Chapter 86: Leave No Illusions
Chapter 86 of "Super Soldier in the City" unveils: Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Leave No IllusionsLi Yifei had really never before encountered such a... Continue the story!
Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Leave No IllusionsLi Yifei had really never before encountered such a persistent girl. With those like Little Li or other little troublemakers, Li Yifei could easily get rid of them, but Chu Xiaoyao wasnât malicious in her intentions. Her behavior was merely one of admiration, but her relentless attention left him feeling quite restrained.
He stopped in his tracks and with a stern face, Li Yifei said to Chu Xiaoyao, "If you want me not to dislike you, youâd do well to behave yourself. Your flamboyance only makes me dislike you more, and I hope not to see you again in the future."
Chu Xiaoyao pouted and said, "Uncle, itâs just that I like you."
"You liking me is your business, but I donât feel the same. What I dislike the most is girls who bring trouble my way every day. Only gentle girls like Yiyi are the ones I would like."
Chu Xiaoyao glanced at Su Yiyi and pouted even more, saying, "I got it now. I wonât be naughty anymore. Uncle, can you please take me to your house?"
"No can do," Li Yifei replied with finality.
Chu Xiaoyao stomped her foot in frustration and asked, "Uncle, do I make you that disgusted?"
"Originally, I didnât dislike you that much, but the way you acted just now really pushed me to dislike you," he replied.
Chu Xiaoyao showed a face full of grievance and said, "Canât I change? Besides, seeing you fight so impressively earlier got me really excited."
Seeing that Chu Xiaoyao was finally behaving more modestly, Li Yifei softened his tone and said, "Alright then, go straight home now. If you behave well, I might still pay attention to you in the future. Otherwise, Iâll never bother with you again."
"Uncle... Iâll listen to you, but... donât shoo me away, Iâm really bored today. I just want to go to your place for a bit, I promise not to make trouble!" she said.
As Li Yifei said nothing, Chu Xiaoyao tugged at his arm with a pitiful expression and said, "Uncle, just agree, please? Iâll behave, I really will."
"Brother Li... just agree to her," Su Yiyi chimed in, unexpectedly taking Chu Xiaoyaoâs side just as Li Yifei was about to refuse.
Chu Xiaoyao immediately lit up and said, "Sister Yiyi, you are such a good person. Iâve decided, from now on we are comrades in the same trench, following Uncle together."
Su Yiyi and Li Yifei were at a loss for words, but since Su Yiyi had agreed, Li Yifei did not refuse. With a girl like Chu Xiaoyao, the more you refuse her, the more persistent she might become. By showing her that he was just an ordinary employee, without money or power, and hardly any other interests, Li Yifei guessed that it wouldnât take long for Chu Xiaoyao to lose interest.
They hailed a cab, with Li Yifei sitting in the front and Chu Xiaoyao and Su Yiyi in the back. Chu Xiaoyao chattered away, obviously trying to ingratiate herself with Su Yiyi, and although Su Yiyi wasnât much of a talker, she managed to converse with Chu Xiaoyao.
Shortly after, the three of them reached Li Yifeiâs house. Chu Xiaoyao toured the place, then expressed her surprise, "Uncle, how can you live in such a small house?"
Li Yifei smiled blandly and said, "Iâm just renting this place. Without money, naturally I can only live in a small house."
Chu Xiaoyao uttered an "Oh," then blinked and said, "Thatâs not too bad. A small home is cozier. Living in a big house wouldnât be very meaningful."
Li Yifei didnât want to continue this topic with Chu Xiaoyao, so he said to Su Yiyi, "Yiyi, keep Xiaoyao company. Iâll go buy some groceries."
Su Yiyi hurriedly said, "Brother Li, let me do the shopping."
Li Yifei waved his hand and said, "No need. Iâll cook something nice for lunch." Without waiting for Su Yiyi to get up, he had already left the house.
When Li Yifei came back, Su Yiyi and Chu Xiaoyao came to greet him. Su Yiyi took the groceries from his hand, while Chu Xiaoyao looked at him with a beaming smile. She then bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle and also brought slippers to him, saying, "Uncle, welcome back."
Li Yifei felt like he had seen this situation somewhere before. After a moment of thought, he realized it was reminiscent of a Japanese custom; after the husband returns home, this is typically how he is greeted. Although, in modern Japan, many women work and this traditional scene is mostly found among the homemakers.
However, he couldnât deny that it gave a man a sense of achievement and a majestic feeling of being the head of the householdâan experience he had indeed witnessed during his time in Japan.
"Uncle, you must be tired, please sit down. Iâll pour you some tea," Chu Xiaoyao offered with eagerness, playing the part well.
Li Yifei managed a half-smile, half-groan, saying, "Enough, donât start with all that. I canât handle it."
Chu Xiaoyao giggled mischievously, then suddenly jumped onto the sofa beside Li Yifei, kneeling and resting her hands on his shoulders, saying, "Uncle, can I rub your shoulders for you?"
Li Yifei pushed her hands away and said, "No need, I still have to cook. Otherwise, weâll all be hungry by noon."
"Isnât Sister Yiyi the one cooking?" Chu Xiaoyao pointed towards the kitchen.
Su Yiyi was indeed busy cooking in the kitchen. Li Yifei promptly said, "Yiyi, take a break. Iâll do it." At his house, Su Yiyi washed his clothes and tidied up the rooms; Li Yifei didnât have the heart to let her cook as well.
Su Yiyi turned and gave Li Yifei a sweet smile, saying, "Brother Li, take a rest. I can handle it."
Li Yifei stood up and said, "Then letâs do it together." He didnât want to be alone with Chu Xiaoyaoâthat girl was just too clingy.
"Uncle, can you also cook?" Chu Xiaoyao followed him and tilted her head as she looked at Li Yifei.
"Of course, I can cook. I canât afford to eat out all the time; otherwise, Iâd die of hunger," he said.
Chu Xiaoyao immediately said with excitement, "Uncle, youâre really too cool."
Li Yifei said, both irritated and amused, "Iâm cool just because I can cook?"
"Definitely, there are too few men who can cook nowadays. If I were with you, wouldnât that mean Iâd never have to learn how to cook?"
Li Yifei said with annoyance, "Sorry, I donât want to raise a freeloader."
Chu Xiaoyao immediately said seriously, "Iâm not a freeloader. When you cook, I can chat with you. I can embrace your waist while youâre cooking, so you can feel the sweetness of cooking." As she spoke, she reached out to hug Li Yifeiâs waist.
Li Yifei immediately jumped away, glaring at her, "Watch yourself."
Chu Xiaoyao giggled, "Uncle, youâre too old-fashioned."
Li Yifei glared at her and said, "I am an old-fashioned person, and I certainly wonât play any of that romantic nonsense with you."
"Hehe, an old-fashioned uncle is handsome. Itâs those smooth talkers I really canât stand."
"How am I handsome again?" Li Yifei was truly exasperated. No matter what, in Chu Xiaoyaoâs eyes, he always came off looking good.
Su Yiyi chuckled, which only added to Li Yifeiâs frustration. "Yiyi," he said, "Iâm your boyfriend, and now when someone else is after me, you still can laugh."
Su Yiyiâs face blushed as she whispered, "As long as Brother Li is happy."
Chu Xiaoyao immediately said proudly, "See, Sister Yiyi has accepted me. What do you have to say now, Uncle?"
"Out of the way, this has nothing to do with you." Li Yifeiâs gaze questioned Su Yiyi, who only revealed a bitter smile, clearly troubled by Chu Xiaoyaoâs persistence.
"Get out, stop messing around here, or you wonât get anything to eat." Li Yifei resorted to his final move, glowering as he chased Chu Xiaoyao out of the kitchen.
"Yiyi, put on a stern face and say something to her, drive her away," Li Yifei said to Su Yiyi in a somewhat frustrated tone.
Su Yiyi also spoke softly, "Brother Li, I canât speak like that. Besides, I know that Brother Li doesnât like her. Sheâs the only one with feelings, so I have even less to say."
Li Yifeiâs forehead creased with frustration, "Youâre really too gentle, youâll suffer for it sooner or later."
Su Yiyi smiled apologetically, "Iâm sorry, Brother Li, I really canât be mean."
Li Yifei shook his head, "Alright then, I wonât trouble you further."
The two of them cooked together, and Su Yiyi kept smiling. When her gaze occasionally met Li Yifeiâs, she would shyly look away, but her face remained flushed, and her smile grew even more radiant.
Watching Su Yiyi, Li Yifei suddenly realized a serious problem. It was like driving the tiger at the front door only to welcome a wolf at the back door. Just now, he had been so focused on dealing with Chu Xiaoyao that he neglected Su Yiyi. And now in using Su Yiyi as an excuse, he feared her feelings for him had deepened even further.
He cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "Yiyi, Iâm sorry about earlier. I shouldnât have said you were my girlfriend."
Su Yiyiâs expression changed. She was not one to hide her feelings, and the look of distress on her face made Li Yifeiâs heart ache, and he began to regret what he had just said.
"I know," Su Yiyi answered softly, then brushed back her hair and still managed to show Li Yifei a smile, bitter as it was.
Li Yifei sighed internally, offering no comfort but pretending not to notice as he said, "Haha, if you donât mind, thatâs great."
Su Yiyi bit her lip and spoke softly, "Brother Li, I really donât mind. Iâm happy to do anything that can help you."
Li Yifei nodded, pretending not to see the tears welling up in Su Yiyiâs eyes.
Su Yiyi discreetly wiped her eyes, and then finally offered Li Yifei a beaming smile, "Brother Li, you donât have to worry, I wonât cling to you like Xiaoyao. I just want to help you to the best of my abilities, and if you find a girlfriend you like, Iâll definitely not interfere."
Li Yifei felt like a scoundrel, hurting such a delicate girl. But such things had to be done, he absolutely couldnât let Su Yiyi harbor any illusions.