“How am I going to get back?” she said frustratedly.
Oh! Right. Phone.
Luo Yaling took out her phone, but the screen was black. “Ah!!! You’re out of battery at a time like this, huh!!!” she cursed her phone.
How was she going to get back? She could only resign herself to taking the 11 bus home.
She realized she didn’t know which way to go and sat on a roadside stone. “God! Why are you doing this to me? I haven’t harmed you! No car wasn’t enough, you’re making me sit under this scorching sun?” Luo Yaling angrily pointed at the sky.
“Gurgle… I’m so hungry! I really want chicken legs and wings. A bowl of noodles would be good too. I haven’t even had breakfast yet. It’s already midday. I hope a car passes by! Otherwise, I’ll starve to death here!” she prayed.
Under the intense sunlight, Luo Yaling sat on the stone, her chin resting on her hand. Waiting and waiting. But not even a shadow of a car could be seen.
Luo Yaling silently cursed Shen Yixuan in her heart. Encountering him always meant trouble and embarrassment. Finally, as the sky gradually darkened, a large truck appeared in her view.
Luo Yaling rushed to the middle of the road, arms spread wide, blocking a truck’s path. The driver, seeing her suddenly, quickly hit the brakes, narrowly avoiding hitting her.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” the driver shouted, still shaken.
Luo Yaling realized she had stopped a pig truck, and the overwhelming stench made her uncomfortable as she glared at the pigs, who merely looked at her and made “En, en, en” sounds. A drop of cold sweat trickled down her forehead.
After reaching her destination, Luo Yaling thanked the driver and quickly got off the truck. She sniffed herself, recoiling from the awful smell mixed with sweat that made her feel nauseous.
“Quick, quick. Go home and wash up,” she muttered as she hurried home, aware she was still some distance away.
Today had been unfortunate. She wondered if she should proceed with her dilemma. If she did, it could lead to trouble. On the other hand, not acting could also result in embarrassment if her photos ended up in a magazine. She felt conflicted and decided to set the matter aside for now, unable to bear the stench any longer.
He might have already handled it. All she wanted was to go home, take a hot bath, and enjoy a delicious meal.
“Mm, mm, mm,” Luo Yaling thought, almost drooling.
She quickened her pace towards her home, momentarily forgetting her previous concerns.
Chapter Twenty: Dazed, Recollecting
Luo Yaling took out her keys, ready to open the door when it suddenly swung open. She stood in a daze, her hand suspended in mid-air, blankly staring inside.
The floor was spotless and shiny, the furniture neat and tidy. A beautiful young man stood at the entrance. Luo Yaling blinked, unsure if this was real.
She quickly checked the door number to confirm she hadn’t entered the wrong apartment.
Bin Zhengheng watched her comical reaction, barely suppressing a laugh. “You’re not mistaken. This is definitely your home,” he said softly.
He had finally found her and was determined not to let her escape. He remembered the struggles he faced due to his looks when he first started middle school. From that moment, he swore to become strong and protect her.
But after that day, he never saw her again. He waited several times at the place where they had met, but she never appeared. He only saw her again because of his sister-in-law’s daughter.
However, when he saw her, he was shocked by her appearance. He almost couldn’t recognize her, but her purple eyes and familiar voice gave her away. She did not recognize him and seemed unsure if she remembered the little boy she had saved back then.
He learned her name that day—Luo Yaling—from his sister-in-law. From then on, he branded her name in his heart. He let her escape with the help of his brother and sister-in-law, keeping silent about it. Meanwhile, he persistently searched for her location.
This time, he would not let her escape easily.
“Hey! Little brat. What are you thinking about? Why are you so distracted?” Luo Yaling confirmed she was at the right house and suddenly remembered the younger brother she had once picked up. She found it amusing to see him laughing foolishly and blushing—wasn’t it a bit embarrassing?
Luo Yaling walked closer to Bin Zhengheng, swaying in front of him. She thought of playful ways to catch his attention and revealed a devilish expression.
Chapter Twenty-One: Seen Naked???
At this moment, Bin Zhengheng couldn’t help but frown. “Little Luo, go wash up first.”
Then, we’ll prepare to eat. But when you’re done washing, don’t put on makeup. I already saw everything this morning,” Bin Zhengheng reminded Luo Yaling.
It was damaging to her angelic image in his heart. Now she was messy: her hair was a mess, her clothes tattered, her face dirty, and she had a strange smell. It was completely different from the angel in his heart. But no matter how she changed, he still liked her. She was always the most beautiful to him, even quirky, and still pure.
“Hmm.” Luo Yaling was confused by his reaction. At least she expected some response, like concern or comfort, so she could share her misfortunes.
Mechanically, she walked to her room, prepared her clothes, and headed to the bathroom. Suddenly, she poked her head out and shouted at Bin Zhengheng.
“What do you mean, don’t put on makeup? You saw everything this morning???” she exclaimed.
Luo Yaling narrowed her eyes, demanding an explanation.
“Well… you were swaying in front of me. With such big movements, how could I not see?”
Can you blame me?” Bin Zhengheng saw Luo Yaling’s terrifying gaze and involuntarily took a step back, afraid she might rush over and hit him.
“Oh? Is that so?” Luo Yaling approached Bin Zhengheng, asking suspiciously, “Why didn’t you just close your eyes? I don’t believe your explanation at all! You clearly wanted to see!”
Poor Bin Zhengheng felt like a little lamb facing a big bad wolf.
“I’ll take responsibility,” he said, hoping for her approval, preferably for a lifetime.
“Responsibility? Hmph! What can a little brat like you do for me? I’m 26 now, and I don’t want to be accused of seducing an underage boy. I need to say goodbye to my virginity soon. As for finding a husband, we’ll talk about that later. I haven’t played enough yet!”
“I’m already 18, an adult. Don’t call me a little brat,” Bin Zhengheng protested, annoyed to be treated as a child.
“Tch! Only 18! You’re still just a little brat. What would I want with a little brat? Though… helping me clean the room wouldn’t be bad.”
Luo Yaling was calculating in her mind. She paused and continued, “As for this morning’s incident? I’ll just treat it like a cat or dog saw me. It’s no big deal. Keeping a pet could be nice. It could help clean the room. But I don’t have money to keep one,” she muttered to herself.
“What’s wrong with eight years? Isn’t sibling love popular now?” Bin Zhengheng’s face changed at Luo Yaling’s words.
If he knew Luo Yaling was just treating him like a pet, he might cough up blood.
“Hey! You’ve only known me for a day! Don’t act like I’m going to abandon you. Or what? Are you falling for me? That won’t do. I don’t want such a young husband. When I’m old and my face is full of wrinkles, you’ll still be handsome. You’ll have dumped me long ago. Would you still want this old lady? I don’t want that. Besides, I don’t even know your name yet,” Luo Yaling said, quickly shutting her mouth to avoid hurting his self-esteem.
“Bin Zhengheng. No matter what you become, I’ll always like you,” he said softly, as if talking to himself yet also to her.
“What? I didn’t hear clearly.”
Say it louder,” Luo Yaling perked up her ears and leaned close to Bin Zhengheng, wanting to hear him. But she couldn’t make out a single word.
