Chapter 15: Beating the Jerk

Jian Xi remained motionless for a long time, her chopsticks picking at a piece of mushroom.

Lu Hanxiao walked over and sat on the armrest of the sofa next to her. “Little Xi, have you really fallen for He Ran?”

Jian Xi put down her chopsticks and looked up into his eyes. “No.”

Lu Hanxiao smiled faintly, snapped his fingers, and stood up. “Just think of it as me worrying unnecessarily. Come on, let’s go play.”

Following him, as soon as she entered the private room, someone handed her a bottle of beer. “Old Lu’s sister is everyone’s sister. Come on, drink up.”

“Get lost.” Lu Hanxiao snatched the beer away, blocking Jian Xi. “Don’t try to freeload off me. With your genes, you couldn’t dream of having such a beautiful sister.” Saying that, he tipped back and drank what was originally Jian Xi’s beer, then threw the empty bottle aside, pointing at the screen and shouting, “Who the hell requested ‘Like You’? Confessing to me again?”

Jian Xi found an empty seat and sat down, taking out her phone and scrolling through WeChat absentmindedly. Just as she opened it, it vibrated with a new message from Lu Pingnan:

[Xi Xi, are you home? Can I come pick you up for some late-night snacks?]

Jian Xi scrolled through their chat history; Lu Pingnan had been contacting her more frequently in the past half month. In the past, this would have made her ecstatic.

Jian Xi replied: [I’m not home, sorry.]

Lu Pingnan: [Where are you? Working out?]

Suddenly, Jian Xi felt a surge of irritation. Her fingers paused on the screen, deleting the sentence she had started typing and sending a location map instead.

She waited two minutes but didn’t receive any new messages.

The music in the private room was noisy, and someone was howling “Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.” By the bar, Lu Hanxiao exuded charm, his black shirt unbuttoned by two buttons. The voluptuous beauty beside him tried to cozy up but was always pushed away.

An hour later, Jian Xi’s phone rang; Lu Pingnan sent a WeChat message:

[Xi Xi, I’m waiting for you downstairs. Take your time playing, and I’ll send you home later.]

Jian Xi shivered slightly; goosebumps crawled up her fingertips, leaving her with an indescribable feeling.

After careful consideration, she decided there was still more happiness than anything else.

Jian Xi: [Alright, I’ll be right out.]

She picked up her bag, stood up, and said goodbye to Lu Hanxiao. “I’m leaving first.”

Lu Hanxiao wasn’t surprised at all and smiled. “Someone came to pick you up?”

This guy was also nosy and secretly texted He Ran the address without Jian Xi knowing.

Without much thought, Jian Xi responded, “Yeah.”

Downstairs, the wind blew hard. Lu Pingnan stood in the lobby, his face illuminated by dazzling lights.

“Xi Xi,” he waved excitedly and approached. “Meeting friends?”

Jian Xi smiled. “Isn’t it inconvenient to run around so late at night?”

“To pick you up, nothing is inconvenient.” Lu Pingnan raised his eyebrows. “I took a taxi here, so you’ll have to take me home first.”

Jian Xi was taken aback and laughed. “I’ve brought trouble upon myself.”

“How about it? Are you going to take me or not?” Lu Pingnan shrugged. “I didn’t bring a penny.”

“Alright, alright, alright.” Jian Xi shook her car keys. “Let’s go.”

Though she said she’d take him, Lu Pingnan drove after getting in the car. Tonight, he talked a lot, mostly reminiscing about their college days.

“The best times were in school, full of vigor and enthusiasm for everything.”

Jian Xi occasionally chimed in. “Yes, we had plenty of time back then, unlike after starting work.”

“At that time, I was arrogant and immature, not knowing how to cherish those around me.” Lu Pingnan lowered his voice and slowly said, “Xi Xi, I feel sorry for you. Now I realize what a wonderful woman you are. Could you...?”

As they stopped at a red light, Lu Pingnan turned his head, his eyes deep and affectionate. “Give me a chance, and I’ll make up for everything I owe you.”

Jian Xi was slightly stunned, not knowing what to say for a while. After a long pause, she said, “You don’t owe me anything.”

Her teenage crush and infatuation had scattered with the years of youth, all voluntary.

Upon hearing this, Lu Pingnan urgently grabbed her hand. “Xi Xi, I’m just slow to realize things. I like you, truly.”

At first, Jian Xi tried to pull away, but Lu Pingnan held her hand tightly, and she let it be. His hands were well-maintained and delicate, unlike He Ran’s rough and solid ones.

Jian Xi’s heart raced, realizing unconsciously that she was comparing Lu Pingnan to He Ran.

The red light at the intersection seemed particularly long. At that moment, the roar of an accelerating throttle came fiercely from behind, and in the blink of an eye, a black motorcycle zoomed past.

Jian Xi’s eyes widened, staring at the figure through the windshield, almost unable to believe it—it was definitely He Ran.

It must be him.

Lu Pingnan hadn’t seen who it was and frowned, muttering, “Such undesirable people should be caught.”

Jian Xi quickly pulled her hand back from his palm and stared straight ahead. Seeing her strange expression, Lu Pingnan didn’t press further for a result.

Lu Pingnan lived in a mid-range apartment complex. Upon arrival, Jian Xi returned to the driver’s seat. “I’m leaving first.”

“Xi Xi, my feelings for you are genuine. I hope you can give me a chance.” Lu Pingnan supported himself on the car window, his gaze flickering, looking at her with an inviting expression.

Jian Xi met his gaze, neither dodging nor avoiding, and finally smiled. “Go back.”

Lu Pingnan watched the taillights disappear around the corner before loosening his suit button, crossing his arms casually. His house phone rang at the right moment.

“Hello, Mom, I’m back.” He listened while walking into the community. “Don’t worry, she has liked me for so many years, she will definitely agree.”

Mother Lu: “You need to hurry. Her father is the mayor. If you win over Jian Xi, our family will prosper.”

“No problem.” Lu Pingnan was confident. “This woman is smart too. Knowing her for so long, she never mentioned her family. I thought she was from an ordinary family.”

Mother Lu: “It’s thanks to Mom’s resourcefulness. Your aunt works as a cleaner in the Public Security Bureau office building. She overheard a leader making a call to release someone, mentioning Jian Xi’s name. Luckily, she told me.”

A bit of investigation revealed Jian Xi’s father’s identity.

After hanging up, Lu Pingnan whistled as he walked along the path, still basking in his success. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his neck as someone choked him.

“Ow!” Lu Pingnan cried out in fright. The person covered his mouth with a large hand and whispered menacingly, “Want to die?”

Lu Pingnan was dragged to a dead corner and stumbled to the ground. Still shaken, he looked at the attacker. “It’s you.”

He Ran bit his cigarette, his eyes fierce, and walked over to grab Lu Pingnan by the collar. “Pretty boy, stop messing with her.”

Hearing this, Lu Pingnan immediately relaxed. “Oh, Jian Xi, huh?” He challenged with his eyes. “Do you believe if I go to her now, she’ll strip naked and wait for me to fuck her?”

Enraged, He Ran punched him in the face.

Lu Pingnan cried tears of pain. “How dare you like her? Have you no shame, you poor bastard?”

Ignoring his cries, He Ran beat him mercilessly with fists and kicks. “Are you even a man?”

Lu Pingnan had no strength to fight back, like a punching bag. “You’re crazy. You can’t compete with me. Ouch, help, help!”

The commotion attracted the property security guards, their flashlight beams accompanied by voices. “Who’s there?”

He Ran furrowed his brows, delivering one last vicious kick to Lu Pingnan before leaving. “Remember this: if you dare touch her, I’ll kill you.”

With that, he quickly disappeared into the bushes.

________________________________________

The next night, Jian Xi was on duty in the hospital’s maternity ward. It was bizarre—complications with the pregnant women kept arising throughout the night. Every time she prepared to rest, a nurse hurriedly knocked, saying one was bleeding and another had abnormal fetal heartbeats.

By eight o’clock when her shift ended, she had just come out of the operating room. This state of being able to fall asleep standing up had been absent for a long time.

After a quick wash, she was about to change clothes and leave when Lu Hanxiao called urgently.

“Little Xi, where are you?”

The voice was loud, and Jian Xi moved the phone away from her ear. “Dead tired. Worked all night and still at the hospital.”

“Do you know Lu Pingnan?” Lu Hanxiao asked.

“Yes,” Jian Xi was puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

Lu Hanxiao paused. “He’s going to sue He Ran.”

Lu Pingnan, a small-time businessman with years of cunning, hadn’t gone to the hospital despite being beaten last night. Instead, he directly retrieved surveillance footage from the property management office and filed a report at the police station.

He Ran had just returned home when he was detained. His grandmother, advanced in age, was nearly hospitalized from shock.

Jian Xi sped to the police station. Lu Hanxiao had pulled strings, allowing them to meet He Ran. Jian Xi let Lu Hanxiao go in first and stood outside to call Lu Pingnan.

Lu Pingnan downplayed the severity, exaggerating He Ran’s beating last night.

The more Jian Xi listened, the colder she felt. After hanging up, she deflated like a punctured balloon, overwhelmed by a profound sense of grievance and disappointment.

When she went in, He Ran and Lu Hanxiao were sitting face-to-face. He Ran glanced at her carelessly, indifferent and fearless.

The anger she had suppressed surged uncontrollably to her head. Jian Xi walked over and, holding back her anger, said, “Why did you go and beat Lu Pingnan for no reason?”

Hearing that name, He Ran instantly flared up. “I didn’t like the look of him.”

Jian Xi placed both hands on the table and leaned forward. “Are you insane? You beat up anyone you don’t like? Is fighting all you know?”

He Ran sneered. “Yes.”

“Are you happy being detained?”

“Extremely happy.”

Jian Xi gripped the corner of the table tightly. Her brows and eyes were cold enough to drop icicles.

He Ran was also angry inside. Last night, he had ridden his motorcycle far to surprise her, only to watch her walk away with Lu Pingnan, laughing happily.

He glared at her, utterly devoid of warmth.

Jian Xi turned her face away, her eyes stinging. Blinking twice, tears fell wetly onto the back of her hand.

Silent until now, Lu Hanxiao grew displeased and shouted at He Ran, “Can’t you speak kindly?”

“Mind your own business,” He Ran snapped back, his emotions tangled, venting his anger on him.

Jian Xi wiped her hand across her cheek, stubbornly refusing to let more tears fall.

If you don’t care, then fine. Who needs you anyway?

As she turned to leave, He Ran’s thorny voice rang out, “Jian Xi.”

She didn’t respond but her steps halted.

He continued, “I regretted it—I regret not killing that Lu guy last night.”

Jian Xi froze, as if pricked by those words. “Unwillingness” filled her with prickles.

“I’m telling you, even if you killed Lu Pingnan, I wouldn’t like you. I’ve known him for ten years. What about you? You’re nothing.”

With that, she put on a brave face and turned around, never looking back.