Chapter 43: Save Me |
"Is she really that pretty..."
A sorrowful voice drifted into Liu Zhiyue’s ears.
Shifting his gaze from Zhou Shiyan's retreating back, Liu Zhiyue turned to Zhao Xuanwen, who had spoken those words.
His stare was somewhat intimidating.
"What's so pretty about her?"
Liu Zhiyue sat back in his seat and waved dismissively.
"To me, she’s got nothing on you."
"Really?!"
Moments ago, Zhao Xuanwen had looked utterly dejected. Now, she froze in shock before her face lit up with joy. Realizing what had just happened, she began fidgeting, her cheeks turning crimson as if embarrassed.
She cupped her face with her hands, staring straight ahead. Her face, now flushed, gave her the look of someone genuinely shy.
Liu Zhiyue observed the change in her demeanor with a helpless sigh. Was there really a need to be this happy?
Or... do girls just love compliments that much?
Zhao Xuanwen lowered her hands from her face, rummaged in her pocket for a moment, and pulled out a handful of snacks, which she placed on Liu Zhiyue's desk without a glance.
"Here, eat these!"
"I'm on a diet; I really can't eat snacks anymore."
As Liu Zhiyue spoke, a pang of regret hit him. After holding out for so long, he had caved yesterday—all for a single lollipop. It was so embarrassing.
Sure, one piece of candy wouldn’t add several pounds, but when he thought about the caloric equivalent—enough for several bowls of rice—he felt a profound sense of failure.
"You’re seriously sticking to your diet, huh?"
Seeing Liu Zhiyue's resolute refusal, Zhao Xuanwen finally believed he was genuinely committed. Her expression returned to normal.
"Does your dad know you’re dieting?"
"He’s the one dieting with me..."
At the mention of his dad, Liu Zhiyue’s mind wandered back to the ordeal of the past few days.
The first few days of dieting were the hardest. If he could push through that initial period, once his body adjusted to the routine, running every day wouldn’t feel so grueling.
In fact, after finishing a run, he felt lighter and more relaxed.
Zhao Xuanwen blinked in surprise at his response.
"Your dad is dieting too?"
"Yeah."
"But your dad’s such a great cook—why would he need to diet?"
"What does being a good cook have to do with dieting? I don’t follow your logic."
"I think you look fine just the way you are..."
Even as Zhao Xuanwen said this, her eyes darted toward Liu Zhiyue’s stomach. Picking up a book from the desk, she rolled it into a cylinder, pressed it against his belly, and pushed.
She let go.
The book sprang away.
"...…"
"Pfft!"
Zhao Xuanwen couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Hearing her laugh, Liu Zhiyue felt utterly humiliated.
He clenched his fists tightly.
This time, he was determined—he would succeed in losing weight!
Accompanied by the rattling sound of a rolling metal door, Liu Changqing pulled down the shutter and patted the dust off his hands.
Sitting for hours in a chair had left his back feeling stiff.
He stretched his waist with his hands on his hips, moving slightly to loosen up his muscles and joints.
Once he was fully limbered up, Liu Changqing started heading home.
To get there, he had to pass by some shops, cross a somewhat secluded road, and then walk through an alley. At the alley’s end, he’d need to cross a street before reaching his residential neighborhood.
He quickened his pace slightly.
It was a bit late, and he wondered if his son had prepared something for his daughter to eat.
Recently, his novel's performance had been very encouraging. He had even started uploading VIP chapters. Although it was close to the end of the month when he’d receive his paycheck, he had at least resolved the issue of his children’s tuition fees.
Initially, Liu Changqing had taken a job at a bookstore while writing his novel. He had believed that, given the immense popularity of Battle Through the Heavens in his previous life, it would undoubtedly be a hit in this one too.
But he had miscalculated one thing.
His memory didn’t retain the plot in full detail. As a result, Liu Changqing could only recall the general storyline and had to insert his own ideas while writing.
During the early days, when the reader numbers were stagnant, he had doubted himself, wondering if the deviations he’d added had caused the story to fall apart.
Fortunately, things had improved.
Although the novel wasn’t as explosive as it had been in his previous life, it still outshone most of the online novels of this era.
Readers were unfamiliar with tropes like annulled engagements, leveling up through battles, and arrogant face-slapping. To them, these ideas were incredibly fresh.
Who cares about the number of female characters? Just write it!
To make more money, Liu Changqing had pushed himself to the limit today, losing track of time while writing. By the time he finished and checked the clock, it was over two hours past closing time.
The sky had long since darkened.
Crossing the street, Liu Changqing entered the narrow alleyway.
It wasn’t yet the peak of summer heat, but the nights were no longer as cool as they had been. Wearing a short-sleeve shirt, he felt the breeze hitting him just right.
He smoothed out the creases in his white undershirt. The shoulders had two marks left by the hanger, resembling little humps.
He tried to flatten them but eventually gave up, pulling out a cigarette instead.
This body’s previous owner had been a smoker, and in his past life, Liu Changqing had developed the habit from pulling late-night shifts as a designer.
At home, for the sake of his two children, he refrained from smoking and only indulged when he was outside.
The alley was dark.
Though he could take the main road and loop around to his neighborhood, it was a longer route.
As usual, Liu Changqing opted for the dark, quiet alley.
The alley was just as dim as always. Trash bags littered the corners, thrown there carelessly over the years, and the faint smell of decay lingered in the air.
It wasn’t unbearable. Compared to the stench of his college roommate’s feet, this was nothing. While others might cover their noses, Liu Changqing felt unfazed.
As he neared the alley’s end, his steps were steady and uninterrupted.
The cigarette in his hand was almost finished.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps broke the stillness. From his blind spot, a petite figure darted into the alley.
Head down, the figure dashed forward as if fleeing from something and collided straight into Liu Changqing’s stomach.
The unexpected impact made Liu Changqing wince.
The force wasn’t small.
Rebounding a short distance, the person stumbled back a couple of steps before looking up in a panic.
Like someone grasping at a lifeline, they grabbed Liu Changqing’s arm without even glancing at his face.
"Save... Save me!"
Comments 1