Chapter Three: Living Off a Woman (Part 1)
Yan Jun’s attack wasn’t a crime of passion; it was premeditated. Lu Li’s rational mind told him so. The silencer, the standard-issue pistol—those two points alone indicated prior planning. Even the location was carefully chosen: a crowded shopping street, not a secluded alley. Had he known that Lu Li never frequented such places?
He decided not to tell Sister Yameng any of this for now. He would tell her everything once the police had more information, sparing her unnecessary worry.
He and Zou Yameng walked hand-in-hand to the apartment door. Zou Yameng abruptly withdrew her hand, muttering, “Let’s go inside. They’re waiting for you.” Lu Li tried to recapture her hand, but she evaded him. She gestured towards the apartment with her chin. “It’s a bit… awkward…”
Wow, so you can be embarrassed. Lu Li teased her silently.
Inside, two small heads, one dark, one golden, were huddled in front of the old television, watching a popular Korean drama. As Lu Li entered, the male lead was just being hit by a truck. He always wondered if the characters in TV shows and novels were made of rubber. They could endure such serious injuries, their hair perfectly intact, and still manage to say, with a smile, “Hye-na, I finally remember… It was… it was you…”
Unlike himself, the graze on the back of his neck still throbbed. If he’d transmigrated into a movie world, he’d probably be one of the nameless soldiers in Rambo, unceremoniously dispatched by the protagonist.
An Baili loved these over-the-top Korean dramas. Perhaps she saw a reflection of herself in the melodramatic storylines. “Waaah, Chan-woo finally remembered that Hye-na was the one who donated her kidney to him…” Wen Hupo, bored, picked up a snack from the table and studied the unfamiliar Chinese characters on the ingredients list. Her Chinese had improved significantly; she could even write essays now. He recalled that she’d been secretly submitting articles to magazines. Was she short on money?
Noticing Lu Li, Wen Hupo turned around. “You’re finally back.”
An Baili gasped and rushed towards him. Lu Li chuckled, catching her in his arms. She seemed much happier lately. Perhaps the beach trip had helped her make new friends? That was a good thing. Isolating oneself only led to unhealthy extremes, as Baili’s past had demonstrated.
“Come watch TV with us! Doesn’t the male lead look like you?”
Does he? Lu Li didn’t think so.
“Aren’t you going to ask where I’ve been?”
“Probably off meeting some girl. Do I even need to ask?” An Baili wrinkled her nose, feigning disapproval.
Wrong, I was meeting with an assassin. Lu Li instinctively patted An Baili’s bottom, earning a soft reprimand from Wen Hupo: “Pervert.” He blushed, cleared his throat, and sat between the girls, joining them in watching the drama. Zou Yameng let out a small huff, wanting to sit beside Lu Li. An Baili naturally refused to budge, but Wen Hupo, after a moment’s thought, made space for Zou Yameng.
Four young people squeezed onto the small sofa. It was a hot summer day, and Lu Li saw beads of sweat forming on An Baili’s forehead, but no one suggested moving. The old sofa was probably something Sister Yameng had “borrowed” from one of the empty apartments next door. He remembered sitting on this sofa while his sister, her head resting on his lap, let him comb her wet hair after a shower.
He and his sister hadn’t changed, their bond even stronger now, but their small family wasn’t just the two of them anymore.
As they watched, An Baili, her thoughts wandering, poked Zou Yameng’s exposed thigh. Zou Yameng was wearing shorts, her smooth, white legs on full display, glistening with sweat. “Sister Meng, are you hot? You’re sweating so much, you must be smelly. Why don’t you go take a shower?”
Zou Yameng tucked a strand of damp hair behind her ear. “I’m not hot, I’m actually a bit cold. You can go take a shower if you’re hot.”
An Baili wrapped her arms around Lu Li. “I’m not hot, I’m cold too.” As if to prove her point, she pressed herself against him.
You might not be hot, but I am. Lu Li wiped his brow.
Zou Yameng’s competitive spirit flared. She tucked another strand of hair behind her ear and draped one leg over Lu Li’s. “Li, do I smell?”
Girls their age didn’t smell; they exuded the alluring scent of youthful hormones.
“No, Baili was just teasing.”
“Smell me.”
“You don’t smell.”
“Smell me.”
Zou Yameng insisted. Lu Li knew she was being stubborn, her competitive nature taking over, just like when she was playing sports. He leaned closer, his nose brushing against her neck, his gaze lingering on her delicate collarbone, imagining the sweet fragrance hidden beneath. His thoughts wandered, and he leaned even closer, their proximity becoming almost intimate.
He suddenly felt someone flicking his penis. It was An Baili.
“Done sniffing? Not watching TV anymore?” Her voice dripped with jealousy.
Zou Yameng narrowed her eyes and subtly trapped his penis between her thighs, protecting him from An Baili’s “harassment.” “Ask Li if I smell.” Lu Li gasped; he could feel the soft flesh of her thighs against him, the unique pressure sending a jolt of arousal through him, momentarily distracting him from the throbbing pain in his neck.
An Baili, remembering that eventful night, decided to one-up Zou Yameng. Her hand crept towards the waistband of his shorts. “Of course you smell, Li is just being polite.”
Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly charged, a cool cough interrupted them.
The three of them turned to look at Wen Hupo, sitting quietly beside them. She was so quiet that they’d almost forgotten she was there.
“If you’re not interested in this, I’ll change the channel.” Wen Hupo switched to CCTV, which was showing an old episode of Journey to the West. Sun Wukong was showing off his magical powers to his fellow disciples.
Wen Hupo glanced at the back of Lu Li’s head. “Disabled but determined, a truly inspiring story.”
Lu Li was speechless. He wanted to argue that he wasn’t driven by lust, but considering his recent behavior, he couldn’t deny it. He fell silent. Zou Yameng, remembering her role as his older sister, glanced at her damp, clinging T-shirt, the outline of her breasts clearly visible, and blushed, quickly standing up. “I’m going to take a shower.”
An Baili finally noticed the wound on the back of Lu Li’s neck. “Huh? How did you get hurt?”
Lu Li smiled. “I bumped into some construction workers on my way back. It’s just a scratch.” An Baili seemed to believe him, but Wen Hupo’s lips tightened slightly, her eyes filled with suspicion.
Chapter Four: Living Off a Woman (Part 2)
During dinner, the three of them sat around the table, a semblance of domesticity in the air. After the beach trip, Zou Yameng had become much more accepting of An Baili and Wen Hupo. She felt that Wen Hupo was more mature and less demanding. If she hadn’t crossed the line with Lu Li herself, she would have definitely preferred him to end up with the foreign girl. As for An Baili… Zou Yameng recalled Zhou Wen’s frequent remarks: a woman who throws herself at a man is worthless. She hoped Li wouldn’t tire of An Baili, worried that he might marry her and then abandon her. That was the kind of person Li was—impulsive at best, reckless and disrespectful of social norms at worst.
Come to think of it, aren’t I also a reckless and disrespectful older sister?
Zou Yameng’s movements with her chopsticks slowed, and Wen Hupo noticed. The golden-haired girl said casually, “Mr. Paragon.”
“Hmm? Are you talking to me?” Lu Li’s mouth was full of food.
“Could you please be more civilized at home?” Wen Hupo’s tone was slightly stern.
Miss Lu appeared out of nowhere, meowing as if in support of Wen Hupo. Lu Li gently nudged the cat with his foot. This ungrateful cat, has she forgotten who rescued her from the bushes? A few days of imported cat food and she’s switched loyalties.
“What do you mean, ‘uncivilized’?” Lu Li protested.
“Your behavior while watching TV today was uncivilized.” At her words, Zou Yameng’s face flushed crimson. She stammered, unable to speak, her chopsticks frozen mid-air. Wen Hupo’s words were pointed, seemingly directed at Lu Li, but actually aimed at Zou Yameng and An Baili. Zou Yameng, still clinging to her dignity as the older sister, quickly finished her food. “Li, would you mind doing the dishes tonight? I need to call Zhou Wen and the others. I haven’t spoken to them in six months…”
With that, she fled the scene.
An Baili also felt embarrassed. She suddenly felt like she was back in her first life, Wen Hupo acting like the wife, reprimanding her, the timid mistress.
Whining softly, An Baili looked at Lu Li, her eyes pleading, Say something!
But Lu Li, chastened by Wen Hupo’s words, said thoughtfully, “She’s right. It wasn’t very civilized, a bit too… indulgent. I’ve become too complacent lately, losing my sense of caution.” An Baili stamped her foot, her voice filled with grievance. “You’re taking her side again! I’m not talking to you!” She turned and ran towards the door. Lu Li, worried that she might revert to her past behavior, stood up to follow. An Baili suddenly turned back, biting her lip. “I’m just not talking to you today.”
With that, she ran back to her apartment. Lu Li breathed a sigh of relief; Baili really had changed. In his past life, her most frequent complaint had been, “Why are you always taking Wen Hupo’s side?” followed by endless arguments.
If Baili can change, so can I. Lu Li, realizing how easily he was swayed by lust, made a silent vow: he would never again be moved by any woman other than An Baili, Chu Jingyi, Zou Yameng, and Wen Hupo! His heart would become as cold and unyielding as marble!
He suddenly thought of Little Tiger. Maybe Little Tiger is an exception. She’s a good friend, a good buddy.
After An Baili left, only Lu Li and Wen Hupo remained. According to the rules set by Sister Yameng, he should be sleeping in another room, but tonight, even Sister Yameng was preoccupied. No one would enforce the rule.
The two of them looked at each other, a long silence hanging in the air. Finally, Lu Li broke the silence. “Are you full? I’ll do the dishes.”
“Mr. Paragon, what’s that on your neck?”
“I told you, a construction worker accidentally bumped into me. It’s just a scratch from some glass. A little antiseptic, and it’ll be fine.” Lu Li continued to lie.
Wen Hupo didn’t reply. Just as he thought he’d gotten away with it, she said, “That looks like a graze from a high-velocity bullet.” Lu Li’s hand trembled, almost dropping the porcelain bowl. “You have quite the imagination. You should write novels in Chinese.”
Wen Hupo continued, undeterred. “My peers in the Amber family enjoy hunting. We have a private estate with a forest where my brothers release wolves with their teeth and claws removed. Every autumn, they take their hounds and their prized shotguns into the forest to hunt, competing to see who can kill the most wolves.”
“I’ve never participated in the hunt, but I’ve seen the captured wolves, their bodies emaciated, covered in bullet grazes. My brothers are terrible shots. They can never hit the wolves cleanly as they flee. The large-caliber bullets graze their bodies, tearing their fur, leaving behind these marks. They look very similar to the wound on your neck.”
Lu Li sighed. “You should become a forensic scientist.”
“Was it a bullet wound?”
He couldn’t hide it from her anymore. Lying would only insult her intelligence.
“Yes.”
Wen Hupo took a sharp breath, her voice laced with concern. “But firearms are prohibited in Shenzhou.”
She’s worried about me… The thought made the throbbing pain in his neck feel almost worthwhile. He quietly recounted the events of the shooting, trusting her to keep his secret.
“Have you offended anyone?” Wen Hupo asked, her brow furrowed. He rarely saw her like this, her delicate eyebrows slightly raised, like two stalks of wheat reaching for the sun.
“No…” Several names flashed through his mind. “…No one would have a motive to do this.”
“Do you remember the serial number on the gun?”
“What?”
“Every gun has a serial number. You can trace its origin and distribution through the supplier.” Wen Hupo said seriously. “If you tell me the serial number, I can ask the Amber family to investigate its source.”
Lu Li stared at her in surprise, making her uncomfortable. “The Amber family has a significant stake in the arms industry. I’ve heard from the diplomats that many of the firearms sold to Russia are supplied by the Amber family. I might be just an illegitimate daughter, but I can still access some information.”
So they’re arms dealers…
Lu Li’s mind buzzed. He was relying on the Chu family for protection and the Amber family for investigation. Was he truly living off women? And what about his daily interactions with Silly Goose and Wen Hupo, his constant teasing and flirting? Was that taking advantage of their affection?
Yes. He nodded to himself. It was a question worth pondering.
“Mr. Paragon? Lu Li? Are you listening to me?”
“I wonder…” Lu Li frowned in thought.
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