Chapter 32: Caught Red-Handed
“You don’t know Lu Li?” Perhaps it was lingering affection, or maybe Wen Hupo’s serious expression sparked Lu Li’s mischievous side. He feigned exaggeration as he asked the question. He always disliked Wen Hupo’s cold and indifferent expression, as if nothing in the world could stir her emotions. During sleepless nights, he would wonder if there was anything that could make Wen Hupo lose her composure. He even had a wicked fantasy of her laughing uncontrollably after inhaling laughing gas.
Unfortunately, the real Wen Hupo always maintained her ethereal and aloof demeanor. “Is he famous?”
“Yes, yes. He’s the top student in the second-year liberal arts class, and also the most outstanding student.” Lu Li said shamelessly. If Wen Hupo was truly reborn, could she keep her composure after hearing such blatant self-praise? Seeing that Wen Hupo remained expressionless, Lu Li went a step further. “I heard he’s also the most handsome boy in Chuanhai No. 1 High School, with impeccable character and a generous personality. Sigh, he’s truly a man blessed by the heavens.”
Even with Lu Li’s thick skin, he couldn’t help but blush when he said those words. He was truly out of his mind, actually believing An Baili’s terrible idea.
Wen Hupo nodded slightly. Was that so? Then Chu Jingyi’s taste wasn’t that bad after all. She had been worried that the innocent Chu Jingyi would be deceived by a scumbag. Out of concern for her friend, Wen Hupo continued to ask, “Isn’t he a scumbag?”
Lu Li’s spirits lifted. “He’s not a scumbag!” He could tolerate being mistaken for a scumbag by others, but not by Wen Hupo. Realizing that his reaction was too strong, he coughed a couple of times and asked in a way to cover up his previous outburst, “Where did you hear that rumor?”
“Are you close to Lu Li?” Wen Hupo put down Lin Lanxiang and looked at Lu Li seriously.
Lu Li braced himself and hummed in agreement. “I’m his underling.”
One wrong step, and everything went wrong. He believed An Baili’s nonsense and now had to pay the price.
“Then can I ask you for a favor?” The blonde girl asked sincerely. Lu Li believed that any boy in Chuanhai No. 1 High School would readily agree to her request without hesitation.
The wind was howling outside, rattling the windowpanes. A small icicle hanging from the top of the window fell onto the windowsill with a crack, shattering into tiny, sparkling particles. Lu Li heard the three crisp sounds outside the window and the howling north wind, and finally nodded. “Tell me.”
“I want to get permission from Lu Li to use this classroom.” Wen Hupo didn’t seem to mind Lu Li’s long silence. “I should have asked Chu Jingyi, but I’m worried about putting her in a difficult position between me and Lu Li. It would be best if a third party could handle this.”
Silly Goose had mentioned that she initially had a conflict with Wen Hupo over the ownership of the activity classroom. However, both girls were gentle and had silently resolved the conflict without making a fuss. “Of course, I’m willing to pay a price.” Wen Hupo added.
Now, Lu Li was 100% certain that Wen Hupo wasn’t reborn. An Baili was truly a terrible strategist. It was a mistake to trust her. He was thinking about how to explain that he was Lu Li himself when Silly Goose’s voice suddenly came from outside the classroom. “Oh, Hupo, you’re here so early? Eh, Lu, Lu Li, you’re here too…”
Silly Goose wasn’t wearing her red scarf today. Instead, she had a warm yellow one, the same style as the one she gave to Lu Li. Seeing Lu Li, the girl’s face turned even redder. He couldn’t tell if it was from the wind or from shyness.
“Lu Li?” The moment she heard those words, Wen Hupo understood everything. She looked at the boy, who was smiling awkwardly, and felt a surge of anger at being tricked. The image of the boy with fluffy hair and a black rose tattoo shattered in her mind. She actually listened to this Lu Li seriously and even made a request to him…
Silly Goose didn’t notice Lu Li winking at her. She said softly, “Hupo, let me introduce you. This is Lu Li, he’s…”
Wen Hupo interrupted her for the first time. “I know, he’s Lu Li, the most outstanding student in Chuanhai No. 1 High School, and also the most handsome boy, with impeccable character and a generous personality, truly a man blessed by the heavens.” These words made Lu Li’s face burn. He wished he could find An Baili and spank her. Why on earth did he try to test Wen Hupo? And with such a stupid method?
Silly Goose didn’t notice the sarcasm in Wen Hupo’s tone. She blushed and said, “He’s not that great…” Hearing someone praise the person she liked made her feel as sweet as honey.
This world is hopeless. An absurd thought arose in Wen Hupo’s mind. What was even more unbelievable was that she, the esteemed Shirley Amber, had been tricked by a peer she had just met!
“Then Jingyi suddenly barged in and exposed me.” Lu Li and An Baili were walking hand in hand. As they passed by his apartment, they noticed some movement coming from his sister’s place. Was Sister Yameng back so early?
An Baili kept laughing. “Silly Lu Li! If I were you, I’d consider moving to another planet.”
Lu Li playfully slapped An Baili’s round bottom. “It’s all because of your terrible idea!”
“Then how are you going to punish me?” An Baili stopped laughing and leaned against him seductively.
“Go home, I’ll go check on Sister Yameng.” Lu Li pinched the girl’s cheek. Did she think she was still his mature and seductive wife from his past life? She was only seventeen this year, her body not even fully developed, as green and sour as an unripe apple. An Baili pouted, snorted, muttered “Pretender,” and ran off.
After An Baili left, Lu Li straightened his collar and knocked on Sister Yameng’s door. “Sister Yameng, it’s me, Little Li.”
It was Zhou Wen who opened the door. Her eyes lit up when she saw Lu Li. “Little Li, you came at the right time, have a drink with us.”
Zou Yameng suddenly reached out and pushed Zhou Wen away. “Don’t be ridiculous, Little Li is not old enough to drink.”
The strong smell of alcohol made Lu Li wrinkle his nose. “Sis, have you been drinking?”
“Yes.” Zou Yameng didn’t explain why she was drinking. She opened the door, about to let Lu Li take off his shoes and come in, but then she suddenly remembered something. “Are you alone?”
“Of course I’m alone.”
“Come in then.” Zou Yameng forced a smile.
The TV was on, playing the movie A World Without Thieves. There was a news ticker at the bottom of the screen, saying that the entire country had entered a state of epidemic alert, and all provinces and cities were actively responding to the central government’s call… and so on. Looking at the empty beer cans scattered on the floor, Lu Li felt some dark memories resurfacing. In his past life, Sister Yameng also often drank alone at home, leaving beer bottles everywhere. He would go to her apartment every month to help clean up… until she passed away.
Why… why did she pick up this bad habit of drinking again in this life?
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