Chapter 20: Booking a Room

Without hesitation, Li Yi got up and chased after her, leaving his classmates in shock and Jin Zong in a daze.

Liu Ruosi ran down the stairs, taking a deep breath of the cool night air, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her heart.

But as soon as she finished, she regretted it.

She just felt so stifled, always wanting to find something to vent her frustration.

Unfortunately, Li Yi happened to be in her line of fire.

She was very clear about Jin Zong's intentions; he just wanted to get her body. She had been struggling with this, whether to agree or not, it wasn't a decision she could make lightly. It involved her father's survival and her lifelong happiness.

She wandered aimlessly, her thoughts drifting with the wind, not knowing where they would end up.

She walked to the Xiangjiang River. Looking across, the city's neon lights flickered, skyscrapers stood tall, and the night life was vibrant, with happy people everywhere. All of this seemed unrelated to her. This familiar yet strange city had nothing to do with her. She was just a passerby, a wanderer with no destination.

She felt a bit tired, climbed onto the railing, and planned to sit there to rest her weary body and mind.

"Hey!" A pair of strong male hands lifted her from behind.

She thought of robbers. Her classmates had told her that the Xiangjiang River was unsafe at night, with bad people often targeting lone women for robbery and assault.

At that moment, she felt something more terrifying than death.

But before she could even shout for help, her feet touched the ground, and a familiar face appeared in front of her: "Hey! Are you crazy? You're going to jump into the river over a small matter?"

Liu Ruosi screamed, her fists raining down on Li Yi's chest.

Li Yi didn't resist, just smiled silently.

Liu Ruosi stopped when she was tired.

"Done hitting?" Li Yi suddenly reached out, held her shoulders, looked into her eyes, and said seriously, "Trust me!"

Liu Ruosi didn't speak, but tears welled up in her eyes.

Li Yi said helplessly, "What will it take for you to trust me?"

"What do you want me to trust you with?"

"Trust that I can protect you."

"We just met. Do you think you have an obligation to protect me? And do I have the right to accept your protection? Assuming you have the ability to protect me."

"Because I've liked you since my previous life," Li Yi said straightforwardly.

Liu Ruosi didn't speak, turned, and walked away.

"I'll take you," Li Yi walked quietly by her side, following her.

Liu Ruosi didn't know where to go; the school had already closed. It was the first time since she started school that she stayed out so late. Jin Zong had originally called her out to discuss a contract, but it turned into dinner, then dancing, and then singing.

As Li Yi said, for 50,000 yuan, she almost sold herself.

She finally stopped, asked nervously, "Do you have money?"

"Yes."

"Can you lend me ten yuan? I need to stay in a hotel for the night."

"Let me see." Li Yi searched his clothes and found ten yuan: "That's all I have."

"What about you?"

"Don't worry. I'm a guy, no one will want me. I can find a place to sleep anywhere. If not, I'll go back to the karaoke bar and sing with my classmates."

Liu Ruosi suddenly laughed, "You said you want to protect me and help my father get treatment? I think you're poorer than me."

Li Yi scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, "I'm a bit poor today, but things will get better tomorrow."

Liu Ruosi sighed, "I hope we'll both be better off tomorrow."

Li Yi knew she misunderstood but didn't explain. They found a hotel, and when they asked about the price, only a double room was available, five yuan per bed.

Liu Ruosi asked nervously, "Five yuan per bed? Can anyone come and sleep in the other bed?"

The owner said, "Of course. You can buy both beds if you want."

Liu Ruosi bit her lip, "Why don't you stay the night too?" Her face turned red.

She couldn't believe she said that. Liu Ruosi regretted it and was about to take it back when Li Yi calmly replied, "Okay, I'll reluctantly be your protector."

Li Yi's heart raced, and he agreed without hesitation.

He wasn't Liu Xiaohui, nor was he a gentleman.

They booked a room and were led to the third floor by the plump owner.

The room was small, with two beds close together. Liu Ruosi was very nervous and asked anxiously, "You won't bully me, right?"

Seeing her frightened, Li Yi didn't want to scare her further and said seriously, "As long as you don't bully me, I won't bully you."

Liu Ruosi's face turned red, and she lay down on the bed, her back to Li Yi.

At first, she kept her eyes wide open, afraid to sleep, worried that Li Yi would really come over and bully her. She felt a burning sensation on her back, the heat of Li Yi's gaze!

He was peeking! He must be peeking, but she didn't have the courage to turn around and confirm it, nor the courage to scold him.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have hit you..." she whispered, not caring if he heard, her eyelids drooping, and she slowly closed her eyes.

"Beating is love, scolding is affection, hehe, I'm rich and foolish, welcome to hit me, beautiful lady," Li Yi joked, but got no response.

In the quiet night, her heavy breathing indicated she was truly exhausted. Despite her worries, she fell asleep quickly.

Li Yi lay in bed, looking at her slender, beautiful body. He reached out and patted her a few times, "No way? Just looking? Si Si, your charm is immense! What a tragedy, how will I get through the night?"

Li Yi thought about the famous story of the beast and the beastly. He wondered, should he be a beast or even more beastly?

Thinking about it, he drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, birds chirped outside. Li Yi opened his eyes and saw Liu Ruosi already awake, carefully checking her clothes.

Li Yi's temper flared, and he shouted, "You don't trust me, yet you called me up? You don't trust me, yet you slept like a dead pig? If I knew, I would have been a beast!"

"What beast? I think you're a gentleman!" Liu Ruosi finished checking and found herself still intact, feeling relieved and not caring about Li Yi's anger.

"Gentlemen are used to insult impotent men," Li Yi said resentfully.

Liu Ruosi laughed, "You, a dog can't spit out ivory!"

"Can a dog spit out ivory? That would be a miracle, a private child of a dog and an elephant!" Li Yi said angrily.

"Another miracle? What's the other one?" Liu Ruosi asked, trying to hold back her laughter.

"A mule. A donkey and a horse's illegitimate child."

Liu Ruosi combed her hair, the sunlight streaming through the window, landing on her black hair, her collarbone, and her body. She looked like an angel, and her smile brightened Li Yi's world.

"Li Yi, thank you. If it weren't for you last night, I wouldn't know how to get rid of that Jin. You're right, I can't sell myself to be filial. If my father knew, he wouldn't accept treatment. I just wanted to use you to make a scene and reject him."

Li Yi was touched. She was a girl worth cherishing.

"You sing so well. Can you sing it again for me?"

"Now?"

"Is it convenient?"

Li Yi started singing immediately, more emotionally and sincerely than the night before.

Liu Ruosi closed her eyes, enjoying Li Yi's voice. Her fingers tapped the bed, keeping time.

When the song ended, Liu Ruosi was still savoring it, opening her eyes after a while, "Li Yi, do people really have past lives?"

"Maybe? Hehe. Let's not discuss these idealistic questions. Let's solve practical problems. Aren't you hungry?"

Liu Ruosi smiled, "Do you have money? You said you would support me."

Li Yi blinked, when did he say he would support her? He only said he would protect her!

This was a problem. Li Yi took out his savings book and asked, "Where's the Industrial and Commercial Bank?"

Liu Ruosi said, "I don't know, I've never been there. Do you really have money? How much did you save? You even put it in the bank?"

Li Yi chuckled and handed her the savings book, "You look."

Liu Ruosi turned her head, "I won't look. It's not my money."

Li Yi smiled, "If you want, it's yours."

This statement caused a misunderstanding. Li Yi meant that if she wanted it, he would give it all to her. Liu Ruosi interpreted it as, if she agreed to be his girlfriend or a more intimate partner, the money would be hers.

Liu Ruosi's beautiful eyes scanned Li Yi's face, "I don't care!"

Li Yi was stunned, "Do you know how much is in there? You say you don't care?"

"Maybe a hundred or two hundred yuan!" Liu Ruosi guessed high.

Li Yi put away the savings book, "Forget it, it's better you don't look. It might scare you."

He thought for a moment, "I know where there's a bank. Follow me."

"Do you really want to withdraw money? I have a few dozen yuan in my dorm. I'll go get it," Liu Ruosi said.

"Uh, you're willing to spend money on me?" Li Yi was surprised.

"That's the money I lent you last night. Where are you going with your wild thoughts? You always overthink things!" Liu Ruosi said, "Let's go."

They went downstairs and ran into a group of people, including Guo Xiaoling and Yao Lin, who had just come out of a KTV, looking tired and yawning. Sun Wei, with her sharp eyes, spotted Li Yi and shouted, "Isn't that Li Yi? Look, he's with a girl, and they booked a room!"

Everyone's eyes nearly fell out.

Li Yi smiled awkwardly, waved, "Hello everyone!"

Guo Xiaoling's face turned pale, and her body swayed. Fortunately, no one noticed.

Yao Lin said sarcastically, "Wow, our great Li Yi, you're really good at picking up girls. You just met, and you're already in bed. You should teach us a few tricks!"

He looked at Sun Wei and Guo Xiaoling, seeing their expressions change, making him even more pleased.

Zhu Feng and Bi Zhengguang came up and punched him, "Great job! We should learn from you!"

Li Yi couldn't explain, looked at Liu Ruosi, and saw her smiling as if it had nothing to do with her.

Liu Ruosi smiled and greeted everyone, "Hello everyone, I'm sorry about last night. I apologize. I'll treat you all to a meal another day."

The classmates, seeing her gracious and proper demeanor, felt a bit embarrassed, laughed awkwardly, and waved goodbye.

Li Yi waved to a taxi and invited Liu Ruosi in. Liu Ruosi asked, "Where are we going?"

Li Yi pushed her into the car, smiled, "To sell you." He got in and told the driver, "Xiangjiang Hotel."

He remembered passing by a large Industrial and Commercial Bank nearby yesterday, which might be a provincial branch.

Guo Xiaoling turned around and saw Li Yi pushing Liu Ruosi into a taxi, feeling a hollow, empty sensation, as if something had been taken from her.

The page turned, and the advertisement began.

The page turned, and the advertisement ended.