Attack and Defense Transformation, this part.
After offending Liuyin and then Yudong, even if Yezhe turned into an ox or a horse, he couldn’t refuse now.
“Today… you’re drinking with me until I’m satisfied!”
Leaving this harsh line behind, Yudong spun around and charged straight into the Supermarket.
A few minutes later…
“Woc.”
Seeing Yudong lugging over an entire case of canned beer, Yezhe’s head started to ache just at the sight.
He himself didn’t really drink much, but he would at least have a sip from time to time.
When the boss had a birthday, he’d even chugged a few—though he’d ended up sleeping in the shop that night.
But as for Yudong… he had no idea.
Who knew what this girl would be like drunk? Would she go wild, puke everywhere, or try to strangle someone?
“Why do I have such a bad feeling all of a sudden…”
“Yezhe! Come here and pay up!”
Any earlier displeasure instantly poured out. Tonight, she was determined to make Yezhe drink himself into oblivion.
“Yes, yes, yes…”
…
“Um… could you give me a hand? I can’t carry all this.”
After a day of walking, Yezhe now had Liuyin’s clothes in his left hand, and in his right, he’d emptied out the little cart.
“Tired is as tired does! Who told you to be so annoying.”
“Come on, we’re friends. No matter how ruthless, you can’t be so cruel to a chef’s hands…”
The figure ahead turned to glance at Yezhe, then deliberately slowed her pace.
After that, she spun back around and grabbed the groceries and beer out of his hands.
Uh…
“Didn’t you say you weren’t going to carry anything?”
“If you keep complaining, I’ll shove it all back at you…”
With that line tossed out, Liuyin quickened her pace again and led the way.
“Big sis, how much longer until we can rest? I’m getting tired…”
Liuyin shuffled along beside Yudong, and as she walked, she tugged on Yudong’s sleeve with her small hand.
“Not much farther. Hang in there a bit longer and big brother will make us something delicious.”
Turning her head, Yudong instantly changed her attitude toward Liuyin, offering a gentle smile.
“Mm…”
…
After another stretch, Yudong suddenly asked in a low voice,
“Liuyin, are you happy?”
The question seemed a bit abrupt. Liuyin blinked her pure eyes, thought for a moment,
“Mm… I’m really happy when I’m with big brother.”
Hearing Liuyin say this, Yudong didn’t reply further. She only gave a soft “Mm…” and the smile she’d just relaxed tightened again.
The girl beside her noticed the odd mood, leaned her head against Yudong’s arm,
“Big sis, what’s wrong?”
Not wanting to meet Liuyin’s gaze, Yudong turned away. At some point, she started gripping the beer case tighter.
“No, it’s nothing… Just asking.”
…
Once upon a time, this was the girl’s dream.
To laugh and chat with her beloved on the way home, to savor the simplicity of daily life, and to wait for tomorrow to come.
What a beautiful scene…
But sadly, she was a greedy person.
It wasn’t enough—nowhere near enough…
“To demand… to possess… to imprison… to control… That’s the real you…”
A familiar voice echoed endlessly in her mind. Her inner desire took on her own form, luring Yudong toward the abyss.
How could this bit of warmth ever fill her endlessly empty heart?
Truly… laughable.
…
With all the back-and-forth, time slipped away completely.
When they’d entered the Supermarket, there was still a bit of sunlight left; when they stepped out, only the moon was waiting for them.
If it weren’t for autumn’s early nights, and it was summer instead, with it this dark, Yezhe would’ve gone to sleep long ago…
“Didn’t you say it was near the Hospital? How many ‘nearbys’ have we passed?!”
Yezhe was tired—literally. Whether he could even cook anymore was questionable. He was barely able to walk; just carrying all this stuff took everything he had.
The moon hung high overhead. After leaving the urban-scented Supermarket, the three detoured into the bustling city streets.
“Let’s walk faster through this part…”
Yudong didn’t bother with Yezhe’s complaints.
She just kept walking, leading them through a pitch-black alley, and then out onto a gaudily lit street, all painted with Neon Street’s colors.
“Now I get why the boss told you to go home so early…”
Looking at the scene in front of him, Yezhe sounded a little helpless.
Setting aside the random phone numbers stuck all over the place, the street was lined with motels and KTVs, interspersed with ads for massages.
Not to mention, a few scantily clad girls were stationed out front.
A gust of autumn wind carried the sickly sweet smell of cheap perfume mixed with smoke, filling the entire street and making Yezhe want to pinch his nose shut…
“Really kills your appetite…”
Yudong deliberately lowered her head and quickened her pace.
“Don’t they get cold, dressed like that?”
Halfway down the street, Yezhe glanced toward a motel. A few girls in belly shirts and shorts sat outside, their legs turning pale in the autumn breeze.
When a man passed by, they’d throw a flirty glance—some even stood to strike up a conversation…
“Kid, come here and let Auntie shue you a word…”
One of the heavily made-up women noticed Yezhe’s gaze and, from halfway down the street, started chatting him up like they were old friends.
“No, thank you…”
Yezhe hurriedly shook his head in refusal, but before he finished speaking, he felt a strong pull on him.
“Why do you care about them…”
With that, Yudong dragged Yezhe forward. Her quick pace sped up even more, and Yezhe was struggling to keep up.
“Slow down, I was just curious…”
“What’s there to be curious about? Isn’t it disgusting…”
Yudong didn’t look back, her voice full of disdain, pulling him even harder.
“You wouldn’t… Don’t tell me… You’re that kind of scumbag…”
There was no way Yudong could ignore what just happened. She even imagined Yezhe entangled with that older woman…
So disgusting, she wanted to vomit…
Disgust swept through her. Yudong whipped around, eyebrows tightly furrowed, glaring at Yezhe in disgust.
“No way, I could never—”
“You… You’re not allowed to come here again… If you weren’t so tired, I wouldn’t even walk down this street…”
“Of course, like I’d come here for no reason…”
“In any case!”
“Forget this place ever existed…”
Yudong bit out her words, her grip on Yezhe’s arm suddenly tightening until it hurt.
The group walked in silence to the end of the road. Yudong pulled Yezhe into a narrow alley.
The nasty smell faded as they passed through, and when they emerged, all that was left was a row of old apartment buildings.
A few windows glowed with warm yellow light. At last, the sickening scent was completely gone.
“We’re here.”
With a sigh of relief, Yudong led them into one of the Apartment Blocks and up several flights of stairs, stopping at a metal door that still had spring couplets pasted on it.
Yudong fished out a key from her pocket. With a “click,” they had finally arrived.
Pushing open the metal door, darkness swallowed all three of them until Yudong fumbled for the light. Only then could Yezhe see the inside.
Mm… It was just as old-fashioned as the building itself.
The Cartoon Carpet at the entrance was so worn the color had faded, with a few long hairs clinging to it.
The wooden Shoe Cabinet was curling and peeling badly; the shelves stuffed with a few battered sneakers, and next to them a pair of light-colored Plastic Slippers, their soles stained with a bit of black…
Noticing Yezhe’s glance at the slippers, Yudong’s ears instantly reddened. She quickly waved her hands in explanation.
“Those… My mom bought them for me ages ago. I’ve worn them so long I can’t bear to throw them out… It’s not that I don’t wash my feet or anything!”
Sensing her embarrassment, Yezhe chimed in to smooth things over.
“Actually… I figured as much.”
Not only was there black on the slippers, but also the wrinkled texture unique to aging plastic. Seeing all that, Yezhe couldn’t help but tease,
“They’re this old—just how long have you been wearing them…”
“Don’t ask…”
Neatly pulling out two pairs of Disposable Slippers from the Shoe Cabinet, Liuyin squatted down and changed into the blackened Plastic Slippers.
“Wash your hands and come help quickly, or the Head Chef’s going to collapse at the stove halfway through.”
Tearing open the plastic on the slippers, Yezhe first helped Liuyin change into hers, then took off his sneakers and put on a pair of slippers himself.
With that done, Yezhe picked up the groceries and headed into the kitchen.
“Yes, yes, coming.”
Just as she took a step, Yudong paused and shouted toward the kitchen,
“Wait, why aren’t you washing up?”
Yezhe scratched his head.
“Oh, right, where’s the bathroom…”
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