was willing to do absolutely anything.

I finally couldn't bear the pain in my heart and slapped her phone away.

Joey's eyes were filled with shock when she saw me.

Seeing how fragile she looked, I mustered up the courage and hugged her. She didn't struggle, but simply grabbed my sleeves and burst into tears.

Joey was really skinny. She kept asking me what she should do.

Listening to her cries, it was the first time I felt lucky for having the wealth and power to help her.

I patted her long black hair and said gently, "Don't worry, I'll help you."

When Joey's mother was transferred to a luxury ward and surrounded by famous doctors, Joey finally let out a sigh of relief.

She looked at me with a face brimming with gratitude. Instead of blaming me for hiding my identity, she repeatedly thanked me.

However, Joey's mother's condition was very critical, and she had to be in constant, meticulous care. Every time Joey saw the medical bills, her face would turn pale.

I looked at her and suddenly said, "Joey.

"I don't need you to write a promissory note. I really like you, so please be my girlfriend.

"I can let you continue studying and find the best doctor for your mother."

With the Smiths' status, I had gotten everything I wanted since I was a child, so nobody had taught me the proper way to confess to a girl.

That was also why I had no idea how much my words had devastated Joey. Back then, I watched as Joey stayed silent for a long time before finally nodding and agreeing to be with me.

Lost in happiness, I didn't notice Joey's disappointed gaze.

Once we were a couple, she always treated me with care. She never asked for anything, but would also never reject the luxurious cars and jewelry I gave her.

I thought we would continue living happily together, but it seemed like God didn't want my life to be smooth sailing.

While my parents were on a business trip, they got into an accident and died on the spot.

The company's stocks tumbled overnight. Once the Smiths went bankrupt, I was thrown out of the house by wicked relatives. Then, I got my leg broken and my eyes injured by thugs.

When I was deep in despair, I suddenly thought of Joey's smile.

However, when I arrived at Joey's place, I saw her and Marcus having a heart-to-heart talk, tears welling up in their eyes. I finally understood everything.

I used the little amount of money I had left and bought a train ticket to the South.

The Joey in my memories and the one before me gradually overlapped.

I felt the chill all over my body, and though I couldn't bear to look away from Joey, I still staggered away.

If I continued to stay there, I'd die.

My vision turned blurry after only taking a few steps, and I collapsed heavily on the ground.

As I sank into darkness, it felt as if I caught a glimpse of Joey's anxious expression.