Chapter 144: I Thought You Were Going to Support
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After recognizing the woman as Hai Fu, Li Yan put away his phone and looked at her playfully, noting how different she seed from her usual self.
The normally large, black-rimd glasses were absent, fully revealing her delicate and elegant face; the all-black outfit was replaced with a tailored, pure white short-sleeve shirt, and a beige skirt that required close inspection, paired with high-heeled sandals.
Although the entire ensemble still presented a white-collar beauty, it no longer had the feeling of a stern master, and instead gave Li Yan the initial impression—she was a married woman.
"You haven’t left yet? I thought you’d already run off with soone, and I was just about to flirt with the pretty lady walking by. I didn’t expect it was still you, what a pity." Li Yan, completely at ease, put away his phone and casually took out a cigarette, lighting it.
Hai Fu had already walked closer, but instead of looking at him, her gaze was directed toward the bar behind him. "I thought you wouldn’t co... so I was about to leave. Given my punctual nature, I would have left long ago. But I was worried you were telling the truth, so I waited a bit longer; if you hadn’t co in a few more minutes, I would have left."
...
Her words were calm, but her emotions had fluctuated greatly earlier. The outfit change from her normal habits was clearly intentional today. She originally planned to call Li Yan and ask him to join her for dinner, but holding the phone, she couldn’t dial. Despite their previous experiences of having lunch or dinner together, after what happened, she simply couldn’t act as if nothing was wrong.
For soone as strong-willed as her, she usually wouldn’t proactively call Li Yan, but over the past ten days, he hadn’t shown any sign of interest, not even a phone call, leaving her feeling sowhat indignant. However, when it ca ti to act, she procrastinated, delaying the call. Not until after ten o’clock, quite late like last ti, she gathered her courage after drinking two glasses of wine and called Li Yan’s phone.
Hearing Li Yan’s hesitation, her first thought was that he was making excuses, that he didn’t want to et her! In a different scenario, she would have unhesitantly hung up, thinking: Fine, don’t co! But she’d wasted most of the day on this, hesitated for so long, and ended up calling, only to receive such a result, which obviously did not satisfy her. She imdiately decided to wait until twelve o’clock.
Feeling depressed, she drank another glass of wine. Yet unexpectedly, in the past when she went to bars to drink, few people would approach her, generally only when it got later and the young, charming girls attracted most of the attention would so reluctant people co to chat her up. But today’s outfit made her stand out like a crane among chickens in the bar. Her executive deanor combined with the white-collar beauty’s attire, paired with the married woman’s look, drove people Wild, with the bar crowd lining up to get close to her.
At first, Hai Fu felt a bit thrilled inside. After all, she’s a woman too, surrounded by n and being acknowledged would bring so enjoynt of vanity, especially when contrasted with Li Yan’s indifference, making her think: If you don’t co, so be it, am I bound to wait for you alone? Plenty are willing to accompany !
But ultimately, she was unaccustod to this kind of interaction and quickly grew annoyed with the chatters. She simply paid the bill and left, stepping outside. Walking down the bustling street, Hai Fu felt imnse emptiness and loneliness inside. Though she considered leaving and going ho, the house would be just as lonely! Whenever she returned to that empty and lifeless ’ho’, she would imdiately turn on the TV or play music to fill the room with sound; even in the kitchen or bathroom, she would waste water by leaving the taps running continuously, just to feel the space was full, at least there was sound and no longer just her solitary quietness.
After getting in the car, she thought about driving away and not waiting for Li Yan anymore. After all, to Li Yan, it might have just been a chance drunken encounter, and he likely wouldn’t want further entanglent, hence avoiding eting her. Although Hai Fu herself didn’t want Li Yan to be caught up with her in the company or life just because they’d been together, she, being rational yet inexperienced, couldn’t easily let go, especially with no response for over ten days, making her wonder... Am I really that unappealing? Do I lack any charm?
But after starting the car several tis, turning off each ti again, she sowhat wanted to give herself a glimr of hope.
Since he didn’t explicitly say he wouldn’t co, she’d wait until twelve o’clock.
Clinging to this faint self-belief, she waited for several dozens of minutes.
By the ti twelve o’clock arrived, even when she stepped out looking ahead expectantly, scrutinizing every passerby and everyone entering the bar, there was no sign of Li Yan.
Her last hope was shattered; returning to the car, she mocked herself.
What am I? Perhaps to him, it’s just another common drunken encounter.
First ti?
So what if it’s the first ti? Perhaps it rely surprised him a bit. Or maybe he thought it was with a married woman and found out later he might even laugh at an older lady!
Why should I care about him? Regardless of his impression, he’s not that good either, right? An idle man, a lazy one with no ambition; not that young, with little achievent—though his physical strength and muscles are decent, he’s neither handso nor youthful, can’t even play the role of a pretty boy...
Constantly thinking about Li Yan’s various shortcomings, pondering the gap between them, considering their short acquaintance with no real feelings, wondering why she was so... ultimately, her eyes were filled with tears!
Ti, my friend, won’t fail to move on just because soone forgets about it. It always passes by so calmly.
Hai Fu, who was utterly disappointed and ready to go ho to sleep—if she could fall asleep—unwittingly found herself daydreaming in the car for more than ten minutes. It wasn’t until a roaring taxi arrived that she was startled awake. Although her parking spot theoretically wouldn’t be hit, her consistently cautious safety mindset made her lean out to check things out right away.
When she saw the taxi stop in front of the bar, she was relieved about the safety but couldn’t help feeling a twinge of emotion, hoping for one last look. Unfortunately, she was quickly disappointed as the passenger didn’t get out; instead, the driver did.
Just as she turned away in disappointnt, she caught a glimpse of the driver’s figure in the rearview mirror, which seed sowhat familiar. Strangely enough, the driver handed money to the passenger and rushed into the bar!
While she was feeling doubtful and surprised, her phone rang. She didn’t answer it but saw it was Li Yan’s number, already feeling quite excited. She could hardly believe it; was it him who had just rushed here? Had he really driven here himself, renting soone else’s car to get here quickly from a distant place?
With anticipation and excitent, Hai Fu got out of the car, waiting across the street from the bar. Until Li Yan ca out...
...
"Good thing you didn’t leave, or I’d be at a big loss," Li Yan exhaled a smoke ring.
Hearing this, Hai Fu frowned. She called Li Yan out, not even sure why herself. But it was definitely not to repeat the last ti’s "drink—go ho" routine. Hearing his words now, she was already uncomfortable, so she said directly, "Li Yan, although I’m the one who called you out, it doesn’t an I wanted sothing from you. Please get that clear!"
Li Yan was taken aback, then he laughed mockingly, "Do you think I said I’d be at a loss because I ca here and it didn’t change our relationship?"
Hai Fu kept a straight face, thinking to herself, if it’s not about the relationship, then are you purely expecting to treat you to a drink?
"Hey... didn’t I just say it? You think with my charm," Li Yan exaggeratedly shook his hair, "I can’t woo a beauty?"
"..."
"When I said ’at a loss,’ I ant financially. Sister, your call summoned from so far away. I specifically rented a car; worrying you’d do sothing regrettable in a fit of anger at midnight, I threw the driver aside and drove like crazy myself. The entire way here, who knows how many tis I sped and ran red lights? Just got out of the car and had to pay several hundred in fines. If I ca and you were gone, I’d still have to take another taxi back. Wasn’t that money spent for nothing? I only make a few thousand a month, and this one night cost over a thousand—wasn’t that a huge loss?"
Hearing Li Yan’s explanation, Hai Fu felt sowhat ashad upon realizing that he had driven himself and even paid the driver who sat in the passenger seat. But unused to apologizing, she could only turn her head away from him and mutter, "Fine, I’ll reimburse you for the fare..."
"Since you’re still here, it doesn’t count as money wasted. Forget about the reimbursent, if soone sees it, they might think you’re keeping ." Li Yan put on an air of generosity.
"..." Hai Fu rolled her eyes at him, "Saying you look like a butcher or an assassin might be believable, but being kept? Who are you fooling? Are you that much of a pretty boy?"
Nowadays, not being a pretty boy can be a reason for disdain! Li Yan was embarrassed, yet inwardly he sighed at how she could inadvertently hit upon the truth—he was indeed an assassin, though no one would believe it if he said it.
"You must have sothing to tell , right? Want to go inside for a drink?" Li Yan gestured to the bar behind.
Hai Fu shook her head, "Whatever needs to be said doesn’t have to involve drinking. If we drink, I might end up losing out again..."
"Who’s really losing out here..."
"Since... you’re here, accompany for a walk then!" She quickly changed the subject.
The two walked along the street. For a mont, neither knew what to say, but by the ti Li Yan finished his cigarette, they found they’d unwittingly walked in front of the hotel from last ti, and suddenly both stopped...
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