Chapter 61
During the initial sparring, Zhuo Zhi was trying to find the right balance in holding back.
She would throw a couple of punches, then glance at Li Qinyue, retreat a few steps, and glance at her again. But Li Qinyue ignored her completely.
Officer Zhao, however, wasn’t happy. He pointed it out, “Xiao Zhuo, be serious!”
His voice was loud, his uniform lending him an air of authority, making Zhuo Zhi tense up.
After a few exchanges, Xiao Li and Xiao Du realized that Officer Zhao wasn’t exaggerating, the girl in front of them was skilled.
Now, not only was Officer Zhao unhappy, but Xiao Li and Xiao Du were also unhappy.
Xiao Li said to Zhuo Zhi, “Little Sister, let loose, even if you hit us, we’re not afraid of a little pain.”
Xiao Du even took off his jacket and threw it to Officer Zhao, his face full of excitement, “Your name is Zhuo Zhi, right? By not taking this seriously, you’re basically looking down on us. It’s already embarrassing enough for two grown men to fight a little girl, if you keep this up, we’ll be the laughingstock of the entire station tomorrow.”
His words hit home. Not giving your all during a sparring match was indeed a sign of disrespect towards your opponent.
When she used to go to the temple on the mountaintop, the monks always sparred with her seriously, which was why she had trained diligently for so many years. Although she liked to show off, she was aware of her own limits.
Thinking about this, Zhuo Zhi looked at Li Qinyue again.
Li Qinyue, probably because she hadn’t smoked for a while, was taking big drags, half of the cigarette already gone. Her face, hidden in the smoke, still gave no indication of what she wanted Zhuo Zhi to do.
Zhuo Zhi stomped her foot, making her own decision.
She would spar seriously. If she offended the officers, she would apologize sincerely later. As long as she was speaking from the heart, Zhuo Zhi wasn’t afraid.
Xiao Li and Xiao Du had taken their stances again. Zhuo Zhi bowed to them and said, “No offense, brothers.”
“Hey,” Xiao Du was delighted, “The little sister is finally getting serious.”
Zhuo Zhi was indeed serious this time. She blocked every move from the two officers, but she didn’t use any fancy techniques. It was just a friendly spar, so she held back her strength.
Officer Zhao watched from the side, impressed, and took out his phone to record.
Xiao Li and Xiao Du, after taking a few punches from Zhuo Zhi, became even more energized. They were young men after all, full of vigor. After realizing Zhuo Zhi’s true strength, they didn’t hold back either.
They even started coordinating their attacks, flanking Zhuo Zhi from both sides. Gradually, Zhuo Zhi also broke a sweat.
After finishing her cigarette, Li Qinyue didn’t light another one.
She watched the three of them fighting, but her gaze was always on Zhuo Zhi’s face.
The deep blue sky, the light from the police station entrance, a bare old locust tree.
A gust of wind blew past. It should have been cold, but Li Qinyue’s face was hot.
She wasn’t sure if it was from anger or from the inappropriate thoughts swirling in her mind.
Zhuo Zhi, that fool, she could protect her when she was rich and powerful, and she could also protect her now, when she was pretending to be poor and powerless.
But if she truly lost everything, the person Zhuo Zhi would have to fight wouldn’t be a thief, wouldn’t be a police officer, it would be her, Li Qinyue.
So naive, so out of touch with reality, so stubborn that she wouldn’t turn back even after hitting a wall.
Li Qinyue felt like she should stop her, lecture her, but a part of her wanted to indulge her.
This was what Li Qinyue found so endearing yet terrifying about Zhuo Zhi. It was both her charm and her biggest flaw.
When the fight finally ended, Li Qinyue turned away and let out a slow breath.
Officer Zhao and the two young officers were good people. Zhuo Zhi hadn’t gone too far and humiliated them.
The atmosphere was harmonious. Xiao Li and Xiao Du chatted with Zhuo Zhi for a while, then Officer Zhao led Zhuo Zhi to Li Qinyue and said earnestly, “Your sister is quite something.”
Li Qinyue smiled faintly.
Officer Zhao continued, “She said she’s not going to college for now, I think your family should reconsider that. The police academy, the National Defense University, they would be perfect for Xiao Zhuo.”
“Hmm,” Li Qinyue replied, “We’ll definitely consider it.”
“It’s getting late, you should go back,” Officer Zhao said with a smile, “Normally I would remind you to be careful on the road, but with Xiao Zhuo here, I don’t think I need to.”
Zhuo Zhi was happy, “Thank you, Officer Zhao!”
Officer Zhao patted her shoulder, “I’ll let you know when we have updates on the theft case.”
Zhuo Zhi thanked him again, then she and Li Qinyue finally left the police station.
It was less than two kilometers from their apartment. They didn’t take a taxi, walking back in silence.
Li Qinyue wrapped her coat tighter around herself. Zhuo Zhi, on the other hand, unzipped her jacket, letting the wind blow through it.
Li Qinyue glanced at her and said coldly, “Zip it up.”
“I’m not cold,” Zhuo Zhi wiped her forehead and showed her hand to Li Qinyue, “I’m sweating, look, Sister.”
Li Qinyue ignored her, her gaze fixed ahead, “Zip it up.”
Zhuo Zhi looked at her with a mischievous smile, but obediently zipped up her jacket.
After walking in silence for a while, Zhuo Zhi said, “Don’t be angry anymore, Sister.”
Li Qinyue didn’t speak. Zhuo Zhi tugged at her sleeve, “I feel bad when you’re angry at me, Sister.”
“What?” Li Qinyue looked at her sideways, “So I can’t even be angry for your own good?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Zhuo Zhi looked at her, her eyes shining, “If you’re angry at me, you can scold me, you can hit me, but don’t ignore me. I don’t mind being ignored, I’m just worried that you’ll hurt yourself by bottling up your anger, and I’ll feel bad…”
“Heh,” Li Qinyue scoffed.
“Sister Qinyue~” Zhuo Zhi shook her sleeve, her deliberately soft voice making Li Qinyue shiver.
“I won’t be so impulsive anymore,” Zhuo Zhi said, “I won’t show off my skills unless absolutely necessary.”
“Can you even control yourself?” Li Qinyue squinted at her.
Zhuo Zhi swallowed, then said after a moment of hesitation, “I’ll try my best.”
Li Qinyue fell silent again.
Zhuo Zhi thought this sister of hers was great in every way, except for her habit of sulking, which was really annoying.
Sometimes Zhuo Zhi could guess the reason for her anger, sometimes she couldn’t. This current situation was the most troublesome. She felt like she had only guessed part of the reason, leaving her frustrated.
Li Qinyue quickened her pace. Zhuo Zhi followed closely, still holding onto her sleeve.
She tried to reflect on her actions, “I won’t show off anymore. I won’t interfere with police work, I’ll just provide information.”
Li Qinyue walked even faster.
Zhuo Zhi quickened her pace, “I won’t talk to any guys or girls unless absolutely necessary.”
Li Qinyue started jogging.
Zhuo Zhi ran after her, “I’ll work hard to earn money, so you don’t have to take the bus anymore, Sister Qinyue. I’ll buy a car, get my driver’s license, and be your chauffeur…”
Li Qinyue shook off Zhuo Zhi’s hand, her long legs carrying her forward as she sped up.
Zhuo Zhi didn’t give up, quickly catching up, “I’ll buy you lots and lots of lipstick, a different shade for every day, and I’ll buy you a villa, like the one you used to live in. You don’t have to work anymore, Li Qinyue, I’ll support you. You won’t have to cook or wash dishes…”
Li Qinyue, realizing she couldn’t shake off this fool, stopped, her voice breathless, “Am I useless?!”
Oh, wait, she was scolding herself.
Li Qinyue, frustrated, kicked at a flowerbed.
“Damn.” She bent over in pain.
Zhuo Zhi was startled. As she squatted down to look at Li Qinyue’s foot, she lost her balance and fell to her knees.
“Sister, Sister, did you hurt your foot? Damn, you wanted to kick me, but you kicked yourself instead!”
Li Qinyue was still in pain, she didn’t speak.
Zhuo Zhi’s posture looked like she was kissing Li Qinyue’s foot. When she looked up and saw Li Qinyue’s pained expression, her face turned pale, “Does it hurt a lot? Is it broken? Hospital, where’s the nearest hospital?!”
Her voice was loud, attracting the attention of a passerby.
Li Qinyue tried to push her away, but before she could, Zhuo Zhi stood up and lifted her into her arms.
It had been a while since Zhuo Zhi had carried her like this.
Li Qinyue felt strange. Usually, she was a rebellious and domineering person, wanting to beat up everyone she disliked and control everyone she liked. But when Zhuo Zhi held her like this, she felt like a princess, a delicate little girl, as if she were the naive female lead in a CEO romance novel, wanting to bury her face in Zhuo Zhi’s chest and cry.
But before she could start sobbing, Zhuo Zhi was already on the verge of tears.
She rushed towards the passerby, her voice filled with urgency, “Ma’am! Do you know where the nearest hospital is?!”
The woman stared at Li Qinyue’s stomach, her expression horrified.
Li Qinyue, having recovered from the pain, shouted, “I’m fine!!!”
The woman was startled and pointed, “There’s a clinic over there.” Then she scurried away as if trying to escape.
Zhuo Zhi ran towards the clinic, “Let’s go get it checked, just in case…”
“Get what checked, my ass!” Li Qinyue shouted, “Stop!”
“We can’t stop…” Zhuo Zhi mumbled.
“Are you stupid?! I said I’m fine! Damn it!” Li Qinyue punched Zhuo Zhi’s shoulder. “I just stubbed my toe, it might swell a little, that’s all!”
Zhuo Zhi didn’t look at her, her eyes fixed ahead, “If we stop, you’ll be angry again, and you’ll hurt yourself when you’re angry…”
“Am I an idiot?!” Li Qinyue felt like she was going to explode.
Zhuo Zhi didn’t answer, continuing to carry her towards the clinic. Seeing that they were heading in the opposite direction from their apartment, Li Qinyue took a deep breath and softened her tone, “I’m not angry anymore.”
Zhuo Zhi finally slowed down, looking down at her, “You’re not?”
“I’m not.”
“You won’t kick any more flowerbeds?”
“I won’t.”
“Will you talk to me?”
“I will.”
“Sister…” Zhuo Zhi burst into tears, two teardrops landing on Li Qinyue’s face, “Don’t scare me like that anymore, I thought you didn’t want me, didn’t want to be with me anymore, and you were hurting yourself…”
“I wasn’t hurting myself!” Li Qinyue struggled out of Zhuo Zhi’s arms and kicked her butt. “I was just frustrated, and I couldn’t bear to hit you. But it’s fine, I can now…”
Zhuo Zhi didn’t even try to dodge. She even jumped slightly, bending over and presenting her butt to Li Qinyue, making it easier to kick.
“Sister, don’t use the foot you hurt, it’ll hurt.”
Li Qinyue’s foot froze in midair.
What kind of touching filial piety was this? What kind of feudalistic scene was this? Li Qinyue felt like she had suddenly been transformed into a tyrant emperor, pampered and spoiled.
“Stand still, Sister,” Zhuo Zhi said, her face full of concern.
“Don’t you need to support me?” Li Qinyue looked at her in disbelief.
Zhuo Zhi immediately turned sideways so she could support Li Qinyue and present her butt for the emperor’s kick.
Li Qinyue lowered her foot, switched to her hand, and gave Zhuo Zhi a hard slap. Then she stood there, fuming.
Zhuo Zhi watched her quietly.
After calming down, Li Qinyue frowned and asked, “Does your master get angry often?”
The question was unexpected, but Zhuo Zhi quickly answered truthfully, “Yes.”
Li Qinyue’s frown deepened, “So you always coax her like this?”
“No, no, no,” Zhuo Zhi waved her hands frantically, “When Master is angry, she punishes me. Like making me run ten kilometers, carry buckets of spring water down the mountain, or copy scriptures from the neighboring nunnery…”
She paused and glanced at Li Qinyue cautiously, “So I don’t have to coax her.”
“Do you feel wronged coaxing me?”
“No, no, no, you’re my girlfriend, it’s my duty.”
“Do you think I’m being unreasonable?”
“No, no, no, you’re so good, Sister, you must have a reason for being angry. It’s just that I’m stupid, I can’t always guess.”
“I’m angry because you always rush into danger,” Li Qinyue sighed, then finally said what she had been holding back, “Whether it’s your business or not, you never think about the consequences, you don’t realize the dangers, you’re so stubborn, you never consider…”
Li Qinyue paused, “That someone might be worried about you.”
Zhuo Zhi’s lips moved, but she couldn’t speak.
Li Qinyue’s face was still flushed with anger, but her eyes had softened.
Zhuo Zhi’s heart ached. Only two people had ever been this angry with her, and only two people had ever cared this much about her.
Her master and Li Qinyue.
These two people, so different yet so similar, had both given her a sense of belonging.
Her master had given her a world where she could live carefree, and Li Qinyue had opened up another world for her.
This was Li Qinyue’s life, but it had become intertwined with hers, like two rivers merging, flowing towards the same destination.
She was indeed wrong. She hadn’t yet gotten used to the fact that her actions now affected Li Qinyue.
“Sister…” Zhuo Zhi, who had become even more emotionally dependent since coming down the mountain, could only utter one word before tears welled up in her eyes.
But this time, Li Qinyue didn’t want to hear her apologies. She put her arm around Zhuo Zhi’s neck and pulled her into a hug.
Zhuo Zhi sobbed a couple of times, and Li Qinyue patted her back, not gently, but firmly.
The pats turned Zhuo Zhi’s sobs into hiccups.
“We need to communicate from now on,” Li Qinyue said, “But don’t think I’m breaking up with you because of this. Am I someone who’s afraid of trouble? Didn’t we have fun beating that guy up? We’re kindred spirits.”
“Soulmates,” Zhuo Zhi hiccuped.
“You’re quite good at finding nice words for yourself,” Li Qinyue patted her back again, “Remember this, Miss Li doesn’t do unprofitable business. I haven’t even gotten to taste you yet, why would I throw you away now?”
“You’re always thinking about that,” Zhuo Zhi hiccuped again.
“Heh,” Li Qinyue let go of her and turned to walk home, “If you’re not, then think about how you’re going to pay for that cigarette I just smoked.”
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