Chapter 1230: Chapter 1230: Extra Story of the Eel 67
“It’s nothing… just twisted it, I know what I’m doing.” Li Li shifted uncomfortably. “Hurry up and help me get the luggage.”
Su Man bit her lower lip, straightened up, and looked at Li Li. “So your mom was actually right. You should’ve never hung out with people like Wu Xinghai. Just look at the kind of crowd he associates with—I’ve even heard there are drug addicts among them! You’re lucky to just get away with a beating today!”
Li Li: “…”
He used to find her scolding frustrating, but for some reason today, it actually felt kind of comforting.
Maybe it was because the cold war between them had lasted too long.
For once, Li Li softened his tone, his expression unusually gentle. “Alright, I get it. I won’t hang out with him anymore, okay? But first, help me get through this. If my parents find out, even if it’s nothing, they’ll blow it out of proportion.”
—Li Li was the pride of the Li Family. If his parents ever found out their precious boy had been beaten up, there was no way they’d let it slide. Not only would the person who hit Li Li face consequences, but Wu Xinghai would probably be in big trouble too.
But if things escalated like this, sure, it’d be satisfying to vent—but Li Li would feel utterly humiliated.
Just like when he was a kid. He’d rather ask Su Man for help than tell his parents he was being bullied at school.
Su Man understood his boundaries well. She pursed her lips and agreed. “Got it. If your mom asks me where you went for your trip, what should I say?”
Li Li: “Just tell her this…”
He carefully coached Su Man with the explanation he had prepared beforehand. Fearing she might not act convincingly, he even made her rehearse in front of him a few times before he finally felt assured.
After all this back and forth, the two of them ended up feeling like they’d gone back to the old days, and their relationship didn’t seem as strained anymore.
Li Li felt pretty pleased about it.
He’d known all along that, no matter how angry Su Man got, she would eventually forgive him.
This little “playing the victim” tactic had worked perfectly.
…
If Li Li was the famed child prodigy, then Su Man was well-known for her straightforward personality. Li Li’s mom loved to ask Su Man about her son because she firmly believed Su Man wouldn’t lie.
Su Man went to the Li Family and told them that Li Li had suddenly decided to go on a trip with some friends and sent her back to grab his luggage.
Li Li’s mom, as expected, didn’t suspect a thing and happily packed extra clothes and some daily essentials for Su Man to take along.
By the time Su Man returned to Wu Xinghai’s apartment, it was already very late.
Su Man glanced at the clock on the wall—it pointed to ten o’clock. She suddenly remembered that Lu Yuwen was still waiting for her call.
She grabbed her bag, ready to leave, but Li Li called out to her. “You’re just going to leave like that?”
Su Man turned around. “Yeah, I’m going home to sleep. I have to get up early for work tomorrow.”
“But I’m hungry…” Li Li rubbed his stomach and looked at her.
Su Man sighed helplessly. “What good is looking at me? I can’t cook.”
“I wasn’t counting on you to cook. Even if you could, we wouldn’t be able to do it here.” Li Li said. “This apartment of Wu Xinghai’s has hardly been lived in. There’s not even a single pot in the kitchen. I can’t even cook instant noodles.”
Su Man frowned in frustration. “Why didn’t you mention that earlier? If I’d known there wasn’t even a pot, I would’ve picked one up along with the crutches I bought for you!”
“Forget it, forget it. Let’s just order takeout.” Li Li pulled out his phone and sighed. “You haven’t eaten either. Just eat with me.”
Su Man hesitated. She didn’t want to get home too late—Lu Yuwen was still waiting for her call.
Li Li added, “Leaving me here to eat alone in a place like this… it’s a bit miserable, don’t you think?”
He reclined halfway on the sofa, his voice low and pitiful, looking genuinely sorry for himself.
“And besides… my leg hurts a lot. It’d be tough for me to even go downstairs and pick up the food.” He spoke slowly, dragging out the words.
The apartment complex had strict access policies. While delivery drivers could enter the community gate, they couldn’t use the elevator without a keycard.
Su Man sighed helplessly again. She set down her bag. “Fine, just order something for me too.”
…