novelraw Chapter 148
Chapter 148
Chapter 148: I Can Only Spoil the Brave Hero
After dropping Chen Tao back at his company, Xia Li took out his phone and ordered takeout as compensation for the guy.
He had originally planned to nag him a bit more before leaving, but seeing that Boss Xia had taken care of his lunch, Chen Tao swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth and turned around to get out of the car with a haughty air.
With a “pa” sound, the car door closed.
Xia Li glanced at the back seat through the rearview mirror.
The atmosphere back there was a bit strange.
Yuan Zi and Anqi were sitting on opposite sides, both looking out the window in unison, neither of them speaking.
“Xia Li, you put the wrong cat in the carrier.”
Lucia lifted the carrier and peered inside again.
She had seen this black and white cat before at the pet shop. She heard it was a cat with a very high official position. “I didn’t put the wrong one in, this is the one I adopted,” Xia Li replied.
“Adopted?” Lucia hugged the small calico cat in her arms tightly.
“But we already have Mianhua!”
Xia Li, you fickle radish!
“I’ll tell you about this when we get back…” Xia Li said, nodding his chin towards the back seat, “Put him in the back.”
“Oh…”
Although still a little dissatisfied, Lucia did as she was told and placed the carrier in the back.
Suddenly, with a cat joining the scene, Fu Yuan and Zhou Anqi leaned in at the same time, their heads bumping together.
Fu Yuan immediately sat up straight: “Sorry…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay.” Zhou Anqi forced a smile.
『Whew…』
Wuqi, inside the cage, let out a sigh of relief.
『She’s just a normal-looking girl, why does she give off such a sense of oppression?』
『Like the final boss in the last level of a game… Yeah, that’s the feeling. 』
“Anqi~”
Seemingly sensing something was off in the back seat, Lucia stretched her body over and patted Anqi’s thigh with her small hand.
Zhou Anqi’s expression was not very good, her face grave, lost in thought.
Meeting Lucia’s innocent eyes, Zhou Anqi gave her a slight smile.
“Heehee~”
Lucia smiled, revealing her little tiger teeth.
“Pfft,”
This time, Zhou Anqi was completely amused by Lucia.
“Lu-mei is so cute! I really don’t want to part with you, come to Beijing with me tomorrow!”
“No, no~”
The two girls pushed and shoved each other playfully in the car for a while, and Lucia finally went to hug Xia Li’s arm, whining.
“I want to be with Xia Li!”
“Haha…”
Zhou Anqi laughed until tears welled up in her eyes.
Lu-mei was always so honest and straightforward, a personality she envied.
As she was laughing, Zhou Anqi turned her head and saw Fu Yuan with a calm expression, and then the expression on her face returned to tranquility.
“We’re here.”
One of Xia Li’s arms was being hugged by Lucia, his arm blissfully nestled against something soft and fluffy.
He didn’t want to pull his arm out at all, so he gripped the steering wheel with one hand and stepped on the brake.
The car stopped by the side of the road.
Zhou Anqi looked out, the surroundings were unfamiliar.
“This isn’t right, Xia-ge, this isn’t Wanniu District.”
“It’s not,” Xia Li nodded, and then said.
“I suddenly remembered something I need to do, I won’t be going back for now, you guys get off here.”
“Ah~?” Zhou Anqi’s tone was surprised.
However, when she turned back and saw Fu Yuan who had already gotten out of the car, she seemed to understand something.
Xia-ge was doing this on purpose.
Fu Yuan got out of the car, walked halfway around it, and opened the door on Zhou Anqi’s side.
“Come on out…”
“…”
Fu Yuan took the lead in helping Zhou Anqi with her shopping bags, and Zhou Anqi reluctantly got out of the car.
“Dog feet!”
Lucia, in the passenger seat, rolled down the window and shouted outside.
“Your pronunciation is still wrong, it’s good job…”
Zhou Anqi smiled bitterly, but in the end, she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hahaha, Lu-mei you’re so cute!”
“See you next time, Anqi!”
“Yeah… see you next time!”
Lucia raised her fair little hand and waved. Xia Li noticed the colorful patterns painted on her fingers.
Looking closely, it seemed to be nail art?
Looking out the window, Xia Li and Fu Yuan exchanged a silent glance.
Fu Yuan nodded at him, mouthing the words ‘Thanks, Boss’.
The car started up again.
Lucia adjusted her seat, following the method Xia Li had taught her last time, reclining her seat back.
The evil dragon lay down in the passenger seat and closed her eyes.
The weather was gloomy today, but she was in a good mood.
“Tired from shopping?” Xia Li asked.
Lucia’s expression was serene, her voice lazy.
=w=
“When can I see Anqi again?”
“She said she’ll be back for the New Year.”
“New Year… when is that?”
Lucia had absolutely no concept of time, nor did she understand the festivals of the human world.
“About two months from now… It’s the most important festival of the year in China.”
“Once a year!”
Lucia abruptly opened her eyes.
She understood this logic.
For the people of this human country, the New Year was the most important day.
But for an individual human, the most important day of the year was their birthday.
Tomorrow was Xia Li’s birthday.
At that time…
Heeheehee.
While waiting for the traffic light to change, Xia Li glanced sideways at the sly smile on the evil dragon’s face.
He had no idea what was going on in that little head of hers.
“I’ll definitely take you home for the New Year. According to Sichuan customs, my mom will definitely give you a big red envelope.”
“Red envelope?”
Xia Li explained concisely, “It’s a packet of money.”
Lucia slapped her thigh and sat up.
“The great humans will give me a packet of money…”
“Getting rich!”
Xia Li was amused by her words.
He kind of understood why Zhou Anqi wanted to drag Lucia back to school so badly.
If the emotional support that Lucia provided were to suddenly cut off, there would be withdrawal symptoms, right?
“Let’s go, get out of the car and eat.”
On the way back to Wanniu District, Xia Li passed an intersection full of restaurants.
There happened to be a parking space available, so he parked the car directly.
He had been busy with the pet hospital all morning, and now it was past noon, Xia Li was so hungry he could eat a dragon.
“I’ve already eaten!”
Lucia was explaining verbally, while unbuckling her seatbelt and getting out of the car, holding Little Cotton.
“What did you guys eat?”
Xia Li had originally planned to let Wuqi stay in the car for a while, it wouldn’t take long anyway.
But then he remembered that this cat was a smart one, and it wouldn’t be good if he messed up the car.
So he opened the back door and took the carrier out.
“For lunch we ate…”
Lucia was counting on her fingers.
“Milk tea, egg pancakes, grilled gluten, candied hawthorn, egg burgers, wolf tooth potatoes…”
Hearing the dragon’s random assortment of food, Xia Li laughed and said.
“Those are just snacks, not a proper meal.”
Lucia rubbed her belly, “I’m not full yet.”
『The outside world has changed so much…』
Xia Li carried the carrier and walked down the street looking for food.
Zhou Anqi had introduced Lucia to a lot of snacks she had never seen before, no wonder the evil dragon was in such high spirits today.
A sense of competitiveness inexplicably rose in Xia Li’s heart.
He had to take Lucia to a restaurant that would impress her even more.
The restaurants at the intersection were dazzling, and sighs of amazement came intermittently from the carrier in Xia Li’s hand.
Lucia walked ahead. She was clearly not hungry now, and was more interested in the Little Cotton in her arms than looking at the surrounding restaurants.
『So many hot pot restaurants… I really am in Sichuan, I actually ran so far away. 』
“Ding-ling~”
Xia Li heard the crisp sound of a bell.
This morning, the staff at the pet shop said that this bell was hollow and made no sound.
Only Xia Li could hear the bell.
Then, this bell must be related to Wuqi’s special ability.
So, every time it rang…
Was it when magic or superpowers were activated?
『In three seconds, there will be a traffic accident. 』
『Three, two…』
Wuqi’s voice came again. Xia Li had no time to observe his surroundings, and immediately ran with the carrier.
Ahead, Mianhua, who was playing in Lucia’s arms, fell out.
Stray cats are timid. After leaving the owner’s embrace, Little Mianhua subconsciously wanted to find an obstacle to hide behind.
Mianhua ran towards the road with her tail between her legs, Lucia chased after her in a panic.
“Bang!”
Xia Li dropped the carrier and instinctively hugged both Lucia and Mianhua in his arms.
It all happened in a flash. Xia Li had lunged forward.
“Xia Li…”
Lucia blinked.
She was very nervous, suddenly being hugged by Xia Li.
Xia Li’s heartbeat… was so fast.
Xia Li was truly scared this time.
◈◈◈
He lowered his head, confirming that both Lucia and Mianhua in his arms were okay.
The dragon and the cat hadn’t even left the sidewalk.
However, next to the sidewalk, an electric bike going the wrong way had run over a raised manhole cover, sending the rider flying several meters away.
“…Are you okay?”
Xia Li stared blankly at the scene. Lucia reached out her small hand and patted Xia Li’s rapidly beating chest.
She had never seen the Brave Hero so panicked before.
Even on the battlefields of Azure Continent, Xia Li had never shown such a terrified expression.
Lucia suddenly remembered that Xia Li was also brave when protecting his teammates, but he would never drop everything in his hands like he just did and use his own body to protect anyone.
He just…
Was he protecting her?
“I’m fine.”
Xia Li was still a little shaken.
He stood up, his pants were scraped, he patted the dust off his pants, and Lucia also helped him pat.
“Next time this happens, don’t chase after it, the road is dangerous,” Xia Li said.
He wasn’t sure if the ‘traffic accident’ Wuqi had predicted was the electric bike falling over on its own, or if it had hit someone.
However, even if he had to make the choice again, Xia Li wouldn’t hesitate.
He wouldn’t gamble with Lucia’s safety on a 50% chance.
“But, Mianhua ran away just now.”
Xia Li’s tone was very serious when he spoke to Lucia, even a little fierce in Lucia’s opinion.
Lucia felt that she still had a reason, so she weakly explained.
“I’ll go save Mianhua if she runs away, you can’t go.”
“Why? My body is much tougher than yours! Even if a two-wheeled vehicle hits me, I’ll mmmph…”
Xia Li reached out and pinched the dragon’s soft upper and lower lips.
Lalala, not listening to the dragon’s chanting.
“I don’t want you to take any risks, your safety is the most important thing in any situation.”
“Mmmph mmmph mmmph!”
Lucia could understand Xia Li’s desire to protect her.
After all, she had the same thought.
Logically speaking, it was obvious that she, a dragon, was more resistant to collisions. It would be much less dangerous for her to get hit than for Xia Li to get hit.
So, she should be the one protecting Xia Li.
But Xia Li wouldn’t listen to her.
The evil dragon kept muttering. Xia Li let go of her mouth and threatened her in her ear.
“I’ll listen to you at other times, but you have to listen to me on this matter.”
“But I…”
“I’ll kiss you again!”
“…”
Lucia still wanted to reason with Xia Li.
But Xia Li was being stubborn and wouldn’t listen, and was even threatening her.
There were people coming and going on the street.
Kissing a dragon at a time like this was too disrespectful.
Lucia felt that she would lose face.
So she silently closed her mouth.
There was no other way, she could only let this Brave Hero bully her…
Who let her be a hundred years old? Letting this Brave Hero, who was about to turn twenty-three, have his way was understandable.
Lucia quickly adjusted her mindset.
She looked back at the damaged electric bike.
“Is that human okay?”
“He was wearing a helmet, he should be fine.”
Xia Li didn’t want to stay here.
He grabbed the carrier that had been dropped on the ground and was in a daze, and held Lucia’s small hand with the other.
“Let’s go eat rabbit hot pot, you wanted to eat it last time but didn’t get to.”
Xia Li stopped hesitating and entered a random restaurant.
Lucia rarely went to places like restaurants.
After entering, the narrow space and the pungent aroma in the air made her uncomfortable.
Xia Li chose a seat by the window and thoughtfully opened the window for Lucia.
The fresh air blowing in from outside made Lucia feel much better.
“Clap clap,”
Patting the empty space on the sofa beside her, Lucia beckoned Xia Li.
Xia Li was puzzled: “What’s up?”
“Sit with me.”
“Couples usually sit facing each other.”
“Then we’re an unconventional couple!”
“…”
Xia Li walked over helplessly and squeezed onto the same sofa as the evil dragon.
The waiter who was serving them gave them a strange look and then silently poured them tea.
“Mildly spicy,” Xia Li said to the waiter.
After the waiter nodded and left, Lucia shifted her little bottom, snuggled up to Xia Li, and said to him in a very soft voice.
“Xia Li, I saw at the door that this restaurant doesn’t allow pets…”
Xia Li nodded: “Most restaurants don’t allow pets.”
“Then we have to protect Mianhua!”
“Yeah, protect Mianhua.”
Xia Li was a little speechless.
He thought the dragon had become more clingy, but it turned out she had called him over to be a tool.
Lucia put Little Mianhua on her thigh, but her legs were too small. It was fine when she was sitting in the car because she could recline the seat and Mianhua wouldn’t fall off.
But the seats in the restaurant were upright, Lucia couldn’t hold Mianhua, so she could only put Mianhua on Xia Li’s lap.
Little Mianhua was very well-behaved at the moment, tucking her two paws in and nestled on Xia Li without moving.
The scene that had just happened must have scared her quite a bit.
After settling Mianhua, Lucia walked around the table and came to the carrier.
Just as she squatted down, she heard Xia Li say.
“Don’t touch.”
“Huh?” The evil dragon looked up.
“This cat is poisonous.”
“Poisonous…?” Lucia thought for a moment, “But I’m immune to all poisons!”
“You can’t touch him even if you’re immune to all poisons,” Xia Li said sternly.
Lucia peeked into the cage and then looked at Xia Li in confusion.
Xia Li directly laid it out in a way the dragon could understand: “This cat is male.”
“Male?”
“Yeah, so if you touch him, I’ll be very unhappy,” Xia Li said bluntly.
Even though it was a neutered male cat, it was still male.
And there was a human soul inside.
Xia Li himself felt weird holding Wuqi, so how could he let Lucia touch him?
“Oh…”
After Xia Li explained it this way, Lucia understood.
Possessiveness!
Male dragons have a strong, territory-like desire for the female dragons they like.
They will do everything they can to drive away all the males around them…
Unexpectedly, humans have it too!
Lucia was a little happy.
Silently sitting back next to Xia Li, taking a sip of the lemon water the waiter had just poured for her, Lucia continued to mutter.
“But, if you adopt this cat, your territory… there will be one more male cat in the house.”
“I have other ways to deal with it.”
“What ways?”
“I’ll tell you when we get back.”
Xia Li was being mysterious and didn’t say more.
Lucia was used to it. She had almost finished her glass of lemon water, and the rabbit hot pot was soon served.
Even though it was mildly spicy, the mildly spicy in Sichuan was still too spicy for most people.
The bubbling red oil on top made Lucia a little apprehensive.
“This chili isn’t spicy, it’s mainly about the aroma, freshness, and numbing sensation…”
Xia Li picked up a piece of rabbit meat, rinsed it in two bowls of clean water, and finally placed it in Lucia’s bowl.
Lucia lowered her head and clumsily picked up the piece of meat with her chopsticks, then put it in her mouth.
“How is it?”
“The meat is very tender…”
She rarely ate rabbit meat when she was a dragon.
Rabbit meat was not only troublesome to eat, but the more you ate, the hungrier you got, so it wasn’t on the dragon’s menu.
She didn’t expect that after being meticulously prepared by humans, it would be surprisingly delicious.
Lucia picked up another tiny piece of meat from her small bowl where she was rinsing the chili off.
Using such a big pot of seasoning, just to make such a small amount of meat…
The humans of this world were very extravagant.
“Eat more.”
Xia Li filled the evil dragon’s small bowl to the brim. The evil dragon kept eating meat, and when she came back to her senses, she found that her bowl had become a small mountain.
She couldn’t eat it all in time.
Xia Li suddenly understood how he felt when he was a kid and his mom kept piling food onto his plate, as if trying to fit 4 kilograms of food into a 400-milliliter bowl.
『Thank you, bro. 』
As they were eating happily, a relieved voice came from the carrier.
Wuqi took a long time to recover.
Although he was a cat, when he looked at ordinary people, he only saw creatures slightly larger than himself.
But when that little girl looked down at him, Wuqi felt the fear of being stared at by a giant.
Letting out a long sigh of relief, Wuqi looked out through the gap in the cage and happened to see his new ‘owner’ staring at him.
He had found it strange since earlier…
This guy had not only predicted his prediction twice in a row.
Moreover, earlier on the road, the moment he sensed a traffic accident was about to happen, this guy just ran and successfully protected his girlfriend.
Thinking back to the surprising coincidence when he named him…
Wuqi frowned.
An absurd thought popped into his head.
Could this guy hear his voice?