Chapter 30: Zhizhi, Can I Hug You?

On the way back, they were just two alleys away from the Li family home.

Fu Tingzhou thought about how he would soon return to the army. If it was a short stint, he might have another break in a month or two; if longer, it could be four to five months—not until the New Year.

He was very reluctant to part from her.

One more turn, and their goodbye was approaching.

He carefully asked, “Zhizhi, can I hug you?”

In the dark, deserted alley, the man’s voice sounded almost out of place.

Li Zhi didn’t expect him to make such a request. After a brief hesitation, she softly replied, “…Mm.”

The next second, he leaned in toward her, placed his large hand around her waist, and with a firm motion, pulled her into his embrace.

His jawline rested gently against her hair, nuzzling softly.

Through their thin clothing, their bodies were tightly pressed together. They could clearly feel each other’s heartbeat, fast and rhythmic.

“Zhizhi… I don’t want to part from you.”

Li Zhi raised her hand to wrap around his waist. “Mm, me too.”

His large hand pressed firmly against her lower back, holding her tighter and tighter. With a sense of possessiveness, he completely enveloped her petite figure in his arms—greedy, as if wanting to embed her into his ribs and never let go.

Leaning into his embrace, Li Zhi breathed in the clean, refreshing scent of pinewood mixed with his masculine hormones. It smelled nice, calming her heart and making her feel safe.

…

They hugged for over ten minutes.

Li Zhi’s legs were going numb.

Finally, the man reluctantly let her go.

“I’ll call you whenever I get a chance. You can also call or write to me. When I’m on my next break, we’ll meet again.”

“Okay!”

Li Zhi watched him leave.

Fu Tingzhou walked her all the way to her door and only left once she was safely inside.

Inside, Li Moli, Li Yongge and his wife, and Li Jingze were all watching TV in the living room.

It was a martial arts movie from Hong Kong, with handsome and beautiful protagonists, and comedic side characters—a lot of funny scenes.

“Hahaha, that’s hilarious! This actor is so handsome—he’s the heartthrob of so many girls in my class.”

Li Moli was a music student, proficient in piano (Level 8), though weaker academically. She didn’t do well on last year’s college entrance exams and decided to repeat a year.

She started school a year after Li Zhi, who had taken a year off.

So now, the two were both repeating senior year.

Li Yongge asked, “Zhizhi, you’re back? Have you eaten? Want some more? There’s food in the kitchen.”

“I already ate outside.”

Yuan Huilan reminded her, “You’re on break—go out and relax. Don’t pressure yourself too much with studying every day.”

“I know.”

Li Moli chimed in, “Li Zhi, you’re dressed up so pretty today. Where did you go? Out with your boyfriend again?”

“None of your business.”

“I really treat you like a real sister. Do you have to be so mean to me?” Li Moli pouted, eyes red as if about to cry.

Li Zhi replied, “Your real sister is Li Xiaocao from He Li Village. I’m not.”

She didn’t care to be sisters with her.

Li Moli began crying silently, tears rolling down.

Li Yongge and Yuan Huilan were about to scold Li Zhi, but remembering the stress she was under in her senior year, plus her recent hospitalization for a concussion, they held their tongues.

Li Jingze handed tissues to Li Moli and comforted her, “Moli, don’t be sad. If she ignores you, then you ignore her. I’ll always treat you like my real sister.”

“Thanks, Third Brother…” she choked.

Li Zhi went straight upstairs, not bothering with the drama queen who did nothing but act like a victim.

The next morning, after washing up and getting dressed, Li Zhi was about to go downstairs for breakfast and head to the library to study.

Li Moli followed her into the room and said smugly, “Li Zhi, yesterday Brother Yanzhi took me out for dinner and bought me gifts. The day before, Brother Guangyao took me to the zoo and got me lots of presents too.

Even the day before that, someone else asked me out—so much attention! You have no boyfriend, just study all the time. Isn’t that boring? Want me to introduce someone to you?

I’m going on an outing with some classmates tomorrow. Want to come? Dad even said he’d give me 100 yuan to go out!”

After being dumped at the altar by his fiancée, Lu Yanzhi couldn’t find a new partner easily.

Matchmakers avoided him. No decent girl dared marry him.

Chen Guizhen had high standards and ended up choosing Li Moli.

She was generous with money, and if Lu Yanzhi married her, he wouldn’t have to be stingy anymore.

As for not doing chores—once married, she’d have no choice.

“Sure, studying is important, but finding a good partner is even more important. Do you want me to help or not? If not, you’ll miss out!”

Li Zhi could tell she was just showing off, and the suggestion of matchmaking wasn’t sincere at all. “No thanks. This is my room. Get out.”

Li Moli protested, “This used to be my room. You stole it. When I first came here, you were still in some poor mountain village digging wild herbs!”

“Shameless thing, hogged my room for seventeen years and still dares to show off?”

Footsteps sounded outside.

Li Moli’s eyes lit up and she taunted more, “It’s not my fault we were switched at birth. I was just a kid too! You blame everything on me—what’s the use? You just had bad luck. You deserved it!”

Come on, hit me again.

Yesterday their parents and brother already disapproved of how Li Zhi treated her.

If she hit her again today, she’d definitely get kicked out. Hahaha!!!

Li Zhi picked up her book-filled backpack and slammed it on her foot. Bang!

Li Jingze rushed to the door and saw Li Zhi swaying unsteadily.

She collapsed onto the edge of the bed, hair covering half her face. She turned and tearfully accused, “Li Moli, that was too far! Just because you play piano and are a special admissions student, you mock others for studying hard. Is it wrong to work hard? Does it bother your eyes?”

Li Yongge asked sternly, “What’s going on between you two again?”

Li Zhi said, “She came in bragging about having lots of guys, a new one every day of the seven-day break. They take her to movies, buy her gifts and snacks. Then she said she’d introduce me to a guy too, because studying hard is useless, and finding a man is more important.”

Li Moli forgot her foot pain, shaking her head furiously. “I didn’t say that! She’s slandering me! Dad, Mom, Third Brother, please believe me!”

“You go out dressed up every day and bring back gifts. I come home later than you. If you hadn’t told me yourself, how would I know? Not only gifts—you go on dates with all sorts of men. You’ve brought shame to this family!”

Li Zhi grew angrier, stood up, and slapped her.

Smack!

“You hit me again?!”

“That’s for Mom and Dad.” Smack! “And this is for pushing me.”

She raised her hand again.

“Ah!” Li Moli was terrified and covered her head.

“You’re crazy! How dare you hit me?!”

Li Zhi grabbed her hair. “Why wouldn’t I? You shameless flirt, ruining our family’s name.”

She had wanted to hit her for a long time.

Li Moli thought her scalp would tear off and cried out, “Ah! We’re just regular friends! We hang out as a group, not just alone!”

Li Jingze rushed over, pushed Li Zhi down, and pulled Moli away.

He shouted, “Li Zhi, are you crazy? Just hitting people like that?! Moli isn’t your punching bag. If you want to go nuts, go outside. We won’t put up with this!”

Li Zhi fell to the floor, bumping her back on the edge of the bed. Luckily, the mattress was soft, so it didn’t hurt.

Yuan Huilan helped her up, “Jingze, calm down. Don’t use your hands.”

“She started it!”

Li Zhi said, “Mom, Dad—Moli spends so much money on piano lessons and just goes out chasing men. She doesn’t care about school. Now she’s even trying to introduce men to me, disturbing my focus and studies!”

Li Yongge said, “Moli, Li Zhi is right. You’re in your final year, repeating a grade. This is your last chance. If you don’t get into a good university, what will you do? Stay home and study today. No more going out. We need to start disciplining you properly. No more doing whatever you want. And no 100 yuan today either.”

Last night they had only calmed her down by promising her the 100 yuan.

Li Zhi added fuel to the fire, “Mom and Dad work hard for money. They leave early and return late. You waste money on piano but don’t try to improve. Your mind’s full of men. If you really want a boyfriend, don’t waste their money anymore.”

“I didn’t! I do work hard on piano! You’re smearing me! We were just friends in a group—not just two people! You’re twisting the truth. Mom, Dad, please believe me!”

Yuan Huilan shook her head in disappointment and said to Li Zhi, “Zhizhi, I know you’ve been studying hard lately. Don’t be frugal. This month, we’ll give you an extra 100 yuan. Buy whatever practice books or pens you need. If it’s not enough, let us know.”

Li Moli felt utterly wronged and burst into tears. “Waaahhh…”

Li Zhi got dumped by her fiancé. She tried to be kind and set her up with someone new, and this was the thanks she got?

What a b*tch. She’d never be that kind again.

“Third Brother, I was going to hang out with some classmates today. Can you help me talk to Mom and Dad?”

Li Jingze, the academic star, disapproved of her constant partying. “Moli, don’t go out today. Study hard. Get into a good college.”