Chapter 9: Ninety-Eight Egg Pancakes

Shang Li was deeply immersed in her memories when suddenly, the voice of the man beside her brought her back to reality. She turned in surprise and looked out the window, only to realize that the McLaren had stopped on the street where Dijin High School was located.

It was late summer, and the night air felt as thick as freshly brewed honey. Small street-side stalls had a few customers scattered about.

As she suddenly returned to the familiar surroundings, Shang Li’s eyelashes fluttered, and a gentle dimple appeared on her cheek as she smiled sweetly.

“You want me to treat you to the egg pancakes here?” she asked.

“When did I ever say I wanted you to treat me?” Lu Tinghe responded, his gaze meeting Shang Li’s. “I remember, during our senior year, you bought me ninety-eight egg pancakes. I’m just returning the favor now.”

Shang Li: “…”

While they were talking, Lu Tinghe had already walked over to the egg pancake stall with his long legs.

“Boss, I’ll have ninety-eight egg pancakes.”

Nearby, the other customers froze, staring in disbelief.

The boss’s smile immediately stiffened, and he looked at Lu Tinghe with an expression of utter confusion, not hiding his doubt that the man might be causing trouble.

“Young man, I don’t even have ninety-eight eggs here. How am I supposed to make ninety-eight egg pancakes for you?”

Shang Li hadn’t expected Lu Tinghe to act so crazy. She quickly stepped in front of him, pulling out her phone. “Boss, I’ll just have two egg pancakes. How much is it? I’ll pay you.”

Not long after, the two steaming hot egg pancakes were handed to Shang Li. She passed one to Lu Tinghe, saying, “I was wrong during senior year, but I was just being careless. If I made you eat so many egg pancakes and it upset you, I apologize. I’m sorry.”

Lu Tinghe, with his hands in his pockets, smiled slightly, looking somewhat mischievous.

Shang Li hesitated, holding the egg pancake in mid-air.

Lu Tinghe didn’t take it. Was he not going to accept her apology? Did he really want to see her eat ninety-eight egg pancakes?

If she ate ninety-eight, she might not even need to go to the hospital for emergency treatment afterward, she thought.

Suddenly, the man spoke again. “Shang Li, I played basketball today, and my hands feel a bit sore.”

Shang Li blinked, confused, and responded with a sweetly rising “Hmm,” as if she didn’t understand his words.

“My hands are sore, so I can’t hold the egg pancake. How about you feed me?”

His dark eyes seemed to hold countless stars, filled with such affection that one could easily fall into them without realizing.

Without thinking, Shang Li took a step back, a cold sweat creeping down her back. The look in his eyes seemed to fracture the light, radiating an aura that made her nervous as she stared at him, heart pounding.

Lu Tinghe: “No? Then I’ll go buy ninety-eight egg pancakes.”

Before he could turn away, Shang Li gritted her teeth, grabbed the edge of his shirt, and carefully brought the egg pancake to his mouth. “Be careful, it’s hot.”

Lu Tinghe leaned in and looked at her, and in those few seconds of silent eye contact, it felt as though the world around them had stopped moving.

The hand holding the egg pancake tightened, and her heartbeat grew louder.

Just as Shang Li was about to withdraw her hand, Lu Tinghe suddenly grabbed her soft little hand with one hand and bent down to take a bite of the egg pancake.

The sudden physical contact made Shang Li feel like her breath had been stolen. Her beautiful pupils were filled with rippling waves, entranced.

Lu Tinghe smiled. “Still tastes the same.”

“The egg pancakes here are the best,” Shang Li said, eager to retract her hand.

“Shang Li, I only took one bite.”

“Let go first, I need to tear off the wrapping paper.”

“Alright.”

For the next few minutes, they stood on the side of the road, one holding the egg pancake while the other ate bite by bite.

At that moment, Shang Li felt the summer night breeze was as pure and refreshing as the taste of Lu Tinghe’s hand.

If only… Lu Tinghe liked her.

Every time she got just a little closer, the defenses in her heart would loosen slightly, and gradually, the fortress that she had built with great difficulty began to shake.

Shang Li lowered her head and looked at her faded canvas shoes, then glanced at Lu Tinghe’s wearing luxurious  sneakers. The tiny hope she had just felt flicker in her heart vanished in an instant.

When would she ever change this habit of daydreaming?

…

After finishing the egg pancakes, Shang Li got back into Lu Tinghe’s McLaren.

“Where do you live? I’ll take you home.”

“Phoenix Residential Neighborhood, thank you.”

Shang Li lowered her head as she spoke, afraid to look at Lu Tinghe again, worried that her feelings of secret admiration would be revealed through her eyes.

Lu Tinghe started the car, his fingers, with their distinct joints, tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel. His expression gradually turned cold.

“The security around Phoenix Residential Neighborhood isn’t very good.”

Phoenix Residential Neighborhood was an older area near Jingdu University, surrounded by construction sites. It housed a mix of all kinds of people.

But if the rent was low and transportation was convenient, Shang Li didn’t mind much.

She gave a nonchalant smile. “I’ve been living there since my first year. It’s fine. I don’t really have anything worth stealing.”

In fact, Shang Li didn’t mention that every time she worked late and returned home, there was always a drunk man following her. Sometimes, he would even knock on her door, and though he would leave when there was no response, it still made her uneasy.

But she could endure it for now. She would graduate in a year or two, and after that, she planned to rent a slightly better place. For now, she could tolerate it.

About half an hour later, the McLaren stopped at the entrance of Phoenix Residential Neighborhood.

The area was piled high with construction debris, and the already narrow space felt even more cramped, making it unsuitable for a sports car to enter.

Shang Li unbuckled her seatbelt. “I’ll go first. Be careful on your way back.”

If nothing unexpected happened, this would be the last time Shang Li was alone with Lu Tinghe. It would also mark the end of her three-year-long secret admiration.

“Mm.”

Lu Tinghe responded casually, his voice tired, and in the dim light of the car, she couldn’t make out the expression on his face.

After getting out of the car, Shang Li quickly headed toward her rental apartment. Her steps were swift and urgent, as if she were trying to escape the endless darkness around her.

As she was focused on hurrying along, an unusual feeling suddenly rose in her heart. She sensed the sound of hurried footsteps behind her, growing louder and closer, the pace quickening with each step.

A chilling voice cut through the silence of the night. “Little beauty! Wait up!”

The voice was not only lewd but also thick with the slur of drunkenness, like a demonic sound coming from the depths of hell.

Shang Li’s heartbeat immediately sped up to the limit, and fear flooded her, drowning her in a wave of panic.

F*ck it, it was that drunk man again.

She gripped her phone tightly and ran several steps faster.

“Hey! Wait up! Why are you running?!”

Shang Li dared not look back; she could feel her blood rushing to her head, her body trembling with fear.

With all her strength, she sprinted forward. The wind howled in her ears, and her heart pounded violently, as if it were about to burst out of her chest.

Her steps grew faster, and finally, she saw the dimly lit entrance to the hallway. Without hesitation, she rushed in. The corridor smelled faintly of mildew and decay, and the weak light flickered uncertainly in the dark.

In that moment, all Shang Li wanted was to find a safe place to hide. She hurried to her apartment door, trembling as she fumbled for the keys in her pocket, her hand shaking as she inserted the key into the lock.

With a “click,” the door opened. She pushed it open forcefully and slammed it shut with all her might, making a loud “bang” as it closed.