Chapter 064: I Want to Book a Room

Zhang Gensheng’s expression shifted subtly, his face twitching at Brother Long’s words. He gritted his teeth, but ultimately swallowed his irritation, lowering his voice as he said, “Brother Long, you know the rules. We’re all under Baldie’s protection here. You’re eating from Baldie’s table too. That makes us all part of the same crowd…”

“Don’t talk nonsense with me! Whatever I want to do, it’s not for you to control!” Brother Long sounded impatient, but still raised a hand to stop one of his men who was about to charge forward.

Listening to their exchange, Li Huan was beginning to piece things together. This Boss Zhang had probably once been involved in the underworld, but later went straight, focusing on business and distancing himself from those old connections.

However, Brother Long didn’t seem entirely willing to offend Zhang too deeply. What really caught Li Huan’s attention was the mention of Baldie; something about that made his heart skip—he had a vague suspicion about the man.

With Dog Master, Li Huan wasn’t particularly worried for now. After all, he still had to work with Li Ruotong, and with the pressure from that woman in Florence, Dog Master would likely stay in line. But as for the Big Baldie, Li Huan still knew nothing about his situation.

The crowd around them was growing larger, many people condemning Brother Long’s behavior. Yet, when Brother Long shot them a glare, silence fell instantly. In this country, most people chose to watch quietly in situations like this, though some would call the police out of concern. Li Huan was used to it; he was not one of those hot-blooded heroes who rush to help at every sign of injustice. Unless he could really do something without causing himself too much trouble, he would stay uninvolved.

Brother Long’s patience was wearing thin. He pointed at Li Huan and barked, “Get him out of here! I don’t believe anyone dares to challenge me on my turf!”

“You overestimate yourself!” Li Huan shot back. Before anyone could make a move, he suddenly kicked out fiercely, catching Brother Long off guard, and dragged the dazed Han Xuemie into the crowd.

Brother Long took the blow squarely in the chest, flying backward and crashing to the ground. His head spun, unable to grasp what had happened. He was used to being the one who struck first; this was the first time he’d been caught off guard.

“Damn it, are you all dead? Why aren’t you chasing them?” Brother Long sat up, seeing his three men staring blankly at him, and flew into a rage, snatching up a plastic chair and hurling it at them.

Li Huan, with Han Xuemie in tow, ran for a while and, seeing no one in pursuit, finally relaxed. He could have dealt with those thugs himself, but with a drunken girl beside him and his own head swimming from alcohol, he didn’t dare risk it. He’d chosen to strike first, using a thunderous move to intimidate them and escape.

Thinking back, Li Huan was rather frustrated. He’d just come out for a bit of fun tonight, but ended up embroiled in trouble twice—both times because of Han Xuemie. It brought to mind an old saying: beautiful women are born trouble!

He shook his head, chasing the thought away, and calmed himself. He realized his thinking was a bit too extreme. After all, it wasn’t a crime for a woman to be beautiful, and he himself liked pretty girls. The real problem was that he wasn’t strong enough—or not strong enough yet—to keep trouble away from the women at his side.

With that realization, Li Huan gritted his teeth. He didn’t yet know how to become powerful, but he was certain about one thing: the mysterious super transformation system might just be the thing to change his fate. Whether it had hidden dangers was something his current self couldn’t perceive.

“Where are we?” Han Xuemie’s intoxication was deepening, her face flushed prettily from the alcohol. She was soft and limp, half draped over Li Huan, her ample chest pressed against his arm like two enormous sponges—a sensation that was indescribably pleasant.

Li Huan glanced down. Han Xuemie’s eyes were half-closed, as if she was trying hard to open them but found it difficult. Her chin was propped on his shoulder, supporting her head like a coy girl asking her boyfriend for a kiss—an utterly enchanting sight.

Seeing her like this, Li Huan’s body stiffened. He shifted slightly, feeling as if his joints were rusted. After a moment, he exhaled deeply, suppressing the strange feelings rising within him. He wrapped an arm around Han Xuemie’s delicate waist, half-holding her to keep her from slipping.

They weren’t far from Li Huan’s apartment, but he couldn’t bring a drunken Han Xuemie home. For one, it would easily invite gossip; for another, Su Dieyi was still at his place. If she saw him, even if he stripped naked to prove his innocence, she wouldn’t believe him.

“Han Xuemie, let me take you to a hotel,” Li Huan said, glancing around. There was a hotel just ahead; it seemed the most appropriate place for her to rest.

“What do you want? Are you planning to get a room with me?” Han Xuemie, drunk and uninhibited, spoke bluntly. In her mind, any man suggesting a hotel meant getting a room, and what happened afterward was obvious—no need to spell it out.

Li Huan’s face darkened. He hadn’t thought of that, but her words unsettled him. This was his first time feeling a woman pressed so intimately against him, soft and warm. If not for reason overpowering desire, he might have skipped the formalities, found a hotel, and acted right away.

“You need to rest. Do you remember where you live?” Li Huan really didn’t want to ask about her address. Han Xuemie looked barely twenty, probably just graduated, likely living with her parents. If he delivered their drunken daughter home, he’d surely be beaten by her father.

“I don’t want to go home. I want to get a room…” Han Xuemie swayed, protesting Li Huan’s suggestion. She seemed to forget the weight of her ample chest, the softness rubbing against his arm sent electric shocks through his body—even his little Huan stiffened instantly.

They were still on the street, with plenty of passersby. Hearing Han Xuemie’s words, people shot them odd looks. Seeing such a beautiful woman being held by Li Huan, the men’s faces turned indignant, as if Li Huan was a predatory old man tricking a young girl into drunkenness for nefarious purposes.

Even Li Huan, thick-skinned as he was, couldn’t withstand their stares. He noticed someone secretly dialing their phone, glared at him, and felt a surge of frustration—did he really look that much like a thug?

Hurrying away from the crowd, Li Huan led Han Xuemie straight to the hotel lobby. He checked his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed his ID to the receptionist. “Please, give us a double room.”

The receptionist was a pretty young woman. She glanced at the drowsy Han Xuemie, then at Li Huan, her brows knitting as she couldn’t help asking, “Is she your girlfriend? She’s very beautiful.”

“No… We’re just friends,” Li Huan replied without thinking, but immediately regretted it. Bringing a drunken girl to a hotel who wasn’t his girlfriend—what would people assume?

Sure enough, the receptionist hesitated, then looked back at the security staff, as if considering whether to call someone over.

Seeing things turn bad, Li Huan grew anxious. He hadn’t expected the hotel to be so strict and hurried to explain, “We really are just friends!”

Most hotels were used to these situations—men getting women drunk and dragging them to rooms happened all the time. Usually, staff didn’t interfere. But recently, a scandal had erupted: a certain bureau chief had been caught molesting a minor in a hotel, drawing attention from higher authorities. So, hotels were enforcing stricter controls.

The receptionist was skeptical, about to verify their identities more thoroughly, when Han Xuemie suddenly piped up, “Hurry up! How can getting a room take so long? I really need to use the bathroom!”

Li Huan’s face darkened instantly. He had never imagined the gentle, cute Han Xuemie could have such a side. At that moment, he wished he could disappear into a crack in the floor.

Yet, Han Xuemie’s bluntness seemed to reassure the receptionist, who swiftly checked them in, apologized to Li Huan, and personally led them upstairs.

“If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask,” she said, attentive as a gesture of apology.

Once she’d left, Li Huan breathed a sigh of relief, laid Han Xuemie on the soft bed, then went to the bathroom to run hot water. He soaked a towel and placed it gently on her forehead.

“Hehehehe!” Han Xuemie suddenly broke into a wide, sweet smile, as if recalling some happy memory. Her rosy cheeks bloomed like a flower, dazzlingly beautiful.