Chapter 034: Shameless

Early the next morning, Li Huan was up with the dawn. After washing up, he went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, even taking the time to make a fried egg especially for Su Dieyi. The yolk in the center was shaped into a smiling face, so cheerful that one could hardly bear to eat it.

As expected, when Su Dieyi emerged from the bathroom and saw Li Huan bustling about so industriously, she couldn’t help but frown slightly, a blush tinting her cheeks. She had already noticed her underwear hanging on the rack, along with a note left by Li Huan. The thought of her underwear being handled by a man was mortifying, yet she couldn’t bring herself to quarrel with Li Huan over it.

When she saw the smiling face on the egg, Su Dieyi found herself with no reason to be angry. Instead, a tender sweetness bloomed inside her. This was probably the first time in her life that a boy had made her breakfast, and it was clear he had put real effort into it.

Of course, a girl like her, if she wished, could have any number of men eager to make her breakfast every morning, to serve her with a smile. Even the most handsome and wealthy rarely had the confidence to pursue someone as beautiful as Su Dieyi.

Yet, her face soon darkened. After all, it was he who had crossed the line first. This was just his way of apologizing, so why should she be happy? She couldn’t let him think a single breakfast was enough to make up for his mischief. At the very least, he’d have to keep it up for a week.

Neither of them mentioned the matter of the underwear. For Su Dieyi, it was simply too embarrassing; for Li Huan, it was pure guilt. After breakfast, Li Huan even washed the dishes, which surprised Su Dieyi.

“Is your hand alright?” Su Dieyi frowned, only then noticing that the bandage on Li Huan’s hand had been removed. He was even able to wash dishes—was his wound already healed?

Li Huan had forgotten all about it. He quickly wiped his hands dry and mumbled, “Pretty much.”

Su Dieyi wanted to check his wound but, considering the awkwardness between them, she stopped herself. “You know wounds can get infected when they get wet, right? Always have to act tough,” she chided.

Li Huan didn’t argue. His body had undergone inexplicable changes lately. Though he didn’t feel anything particularly different, his wounds healed at least ten times faster than normal. The injuries had left not a trace, a fact that defied ordinary understanding.

“Are you going to campus today?” Li Huan asked, noticing Su Dieyi had changed clothes and was holding a book.

“Of course. Why?” Su Dieyi was puzzled. It wasn’t the weekend, so naturally she was going to class.

“Then let’s go together!” Li Huan hurried to put on his shoes, opened the door, and gestured for her to go ahead.

Su Dieyi paused, frowning in confusion at his offer, then quickly understood. She remembered that Li Huan studied finance and management, and there was a seminar at the business school today—he must be planning to attend.

Still, the idea of going to campus with a boy felt odd. Though she was often pursued by male classmates, she’d never been seen in public walking with any of them. That could give people the wrong impression—that they were a couple, which Su Dieyi definitely did not want. Besides, she and Li Huan were, well, sharing an apartment. If anyone saw them together, who knew what rumors might spread?

With this in mind, as soon as she stepped out the door, Su Dieyi darted downstairs, making it clear she had no intention of waiting for Li Huan.

By the time Li Huan locked the door and turned around, Su Dieyi had already disappeared. He was a little disgruntled. It was still early—there was no need to rush to catch the bus.

When he arrived at the bus stop, sure enough, he saw Su Dieyi squeezing onto the bus, glancing nervously around. The moment she spotted Li Huan, she appeared startled, thrust herself forward, elbowed past two people, and quickly slipped into the bus. Li Huan was baffled—did she think he had stolen her underwear? That was impossible. He quickened his pace, squeezed onto the bus, swiped his card, and looked up only to see that Su Dieyi had already made her way to the back.

The bus was packed, so tightly that people could barely keep their balance. Li Huan, being taller than most, grabbed a handrail, but found it too difficult to force his way toward the back. He glanced at Su Dieyi, then gave up on the idea of standing next to her.

Seeing that Li Huan had stopped, Su Dieyi breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t even know what she was worried about. It was perfectly normal for boys and girls to walk around campus together, and she could accept that. But if it were her, she’d feel uneasy. Even in a group, she rarely initiated conversation with the boys beside her.

Maybe she was just too reserved, she told herself. But Stinky Pig had once called her repressed, which infuriated her—Stinky Pig was such a little hooligan!

The bus drove toward the university district, but no one got off along the way, much to Li Huan’s annoyance. Still, it wasn’t as if he had to stand beside Su Dieyi—he just wanted to ask why she hadn’t waited for him.

The back of the bus was the least safe place, especially when crowded. For boys, it wasn’t much of an issue, but for girls—regardless of looks—most would be groped, intentionally or not. Usually, such incidents were subtle—just more physical contact when the bus jolted. Many people didn’t pay much attention, but not everyone behaved themselves, and some more brazen harassers would take advantage. Girls often suffered in silence.

Li Huan hadn’t thought much about this at first, since this was a university shuttle bus and most passengers were students, usually better behaved. Occasionally a troublemaker appeared, but the odds of encountering one weren’t high. Anyway, as a man, he wouldn’t be too bothered if someone groped him.

After five or six stops, a sudden cry rang out in the bus, and the crowd fell silent. Li Huan turned to see Su Dieyi, pointing accusingly at the man behind her and shouting angrily, “How shameless can you be—!”

Hearing her scold someone as “shameless” right out loud gave Li Huan a headache. Thank goodness he wasn’t standing next to her; if he had accidentally brushed against her, would he be getting the same treatment?

Still, seeing her in trouble, Li Huan couldn’t just ignore it. After all, they were roommates, and he had that additional connection through Stinky Pig. He couldn’t just stand by; that would be inhuman.

Ignoring the protests of those he shoved aside—someone even yelped in pain when he stepped on their foot—Li Huan squeezed his way over to Su Dieyi and finally got a good look at the man behind her.

The man had a buzz cut with the front dyed a hideous yellow, and his face was riddled with acne, the result of pent-up energy and a disastrous hormonal imbalance. Li Huan could barely bring himself to look at him a second time.

His appearance was enough to frighten people away, and soon there was a clear space around him, with only Su Dieyi still standing her ground, glaring at him.

Li Huan frowned. Today, Su Dieyi was wearing tight jeans that hugged her shapely hips, forming a striking curve even he found hard to ignore. No wonder the acne-riddled guy couldn’t restrain himself.

Of course, people are always quick to criticize others’ morals, and Li Huan was no exception. Though the same thoughts crossed his mind, he considered them a normal physiological reaction for a man.

Before Li Huan could say anything, the acne-riddled man flew into a rage. He glared fiercely at Su Dieyi and snapped, “What’s wrong with you? Watch your mouth—this is a public bus!”

Su Dieyi was taken aback by his words. She’d heard that the back of the bus was the least safe place, and that perverts who got caught could easily escape through the rear door. Many girls had no way to fight back in such situations. Clearly, the acne-riddled man was warning her not to go too far.

“So what if it’s a bus? What was your hand just doing?” Su Dieyi retorted, pointing at his hand with a look of disgust.

“He touched—bumped into you?” Li Huan came over and whispered in her ear. He’d intended to say “touched,” but seeing her look, he quickly changed his wording.

“No!” Su Dieyi scoffed. Would he dare? She’d won a university taekwondo championship. If he tried anything, she’d make sure he regretted it for life.

Li Huan wiped his brow. If he hadn’t touched her, how did she know he was shameless? But it wasn’t his place to question the details. A girl like Su Dieyi wouldn’t make a fuss without reason; she must have caught the man in the act.

Whether the acne-riddled man overheard, or simply felt emboldened, he scowled at Su Dieyi and snarled, “Watch what you say, little girl. I grew up around here and there’s nothing I haven’t done. If you don’t want trouble, shut your mouth!”

His pimples seemed to glow even brighter with anger, looking about ready to burst. Su Dieyi was startled and instinctively took a step back.

The man sneered, feeling he had the upper hand, and made an obscene gesture at Su Dieyi. But before he realized what was happening, a tall figure stepped between them. Before he could see who it was, a sudden, excruciating pain shot through his fingers, as if they’d been clamped in a vise, leaving him speechless with agony.

The corners of Li Huan’s mouth curled in a cold smile as he looked at the man. He didn’t twist the guy’s fingers hard enough to break them—that would’ve been too cruel and brought unnecessary trouble. Instead, he just held them at an angle that caused constant pain without breaking them. Sometimes, such pain was even worse than a quick snap.

“Let go, damn it, let go!” the acne-riddled man howled in a shrill voice. In just a moment, sweat had broken out all over his forehead, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

The driver at the front stopped the bus and shouted back, though no one could make out the words in the commotion. The doors swung open. Seeing this, Li Huan grinned, lifted his foot, and kicked the man hard in the stomach. “Alright, I’ll see you off!”

With a dull thud, the man was sent stumbling off the bus, his screams cut off as the doors closed behind him. The driver floored the accelerator, the bus speeding away and leaving the man’s curses far behind.