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Chapter 30: If You Want a Boyfriend, Pick One Who Can Cook

“Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony; freedom, equality, justice, rule of law; patriotism, dedication, integrity, fri, fri, friendliness…”

From the corner beside the restroom came a loud yet miserable voice.

The big-headed boy and several of his bros squatted in a row, yanking their own earlobes while reciting the 24-character core values, and the side glances they threw at Lu Li were filled with terror.

The left sides of their faces were all swollen, obviously each of them had eaten a heavy slap.

Moments earlier, the fair-minded Lu Li had shown no favoritism and given every one of them a resounding slap, subduing them with ease.

After all, they were only students; how could they possibly be a match for Lu Li, who was already at Minor Accomplishment?

Lu Li made them squat on the ground and recite the 24-character core values to wash away their thuggish mindset, and they could only obey.

“The last one is friendliness, hurry up and remember it; no wonder you keep causing trouble, you are not friendly at all.”

Annoyed, Lu Li chopped the big-headed boy who had failed to finish the list on the head with a knife hand.

The big-headed boy lowered his head in humiliation.

Lu Li walked toward Hao Xin, who was squatting at the edge, and, because he had already slapped her once, he did not lay a hand on her this time.

Even so, Hao Xin trembled all over; just now she had watched Lu Li casually knock down her boyfriend and the others, and they had not been able to resist at all.

To her, Lu Li was like a demon risen from the abyss, and she no longer had the will to resist.

“W-what do you want?” Hao Xin stammered, backing away.

Lu Li brushed the stray hair from Hao Xin’s forehead behind her ear and said impassively, “Fortunately Chu Zining was not seriously hurt, so I will spare you this once; remember to apologize to her, understood? If there is a next time, I will come for you.”

Staring at Lu Li’s severe face, Hao Xin nodded over and over like a pecking hen, “U-understood.”

Lu Li turned to the school bullies, sighed, and said, “He who bullies others will himself be bullied; he who insults others will himself be insulted.”

With a flick of his sleeve, Lu Li strode off.

The big-headed boy slowly got to his feet, glaring hatefully in the direction Lu Li had gone while clenching his fists.

“Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony; freedom, equality, justice, rule of law; patriotism, dedication, integrity, friendliness…”

Hearing his lackey still droning on about the core values, he slapped the kid hard on the scalp.

“He’s already gone, why are you still reciting? Yours was the loudest voice just now!”

The lackey looked up blankly, saw the fire in the big-headed boy’s eyes, and hurriedly scrambled to his feet.

“If I don’t avenge this, I swear I’m no man!” the big-headed boy roared, brandishing his fist.

Hao Xin walked over and whispered, “Maybe we should let it go; that Lu Li obviously knows martial arts, he’s not easy to mess with, and… it really was my fault.”

“How come you’re suddenly… so reasonable?”

The big-headed boy stared at his girlfriend in disbelief, “Don’t tell me you really went and apologized to that guy’s woman?”

“What else could I do? He’s that strong and you can’t handle him,” Hao Xin replied awkwardly, having been badly frightened earlier.

“Who says I can’t handle him? I have tons of brothers!”

Before he finished, the lackey, holding his swollen cheek, whispered, “Boss, m-maybe we really shouldn’t provoke him.”

He did not want another slap in the face.

The big-headed boy grew even angrier, “You bunch of cowards; fine, if you won’t go after that kid, I’ll do it myself! I have a cousin who trains in the martial arts club and he’s really good; I’ll go get him later, make him grab that punk, and make that punk kneel and sing ‘Conquer’ to me!”

“How about not going? Fewer problems are better than more; it’s just an apology,” Hao Xin said, tugging at the big-headed boy’s arm.

The big-headed boy flung her hand away and snarled, “Stupid woman, this is no longer about an apology; do you know how much damage a single slap does to me!”

He viciously kicked a stone, then hopped away on one foot, howling and clutching the other.

Hao Xin stared blankly at her boyfriend’s back, an inexplicable feeling of irritation welling up inside her.

“How can he manage to be stupid, childish, and ugly all at once?”

“Why is Chu Zining so lucky, able to have a boyfriend like that…”

Hao Xin bit her lip, her jealousy toward Chu Zining deepening a little more.

…

When Lu Li returned to the classroom it was already 12:00 p.m., and his classmates had all gone elsewhere to eat, leaving the room almost empty.

Lu Li took out the dishes he had prepared in the morning; he had brought enough for three people, one portion of which had been meant for Tang Yang.

But Tang Yang was not in the classroom, and second, he had not answered the messages on his phone.

Maybe he had already gone to the cafeteria to eat… Lu Li shook his head, packed up the food, and carried it to the infirmary.

That silly girl Chu Zining had skipped breakfast, so she might be able to eat a bit more at lunch.

At noon the infirmary was much quieter than before; only Chu Zining and the female doctor were still there.

When Lu Li reached the doorway, he heard the female doctor chatting with Chu Zining inside.

“Little sis, your boyfriend is really handsome; is he in your class?” the doctor asked gossipily.

Chu Zining gave a soft “Mm” and shook her head repeatedly, “H-he is not my boyfriend.”

“Oh my, why do you say the exact same thing he did?” The doctor waved her hand. “Relax, I’m only 24, not one of those rigid old fogies; I won’t crack down on puppy love.”

“He really is not my boyfriend.” Chu Zining shook her head earnestly.

The doctor was amazed, “Really not? The anxious look on his face when he carried you in… tsk tsk… he’d only be that nervous if he himself were hurt!”

Lu Li ~ Isn’t that exactly it… my own alt account got hurt… Lu Li grumbled inwardly at the door.

“Mm, is that so…” Chu Zining lowered her head, clutched the sheet with her small hands, and bit her pink lips, her clear eyes trembling slightly.

The doctor waved. “It’s fine if he isn’t; a pretty girl like you doesn’t need to rush into a relationship. Still, keep the standards high… at the very least find someone who can cook.”

“Why do you say that?” Chu Zining tilted her head in puzzlement.

The doctor stretched lazily, her shapely hourglass figure on full display, “You’ll understand when you’re older; an adult’s confusion, aside from having no money, is only about…”

Chu Zining cocked her head, curiosity written on her face.

The doctor let out a long sigh, “Only about not knowing what to eat for breakfast, not knowing what to eat for lunch, and not knowing what to eat for dinner. If you have a boyfriend who cooks, those worries disappear. Unfortunately, the guys who can cook are usually big and burly; if I ever meet one who can cook and is even slightly handsome, I’ll definitely chase after him.”

Chu Zining: “…”

She shook her head slightly without giving an answer; she did not intend to rely on others.

A mountain can collapse, people can run away, and even your own shadow leaves when the light goes out; she disliked depending on anyone.

If even her own mother could not be relied on, who else could she rely on?

“Enough about that; I should order takeout… the cafeteria food is awful. Want me to order you something too?” The doctor was enjoying the chat and had taken a liking to Chu Zining.

Chu Zining covered her empty stomach and shook her head, “I’ll eat in the cafeteria.”

She intended to get some free plain rice there.

Although Lu Li had said he would eat lunch with her, he had not come back for so long that it seemed he had only been joking.

She had heard far too many deceitful jokes like that.

She had just gotten out of bed and was heading to the door when she saw Lu Li standing there, giving her a glare. “Where do you think you’re going? Didn’t you say you’d eat with me? You’re being naughty.”

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