Chapter 7: “Sure enough, being soft-hearted toward men just brings bad luck…”

Half an hour later.

Zhang Canyang still hadn’t arrived.

Li Huanhuan messaged him. It took several minutes before he replied.

Fox: “Sis, just wait a little longer.”

0.0: “But I have something to do later. I’m planning to leave. I’ve already met the person adopting A-Hua and her kitten. She seems very reliable, and I’ve got her contact info. If you’re not comfortable, I can send it to you.”

This time, he replied with a voice call.

Fox (with a familiar and cheerful voice): “Sis, you can’t just judge people by appearances. You’re so innocent and easy to fool. I have to personally make sure the adopter is trustworthy before I hand A-Hua and her kitten over.”

Li Huanhuan: “But I really have something to do…”

Fox: “Please, just wait 20 minutes—no, 10 minutes! I’ll be there soon!”

Li Huanhuan frowned and looked back at the adopter, who was squatting and playing with the cats. She rubbed her forehead, conflicted. “Fine. I’ll wait ten more minutes. If you’re not here by then, I’m leaving!”

Fox (on the phone): “Thank you, sis~ You’re such an angel~”

Li Huanhuan gave a bitter smile.

Angel?

Then he must be the demon sent to torment her.

Ten minutes passed. Zhang Canyang still didn’t show up.

Li Huanhuan texted him, saying she was leaving.

Fox: “Sis! No, don’t go! Just wait a bit more!”

Fox: “Sis, I’m nearby! Almost there!”

0.0: “Nearby?”

Fox: “Yeah, I ran into a little trouble, but it’ll be resolved soon.”

Given his inconsistent behavior, Li Huanhuan didn’t know whether to believe him.

Fox: “For real this time. Look!”

Zhang Canyang sent a video. It showed the street near the alley, just like he said. It was noisy—he really did seem to be in some trouble.

Li Huanhuan stared at the glowing screen, then glanced back at the adopter.

“Sorry for the wait. A-Hua’s ‘guardian’ is nearby but ran into some trouble. I’ll go check it out—could I trouble you to wait a bit longer?” she said, apologetically.

Fortunately, the girl was understanding. She took A-Hua and the kitten to a nearby pet clinic to wait.

“Thank you. Let’s stay in touch via WeChat,” Li Huanhuan said.

She followed the video clues and found a head of golden hair beneath a staircase near a pedestrian bridge about 200 meters away.

Li Huanhuan: “Zhang Canyang!”

She ran over and saw him standing with a girl who had long, curly hair.

The girl wore a white fur coat, a short skirt, and high-heeled boots. She was stunning and looked a bit older than Zhang Canyang.

Li Huanhuan stopped in her tracks.

He’d said he was “in trouble,” but she hadn’t expected this kind of trouble.

Girl: “Canyang, I don’t believe it! We’ve only been dating for less than a week! How can it be over? You were clearly into me. You said…”

She was crying.

Zhang Canyang stood emotionless, cold and distant.

He glanced at his phone and saw Li Huanhuan a few meters away, looking surprised.

The girl, still crying, looked up at him with hope when he suddenly softened his tone.

Zhang Canyang: “It’s not that you’re not good. I just like someone else now.”

Girl: “Who? I don’t believe it!”

Zhang Canyang: “Huanhuan.”

He turned to look at Li Huanhuan.

Li Huanhuan: “Huh?”

Zhang Canyang: “This is the girl I like now.”

He walked over and put his arm around her shoulders, smiling at the crying girl.

The girl was devastated. Her eyes reddened, and she ran away in tears.

Her friend, concerned, shouted her name and then turned back to slap Zhang Canyang across the face.

Friend: “Fox, you bastard!”

She left to chase after her friend.

Now that the problem was “resolved,” Zhang Canyang let go of Li Huanhuan’s shoulder.

Zhang Canyang: “Sorry, sis. I used you just now.”

Li Huanhuan stared at the spot he had touched. She thought of the sad girl and remembered what Hu Xun said—that Fox liked older women and dated many of them.

If he really was the “Little Sunshine” from her childhood, that thought filled her with frustration.

She turned and stared at the fresh handprint on his cheek. There was also a bruise near his mouth.

That slap shouldn’t have caused that much damage, right?

She pushed the thought aside and glared at him.

Li Huanhuan: “Do you always treat relationships like this?”

Zhang Canyang (puzzled): “Hmm?”

Li Huanhuan: “I mean, are you always so careless about relationships?”

She wanted to say “irresponsible,” but held back since they weren’t that close yet.

Zhang Canyang (covering his cheek): “Sis, it really hurts.”

Li Huanhuan: “Don’t try to play cute with me.”

He lowered his head, his golden hair drooping like a sad puppy.

Li Huanhuan: “It… really hurts?”

He nodded, resting his head on her shoulder.

Li Huanhuan stiffened. She wasn’t good with intimacy—especially not this close.

But thinking he might really be the “Little Sunshine” from her childhood, her heart softened.

Li Huanhuan: “Wait here.”

She returned with a tea egg and a towel.

They heard people nearby talking:
“Is that Fox?”
“The famous eSports player?”

Li Huanhuan: “Let’s go somewhere else.”

She pulled him away to a nearby basketball court.

She sat him down on a bench and peeled the tea egg.

Li Huanhuan: “I saw on TV that rolling a boiled egg on a bruise helps. They didn’t have plain eggs, so I bought a tea egg. It should work the same.”

She wrapped the egg in the towel.

Li Huanhuan: “Turn your head a bit… yes, like that.”

Under the streetlight, his flawless skin was clearly visible. No wonder older women liked him.

She began rolling the egg on his cheek.

Unseen by her, Zhang Canyang’s lips curled into a smile.

It was quiet. Their shadows stretched long under the light.

After a while, she stopped.

Li Huanhuan: “Done.”

Zhang Canyang: “Thanks, sis. It feels much better.”

Seeing his dazzling smile, she remembered they’d only known each other for three days—and he was supposed to be a villain in the novel.

She quickly changed the topic.

Li Huanhuan: “Was that girl why you were late?”

Zhang Canyang: “Nope. I ran into her after I got here. Something else delayed me.”

Li Huanhuan: “Then what about the bruise on your mouth?”

Zhang Canyang: “Oh, that? One of my teammates punched me.”

Li Huanhuan: “What?! Why would your teammate hit you?”

Zhang Canyang: “Maybe he thinks I lost us the match. But even without me, we still would’ve lost.”

Li Huanhuan: “I don’t get it.”

Zhang Canyang: “Coach Cao Xufang wouldn’t allow us to win.”

Li Huanhuan: “Cao Xufang… that name sounds familiar. Is he your coach?”

In the novel, Coach Cao played a huge role in turning Zhang Canyang into a villain—he brought him back from abroad, built him up as a star, then destroyed him.

Zhang Canyang: “Sis, you know my coach?”

Li Huanhuan (grabbing his arm): “You should find another coach! Cao Xufang isn’t—”

Bzzz Bzzz.

Her phone rang. It was Qin Shi.

She’d forgotten about their dinner plans.

Qin Shi (on the phone): “It’s almost 8. Where are you?”

Li Huanhuan: “Sorry, I got caught up with something.”

Qin Shi: “You’re ditching me again?!”

Li Huanhuan: “Sorry…”

She glanced at Zhang Canyang, who was pretending to shoot imaginary basketballs.

She clenched her teeth.

Li Huanhuan: “I’m afraid I can’t make it tonight.”

Qin Shi: “What?!”

Li Huanhuan: “Please understand. Or invite someone else?”

Qin Shi: “You’re ruthless, Li Huanhuan.”

Li Huanhuan: “Let me make it up to you. I’ll treat you to lunch tomorrow—whatever you want!”

A pause.

Qin Shi: “Fine. Tomorrow at noon. And it better be expensive. A feast!”

Li Huanhuan: “A f-feast?”

Qin Shi: “Unless you’re not serious?”

Li Huanhuan: “Of course I am. I’ll think of something…”

A feast… how much would that cost?

Qin Shi: “If you cancel again, I’ll—”

Li Huanhuan: “You’ll…?”

Qin Shi: “I’ll make you treat me again—until you’re broke!”

Li Huanhuan: “Broke?!”

She grimaced.

What a terrifying threat.

Hanging up, she turned back to talk to Zhang Canyang about Coach Cao…

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