“It’s fine… I just twisted it. I know my own body.” Li Li shifted his position uncomfortably. “Go get my things first.”

Su Man bit her lower lip, then straightened up and looked at him. “So your mother was right all along — you shouldn’t be spending time with someone like Wu Xinghai. What kind of people does he even hang around with? I’ve heard there are even drug addicts in his circle. Today you ended up with nothing worse than a beating — consider yourself lucky!”

Li Li: “……”

He used to feel irritated whenever she lectured him. But today, for reasons he couldn’t quite explain, it actually felt warm.

Probably because the cold war had gone on too long.

Li Li, in a rare display of pleasantness, softened his tone: “Alright, I get it. I’ll stop spending time with him, okay? Just help me get through this first. If my parents find out, they’ll blow something minor into a complete disaster.”

— Li Li was the pride of the Li family. If his parents found out their beloved treasure had been beaten, they absolutely would not let it go quietly. Not only would the person who’d hit Li Li face consequences — Wu Xinghai would likely suffer too.

But that would mean Li Li losing face in the worst possible way.

Just like when he was small — he’d always rather come to Su Man for help than tell his parents he’d been bullied at school.

Su Man understood his sensitivities, and let out a resigned breath. “Fine. But if your mother asks me where you’ve gone traveling, what do I tell her?”

Li Li: “Tell her…”

He walked her through the story he’d already prepared, carefully, piece by piece — and then, worried she couldn’t pull it off, made her rehearse it in front of him several times before he was satisfied.

All the back and forth had an unexpected effect: something of the old ease crept back between them. The stiffness that had settled over their relationship had, without either of them quite noticing, loosened somewhat.

Li Li felt quietly pleased about that.

He’d always known — Su Man might get angry, but in the end, she’d always forgive him.

This wounded-hero gambit had worked out just right.

……

If Li Li was known for being a prodigy, then Su Man was known for her frank, no-nonsense personality. Li Li’s mother loved asking Su Man about her son’s affairs, because she was convinced Su Man never lied.

Su Man went to the Li house and told his mother that Li Li had made a last-minute decision to go traveling with a friend and had sent her to collect some of his things.

Li Li’s mother, as expected, suspected nothing — she cheerfully packed a change of clothes and some daily essentials and handed them to Su Man.

By the time Su Man made it back to Wu Xinghai’s apartment, it was very late.

Su Man glanced at the clock on the wall — it was pointing to ten — and suddenly remembered that Lu Yuwen was still waiting for her call.

She reached for her bag and got ready to leave. Li Li stopped her: “You’re leaving just like that?”

Su Man turned back. “Yes, I need to get home and sleep — I’m up early for work tomorrow.”

“But I’m hungry…” Li Li rubbed his stomach and looked at her.

Su Man said helplessly, “Looking at me won’t help — I don’t know how to cook.”

“I’m not expecting you to cook, and even if you did, you couldn’t here anyway.” Li Li said. “This apartment of Wu Xinghai’s has barely been lived in — there isn’t even a single pot in the kitchen. I can’t even boil instant noodles.”

Su Man felt a knot of exasperation. “Why didn’t you say so earlier — if I’d known there wasn’t even a pot, I could have picked one up along with the noodles when I bought you that crutch!”

“Forget it, forget it — we’ll order delivery.” Li Li pulled out his phone and sighed. “You haven’t eaten either. Stay and eat with me.”

Su Man wavered. She didn’t want to be home too late — Lu Yuwen was still waiting for her call.

Li Li added, “It’s a bit bleak, eating alone in a place like this…”

He lay half-slumped on the sofa, his voice subdued. He did, admittedly, look rather pitiable.

“Besides… my leg really aches. Even walking to the door to get the delivery is going to be difficult,” he added slowly.

The apartment building had strict entry control — delivery riders could get through the main gate, but not into the elevator, since that required the keycard.

Su Man let out a helpless sigh and put down her bag. “Fine. Order one for me too.”

……