Chapter 35: I’m Your Friend, Not an Ox

He knew it should hurt a little. When he applied medicine to his comrades before, even a light touch would make them cry out like pigs being slaughtered.

She was so strong; she didn’t even make a sound.

“It’s… okay…”

Lin Yuyao was trying to hold back, but her voice still cracked.

Fu Huayi paused, looking up at her. He saw tears in her eyes and her lip was bitten raw.

This expression—of being badly bullied yet still enduring—perfectly matched the image from his dream last night.

It was like a gong had struck Fu Huayi’s mind, the sound lingering, leaving a lasting impact. Fu Huayi looked flustered, quickly lowering his head, pulling down her pants leg while repeatedly swallowing.

“Okay, get some rest. I’ll go now.”

He practically fled.

He ran downstairs in one breath, only to realize he still had her medicine.

Fu Huayi was speechless.

“Ah Yi, Ah Yi, help! Quickly open the car door; I’m going to die…”

Fu Huayi took a deep breath, unlocked the car, and opened the back door.

Yi Yunshuo rushed out, gasping for air and fanning himself.

“What’s wrong with you? What took you so long? It’s so hot, and you locked me in the car. Were you trying to kill me?”

“Wasn’t the window open?”

“It was still hot! Look at me; I look like I’ve been fished out of a river.”

Yi Yunshuo took off his shirt, revealing his muscular upper body.

While he spoke, Fu Huayi had already grabbed the things from the back seat and turned back upstairs.

Yi Yunshuo asked, “Hey, where are you going?”

“Where are you taking those things?”

“Hey…”

Fu Huayi went upstairs without a word.

Yi Yunshuo thought for a moment, put his shirt back on, and followed him upstairs.

…

Lin Yuyao was quite conflicted; she saw Fu Huayi taking her medicine.

She was poor; even the cheapest medicine cost several cents; she would have to buy more.

This was really…

Just as she was feeling conflicted, Fu Huayi returned.

He not only had her medicine but also a bag of things.

“Big Brother Fu?”

Fu Huayi held up her medicine, looking embarrassed. “Sorry, I took your medicine just now.”

Lin Yuyao was also embarrassed, pretending to be generous. “It’s okay; it doesn’t cost much. Thank you for coming back up.”

“It’s fine. Here’s your medicine, and these things too.”

Huh?

Lin Yuyao hurriedly shook her head. “No need, Big Brother Fu; I can’t accept your things.”

“It’s fine; I saw you didn’t even buy them.”

Last night, Fu Huayi smelled the soap on her; even her hair smelled of soap. He thought that she must be saving money; she used soap to wash her hair, face, and clothes. Girls need to be pampered; how could she be so rough? That’s why he bought these things today.

Lin Yuyao felt she couldn’t accept his things and kept refusing.

Fu Huayi said, “Take them. If you feel embarrassed, you can pay me back when you earn money later.”

He insisted on giving her the things, placing them directly on her bedside.

Yi Yunshuo arrived, looking around. “So, Comrade Lin lives here. It’s quite nice; there’s even a small balcony. Comrade Lin, how much is this apartment per month?”

His appearance broke the tense atmosphere.

Lin Yuyao replied, “Ten yuan.”

“Wow, that’s cheap. No wonder you live here. Near the bookstore in Chenshan Town, you couldn’t rent a place like this for less than fifteen yuan.”

Lin Yuyao whispered, “It’s quite expensive. I’ve looked at several places these past few days, but none were as good as this one, and they were more expensive.”

Fu Huayi was slightly surprised.

She was looking for an apartment?

He silently made a note of it.

“Let’s go, let’s head back,” Fu Huayi pulled Yi Yunshuo along.

Yi Yunshuo said, “What’s the rush? Hey, I still wanted to ask Comrade Lin for a glass of water.”

Without getting any water, Fu Huayi took him away.

On the way back, Yi Yunshuo repeatedly stared at Fu Huayi, recalling his strange behavior and Lin Yuyao…

Suddenly, it hit him.

He understood.

“Ah Yi, do you like Comrade Lin?”

As soon as he spoke, the car swerved sharply, almost drifting.

Yi Yunshuo’s body lurched; if he hadn’t held on tightly, he would have fallen.

“Hey, I’m your friend, not an ox.”

“Mm, you’re not an ox; you’re my comrade.”

Yi Yunshuo was speechless.  A comrade was worse than an ox.

“You still haven’t answered my question. Do you like Comrade Lin?”

Fu Huayi said coldly, “Don’t talk nonsense; it’s not like that.”

“Do you know what you’re like today?”

“What?” curious, he asked.

“You’re like a peacock showing off its feathers in the park.”

Fu Huayi was speechless.

“Peacocks that show off their feathers are male. When they meet a beautiful female peacock, they’ll show off their feathers just like you.” He explained.

Fu Huayi’s face darkened. “Shut up; it’s not like that.”

“Tsk tsk, it’s no use denying it; I can see it. You like Comrade Lin.” He insists.

Fu Huayi slammed on the brakes, stopping the car by the roadside. Yi Yunshuo nearly hit the windshield. Fortunately, the seatbelt was sturdy; it just hurt his chest muscles.

“Whoa, did you really need to react that strongly?”

Fu Huayi said coldly, “If you keep talking nonsense, get out of the car.”

Yi Yunshuo was speechless.

“Brother, don’t just get angry; getting angry won’t solve the problem. Comrade Lin is pretty and gentle, like a fairy from the deep mountains. Not just you, even I like… her…”

Seeing his cold gaze, Yi Yunshuo’s voice trailed off.

Yi Yunshuo instinctively shrank back, explaining, “Me liking her is different from you, like her. When I say I like Comrade Lin, it’s like I like you, like a friend or sister.”

“Huh?”

“No, how can she compare to you? We’ve been friends for years; I definitely like you more.”

Fu Huayi was speechless.

“No…” Yi Yunshuo slapped himself.

What was wrong with his mouth today? He kept making things worse.

Forget it, he wouldn’t explain.

He said, “What I mean is, although she’s very likable, you can’t like her. Don’t forget, she’s Lu Jiangting’s wife.”

Fu Huayi coldly snorted. “Not for long.”

Yi Yunshuo was speechless. Was he serious?

“Will your family accept you marrying a divorced woman?”

“What’s wrong with marrying a divorced woman? Even high-ranking officials remarry; those who scorn divorced women are stuck in the past.”

Yi Yunshuo stared at him blankly. Was he really serious?

“Besides, Lu Jiangting didn’t get her consent when he registered their marriage; it doesn’t count.”

Huh?

“Lu Jiangting that guy, he tricked her into marriage?” Yi Yunshuo was shocked.

“Didn’t he?” Fu Huayi sneered contemptuously, restarting the car.

Yi Yunshuo quickly grabbed the handrail.