A Man and a Woman Alone

"Where did you say your house was again?"

"Just up ahead."

"Oh, right, I almost forgot. I remember going to your place once in high school, I think it was when you were sick or something."

Han Shuyu immediately rolled her eyes at him. "It was my birthday, not that I was sick. Can't you wish me well for once?"

Lin Yuan rubbed his forehead and quickly said, "Yes, yes, yes, now that you mention it, I do remember. And who was it that gave you a really expensive gift back then? A watch, I think? They say it sells for 2,000 online. So rich."

"Then what did you give? Do you remember?"

"I didn't have any money back then, I just wanted to come over and mooch some cake."

"Oh, you Lin Yuan, all you wanted was cake. No wonder you're like a starving ghost, all you know is to eat."

"What else could I do? I at least came over to sing you a birthday song. What's wrong with eating a few slices of cake?"

"A few slices?"

"Anyway, you guys weren't eating, you were just playing games. To uphold the virtue of frugality and thrift in our nation, I naturally took care of it."

Han Shuyu chuckled and said, "I think your face is thicker than the city walls."

"If only that were true."

"Hmm?"

"Then I could perform a stunt where I catch a cleaver with my face and stream it live. Making money would be a piece of cake."

Hearing this, Han Shuyu burst into laughter, her silvery giggles echoing through the entire street. She looked nothing like the demure lady she usually was.

"Hey, hey, watch your image! Be careful, I'll film you and post it in the class group chat, and you'll be ruined."

Han Shuyu suddenly walked in front of Lin Yuan, hands in her pockets, turned around, and walked backward, laughing fearlessly. "Go ahead and post it. Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

"Fine, you said it. Don't come crying to me to take it down later."

With that, Lin Yuan took out his phone, but as soon as he pulled it out, Han Shuyu snatched it away.

Han Shuyu stuck out her tongue and looked at him, tilting her head. She was a bit cute, but incredibly annoying.

"Alright, a good man doesn't fight with a woman. I see through you now. I always thought you were a quiet, refined lady."

"The prettier a woman is, the more she lies. Haven't you ever watched The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber?"

"I have, but you don't fit the criteria." Lin Yuan said earnestly, though he was bending the truth slightly. A man had to be tough all over, including his mouth.

"What did you say? I'll allow you to rephrase that."

With that, she pinched one end of Lin Yuan's phone with her slender fingers and swayed it back and forth, like a leaf about to fall in the wind.

"My dear aunt, I was wrong. You are a great beauty, the most beautiful in all of Hongyun County."

"Hmph, that's more like it. You finally spoke the truth." Han Shuyu said smugly. "Here, take it back."

Han Shuyu handed the phone back to Lin Yuan, then walked from in front of him to his side again.

They walked for a while longer.

"Lin Yuan, you know, I only act like this when I'm with you."

"Then I must have had terrible luck for eight lifetimes."

Han Shuyu didn't get angry; she just continued talking to herself.

"I don't know why, but I feel so relaxed around you. I don't have any mental burdens. I can laugh when I want to laugh, and say what I want to say."

"Then you can just drop that burden. No one is forcing you to be like that."

"I used to think that way too, but I just can't do it around others."

"So, I'm the only unlucky one, huh?"

"That's right, you're the only unlucky one. Who told you to always bully me in high school?"

"My goodness, I bullied you? Can you say that with a clear conscience?"

"Hmph, I don't care. You bullied me." Han Shuyu said righteously.

As they chatted, they unknowingly arrived at their destination.

Rainbow Bay Residential Area was one of the best neighborhoods in Hongyun City.

"We're here. I won't see you in," Lin Yuan said.

"What about you? How will you get back?"

"I'll see if I can catch a taxi."

"Do you think Hongyun City is like Binhai City? You can still catch a taxi this late."

"Do you have a car at home? Lend it to me. I have to come back to the city tomorrow anyway."

"I do have one, but it's out of gas."

"Out of gas?" Lin Yuan said incredulously. "Out of gas? Then how will you drive next time? You can't go buy gasoline and pour it in, can you?"

"Ah, the gas just ran out."

"Alright, then I'll run back. I'll just consider it a night run."

"Lin Yuan, are you crazy? Running? You'll die of exhaustion, it's so far."

"It's not too bad." Lin Yuan touched his nose and said dismissively.

"Sigh~" Han Shuyu sighed, "Seeing you in such a sorry state, I don't mind taking you in for the night."

"That won't be necessary. Running back isn't that difficult for me."

"You, you just speak without thinking and suffer the consequences of saving face. Today, you listen to me and stay at my place."

With that, she grabbed Lin Yuan's arm and pulled him inside.

Since that was the case, Lin Yuan could only reluctantly "make do" for one night.

He swore this was the first time he was going to sleep at a girl's house. He never imagined that a plot like this from TV dramas would happen to him.

They entered the residential area, arrived at their building, and took the elevator to the fifth floor.

"Are you living here alone?"

"What, are you nervous? Afraid you'll see my dad?"

"Don't make me laugh. Nervous? I wouldn't be afraid even if your dad and all your relatives were here."

"You're just bragging."

Han Shuyu opened the door, and a faint fragrance greeted them.

The room was spacious and very tidy.

Han Shuyu found a pair of large slippers from the shoe cabinet for him and said, "These are still new. I bought them for my dad before. You can wear them for now."

The two entered the house and sat in the living room.

Han Shuyu poured herself a glass of water and gulped it down.

"You're only pouring for yourself?"

"What, do you expect me to serve you?"

"Alright, it's your place, you're in charge."

"That's a given. Make yourself comfortable. I'm going to take a shower."

After speaking, she hummed a little tune and went into her room. A few minutes later, she came out with a set of pink pajamas and then turned into the bathroom.

Lin Yuan took out his phone and sent a message to his mom, telling her he wouldn't be back tonight.

At this hour, he thought his mom would have already been asleep, but to his surprise, he received a reply.

After that, he aimlessly scrolled through his phone.

Just then, a Feixin message popped up. It was from Wu Zihan.

"Senior Brother, how is your little brother doing?"

"Thanks to your family's medicinal wine, he's much better now."

"It's good that he's much better."

"How much is your family's medicinal wine? I'll transfer the money to you."

"Senior Brother, those words really hurt. Do you see your junior sister as an outsider? It's just a few bottles of medicinal wine, how can I charge you for it?"

"No, business is business, and personal matters are personal. Even close brothers settle their accounts clearly. I still have to give you this money, otherwise, if I need more in the future... no, if my little brother needs more in the future, I won't be able to ask you."

"I don't mind."

"I do!"

"Alright, Senior Brother, you're really unreasonable. Since you insist on paying, then fifty per bottle."

In reality, that medicinal wine was worth far more than that price.

Lin Yuan immediately transferred the money and said, "I'll definitely win that competition for your family in November."

Wu Zihan, far away in Binhai City, pouted and muttered, "Honestly, why be so clear about things? And bringing that up at the end."

Lin Yuan also knew that the medicinal wine was definitely worth more than that. Fifty yuan probably wouldn't even cover the packaging, let alone the included medicinal formula.

But he couldn't say anything more. His pockets were almost empty, and practicing martial arts would require money later on.

His repayment would be helping her win that competition in November, which should be enough to settle the favor.

"Okay, Senior Brother, I'll see you in November then."

"Mhm."

At this point, Han Shuyu also came out of the bathroom, having changed into her pajamas. She walked towards the living room, drying her hair with a towel.

"Who are you chatting with so enthusiastically?"

"A friend."

"Who, a guy or a girl?" Han Shuyu suddenly paused.

"Why are you interrogating me like you're the police?"

"Can't I just ask?"

"Do you understand the meaning of privacy?"

"Let me guess, this late at night, the person you're talking to must be a woman."

"Yeah, it's a woman, and not just one."

"Scumbag!"

Lin Yuan looked at her, utterly bewildered. "Do you live by the sea, meddling in everyone's business? I'm unmarried and single. So what if I'm talking to women? If that makes me a scumbag, then all men in the world might as well become monks."

"You admitted it."

"Admitted what?"

"That you're dating someone," Han Shuyu said sourly.

"Han Shuyu, you're really something else. Which part of what I said implied I'm dating someone?"

"Fine, fine, I'm something else!" With that, she turned and went back to her room.

Clang! The door slammed shut heavily.

Lin Yuan was left there, completely confused.